Roller Coaster Ride of Life
Niban is my cat - about 15 years old. We have three cats and two dogs (and a bunch of fish), and Niban is the queen of the house.
We got her from the shelter, or rather, she chose us, about 12 years ago. We were in the shelter, and I knew I wanted a black cat. I was looking at one when the cat above that one reached through the bars and whacked me on the head! She was named Niban because at the time, we already had one cat (who ironically died about 3 weeks after we got Niban).
She’s been a great kitty, handling 6 kids always with aplomb and with aloofness when needed. When we adopted two kittens three years ago, she pointed out to them that it was her house, and they were welcome to visit, but it was her house.
Today is also our 11th anniversary. It’s been a wonderful time, with six kids here now, plus another on the way, due in December. I love my wife dearly. She saved my life, both physically and spiritually.
Town Uses Trespass Law to Fight Illegal Immigrants - New York Times
This story has been reported on elsewhere. There was a thread over on Global Affairs about a year ago concerning the initial stop that got Chief Chamberlin so upset to begin with. Great discussion in that thread, and some good links. Don’t know if they’re still active. If you’re not a GA member, follow this link to sign up, and join in the discussion.
As for me, I’m with the chief on this one. He’s got to do something, or he’s ignoring his oath of office. OTOH, he’s really just pissing against the wind by using the criminal trespass charges, since they’re only a misdemeanor. If he could find a state legislator with enough balls and pull to get a change to that law, it would be great. Maybe up it to a felony if it involves an illegal immigrant?
I’m getting tired of hearing that the feds don’t have enough money to deal with fine upstanding people like Mr. RamÃrez, or the guy who plowed into a funeral procession I was on last year. I’m tired of hearing that illegals are really just decent people looking for a better life for their family. If that’s all they’re doing, then teach your kids the right freaking way to do things–the legal way!
Several months ago, not long after I joined GA, there was a long discussion over what it would take for some of us to take up arms against the federal government. Crap like this, where the feds are ignoring what really is a major issue, and I think completely disregarding their oaths of office, that could drive me to such actions.
What’s absolutely unconscionable to me is that the Mexican government is paying for his attorneys! They’re defending one of their citizens who is in this country illegally! Why is this even an issue? Send him home! He broke the law! He’s not allowed to be here! Send him home! Why is this so difficult?
Founding Fathers - 2005
While I consider that I know more about American history than some people, I realize that I don’t know enough. I’m not really a student of history, but I’m very interested in the beginnings of our country.
As I consider the drastic measures taken by our founding fathers, I am constantly amazed by the risks they took, combined with the forethought they had. The document they created over the course of several months has withstood the test of almost 220 years with only 21 major changes over a dozen occasions. Almost half of those came in one collection in response to early concerns expressed by the several states. Most of the others came in acknowledgment of either changing cultural and societal norms, or as a result of events the founders probably couldn’t have forseen. What incredible insight!
Many, if not most, of the founders were landholders and educated men. Some gave their lives in defense of the republic they felt led to found. There is an urban legend mailing that purports to discuss the fates of several. Parts of it are false, but the parts that are true bear incredible witness to to the level of committment of the founders and those who followed them.
John Francis Mercer is reported to have said “It is a great mistake to suppose that the paper we are to propose [the Constitution] will govern the United States. It is the men whom it will bring into the government and the interest in maintaining it that is to govern them. The paper will only mark out the mode and the form. Men are the substance and must do the business.” As I survey the current political landscape, as governments pile laws upon ineffective laws, I wonder who in the country today would be equal to the task accomplished by our founding fathers and those who wrote our Constitution. Who today has the wisdom of Jefferson, or Adams? Who has the humility of Washington? What person has the statesmanship skills of Franklin?
I am not suggesting that men like Washington, Adams, Franklin, Jefferson, or Hancock or others were perfect men. Their faults are well-documented, if not well-known. Jefferson had at least one illegitimate son. Certainly to that extent, there are plenty of candidates in today’s political and economic arenas. But if we take a long, honest and serious look at people today, I wonder if we would find anyone who could do what they did so long ago?
Bloggers Learn Price of Telling Too Much
This article at MyWay.com should serve as a reminder of the pitfalls and dangers of blogging. I especially agree with the comment about a Facebook entry coming back to bite someone in fifteen years or so.