"We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness"
If those words don't sound familiar, I can't help you.
A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.
If those words don't sound familiar, I can't help you.
What I can do, is hope that every American takes some time to look at this current debate individually. And to take it a step further by trying to isolate mass-murders and the NRA's overwhelming need to line the pockets of countless state and federal legislators, let alone their own NASCAR race. If as an individual, you have difficulty understanding a common-sense approach to purchasing lethal fire-power, which includes expanding background checks, I say again, I can't help you.
The discourse in this Country has gotten out of hand on pretty much every issue that comes to the Floor of our Capitol Building. My thought on the issue--we had the words of our nation's independence long before the 2nd Amendment, "with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness."
Think about those words the next time you hear about an innocent person(s) killed due to gun violence. What about their life? Their pursuit of Happiness? If your pursuit of Happiness includes owning a gun or cache of weapons greater than your average SWAT team, then I can only hope you have to go through a mandatory waiting period, and a more extensive background check.
Until then, I suppose the NRA will continue on their path of, "iiWii, we have our 2nd Amendment right," while our brethren in Newtown, CT, Aurora, CO, Blacksburg, VA are undoubtedly struggle, and unfortunately may never find again, their pursuit of Happiness.
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
.0022
iiwii, but my best friend sent me an article today that i just couldn't seem to wrap my head around, so i decided to dig a little deeper. here is said article: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/03/30/scientist-alternative-career/2002879/
when you think about $30 billion, that's a big number. then take a look at the numbers i pulled from the US Census... the National Science Foundation represented just .0022-percent of the federal budget in 2011. reading that USA Today article, I'm reminded of a time I've only read about in the history books--NASA's Apollo missions. One of my favorite facts of that era is that the average age of the scientists at Mission Control when Apollo 11 splashed down was.... wait for it... 28 years old!
okay, sure, that group of dedicated young scientists weren't necessarily finding a cure for cancer, or a lightbulb that lasts 55 years, but think about that--then put it in the context of that article... if you're like me, you don't like the idea of young scientists being limited in their ability to do what they do best.
when you think about $30 billion, that's a big number. then take a look at the numbers i pulled from the US Census... the National Science Foundation represented just .0022-percent of the federal budget in 2011. reading that USA Today article, I'm reminded of a time I've only read about in the history books--NASA's Apollo missions. One of my favorite facts of that era is that the average age of the scientists at Mission Control when Apollo 11 splashed down was.... wait for it... 28 years old!
okay, sure, that group of dedicated young scientists weren't necessarily finding a cure for cancer, or a lightbulb that lasts 55 years, but think about that--then put it in the context of that article... if you're like me, you don't like the idea of young scientists being limited in their ability to do what they do best.
Saturday, April 6, 2013
support this. now.
when the Obama administration unveils its budget this week, there is an expected, large increase in VA benefits for our nations heroes; i can only hope this funding gets approved. as a nation, we owe our men and women in uniform everything!
support this. write your Congressman; Senator; let's make sure they are supported 110%.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/06/us/administration-to-increase-spending-on-veterans-programs.html?src=rechp
support this. write your Congressman; Senator; let's make sure they are supported 110%.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/06/us/administration-to-increase-spending-on-veterans-programs.html?src=rechp
Friday, April 5, 2013
here we go again...
The NYT article linked below brings to light once again that our legislative leaders in Washington would rather duke things out via the media than actually sitting in a room and figuring out a compromise for We the People.
I have heard the argument before that our democratic system of government was designed in such a way that calls for stalemates--much like the one we've been living through for the last decade it seems. Looking back through history however, we'd be hard-pressed to not realize our nation was formed by the illustrious 'C' word--Compromise. The word has become nothing more than a political volleyball.
I liked the NYT article below because it comes at the issue of inflation relative to Social Security from both the left and the right. I give the President credit for even bringing the idea to the table. As I mentioned in my very 1st post, we can not continue to turn a blind eye to the problems with Social Security. As a young professional with roughly 30+ years of work still ahead of me, I am hopeful that the money taken out of my paycheck every 2 weeks isn't being flushed down a toilet--but it's hard to feel otherwise when our so called leaders in Washington can't seem to find a way to work together.
iiwii for now.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/06/us/politics/obama-budget-is-dismissed-by-gop-and-attacked-by-left.html?hp&_r=0
I have heard the argument before that our democratic system of government was designed in such a way that calls for stalemates--much like the one we've been living through for the last decade it seems. Looking back through history however, we'd be hard-pressed to not realize our nation was formed by the illustrious 'C' word--Compromise. The word has become nothing more than a political volleyball.
I liked the NYT article below because it comes at the issue of inflation relative to Social Security from both the left and the right. I give the President credit for even bringing the idea to the table. As I mentioned in my very 1st post, we can not continue to turn a blind eye to the problems with Social Security. As a young professional with roughly 30+ years of work still ahead of me, I am hopeful that the money taken out of my paycheck every 2 weeks isn't being flushed down a toilet--but it's hard to feel otherwise when our so called leaders in Washington can't seem to find a way to work together.
iiwii for now.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/06/us/politics/obama-budget-is-dismissed-by-gop-and-attacked-by-left.html?hp&_r=0
Thursday, April 4, 2013
good coffee
http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/the-insider/Philly-coffee-shop-ranked-1-in-America.html
Congratulations to this homegrown, Philly coffee shop on being named the #1 coffee shop in America via thedailymeal.com; I personally have not visited either of these shops, but I suppose I will need to drop by and see what the hype is all about.
Having been certified as a 'super-taster' by a close friend with a Ph.D. in Neuroscience (smartypants) I'm fairly confident to identify a great cup of coffee. On the flipside, Smartypants' better-half, also a Ph.D. in some sort of biology, thinks I'm full of $#!$ because I also happen to enjoy a cup of WaWa's finest, regular blend.
Just don't offer me an iced-coffee.
Congratulations to this homegrown, Philly coffee shop on being named the #1 coffee shop in America via thedailymeal.com; I personally have not visited either of these shops, but I suppose I will need to drop by and see what the hype is all about.
Having been certified as a 'super-taster' by a close friend with a Ph.D. in Neuroscience (smartypants) I'm fairly confident to identify a great cup of coffee. On the flipside, Smartypants' better-half, also a Ph.D. in some sort of biology, thinks I'm full of $#!$ because I also happen to enjoy a cup of WaWa's finest, regular blend.
Just don't offer me an iced-coffee.
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