I am not sure how many of you are Whedon fans like myself.  I came across this today and I'm posting it in part because it is, in my opinion, phenomenal, and also so that I have an easy place to look it up in the future.

Passion, it lies in all of us, sleeping... waiting... and though unwanted... unbidden... it will stir... open its jaws and howl. It speaks to us... guides us... passion rules us all, and we obey. What other choice do we have? Passion is the source of our finest moments. The joy of love... the clarity of hatred... and the ecstasy of grief. It hurts sometimes more than we can bear. If we could live without passion maybe we'd know some kind of peace... but we would be hollow... Empty rooms shuttered and dank. Without passion we'd be truly dead.

-- Joss Whedon

I normally abhore forwards.  However, I recently received one that I thought was magnificent.

....................................................................................

FATHER AND DAUGHTER

A young woman was about to finish her first year of college. Like so many others her age, she considered herself to be a very liberal Democrat, and among other liberal ideals, was very much in favor of higher taxes to support more government programs, in other words redistribution of wealth.

She was deeply ashamed that her father was a rather staunch Republican, a feeling she openly expressed. Based on the lectures that she had participated in, and the occasional chat with a professor, she felt that her father had for years harbored an evil, selfish desire to keep what he thought should be his.

One day she was challenging her father on his opposition to higher taxes on the rich and the need for more government programs. The self- professed objectivity proclaimed by her professors had to be the truth and she indicated so to her father. He responded by asking how she was doing in school.

Taken aback, she answered rather haughtily that she had a 4.0 GPA, and let him know that it was tough to maintain, insisting that she was taking a very difficult course load and was constantly studying, which left her no time to go out and party like other people she knew. She didn't even have time for a boyfriend, and didn't really have many college friends  because she spent all her time studying.

Her father listened and then asked, 'How is your friend Audrey doing?' She replied, 'Audrey is barely getting by. All she takes are easy classes, she never studies, and she barely has a 2.0 GPA. She is so popular on campus; college for her is a blast. She's always invited to all the parties and lots of times she doesn't even show up for classes because she's too hung over.'

Her wise father asked his daughter,

'Why don't you go to the Dean's office and ask him to deduct 1.0 off your GPA and give it to your friend who only has a 2.0. That way you  will both have a 3.0 GPA and certainly that would be a fair and equal distribution of GPA.'

The daughter, visibly shocked by her father's suggestion, angrily fired back, 'That's a crazy idea, how would that be fair! I've worked really hard for my grades! I've invested a lot of time, and a lot of hard work! Audrey has done next to nothing toward her degree. She played while I worked my tail off!'

The father slowly smiled, winked and said gently, 'Welcome to the Republican party.'

....................................................................................

If anyone has a better explanation of the difference between Republican and Democrat I'm all ears.

*UPDATE*

Ok. So, after a day of politically inspired tweets & conversations with friends, I don't think that I am really a republican per se.  I am conservative no doubt, but I honestly don't think I am as staunch as some of the card carying republicans out there like my father.

I recieved the following from a good friend (who was apparently unable to post a comment to my blog... I need to investigate that)

...........................................

The largest logical problem with that post, and coincidentally one of the most fundamental problems both parties have with complicated issues like welfare, is that it breaks down such a complicated issue into a simple moral dilemma.  Welfare isn't about morality, though its implementation may be immoral.  Whether a child has enough to eat isn't the same as whether you get a good grade in school.  In fact, to suggest such is quite insulting, though I'm sure that wasn't the intent by the OP.  Welfare, fundamentally, is disaster insurance.  You pay into a group fund when you can, and when you need it, the fund is available to you.
 
A far more appropriate comparison would be the following discussion between the same father and daughter.  We pick up the story where she's talking about her friend.  She's the same party girl as before, but this time, instead of the discussion pointing out that her grades were low due to her lifestyle choice, she had instead been assaulted at such a party.  When asked by her father how she handled herself at parties, she responds that she would never go to such places and if she did she'd mace a guy trying anything like that.  When asked if she'd give up her mace to her friend, she replies in the same way as before: why would I suffer because I am prepared, she deserved it since she didn't prepare, etc.  Of course, her father replies, "Welcome to the Republican Party".
 
The point is that both parties indicate that you don't know how to run your life.  Democrats want to provide for those who can't provide for themselves.  Republicans want to act as examples for those who have fallen.
 
I have a different view, and, yes, I'm a libertarian.  There should be no welfare, nor any judgement - at least not by the state.  When a wealthy democrat was told the libertarian ideal, he replied, "Who will care for the homeless."  "You will," came the response.  "You mean, people with money will get together and..." he was cut off.  "No, YOU will."  There is no welfare in a libertarian state, just concerned citizens.
 
This country has never been libertarian, and likely never will be.  We're far too full of ourselves to accept responsibility without structure or recognition.

...........................................

A good point that is going to lead me off on a tangent.  I believe that as a general rule, people should not be given hand-outs.  However, if you are making an effort to get ahead in the world and are simply not able to do it, no matter how hard you are trying, then I will give you my assistance.  I am not heartless, but I do think that people who make no effort whatsoever to better their situation and similarly do nothing but sit and complain about it, are not deserving of my sympathy.  Personal accountability is becoming more and more infrequent in today's world.  There is a definite sense of entitlement.  News flash people. Nobody OWES you anything.  If you want something, go out there and bust your butt.  99 times out of 100, if you try hard enough, you are going to succeed.  On some level, life is fair.  The people who say that life isn't fair simply stopped trying and let their gaurd down.   There is a saying, "you get out of life what you put into it".  If you keep a positive attitude and give every day your best, then you are going to live a happy and successful life.  Just don't blame anyone else for your choices.

I realize that this post started off one way and has devolved into something COMPLETELY different.  This is my blog though.  If you do not like my chain of conciousness, then go read somebody elses blog.

Incredients:

• 1lb of ground beef
• 2 large Prego (traditional)
• 1lb of italian sausage
• 4 slices of bacon
• 1 package of sliced mushrooms (~2 cups)
• 1-2 tblsp of minced/diced garlic
• 1 tblsp butter
• 1 cup red wine (merlot/shiraz/chianti/etc)
• fresh basil
• oregeno
• garlic powder
• onion powder

Instructions:

Note:  This will make a LOT of meat sauce, so either fiddle around with the proportions, or be prepared to feed a lot of people / have leftovers.

In a LARGE pot (or crock pot), pour both bottles of Prego sauce and combine 2 minced basil leaves, a large sprinkling of dried oregano, and a pinch or two of salt and start on a very slow simmer for 4 hours.

In a large skillet, combine the butter, garlic and bacon.  When the bacon is mostly reduced, add in the mushrooms and sautee the mushrooms.  When the mushrooms are nearly finished, pour the wine in and continue to cook until the wine is mostly reduced.

Leaving the grease and wine in the saucepan, carefully scoop the mushrooms and bacon into the sauce.

In the saucepan mix the beef and the sausage and sprinkle with onion powder, garlic powder, and salt (to taste). Once the meat is cooked, drain off all the oil and combine the meat into the sauce.

Check on the sauce every 15-30 minutes and stir completely to make sure nothing is sticking to the bottom or sides as well as mix the sauce that has bubbled to the top back into the sauce.

After the sauce has simmered for ~3.5 hours, start cooking the noodles.

Tell me that this doesn't send a shiver down your spine.

"This is the first character reveal from next summer's G.I. Joe movie, the mute, faceless, black-clad ninja commando, among the most famous of the good guys from the 1980s incarnation of the decades-old Hasbro toy line"

Being directed by Stephen Sommers (of Mummy & Van Helsing fame), this certainly has a good chance of kicking some major ass. 

Ray Park will be playing the ninja to your left, and other famous names lending their talent to the movie are Sienna Miller as the Baroness and Dennis Quaid as "Hawk".

At any rate, all of you out there who used to play with GI JOE's as a young kid (you can admit it, sure it was essentially "Barbi" for boys, but at least they had guns), you know you have longed for this... Now let's just all sit back and hope that they do it the justice that it deserves.

The world lost a great man this week. Arthur C. Clarke, died in hospital care at the age of 90. He helped invent the communications satellite, he was a scuba diver, visionary, and wrote some books that you may have heard of called 2001: A Space Odyssey

You'll be dearly missed Arthur

I was discussing Flags of our Fathers with John B. recently and during the conversation, I recieved an email from Darrin K. asking for something we are grateful for in light of Independance day tomorrow.

Already being in that mindset, I replied to Darrin with this:

I am grateful that there are people in this world that are willing to not only fight for an idea, but lay down their life for that idea if needs be. Not because they are not afraid of dying, or are itching for a fight, but because they believe with all their heart that it is right.

I am not the type of person that would willingly go pick up a gun and head to war. I did come close to joining the marines in college and I have several family members who have served, but I ultimately chose a different route. I have to respect the people who do choose that life though.

I am not foolish enough to think that all the people who join the military do so from an idealistic cause, but I do believe in my heart that many of them are doing what they do out of a sense of patriotism and pride. Pride that they are Americans.

And they are fighting for it.

And they are dying for it.

It doesn't matter what the circumstance that they fight or die. They are representing our nation. For better or for worse. They are out there because they believe. Look back over the course of our history. Sure there have been wars and battles that perhaps should not have been fought. However, there are a great many battles that were fought for all the right reasons. Wars that freed people. Wars that made people equals. So, I am grateful that over the 200+ years that this country has been in existence, and the several years before it was that there were people who believed in an idea so much, that they lay down their life so that I could sit here today and type this without having to worry about what I am saying, without having to worry about who is going to be reading it. So that I can walk the streets without having to fear for my life, and so that I can enjoy the multitude of freedoms that I am able to enjoy today.

Thank you.

"Before, thickness didn't matter,[Now] thickness does come into play. If it gets too thick you create a new shape." -Postal Service spokesman Dave Partenheimer

...seriously... I grant, this was actually in reference to the new postal rates that went into effect today, but did Dave even stop to consider what that statement would make people think?

Ever wonder how the cursor on your computer monitor works when you move the mouse? Well, through the miracle of high technology and the aid of a screen magnifying lens, the mechanism becomes apparent. Click HERE and you will find out. Once loaded, slowly move your mouse over the light gray circle and you will see the magic. (link has been verified as safe by yours truly).

Chicago had a little fun last week. Drivers by got treated to a billboard with a half dressed man and woman and a slogan that read

Life's short. Get a divorce

The sign got removed after several complaints, but not because the owner agreed.

"I called the building inspector and told him to do his job and he did... It has nothing to do with content or anything else. They did not have a permit and they were ordered to take it down." - City Alderman : Burton Natarus

(by the way an alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions.) ... Awesome.

That's it everyone. If I see ANY of you using this number, so help me...

82 30 75 6F BF 43 BC FC 7B 53 9A 2A D1 C6 79 7F

For all of you haters out there, You too can own your own number. So stop with the 128 bit envy and go get your own.

I am sure that many of you who use Vonage have been watching the various financial / tech sites with eager anticipation the past few weeks.   For those of you who are not aware, Vonage was found to be in violation of many of Verizon's patents surrounding VoIP communications.  As a result, a judge issued a stay against Vonage preventing them from signing on any new customers.  *crap* I've used Vonage for nearly 2 years at this point and I have to say, I love it.  Sure, there were problems in the beggining, but it turns out that it was my internet connection that was the root of all the issues, not the Vonage service itself.  Of course, I suppose if you want to include the quality of any VoIP service; throwing more bandwidth at it is the solution. hrm... In any case, when I read the terrible news about Vonage, I assumed, like so many others, that it was a death knell.  So, I started my search for an alternate provider and was not able to find anything that offered the same features for the same price.  AT&T's callvantage came close, but while it matched in price, it didn't offer some of the niceties, like local phone #'s etc.  As a quick sidebar, that is probably one of the cooler features that Vonage offers, being able to get a local # in a different area code.  This way my parents and boss can both call local #'s and still get through.  I don't have to pay long distance, and neither do they.  Good stuff. Anyway, getting back to Vonage.  I have been looking and looking and unable to come up with anything that was decently priced and still got good reviews.  So, I decided to wait. Turns out, waiting can pay off, and not just in the stock market.  Perhaps Verizon is the one that is acting a little shady in this whole thing. Perhaps Verizon stole those patents from somebody else... So, Long story short, Vonage has gotten a stay on the stay. They can sign up new customers again... They're still in business... at least for now...