Validity and Soundness

        An argument is sound if it is valid and the premises are true. I'm not a mathematician but I think I understand where validity and soundness bears on an argument. Arguments are a difference of opinions. Statements of facts must be valid an sound in other words they must stand up to having the light of truth shined on them. No lies,spin or embellishments allowed. This is the only way to win an argument and it should be free or very limited to emotions. I know that is one area I need to work on the emotions,my idealism gets in the way. I'm sure it started with that 1950's Superman TV show. You know or maybe not, that it started with a little ditty about faster than a speeding bullet,able to leap tall buildings an always ended with "Truth,Justice and the American way". What the hell happened ? Truth , Justice. The American way? Damn was it all a lie,I'm not sure anymore since I saw that Kubrick movie quite a few years ago. You know the one called "Full Metal Jacket". The scene I'm thinking of was when all the Marines are marching across that field and singing Micky Mouse. Yep that is the part when validity & soundness seemed to go out the window. My faith in the goodness an kindness of humanity vanished. Will it ever return?   

Tea-Bagger an Education

          Tea-Bagger: A derogatory term, used mostly by the left "fringe," to describe a group of American people who assemble peacefully to protest out of control government spending. Recently  even Obama used the term in a derogatory manner,no surprise there the Left an even some so called Moderates of the Political spectrum have gone out of there way to talk down and speak ill of our Constitution an the actions of our Founding Fathers. Take from the rich and give to the poor,if it doesn't move Tax it. Should we even be discussing how taxation from the Government is a form of theft. Taxation not all of it for Government at the Federal,State an County/City levels is a necessary evil, you have to have a certain level to control the dealings of the People an to protect the People from bad people. But who protects the People from Government when it goes South. When the level of Taxation "theft" becomes so great the Governments so powerful, that they can ridicule the Founding Fathers an bind up Liberty an Freedoms with a Tax. The EPA or any other alphabet bureaucracy that has the control of our life and liberty never gets elected. They along with the so called Czars created by recent Presidents and Congress have to be reigned in. In my mind one of the first should probably be the Department of Education. I look at the level of education in this Country over the last 50 years and it has been a downhill slide. The level of knowledge attained by the majority of most College grads at this time is appalling. At best an I'm talking the majority they have a High School level of knowledge with a high level of spin thrown in because for the most part they can not reason out a problem by themselves. The level of intellectual deduction,deductive reasoning is so low that the word lemmings comes to mind. A definition of deductive reasoning can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deductive_reasoning . I can truly understand how "Republic" forms of government have tried to control who is allowed to vote. When we have people voting who are not legal citizens of this Republic, or if legal but vote because they have been given Obama phones. You should be able to see where this will lead. The fall of the Soviet Union the old evil empire of Ronald Reagan is one example. The European Union is another,it hasn't collapsed yet but sooner or later. The United States is not far behind,the only good thing is I'm well over 60 years old an my health is not the best  so I'm sure I won't have to worry about it for a long time. My children and the rest of the under 40 age group? I don't know if the Republic I grew up in will survive, actually it is gone already, but salvage is possible but probable? Highly unlikely!    Education an knowledge are the key.    

Media Bias

      Ever notice how much crap and I do mean crap for example Lady Gaga this an Lady Gaga that or ad nauseam   you feel in the blanks. Very little real hard news is found on major news sources or at best it is hidden back on page 28 or distorted beyond recognition. This is the age of spin an don't get me started on that no spin short Leprechaun on Fox. He straddles the fence so much he is getting bow legged. There is a story here http://www.americanthinker.com/2013/10/bbc_bias.html .    This story more about the BBC in Britain but could apply here in the states as well. Misdirection is the real story. The Blogs an sites like Drudge Report are getting to be the only real source of news that is not covered up. Examples that I can think of are TWA Flight 800 out of New York that had a lot of evidence pointing to being shot down by a missile, Benghazi on 9-11-2012 you know that one stinks an both had the Clinton stamp of approval. That is why the cover-up Hillary needs no discredit when she runs in 2016, but that my friends is another story. God every time McCain uses that my friends line I think I want to up chuck,am I wrong?                                                

Lost our last Westie today

Lucy the white Westie in the picture passed away today at about 1:15 Arizona time. We rescued Lucy an her brother Buddy back in 2005, there owners were both sent off to Iraq an they needed a new home. Buddy passed away about 1.5 years ago an I believe they both died from Cancer but they were both over 13 years old an didn't appear to be in any pain they just wasted away in less than a year after I felt a lump on them although they played an ate just fine. Could be just old age since they had few symptoms until a few days before they died. Lucy was sick Friday an by Monday afternoon had died. Miss them both Westies are such a good breed we have owned 4 of them over the last 25 years. We found a spot right next to her brother so they are together again. Not sure about an afterlife but if there is I'm sure Lucy will be there waiting when we pass on..

Receiving my crow on the way to Nam

Receiving my crow from Capt. Zartman aboard the USS Newport News in early 1972. FYI crow refers to making third class petty officer the same as Corporal  or E-4 in the Marine Corps. This advancement made me a non-commissioned  officer in charge of the gun director unless manned as in GQ by a gun director officer usually a Ensign or Ltjg or in our case a Marine Corps Captain over in Nam. Normally I was responsible for maintaining the mk25 mod3 radar on Sky IV although I manned the 3 other Sky directors at various times. The Sky directors aimed and fired the dual  5" 38 gun mounts which the USS Newport News CA-148 had 6 for a total of 12 5" cannons along with nine 8" cannons controlled  by the Spot directors.

We can always compromise > not

We all get something from understanding and compromising. It's the genius of the American system,right ?

No it's not. It's time to stop! The time for accommodating is over. The system is rigged, confiscatory and self-serving. It no longer defends or even respects our rightful domains, it invades and diminishes them. Constitutional governance doesn't meter out its consent to obedient subjects, it earns consent from a free people. And consent can be withdrawn or it isn't consent. We need to demand full compliance with constitutional governance. We either believe this or we don't. It's time to find a way. It's time to turn to the people, to speak plainly to the people and trust in the people. No compromises. No "understandings". This is where we stand today do we bow down an kiss the system make that the establishments ass. Or stand up as a free people and compromise no more.  I'm sure at my age I can not nor will I change but I'm old and getting older everyday. The future belongs to the young and I'm not sure if they understand what they are losing if they do nothing to support the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. I have always voted in major elections even voted for the wrong person McCain an Flake come to mind here in Arizona. I'm sure that elections don't matter that much anymore. It seems only the self serving come up an win at the primaries an big business rules in most elections such a shame how democracy can become so corrupt with just lots and lots of money. That is how it works not that it is right just lots of money an evil ,bad people who want command and control of our societies. The Europeans an Asians lost a long time ago, America was founded on Idealism an was never perfect but nothing came close over the last 6,000 years to match it. That bright shining light on the hill has not been extinguished yet but it is growing dimmer by the day. Liberty is not extinct but it is hard to find an keep. So let the others compromise know how your bread is buttered an never ever give up.

No bake chocolate peanut butter balls

No Bake Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Balls

1-18 oz. jar of smooth or chunky peanut buter - I prefer smooth
1 - 16 oz. bag of confectioners sugar
1/4 c. butter, melted
chocolate almond bark
or
chocolate candy melts
or
12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips & 2 tsp. shortening  "my fav" dark chocoholic.

In a large bowl, stir together the peanut butter, confectioners sugar and melted butter until the mixture is crumbly. For the next step, the best way that I've found to make a smooth filling is to use your hands to mix everything together.

Line a baking sheet with foil. Roll the peanut butter filling into 1 inch balls and line the baking sheet with rows of the balls. Set the baking sheet in the freezer for 5-7 minutes to chill the peanut butter balls for easier dipping.

While the peanut butter balls are chilling, melt the chocolate in the microwave in a microwave safe bowl that is deep enough for dipping. I melted 6 blocks of chocolate almond bark at a time, stirring at 45 second intervals until smooth.

Remove the baking sheet from the freezer. Insert a toothpick or wooden skewer into a peanut butter ball and then dip it into the chocolate, turning quickly to cover the entire candy. Place onto a second baking tray that has also been lined with foil. Swirl the chocolate on the top of each candy for a pretty design. Refrigerate until the chocolate had completely dried.

Store the candies in a sealed container in the refrigerator

Homemade Flour Tortillas:

HOMEMADE FLOUR TORTILLAS:

3 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1/3 cup oil
1 cup warm water

Combine all ingredients until it forms a dough. Roll into a big ball and take about 1"-2" pieces off. Pat flat with your hands or use a rolling pin. Put on a griddle on the stove and let the sides cook until there are lil brown specks. Enjoy! best use is as a burrito or everyone's favorite cheese crisp.

The 50th anniversary of JFK assassination in Dallas will be on Nov 22,2013. This act was a conspiracy and was covered up by our Government.I can't prove it but I feel that this was more then 1 man,Kennedy had quite a few enemies an truth be told I didn't like him either. I was only 13 years old but already had strong conservative values. I did not believe he was evil just incompetent. LBJ now that was a evil sob no doubt in my mind. I'm not sure exactly who was involved but I believe even Oswald said he was a patsy. Think what you want it was a shock and a tragedy for all citizens who believe in the Constitution an true American values. RIP President Kennedy.

Coexist Not

This is in regards to all the people who put this "coexist" with the religious symbols on their car bumpers. I know you will never ever understand how many psychopaths and sociopaths permeate many of the main religions of the world and how many poor souls they have tortured and murdered in the name of their religions. This has been the case for thousands of years really since the invention of religion by man. The Christian an Islamist religions are by far the worst over the last 1500 years. If you don't believe me read a little history. From the Romans persecuting the Christians to the Crusades and recent death camps of the NAZI in WWII. Mass murders of people of different beliefs is nothing new. The Islamist beliefs as practiced today in the Middle East are in my mind the most barbaric and trust me the religion of "peace" is anything but. So religion is not going away any time soon but get real and quit believing in the Easter Bunny and World Peace. Coexistence of the Worlds many religions is not going to happen until all these religions really start to believe in peace, a real paradigm shift in human beliefs will need to happen. For that to happen we will need a real God an one we all believe in!    

Apple Cinnamon Loaf 1/3 cup brown sugar (not packed) 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 2/3 cup white sugar 1/2 cup butter, softened 2 eggs 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 3/4 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 cup milk 1 apple, peeled and chopped Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan. Mix brown sugar and cinnamon together in a bowl and set aside. Beat white sugar and butter together in a bowl using an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time, until incorporated; add vanilla extract. Combine flour and baking powder together in another bowl; stir into creamed butter mixture. Mix milk into batter until smooth. Pour half the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Next add half the apples and half the brown sugar cinnamon mixture. Lightly pat apple mixture into batter. Pour the remaining batter over apple layer; top with remaining apples and add more brown sugar/cinnamon mixture. Lightly pat apples into batter; swirl brown sugar mixture through apples using a finger or spoon. Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean, 30 to 40 minutes. Enjoy.

A picture of my home town circa 1900. Sometimes it good to remember your roots an what you grew up with. Of course I didn't roam these streets until the 1950's but at that time the late 50's the trolly was gone it disappeared in the early 1950's an of course more car traffic. Mom said she took me once on the trolly but I don't remember it. I do remember walking down to the A&P grocery store an Mom getting a yellow cab to haul us and the food back home. I can remember buying 22 shells I think shorts were like $0.59 a box of 50 rds. I was 14 years old but that was life back than. I had a shooting club and a reloading club in high school and people didn't worry about some kid killing anyone back than and I'm talking late 1960's for high school. They as in the US govt had no problem drafting me an sending me with a gun to Vietnam when I was 18 years old either. Maybe that was what was different back than the draft. I doubt it but freedom just isn't spelled the same nowadays as when I was younger. That is what is wrong with the 21st Century so far, they just don't spell freedom the same.   

My Caribbean UFO sighting back in the early 1970's

1. spheroid (note: many night-time UFO reports are of so-called "orange balls of light" a/k/a OBOLs. They have been variably described as "luminous globe" or "glowing orb" or "sphere of light" or "ball of fire" and are typically orange/yellow or white in color, although sometimes red, green or blue. In recent decades and practically without exception in Europe, Ufologists and the Media immediately dismiss "OBOL" reports as either Chinese-lanterns or as the elusive and poorly understood "ball lightning" phenomenon. I've seen veteran Ufologists rush to explain away OBOLs as military-flares, fireball-meteors, Venus and even as ... the Moon, much to the dismay of reporting eye-witnesses I guess. However in section #9 about UFO illumination, I offer the idea that at least some "balls of light", particularly those executing controlled maneuvers like travelling one way and then making right-angle turns or U-turns, may be true UFOs. I hypothesize that the "ball of light" appearance may be a spherical shell of luminous ionized air around the UFO itself. The OBOL effect depends on a UFO's operating condition and the UFO's actual shape may not be spherical in each and every OBOL case. Warning: OBOLs should not be confused with the so-called "orbs" which is a term used these days to describe the typically circular artifacts that may occur unexpectedly in flash photography due to backscatter and are pretty common with modern digital cameras - see orb @ wiki)              I guess this is a weird way to start a post but back in 1973 on board  the USS Newport News CA-148 a heavy cruiser, I along with at least 6 people saw a "OBOL" near Puerto Rico in the Caribbean. We were on condition 3 watches an I  was manning the mk 25 mod 3 Radar in the back of the Sky IV gun director at the time an our Ltjg commanding our gun director brought it to my attention. It was executing controlled maneuvers off our port side an came to a complete stop ~1 mile from the ship. There was no sound or obvious means of propulsion an because we were at sea there was nothing close to it to gauge it size.It was roughly at 30 degrees off the horizon an had been visible for a number of minutes until it stopped.The object/UFO made several right angle turns before it stopped. From our position it was similar in size to the full moon about 1/2 degree diameter an similar in color to a harvest moon a yellow/orange which was featureless. The object was observed by 4 people in our gun director an 2 lookouts stationed below us. When we reported the sighting to CIC "combat information center" the Lcdr in charge told us to disregard the UFO it did not exist? Believe me if you saw this thing hanging out there you would have found it very hard to disregard such a strange sight. We requested permission to light off our radar but was told to stand down,I wanted to see if I could lock on it an get a good range to the UFO. After about 10 minutes the object was still floating out there and had not moved we again requested to light off the radar an were given permission to turn it on. Unfortunately when I started the radar it crapped out. This particular radar had about 320 vacuum tubes an one of them died on me,I jumped down 2 decks to the power supply room an found and  replaced  the defective tube but by the time I got back up to my radar unit the UFO had floated off. The director officer said it slowly moved off a distance then just took off or disappeared  really fast. It was not the moon or any type of flare or manmade craft that I have ever seen and because of the controlled movement an the way it moved slowly toward the ship with what appeared to be a control by some intelligence I have no idea how to explain this sighting. I know the 5 other men who saw it, an we were spooked a little by it, this object seemed to be fairly large an I was just so upset that my radar picked that moment to die on me. Those old radars needed to be tweeked a lot and were no way as stable and exact as modern day radars are. If I could have got a range to the object we would have had a lot more data. I became a believer that day something was out there an I could not just ignore it, it was very real an the first UFO I have seen and I understand how some people have faith in their beliefs. From that day till today I still believe that we are not alone.   

Arizona State Flag

The new state flag for Arizona.