Escalator of Life

Standing at the bottom, you see a single escalator rising out of the basement and into the light. You know you must get to the top even though it is moving down towards you. So you start to climb, step after step you walk….getting nowhere. So you start running, gaining speed and you’re half way up when you get so tired from your efforts that stop and rest is what you must do. As you rest…back down to the bottom you glide. Nearing the bottom, your strength regained, you take off again skipping a step with each stride. Again, you are frustrated with failure as the physical toll weighs heavy on your body. Again you try, jumping two or three steps at a time, using your arms to pull you greater distances and yet, once again the weakness sets in.

Sometimes we may not realize it…but we are on this escalator. As we try to deal with the struggles that life provides us, the weakness sets in and we begin to glide back down towards the basement where the darkness of anger, depression, and fear reside. It is our ability to pick ourselves up when we fall that guides the light in our lives, that sets us apart. We may never reach the top…does not mean we will stop trying to stand strong in the face of things that are not right.

Life, don't talk to me about life.

Each and every one of us has within us positive and negative forces. They each have their own energy, creating a life of their own. When you call forth one of these energies, focus on it, allow it to pass through your very being, you generate more and more of that energy than previously held.

So then the question becomes; what force do you want to rule your life? The answer will come when you are at peace, when you are calm. True power does not flow when you are angry, or sad, or scared, but when you are calm and centered. Only then will one begin to channel the essence of your life force.

Time in a bottle...

The bottles cracked...the cork gone, at long last my journey has reached its conclusion. With a pleasant sigh of release, I begin to ponder what my new-found free time shall become filled with.

My old school pal had E-Mailed me once and said we should meet up--haven't heard from him since **huh**

Gas

This is the part where I get frustrated by connecting some dots that the 'reporters' neglect to mention.
**bare with me**
I received some barbs when I asked why we needed the highway bill -- cause I knew that 18.3 cents of every gallon of gas sold went into a Highway Trust Fund. Now, like all systems, it has been modified over the years...as it sits currently, the tax from gas is split -- 80% of it funds the Highway Trust, and 20% funds Mass Transit.

The gas itself is regulated by additives, mixtures, burn rates, etc... These regulations vary from state to state, and cause the prices to increase because refineries must produce to meet the differing specifications rather than produce volume of a single standard. This is one of the problem points that can (and should) be addressed...IMO. Since fuel is an energy backbone of this nation and it falls into inter-state commerce -- I believe can be regulated federally (moreso than it is) (This is one of the few where I encourage fed to be more involved) As such, there could be a nation-wide fuel enrichment standard...this would enable the refineries to produce without modification -- and in situations like now where there are stations out of service...others can pick up the slack without having to change their mixtures.

As for Bush -- well, it's nice that he's tapped into the reserves...but we needed that before Katrina, not after. Although, he could drop 18cents per gallon by taking away the gas tax (temp) but that would only be a short-term ease...and not address the solution.

Back again....again

It truly does seem that my time is a piece of wax that has fallen on a termite, that is choking on the splinters.

So how have Y'all been? Hopefully not as busy as I have been! What to say...what to say. I had wanted to talk about Rove...but not any more. Thought about the '06 elections, yeah -- too far away. Roberts will be confirmed (take it on faith)

Have you ever seen a person get upset because his new wireless mouse did not come with the cables to connect it to the computer? I have

In other news...Chick-fil-a's breakfast chicken biscuits are GREAT!!!!
This just in:
I've found a long lost friend and am looking forward to catching back up with him

There we have it...a nice little post about nothing. I'll try to pump a lil substance in next time

So-long to the fifth

I guess this place will be more political while the numbnuts 'in-charge' keep this crap up.

The Supreme Court has said that local governments may seize people's homes and businesses against their will for private development.

I am far to disturbed to write in length about this currently...you can find this case by looking at Kelo et al v. City of New London, 04-108.

Flagamerica Burning

I'm going to try not turning this into yet another political blog...still....my extrapolation...so....yeah.

Alright...some fool wants to set a flag on fire. Not my choice of demonstration, but fine. Now, Congressional nitwits want to make such an act against the law. An online pal sums it up as such: "If burning the symbol of a country in which you are free enough to legally burn it is hypocritical ......... then banning the burning of it must be twice as hypocritical." Direct and to the point!

This does not seem to fall into the same category as burning of a draft card. It was not considered protected speech, but an illegal behavior violating the Selective Service rules (United States v. O'Brien, 391 U.S. 367 in 1968).

And what about old and torn flags? The correct way to dispose of it -- is in a ceremony where it gets set on fire. And that is the problem with this bill -- it is worded so that the 'intent' is subjective to those who are charging the crime.

People gave their life for the freedoms we have...and if for no other reason...it should be respected! For those that want to read it, here is the bill:

109th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1974

To provide for protection of the flag of the United States.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 28, 2005

Mr. BOUCHER (for himself and Mr. SCHIFF) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To provide for protection of the flag of the United States.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Flag Protection Act of 2005'.

SEC. 2. PROTECTION OF THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES.

(a) In General- Section 700 of title 18, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

`Sec. 700. Protection of the flag of the United States

`(a) Actions Promoting Violence- Any person who destroys or damages a flag of the United States with intent to provoke imminent violence or a breach of the peace, and in circumstances reasonably likely to produce imminent violence or a breach of the peace, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

`(b) Damaging a Flag Belonging to the United States- Any person who steals or knowingly converts to his or her use, or to the use of another, a flag of the United States belonging to the United States and intentionally destroys or damages that flag shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.

`(c) Damaging a Flag of Another on Federal Land- Any person who, within any lands reserved for the use of the United States, or under the exclusive or concurrent jurisdiction thereof, steals or knowingly converts to his or her use, or to the use of another, a flag of the United States belonging to another person and intentionally destroys or damages that flag shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.

`(d) Construction- Nothing in this section shall be construed as indicating an intent on the part of Congress to deprive any State, territory, possession, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico of jurisdiction over any offense over which it would have jurisdiction in the absence of this section.

`(e) Definition- As used in this section, the term `flag of the United States' means any flag of the United States, or any part thereof, made of any substance, of any size, in a form that is commonly displayed as a flag and would be taken to be a flag by the reasonable observer.'.

(b) Clerical Amendment- The table of sections for chapter 33 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking out the item relating to section 700 and inserting in lieu thereof the following new item:

`700. Protection of the flag of the United States.'.

SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

It is the sense of the Congress that the States should enact prohibitions similar to the provisions of this Act in an order to provide the maximum protection to the flag of the United States.