Back after nearly 4 years........

From time to time I get comments from people asking me why I stopped blogging almost four years ago and there are two main reasons. First, when I joined Facebook in 2009 it seemed to me at the time to be a more interesting and interactive way to share words and pictures on the web, so I began a gradual hiatus away from blogging and started hanging out in Mr. Zuckerberg's neighborhood. Secondly, when I attempted to get back on to my blog after several years I discovered that I had forgotten the proper passwords to access my account. This didn't really bother me at the time and I let it go at that. I decided that it was a historical document that I could look back on with pride that reflected a particular person during a specific period of time. Recently, however, while going over a few old blog posts I noticed some glaring typos which I wanted to correct and after going through several different incorrect passwords I finally hit upon the one that allowed me back in. I found the key under the mat and so here I am back in the blogosphere after a long time away.

I'm not sure what I'll write about this time around or the photos I'll be sharing but I'm looking forward to writing longer pieces again and hope y'all will find something interesting and, hopefully, compelling in what I have to say.

Happy New Year!

My neighborhood as seen from the Asian side of the Bosphorus.

Private property rights should rule supreme

There are two news stories floating around in the 24-hour spin cycle which concern supposed discrimination being perpetrated by the Mormon Church and a private pool in Philadelphia. It seems that the Mormons had asked some gay men to leave the church plaza in Salt Lake City for making a public display of affection to one another, while in Philly it was a private pool that had decided that allowing a large group of inner-city black youth to use their facility was a mistake and denied them access.

In both cases the dreaded specter of "discrimination" has begun to rear its ugly head over both incidents. Well, yes, that IS what this is. Discrimination. That this is also the very essence of private property rights and what true liberty is all about should not be lost on any of us. When something is privately held it is your right and privilege, to yes, discriminate. I have the right to keep people out of my house that are unwelcome and so does the LDS Church and the Valley Club in Pennsylvania.

Do I personally agree with these decisions? That does not matter one iota. The fact that these privately held entities decided to act in their own self interest on their own property is all that matters. Period. By asserting their private property rights they have put a healthy check on tyranny and a boost to liberty for us all.

Mormons: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-07-10-utah-gay-couple_N.htm

Philadelphia pool: http://snipurl.com/mp5ue

"As a man is said to have a right to his property, he may be equally said to have a property in his rights." ------James Madison

Returning to the gold standard

Russia wants to return to the gold standard. Well, it's about time someone got it right:

http://snipurl.com/ex83q

Lynyrd Skynyrd keyboardist Billy Powell Dies

Lynyrd Skynyrd keyboard player Billy Powell died today at his home in Florida of natural causes. He was one of the greats of Southern rock and with his death there is only one last remaining original member of the band that is still alive, guitarist Gary Rossington.

The heavenly reunion of one of the best bands to ever play rock 'n roll draws ever nearer.

http://snipurl.com/awb6a

What's really happening in Gaza

The reality of bombing Gaza.

Just wanted to post a link for my American friends who may not have the wherewithal to delve much beyond the state worshiping media here at home and may want to get a tiny glimpse at what Israeli bombs (U.S. manufactured and taxpayer funded) really do when they land in Gaza.

May God have mercy on all of our souls.

http://palestinian.ning.com/forum/topics/the-other-side-of-the-story

Kirby passes

Kirby (2000 - 2008)

Bill & Janel Bassett's beloved dog Kirby passed away a few days ago in Springdale, Utah. According to Bill the whole canyon community is in mourning as they lost a great friend that had acquired the nickname of the Doggie Lama due to his human-like intelligence and warm personality.

In addition to being a member of the Bassett family he also ran unsuccessfully for a Springdale town council seat in 2003 with the memorable campaign slogan: "Make no bones about it, Kirby is the best doggone candidate for Springdale."

He will be sorely missed.

Some Change!

It was quite a sickening spectacle to endure all of the sycophantic nonsense concerning the sudden messianic rise of a slick Chicago machine politician into the office of the U.S. presidency. With all of the wild and ecstatic hoo-hollering from the masses over this charlatan and his hollow sounding promises of CHANGE, even I was starting to think something really new and important was about happen.

No. I didn't really think that.

I am, though, beginning to get a better picture of what that word may actually mean to the anointed Savior of America and think that, so far, his initial moves have been quite impressive:

The first big momentous CHANGE that has occurred was his decision to bring the Clinton clan back into the Executive branch of the federal gummit. The nomination of war-hawk Hillary has drawn rave reviews from such fringe radicals as Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld and Henry Kissinger.

Clinton era retread and political attack dog Rahm Emanuel is a nice touch for chief-of-staff as is Eric Holder (Attorney General) and John Podesta who also hail from that illustrious team of policy wonks and wise men who formerly infested the vaunted West Wing of the White House. Is James Carville not too far behind?

For Treasury Secretary we have Tim Geithner, the power-elite's flunky at the New York Federal Reserve. No surprise, since he's been touted by the likes of Alan Greenspan and Ben Bernake.

Geithner's resume is impressive: Kissinger and Associates, Council on Foreign Relations, International Monetary Fund and the G30. But he likes to fly-fish, play tennis, and surf, so I think that balances him out.

Bill Richardson, another leftover from the Clinton administration (Energy Secretary) is now going to be the Commerce Secretary. Does anybody out there know what actual duties that job entails? Or Energy for that matter? Oh, I almost forgot, he's also the most important Hispanic member of the team. Remember Roberto Gonzalez? You always gotta have at least one.

The current Bush appointed Defense Secretary Robert Gates has been invited to stay on to help keep the war machine humming as the bloody occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan continue unabated. The Messiah has hinted that he may want to attack Pakistan or Iran sometime in the near future so it's probably smart to have guys like Gates around when the need arises to implement further carnage.

So far, I'd say that's some pretty impressive CHANGE.

Can't wait to see what other NEW and exciting things unfold after the Holy Anointing on January 20th.

Is Maya Angelou going to read an Inaugural poem, again?