It starts with a theme...

It's easy to take a Baby Invitation for a baby shower and use that for the whole theme. Take the umbrellas shown in this and other baby shower invitations. You can use the whole umbrella theme for the party using umbrellas hung upside down with stuffed animals, drinks with umbrellas, float rubber duckies in a blue punch, all can be done inspired by this invitations baby image. No matter which party theme you want, CardsShoppe (http://www.cardsshoppe.com) will let you make unlimited changes at no additional cost as well as modifying any card ThankYou design or color as requested. They'll also email your proof to you within one hour on business days...

Gridlock and Growth: The Effect of Traffic Congestion on Regional Economic Performance

Here in Toledo we don't really have to worry about traffic gridlock but there are other parts of the country that are impacted by traffic. The title linked study by the Reason Foundation has been the source of quite a few recent news articles. It's an interesting read for those of you interested in not only traffic but the larger impact it can have on the economy.

Are Libertarians For Intellectual Property?

As has been stated here before, there are issues that Libertarians don't agree on, at times it can be really interesting to read the different arguments. This article, Are Libertarians For Intellectual Property? is one of those situations where it appears there is a divergence of thought on the topic of patents and intellectual property.

It's a recommended read for those of you interested in digging deeper into the world of law, patents and freedom...

Blizzard babies...

When I saw the below invitation baby shower theme, I thought about how when there is a weather event like a blizzard or a large power outage, a few months later the Baby Invitations can increase for that area. Which is then followed by more baby shower events and a slight increase in the birth rate. No matter the weather, if you check out Cards-411 (http://www.cards-411.com) you can view your baby shower invitations before you buy with their patented instant preview features, with unlimited changes at no extra charge and they'll email your proof to you within one hour during the business day.

What Libertarianism Is

Another recommended article that covers some of the basic points as to what is Libertarianism and what are some of the core beliefs that exist with those who share this political ideology. Like any political ideology, people who lean libertarian or consider themselves fully libertarian don't agree on everything.

Yet, Stephan Kinsella does a nice job in providing a piece that could be an excellent discussion point. A small part:

Libertarians tend to agree on a wide array of policies and principles. Nonetheless, it is not easy to find consensus on what libertarianism's defining characteristic is, or on what distinguishes it from other political theories and systems.

Various formulations abound. It is said that libertarianism is about individual rights, property rights, the free market, capitalism, justice, or the nonaggression principle. Not just any of these will do, however. Capitalism and the free market describe the catallactic conditions that arise or are permitted in a libertarian society, but do not encompass other aspects of libertarianism. And individual rights, justice, and aggression collapse into property rights. As Murray Rothbard explained, individual rights are property rights. And justice is just giving someone his due, which depends on what his rights are.

First comes love, then comes marriage...

I was searching for the history of the phrase that the image of this Baby Shower Invitation brought to mind that I wrote in the title. Despite coming across links for free baby shower invitations, printable baby shower invitations, and everything related to invitations baby shower themes, I wasn't able to find where the rhyme first came from. At Cards-411 (http://www.cards-411.com) you can add a photo, logo or picture to any card on their site and once you find the one you want? They'll email your proof to you within one hour on a business day. You can also make unlimited changes at no additional cost.

What is a Libertarian?

I came across the title linked piece written by Arkady Kamenetsky and I felt it was a good one to share for those who wonder exactly what is a Libertarian. He puts a good summary of beliefs together, one small part:

I believe that in America, the greatest nation on earth, individuals should be given maximum freedom to choose how they want to live their lives. That is, they can practice whatever religion they want, arm themselves, engage in any drug usage they see fit as long, this is important, they do not hurt me or anyone else in their process. For example if a citizen wishes to drink himself into oblivion and get behind a wheel, I have a serious problem with that, but if that same citizen wishes to inject himself with heroine and pass out in his mother's basement - then more power to him!

I believe that females have a right to choose what to do with their own bodies, as long as whatever is in their body depends on the female. If a woman is carrying a child and this child needs the mother to survive, then it is up to the woman to choose whether she wishes to continue carrying the child. However the day the child can survive on their own, the choice is revoked, because the choice of a free citizen cannot impact the life of another. More simply put, if a late stage child is capable of surviving in a hospital via machines, abortion should not be an option.

It's one I not only recommend reading but bookmarking to share with friends who ask "What is a Libertarian?"

Showers and clothes pins

There is an element to reality in some birth announcements or shower invitations, such as this one with the clothes pins. While the photo birth announcements and baby announcements allude to it at times, having a baby means quite a bit more laundry. Though hopefully along with the baby announcement, most new mothers will get quite a few extra outfits. If you pick CardsShoppe they (http://www.cardsshoppe.com) will create a special design just for you and they'll modify any card ThankYou design or color as requested.

The Whole Foods story still getting press....

The editorials and articles are still being written on the one part of the suggestion made by Whole Foods co-owner, John Mackey made, this time in the Baltimore Sun. Since Mackey identified himself as leaning libertarian it shows up in my news feed for libertarian news. There are almost 100 new articles out on this. Some in support of the boycott, some more sensible.

But it makes no sense to me to boycott a chain that does right by its employees in favor of other markets where you have not studied how they treat their employees. While farmers markets can supply seasonal fruits and vegetables, staples and "Marco Polo exceptions" generally have to come from a supermarket of some kind.

Throughout my life in the farming country of Oregon, I have found most farmers to be of libertarian, small-government politics. Those boycotting Whole Foods in favor of a small grower is likely to be supporting someone of the same opinions as John Mackey.

Advantages of a laptop

I do most of my main blogging and computer work on my tower, but there are certain times when my laptop computer can come in handy beyond being able to take it to work with me or to live blog something. Here in our home it's an easy way to cook. No, not cooking on the laptop but it's easier to pick up the laptop, put it in a safe place in the kitchen and read recipes from the laptop screen. That way no printing is involved nor does someone have to keep going back to where their tower is to read what's next...

The key is of course to not have the laptop be in a place where it will get wet, get food on it and is fully charged...

The continued death of communication in public education

While I vented earlier on one of my other blogs about the most recent episode of miscommunication and lack of concern for customer service as well as the well being of the student, I couldn't help think that part of the problem is some urban schools, such as the one my daughter attends treats the students and parents as if there is a barcode scanner on their heads without bothering to check prices or even stock numbers...

It's difficult to keep arguing for the benefits of an urban public school when the reality is they give parents more reasons to leave than to stay...

Austin Petersen: ‘My Goodbye Letter to the Libertarian Party’

Austin Peterson's good bye letter has created some confusion because those who didn't read some of the previous material were left with the impression after reading the letter that he was leaving the Libertarian Party all together instead of leaving being a spokesperson for the Libertarian Party because of a new job he's taken.

Had I not read some of his earlier posts, I would have thought the same thing in reading his letter...

Cabric verus cambric

When I came across this link titled, cabric fabric stores in my mind I thought of the Simon and Garfunkle song, "Scarborough Fair" and I thought perhaps it was cabric not cambric that is in the lyrics.

Are you going to Scarborough Fair?
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme
Remember me to one who lives there
She once was a true love of mine

Tell her to make me a cambric shirt
(On the side of a hill in the deep forest green)
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme
(Tracing a sparrow on snow-crested ground)
Without no seams nor needlework
(Blankets and bedclothes the child of the mountain)
Then she'll be a true love of mine
(Sleeps unaware of the clarion call)

It is cambric, but despite making me think about song lyrics to a song that I used to sing to my children when they were babies to get them to sleep, and being relieved that after all these years I was singing it correctly, there are some nice fabrics for sale on the website. Including cambric...

Mackey's column creates call for boycott of Whole Foods

In this country if someone says or writes something that you don't agree with, rather than to argue the merit of the points made that are right or wrong, it can create a call for a boycott which is exactly what is happening in some parts of the internet. If you read the below post with Mackey's opinion piece, his belief that we as Americans are part of the problem with our diet and our increasing fatness is part of what has made some call for the boycott.

It's also interesting to note that the reporting on the boycott is making more news/blog posts than the initial article...

While Mackey was a bit too simplistic in his one paragraph that seems to have created the most ire:

Unfortunately many of our health-care problems are self-inflicted: two-thirds of Americans are now overweight and one-third are obese. Most of the diseases that kill us and account for about 70% of all health-care spending—heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes and obesity—are mostly preventable through proper diet, exercise, not smoking, minimal alcohol consumption and other healthy lifestyle choices.

The problem is though while of course not all people with cancer or diabetes can prevent it, some can so that paragraph is not totally inaccurate. It's a bit ironic that one of the stores known for healthy foods is being boycotted for making a statement that basically confirms their belief that if people ate healthier, they would be healthier.

The Whole Foods Alternative to ObamaCare

If you have not yet read John Mackey's piece in the Wall Street Journal, The Whole Foods Alternative to ObamaCare, I recommend it. Mackey, the co-founder of Whole Foods makes 8 suggestions that he feels will reduce the cost of health care that will not add to the deficit. Most of his suggestions involve reducing or eliminating legislation.

While his comparisons to Canada and England as far as the waiting lists is questionable since the US is not considering a full socialized health care plan, he does raise an interesting point that I believe drives home the main desire of a majority of people no matter what nation they live in - they want a choice.

At Whole Foods we allow our team members to vote on what benefits they most want the company to fund. Our Canadian and British employees express their benefit preferences very clearly—they want supplemental health-care dollars that they can control and spend themselves without permission from their governments. Why would they want such additional health-care benefit dollars if they already have an "intrinsic right to health care"? The answer is clear—no such right truly exists in either Canada or the U.K.—or in any other country.

The more we bake together...

This time of year it's really too hot for me to think about baking, but during the holiday season, it's almost bake off time around our house. When I saw the Christmas Party invitation shared below, it struck me as a neat idea to have everyone come over and bake their favorite cookies for the invitations Christmas Party season. It seems like that theme for Christmas Party Invitations sets not only the tone for the party but could very well become a family and friend tradition. There are other ideas that can be inspired from Christmas Invitations at Invitations Shoppe (www.invitations-shoppe.com) where you not only get free shipping and ten free thank you cards but you can also add a picture or photo (like of your best decked out cookie) or logo to any card.

Violence shouldn't beget violence...

It's interesting that a few twitter statements would create news, especially considering what has been happening recently, but a twitter message has ended up being reported by the New Mexico Independent:

A local libertarian, via Twitter, seemed to be advocate violence against “ACORN/SEIU” if they decide to attend and/or disrupt health care town hall meetings.

I asked Scott Oskay, via Twitter, “are you advocating violence against ACORN or SEIU members?” He responded, “I would advocate retaliation for intimidation, be it verbal or physical.”

I feel violence should not beget violence but I also feel that one regular citizen does not speak for a whole party or political philosophy...

The fact checker in me also believes it should be "appears to be advocating"...

The many forms of Santa transportation...

When you see Christmas Party Invitations like the one below, you may reflect on the many different types of transportation that Christmas Invitations and the whole Christmas invitation season bring to mind. Depending on where you live Santa can arrive by plane, helicopter, boat, sled or even by train. However when it comes to invitations at Invitations Shoppe (www.invitations-shoppe.com) you can view your Christmas party invitation before you buy with their patented instant preview feature, which you only need a computer for. You also get ten cards as a thank you and free shipping, which should arrive the traditional way...

Libertarians to Democrats: Call off the thugs

This was published yesterday by SmallGovTimes.com and it is a fairly disturbing report of violence that is being experienced by those who are not committing any crime, unless you believe speaking out is a crime...

A Tampa Bay Tribune story and a video posted to the Drudge Report both report physical assaults on dissenting citizens by union organizers brought to meetings by Democrats. In Tampa, union organizers blocked citizens who differed with the White House from entering a public town hall with Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL,) and allegedly scuffled with some of them. A video posted to YouTube appears to show union organizers physically attacking citizens who disagreed with the White House.

“The Libertarian Party is founded on one principle. We do not support the initiation of force to achieve political or social goals,” said Donny Ferguson, Libertarian National Committee Communications Director. “Democrats seem to think differently. When the Obama administration ordered Democrats to ‘punch back twice as hard’ against citizens who question them, Democrats responded. This Chicago-trained White House has brought Chicago-style union violence to small towns across America.”

“The White House told Democrat leaders Thursday to ‘punch back twice as hard’ when citizens express disapproval. That kind of irresponsible rhetoric is never proper when discussing popular dissent. They also made it clear they will bend Senate rules and force through government-run health care whether or not America supports it. That is a frightening departure from the traditional American practice of governing though popular will,” said Ferguson.

For those of you seeking confirmation on the "punch back twice as hard" quote, I recommend Politico:

And they screened TV ads and reviewed the various campaigns by critics of the Democratic plan.

“If you get hit, we will punch back twice as hard,” Messina said, according to an official who attended the meeting.

Libertarians Respond To Obama Healthcare Press Conference

This in via e-mail:

"Tonight's press conference by President Obama, complete with scare tactics and wildly inaccurate claims, perfectly illustrated why more and more Americans are losing faith in his promises of prosperity through government control.

"Libertarians, and all Americans, aren't buying President Obama's ludicrous claim that handing control of your health care over to the federal government keeps costs down. Congressional Budget Office reports show the Obama health care takeover sends costs skyrocketing and further explodes his own record-shattering budget deficits. That not only thwarts job growth but also threatens health care itself. The fiscally irresponsible core of government-run health care is why virtually every such system must eventually resort to cruel rationing to contain its unsustainable and damaging costs.

"Under no rational model whatsoever does the Obama government takeover reduce costs and make health care affordable. The damage the Obama plan does to our economy, however, is real and hits Americans directly.

"Americans also lost trust in President Obama when he accused doctors of conspiring to intentionally let children with illnesses get worse, and that government must seize control of health care to stop doctors from performing medical procedures he doesn't approve of. President Obama was perfectly clear. He wants the government to seize control of your health care because he thinks government accountants in Washington are better at medicine your own family doctor.

"As he did with the so-called "stimulus" package, President Obama is exploiting people's fears and insecurities to push his agenda of unquestioned and economically unsustainable government expansion. That is yet another disappointing failure from the man who promised to end "the politics of fear."

"But no amount of wild claims and inaccurate statements can hide the facts. Along with making health care rationed and unaffordable, the Obama government takeover currently being written in Congress outlaws private insurance (page 16,) sends government agents to your home to monitor your parenting (Section 44) and forces the sick and elderly to sit through meetings with government employees on how to end their life (page 425.)

"Libertarians have a better idea to make health care accessible and affordable. To start with:

¥ Allow taxpayers to deduct the costs of their health insurance from their income taxes.

¥ Repeal health insurance mandates that force Americans to pay for treatments they won't ever use.

¥ Scrap unneeded and unnecessary regulations that keep life-saving drugs and treatments off the market. Such regulations are often supported by health care lobbyists and are intended to freeze out competing products and companies.

¥ Allow Americans to shop for health insurance across state lines, forcing insurers to compete.

"Americans deserve health care that is affordable, effective and universally available. President Obama's plan fails that test on every count, and he fails our trust. Only Libertarians are proposing the reforms we need to fix our broken health care system."

The Libertarian Party is America's third-largest political party, founded in 1971 as an alternative to the two main political parties. You can find more information on the Libertarian Party by visiting http://www.LP.org. The Libertarian Party proudly stands for smaller government, lower taxes and more freedom.

Common sense tells you...

Common sense tells me that leaving your windows open in your house when you have equipment like a lcd monitor is not a smart thing to do. Unfortunately a friend of mine recently had to deal with a theft because someone else left a window open and then left for the day. It's unfortunate that there are people that would rather steal than honestly come buy something but it is a reality. It's why even when I am home at night I make sure all of the downstairs windows are shut no matter the weather, even with two dogs, it's not worth the risk.

Let There Be Peace on Earth

As I looked at the Christmas Card/Christmas Invitation below, I started to wonder about the history of the quote "Let There Be Peace on Earth" -- It's often seen on Christmas Party Invitation, from free Christmas invitations to printable Christmas invitations. I've traced it back to 1955 a song by that title written by Sy Miller and Jill Jackson. If you use www.holiday-invitations.com (Holiday Invitations) you will get free shipping, ten free thank you cards and they will also create a special design just for you.

If obesity was an infectious disease, it would be an epidemic,

The title is from a Pittsburgh Post Gazette article from earlier today, titled, "Obesity's costs emerge as major concern" that references a report done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that recently had its first Weight of the Nation conference in DC. It's gotten far beyond which is the best weight loss pill, especially if you read the quotes from Dr. Daniel Bessesen:

"If obesity was an infectious disease, it would be an epidemic," said Dr. Daniel Bessesen, professor of medicine at the University of Colorado at Denver and chief of endocrinology at the Denver Health Medical Center.

"To ignore the problem, you're keeping your head in the sand. If you could fix the obesity problem ... you would make a huge impact on the nation's health care costs."

We're still voting for evil.

The title is from this Examiner article written by Rachel Hawkridge. It's thought provoking, especially this part:

He thinks that by voting for Ds or Rs who are more freedom-loving than their opponents, he helps to advance the cause of Liberty.

I don't see it that way - as long as we continue to vote for the lesser of two evils, we're still voting for evil. People continue to vote for a label that they're not happy with (disgruntled Rs), because the Ds are so much worse. Ds and Rs are just a hair's breadth apart these days - neither of them is so much worse.

And until people stop worrying that "My label might lose if I don't vote for it", we continue the move toward an overtly one party system.

That's what allows the insanity to continue.

If you don't absolutely endorse a candidate, don't vote for him. Don't give money to a candidate or a party that you are unhappy with.

Give your support, your vote, your money to the best candidate. Support the candidate who will uphold the Constitution. Who will examine each piece of legislation in the light of its constitutionality.

Do not give your support, your vote, your money to the candidate just because he believes the way you do. Continuing to elect government because they govern using our shared values is dangerous.

Often times, we have the lessor of two evils argument when it comes to voting and we do not want to not vote. It can create quite a dilemma for those who want better government.