Teaching Pigs to Sing

1.22.2003

I started this blog for a reason. That reason no longer exists. I modified the blog and no one cared. Now, I shall terminate it, restart it under a new name, and be the better for it. To those who enjoyed my blog and have had an interest in continuing reading, email me (randallmay@earthlink.net) and I will give the new link. To those who think I am a WASP asshole, I love you too. To those who threaten to spit on me at dinner, you can spit on me only after you graduate with a marketable degree. I have enjoyed the comments, I think I have learned from them, and I wish each of you reader nothing but the best. Bye. Bye. Bye.
posted by Randall 12:57 AM

1.15.2003

Referencing my 01/03/2003 post ... I will be taking this kid (he really isn't a kid) under my wing in an attempt to provide the leadership necessary to develop in him the motivation to get this guy to see that his path to the promised land isn't out working for minimumn wage but rather in an educational setting where he will have the opportunity to learn both discipline and academic skills. The plan is to move him into a house in Irvine and get him started in scholl full-time at Irvine Valley College. He will support himself by student loans, grants, work-study and a part-time job (at present.) The greatest challenge will be to keep him away from the Garden Grove party scene. More to come.
posted by Randall 1:57 AM

1.12.2003

The Governor of Illinois (George Ryan's) exhibited incredible leadership yesterday by commuting the sentences of all death row inmates. I don't want my government killing people on my behalf. Isn't there a clear difference between ‘justice’ and ‘revenge?’ There is no ‘justice’ in killing - only revenge. Here is the New York Times article.

On another note, Dale Amon of the samizdata.net blog has an interesting piece on jury nullification. Here is the link. I wonder how many prospective jurors have this information?

And the train keeps on a runnin …

posted by Randall 12:54 PM

1.10.2003

Today was another long day. Here it is 12:30 am and I am just finishing. I need to get a job that allows me to have a life.
posted by Randall 12:33 AM

1.08.2003

A friend of mine who keeps a blog went to see a film that suggested that "us isolationist types should be careful not to let a goal-driven life get in the way of life-affirming experiences. Simply because you have one type of personality does not mean you can't experience all that avaliable. In addition, it got me thinking about gods, creationism, existentialism, time, and all that stuff. Indeed, the more you know, the more you know you don't know. I'm beginning to be content with that." What a great truth.

posted by Randall 9:23 PM

1.06.2003

Another weekend gone as is Monday of this week. Winds have been really blowing in Southern California and I was without power for more than 12 hours. No power means no computer which makes life difficult. All is better now. Nothing really new to post. Looks like the demos and the repubs are each going to try to make the economy the issue starting about now. Stay tuned.
posted by Randall 11:38 PM

1.03.2003

I have a problem with a CandyKid. Read and comment, please! More to follow.
posted by Randall 12:00 AM

1.01.2003

Happy new year to everyone. I hope to make some significant changes in my life this year. What about you?

Here is a great link that scares me. It is from givemeliberty.org web page that clearly has a senior member of the U.S. House of Representatives saying that the Constitution is outdated:

"Congressman Ron Paul reminded the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on International Relations that the Constitution required a congressional Declaration of War before the armed forces of the United States could be applied in hostilities overseas, not H.J.R 114, a congressional Resolution authorizing the President to decide if and when to apply that force.

However, Chairman Henry Hyde is quoted, for the record, "There are things in the Constitution that have been overtaken by events, by time. Declaration of war is one of them…There are things no longer relevant to a modern society…Why declare war if you don’t have to?…We are saying to the President, use your judgment…So, to demand that we declare war is to strengthen something to death. You have got a hammerlock on this situation, and it is not called for. Inappropriate, anachronistic, it isn’t done anymore….""

This isn't a Democrat or a Republican issue. This is a Constitutional issue. In the words of Supreme Court Justice Anthony Scalia:

"As it is, however, the Constitution that I interpret and apply is not living but dead—or, as I prefer to put it, enduring. It means today not what current society (much less the Court) thinks it ought to mean, but what it meant when it was adopted."

Go figure?

posted by Randall 2:32 PM