Most Curious...

I am, again, working out of state.  This weekend, however, is different.

When I checked into the Marriott I've virtually lived at since March, the hostess offered to move me from the 5th floor to the 8th floor on Friday morning (yesterday).  I told her I did not want to move, but she repeated her offer adding that the hotel was hosting an anime convention from Friday afternoon to Sunday morning and the young people might be noisy.  She said, in a low voice, "Um, Mr. Ellis, things get kind of weird around here."

Anime is that really terrible Japanese animation that brought us cartoons like "Speed Racer" in the 1980s.

I assured her that I had enough kids at home that a little noisy fun would not bother me.  That was Tuesday night. 

On Thursday afternoon, coming back in from work, I noticed a group of youths sitting in the lobby.  One girl was wearing a plush headdress that made her look like the Pokemon character Pik-a-chu.

By 10pm Thursday the hotel seemed full of young people who appeared to be what we used to call "mods" or "goths" or "emo's".  They were all nice enough, and seemed to be having a good time.  Things in the hall outside my room were pretty loud until after midnight, but I'm pretty easy going.

When I came in from work last night (Friday) just before 8pm the hotel was crawling with youths - and some people who were just too old to be dressing up - in costumes ranging from monsters to mutants to ninjas to nurses.  I stopped at the front desk and the hostess, Kari, said, "Mr. Ellis, I told you!  Things get weird around here!"  I agreed with her.

It's Saturday afternoon and more than 200 costumed anime fans are on the hotel patio watching 2 of their ninja brethren in a mock sword fight, played out to the beat of a kibuki drummer girl, interrupted periodically for a line or two of stand-up comedy from the black ninja.  (The red ninja appears to be the "straight man".)  And the crowd is clapping and laughing enthusiastically.  Blue wigs and huge furry ears are nodding with understanding. 

The black ninja is saying something they can relate to!

Walking below my window is a very large black woman in a Thumbelina-esque costume and a stick thin young white man wearing nothing but a criss-crossed belt for a shirt, black trousers, and a black military hat.  Quite a pair. 

For all the freakishness, though, I have to make a few observations.
1.  No one is walking around texting or even talking on a cell phone.  All of their interactions are really in person!
2.  No one has been obviously intoxicated, smoking cigarettes is very rare, and they are not cursing.
3.  No one is fighting.  In fact there appears to be total love and acceptance of all by all.  They seem to be having a lot of good clean weird fun!

That's nice to see.

The New Bill of Rights - And The Old One...

I got a kick out of this picture.  The resolution isn't what I'd like it to be, but it's clear enough to get the idea.

The bottom line is that we have to watch our representatives in Congress, the president, and the Supreme Court verrrry closely to ensure that they are not giving us a "New" Bill of Rights.

Just in case you've forgotten what all those Amendments were, here's a list of the first Ten.  It's a quick read, and one that is well worth your time.  Remember that what you read in a few short minutes is the fruit of literally thousands of years of human thought and countless attempts at self-government.

Do you remember anyone talking about Amendments 9 and 10 in your lifetime?  I know that I've never heard a word about Amendment 9, and the last time anyone mentioned Amendment 10 (who was not Governor Perry of Texas) was in 8th grade when we studied the Civil War.

Here you go.  Learn it.  Live it.  Love it.

The 1st Amendment

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.


The 2nd Amendment
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.


The 3rd Amendment
No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.


The 4th Amendment
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.


The 5th Amendment
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.


The 6th Amendment
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.


The 7th Amendment
In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.


The 8th Amendment
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.


The 9th Amendment
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.


The 10th Amendment
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

Which Is More Offensive...?

Here's a photo of an Iowa billboard.  Look at it and consider it along with the Democrat Congressman's statement in the post below.

Think deeply and decide which you find more offensive.  Why is that?

I frankly find it more offensive to be expected to believe a bald-faced lie told by an arrogant and condescending politician than to be invited to consider an opinion expressed by a passionate person, be they ever so rude or ignorant.

This Is UNBELIEVABLE!

How, in today's technological and political environment, can this California Democrat expect anyone - even a staunch ally - to believe his statement?

Despicable contempt shown for the intelligence of his constituents.

Breitbart.tv » Democrat Congressman ‘Unaware’ of the New Black Panther Voter Intimidation Case

A Lot Can Happen In 20 Months...

Okay. Not too many of us "US Americans" are happy with the radical (meaning "having to do with the root") changes we've seen in our country in the past 20 months.

We've seen the debt skyrocket. When we consider the real cost of paying down the debt and funding all of the other entitlement obligations the United States has incurred, we realize that it is quite impossible. Literally, impossible.

We've seen cronyism at its best in the selective bailouts of banks and other businesses. Why did Lehman Brothers get help while Bear Stearns was allowed to fail? Why is GM still a going concern, while Chrysler is bankrupt and its assets are owned by a minor Italian car company? Why did congressmen and senators advocate in behalf of some GM dealerships, but not others, reversing the closings of the chosen few? Why were investors - private, legitimate investors - forced by the government to accept less than they were legally entitled to during the bankruptcy proceedings of some businesses?

We've seen stagnation in a war that the current administration said was not only necessary, but ultimately winnable. The military in Afghanistan has been given a mere fraction of the resources needed to accomplish their goals, while the president and his advisors are distracted by other matters.

We saw healthcare reform rammed through congress and down our throats inspite of the overwhelming resistance to a bill that no person in congress had read or understood, the full effects of which have yet to be felt because of the strategic timing of its effectiveness. The bill will not be fully enacted until after the president's reelection campaign in 2012.

We have seen the complete and utter mismanagement of an environmental disaster the likes of which the United States has never seen. From absolute corruption in the administration's oversight agency to apparent appathy on the part of the president, it has been an absolute goat rope.

We see the federal government suing the sovereign State of Arizona over a law enacted by the state legislature that simply - and almost completely - quotes and cites federal immigration law and requires peace officers in Arizona to also enforce those federal statutes during the routine course of responding to violations of other laws. (Contrary to what is commonly reported by liberal "journalists", this is not a license for policemen to stop a person who is not violating any other statute and ask for "their papers.")

We see congress seriously considering rewriting hundreds of years of case law regarding business and finance in a move to further fetter the freedom of economic markets that have brought the world its greatest wealth and prosperity in the history of the human race.

We can say that we're going to change things in November. We can say that we might even take away the statist control of the Congress. (NB: I did not say "Democrat control" because there are statists in the Republican party, too.)

So we take control of the Congress back for The People in November. The change won't take place until late January of 2011.  What legislation do you think is going to get passed in the intervening "lame duck" period? Look at what the statists have passed while purportedly worried about the chances of reelection! I really can't imagine what is coming down the proverbial pike.

I think we're in for quite an adventure. I'd like to see serious talk about repealing 100% of the legislation passed between 2007 and 2010! Consider each act on its own merits, and keep the ones that are good for the whole. Lose the rest!

If You Own One, You Know It's True...

Compensation And Newton's Third Law....

Newton's Third Law states roughly that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. This is interesting to consider in light of the discussion on compensation we had earlier.

If I put energy into a good or service, that energy must be taken out of the universe at large - or very often, out of my own body.

If I receive monetary compensation, that money must be taken out of someone else's bank account.

If I pour a glass of orange juice, the glass becomes full only at the expense of the pitcher.

If I throw a ball into the air, the earth pulls it back to itself with exactly the same amount of energy I put into the ball in the first place - and not one bit more.

So, why does it not follow that when I do good, when I am kind, when I love somewhere else in the world I have caused a bad, and unkindness, or a hatred? Because Nature, the Universe - God - is an infinite source of virtue and goodness. When we act with virtuous intentions and do things that cause good in our lives, the lives of others, and the world at large, Natural virtue compensates Newton's Third Law and goodness and virtue are actually multiplied, and not negated.

This is not theory. Simply look around. Simply search your memory. When you let someone pull in front of you in traffic, how much delayed were you in getting to your destination? When someone smiled at you in the store, how much more suffering do you think they endured later in the day? When we stop to cheer a friend, do we find more sadness in our lives?

There are laws that seem to govern the world we see, such as Newton's Laws and the Laws of Thermodynamics. But there are other, higher laws that govern the universe of the soul. And the soul has so much to do with the world we see.

When, however, we act with malice, with selfish intent, in spite or hate, we cannot reap goodness in the long term. Certainly, we may experience a momentary and temporal increase. But the bad we have sown in the world will surely come back to us. When we profit at another's expense, when we advance by forcing another to revert, when we gratify ourselves while humiliating another, we will reap the whirlwind we have sown. The pleasure is compensated for by an equal amount of pain; the gain is compensated for by an equal amount of loss.

And in the end - and perhaps sooner than that - we will see the costs we've inflicted on others return to us multiplied.

In the Old Testament story of Samuel the prophet, Samuel is instructed to choose the next king of Israel from Jesse's sons. When he sees how strong and handsome Eliab is, Samuel says in his heart that he has found the man. The Lord reproaches him and reminds Samuel that "man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart."

Thus we see that God, Nature, the Universe, perceives our intentions, knows our struggles and our sorrows, understands our deepest desires, and passes perfect judgment. The law of compensation is based on this perfect insight and infinite discernment.

Thoughts On Compensation....

Compensation. It is a word with multiple meanings. Compensation can be pay, or a just reward for an action. Compensation can be a making up for a lack or weakness. Compensation can be a neutralization, such as an equal and opposite reaction to every action.

I think that the principle of Compensation is alive in the universe, in the world around us, and in our own individual lives. And I think that all three senses of the word mentioned above apply.

"Mythbusters" is a favorite television show in our house. In a recently screened episode the scientists worked to determine if two bodies (automobiles, in this case) colliding with eachother head-on, each traveling 50 mph resulted in a force equal to one car hitting a solid object (wall) at 100 mph. The initial thought was, yes, the forces would be cumulative. My intuition said the same thing.

However a small body of viewers asserted that the "equal and opposite" clause would result in a compensating force that would make the collision similar to a single car hitting a solid object at 50 mph.

They were correct. Nature compensated for the additional speed of impact and yielded a force that was equivalent to the second car, speeding at 50 mph into a head-on collision, simply standing still.

Our bodies compensate for weaknesses by developing dominant eyes, hands, feet, and brain hemispheres. We can compensate for an injury by using different muscles or body parts to perform routine tasks while we heal. Over the long term our bodies can alter their skeletal and muscular structure to compensate for and overcome permanent damage. I know a pilot who was shot down over North Viet Nam. While ejecting from his aircraft his back was broken in several places. Over years in a prison camp, without medical attention, the muscles along his spine grew stronger, providing support for the broken bones, until his bones fused back together.

In free market economies we see the price of labor, goods, and services rise or fall to their natural levels, with the producers of such resources compensated justly, or fairly for their added value. This happens without intervention by governments or other outside forces.

I think that there is also a metaphysical or spiritual law of compensation at work in the universe. The Preacher in Ecclesiastes said, "Cast thy bread upon the waters; for thou shalt find it after many days." In other words, we will reap what we sow in this world. The compensation may not be immediate; note the Preacher's use of the words "after many days." But it is sure.

And I don't think that needs to be a scary thing. In fact, it ought to be a hopeful and a happy thing for us. To know that Nature and the Universe are aware of the things we do, the thoughts we have, the hopes we carry in our hearts; and that They will compensate us for them, help us see them to fruition, give us the end product of them should give us great encouragement.

As Saint James taught, as surely as a fig tree bears figs, or an olive tree bears olives, we can be assured that our thoughts and hopes and wishes for good in the world will lead to good in the world and to our compensation with good in our lives.

And just as a tree cannot bear fruit without first producing a blossom, so we must produce that first blossom of goodness if we wish to see goodness return to us. Yet the fruit tree does not bloom of its own accord. The tree blossoms because Nature made it possible and Nature endowed it with the power to bloom. So with us; we cannot do good of our own power, but Nature has given us Its power to do good, and when we use the power for good that Nature bestowed on us we can hope for the eventual return of goodness' fruit to us in our lives.

Even the thought, or the desire is sufficient for us to begin to reap the benefit of goodness. And as we reap that benefit and feel its influence in our lives we come to know that the law of compensation is working for us. And we often come to desire more good, hence we do more good, hence we reap more good.

The cycle of virtue and goodness in the universe is an encouraging one. It is a hopeful one. It is one that shows a pattern to follow that has the ultimate potential of curing all the world's ills. As we think and act in goodness toward others, it tempers them and leads them to think and act in goodness toward yet others. And so on, and so on, until neighborhoods are changed, then communities are changed, then cities, then states, then entire nations are affected by goodness to act in goodness and virtue one with another.

You may say I'm a dreamer; but I'm not the only one. I hope one day you will join us, and the world will live as one.