Not Laughing with You

Here’s one the mainstream media isn’t going to tell you: County sheriffs in Wyoming are demanding that federal agents actually abide by the Constitution, or face arrest. Even better, a U.S. District Court agreed according to the Keene Free Press:

The court decision was the result of a suit against both the BATF and the IRS by Mattis and other members of the Wyoming Sheriff’s Association. The suit in the Wyoming federal court district sought restoration of the protections enshrined in the United States Constitution and the Wyoming Constitution.

Guess what? The District Court ruled in favor of the sheriffs. In fact, they stated, "Wyoming is a sovereign state and the duly elected sheriff of a county is the highest law enforcement official within a county and has law enforcement powers exceeding that of any other state or federal official.” Go back and re-read this quote.

The court confirms and asserts that “the duly elected sheriff of a county is the highest law enforcement official within a county and has law enforcement powers EXCEEDING that of any other state OR federal official.” And you thought the 10th Amendment was dead and buried — not in Wyoming, not yet.

Bighorn County Sheriff Dave Mattis comments:

“If a sheriff doesn’t want the Feds in his county he has the constitutional right and power to keep them out, or ask them to leave, or retain them in custody.”

“I am reacting in response to the actions of federal employees who have attempted to deprive citizens of my county of their privacy, their liberty, and their property without regard to constitutional safeguards. I hope that more sheriffs all across America will join us in protecting their citizens from the illegal activities of the IRS, EPA, BATF, FBI, or any other federal agency that is operating outside the confines of constitutional law. Employees of the IRS and the EPA are no longer welcome in Bighorn County unless they intend to operate in conformance to constitutional law.”

The implications are huge:

This case is not just some amusing mountain melodrama. This is a BIG deal. This case is yet further evidence that the 10th Amendment is not yet totally dead, or in a complete decay in the United States. It is also significant in that it can, may, and hopefully will be interpreted to mean that “political subdivisions of a State are included within the meaning of the amendment, or that the powers exercised by a sheriff are an extension of those common law powers which the 10th Amendment explicitly reserves to the People, if they are not granted to the federal government or specifically prohibited to the States.”

This was a tremendous victory for the people of this country, and a perfect example of why your vote for county's sheriff is astronomically more significant in your life than your vote for president.

    Soon, it will be Maine's turn to weigh in on the presidential horse race.  There are several candidates in the field promising change and many more who would just assume stay the course.  One thing is clear: we cannot continue to live beyond our means, going $2 billion deeper into debt to China and Saudi Arabia every day, printing more money than we can account for, and passing all of our problems on to the next generation.
    Who can be trusted to lead the nation in this era of unknown dangers and economic uncertainty?  We all want a strong defense, economic prosperity, and to live by the values we choose.  But who is speaking for the heart of America?  And who will put her back on course?
    We deserve a president with the humility to admit that our government has grown too powerful.  Ron Paul would be a true president of the people.  He is a Christian, a veteran, and a strong family man.  As a doctor, thousands of women have trusted him with the care of their newborn child.  Americans can trust Dr. Paul to deliver real change to our broken health care system and put medical decisions back in our hands. 
    Our soldiers and veterans prefer Ron Paul because he will bring a responsible end to the war in Iraq and restore honor to our presidency.  After all, they fight for our freedoms and to defend the Constitution. 
    After 10 terms, Congressman Paul has had to break with his party many times and the lobbyists don't even stop by his office anymore.  He is our nation's leading advocate for freedom- boldly defending civil liberties and property rights wherever the rule of men threatens to replace the rule of law.
    If you agree that our republic has drifted far from its beginnings and that we must recapture her strength in the spirit of liberty and justice for all, please register Republican by January 17th and caucus for Ron Paul.  America's future rests in our hands.

Today on The FOX Morning News, Ray & Ted spoke with Judge Andrew Napolitano, FOX News Senior Judicial Analyst and author of "A Nation of Sheep".  The good judge took the Bush administration to task for suspending habeas corpus, which protects everyone under the dominion of the United States government from being jailed indefinitely without being charged of a crime or being given an opportunity to defend oneself.  Those identified loosely as "enemy combatants" are routinely treated, not as criminals, but as chattel.  It is simply unconscionable that any human being could be jailed without explanation and without due process.  Many of these individuals were taken prisoner in Afghanistan, locked up in Guantanamo until they could be hidden away in CIA secret prisons or delivered to US-allied governments known to practice torture.  Where did we learn this kind of "counter-resistance"?  Why the Soviet Union, of course.  We looked at the worst our former enemy did, and copied it.  But this is just one recent stunt by the long arm of American lawlessness. 

In his book, Napolitano cites myriad ways, both visible and invisible, in which our own government works against the American people by denying us our natural-born rights and rescinding our precious liberty.  Why does any of this matter?  We must never forget that the United States of America is an historical anomaly.  Never before had a nation been consciously formed on the principle of rights.  Ours was the first system of laws devised in such a way that all authority was severely limited, by design, and the government is expected to bow down to the people- never the other way around. 

If current trends continue, America will no longer be the envy of the world, that shining city on a hill, giving hope and promise to generations of poor, oppressed people who struggle daily for a chance, just a chance at freedom.  We will be just like every other place in history, where men are ultimately enslaved by the force of collective want.  Remember, there is no difference between tyranny and anarchy.  In either case, the individual has no rights.  It matters not whether his rights are usurped by the aggression of brutes or of tyrants.  Our freedom is guaranteed to us by the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.  The US Constitution does not distinguish between citizens and non, those who wish us well and those who wish us ill.  So even when times are bad, even when we get really desperate, in dealing with a properly-defined government, the rights of the people may not be revoked.  War is not a blank check on our liberty and it is now well past the time when reasonable people should be afraid, not of terrorists, but of a government so clearly willing to exploit the fears of its citizens for the most trivial partisan gains.

I thank Judge Napolitano for speaking so eloquently, so forcefully, and so often on the subject of rights and clearly identifying threats to our American understanding of human dignity and self-ownership.  He'll make one hell of an Attorney General when Ron Paul is President.

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Today on The FOX Morning News, hosts Ray and Ted were shocked to learn that PATRIOT Acts I & II might actually violate people's rights!  My thanks to Judge Andrew Napolitano, author of A Nation of Sheep, for bringing some light to the issue of domestic insecurity.  The Judge blasted our so-called leaders for expanding wiretapping, spying on citizens, and allowing federal agents to write their own warrants beyond the reach of our Constitution and without involving a judge, as prescribed by law.  Victims of these exploits are not even allowed to speak of it.  What part of "Congress shall make no law... abridging the freedom of speech" don't we understand?

We have abandoned our precious liberties, little by little, in the name of national security and what do we have to show for it?  It has not made us stronger, more secure, or less fearful- it has only made us less free.  Congressman Ron Paul tried to warn us about the threat our own government might pose in the wake of 9/11 and he was absolutely right.  Many in Congress admit they didn't get the chance to read these "Patriot Acts".  Well, if I were to vote on titles alone, I might well have supported it myself.  We're all patriots, here.  Few Americans are out to cripple this country, but ignorance and apathy will soon deliver our unmaking if we don't wise up.

We have entered an era when state secrets are protected at the expense of basic human rights and our military and the government that controls it don't even offer an explanation to the people or the courts.  If not us, then to whom are they accountable?  A burgeoning central authority in Washington is beginning to take away our rights as a matter of course- for the preservation of this nation.  It's not just the terrorists from whom we stand to lose our freedom.  We must remain ever vigilant of domestic enemies as well.  To quote Ray Richardson, "History has shown that this country is following down a path that will lead to our demise."  This was a rare moment of clarity for our old-line conservative friend.  The Bush Administration, much like the Clinton Administration, has taken on the Constitution and won. 

Perhaps we have become a nation of sheep, willingly treading in shackles toward oblivion as we exchange our natural-born rights for a promise of comfortable conformity and serenity unfulfilled.  There is still time to restore the republic and recapture our strength in the American spirit of freedom and justice for all.  Who will stand with the real American patriots against a government of wealth and privilege to defend peace, freedom, and the rule of law? 

Sucker-footed Bat

Scientists have discovered this new species of bat that has flat adhesive organs, or suckers, attached to its thumbs and hind feet which allow it to climb and adhere to broad-leaf plants. It belongs to a family of bats endemic to Madagascar.

Yeti Crab

This creature, dubbed the "yeti crab," is so unusual that a whole new family of animal had to be created to classify it. Its official name is Kiwa hirsuta, and even after a year of study scientists say there's still much about it they don't understand.

The animal has strongly reduced eyes that lack pigment, and is thought to be blind.

The 'hairy' pincers contain filamentous bacteria, which the creature may use to detoxify poisonous minerals from the water emitted by the deep-sea vents where it lives near Easter Island. Alternatively, it may feed on the bacteria, although it is thought to be a general carnivore. Its diet also consists of green algae and small shrimp.

Emperor Tamarin

The Emperor Tamarin is a primate supposedly named for its similarity with the German emperor Wilhelm II. The name started as a joke, but stuck and became the official scientific name. Can you believe that?! This primate inhabits tropical rain forests, living deep in the forest and in open tree-covered areas.

Aye-aye

If you're wondering why you haven't seen an aye-aye in your neighborhood, this nightmarish creature is hopelessly endangered. Found in the forests of Madagascar, aye-ayes feed at night, mainly on insects, fruit, seeds, bamboo, fungi, and the pulp of sugarcane. They are the size of a large cat and have long, bushy tails, a shaggy brown or black coat, and big ears. The female rests with her single offspring in a ball-shaped nest of leaves and twigs built high in a tree all day. Their rodent-like incisors are perfect for gnawing.

Tarsier

Oxford says Yarsiers are any of several species of nocturnal primates of Indonesia. They are small, squat animals with large eyes, long tails and long monkey-like hands and feet. Oh, now I want one!

Proboscis Monkey

The most obvious unusual characteristic of the proboscis monkey is the huge fleshy nose sported by adult males. How the nose evolved is something of a mystery. It’s not linked to their sense of smell. It’s more a matter of ornamental value, a physical attribute” that apparently make the males more attractive to females. Found nowhere else on earth, Borneo's proboscis monkeys are being squeezed out by habitat loss.

Angora Rabbit

You've probably heard of the Angora Rabbit. Well, this is what they look like in the wild. You can see why these mop-like little beasts are treasured for their long wool, which may be removed by shearing or plucking. You could probably make a sweater and a good pair of socks before she would notice anything was missing.

There are many individual breeds of Angora rabbits including French, German, Giant, English, Satin, Chinese, Swiss, Finnish, to name a few.

Hagfish

Also known by the less inflamatory "slime eel", this primitive, jawless fish is found in every ocean. Hagfishes are scaleless, soft-skinned creatures with paired thick barbels on the end of the snout and they have more badges for knot-tying than any Boy Scout I know!

Star-nosed Mole

The Star-nosed Mole is a small North American mole found in eastern Canada and the north-eastern United States (even Maine!). It lives in wet lowland areas and eats small invertebrates, aquatic insects, worms and molluscs. It is a good swimmer and can forage along the bottoms of streams and ponds. Like other moles, this animal digs shallow surface tunnels for foraging.

The pink thing allows it to smell underwater for purposes of identifying food. They rapidly exhale bubbles which come in contact with small objects and are then sucked back in. They do this between 5 and 10 times per second. Awesome!

And perhaps my favorite. . .

Blobfish

This thing lives on the bottom-most muck of the darkest sea-bottom. This full-figured cutie may be harmless, but he's tough. The pressure at the depths where blobfish are found is dozens of times higher than at sea-level. The density of its flesh is slightly less than water, allowing it to float just above the sea floor without exerting any effort. Their relative lack of muscles is not a disadvantage though, as they spend most of the day just swallowing edible matter that floats by in front of them. You've got to respect that!

Just wanted to share the wonderful news that after five long years Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band are at it again! They're recording a new album called "Magic" which reportedly ushers a return to Springsteen's classic rock sound with the Garden State wall of sound from legendary guitarists Steve Van Zandt and Nils Lofgren, bassist Garry Tallent, drummer Max Weinberg, keyboardists Federici and Roy Bittan, sax man Clemons, violinist Soozie Tyrell, and vocalist Patti Scialfa.

The new 11-track album, released October 2nd by Columbia Records, promises to be "high energy rock" and "immensely entertaining".

I am noticing that several people on here (you know who you are) are posting blog entries that might be worthy of further discussion but do not allow for comments. Some bloggers have even asked questions and solicited responses but NO ONE can reply to the poster because that little red "Add a Comment" button is AWOL. Please, please open your Settings tab and check "Enable Comments". As always, I welcome your comments. Now, go to it!

Hey, I just wanted to take a moment to talk about one of my favorite things growing up.  I, of course, refer to the Incredible Cross-Sections book series (generally known as ICS).  These books gave a detailed depiction of everyday life behind the walls of medieval castles, oil rigs, opera houses, and even Jedi Starfighters or Jabba's Palace!

 

I've held on to all of my ICS books and return to them often for the one thing that can rival my imagination for what might be going on inside these unfamiliar worlds.  And I took particular pleasure at the blatantly British touch of everyone's stiff-upper-lip demeanor.

 

I recommend checking these books out at your local library for the detail and the painstaking accuracy to the period.  If the thought of gaining a more complete understanding of the inner workings of some remote microcosm doesn't entice you, there is one other reason to thumb through one of these amazing books.  In the name of authenticity and with a dose of humor, this no-holds-barred series was never afraid to get a little dirty.  From steam trains to fishing trawlers, every illustration is blessed with at least one colored pencil sketch of some poor chap in the can, making it more like a scatological version of Where's Waldo?  I have sometimes found myself skimming over some of the really fascinating cross-sections in hopes of catching someone in a private and rather compromising moment right there on the page of my book!  Don't worry ladies.  Apparently, the women of Incredible Cross-Sections have no need for this kind of relief.  I am fairly certain that women poo daffodils anyway.  Still, you've got to respect the authors for realizing that kids are going to want to know how these people did their business along with all of the other tasks of the time.  It's a shame that I would go and make it the focus of my blog for one whole day!

 

Also recommended:  Disney's How It Works Series (slightly less disturbing)

For those who have not seen Ratatouille in the theater, follow this link for yet another reason to do so (it's amazing by the way):  http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=de3_1184657376

'Lifted' is Pixar's latest short and it's all kinds of fun!  Nothing beats watching a scrawny little twit of an alien fumble through his abduction test.  And the instructor looks like something leftover from Monsters Inc.  I just love it! 

These are usually a test bed for new technologies, pipelines, and character traits for the next film.  So, let 'Lifted' prepare you for next year's 'Wall-E'.  Now, if someone could just post 'Ratatouille'...

It can make Simpsons versions of you!

The Simpsons Movie rolls into theaters July 27th. Here's what I might look like in the fictional town of Springfield:

Now, why don't you give it a try?

Make sure that you are not set to block pop-ups when you try to download your creation.
While your at it, play Bart's Naked Skate Board Game!

Listen up!  Here are a few new releases that everyone should have in their iPods says me:

 
TEGAN & SARA, "The Con" (Sire/Vapor)

Ever fiercer and more mysterious, these Canadian twins have just dropped their best work to date. Listen to this album from start to finish for a mounting slate of transfixing, obsessive hurt-rock, best enjoyed alone and in the dark, but not in a creepy way.

Download: "Relief Next to Me"

 

 

SMASHING PUMPKINS, "Zeitgeist" (Reprise)

Zeitgeist heralds a triumphant return for this acclaimed and mighty team of hard-rock-candy marauders. After the headaches and heartbreaks of an accessory band disintegration, Billy Corgan revisits the buzzing hive of electric guitars that created a generation of insatiable, fawning rock 'n roll fiends, myself included. This parade of searing, thunderous symphonies awakens a menacing, though prideful, glibness and should leave anyone nostalgic for the 90's.

Download: "Starz"
 

 

FEIST, "The Reminder" (Cherrytree)

The prolific and sweetly juvenile Leslie Feist is known to her fans for unfurling candid, melancholy, trouble-torn folk-rock and basking in the dissension of yearning and possibility. Here, she once again packs a powerful punch with more of the acoustic charm and originality that has already made her a staple on any sorority music shelf.

Download: "So Sorry"

 

THE MAGIC NUMBERS, "Those the Brokes" (Astralwerks)

In a hot revamp of 80's indie pop, The Magic Numbers deliver a graceful, alluring, and frequently-optimistic fugue. Pairing boy-girl harmonies and well-placed falsettos with eighth-note bass-lines, The Numbers corner the market on simple, honest expression that demands an encore.

Download: "Mornings Eleven"

 

 

THE BRAVERY, "The Sun and The Moon" (Island)

No longer lost in the looming shadow of The Killers' success, The Bravery marry a fighting attitude with some great songwriting to affirm their true promise as legends in the making.  These New York rockers have all the gusto, poetic self-mastery, and winsome polish to take the world stage by storm.  This latest release dubs The Bravery the new pop hook kings with an overload of playful electro-rock anthems to declare, bravely, "it's all about the good times".

Download: "Time Won't Let Me Go"

 

RYAN ADAMS, "Easy Tiger" (Lost Highway)

The pert prince of moody alt-country expertly sculpts yet another smooth, mellow-sounding masterpiece. Easy Tiger finds Ryan Adams as introspective and subdued as ever. Here, he aptly connects with the tragic bends of life and love in a neat and gratifying mostly-unplugged set. Adams' best work remains the tearing, gritty Rock N Roll.

Download: "Rip Off"

 

BRIGHT EYES, "Cassadaga" (Saddle Creek)

In typical college-radio fashion, Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst negotiates his way through angsty ferocity, exaggerated acquiescence, fumbling adoration, resentful separateness, and finally, the somber cool of fantasies aborted. One of the most impassioned lyricists of my generation by far, the young artist here collects himself just long enough to indulge a modest apprehension of vocal inflection and solicit a near-primal response with simple, striking string arrangements, organs, and lush background vocals.

Download: "Coat Check Dream Song"

A band I had never heard of before, although they have been tearing it up in Seattle for over 10 years. Let's Drag Our Feet by Boat caught me and trashed me into its world, where music and emotion are one. Every time you listen to this, you will discover new things in it. It is just a perfect album. So go listen!

Do you like a good story?

I know it may be hard to admit when a film hits hard, relentlessly tugging at the strings of a world-weary heart, but I have chosen to endure the harassment that may await by revealing my all-time most moving cinematic experiences.  These movies are not only masterfully conceived and thematically sophisticated, but they are able to hold my fascination and affect me at the height of dramatic thrust with each successive viewing.  These ones never get old.  They just get better.
 
11. The Green Mile

10. The Conqueror

9.  Edward Scissorhands

8.  Where the Red Fern Grows

7.  The Pursuit of Happyness

6.  Amistad

5.  ET

4.  The Notebook

3.  March of the Penguins

2.  One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

1.  Schindler's List
 

It isn't necessarily the number of tragic turns or the virtues of those affected.  There's just something inside those two hours that draws you in- inescapably- to vicariously walk the same uncertain paths in a way that leaves you feeling oddly lifted and somehow beholden to everyone and everything that matters to you.  As always, any top 11 list will omit many titles deserving of recognition and I'm sure that I will think of something as soon as I post this.  So, what's your top 11?

 

There's a lot of talk about immigration these days. I
happen to think that immigration is a good thing and we ought to
encourage it. Naturalized citizens and illegal aliens alike contribute
to the vibrance of an increasingly-global economy. Not to mention the boundless wonders of an intercultural weave that is uniquely American and growing
richer with every new participant. These people should be counted
among our most valuable resources and they should be welcomed here in
Maine. Regarding the burdens of public assistance, we should direct
our attention to the generations of families from urban DC to the
backwoods of Maine who have accepted a life of parasitic
co-dependence. There has got to be a better way to serve those most in
need of assistance without encouraging reckless mere subsistence, but
we can only do it with the busy hands and active minds of the world's
unrecognized Americans. I'll let someone else have the last word...