The Bigsibling Blog

More on government trying to run private businesses. kowtowing to special interests to the detriment of industry – and all of us. The senate has recently passed a bill mandating a 40% increase in mileage for all cars, SUVs and trucks by 2020, and requiring huge increases in the production of ethanol.

What I am seeing here is, “it doesn’t matter what the consequences are to industry or the individual, we are going to make theses requirements.” Other than using diesel, I don’t see how a 1 ton dually is going to get the mandated 35 MPG and still have enough power and torque to do what it needs to do.

The other part is what bothers me the most; that is the requirement for increases in ethanol production. Who are they requiring to produce it? And does it matter whether the companies forced into this production can profit from it? I don’t think the Dems care whether anyone can profit from it. As long as it satisfies the special interests and kowtows to faithful follower of the Church of AlGoreism and their global warming brouhaha.

By what right? By what right to people who have not financial stake in whether a company lives or dies, make decisions on how that company should be run or what it should produce? Is that some innate right that people have? To be able to force industry to bend to their will, not by supporting or rejecting what that industry produces, but by sheer force of want or need?

When did this happen in America? When is it that the needs of someone outweighed reason and common sense? Just because one needs ethanol, why is it that a company is obligated to make it for them? Why can’t they make their own ethanol? Why is it that they must force another to supply their needs? Whatever happened to fulfilling one’s own needs? Where did that go? If I need a glass of water, I get up and get myself a glass of water. I don’t call the police or the fire department to come over and get me a glass of water. They are there to fulfill needs, why can’t they fulfill this need of mine? It is utterly ridiculous what is happening.

Thanks for visiting, I really do appreciate it. And I apologize for being gone the last 10 days or so. But you know…

Technorati Tags: Socialism, Congress, Gas Mileage, MPG, legislation

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I am still uncertain of what this means. After reading countless articles, blog posts and opinions, I don’t know if I am for net neutrality, or against it. If someone can help me define what side of this fence I fall on, please do so because I really, really want to know.

Here is my stance on the Internet, and its future.

The Internet has become a commercial event. I know, originally it was the land of geeks and nerds. I know it was developed by the US Government using tax payer dollars. I know that it was enhanced and expanded by the universities using (in many cases) US tax payer dollars.

But all of this was (in Internet terms) eons ago. Since the Interenet was released to the general public, and more specifically, to commericial interests, it has grown and blossomed. Sure, in some cases it shows off the worst humanity has to offer, but in most cases, it shows off the best. The innovations and leaps forward in technology of the last 15 years or so can be – at least indirectly – attributed to the Internet.

As I understand this issue there are two sides. One side wants the government to create and enforce laws that will gaurantee equal access to everyone on the Internet, at equal speeds. The other side is in favor of creating a sort of SuperNet, or Internet 2. Something akin to an Uber-Information Superhighway. This is more of a “pay to play” model whereby companies, organizations and individuals can pay money to the service providers (i.e. your cable or phone company, or AOL, NetZero and countless others) to have their content delivered with a higher priority. Kind of like priority mail.

Now, what I have garnered through my readings is that the biggest complaint people make against this type of tier delivery is that the ISPs are making money on both ends. They are charging the individual for access to the Internet, and they want to charge content providers for access to their networks. I don’t see anything wrong with this if the market will support it.

Now, let’s say CBS wants to stream a television show…like Jericho. CBS puts the show out there for everyone’s pleasure. Now AT&T comes along and tells CBS “hey, you have this TV show available, and for just $$$ a day, we will give that show preferred priority on our backbone.” CBS has the option to pay AT&T to get the priority access, or it can not pay AT&T and let the TV show stream along much as it does today. It will be up to CBS to make that decision. What does it cost you and me? Nothing.

There are those that cry “They’ll put the little guy on a slow pipe if they don’t pay.” But this is erroneous I believe. I have a deal with AT&T. For X amount of dollars per month that I pay them, they will devliver internet content at X amount of speed. If that speed were to change, I would find a new provider.

The thing is, if the market will allow the ISPs to make as much money as they can, and the government shouldn’t be involved. If the market will allow for a 2nd bandwidth tier that will deliver content faster, and the content provider is willing and able to pay for it, why not? What will it hurt me, or you, the end consumer? It won’t. We have choices on who are providers are. If we do not like the service we are getting from AT&T, then we can go with Earthlink, or cable, or any number of other service providers.

In the end, my position is one in favor of industry, in favor of capitalism, in favor of – doggon it – just keep the blasted government off everyone’s backs. Let the ISPs make a buck or two without regulating everything into nothing. If the ISPs require more money to run their backbone, and they are not allowed to charge content providers, then who do you think is going to pay for that?

So, taking all of this into mind, can someone please tell me which side of “Net Neutrality” I fall on? I just can’t figure out if I’m ‘fer it or agin it’.

Oh, and thanks for letting me rant a bit.

Technorati Tags: Net Neutrality, Government intervention, Technology

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I have some ’splainin to do here. First off, this is my blog. I own it. I devise the content for it. I pay the server space to house it. I supply the database that drives it. I have invested time and effort and little money in this baby. I like this blog. The reason this blog exists is because this beaner has opinions and ideas, and he wants to voice them. That is the beauty of the internet. The little guy is no longer silenced, but can be heard by many, many peoples of all walks of life.

What this blog is NOT is a forum for personal grievances, vendettas or other attacks. This is not a place where I will allow one visitor to maliciously demean and launch personal attacks against another visitor. With that in mind, I have been exchanging emails with a visitor who’s comment on a post I have not allowed to be posted. The comment follows:

[NAME REMOVED], has your psychiatrist been in touch with you yet? He’s looking for you, something about they released you too soon. Apparently only spending one year in that psychiatric unit wasn’t enough. I gave him your home address, I’m sure it won’t be long till the men in the white coats are knocking at your door – again.

Maybe I am just over sensitive. But this type of stuff I will not allow. It is unnecessary, and it’s only purpose is to try and cause emotional distress against one of my visitors. What is also disturbing about this post, is the reference to her “home address.” The poster seems to me to be maybe a little unstable – maybe not – but if he has this kind of hatred for her, and has her home address, who knows? The email exchange is below:

—————————- Original Message —————————-
Subject: Re: You comment at The Bigsibling Blog
From: bigsibling at bigsibling dot com
Date: Wed, June 13, 2007 9:24 am
To: [NAME REMOVED]
————————————————————————–

Here is the difference [NAME REMOVED], when she posted her criticism of you, she supplied her opinion and supporting links. Whereas you merely lashed out with a personal attack. I cannot control that you believe she ‘cyberstalks’ you.

Now, I fully understand, and even expect you to not grasp the almost, but not quite, completely unsubtle differences between her comment and your response.

I have no problem with people who disagree with me, and their comments and responses are more than welcome. But demeaning personal attacks are not welcome when launched against my visitors.

You can attack me all you want. Believe me, this beaner has seen more hatred directed against my people than you have killed terrorists (which, according to you, is quite a lot).

Again, I will not allow you to direct personal attacks against my visitors using my bandwidth, my database and my storage.

Thank you for visiting, and I certainly hope you continue to visit and leave comments.

=Bigsibling

[NAME REMOVED] is my cyberstalker. She’s all over the net, trashing me,
you allow this, yet you fail to allow me to respond to her. Most sites
have banned her.

[NAME REMOVED]
[LOCATION REMOVED]
Serving God and Country
http://[LINK REMOVED]
http://[LINK REMOVED]

—– Original Message —-
From: “bigsibling at bigsibling dot com”
To: [NAME REMOVED]
Sent: Wednesday, June 13, 2007 8:59:07 AM
Subject: You comment at The Bigsibling Blog

[NAME REMOVED],

I am deleting the message you left for [NAME REMOVED] at my blog
(http://www.bigsibling.com) because if you want to pick a fight with her,
or otherwise spew your hatred of her, please do so on your own blog, or in
her forums (http://[LINK REMOVED]). My blog is not the place to air
and/or resolve personal grievances.

But thanks for visiting! I do appreciate anyone who stops by.

=Bigsibling

To be certain, I have contacted the person this attack was directed against, and let her know about his post – which I can certainly see as a veiled threat (mentioning her home address and people coming to her door and what-not).

Oh, and I’ll update this post if new emails are exchanged. Just so everything it out and in the open. I have removed names, email and website addresses.

Thanks for stopping by.

Technorati Tags: Cyber-bullies, bullies, honor, respect, comments, blogs

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They must believe that. How else can one explain the nonsensical, non-binding, non-things being voted on? One can almost hear the Senators now:

“Sigh, there’s nothing to do”
“Hey, I know, let’s try and set a deadline for the withdrawal of troops, that ought to take up a couple of hours”
“Nah, we did that already and it didn’t work. People got kind of pissed”
“Oh, yeah, I almost forgot about that one”
“Ooh ooh, let’s see if we can find any pork in the government to cut. The people always like cutting pork”
“Yeah, but what about our campaign donors? They’ll be pissed. I’d rather have the people pissed than the donors.”
“Oh, you’re right, all the people give us are votes, and I can’t buy a yacht with a vote.”
“Hmmmm.”
“Sigh”
“I’ve got it! Let’s create a news story. It’ll make us look good. We’ll hold a non-binding vote of ‘no-confidence’ for that Gonzalez fella over there at Justice. You know, that uppity beaner there that fired all those fine Democratic attorneys.”
“Why, that’s a grand idea. We can take up lots of time debating and arguing about it before we actually get to a vote. This will make us look busy, and make certain nothing gets done in the meantime. We’ll protect our donors, and fool the people. By George, you’ve hit on a right smart idea there.”

It seems to me, if the Dems have so much time for this witch hunt, which means noting, then they must believe there isn’t any government business of more pressing matters to attend to. Which tells me that the country must be running pretty smoothly right now.

Way to go fellas!
source

Technorati Tags: Gonzalez, Democrats, Senate, No confidence, witch hunt

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A great video that every freedom loving American should see is over at hotair.com. Dennis Miller (the educated man’s comedian) really rips into Harry Reid. I usually find Miller very funny and insightful, and this one is no exception!

h/t Cap’n Dramatics Mom

Technorati Tags: Dennis Miller, Harry Reid, Video, Tongue Lashing

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I don’t get it. I just don’t get it. What is wrong with our priorities in this world? “Scooter” Libby gets 30 months (that is almost 3 years for you folks who went to public school) in a federal prison and a whopping $250K fine for lying to the FBI.

Meanwhile, back in Kansas, a guy is found guilty by a jury of his peers on 17 (SEVENTEEN) counts of rape and sodomy against a 14 (FOURTEEN) year old girl, and he gets 3 years (that is 36 months for you public school graduates) of PROBATION – just to make it clear, he gets not one night in the pokey for repeatedly raping a 14 year old girl.

Meanwhile, ol’ Scooter gets 30 months in the pen for lying. Man, our priorities are [UNMENTIONALBE]ED UP!

Technorati Tags: perjury, scooter libby, pedophiles, kansas, prison

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Marine Cpl. Adam Kokesh served two tours of duty in Iraq. He is a great man. He put himself in harms way and faced the possibility of death each and every day for those two tours. He is a great American. He deserves to be honored, and deserves each and every right that we enjoy – and he fought for. Kokesh is about two weeks shy of his departure from the Marines. His current status is what is called “Individual Ready Reserve.” This means – as far as I can tell – that he is technically still a Marine, and can be called up to serve, but that he is not currently on active duty. He lives at home, travels where he chooses, and does not report to anyone in the military regarding his daily activities.

The Marines are looking to give Kokesh a “General Discharge” instead of an “Honorable Discharge” because they believe he violated Marine rules regarding the wearing of uniforms without permission. Kokesh is claiming the Marines are violating his free speech rights. Kokesh was in an anit-war demonstration in Washington, D.C. In the demonstration he was wearing his Marine uniform – but with his name tag and insignia removed. The Marines sent him a letter saying he might have violated a rule regarding troops wearing uniforms without authorization. Kokesh reportedly responsed with a letter that said “[unmentionable] you” (according to the Shanin & Parks radio program on KMBZ 980 AM).

By contrast, let us look at Marine Cloy Richards. He did the same thing Kokesh did, wearing his uniform at an anti-war rally. But when the Marines contacted Richards, he agreed not to wear his uniform without authorization again, and the Marines let it go at that. They did not prosecute him. They did not alter his discharge status. Richards presented himself as a cooperative man of honor. Kokesh, on the other hand, lashed out with obscenities and presented himself as a man without honor, who is uncooperative, and generally not the kind of person the Marines would consider worthy of an “Honorable Discharge”.

This case is not about free speech as Kokesh and his attorneys want to make out. It is as simple as him not following rules. Until discharged, Kokesh is still a Marine, whether on active duty or not. He is still a Marine. He is collecting his Marine pay and benefits (meager as those are) and he should still be subject to the Marine rules and regulations. In no way does prohibiting him from wearing his uniform detract or impair his freedom of speech.

Really, Kokesh brought this whole thing on himself. If he had responded in a civil manner to the Marines notice that he might have violated rules, this whole thing would probably not have ever happened. But if he had, we wouldn’t be talking about him would we? So, his terse, obscene and completely uncalled for and uncivil remark has given him his fifteen minutes of fame. I hope he enjoys it well.

source

Technorati Tags: Adam Kokesh, Marines, Civility, Duty, Honor, Discharge, Trial, Anti-War Protests

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There is Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears, Paris Hilton – just to name a few. Youngsters look up to these people. Youngsters idolize these people. Right or wrong, they do. Currently, I am using these wrecked and ruined lives as an example to my kids to try and impress on them how completely vile drug abuse is.

If there is a drug problem with one’s friend or family, there is always a drug rehab nearby. For those with questions, there is the 100 No Drugs website (http://www.1800nodrugs.com). This website is a free service that offers information on drug rehab programs in every area, as well as information on the different types of drugs people commonly abuse. You know, that phrase “drugs people commonly abuse” really should not have to be uttered.

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Please, please tell me again how Islamofascists don’t want to destroy American. Tell me more about how this whole war on terror is wrong and misguided. Tell me again how these people just want to live in peace.

Drug dealer turned informant was key to undoing of JFK plot; such informants play large role

Tell me now everything we’ve done since 9/11 is just the government trying to remove our freedoms. Tell me how Bush & Co. are power-hungry-freedom-grabbing-nazi-like barbarians.

When will the far left ‘get it’? I don’t think they ever will. Some people operate under the delusion that they will ‘get it’ when the Islamofascists come to their doorstep. I don’t think they will even then. I think they won’t ‘get it’ until they are dead. Too little, too late.

Technorati Tags: Islamofascists, Terrorism, Muslims, FBI, JFK Airport

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This is classic. This is better than the one where Hillary was giving the finger to everyone.

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