Predator.
Prey.
Understand the differences. Know your role, play your part. Use the environment to your advantage...watch for those who do the same. Be aware.
Emulate the wolf...or the sheep. Your choice.
Newbius
Showing posts with label Truth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Truth. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Stories
Had a wonderful evening with OldNFO. Good times. One of the things that we discussed was how much of our history, our heritage, is being lost because the stories aren't being told. If you have a family member who is of the "Greatest Generation", please get them to tell their story.
To them, it may not be anything important. To them, their life is just what they did to get by. To us, it is a touch-point of a time and a people who were more important in shaping the world as we know it than anybody realizes. Their stories, their histories, need to be captured. Lest we forget who we are as a people, a nation, an ideal.
Pax,
Newbius
To them, it may not be anything important. To them, their life is just what they did to get by. To us, it is a touch-point of a time and a people who were more important in shaping the world as we know it than anybody realizes. Their stories, their histories, need to be captured. Lest we forget who we are as a people, a nation, an ideal.
Pax,
Newbius
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
QOTD-Glenn Beck
Heard today on his show (while setting up the sponsor spot for GoldLine):
Quoted for truth.
Diversification: If you have all of your wealth in your 401(k), you're in trouble. If you have all of your wealth in Gold, you're in trouble. If you have all of your wealth in Lead, Brass, and Steel...well, you're probably OK. You need to diversify...
Quoted for truth.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Sunday, January 8, 2012
No Candlelight Vigil here.
Sorry folks. I am not lighting candles for the "victims of gun violence", no matter how well-intentioned the PR campaign-for-relevance is. I have two "victims of gun violence" in my own family and at least one friend too, and I am not playing the game of "blame the tool, not the wielder". The Brady Campaign can suck it.
My son was not mugged by a gun. He was mugged by a mugger who used a gun. My friend was not robbed by a gun, he was robbed by a robber who armed himself with a gun. My uncle died from a gunshot wound, and the gun did not fire itself.
I carry a gun. Daily. Not because I have something to prove, because I don't. I carry a gun daily because it is the most effective tool for self defense that I own. My wife now owns one of her very own, too.
The Brady Campaign would tell you that my wife would be better off in an encounter with a mugger, rapist, or murderer if she just gave them whatever they wanted. Just lie back and think of England, or some-such rot. Nonsense. Why should we acquiesce to the predators in our society? Why should we allow our finest and fairest to be victimized, just so some milquetoast, namby-pamby, progressive policy wonks can feel better about themselves? Screw that. I am done playing their games.
In honor of those who have sacrificed everything, so that we can have our Liberty, here is a tribute. To our Fighting men and women of the military, and to those freedom fighters everywhere in the world striving to keep the flame of Liberty alive, I salute you. I stand ready to join you at the call.
Maybe my wife will even let me borrow her gun... :)
Pax,
Newbius
My son was not mugged by a gun. He was mugged by a mugger who used a gun. My friend was not robbed by a gun, he was robbed by a robber who armed himself with a gun. My uncle died from a gunshot wound, and the gun did not fire itself.
I carry a gun. Daily. Not because I have something to prove, because I don't. I carry a gun daily because it is the most effective tool for self defense that I own. My wife now owns one of her very own, too.
The Brady Campaign would tell you that my wife would be better off in an encounter with a mugger, rapist, or murderer if she just gave them whatever they wanted. Just lie back and think of England, or some-such rot. Nonsense. Why should we acquiesce to the predators in our society? Why should we allow our finest and fairest to be victimized, just so some milquetoast, namby-pamby, progressive policy wonks can feel better about themselves? Screw that. I am done playing their games.
In honor of those who have sacrificed everything, so that we can have our Liberty, here is a tribute. To our Fighting men and women of the military, and to those freedom fighters everywhere in the world striving to keep the flame of Liberty alive, I salute you. I stand ready to join you at the call.
Maybe my wife will even let me borrow her gun... :)
Pax,
Newbius
Friday, December 9, 2011
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Quoted For Truth - Maestro Pistolero
From THIS thread at CalGuns Forum (in reference to Bloomie's Illegal mayors):
njineermike: "They should change their name to MAAG - Mayors Against All Guns. It's a lot closer to the truth."
Maestro Pistolero: "MAFIA- Mayors Against Firearms In America"
MAFIA. I like it. I wonder if the name is already taken?
njineermike: "They should change their name to MAAG - Mayors Against All Guns. It's a lot closer to the truth."
Maestro Pistolero: "MAFIA- Mayors Against Firearms In America"
MAFIA. I like it. I wonder if the name is already taken?
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
The Top 1%
In my post below about our kitchen flood, commenter Bubblehead Les asked me how it felt to be in the Top 1% (because I actually had enough emergency fund money set aside to pay cash for a $1,300 refrigerator). All snark aside, the ability to purchase luxury goods and services because I earned and saved some money is indeed nice. Make no mistake, refrigeration *IS* a luxury. Most of the world has to do without it.
Strictly speaking though, the top 1% worldwide is not a very high bar. Our poorest citizens, those making <$5,000 per year, are in the top 15% of income earners worldwide. Does this make them rich? It depends upon your perspective. In the abstract, it does. In our Second World economy with its high cost of living? Not really.
According to the Census Department, we have 118,682,000 households reporting income in 2010. Dividing this into fifths (quintiles), you get 23,736,000 households in each quintile.
In terms of quintiles, our bottom 20%, with incomes under $20,000 annually, are in the top 15% (that bar being only about $2500 per year).
The second quintile, with incomes between $20,000 and $38039, is in the top 10% worldwide.
Our middle fifth (the average earners in our nation), with incomes between $38,040 and $61,719, is in the top 1% worldwide.
I will let you refer to the charts to glean what information you can. Generally speaking those people who work, have some education, and make good choices about relationships tend to do better than those who don't.
We live in the greatest country the world has even known. We have the ability to do almost anything in an attempt to earn a living. We can choose to save, spend, invest, or squander whatever we earn. We have choices open to us that most of the world can only dream of.
Attempting to change our economic meritocracy into a system of cronyism, rent-seeking, Marxist-redistributionism, or Socialism in the name of "Democracy" and "Fairness" misses the fundamental aspects of our Republic: Equality of opportunity and preservation of property rights. What you work for, what you *EARN*, you get to keep (most of, anyway) or dispose of as you will. It is too bad that the useful idiots in the "OccupySomething" protests weren't taught this in college.
Make good choices, you can buy luxury goods and services. Make poor choices, live a life that is relatively poorer as a consequence. Works for me.
Pax,
Newbius
2010 Census data on Income Quintiles and Income Distribution
Worldwide data pulled from Globalrichlist.com
Strictly speaking though, the top 1% worldwide is not a very high bar. Our poorest citizens, those making <$5,000 per year, are in the top 15% of income earners worldwide. Does this make them rich? It depends upon your perspective. In the abstract, it does. In our Second World economy with its high cost of living? Not really.
According to the Census Department, we have 118,682,000 households reporting income in 2010. Dividing this into fifths (quintiles), you get 23,736,000 households in each quintile.
In terms of quintiles, our bottom 20%, with incomes under $20,000 annually, are in the top 15% (that bar being only about $2500 per year).
The second quintile, with incomes between $20,000 and $38039, is in the top 10% worldwide.
Our middle fifth (the average earners in our nation), with incomes between $38,040 and $61,719, is in the top 1% worldwide.
I will let you refer to the charts to glean what information you can. Generally speaking those people who work, have some education, and make good choices about relationships tend to do better than those who don't.
We live in the greatest country the world has even known. We have the ability to do almost anything in an attempt to earn a living. We can choose to save, spend, invest, or squander whatever we earn. We have choices open to us that most of the world can only dream of.
Attempting to change our economic meritocracy into a system of cronyism, rent-seeking, Marxist-redistributionism, or Socialism in the name of "Democracy" and "Fairness" misses the fundamental aspects of our Republic: Equality of opportunity and preservation of property rights. What you work for, what you *EARN*, you get to keep (most of, anyway) or dispose of as you will. It is too bad that the useful idiots in the "OccupySomething" protests weren't taught this in college.
Make good choices, you can buy luxury goods and services. Make poor choices, live a life that is relatively poorer as a consequence. Works for me.
Pax,
Newbius
2010 Census data on Income Quintiles and Income Distribution
Worldwide data pulled from Globalrichlist.com
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Occupy "Whatever" is misnamed
They should instead call themselves "Starnesville_New York" or "Starnesville_Baltimore", and so on. Democratizing outcomes by vote and rote will only ensure lousy outcomes.
When the producers refuse to play, and refuse to be prey, what then? You can only 'eat the rich' once. After that, you have to become a producer yourself (or become prey). Think about that.
Newbius
When the producers refuse to play, and refuse to be prey, what then? You can only 'eat the rich' once. After that, you have to become a producer yourself (or become prey). Think about that.
Newbius
Friday, September 23, 2011
Media marketing
When confronted with media today (especially Social Media), it will help you to understand that YOU are the product being marketed, and then act accordingly.
Every secret, every action, every link that can be made to tie you to products and services will be exploited to the fullest. Every item of personal content is another check in someone's box to define how to sell you something. Further, every link put out there is also useful to others in identifying you, no matter how anonymous you desire to be.
Think about it.
Every secret, every action, every link that can be made to tie you to products and services will be exploited to the fullest. Every item of personal content is another check in someone's box to define how to sell you something. Further, every link put out there is also useful to others in identifying you, no matter how anonymous you desire to be.
Think about it.
Friday, September 16, 2011
QOTD-Joe Huffman (correction: Lyle)
Fundamentally Transform THISThe whole post is truth, and pretty much describes how I live my life as well. I think most minarchist libertarians (formerly known as classic liberals) feel the same way. Go read the whole thing.
Newbius
Thursday, September 15, 2011
QOTD-Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. (D-CA)
As reported in the Sacramento Bee (threatening vetoes):
I quote the above for the truth that it represents. Not every human problem requires a new law to address (paraphrasing something else that Jerry Brown stated recently). It is time to take Jerry Brown's example, and apply it to our national legislature. Instead of constantly asking Congress for new laws, perhaps we should be mailing Sharpie pens to them instead. Let them redact whole sections of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations. It would be a good start.
Newbius
"...You've given me 600 bills, and there's not 600 problems that we need those solutions for."I am no fan of Jerry Brown. I despised him during his last stint in the Governor's chair. The Rose Byrd court that he foisted upon California was a disaster that is still having effects 30 years later. Yet, he seems to have matured a little. Perhaps some wisdom comes with age after all.
I quote the above for the truth that it represents. Not every human problem requires a new law to address (paraphrasing something else that Jerry Brown stated recently). It is time to take Jerry Brown's example, and apply it to our national legislature. Instead of constantly asking Congress for new laws, perhaps we should be mailing Sharpie pens to them instead. Let them redact whole sections of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations. It would be a good start.
Newbius
Thursday, September 1, 2011
QOTD - Popups
"Popups" at Calguns had this to say. I liked it so much it is today's QOTD:
Newbius
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..."government cannot take your rights; they can only use force to stop you from using them. To pass any "law" that infringes your rights, is actually a decree of how much force the government wants to use against you."Word.
Newbius
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Wednesday, August 31, 2011
First they came for my...
Billy Beck puts a fine point on it.
Selective enforcement of arcane and difficult-to-understand laws (or laws from another country entirely), to appease supporters and punish opponents, is the crowning hallmark of tyrannical government. The government that is big enough to give you what you want, is big enough to take anything they can from you. A government which reaches into personal social preference, rather than ensuring personal Liberty, is a government ripe for abuse by those in power and will be used eventually to oppress the people.
Those of you on the right who want to push the Gay and Drug and Marriage issues, and those of you on the left who want to push the Gay and Environmental and Welfare issues, have now gotten the government that you asked for. And brothers and sisters, you asked for it.
Do you Love it? Do you hate it? There it is, the way you made it. - Frank Zappa
The Endarkenment continues apace. Hope you like it. Hope you are prepared.
Newbius
|||
Selective enforcement of arcane and difficult-to-understand laws (or laws from another country entirely), to appease supporters and punish opponents, is the crowning hallmark of tyrannical government. The government that is big enough to give you what you want, is big enough to take anything they can from you. A government which reaches into personal social preference, rather than ensuring personal Liberty, is a government ripe for abuse by those in power and will be used eventually to oppress the people.
Those of you on the right who want to push the Gay and Drug and Marriage issues, and those of you on the left who want to push the Gay and Environmental and Welfare issues, have now gotten the government that you asked for. And brothers and sisters, you asked for it.
Do you Love it? Do you hate it? There it is, the way you made it. - Frank Zappa
The Endarkenment continues apace. Hope you like it. Hope you are prepared.
Newbius
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Friday, August 26, 2011
QOTD - Josey Wales
"Now remember, when things look bad and it looks like you're not going to make it, then you gotta get mean. I mean plum, mad-dog, mean. 'Cause if you lose your head and you give up, then you neither live nor win. That's just the way it is."Clint Eastwood, The Outlaw Josey Wales
Or, to put it another way:
"Never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, give up. Never give up. Never give up. Never give up."Winston Churchill, October 29, 1941
I needed that.
Newbius
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Wednesday, August 24, 2011
QOTD- Tam Slick
In an aside about helmet laws, Tam brings the full force of RIGHTS down on the 'anti' argument about guns:
Sometimes I think we try too hard. We really DO have all of the facts, figures, and statistics to back up our side on the gun issue. More powerfully though, we have THE RIGHT to own, carry, and use our guns; and more importantly, we have the RIGHT whether codified in the law or not.
Because we have the right to life, and the right to defend that life, period.
Newbius
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...this is one of my biggest gripes about wading into fact- and data-laden poo-flinging arguments with anti-gunners about crime rates and murders-per-100k and so forth. The correct answer is "Where the hell do you get off thinking you can tell me I can't own a gun? I don't care if every other gun owner on the planet went out and murdered somebody last night. I didn't. So piss off."Bravo.
Sometimes I think we try too hard. We really DO have all of the facts, figures, and statistics to back up our side on the gun issue. More powerfully though, we have THE RIGHT to own, carry, and use our guns; and more importantly, we have the RIGHT whether codified in the law or not.
Because we have the right to life, and the right to defend that life, period.
Newbius
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Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Yep. What he said
Uncle Jay says it all.
I cannot improve, except to remind people that weird stuff happens whether you are prepared for it or not. Therefore, be prepared for it.
ALWAYS have your gun ready. Always have at least one more within easy reach. I carry at home, all day, every day. There are more guns strategically placed in case I need them. The likelihood of *actually* needing them is pretty small, but it is not non-existent.
When the ride gets rough, will you be ready?
Newbius
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H/T Borepatch
I cannot improve, except to remind people that weird stuff happens whether you are prepared for it or not. Therefore, be prepared for it.
ALWAYS have your gun ready. Always have at least one more within easy reach. I carry at home, all day, every day. There are more guns strategically placed in case I need them. The likelihood of *actually* needing them is pretty small, but it is not non-existent.
When the ride gets rough, will you be ready?
Newbius
|||
H/T Borepatch
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
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