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