Some tv's will become nothing more than paper weights...

One local television station has the daily countdown to when those who don't have cable or one of the converter boxes will no longer be able to access what used to be ability to have free television stations. The system of handing out coupons is a joke, as an example, we never got ours but the website claims we did when I tried to request two, so we could very well not be able to access television when this happens. It will create more room on the tv stand in the living room, unless I decide to leave it there to pretend we actually have a television in that room...

Should your credit rating matter?

One of the things that has always made me wonder when it comes to auto insurance quotes is the reliance on your credit history score as a factor. Using someone's driving record is completely understandable, but the idea that your credit score somehow should be a factor in the price that you pay to insure your home or your car has always been puzzling. Those who are poor have not been statistically proven to be worse drivers than those who are rich, it's one of those strange things that if we as consumers were not forced to purchase insurance as we are in some states, we might have a better ability to create change.

A Tale of another Kennedy...

For some reason this moment is not getting much media face time given the most recent Kennedy expressing they should be automatically considered for office, I came across it when I was searching for background on a quote:

Back in 2001, the ninth son of Robert and Ethel Kennedy, Max Kennedy, flirted with the idea of running for political office. A story in the New York Times Magazine recounted his ill-fated attempt at a stump speech riddled with trite one-liners like these: "I want to fight for all of you. I'll commit myself heart and soul to be the kind of congressman who cares about you. I'll dedicate myself to fighting for working families to have a fair chance. I make you this one pledge: I will always be there for you."

Kennedy's handler pressed him repeatedly for a "take-away message," something of substance that his audience would remember. "What do you want people to take away from it?" he asked several different ways. The would-be candidate stammered and couldn't think of much other than "I'm a nice guy," until finally he admitted, "I don't know. Whatever it has to be."

Las Vegas has a reputation of freedom...

One of the things you hear often about Las Vegas is "what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas" but there is an interesting side note to the City that many might not know as they book into that las vegas hotel and walk out on the strip.

Judges have consistently ruled that the walkway under the Fremont Street Experience is a public forum, meaning the First Amendment applies there. On the strip, the courts stated that such activities as handing out pamphlets, even ones that advertise the services of escorts or other "personal" services are protected there as well.

Quotes...

I was searching quotes and came across this one:

Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide. – John Adams (1814)

It's surprising how often that quote is used, and the many times it has been debated. In searching for more information on the actual quote, I came across this post that you may find very interesting, Democracy = Death that was written in 2004. The part pertaining to this quote:

WE MUST ATTACK AND DEFEAT DEMOCRACY!

That is the summation of Founder theory on the matter of democracy. Alexander Hamilton: “Our real disease - which is democracy.” John Adams: “Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide.” Fisher Ames: “The known propensity of a democracy is to licentiousness which the ambitious call, and ignorant believe to be liberty.” Albert Gallatin: “The Bill (of Rights)…establishes some rights of the individual unalienable and which consequently, no majority has a right to deprive them of.” James Madison: “A pure democracy…can admit no cure to the mischiefs of faction.” Gouverneur Morris: “We have seen the tumult of democracies…everywhere terminated, in despotism.” John Quincy Adams: “of all human governments, democracy was the most unstable, fluctuating and short lived.” John Whitherspoon: “Democracy cannot subsist long…it is subject to the madness of popular rage.” Benjamin Rush: “A simple democracy…is one of the greatest evils.” Noah Webster: “(Democracy) is one of the most tyrannical governments on earth.”

Some might find that offensive but the reality is, the United States was not designed to be a "true" Democracy, we are a Republic. It's always always amazed me the number of people that don't realize there is a difference...

I thought of a clothing designer...

As I was searching and came across the name,Patek Philippe, I first thought he had to be some type of clothing designer. I discovered it's actually the name of a Swiss watch company that is known for making watches for not only the rich and famous but for others as well. It was interesting to discover the most expensive watch ever sold at a Sotheby's auction was designed by the Pate Philippe company, selling for $1.49 million dollars.

It was a tourbillon watch, which I learned meant that it was designed to negate the effect of gravity that at one time was felt to have an affect on time keeping pieces.

Mistaking Libertarianism for "right wing" doctrine

I came across this piece and wanted to share it since I think it addresses some of the misconceptions out there that some hold when it comes to especially the social issue aspect of what most Libertarians believe:

Libertarianism is often thought of as “right-wing” doctrine. This, however, is mistaken for at least two reasons. First, on social—rather than economic—issues, libertarianism tends to be “left-wing”. It opposes laws that restrict consensual and private sexual relationships between adults (e.g., gay sex, non-marital sex, and deviant sex), laws that restrict drug use, laws that impose religious views or practices on individuals, and compulsory military service. Second, in addition to the better-known version of libertarianism, right-libertarianism, there is also a version known as “left-libertarianism”. Both endorse full self-ownership, but they differ with respect to the powers agents have to appropriate unappropriated natural resources (land, air, water, etc.). Right-libertarianism holds that typically such resources may be appropriated by the first person who discovers them, mixes her labor with them, or merely claims them—without the consent of others, and with little or no payment to them. Left-libertarianism, by contrast, holds that unappropriated natural resources belong to everyone in some egalitarian manner. It can, for example, require those who claim rights over natural resources to make a payment to others for the value of those rights. This can provide the basis for a kind of egalitarian redistribution.

Small businesses still the future...

With all of the focus on bailouts and millions if not billions of dollars spent on these larger industries. At times I think our government forgets that one of the main creators of jobs in the United States is the small business. Despite the economic downturn, there are still quite a few different types of small business opportunity scenarios out there that could be of interest. While it's always crucial to research any business opportunity, there are a industries where now might just be the time if you've dreamed of owning your own small business.