Monday, March 29, 2004

Celebrating Myself

Today, as Billy mentioned, is my birthday.  In celebration of this event, I spent a portion of the day in the basement of my favorite antiquarian bookseller.  I came home with one book.  Ludwig von Mises’ Human Action A Treatise on Economics. It is not the “Scholars Addition,” which you can purchase through the link previous, it is the Third Revised Edition, hardcover, with intact dustcover, published by Henry Regnery Company in 1966, and the copyright is held by Yale University Press.  It is in near mint condition.  Cost, $31.90.

I can’t wait to take my pen to it, but it must wait in line.

Happy Birthday to me.

Link to Amazon pricing of this book via Mises Economics Blog.

Posted by John Venlet on 03/29 at 01:44 PM
(2) Comments • (0) Trackbacks • Permalink

I Fail to Understand How Mandating Service Builds Voluntaryism

"As part of his 100 day plan to change America, John Kerry will propose a comprehensive service plan that includes requiring mandatory service for high school students and four years of college tuition in exchange for two years of national service."

And another thing.  I always thought volunteering to serve, well outside of the military anyway, was providing assitance free of charge.  How come it will cost money from your and my pockets to fund volunteers?  Oh, yeah, it’s because it is not voluntary, it’s mandated.

From the Kerry website.

Via The Rule of Reason.

Posted by John Venlet on 03/29 at 09:40 AM
(1) Comments • (0) Trackbacks • Permalink

Say What?

The headline.  “Rice urged to ‘rise above principles’."

Who had the audacity to say that?

"There’s a time to rise above principles,” Republican John Lehman told NBC’s “Today” show,..."

You can’t rise above your principles, John, you can only kick them to the curb.

Posted by John Venlet on 03/29 at 08:11 AM
(0) Comments • (0) Trackbacks • Permalink

Vacation Safety Tips

Here in Grand Rapids, Michigan, there is a small community radio station, WYCE. At 7000 watts, WYCE’s airwave muscle is more akin to the 100 pound weakling who gets sand kicked in his face at the beach than a Charles Atlas, but they do play an eclectic mix of music, which I enjoy, and you can listen online through the link provided.  I’ve heard many bands on this station that I did not even know existed, and others that I still wish I didn’t know existed.  The best thing about this radio station, is that it receives all of its operating funds from individuals.  Not one penny from the government, in any way, shape or form.  And though some the programmers at WYCE lean a bit far to the left for my tastes, I still listen.

Anyway, Saturday night, driving back to the house I heard a tune by Cheryl Wheeler titled "Don’t Forget the Guns." I loved it.  The tune made me laugh and, I thought the lyrics positively portrayed individuals taking responsibility for their own safety.  So, I Googled up the tune so I could post the lyrics.  When I found what I was looking for, I read that Wheeler supposedly penned the song as a “sarcastic protest” against gun ownership.  I’d say if that is the actual case, she missed wide.

"Now let’s get the kids and pack up the car
Take that vacation we’ve been waiting for
Drive across this country leave our worries far behind
Singin’ four-part harmony to “sweet adeline”

`Cause I got these books and maps from triple “A”
We’ll visit friends and sites along the way
So bring the bikes and toys and diapers
Pay the neighbor’s son
And call to stop the mail and, honey,
Don’t forget the guns

(Chorus)
Now don’t forget the guns you know exactly what I mean
Bring the pistols, bring the uzi and the old AR-15
We don’t look for trouble but by golly if we’re in it
It’s nice to know we’re free to blow nine hundred rounds a minute

We’ll head for Chicago, stop for the night
Hope for good weather hope the kids don’t fight
They’ve never seen mt. Rushmore and they ought to understand
The kind of men who forged our freedom all across this land

We’ll hike up a trail and ride down a street
Stand by Old Faithful and watch her blow off steam
When we pack picnic lunches that’s not all we’ll bring along
`Cause we’ll be packing 45’s case anything goes wrong

(Repeat Chorus)

Oh riding along we’ll follow the sights
Over the mountains under the pines
Up to boot hill where they got what they gave
In the land of the free you’ve got to be brave"

(Repeat Chorus)

2/11/89

(P) August 17, 1997
Penrod And Higgins Music / Amachrist Music ACF Music Group International Copyright Reserved

Posted by John Venlet on 03/29 at 05:14 AM
(0) Comments • (0) Trackbacks • Permalink

Single Gun Theory

No, no, no.  I’m not thinking about the band Single Gun Theory, and I’m not thinking about the happenings in Dallas in 1963.  I’m thinking about an article posted at the online magazine Liberty for All, written by L. Neil Smith, titled “Why Did it Have to be … Guns?"

Smith states, in the article, that the gun issue is the only determining issue for himself when he votes for a political candidate.  I think he’d be better off not voting, but that’s another topic in and of itself.  From Smith’s piece.

"If a politician isn’t perfectly comfortable with the idea of his average constituent, any man, woman, or responsible child, walking into a hardware store and paying cash—for any rifle, shotgun, handgun, machinegun, anything—without producing ID or signing one scrap of paper, he isn’t your friend no matter what he tells you.

If he isn’t genuinely enthusiastic about his average constituent stuffing that weapon into a purse or pocket or tucking it under a coat and walking home without asking anybody’s permission, he’s a four-flusher, no matter what he claims.

What his attitude—toward your ownership and use of weapons—conveys is his real attitude about you. And if he doesn’t trust you, then why in the name of John Moses Browning should you trust him?

If he doesn’t want you to have the means of defending your life, do you want him in a position to control it?"

Posted by John Venlet on 03/29 at 05:06 AM
(0) Comments • (0) Trackbacks • Permalink

Give Me That Old Time Religion

So, John Kerry is quoting scriptures. Shouldn’t all the liberals be clamoring about how “evil” this is?  I mean he’s a presidential candidate, for Christ’s sake, and when Bush was running the liberals were yammering almost non-stop that Bush’s religion was a damning enough reason for him not to be in office.  Bless me father for I have sinned.

Ho, hum.

My favorite line from the above linked article follows, and I am wondering why John Kerry doesn’t put James 2:14 into action, you know, those “deeds” and “works” he states are missing from "our present national leadership."

"Kerry told worshippers in the largely black congregation that the country’s leadership has served the privileged while ignoring people across America who live in neighborhoods like theirs."

C’mon John, be a leader who practices “deeds” and “works.” Sign over a two or three of those fine properties you and Teresa own to those poor unfortunate folk you were preaching to "who live in neighborhoods like theirs." I bet you could almost attain sainthood.

Posted by John Venlet on 03/29 at 04:47 AM
(0) Comments • (1) Trackbacks • Permalink
Page 1 of 1 pages