Rebirth of Socialism?

Unbelievable as it might sound but despite socialism and communisms' failure across the globe a school in Seattle is still promoting them as preferable alternatives to capitalism and having private property rights. This "lesson" is being implemented by banning the imperialist Legos, long known as the tools of greed.

The concept that property ownership as evil is being indoctrinated into students at the Hilltop Center in Seattle.

The teachers first assaulted the idea of ownership. When students expressed resistence to the teachers' distain for ownership rights ("If I buy it, I own it"), the teachers spent several months espousing their Marxist views on equality, power and class-struggle.

Eventually, the hostage Legos were returned to the classroom after the children had sufficiently embraced the viewpoint of their teachers, including that "All structures are public structures" and "All structures will be standard sizes."

Yes, soon we can look forward to the same economic stunning successes that have been demonstrated in North Korea and Cuba. It is unclear whether this new development foreshadows a return of Barney the Dinosaur to national prominence. Nonetheless, it is apparent that the enemies of free enterprise, private property ownership and the American dream are still hard at work.

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Inspiration

Public Edumacation

And you thought your public school district had problems?

Inconvenient for Whom?

POWER: GORE MANSION USES 20X AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD; CONSUMPTION INCREASE AFTER 'TRUTH'

The Tennessee Center for Policy Research, an independent, nonprofit and nonpartisan research organization committed to achieving a freer, more prosperous Tennessee through free market policy solutions, issued a press release late Monday:

Last night, Al Gore’s global-warming documentary, An Inconvenient Truth, collected an Oscar for best documentary feature, but the Tennessee Center for Policy Research has found that Gore deserves a gold statue for hypocrisy.

Gore’s mansion, [20-room, eight-bathroom] located in the posh Belle Meade area of Nashville, consumes more electricity every month than the average American household uses in an entire year, according to the Nashville Electric Service (NES).

In his documentary, the former Vice President calls on Americans to conserve energy by reducing electricity consumption at home.

The average household in America consumes 10,656 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year, according to the Department of Energy. In 2006, Gore devoured nearly 221,000 kWh—more than 20 times the national average.

Last August alone, Gore burned through 22,619 kWh—guzzling more than twice the electricity in one month than an average American family uses in an entire year. As a result of his energy consumption, Gore’s average monthly electric bill topped $1,359.

Since the release of An Inconvenient Truth, Gore’s energy consumption has increased from an average of 16,200 kWh per month in 2005, to 18,400 kWh per month in 2006.

Gore’s extravagant energy use does not stop at his electric bill. Natural gas bills for Gore’s mansion and guest house averaged $1,080 per month last year.

“As the spokesman of choice for the global warming movement, Al Gore has to be willing to walk to walk, not just talk the talk, when it comes to home energy use,” said Tennessee Center for Policy Research President Drew Johnson.

In total, Gore paid nearly $30,000 in combined electricity and natural gas bills for his Nashville estate in 2006.

Schnauzers on Parade

Went to the Internation Kennel Club's (IKC) dog show at McCormick Place in Chicago. I don't know the difference between the IKC and the AKC as far as standards and whatnot. In any event, we got to the Saturday, February 24, 2007, event at around 10 am in order to see the 11:45 am miniature schnauzer competition. We wanted to make sure we got ring-side seating. Which we did.

Unfortunately, the judge was delay in attending allegedly due to the weather. She was an older woman with harsh and angry gray hair. In short, the 8 and 9:30 am competitions could not proceed at Ring 13 (where the miniature schnauzers were scheduled). When the judge finally arrived around 11 am they were running way behind. From our seats we got to watch neighboring rings and so got to see the Yorkie, Bichon Frise and whippet competitions. And Ring 13 was also home for the Giant Schnauzer competitions which was delayed.

When the miniature schnauzers finally took the ring it was almost 3 pm. But like the gritty little dogs themselves the wife and I persevered. It was comical to see how the miniature schnauzer competitors sized each other up (not the handlers). None of the other breeds we saw that day did that. The schnauzers yapped at each other, at passing people, and inanimate objects. Anything to assert schnauzer dominance. I wonder if that counts against them in judging. It really shouldn't since that is a trait of the breed.

I got lots of miniature schnauzer photographs. They all had docked ears for some reason. I had heard that undocked ears had become more common at competitions. We also saw the rumpled Neopolitan mastiffs, Black Russian terriers and the best in show puppy competitions.

Didn't stick around to see the Best in Group competitions or Best in Show since it is a given that the miniature schnauzer will get snubbed again. So why ruin the moment?

All in all, a great time was had by all. Despite the weather which put a damper on our departure from the Chicago Lyric Opera's presentation of Mozart's Cosi Fan Tutte due to the wife's open toed footwear not being resistant to the 3 inches of slush that had to be negotiated before we could catch a cab. But that's a story for another day.

Quotable Reagan

A communist is someone who reads Marx. An anti-communist is someone who understands Marx.

The Constitution was never meant to prevent people from praying; its declared purpose was to protect their freedom to pray.

I’ve always thought that the common sense and wisdom of the federal government were summed up in a sign they used to have hanging on the Hoover Dam. It said, “Government property. Do not remove.”

A leader, once convinced a particular course of action is the right one, must have the determination to stick with it and be undaunted when the going gets tough.

You and I do not believe that life is so dear and peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery.

According to the experts, I have exceeded my life expectancy by quite a few years. This is a source of great annoyance to some.

Communism works only in heaven where they don’t need it, and in hell where they already have it.

America is as large as the universe, as infinite as space, as limitless as the vision and courage of her people.

This is America; you can do anything here.

You know, when I called the Soviet Union an Evil Empire, I meant it.

Students Attack Teacher Over Confiscated iPod

A Germantown (PA) High School teacher suffered a broken neck Friday during a scuffle with students over a prohibited iPod. The attack happened when 60 year old math teacher Frank Burd took an iPod from a 11th grade member of his class. After class, the 17-year-old student and a 15-year-old freshman then assaulted the teacher in the hallway, knocking him to the ground. The teacher was pushed over to the ground, suffering a gash on his face and two broken bones in his neck according to Paul Vallas, School District of Philadelphia CEO.

The two teens have been charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, and reckless endangerment. So far, the two are being charged as juveniles but that could change depending upon a decision by the District Attorney.

What would have happened if the teacher had tried to take their Legos?