Here's another of those posts that gets mostly finished but I never get around to posting:
"Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me."
The thing about living in a Christian culture - and America is still and has always been a Christian culture - is that it colors the way we see the world, in ways we might not even realize. One need not believe in order to benefit from it. In fact, those who don't believe, or who think they don't believe, may be even more prone to not realize just how much of the good in the modern world is a direct result of Christianity, and of American Christianity in particular.
One of these influences is an understanding that things get better. God holds the American people in His hands, and He may shake things sometimes, or allow things to be shaken, but there's always a higher purpose and a better result.
Christians are optimists, there is no fatalism in our religion. Christians believe passionately in change, and that our faith in Jesus empowers change in the way our society works, by making changes in the way we as individuals approach life each day. This is what Christian Conservatism is - not becoming more "tolerant" but instead becoming knowledgeable and more optimistic!
The "American Optimism" is in fact a Christian Optimism: a view of life based on a security of being personally loved by and important to God, being intellectually and emotionally empowered by God, and having a specific mission to share that good news with every people in the world.
This overwhelming sense that all people are equal in God's sight, that it's our responsibility to help those we encounter who ask for our help, that things can and should be better for every person, and that we have the power to help make it so, has been achieved only in Christian cultures. But it wasn't achieved by government mandate - the impetus came from the pulpit and the Sunday School room: it came from The Bible, the Unchanging Word of God.
Christians know that things will get better, because that is God's promise to us again and again and unceasingly again in The Bible, that the things of the world shall pass away but the things of the spirit shall live - and shall live more abundantly.
God keeps His promises. He has fulfilled so many, He has glorified His name and He tells us that He will glorify it.
Be of good cheer. All is in God's hands. He may be calling us to GET UP and do the task our hands find to do, but He has promised beauty for ashes, plans to bring YOU hope, and a future.
So be of good cheer. Whatever Congress does or doesn't do, let it go for today. All shall be well. Let's enjoy the day today!
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A great way to get cheered up is at Bread upon the Waters, where Miss QR has posted one of the happiest songs there is: "I Saw the Light -- Sunday Skiffle with Brother Sonny". Go have a listen! And if you like what you hear, check out her other Sunday posts for more great music.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Friday, July 29, 2011
Mr Bush and The Children: The President Who Did The Right Thing Even When No One Was Looking
Reuters ran this headline yesterday: "Bush explains slow reaction to September 11 attacks: Former President George W. Bush says his apparent lack of reaction to the first news of the September 11 2001 attacks was a conscious decision to project an aura of calm in a crisis."
If I recall correctly, at the time no one criticized, but instead the media rightly praised Mr Bush's quick thinking in continuing to read the storybook to a group of little children, wrapping up calmly so as not to frighten them unduly, and waiting until he had left the classroom before switching into the take-charge crisis mode as Commander in Chief.
Regardless, I never questioned the wisdom or validity of his very-appropriate response, because I already knew, from experience, how patient and caring Mr Bush is toward children. He respects them, listens to them, and treats them kindly.
I blogged last year about my young son's encounter with then-Governor Bush in this post:
The Kids and the Future President of the United States
"Some years ago, when George W Bush was Governor of Texas, we lived in a neighborhood in Midland near Laura's family. It is an ordinary middle-class neighborhood, a few blocks from where the elder Bush's lived when George was a child. When George and Laura came to visit their family, he sometimes took walks, alone, around the quiet streets. Back then, he didn't need the Secret Service to shadow him."
Go to the original post to read it all, and find out why I will always think of Mr Bush as "the President who did the right thing even when nobody was looking."
________
7/31 UPDATE: Thanks to Pat @ SIGIS for the link in her always-marvelous (even when I'm not in it) "Full Metal Jacket Reach Around: Jennifer's Birthday Trip to Second Hand Rose Edition".
If I recall correctly, at the time no one criticized, but instead the media rightly praised Mr Bush's quick thinking in continuing to read the storybook to a group of little children, wrapping up calmly so as not to frighten them unduly, and waiting until he had left the classroom before switching into the take-charge crisis mode as Commander in Chief.
Regardless, I never questioned the wisdom or validity of his very-appropriate response, because I already knew, from experience, how patient and caring Mr Bush is toward children. He respects them, listens to them, and treats them kindly.
I blogged last year about my young son's encounter with then-Governor Bush in this post:
The Kids and the Future President of the United States
"Some years ago, when George W Bush was Governor of Texas, we lived in a neighborhood in Midland near Laura's family. It is an ordinary middle-class neighborhood, a few blocks from where the elder Bush's lived when George was a child. When George and Laura came to visit their family, he sometimes took walks, alone, around the quiet streets. Back then, he didn't need the Secret Service to shadow him."
Go to the original post to read it all, and find out why I will always think of Mr Bush as "the President who did the right thing even when nobody was looking."
________
7/31 UPDATE: Thanks to Pat @ SIGIS for the link in her always-marvelous (even when I'm not in it) "Full Metal Jacket Reach Around: Jennifer's Birthday Trip to Second Hand Rose Edition".
The Evolution of Internet Media: One of These Things is Just Like The Other
Surely I'm not the only blogger who writes 4 or 5 posts that I never complete or publish for every one that sees daylight. Why is that?
Here's an example of one - my musings on a "news report" to the effect that "[Latest New Introduction] Will Mean The End of Blogging":
One of These Things is Just Like the Other, One of These Things is Quite the Same.
Has anyone else noticed that most "new" internet websites that claim to be new technologies... aren't? Instead they are just mostly repackaged versions of the basics with snazzier marketing than their predecesors. Each improves on their ability to attract a crowd - and that crowd-attraction is the real heart of any business - but they do it by just tweaking good old concepts someone else tweaked last year.
And there you have it: an MBA-on-a-Post-It.
Consider:
The Personal Webpage = Space on the internet that can be customized using HTML. Amount of text content that can be included is nearly limitless. It's like if there were blogs back in 1994. Most ISPs provide this space free as part of their monthly service fee. Need to learn HTML or pay someone to code your page. Each change needs to be coded as well. Very easy to use for people who formerly used PFS Write as their word processing tool in the computerized days before the internet.
Guest Book = Set of Code you can add to your Personal Webpapge that automatically codes updates, so new content displays immediately without need to individually prepare the HTML. It's like if there were comments back in 1994. Code allows anyone to submit content to your page, and each contributor's content is separated by a border but otherwise allows an almost limitless amount of text. Only Server Host may delete or edit content, including that submitted by others.
eBay Feedback = Personal Webpage Guestbook, with strict character limits, that allow only 142 characters to be posted at a time. It's like if there was Twitter back in 1995. The Feedback Personal Webpage Guestbook is automatically assigned to your account, with customization prohibited. Original code allowed anyone to submit content to your page. All content was public. eBay was owner (not you), thus only eBay could delete or edit content - generally they did not.
Blogs = Personal Webpage pre-designed with Guestbook appearance that only you can add content to, and that owner can edit and delete. Comes with limited choice of pre-set HTML codes governing appearance and content activity but otherwise allows for nearly unlimited addition of text content. Part of this code allows for easy addition of links to other sites and ability to display some of their content as they are updated.
MySpace = Personal Webpage Guestbook Blog that not only provides html templates but also encourages nearly complete freedom of customization by using custom HTML. Allows owner to prescribe some limits to activity of visitors.
Facebook = Personal Webpage Guestbook MySpace with character limits that prevent addition of more than nominal text, and prohibits customization of appearance or content activity. Owner cannot control how content is displayed, only to whom (within tight parameters). It's like if MySpace were put on restriction. Allows owner to add limited content in arbitrary locations. Allows easy addition of links to other Facebook pages with pre-defined display of some of their content as they are updated. Allows owner to limit access and designate which persons have visibility of some content.
Twitter = Personal Webpage Guestbook with Feedback-mirroring character limits. Inflexible format comes with limited choice of pre-set HTML codes governing appearance and content activity. Part of this code allows for easy addition of links to other sites and ability to display some of their content as they are updated.
Google + = WOW! You get MORE than 140 Characters! Google+'s revolutionary new technology lets people spell real words and write complete sentences!
Is Google+ "The End of The Blog", or just "the end of Blogger(TM)"?
Here's a Truth, from someone who knows: When it comes to the Internet, the only time anything is the end is when it is The End.
Here's an example of one - my musings on a "news report" to the effect that "[Latest New Introduction] Will Mean The End of Blogging":
One of These Things is Just Like the Other, One of These Things is Quite the Same.
Has anyone else noticed that most "new" internet websites that claim to be new technologies... aren't? Instead they are just mostly repackaged versions of the basics with snazzier marketing than their predecesors. Each improves on their ability to attract a crowd - and that crowd-attraction is the real heart of any business - but they do it by just tweaking good old concepts someone else tweaked last year.
And there you have it: an MBA-on-a-Post-It.
Consider:
The Personal Webpage = Space on the internet that can be customized using HTML. Amount of text content that can be included is nearly limitless. It's like if there were blogs back in 1994. Most ISPs provide this space free as part of their monthly service fee. Need to learn HTML or pay someone to code your page. Each change needs to be coded as well. Very easy to use for people who formerly used PFS Write as their word processing tool in the computerized days before the internet.
Guest Book = Set of Code you can add to your Personal Webpapge that automatically codes updates, so new content displays immediately without need to individually prepare the HTML. It's like if there were comments back in 1994. Code allows anyone to submit content to your page, and each contributor's content is separated by a border but otherwise allows an almost limitless amount of text. Only Server Host may delete or edit content, including that submitted by others.
eBay Feedback = Personal Webpage Guestbook, with strict character limits, that allow only 142 characters to be posted at a time. It's like if there was Twitter back in 1995. The Feedback Personal Webpage Guestbook is automatically assigned to your account, with customization prohibited. Original code allowed anyone to submit content to your page. All content was public. eBay was owner (not you), thus only eBay could delete or edit content - generally they did not.
Blogs = Personal Webpage pre-designed with Guestbook appearance that only you can add content to, and that owner can edit and delete. Comes with limited choice of pre-set HTML codes governing appearance and content activity but otherwise allows for nearly unlimited addition of text content. Part of this code allows for easy addition of links to other sites and ability to display some of their content as they are updated.
MySpace = Personal Webpage Guestbook Blog that not only provides html templates but also encourages nearly complete freedom of customization by using custom HTML. Allows owner to prescribe some limits to activity of visitors.
Facebook = Personal Webpage Guestbook MySpace with character limits that prevent addition of more than nominal text, and prohibits customization of appearance or content activity. Owner cannot control how content is displayed, only to whom (within tight parameters). It's like if MySpace were put on restriction. Allows owner to add limited content in arbitrary locations. Allows easy addition of links to other Facebook pages with pre-defined display of some of their content as they are updated. Allows owner to limit access and designate which persons have visibility of some content.
Twitter = Personal Webpage Guestbook with Feedback-mirroring character limits. Inflexible format comes with limited choice of pre-set HTML codes governing appearance and content activity. Part of this code allows for easy addition of links to other sites and ability to display some of their content as they are updated.
Google + = WOW! You get MORE than 140 Characters! Google+'s revolutionary new technology lets people spell real words and write complete sentences!
Is Google+ "The End of The Blog", or just "the end of Blogger(TM)"?
Here's a Truth, from someone who knows: When it comes to the Internet, the only time anything is the end is when it is The End.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
My Fair Lady: Support Your Local Theater
What's playing on the little theater stage in your town this week?
There are amazing hidden talents in our friends and neighbors, and we don't have to watch America's Got Talent to see it. The next person we speak with in any local business is very likely to be able to dance, write, sing, command, heal, paint, compose, design, speak, run, bat, build, perform, or act so well it would leave us speechless. The person next door, down the block, around the corner, is a suprising miracle.
If next summer you find yourself in Texas, in proximity to attend the Brownwood Lyric Theater's Summer Musical, by all means make the effort and go!
We saw My Fair Lady last week and it was WONDERFUL.
This is Paul's favorite musical. The book in that photo up there came out of our bookshelf. So, on the one hand, that made it a must-see production, on the other hand, he was a bit nervous. We know there are a lot of talented people in the area - we saw Fiddler on the Roof last year. But this is the middle of rural Texas after all, and the British accents are crucial to the story.
They did a fabulous job. The acting from the entire cast was top-notch. The music (solo, choral and orchestral) was perfect. The choreography was down pat. The directing was worthy of Broadway. The costumes were magnificent. The accents would have fooled a native Londoner.
We were both so pleased and delighted! It is noteworthy that Paul was impressed, because in his earlier life he did summer stock (The Lost Colony) and actually lived in New York City, working on off-broadway shows, for a while. So he has been immersed in professional theater - when he gives praise, he knows from personal experience what it is he is applauding.
I am no expert, but I know that there were times during the performance that I forgot I was watching a play and became completely caught up in the events on stage.
And the $10 ticket price made it the best bargain around.
We are so constantly exposed to the most sophisticated entertainment there is. Via television, movies, and dvds, any night of the week we can watch the greatest actors in the world, see the most cutting edge special effects, hear music recorded and mixed with the most exacting sound equipment.
But there's still room to be charmed, delighted, entertained, and even swept into a spontaneous standing ovation by our own neighbors, teachers, shopkeepers, administrators, cabinet makers, as they share their amazing talent in beautiful live events like this one. You have to be there to experience it.
So! What's playing in your town this week?
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Jubilee Week at Victory Life Church: Live Streaming Broadcast
One of the churches we attend hosted a "Community Prayer and Praise Service" a couple of weeks ago. This Community Prayer is held each quarter at different churches each time, and the prayer focus is on our immediate local area. It was a powerful service, attended by so many people from other churches, or who do not go to church each week.
There was no sermon, and those who came forward and led us in prayer were not preachers, but citizens and members of the professions for whom we prayed. A policeman prayed for our First Responders: police, firemen, EMTs. A school administrator prayed for our superintendants, teachers, principles, janitors and maintenance staff, cafeteria staff and others who run our schools. A married couple who own a business prayed for our local businesses, for the mall and shopping areas, for the economic health of our county. We prayed silently with each, and when the service ended, it was over.
Such services are held in most cities at some time during the year. If you do not go to church, this kind of service can still be a wonderful experience. And if you do go to church, this kind of service is something very different in purpose and function from your regular services.
Duane Sheriff Ministries leads several congregations in Oklahoma and Texas, and has a free (completely free - no shipping for US orders) CD and DVD ministry. We attend one of the congregations. If you are interested in hearing the real word of God for yourself, Pastor Duane's message is new and honest and straight from the Bible. But it is like nothing you may have heard before.
The church begins its annual JUBILEE week tonight. It is starting right now, at 7:30 PM Central Time. If you would like to listen in to the LIVE cast, go here: http://www.dsheriff.org/
Click "Watch Live" from the navigation bar and select "Live Fullscreen".
If you come to this page later, there are also options for podcasts and earlier messages.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Display Ideas For Vintage Recipe Booklets
A lot of my collections are made of paper. Vintage advertising recipe booklets are one such, and I have a few I just couldn't part with. Colorful and witty, those cute little recipe folders are just too fun to leave in a drawer.
I mean, in our Tex-Mex kitchen, who could resist 1920s and 1930s "Tasty Tested Anglo Recipes", "Gebhardt's Mexican-Style Foods" and "Walker's Red Hot Chile Con Carne"? The Walker's one, red with a bright green sombrero, is actually from 1918, the WWI era.
The company was based in Austin, Texas. Gebhardt is also an old Texas company - I still use their chili powder today for general cooking (I use Morton's Chili Blend for actual chili). And Anglo not only made canned hams and corned beef, but also advertises Deviled Ham, Deviled Tongue and Liver Spread!
One of the little projects I've had on my list was to find a way to display them that didn't take space away from some other wonderful thing that needs a prominent home!
Inspired by my new cabinets, I finally got around to it last month.
This is a super-simple project. I used the hard clear cases that sports cards collectors use, and glued a piece of sheet magnet on the back. It's a good use for those magnetic business cards we keep long after the realtor pictured has moved on.
Voila! (which is how the word "Walla!" is spelled!)
Refrigerator magnets that can be changed out, and the keep the booklet available, just in case we suddenly decide to try that recipe for jellied liver tea sandwiches.
Aren't they cute? If you have other ideas for showing off vintage paper, please share! There's always something cute that needs just the perfect treatment....
I mean, in our Tex-Mex kitchen, who could resist 1920s and 1930s "Tasty Tested Anglo Recipes", "Gebhardt's Mexican-Style Foods" and "Walker's Red Hot Chile Con Carne"? The Walker's one, red with a bright green sombrero, is actually from 1918, the WWI era.
The company was based in Austin, Texas. Gebhardt is also an old Texas company - I still use their chili powder today for general cooking (I use Morton's Chili Blend for actual chili). And Anglo not only made canned hams and corned beef, but also advertises Deviled Ham, Deviled Tongue and Liver Spread!
One of the little projects I've had on my list was to find a way to display them that didn't take space away from some other wonderful thing that needs a prominent home!
Inspired by my new cabinets, I finally got around to it last month.
This is a super-simple project. I used the hard clear cases that sports cards collectors use, and glued a piece of sheet magnet on the back. It's a good use for those magnetic business cards we keep long after the realtor pictured has moved on.
Voila! (which is how the word "Walla!" is spelled!)
Refrigerator magnets that can be changed out, and the keep the booklet available, just in case we suddenly decide to try that recipe for jellied liver tea sandwiches.
Aren't they cute? If you have other ideas for showing off vintage paper, please share! There's always something cute that needs just the perfect treatment....
Sunday, July 17, 2011
More on The Undefeated's Strong Attendance and Better-Than-Expected Box Office Grosses
UPDATE 7/18/11: Box Office Mojo is reporting a full Opening Weekend Gross of $6,513 per theater for The Undefeated. The gross of $65,132 brings the movie in at #15 on the list of highest grossing opening weekend for political documentaries released since 1982.
------
Competing against opening day of the long-awaited final chapter of Harry Potter - which exploded all first day records of any film in history - "The Undefeated" still filled theaters in most of its markets with audiences who cheered and gave standing ovations for the indie straight-up documentary about Sarah Palin, grossing an average of $5,000 per theater over the weekend through Saturday.
Harry Klady in Movie City News reports The Undefeated's estimated Friday-only grosses at $2870 per theater (ARC reported today $5000 per theater through Saturday). To understand how The Undefeated's turn out compares, listen to what Klady says about Harry Potter's amazing gross: "Regardless, selling 50% of all available ticket inventory to a movie on more than a dozen screens on any day is a mammoth achievement. Don’t think I am undercutting the success of the film by rolling out these numbers. I’m just trying to offer up something that might not be the same 3 paragraphs on this that everyone is writing this morning. A different angle. But 50% is HUGE. Especially now.
"Over the years, I have developed the habit of checking in with busy urban theaters to see how many shows the big openers are selling out. You rarely see those sell-outs more than an hour in advance of anything but the 1 or 2 prime-time Fri/Sat screenings anymore, even in the most popular theaters."
Box Office Mojo lists Weekend Grosses for the top movies, along with the number of theaters screening them and the per-theater average gross. It will give you a good perspective on how much, per theater, any film might be expected to make on a given weekend. For example, when Atlas Shrugged opened, it averaged $5,640. This weekend, Winnie the Pooh averaged $3,326, Transformers Dark of the Moon averaged $5,425.
Box Office Mojo also has a chart listing political documentary grosses since 1982. Here's the link to opening weekend. Michael Moore's "Capitalism A Love Story"? It grossed $4,623 its opening weekend, back when people still had money to go to the movies.
So The Undefeated is performing very nicely, no matter whose numbers you compare it to!
PS One more update: Here's a great article on Nielson's site called "Beyond Opening Weekend" that may be useful to learn more about how movies earn money for their distributors and the theaters that show them - the most profitable are those that audiences keep going to see long after opening weekend is gone. And The Undefeated appeals to exactly the demographic that can make that happen.
------
Competing against opening day of the long-awaited final chapter of Harry Potter - which exploded all first day records of any film in history - "The Undefeated" still filled theaters in most of its markets with audiences who cheered and gave standing ovations for the indie straight-up documentary about Sarah Palin, grossing an average of $5,000 per theater over the weekend through Saturday.
Harry Klady in Movie City News reports The Undefeated's estimated Friday-only grosses at $2870 per theater (ARC reported today $5000 per theater through Saturday). To understand how The Undefeated's turn out compares, listen to what Klady says about Harry Potter's amazing gross: "Regardless, selling 50% of all available ticket inventory to a movie on more than a dozen screens on any day is a mammoth achievement. Don’t think I am undercutting the success of the film by rolling out these numbers. I’m just trying to offer up something that might not be the same 3 paragraphs on this that everyone is writing this morning. A different angle. But 50% is HUGE. Especially now.
"Over the years, I have developed the habit of checking in with busy urban theaters to see how many shows the big openers are selling out. You rarely see those sell-outs more than an hour in advance of anything but the 1 or 2 prime-time Fri/Sat screenings anymore, even in the most popular theaters."
Box Office Mojo lists Weekend Grosses for the top movies, along with the number of theaters screening them and the per-theater average gross. It will give you a good perspective on how much, per theater, any film might be expected to make on a given weekend. For example, when Atlas Shrugged opened, it averaged $5,640. This weekend, Winnie the Pooh averaged $3,326, Transformers Dark of the Moon averaged $5,425.
Box Office Mojo also has a chart listing political documentary grosses since 1982. Here's the link to opening weekend. Michael Moore's "Capitalism A Love Story"? It grossed $4,623 its opening weekend, back when people still had money to go to the movies.
So The Undefeated is performing very nicely, no matter whose numbers you compare it to!
PS One more update: Here's a great article on Nielson's site called "Beyond Opening Weekend" that may be useful to learn more about how movies earn money for their distributors and the theaters that show them - the most profitable are those that audiences keep going to see long after opening weekend is gone. And The Undefeated appeals to exactly the demographic that can make that happen.
The Grosses ARE IN: The Undefeated Grosses $5000 Per Theater
The grosses are in, and "The Undefeated" grossed an average of $5000 per theater through Saturday night!
Victory Film Group reports:
ARC Entertainment Announces Strong Opening for "The Undefeated," with Multiple Sold-Out Runs and Vocal Audience Support
SANTA MONICA, Calif., July 17, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- ARC Entertainment, the distributor of “The Undefeated,” the film about Gov. Sarah Palin’s rise from obscurity to national prominence, announced today that through Saturday night the film had a stronger opening than expected with the large markets trending towards weekend per screen averages above $10,000 driven by multiple sold-out runs. The film had accumulated approximately $5,000 per screen through Saturday night. Unique in the theatrical feature world, The Undefeated was rushed to select digital theatres in only 3 weeks, and was marketed almost entirely through social media and grass roots efforts, with virtually no traditional media spend. With the strong initial showing, the film is going to a wider release footprint later this month, with details being announced soon.
The film opened in 10 markets on Friday including Atlanta, GA, Dallas, TX, Houston, TX, Denver, CO, Phoenix, AZ, Orlando, FL, Indianapolis, IN, Kansas City, MO, Oklahoma City, OK and Orange, CA.
“We are extremely pleased with the audience reaction, which has been over-the-top enthusiastic and very passionate, including standing ovations at most screenings,” said Trevor Drinkwater, CEO of ARC Entertainment, the film’s distributor. “We expect word-of-mouth to keep ticket sales strong and we will definitely expand the film to a wider national audience. With merely three weeks of preparation and a virtually non-existent traditional advertising spend, the film did exceptionally well. ” .
“We have been told the theaters in Phoenix, Atlanta, Denver and Indianapolis moved the film to bigger screens to accommodate oversized crowds. Because of high-ticket sales, the Phoenix theater put ‘The Undefeated’ on two screens during one showing to accommodate demand,” stated Andy Badolato, VP Marketing and Business Development of Victory Film Group and Associate Producer of “The Undefeated.”
Over the weekend reports also documented the strong ticket sales and enthusiastic audience reaction. Reuters reported, “It may not be ‘Harry Potter,’ but another film featuring a bespectacled protagonist is racking up strong pre-sales before its national roll-out this weekend.” AOL’s Patch reported, “Reactions from filmgoers attending the screening were overwhelmingly positive.” The Brisbane Times of Australia reported, “‘The Undefeated,’ a documentary tracing Sarah Palin’s rise to political power, has opened in US theatres to overwhelmingly positive opinion.”
“ARC Entertainment and its digital distribution partner Cinedigm did an incredible job opening weekend,” said Stephen K. Bannon, the film’s writer and director. “This was a high risk bet- a national release in ten disparate markets with only three weeks preparation supported solely by social media. What would have taken months and cost millions in P & A, ARC Entertainment and Cinedigm accomplished within a month with negligible costs. This film will find its audience because of its appeal and our savvy distribution partners.”
Update: Be sure to also read the follow up on this post: " More on The Undefeated's Strong Attendance and Better-Than-Expected Grosses "
Victory Film Group reports:
ARC Entertainment Announces Strong Opening for "The Undefeated," with Multiple Sold-Out Runs and Vocal Audience Support
SANTA MONICA, Calif., July 17, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- ARC Entertainment, the distributor of “The Undefeated,” the film about Gov. Sarah Palin’s rise from obscurity to national prominence, announced today that through Saturday night the film had a stronger opening than expected with the large markets trending towards weekend per screen averages above $10,000 driven by multiple sold-out runs. The film had accumulated approximately $5,000 per screen through Saturday night. Unique in the theatrical feature world, The Undefeated was rushed to select digital theatres in only 3 weeks, and was marketed almost entirely through social media and grass roots efforts, with virtually no traditional media spend. With the strong initial showing, the film is going to a wider release footprint later this month, with details being announced soon.
The film opened in 10 markets on Friday including Atlanta, GA, Dallas, TX, Houston, TX, Denver, CO, Phoenix, AZ, Orlando, FL, Indianapolis, IN, Kansas City, MO, Oklahoma City, OK and Orange, CA.
“We are extremely pleased with the audience reaction, which has been over-the-top enthusiastic and very passionate, including standing ovations at most screenings,” said Trevor Drinkwater, CEO of ARC Entertainment, the film’s distributor. “We expect word-of-mouth to keep ticket sales strong and we will definitely expand the film to a wider national audience. With merely three weeks of preparation and a virtually non-existent traditional advertising spend, the film did exceptionally well. ” .
“We have been told the theaters in Phoenix, Atlanta, Denver and Indianapolis moved the film to bigger screens to accommodate oversized crowds. Because of high-ticket sales, the Phoenix theater put ‘The Undefeated’ on two screens during one showing to accommodate demand,” stated Andy Badolato, VP Marketing and Business Development of Victory Film Group and Associate Producer of “The Undefeated.”
Over the weekend reports also documented the strong ticket sales and enthusiastic audience reaction. Reuters reported, “It may not be ‘Harry Potter,’ but another film featuring a bespectacled protagonist is racking up strong pre-sales before its national roll-out this weekend.” AOL’s Patch reported, “Reactions from filmgoers attending the screening were overwhelmingly positive.” The Brisbane Times of Australia reported, “‘The Undefeated,’ a documentary tracing Sarah Palin’s rise to political power, has opened in US theatres to overwhelmingly positive opinion.”
“ARC Entertainment and its digital distribution partner Cinedigm did an incredible job opening weekend,” said Stephen K. Bannon, the film’s writer and director. “This was a high risk bet- a national release in ten disparate markets with only three weeks preparation supported solely by social media. What would have taken months and cost millions in P & A, ARC Entertainment and Cinedigm accomplished within a month with negligible costs. This film will find its audience because of its appeal and our savvy distribution partners.”
Update: Be sure to also read the follow up on this post: " More on The Undefeated's Strong Attendance and Better-Than-Expected Grosses "
Friday, July 15, 2011
The Undefeated is Box Office Golden!
Are you fortunate enough to be near a theater showing The Undefeated? Gosh I wish I were! I'll have to wait, but if you have the chance, get your tickets early, as it is thrilling packed houses in all of its markets.
Pretty impressive for any indie movie - and even more for a political documentary!
Here's a sample from Texans For Sarah Palin:
"Atlanta, GA 'The Undefeated' is Number 1 in theater out performing 'Transformers'...
"4pm showing of 'The Undefeated' ends with five minute standing ovation in Atlanta!
"Atlanta - 7pm showing of 'The Undefeated' sold out 3 hours in advance!"
Now Showing in Grapevine TX, Houston, Oklahoma City, Indianapolis, Orange California and selected other cities throughout the nation. Go to The Undefeated Official Website to find the latest booking schedule.
Pretty impressive for any indie movie - and even more for a political documentary!
Here's a sample from Texans For Sarah Palin:
"Atlanta, GA 'The Undefeated' is Number 1 in theater out performing 'Transformers'...
"4pm showing of 'The Undefeated' ends with five minute standing ovation in Atlanta!
"Atlanta - 7pm showing of 'The Undefeated' sold out 3 hours in advance!"
Now Showing in Grapevine TX, Houston, Oklahoma City, Indianapolis, Orange California and selected other cities throughout the nation. Go to The Undefeated Official Website to find the latest booking schedule.
The Forgotten Budgets
Commenter "John Galt",on a Belmont Club thread, reminds:
"There are two budgets right now. One, the House passed and sent to the Senate. The Senate has not acted on it. It’s been sitting in the Senate gathering dust for months. (In other words, the Republicans who run the House did their job.)
The other was Obama’s budget. The Senate voted it down 0 – 97. That’s right, not one Senator, not even one whacked out liberal Senator, voted in favor of Obama’s plan.
Senate Democrats have not produced a budget in over 2 years. (in other words, the Democrats who run the Senate refuse to do their job.) "
(Go here to read the whole thread: “This town ain’t big enough for the few of us…"
The "news" moves so fast it is wise to remember our recent history. Otherwise our opinions are not opinions at all, but mere immediate brain-stem impulse reactions to flickering lights and clanging cymbals.
"There are two budgets right now. One, the House passed and sent to the Senate. The Senate has not acted on it. It’s been sitting in the Senate gathering dust for months. (In other words, the Republicans who run the House did their job.)
The other was Obama’s budget. The Senate voted it down 0 – 97. That’s right, not one Senator, not even one whacked out liberal Senator, voted in favor of Obama’s plan.
Senate Democrats have not produced a budget in over 2 years. (in other words, the Democrats who run the Senate refuse to do their job.) "
(Go here to read the whole thread: “This town ain’t big enough for the few of us…"
The "news" moves so fast it is wise to remember our recent history. Otherwise our opinions are not opinions at all, but mere immediate brain-stem impulse reactions to flickering lights and clanging cymbals.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
How Much of the State Dept's Budget Will be for a New Embassy China Pattern?
Gosh, some things just get lost in the news.
"Clinton Says US Diplomacy Abroad Creates Jobs at Home, Warns Against Cuts" July 12, 2011ABC News' Kirit Radia reports:
"In a speech in Washington...[Secretary of State Hillary] Clinton argued that American investments and diplomacy abroad pay back dividends by creating jobs in the United States. She also warned that nothing short of America’s global primacy is at risk if those efforts are not properly resourced."
Maybe the State Department should trim their $5.4 Million drinking glasses budget....
and stop buying them from non-experienced but Oh-So-Well-Connected Interior Designers...
who promptly subcontract to foreign companies without allowing American companies to bid...
while committing fraud:
De$igning woman defrauded feds
By GEOFF EARLE, NY Post Correspondent (who broke and persistently followed this story)
Last Updated: 7:07 AM, April 22, 2011
"WASHINGTON -- A politically connected interior designer who won a $5.4 million deal to design fancy crystal glassware for Hillary Rodham Clinton's State Department has pleaded guilty to committing fraud to get another government contract.
"Darlene Mathis-Gardner, the owner of Systems Design Inc., admitted to conspiring to defraud the United States and misrepresenting other contractors as her own employees in order to land a $1.3 million contract to do interior-design work at a Department of Homeland Security building in DC.
"She faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
"The person overseeing Mathis-Gardner's State Department contract gave more than $4,000 to then-Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign.
"Whistleblower Doris Southern, who used to handle the contract at State, says she was forced out for resisting it."
More background here.
I don't know about anyone else, but honestly, whenever my family finances are a concern, the "wine glass budget" is usually one of the first things we jettison. All those little piddly expenses will eat up a paycheck faster than anything.
UPDATE 8/6 : Heh. Thanks to Miss QR for including this post in Bread Upon The Waters' sidebar item "Quite Rightly's List of Good Places to Start Budget Cutting"
"Clinton Says US Diplomacy Abroad Creates Jobs at Home, Warns Against Cuts" July 12, 2011ABC News' Kirit Radia reports:
"In a speech in Washington...[Secretary of State Hillary] Clinton argued that American investments and diplomacy abroad pay back dividends by creating jobs in the United States. She also warned that nothing short of America’s global primacy is at risk if those efforts are not properly resourced."
Maybe the State Department should trim their $5.4 Million drinking glasses budget....
and stop buying them from non-experienced but Oh-So-Well-Connected Interior Designers...
who promptly subcontract to foreign companies without allowing American companies to bid...
while committing fraud:
De$igning woman defrauded feds
By GEOFF EARLE, NY Post Correspondent (who broke and persistently followed this story)
Last Updated: 7:07 AM, April 22, 2011
"WASHINGTON -- A politically connected interior designer who won a $5.4 million deal to design fancy crystal glassware for Hillary Rodham Clinton's State Department has pleaded guilty to committing fraud to get another government contract.
"Darlene Mathis-Gardner, the owner of Systems Design Inc., admitted to conspiring to defraud the United States and misrepresenting other contractors as her own employees in order to land a $1.3 million contract to do interior-design work at a Department of Homeland Security building in DC.
"She faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
"The person overseeing Mathis-Gardner's State Department contract gave more than $4,000 to then-Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign.
"Whistleblower Doris Southern, who used to handle the contract at State, says she was forced out for resisting it."
More background here.
I don't know about anyone else, but honestly, whenever my family finances are a concern, the "wine glass budget" is usually one of the first things we jettison. All those little piddly expenses will eat up a paycheck faster than anything.
UPDATE 8/6 : Heh. Thanks to Miss QR for including this post in Bread Upon The Waters' sidebar item "Quite Rightly's List of Good Places to Start Budget Cutting"
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
The Debt Ceiling Minuet As Seen By Zero Hedge
I read widely but when it comes to financial news, much of it escapes me. Every time in life that the idea of investmenting would cross my mind, some other shiny thing attracted my attention before I could get much farther than subscribing to Better Investing or bookmarking a few companies in E-Trade. Partly, I think, because I am so very immune to marketing that I can't move with the crowd in time to make the market pay for me.... and partly - mostly - because I really do have confidence that God will provide for my needs. At any rate, you may notice the wide diversity of my links doesn't include market reports.
There is one financial blog I read regularly, and it is the only one I read: Zero Hedge: Motto "On a long enough time line, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero."
Read what and whereever to understand the machinations of both parties as they enjoy their Debt Ceiling Minuet, but the true situation is clearly stated in Tyler Durden's "Senate Republican Leader McConnell Folds On The Debt Ceiling":
"Something troubling happened in D.C. today, where it seems that the Senate Republican leader basically just folded like a cheap suit in the ongoing farscial standoff on the debt ceiling (which luckily should bring the whole comedy to an end and the nation can progress with its previously scheduled ponzi collapse)."........
"Of course nobody will trash the proposal: it almost certainly represents what the final outcome on the debt ceiling will be: a grand compromise of muppetry, in which nothing is achieved on either spending cuts, or tax hikes, yet $2.5 trillion in additional debt is added, bringing total US 2012 debt/GDP to about 120%... or about where Italy is today. And that's not counting the $6 trillion in government-guaranteed GSE debt."
You'll want to go over there and read it all.
But afterward, before you give up, grab a cup of unexpected hope being unveiled on the same site by enjoying the first installment of "The Zero Hedge Effect – Crossing the Event Horizon - Part 1 of 2"
Don't miss it!
There is one financial blog I read regularly, and it is the only one I read: Zero Hedge: Motto "On a long enough time line, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero."
Read what and whereever to understand the machinations of both parties as they enjoy their Debt Ceiling Minuet, but the true situation is clearly stated in Tyler Durden's "Senate Republican Leader McConnell Folds On The Debt Ceiling":
"Something troubling happened in D.C. today, where it seems that the Senate Republican leader basically just folded like a cheap suit in the ongoing farscial standoff on the debt ceiling (which luckily should bring the whole comedy to an end and the nation can progress with its previously scheduled ponzi collapse)."........
"Of course nobody will trash the proposal: it almost certainly represents what the final outcome on the debt ceiling will be: a grand compromise of muppetry, in which nothing is achieved on either spending cuts, or tax hikes, yet $2.5 trillion in additional debt is added, bringing total US 2012 debt/GDP to about 120%... or about where Italy is today. And that's not counting the $6 trillion in government-guaranteed GSE debt."
You'll want to go over there and read it all.
But afterward, before you give up, grab a cup of unexpected hope being unveiled on the same site by enjoying the first installment of "The Zero Hedge Effect – Crossing the Event Horizon - Part 1 of 2"
Don't miss it!
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Proud Mom Says "Hello Beautiful New Kitchen! "
Kids. You bring them into the world, feed them their spinach, teach them the things you know, worry about them constantly, and what do you get?
Well, this summer, I got a gorgeous new kitchen!
And all I asked Devin to do was to take off the old counter top and put down new cement board so that I could tile the counter.
Did he listen? Nooooooo. He said we needed new cabinets, nicer ones. I said we couldn't afford that. He said That's ok, he would build them. And he did.
Aren't they marvelous? They have a kind of Arts & Crafts character that fits well with the house, and help the tiny kitchen feel more substantial. I still need to paint the ceiling and do a few other things but couldn't wait any longer to share the pictures!
He raised the upper cabinet on the far left so that Paul's Kitchenaid mixer would fit under it. So finally, we don't have to store it elsewhere and haul it over to the counter to use it. As a result, I've used the stand mixer more in the past couple of months than I did in the past five years!
The glass doors were his idea too. That lets us show off some of the vintage dishes we've collected, and that we use daily.
The kitchen sink was the only splurge I made (it cost more than the dishwasher - which, BTW, I got from a small Sears Catalog Store for a very good price). Originally, I wanted an undivided deep sink, but no porcelain enamel ones were available locally, so I settled for this one, which has a low divider only a few inches high. It really gives us the best of both worlds! Our largest bowls and cookie sheets will fit under the faucet, yet we can still run a sink of dish water.
It's a good thing Devin is strong... he swears the sink weighs 300 pounds! Can I help it if cast iron is heavy? ;-)
The tile work was a joint Son/Mom project and I did a lot of the work (Devin made the complex cuts and laid the straight lines). I still have to finish the trim tiles around the top of the back splash - couldn't install them until he'd completed trimming out the cabinets.
I used plain white 4"x 4" tiles. At 16 cents each, they are a great bargain. The glass mosaic accent tiles came in 12x12 sheets and we cut them apart to highlight the backsplash.We learned long ago to never never never use white grout! The grout used here is called "earth" color: it is exactly the same color as coffee stains. On purpose. I sealed it anyway but with that dark color, no matter how much coffee we manage to spill all over the counter the grout will always look good. :-)
Instead of using tile to edge the countertops, Devin used wood trim, stained and finished to match the cabinets themselves. As a result, the whole thing looks like a piece of furniture with the top integral to the base.
When I got ready to tile the divider that separates the kitchen from the living room (the only remaining original cabinet), the sheets were on clearance, so I was able to get enough to complete the entire top for about $30. It is dressier than the others, so makes for a nice transition.
I've shared Devin's handiwork on here before. He and Nicolas both enjoy woodworking. Their great-grandfather taught them the basics in his shop from the time they were small. Watching either of them work, I'm reminded of how Nandy worked: patient, methodical, thoughtful. Devin made an interesting observation while he was here. He commented that he's come to realize that Nandy was "a practical carpenter" - his work was always made with an eye to being useful, good for its purpose, rather than designed for appearance.
Devin's artistic talent joins his practical heritage in the things he builds, so the results reflect fine design and lasting beauty, as well as being perfectly formed for their function.
Devin and Sandy are moving in about a month to the Irving Texas area. Sandy has started a new job, and we thought for a while they would move far away. After he rushed to complete the kitchen before their move, they learned that instead she can work from Texas. So Irving it is. We are so delighted they will still be nearby.
And not just because he keeps remodeling the house for us! Heh!
Well, this summer, I got a gorgeous new kitchen!
And all I asked Devin to do was to take off the old counter top and put down new cement board so that I could tile the counter.
Did he listen? Nooooooo. He said we needed new cabinets, nicer ones. I said we couldn't afford that. He said That's ok, he would build them. And he did.
Aren't they marvelous? They have a kind of Arts & Crafts character that fits well with the house, and help the tiny kitchen feel more substantial. I still need to paint the ceiling and do a few other things but couldn't wait any longer to share the pictures!
He raised the upper cabinet on the far left so that Paul's Kitchenaid mixer would fit under it. So finally, we don't have to store it elsewhere and haul it over to the counter to use it. As a result, I've used the stand mixer more in the past couple of months than I did in the past five years!
The glass doors were his idea too. That lets us show off some of the vintage dishes we've collected, and that we use daily.
The kitchen sink was the only splurge I made (it cost more than the dishwasher - which, BTW, I got from a small Sears Catalog Store for a very good price). Originally, I wanted an undivided deep sink, but no porcelain enamel ones were available locally, so I settled for this one, which has a low divider only a few inches high. It really gives us the best of both worlds! Our largest bowls and cookie sheets will fit under the faucet, yet we can still run a sink of dish water.
It's a good thing Devin is strong... he swears the sink weighs 300 pounds! Can I help it if cast iron is heavy? ;-)
The tile work was a joint Son/Mom project and I did a lot of the work (Devin made the complex cuts and laid the straight lines). I still have to finish the trim tiles around the top of the back splash - couldn't install them until he'd completed trimming out the cabinets.
I used plain white 4"x 4" tiles. At 16 cents each, they are a great bargain. The glass mosaic accent tiles came in 12x12 sheets and we cut them apart to highlight the backsplash.We learned long ago to never never never use white grout! The grout used here is called "earth" color: it is exactly the same color as coffee stains. On purpose. I sealed it anyway but with that dark color, no matter how much coffee we manage to spill all over the counter the grout will always look good. :-)
Instead of using tile to edge the countertops, Devin used wood trim, stained and finished to match the cabinets themselves. As a result, the whole thing looks like a piece of furniture with the top integral to the base.
When I got ready to tile the divider that separates the kitchen from the living room (the only remaining original cabinet), the sheets were on clearance, so I was able to get enough to complete the entire top for about $30. It is dressier than the others, so makes for a nice transition.
I've shared Devin's handiwork on here before. He and Nicolas both enjoy woodworking. Their great-grandfather taught them the basics in his shop from the time they were small. Watching either of them work, I'm reminded of how Nandy worked: patient, methodical, thoughtful. Devin made an interesting observation while he was here. He commented that he's come to realize that Nandy was "a practical carpenter" - his work was always made with an eye to being useful, good for its purpose, rather than designed for appearance.
Devin's artistic talent joins his practical heritage in the things he builds, so the results reflect fine design and lasting beauty, as well as being perfectly formed for their function.
Devin and Sandy are moving in about a month to the Irving Texas area. Sandy has started a new job, and we thought for a while they would move far away. After he rushed to complete the kitchen before their move, they learned that instead she can work from Texas. So Irving it is. We are so delighted they will still be nearby.
And not just because he keeps remodeling the house for us! Heh!
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Rick Santelli Offers Clarity on the Debt Ceiling
Via the Very Fun Blog Are We Lumberjacks?: Punches: unpulled, who says "I really like Rick Santelli. He's the guy I want sitting at my table when the waiter brings an unamusing bouche . "
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Welcome to Red Boise, Peoples Republic of China ?
Bread upon the Waters is a great blog. I don't know why I haven't added her to my blog list before, but she is there now! It started with a report that "California Buys San Francisco a New Bridge--from China". One of those Infrastructure projects the taxpayers are paying for.
Now, in the comments, Quite Rightly has shared the link to this nightmare-in-the-making:
Reported by The American Dream, "China Wants To Construct A 50 Square Mile Self-Sustaining City South Of Boise, Idaho" - and Idaho's governor is A-Ok with that:
"The Chinese Communist Party is the majority owner of Sinomach, so the 10,000 to 30,000 acre "self-sustaining city" that is being planned would essentially belong to the Chinese government. The planned "self-sustaining city" in Idaho would include manufacturing facilities, warehouses, retail centers and large numbers of homes for Chinese workers. Basically it would be a slice of communist China dropped right into the middle of the United States.
"According to the Idaho Statesman, the idea would be to build a self-contained city with all services included. It would be modeled after the "special economic zones" that currently exist in China."
I would not have believed this except The Idaho Statesman is also reporting it. After reading all the gung-ho politicians and boosters with dollar signs in their eyes, at the end of the article is a bit of sanity:
"Yeh Ling-Ling, executive director of the Alliance for a Sustainable USA, said U.S. businesses should be cautious about making contracts that give Chinese companies the best jobs — though she is more worried about investment programs that encourage immigration, which Idaho also has jumped into this year.
“I believe that Idaho or other American companies should first seek investments from America and employ American engineers first,” said Ling-Ling, a naturalized citizen from Orinda, Calif., who was born in Vietnam of Chinese parents."
" Will such "self-contained communities" soon start appearing from coast to coast? According to Dr. Jerome Corsi, the U.S. government has already set up 257 "foreign trade zones" across America. These "foreign trade zones" will apparently be given "special U.S. customs treatment" and will be used to promote global free trade...."
Read it all here.
What is going on with our elected leaders? These kinds of things are the stuff that unhappy futuristic fiction is made of. Is no one in politics outside of the South capable of rational thought any more?
Now, in the comments, Quite Rightly has shared the link to this nightmare-in-the-making:
Reported by The American Dream, "China Wants To Construct A 50 Square Mile Self-Sustaining City South Of Boise, Idaho" - and Idaho's governor is A-Ok with that:
"The Chinese Communist Party is the majority owner of Sinomach, so the 10,000 to 30,000 acre "self-sustaining city" that is being planned would essentially belong to the Chinese government. The planned "self-sustaining city" in Idaho would include manufacturing facilities, warehouses, retail centers and large numbers of homes for Chinese workers. Basically it would be a slice of communist China dropped right into the middle of the United States.
"According to the Idaho Statesman, the idea would be to build a self-contained city with all services included. It would be modeled after the "special economic zones" that currently exist in China."
I would not have believed this except The Idaho Statesman is also reporting it. After reading all the gung-ho politicians and boosters with dollar signs in their eyes, at the end of the article is a bit of sanity:
"Yeh Ling-Ling, executive director of the Alliance for a Sustainable USA, said U.S. businesses should be cautious about making contracts that give Chinese companies the best jobs — though she is more worried about investment programs that encourage immigration, which Idaho also has jumped into this year.
“I believe that Idaho or other American companies should first seek investments from America and employ American engineers first,” said Ling-Ling, a naturalized citizen from Orinda, Calif., who was born in Vietnam of Chinese parents."
" Will such "self-contained communities" soon start appearing from coast to coast? According to Dr. Jerome Corsi, the U.S. government has already set up 257 "foreign trade zones" across America. These "foreign trade zones" will apparently be given "special U.S. customs treatment" and will be used to promote global free trade...."
Read it all here.
What is going on with our elected leaders? These kinds of things are the stuff that unhappy futuristic fiction is made of. Is no one in politics outside of the South capable of rational thought any more?
Red Stick Rant: "Religion Meets Pop Culture"
Over on Red Stick Rant, The Grey Man has written one of the best responses there is to the public/mob reaction to the Casey Anthony verdict in her trial-by-American-jury.
In "Religion Meets Pop Culture", he reframes the questions - and our reaction - to ask for some healthy, and long overdue, introspection. I didn't even follow the case and I will spend part of my day thinking about this. It's worth your time to read it all.
In "Religion Meets Pop Culture", he reframes the questions - and our reaction - to ask for some healthy, and long overdue, introspection. I didn't even follow the case and I will spend part of my day thinking about this. It's worth your time to read it all.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
The Texas Declaration of Independence: March 2, 1836
I ran across the Texas Declaration of Independence the other day. It is intriguing to compare (especially in its list of grievances) to the earlier United States Declaration on which it was modeled.
Texas history is one of the most addictive areas of personal study there is. The circumstances that resulted in the citizens of Texas finally declaring independence from Mexico were complex and lengthy. If you want to read further about the Republic of Texas, there is a rich set of original primary source material at The Sons of DeWitt Colony Texas website, along with in-depth discussion:
"The majority of DeWitt Colonists were loyal Mexican Federalists, not slave owners and disfavored the institution, attempted to co-exist with the generally warlike nomadic aboriginal populations of the area, respected and learned from the native Mexican-born Tejanos that preceded them and disagreed with adventurous warlike acts against their adopted government as they built homesteads, ranches, families and a society in the wilderness.
"When a racist centralist dictatorship [Santa Ana] took control of their adopted country[Mexico], threw out their [Mexico's democratic] Constitution and threatened their lives, property and pursuit of happiness as Mexican citizens, DeWitt colonists resisted actively and became participants in the struggle to re-establish the Federalist Constitution of 1824 and to establish an independent state of Texas within the Republic of Mexico.
"When all hope for the latter was destroyed and with it the hope for the United States of Mexico to become a second democratic and multi-racial Republic in America, DeWitt Colonists along with native-born Tejanos fought and won an independent Republic of Texas which later joined the United States of America."
The Introduction is a good place to start, and the links on the Index page will carry you forward from there.
When you've exhausted that, additional source material can be found at the Texas State Historical Association's Lone Star History Links page. The Lone Star Junction website is another treasure trove of Texas History material.
Now, without further ado, here's the Texas Declaration of Independence from 1836,
When a government has ceased to protect the lives, liberty and property of the people, from whom its legitimate powers are derived, and for the advancement of whose happiness it was instituted, and so far from being a guarantee for the enjoyment of those inestimable and inalienable rights, becomes an instrument in the hands of evil rulers for their oppression.
When the Federal Republican Constitution of their country, which they have sworn to support, no longer has a substantial existence, and the whole nature of their government has been forcibly changed, without their consent, from a restricted federative republic, composed of sovereign states, to a consolidated central military despotism, in which every interest is disregarded but that of the army and the priesthood, both the eternal enemies of civil liberty, the ever-ready minions of power, and the usual instruments of tyrants.
When, long after the spirit of the constitution has departed, moderation is at length so far lost by those in power, that even the semblance of freedom is removed, and the forms themselves of the constitution discontinued, and so far from their petitions and remonstrances being regarded, the agents who bear them are thrown into dungeons, and mercenary armies sent forth to force a new government upon them at the point of the bayonet.
When, in consequence of such acts of malfeasance and abdication on the part of the government, anarchy prevails, and civil society is dissolved into its original elements. In such a crisis, the first law of nature, the right of self-preservation, the inherent and inalienable rights of the people to appeal to first principles, and take their political affairs into their own hands in extreme cases, enjoins it as a right towards themselves, and a sacred obligation to their posterity, to abolish such government, and create another in its stead, calculated to rescue them from impending dangers, and to secure their future welfare and happiness.
Nations, as well as individuals, are amenable for their acts to the public opinion of mankind. A statement of a part of our grievances is therefore submitted to an impartial world, in justification of the hazardous but unavoidable step now taken, of severing our political connection with the Mexican people, and assuming an independent attitude among the nations of the earth.
The Mexican government, by its colonization laws, invited and induced the Anglo-American population of Texas to colonize its wilderness under the pledged faith of a written constitution, that they should continue to enjoy that constitutional liberty and republican government to which they had been habituated in the land of their birth, the United States of America.
In this expectation they have been cruelly disappointed, inasmuch as the Mexican nation has acquiesced in the late changes made in the government by General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, who having overturned the constitution of his country, now offers us the cruel alternative, either to abandon our homes, acquired by so many privations, or submit to the most intolerable of all tyranny, the combined despotism of the sword and the priesthood.
It has sacrificed our welfare to the state of Coahuila, by which our interests have been continually depressed through a jealous and partial course of legislation, carried on at a far distant seat of government, by a hostile majority, in an unknown tongue, and this too, notwithstanding we have petitioned in the humblest terms for the establishment of a separate state government, and have, in accordance with the provisions of the national constitution, presented to the general Congress a republican constitution, which was, without just cause, contemptuously rejected.
It incarcerated in a dungeon, for a long time, one of our citizens, for no other cause but a zealous endeavor to procure the acceptance of our constitution, and the establishment of a state government.
It has failed and refused to secure, on a firm basis, the right of trial by jury, that palladium of civil liberty, and only safe guarantee for the life, liberty, and property of the citizen.
It has failed to establish any public system of education, although possessed of almost boundless resources, (the public domain,) and although it is an axiom in political science, that unless a people are educated and enlightened, it is idle to expect the continuance of civil liberty, or the capacity for self government.
It has suffered the military commandants, stationed among us, to exercise arbitrary acts of oppression and tyrrany, thus trampling upon the most sacred rights of the citizens, and rendering the military superior to the civil power.
It has dissolved, by force of arms, the state Congress of Coahuila and Texas, and obliged our representatives to fly for their lives from the seat of government, thus depriving us of the fundamental political right of representation.
It has demanded the surrender of a number of our citizens, and ordered military detachments to seize and carry them into the Interior for trial, in contempt of the civil authorities, and in defiance of the laws and the constitution.
It has made piratical attacks upon our commerce, by commissioning foreign desperadoes, and authorizing them to seize our vessels, and convey the property of our citizens to far distant ports for confiscation.
It denies us the right of worshipping the Almighty according to the dictates of our own conscience, by the support of a national religion, calculated to promote the temporal interest of its human functionaries, rather than the glory of the true and living God.
It has demanded us to deliver up our arms, which are essential to our defence, the rightful property of freemen, and formidable only to tyrannical governments.
It has invaded our country both by sea and by land, with intent to lay waste our territory, and drive us from our homes; and has now a large mercenary army advancing, to carry on against us a war of extermination.
It has, through its emissaries, incited the merciless savage, with the tomahawk and scalping knife, to massacre the inhabitants of our defenseless frontiers.
It hath been, during the whole time of our connection with it, the contemptible sport and victim of successive military revolutions, and hath continually exhibited every characteristic of a weak, corrupt, and tyrranical government.
These, and other grievances, were patiently borne by the people of Texas, untill they reached that point at which forbearance ceases to be a virtue. We then took up arms in defence of the national constitution. We appealed to our Mexican brethren for assistance. Our appeal has been made in vain. Though months have elapsed, no sympathetic response has yet been heard from the Interior. We are, therefore, forced to the melancholy conclusion, that the Mexican people have acquiesced in the destruction of their liberty, and the substitution therfor of a military government; that they are unfit to be free, and incapable of self government.
The necessity of self-preservation, therefore, now decrees our eternal political separation.
We, therefore, the delegates with plenary powers of the people of Texas, in solemn convention assembled, appealing to a candid world for the necessities of our condition, do hereby resolve and declare, that our political connection with the Mexican nation has forever ended, and that the people of Texas do now constitute a free, Sovereign, and independent republic, and are fully invested with all the rights and attributes which properly belong to independent nations; and, conscious of the rectitude of our intentions, we fearlessly and confidently commit the issue to the decision of the Supreme arbiter of the destinies of nations."
Texas history is one of the most addictive areas of personal study there is. The circumstances that resulted in the citizens of Texas finally declaring independence from Mexico were complex and lengthy. If you want to read further about the Republic of Texas, there is a rich set of original primary source material at The Sons of DeWitt Colony Texas website, along with in-depth discussion:
"The majority of DeWitt Colonists were loyal Mexican Federalists, not slave owners and disfavored the institution, attempted to co-exist with the generally warlike nomadic aboriginal populations of the area, respected and learned from the native Mexican-born Tejanos that preceded them and disagreed with adventurous warlike acts against their adopted government as they built homesteads, ranches, families and a society in the wilderness.
"When a racist centralist dictatorship [Santa Ana] took control of their adopted country[Mexico], threw out their [Mexico's democratic] Constitution and threatened their lives, property and pursuit of happiness as Mexican citizens, DeWitt colonists resisted actively and became participants in the struggle to re-establish the Federalist Constitution of 1824 and to establish an independent state of Texas within the Republic of Mexico.
"When all hope for the latter was destroyed and with it the hope for the United States of Mexico to become a second democratic and multi-racial Republic in America, DeWitt Colonists along with native-born Tejanos fought and won an independent Republic of Texas which later joined the United States of America."
The Introduction is a good place to start, and the links on the Index page will carry you forward from there.
When you've exhausted that, additional source material can be found at the Texas State Historical Association's Lone Star History Links page. The Lone Star Junction website is another treasure trove of Texas History material.
Now, without further ado, here's the Texas Declaration of Independence from 1836,
When a government has ceased to protect the lives, liberty and property of the people, from whom its legitimate powers are derived, and for the advancement of whose happiness it was instituted, and so far from being a guarantee for the enjoyment of those inestimable and inalienable rights, becomes an instrument in the hands of evil rulers for their oppression.
When the Federal Republican Constitution of their country, which they have sworn to support, no longer has a substantial existence, and the whole nature of their government has been forcibly changed, without their consent, from a restricted federative republic, composed of sovereign states, to a consolidated central military despotism, in which every interest is disregarded but that of the army and the priesthood, both the eternal enemies of civil liberty, the ever-ready minions of power, and the usual instruments of tyrants.
When, long after the spirit of the constitution has departed, moderation is at length so far lost by those in power, that even the semblance of freedom is removed, and the forms themselves of the constitution discontinued, and so far from their petitions and remonstrances being regarded, the agents who bear them are thrown into dungeons, and mercenary armies sent forth to force a new government upon them at the point of the bayonet.
When, in consequence of such acts of malfeasance and abdication on the part of the government, anarchy prevails, and civil society is dissolved into its original elements. In such a crisis, the first law of nature, the right of self-preservation, the inherent and inalienable rights of the people to appeal to first principles, and take their political affairs into their own hands in extreme cases, enjoins it as a right towards themselves, and a sacred obligation to their posterity, to abolish such government, and create another in its stead, calculated to rescue them from impending dangers, and to secure their future welfare and happiness.
Nations, as well as individuals, are amenable for their acts to the public opinion of mankind. A statement of a part of our grievances is therefore submitted to an impartial world, in justification of the hazardous but unavoidable step now taken, of severing our political connection with the Mexican people, and assuming an independent attitude among the nations of the earth.
The Mexican government, by its colonization laws, invited and induced the Anglo-American population of Texas to colonize its wilderness under the pledged faith of a written constitution, that they should continue to enjoy that constitutional liberty and republican government to which they had been habituated in the land of their birth, the United States of America.
In this expectation they have been cruelly disappointed, inasmuch as the Mexican nation has acquiesced in the late changes made in the government by General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, who having overturned the constitution of his country, now offers us the cruel alternative, either to abandon our homes, acquired by so many privations, or submit to the most intolerable of all tyranny, the combined despotism of the sword and the priesthood.
It has sacrificed our welfare to the state of Coahuila, by which our interests have been continually depressed through a jealous and partial course of legislation, carried on at a far distant seat of government, by a hostile majority, in an unknown tongue, and this too, notwithstanding we have petitioned in the humblest terms for the establishment of a separate state government, and have, in accordance with the provisions of the national constitution, presented to the general Congress a republican constitution, which was, without just cause, contemptuously rejected.
It incarcerated in a dungeon, for a long time, one of our citizens, for no other cause but a zealous endeavor to procure the acceptance of our constitution, and the establishment of a state government.
It has failed and refused to secure, on a firm basis, the right of trial by jury, that palladium of civil liberty, and only safe guarantee for the life, liberty, and property of the citizen.
It has failed to establish any public system of education, although possessed of almost boundless resources, (the public domain,) and although it is an axiom in political science, that unless a people are educated and enlightened, it is idle to expect the continuance of civil liberty, or the capacity for self government.
It has suffered the military commandants, stationed among us, to exercise arbitrary acts of oppression and tyrrany, thus trampling upon the most sacred rights of the citizens, and rendering the military superior to the civil power.
It has dissolved, by force of arms, the state Congress of Coahuila and Texas, and obliged our representatives to fly for their lives from the seat of government, thus depriving us of the fundamental political right of representation.
It has demanded the surrender of a number of our citizens, and ordered military detachments to seize and carry them into the Interior for trial, in contempt of the civil authorities, and in defiance of the laws and the constitution.
It has made piratical attacks upon our commerce, by commissioning foreign desperadoes, and authorizing them to seize our vessels, and convey the property of our citizens to far distant ports for confiscation.
It denies us the right of worshipping the Almighty according to the dictates of our own conscience, by the support of a national religion, calculated to promote the temporal interest of its human functionaries, rather than the glory of the true and living God.
It has demanded us to deliver up our arms, which are essential to our defence, the rightful property of freemen, and formidable only to tyrannical governments.
It has invaded our country both by sea and by land, with intent to lay waste our territory, and drive us from our homes; and has now a large mercenary army advancing, to carry on against us a war of extermination.
It has, through its emissaries, incited the merciless savage, with the tomahawk and scalping knife, to massacre the inhabitants of our defenseless frontiers.
It hath been, during the whole time of our connection with it, the contemptible sport and victim of successive military revolutions, and hath continually exhibited every characteristic of a weak, corrupt, and tyrranical government.
These, and other grievances, were patiently borne by the people of Texas, untill they reached that point at which forbearance ceases to be a virtue. We then took up arms in defence of the national constitution. We appealed to our Mexican brethren for assistance. Our appeal has been made in vain. Though months have elapsed, no sympathetic response has yet been heard from the Interior. We are, therefore, forced to the melancholy conclusion, that the Mexican people have acquiesced in the destruction of their liberty, and the substitution therfor of a military government; that they are unfit to be free, and incapable of self government.
The necessity of self-preservation, therefore, now decrees our eternal political separation.
We, therefore, the delegates with plenary powers of the people of Texas, in solemn convention assembled, appealing to a candid world for the necessities of our condition, do hereby resolve and declare, that our political connection with the Mexican nation has forever ended, and that the people of Texas do now constitute a free, Sovereign, and independent republic, and are fully invested with all the rights and attributes which properly belong to independent nations; and, conscious of the rectitude of our intentions, we fearlessly and confidently commit the issue to the decision of the Supreme arbiter of the destinies of nations."
Monday, July 4, 2011
A Tale of Two Criminal Aliens
President Obama's Administration wants Governor Perry to halt the upcoming execution of a unanimously convicted rapist murderer, who's been through the appeals process, without any new evidence questioning his guilt... because he is an alien and citizen of Mexico.
The United Nations says this murderer ought to have been told that he could see the Mexican Consul when he was arrested for the brutal rape and murder of 16 year old high school girl Adrea Sauceda of San Antonio.
Murderer Humberto Leal has lived in the United States since he was 2 years old. He was convicted 15 years ago.
But the United Nations and President Obama's Administration, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, want Governor Perry to give him a second chance because of a treaty our federal government has signed that would give aliens even more rights of appeal in a death penalty case than our own citizens on our own soil - in violation of US Supreme Court rulings that deny foreign law or treaties any jurisdiction in this matter.
His execution date has already been postponed once on this claim: Mr Obama and Mrs Clinton have had an entire year to ask Congress to pass the law they claim to want but Congress wisely chose not to even introduce a bill during all that time, so now they want to use it for a PR stunt.
So which is it? Where did our laws go? What happened to predictable governance?
Why is Jose Antonio Vargas, an admitted criminal illegal alien, still living and working in high profile and claiming he is "special" because he has been here since he was 12 and therefore should get all benefits of living in the US - without any of the responsibilities - just because he wants to? We're supposed to believe he is smart enough to win a pulitzer prize but not smart enough to apply for a green card? We're supposed to believe that being a Journalist is a job American Citizens don't want to do?
American Citizenship - FULL citizenship, with complete and sole allegiance to the United States of America and no other country - matters. Who is it that calls on us to ignore the laws of our land and give greater freedom to people who ignore those laws, than to our own citizens who have followed the law and continue to do so?
From this vantage, perhaps many of those calls are coming from people, interest groups, and countries who are looking out for their own self interest and not for the good of the United States or its lawful immigrants and law abiding citizens.
Update: Linked in an expanded article @ And So It Goes in Shreveport. Thanks Pat!
*****
Update July 7: Humberto Leal was executed this evening, after the Supreme Court affirmed its previous decisions that International treaties have no impact on State Law in the United States. He took full responsibility for his crime during his final minutes.
May God give Audrea Sauceda's parents peace, comfort, and relief from the torment of their grief. They have suffered a long time.
God have mercy on Leal's soul, and comfort those who loved him, as well. He needed to pay for his crime, and he recognized this in his final moments.
The United Nations says this murderer ought to have been told that he could see the Mexican Consul when he was arrested for the brutal rape and murder of 16 year old high school girl Adrea Sauceda of San Antonio.
Murderer Humberto Leal has lived in the United States since he was 2 years old. He was convicted 15 years ago.
But the United Nations and President Obama's Administration, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, want Governor Perry to give him a second chance because of a treaty our federal government has signed that would give aliens even more rights of appeal in a death penalty case than our own citizens on our own soil - in violation of US Supreme Court rulings that deny foreign law or treaties any jurisdiction in this matter.
His execution date has already been postponed once on this claim: Mr Obama and Mrs Clinton have had an entire year to ask Congress to pass the law they claim to want but Congress wisely chose not to even introduce a bill during all that time, so now they want to use it for a PR stunt.
So which is it? Where did our laws go? What happened to predictable governance?
Why is Jose Antonio Vargas, an admitted criminal illegal alien, still living and working in high profile and claiming he is "special" because he has been here since he was 12 and therefore should get all benefits of living in the US - without any of the responsibilities - just because he wants to? We're supposed to believe he is smart enough to win a pulitzer prize but not smart enough to apply for a green card? We're supposed to believe that being a Journalist is a job American Citizens don't want to do?
American Citizenship - FULL citizenship, with complete and sole allegiance to the United States of America and no other country - matters. Who is it that calls on us to ignore the laws of our land and give greater freedom to people who ignore those laws, than to our own citizens who have followed the law and continue to do so?
From this vantage, perhaps many of those calls are coming from people, interest groups, and countries who are looking out for their own self interest and not for the good of the United States or its lawful immigrants and law abiding citizens.
Update: Linked in an expanded article @ And So It Goes in Shreveport. Thanks Pat!
*****
Update July 7: Humberto Leal was executed this evening, after the Supreme Court affirmed its previous decisions that International treaties have no impact on State Law in the United States. He took full responsibility for his crime during his final minutes.
May God give Audrea Sauceda's parents peace, comfort, and relief from the torment of their grief. They have suffered a long time.
God have mercy on Leal's soul, and comfort those who loved him, as well. He needed to pay for his crime, and he recognized this in his final moments.
The List of Reasons: The Complete Declaration of Independence
Most people over 40 are familiar with the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence, and it is indeed as inspiring today as it was when the 13 colonies affirmed it July 4, 1776.
But when was the last time you read the itemized list of grievances that make up the body of the Declaration? The document is a compelling reminder that America today still shares the concerns of our founders.
From the National Archives, here is the Declaration of Independence in its entirety:
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
*****
Joseph Fouche at Chicago Boyz has posted a marked-up version showing the various edits made by the Continental Congress to the first draft. It is interesting that the larger group took out more verbiage than it added to yield the concise and effective final draft.
But when was the last time you read the itemized list of grievances that make up the body of the Declaration? The document is a compelling reminder that America today still shares the concerns of our founders.
From the National Archives, here is the Declaration of Independence in its entirety:
IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
- He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
- He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
- He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
- He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
- He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
- He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
- He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
- He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
- He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
- He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
- He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
- He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
- He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
- For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
- For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
- For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
- For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
- For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
- For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences
- For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
- For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
- For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
- He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
- He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
- He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
- He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
- He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
*****
Joseph Fouche at Chicago Boyz has posted a marked-up version showing the various edits made by the Continental Congress to the first draft. It is interesting that the larger group took out more verbiage than it added to yield the concise and effective final draft.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
The Virginia Declaration of Rights: Precursor to the Bill of Rights
The founding documents of our nation did not appear out of nowhere. They, and our form of government, were based on existing declarations and practices of those former colonies that became the Sovereign States that joined to form the Federation that is the United States of America - without giving up their sovereignty. One such document was a statement of William Penn's "Holy Experiment", the Frame of Government for Pennsylvania. Another was Virginia's Declaration of Rights.
Chuck Norris quotes Thomas Jefferson and writes: "In 1823, near the end of his life, Jefferson similarly wrote: "On every question of construction (of the Constitution), let us carry ourselves back to the time when the Constitution was adopted, recollect the spirit manifested in the debates, and instead of trying what meaning may be squeezed out of the text, or invented against it, conform to the probable one in which it was passed.""
The National Archives states that: "Virginia's Declaration of Rights was drawn upon by Thomas Jefferson for the opening paragraphs of the Declaration of Independence. It was widely copied by the other colonies and became the basis of the Bill of Rights. Written by George Mason, it was adopted by the Virginia Constitutional Convention on June 12, 1776."
Full Text of Virginia's Declaration of Rights from the National Archives link:
A DECLARATION OF RIGHTS made by the representatives of the good people of Virginia, assembled in full and free convention which rights do pertain to them and their posterity, as the basis and foundation of government .
Section 1. That all men are by nature equally free and independent and have certain inherent rights, of which, when they enter into a state of society, they cannot, by any compact, deprive or divest their posterity; namely, the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.
Section 2. That all power is vested in, and consequently derived from, the people; that magistrates are their trustees and servants and at all times amenable to them.
Section 3. That government is, or ought to be, instituted for the common benefit, protection, and security of the people, nation, or community; of all the various modes and forms of government, that is best which is capable of producing the greatest degree of happiness and safety and is most effectually secured against the danger of maladministration. And that, when any government shall be found inadequate or contrary to these purposes, a majority of the community has an indubitable, inalienable, and indefeasible right to reform, alter, or abolish it, in such manner as shall be judged most conducive to the public weal.
Section 4. That no man, or set of men, is entitled to exclusive or separate emoluments or privileges from the community, but in consideration of public services; which, nor being descendible, neither ought the offices of magistrate, legislator, or judge to be hereditary.
Section 5. That the legislative and executive powers of the state should be separate and distinct from the judiciary; and that the members of the two first may be restrained from oppression, by feeling and participating the burdens of the people, they should, at fixed periods, be reduced to a private station, return into that body from which they were originally taken, and the vacancies be supplied by frequent, certain, and regular elections, in which all, or any part, of the former members, to be again eligible, or ineligible, as the laws shall direct.
Section 6. That elections of members to serve as representatives of the people, in assembly ought to be free; and that all men, having sufficient evidence of permanent common interest with, and attachment to, the community, have the right of suffrage and cannot be taxed or deprived of their property for public uses without their own consent or that of their representatives so elected, nor bound by any law to which they have not, in like manner, assembled for the public good.
Section 7. That all power of suspending laws, or the execution of laws, by any authority, without consent of the representatives of the people, is injurious to their rights and ought not to be exercised.
Section 8. That in all capital or criminal prosecutions a man has a right to demand the cause and nature of his accusation, to be confronted with the accusers and witnesses, to call for evidence in his favor, and to a speedy trial by an impartial jury of twelve men of his vicinage, without whose unanimous consent he cannot be found guilty; nor can he be compelled to give evidence against himself; that no man be deprived of his liberty except by the law of the land or the judgment of his peers.
Section 9. That excessive bail ought not to be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Section 10. That general warrants, whereby an officer or messenger may be commanded to search suspected places without evidence of a fact committed, or to seize any person or persons not named, or whose offense is not particularly described and supported by evidence, are grievous and oppressive and ought not to be granted.
Section 11. That in controversies respecting property, and in suits between man and man, the ancient trial by jury is preferable to any other and ought to be held sacred.
Section 12. That the freedom of the press is one of the great bulwarks of liberty, and can never be restrained but by despotic governments.
Section 13. That a well-regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the proper, natural, and safe defense of a free state; that standing armies, in time of peace, should be avoided as dangerous to liberty; and that in all cases the military should be under strict subordination to, and governed by, the civil power.
Section 14. That the people have a right to uniform government; and, therefore, that no government separate from or independent of the government of Virginia ought to be erected or established within the limits thereof.
Section 15. That no free government, or the blessings of liberty, can be preserved to any people but by a firm adherence to justice, moderation, temperance, frugality, and virtue and by frequent recurrence to fundamental principles.
Section 16. That religion, or the duty which we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence; and therefore all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience; and that it is the mutual duty of all to practise Christian forbearance, love, and charity toward each other.
Chuck Norris quotes Thomas Jefferson and writes: "In 1823, near the end of his life, Jefferson similarly wrote: "On every question of construction (of the Constitution), let us carry ourselves back to the time when the Constitution was adopted, recollect the spirit manifested in the debates, and instead of trying what meaning may be squeezed out of the text, or invented against it, conform to the probable one in which it was passed.""
The National Archives states that: "Virginia's Declaration of Rights was drawn upon by Thomas Jefferson for the opening paragraphs of the Declaration of Independence. It was widely copied by the other colonies and became the basis of the Bill of Rights. Written by George Mason, it was adopted by the Virginia Constitutional Convention on June 12, 1776."
Full Text of Virginia's Declaration of Rights from the National Archives link:
A DECLARATION OF RIGHTS made by the representatives of the good people of Virginia, assembled in full and free convention which rights do pertain to them and their posterity, as the basis and foundation of government .
Section 1. That all men are by nature equally free and independent and have certain inherent rights, of which, when they enter into a state of society, they cannot, by any compact, deprive or divest their posterity; namely, the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.
Section 2. That all power is vested in, and consequently derived from, the people; that magistrates are their trustees and servants and at all times amenable to them.
Section 3. That government is, or ought to be, instituted for the common benefit, protection, and security of the people, nation, or community; of all the various modes and forms of government, that is best which is capable of producing the greatest degree of happiness and safety and is most effectually secured against the danger of maladministration. And that, when any government shall be found inadequate or contrary to these purposes, a majority of the community has an indubitable, inalienable, and indefeasible right to reform, alter, or abolish it, in such manner as shall be judged most conducive to the public weal.
Section 4. That no man, or set of men, is entitled to exclusive or separate emoluments or privileges from the community, but in consideration of public services; which, nor being descendible, neither ought the offices of magistrate, legislator, or judge to be hereditary.
Section 5. That the legislative and executive powers of the state should be separate and distinct from the judiciary; and that the members of the two first may be restrained from oppression, by feeling and participating the burdens of the people, they should, at fixed periods, be reduced to a private station, return into that body from which they were originally taken, and the vacancies be supplied by frequent, certain, and regular elections, in which all, or any part, of the former members, to be again eligible, or ineligible, as the laws shall direct.
Section 6. That elections of members to serve as representatives of the people, in assembly ought to be free; and that all men, having sufficient evidence of permanent common interest with, and attachment to, the community, have the right of suffrage and cannot be taxed or deprived of their property for public uses without their own consent or that of their representatives so elected, nor bound by any law to which they have not, in like manner, assembled for the public good.
Section 7. That all power of suspending laws, or the execution of laws, by any authority, without consent of the representatives of the people, is injurious to their rights and ought not to be exercised.
Section 8. That in all capital or criminal prosecutions a man has a right to demand the cause and nature of his accusation, to be confronted with the accusers and witnesses, to call for evidence in his favor, and to a speedy trial by an impartial jury of twelve men of his vicinage, without whose unanimous consent he cannot be found guilty; nor can he be compelled to give evidence against himself; that no man be deprived of his liberty except by the law of the land or the judgment of his peers.
Section 9. That excessive bail ought not to be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Section 10. That general warrants, whereby an officer or messenger may be commanded to search suspected places without evidence of a fact committed, or to seize any person or persons not named, or whose offense is not particularly described and supported by evidence, are grievous and oppressive and ought not to be granted.
Section 11. That in controversies respecting property, and in suits between man and man, the ancient trial by jury is preferable to any other and ought to be held sacred.
Section 12. That the freedom of the press is one of the great bulwarks of liberty, and can never be restrained but by despotic governments.
Section 13. That a well-regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the proper, natural, and safe defense of a free state; that standing armies, in time of peace, should be avoided as dangerous to liberty; and that in all cases the military should be under strict subordination to, and governed by, the civil power.
Section 14. That the people have a right to uniform government; and, therefore, that no government separate from or independent of the government of Virginia ought to be erected or established within the limits thereof.
Section 15. That no free government, or the blessings of liberty, can be preserved to any people but by a firm adherence to justice, moderation, temperance, frugality, and virtue and by frequent recurrence to fundamental principles.
Section 16. That religion, or the duty which we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence; and therefore all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience; and that it is the mutual duty of all to practise Christian forbearance, love, and charity toward each other.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Friday, July 1, 2011
Self-referral: A significant factor in diagnostic imaging growth
Self-referral: A significant factor in imaging growth
"A recent study in the Journal of the American College of Radiology suggests that self-referral in medical imaging may be a significant contributing factor in diagnostic imaging growth...."
"Researchers identified the relative risk of physicians' referring patients for imaging to facilities in which the physicians have financial interest (self-referrers) compared with physicians' referring patients for imaging to facilities in which they have no financial interest (radiologist referrers)...."
$3.6 Billion in 2008.
"A recent study in the Journal of the American College of Radiology suggests that self-referral in medical imaging may be a significant contributing factor in diagnostic imaging growth...."
"Researchers identified the relative risk of physicians' referring patients for imaging to facilities in which the physicians have financial interest (self-referrers) compared with physicians' referring patients for imaging to facilities in which they have no financial interest (radiologist referrers)...."
$3.6 Billion in 2008.
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