Merry Christmas!!

Addison

Thought Provoking

"A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship. The average age of the world's greatest civilizations from the beginning of history has been about 200 years. During those 200 years, these nations always progressed through the following sequence:

From bondage to spiritual faith;
From spiritual faith to great courage;
From courage to liberty;
From liberty to abundance;
From abundance to complacency;
From complacency to apathy;
From apathy to dependence;
From dependence back into bondage."

- Tytler (unverified)

Just for Jared...

Reagan 1964

Same problems, different century...

Trip Video

click HD, it's better that way.

Home...

It was a truly great trip and I feel very refreshed after about 10 hours of sleep.

I've got probably 1,400 pictures to go through. Amidst the hundreds of very serious faces I shot over the last two weeks I got one to crack and the progression of it is definitely one of my favorites.

South Africa

We've made!

After about 30 hours of travel we are right on the boarder of Mozambique and South Africa. The view is beautiful, God is very good! Thanks for all of your prayers. I'll try to update more later.

The view from where we're staying tonight.

The Sotomayor Diversion

Some things I've noticed over the last 7 months of our new government in Washington.

1. Every presented piece of legislation is essential to our continued existence.
2. Legislation is pushed through congress with very little discussion.
3. Important legislation almost appears hidden by the media, behind other 'important' news stories.

The third observation to me is currently the most troubling.

Last month the House pushed through a Federal Climate Bill with a 'Cap and Trade' mechanism intended to reduce carbon emissions 82% by 2050. Just about every analyst recognizes the ultimate tax implications of this bill, but thankfully none of those details had to be debated by congress. The American people were basically asleep as this legislation passed, hypnotized by the constant drone of Michael Jackson news on every network and cable news channel!

This week network and cable news is almost completely focused upon the Sotomayor confirmation hearings on Capitol Hill. As historic as they may be, they provide the perfect cover for the administrations health care debate and hate crimes prevention bill, up for vote this week.

I guess the best course of action is just to close my eyes, think happy thoughts... perhaps turn on some MJ tunes and trust that the government has my best in view.

Biased intent?

The following question was posed to my wife (and fellow students) for discussion in her online Sociology class. I'd very much appreciate your thoughtful comments... I'll be posting mine after I hear from some of you.

At a time when Muslim doctors and engineers stand accused of attempting atrocities in the expectation of supernatural reward, when the Catholic Church still preaches the sinfulness of condom use in villages devastated by AIDS, when religious leaders convinced many Californians to write in their constitution discrimination against gay and lesbians, when the former president of the United States repeatedly vetoed the most promising medical research for religious reasons, when some Christian fundamentalists leaders and many American politicians insist that they do not believe in evolution as an explanation of life's origin, is religion a denial of reason and science? Is religion inevitably connected to violence and intolerance? Is religion a social problem in the contemporary world?

comment directly by email at miles@ccesco.com or click the comments link below, or on facebook

The new GM: Green Logo?

The AP is reporting (msnbcc) that GM is talking about changing it's logo background color from the current blue to green as it steps through it's bankruptcy proceedings (with loads of our dime). I wonder just how much $$$ this stupid move is going to cost. Is it really necessary to put up money (probably in the millions) to make such a pidley change?

People briefed on its plans say the company is looking into changing... in an effort to show consumers that it is leaner and greener, more focused on fuel efficiency and better able to make quick decisions.

SERIOUSLY?

STUPID!

Saving that cheerio for later...

Independence

When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Natures’ God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the cause which impel them to the separation.

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. - That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundations on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

Cheerios

Our newest trick... chewing Cheerios with 2 teeth :)

Don't you love the hair do?

Seriously?

Sometimes you just wonder, "What exactly were they thinking when they decided to pay $70 annually to attach that to their car?" Hmmmm...