Catching up
I was going to make a post... something to the effect that I’m still alive and well. But, it’s 75 degrees outside and sunny. So, I’m going to go by the deli, buy a sandwich, grab some drink, and head off to Mashapaug Pond (the word “Mashapaug” is the Nipmuck Indian word for “Great Pond”) for a private little picnic. Kent is on an Iceland/Paris trip and is gone for a week. I’ll do this later... 1:25p.m.
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7:25p.m. - Ok... I’m back, and I had a wonderful time at Mashapaug Pond. So much has happened in the last few weeks. I’ve been submerged in a project for work with little time left to post anything. Hopefully, I’m wrapping up that project a bit, and can move on to things that are personally more enjoyable.
We have managed to upgrade the website a bit. We upgraded to the latest version of our blogging software, along with moving to a new server platform (a fancy way of saying that it’s nicer for us). I’ve also managed to finally spend some time studying RSS (stands for “Really Simple Syndication”) feeds. They used to be a way to read the content of a website if you installed an RSS reader. You would have to go to the site and try to figure out if the site even offered RSS (many still do not). But now, you can do much more with RSS than in the past. In fact, if you are really interested in the postings of this site, you can click on the “Email Subscription to our Blog!” button on the left. That will verify your address and send you an email. There will be a link in the email that will confirm that you are who you say you are, and confirm your subscription. Each morning, if I’ve posted, you will get an email composed from my RSS feed of the latest entries. And all of this is possible via RSS.
I’ve taken RSS one step farther and integrated my photos over on Flickr with my RSS feed. Then, when I post photos online, they become part of my RSS feed (and the feed that would be mailed to you, if you subscribed). I may also add to the RSS feed comments that people post, in addition to the entry itself. The options are endless. I also have an RSS feed of just my photos. All of this is located on the top left side of the main page.
What else has happened? Well, I bought yet another camera. I know what you are thinking... it’s an addiction. Perhaps. This is the new camera.
So why do I need this new camera? Well, the Nikon D70 and D200, my current cameras, are about the most awesome cameras I’ve seen around. There is virtually nothing you can not do with them. But, there is one thing that I was wishing for; a camera that I would always have with me. The problem with the Nikon cameras are their size. This new Panasonic is super small and easily fits into a pocket. And it takes decent photos.
So you gain that advantage. There have been so many times that I wanted to take a photo, and just didn’t have the Nikon. It’s not something that you can just take anywhere with you. The drawback is that it takes decent photos, but they aren’t in the same league as the Nikon. Close up is better. Taking distance photos are ok, but you won’t get the absolute sharpness the Nikon will deliver. It’s a trade off. Also, it costs a fraction (around $350) of what the Nikon costs. But for most people and for a quick snap of something you want to capture, it works well.
If you are like me, we seem to live in a somewhat surreal world where quite unbelievable things happen every day. I never in my life thought that anything would overshadow the war in Iraq. And then the shootings at Virginia Tech came along. How horrible. Sadly, I wasn’t that surprised. Not much surprises me anymore it seems.
I have a few theories concerning why this happened, in general terms. Basically, it’s human nature I suppose. When someone is put down and bullied long enough, it’s really only a matter of time before it blows up. I know when we were younger, there were times that we were harassed in public, and we basically took it. We did nothing. We went into a restaurant, sat down, and this stranger off the street came in and started hassling us because he thought we were gay. We sat silently because we didn’t want trouble, and the restaurant establishment just watched and let it happen. Being hassled for being gay was just part of being gay, it seemed.
But today, if that happened to me, the restaurant would probably end up being cleared out and the police being called. I wouldn’t resort to violence, but I wouldn’t sit there and take it either. I’ve had enough of that crap and I won’t take it anymore.
I’m a peaceful, level headed, rational person, so my friends tell me. If I were mentally off, as I believe the shooter in the Virginia Tech shootings to be, you would be hearing about it in the national news. We all have to start caring for each other more and, we have to be more watchful for those who are in trouble. There were many signs with this guy, and all of them were ultimately passed over and ignored. And we all know the result.
I also think that there is something seriously wrong with the gun laws in this country. The shooter wasn’t even a citizen of the United States. I thought that the Second Amendment applied to U.S. citizens. So why was this guy able to buy a gun from a gun store? He was able to also order a gun on the Internet from a gun shop in Idaho. I’m so surprised! (sarcasm). Actually, I was surprised that you could buy a gun on the Internet. He also bought bullet clips from eBay. And all of this after 9/11. Have we learned nothing?
Another point.... the Second Amendment reads, “A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” Alright, but when those words were written, the “militia” that it talks about really did comprise of just regular people, like you and me. Now, we really do have a militia to ensure the “security of a free State”. Why must we all have weapons? I simply don’t get it. I asked my brother this as well. He supports the right for anyone to have a weapon. His reasoning is that if you take all the guns away from law abiding citizens, the criminals would be left with the weapons. So, I guess my next question is, “Isn’t that what the police are for?” Maybe I’m just being dumb about this, but it really does seem that simple.
Moving on to lighter subjects... I woke up to a phone call from Kent (at 9:00a.m. no less!), who is now in Paris. He went to Iceland for a few days, then off to Paris for a week. After his call, I was lying in bed and I kept hearing this noise outside. I looked out my bedroom window that opens to the back yard. This is what I saw....
A wild turkey... which is probably why I chose a turkey sandwich at the deli for my picnic lunch today. I got up, showered, and went downstairs to feed the cats. Maxwell was already preparing for his morning sun bath, just waiting for the sun to catch up.
I fed them, and was off to Charlie’s, one of our favorite places for breakfast.
It was a nice day.
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"But, Jefferson also distrusted a government."
So do I.
The Bush Administration has made me completely lose faith in my country. I don't trust them any farther than I can throw my house. They are morally corrupt and every single day, it's something new, such as all the lies dished out by the Tillman case, where they lied to his family about his death. And when the family pushed the Army on the issue, they were put down and dismissed by General Kauzlarich investigating the case at the time. He is now a battalion commanding officer at Fort Riley in Kansas. He stated,
And this because he assumed that Tillman was an atheist. I'll tell you what, I've about had it with the so-called Christians in this country placing this kind of crap out there. They have their damn agenda every damn place I look now, but this is the ultimate insult to a man who gave his life for his country.
Pat Tillman was a little more than "worm dirt". He had a multimillion dollar football contract. But he turned all of that down to go to Iraq for our this country. He was killed by friendly fire, and what was the honorable thing the Army did? THEY LIED.
This is what we are stuck with. It starts in the Oval Office, and the lies and deceit flow right down through Congress, and the military commanders. Under these circumstances, if I had a child of military service age, he would join up over my dead body. These people aren't worth spit.
In Jefferson's day, THE PEOPLE would be taking up arms to abolish the government. That's right, REVOLUTION. Today, we follow like sheep.
As for the militia mentioned in the Second Amendment. I've always thought it would be fascinating to be able to ask Jefferson about that particular amendment. Why?
Militia brings to mind a military group. Actually, militias at the time that was written were far from military groups. It was more like a community club that met regularly. Very little time was often spent on military drilling. Thus their terrible reputation as fighting units during the revolution.
However, because most of the Founders feared a standing army they believed the militias should be the primary method of defense in peacetime. Because of this we have the Second Amendment because a militaman was required to provide his own firearm and equipment.
But, Jefferson also distrusted a government. He wrote frequently of his fear that a government instituted would eventually become corrupt and usurp the rights of the people (sound familiar?). So, I've always wondered if Jefferson and his pals were speaking strictly in the sense that firearms were necessary for the military side in order to DEFEND the government or on the side of militias to OPPOSE the government (as happened in the Revolution) should it become corrupt.
It would be an interesting question to pose to him and I'm sure a fascinating answer. Unfortunately, we're left now with the corrupt government, an armed mob instead of a militia. Maybe they should have been a little more clear, but then, maybe they thought we'd all be smarter by now.
I want a new camera so badly, but after buying the new house there is really no way I could justify one. I do enjoy my Olympus Camedia C-3020, but it would be so nice to upgrade to a better camera.
I also wanted a digital video camera, but I found a killer Panasonic VHS video camera at the thrift store the other day for only $25.00! I snapped it up and have been recording the dogs and my stepdaughter's son every chance I get.