SO, AFTER Arizona passes a no-destroy, gun buy-back law…

Phoenix rolling out largest gun buy-back in city history

By Jim Cross
Originally published: May 1, 2013 – 5:00 am

“Now, Just Look Over Here Where I’m Pointing…”

While we were all engrossed with the drama that is terrorists being treated as common criminals, and before that, The Senate voting on how to control and spin our natural rights, ‘they’ were doing other things.

“Now, just look over here where I’m pointing…”

“Never let a crisis go to waste!” – Chicago Mayor (and former Presidential advisor Rahm Emanuel

Internet sales tax: What you need to know

Internet sales tax long overdue: Our view

Senate takes major step toward Internet sales tax

No man’s life, liberty or property is safe while the legislature is in session – Mark Twain

The media seems to think this is a good idea.  After all, how are we to pay for all this crippling debt, wars, and government handouts.  There simply aren’t enough taxes.

AGAIN, please call/write/Email your Congressmen and Senators.  And, the President (who supports Internet taxation).

Internet Taxes are BACK! Now with Congress’ and U.N. Approval!

(from my personal Email, in part…)

Dear Guffaw,

Call it the Valentine’s Day Tax Massacre.

On February 14, 2012, statists in Congress introduced S. 336, the National Internet Tax Mandate.

Of course, the tax-and-spenders sponsoring the bill mislabeled it the “Marketplace Fairness Act.~

~Under the new National Internet Tax Mandate:

*** All Americans would see their taxes go up as big spending governors of BOTH parties work with the federal government’s IRS goons to implement a state sales tax on ALL goods purchased online.

Big spending governors are running their states into bankruptcy, and – instead of reducing spending – they want the IRS to force YOU to bail them out with new Internet taxes!

*** Tax collectors in one state would now be free to pursue retailers across state lines.

For example, if a customer in New York makes a purchase from an online retailer in Texas, that retailer MUST collect New York’s exorbitant sales taxes and send it to New York’s tax collection agencies;

*** New and higher taxes would CRUSH economic growth and set the stage for massive new regulations that threaten the very existence of the Internet.~

~Now the one-world socialists at the United Nations want in on the action, as well.

Just a few months ago, the U.N. drafted a new “Telecommunications Treaty” to impose restrictive regulations, global CENSORSHIP, and a massive new tax on all Internet operations.

If ratified by the United States Senate, the United Nations’ “Telecommunications Treaty” – designed to take effect in 2015 – could give control of the Internet to U.N. bureaucrats.

Ultimately, the U.N. hopes to use this scheme to take a tax bite out of the TRILLIONS of dollars exchanging hands via Internet commerce – money that will make the U.N. a true world government.

And this National Internet Tax Mandate is playing right into their hands.~

Please go to the link above and sign Congressman Ron Paul’s No National Internet Tax Petition.  Whether or not you contribute to the cause is your business.  Internet Taxation may kill all of ours!

Customer Service Fails

So, my roomie and I frequent a local restaurant.  Actually, it’s a sports bar and grill.  We started going there a few months back, whilst exploring local businesses to support.

You all know I’m not a sports guy, but they have pretty delicious food (pulled-pork sliders topped with onion strings!, and teriyaki wings, and fish & chips-roomie’s fav.  YUM!) and a good selection of beer, including many regional microbrews.

And all was right with the world.  Until they stopped stocking our fav brew (the brewery raised their price) and consistently ignored State smoking regulations.  They have a patio, right outside the front door, intended for folks to enjoy the weather.  It is NOT a smoking area, but folks treat it as such.  And, whenever someone goes in or out, smoke comes in.  Now, smoking is legal, and I’m not particularly fond of the smell, but my roomie is asthmatic, and the slightest whiff can set her off.  We’ve complained numerous times to the fine wait staff, but the AZ legal distance to door is not consistently enforced.  And my roomie coughs up a lung and grabs for her inhaler.

I finally had enough (and perhaps one-too-many beverages) and got snarky with a waitress, then we left.  And I followed up with a more sobering email to the manager.  Hell, I said I’d buy the signage at the nearby Ace Hardware, if necessary!  We’ll see what happens.

SO, today I received a text from my pharmacy one of my meds was ready for pickup.  A great system ,except I pay for texts and I already picked up this med four days ago!  I called the pharmacy to advise them to remove the auto-message from their system, and was told they are unable to do that.  Huh?

I’m beginning to sound like an old person.  “Back in MY day, they used to pay attention to the law, and detail, and customer service, and took care of the customer!”

B&G update – I received an email response stating they apologize, and will make certain signage is more visible remind everyone of the State regulations.  Unsigned email.  Oh, well, it’s better than a poke in the eye with a frozen washcloth.  We’ll see…

Where do we go from here?

A quick perusal of about 105 blogs (and news and opinion sites – most mornings) doesn’t bode well the answer to this question.

People who support individual, Constitutional liberties over collectivist ‘it’s for the children people sea birds, snail darters et al’ rubbish are scrambling for this very answer.

It’s obvious the Grand Old Party has no backbone, and hasn’t had for some time.  Nor does their platform have anything to do with preserving American Freedoms.  It’s our government control versus their government control.

And the Democrats Progressives have been completely assimilated by the progressive movement, in the forever-forward effort to ‘fundamentally change’ the nature of this Nation.  Brick by bloody brick.   Away from its founding documents and principles.

The Libertarians! (you answer.)  While they did best this year of any election year, ever, they are still a drop in the bucket.  And, as libertarians, they philosophically don’t lust for power and control.  It’s against their nature. And the Demopublicans are reluctant to give up any of their monopoly.

The Tea Party(s)?  And there’s is a two-fold problem.  1)  There are many of them, some with differing views, and 2)  The Left has successfully painted them as racists, even though there is scant evidence of that – largely promoted by the (largely Left) media.

Want proof of anti-Constitutional furor?  It’s all over the media…

The Second Amendment has Outlived It’s Relevance to America – The Staten Island Advance

Let’s Give Up On The Constitution – The New York Times

Haven’t 95% of all elected federal officials already done that, beginning with denying their Oaths of Office to said Constitution?

And bloggers and commenters abound on the Internet, blustering about how they’ll stand behind every blade of grass with a rifle, and the Three-Percenters will, and the Oath Keepers will refuse to take disarmament action against United States citizens…

All while the TSA, and the FBI and the NSA and a myriad-of-alphabet-soup-other-agencies quietly and consistent erode all of our civil liberties, with the tacit approval of Congress and multiple Presidents!

SO…where DO we go?

It’s for the children, you know…

THESE are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated.  -  Thomas Paine (1776)

Christmas Gift Idea!

For that little glow-in-the-dark child in all of us…

 Gilbert U-238 Atomic Energy Lab

Only available from 1951-1952, this science kit for CHILDREN included 4 types of uranium ore, a Geiger counter, a comic called “Dagwood Spits The Atom” and a coupon for ordering MORE radioactive materials. One of the four uranium ores included was Po-210 (Polonium) which, by mass, is 250,000 times more toxic than hydrogen cyanide. “Merry Christmas Kevin, here’s that giant box of poison you asked for.”

TANSTAAFL

I just finished a conversation with my Roomie today with regard to this Robert A. Heinlein (PBUH) concept.  There Ain’t No Such Thing As A Free Lunch.

Someone always pays.

Perhaps if capitalists who ran businesses were painted as helping their employees by providing jobs and benefits (or not), instead of evil rich robber barons praying on the poor, this concept would be more widely accepted.

I recognize in today’s United States, some folks have little choice on where to work or for what wage.  And relocating may not be a viable option.  There are company towns.  This is why unions developed.

But now, unions cost the workers (much as the robber barons did) and cost their employees jobs, or even careers (witness Hostess), while the companies go bankrupt and the union bosses get richer.

And card check deprives the union member of a secret vote, allowing undue influence and/or coercion to influence union votes.

It’s funny how the Internet weaves it’s news so some folks blame management for a business’ demise (by not knuckling-under to union demands), other folks blame the unions (the rank-and-file.  translation:  class warfare).  And some folks blame the union bosses.

And now it’s reported a Mexican baking concern may take over this confection bakery business.  Think of it – no HFCS, no GMO, no unions, cheap labor, jobs for the poor.  And free market/free trade in action.  And El Twinkies return!

Of course, fewer jobs here…

Bullets Beans and Bullion

The ubiquitous Gun Blog Black List always seems to be adding different and interesting items to their content.  Today, I noticed a listing for Bullets Beans and Bullion.

While technically not a blog, it does present an interesting compilation of links.  Blogs, reference materials, news. politics, all designed to attract thoughtful readers.  Many wearing tin-foil chapeaus.

Preppers, gun folks, libertarians, anarchists, conservatives, political junkies, bullion hoarders.  During my initial cursory review, I even spotted something for Lyndon LaRouche fans!  Different strokes, what?

The columns differentiate types of links as follows:  Economics     Bullets, Beans
Bullion     Alternative Media    Miscellaneous/New Blogs

I’ve not had a chance to check it all out (because there is MUCH content), but it appears interesting and if you add a comment you may very well have your blog or website added into the mix!

Don we now our metallic apparel and go take a look see.

We Reserve The Right To Refuse Service…

This came to me from good friends in Texas.  Not being a lawyer (or playing one on the Internet) I don’t know it it crosses any legal lines with regard to discrimination.

There is that line between running one’s business as one sees fit versus discrimination and bigotry.

We Reserve The Right To Refuse Service…

h/t Boyd & Donna

Buycotts?

The latest thing that’s ‘all the rage’ is the dust-up over the fast food chain Chic-fil-A.  It seems the company president, in an interview, professed to follow some Biblical tenets regarding homosexuality, with respect to his feelings regarding gay marriage.  (A Secret – he didn’t like it.)

Of course, this should be of no surprise to anyone.  It has been well-established that he has outed himself as a Christian, and that as such believes such things.  He has his company closed on Sunday, for religious reasons.  It’s been this way for years.  And reportedly his company complies with all Federal and State Laws with regard to employment and customer service.  You may buy chicken there or even work there if you disagree with the company president!

The Left and anti-Christian folks have had a cow regarding his opinion, and have not only threatened a buycott of Chil-fil-A, but violence has been threatened.

Why does the Left always seem to threaten violence?  I thought they were all First Amendment and such?  Oh, I get it, as long as it’s something with which they agree, then they like the First Amendment.  The company Chik-fil-A shouldn’t have such a vile opinion.

Of course, the company doesn’t have the opinion, just the CEO.

I did link to Tam’s buycott suggestion the other day.  I’m not against buycotts, it’s a legitimate way to express one’s feelings.  Don’t buy XXX’s product or service.  Show your disagreement with your feet, not with violence.

If you don’t want to support Chik-fil-A, or Tactical Firearms of Katy Texas, or the LGBT movement, these are your choices.  Or not.  This is still a free country.  Last time I checked.

I wonder if the people protesting Chik-fil-A also protest Muslim-owned businesses, because the Koran states homosexuals should be killed?  Probably not – protesting Muslim-owned businesses is politically-incorrect.

And I’m certain all those new customers going to Chik-fil-A (lines ’round the block) are all hate-filled cretins who deserve some horrible death.

NO, they might just be supporting that First Amendment right of the company president.  They may even disagree with him.

THIS is what The United States is supposed to embody.

“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”
– The Friends of Voltaire, Beatrice Hall, 1906

h/t Tamara Keel, Voltaire