tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-349264742024-02-28T01:32:00.330-05:00TeaserParking.comClifford Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07797733527778342382noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34926474.post-89368516404815840992011-04-18T20:54:00.001-04:002011-04-18T20:54:07.826-04:00Yeaaah..., didn't go<div><p>Just not feeling it tonight.</p>
</div>Clifford Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07797733527778342382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34926474.post-2053155539050197262011-04-18T17:14:00.001-04:002011-04-18T17:14:07.366-04:00Debating on a BID<div><p>Tonight there is a public meeting in the City of Durham, I haven't yet decided whether in going or not and it's in a half hour.</p>
</div>Clifford Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07797733527778342382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34926474.post-12029547476805260372011-04-16T11:27:00.001-04:002011-04-16T11:27:56.394-04:00<div class="sflyProductPreviewWidget" style="width:425px; height:494px;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetTop" style="height:6px; background-image:url(http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/top.gif);"></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetCenter" style="height:482px; padding: 0 6px 0 6px; background-image:url(http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/bg.gif); background-repeat:repeat-y;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewLogo" style="width: 105px; height: 34px; padding: 14px 0 0 14px;"><img src="http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/logo.gif"></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewContainer" style="height:350px; text-align:center; padding: 0;"><a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery"><img src="http://images-community.shutterfly.com/prs/v1/0QatWTVu0as0/0QatWTVu0as0cW/p/67b0de21b3127d902548/JPEG/1302967576000/0/"></a></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewMessageContainer" style="height:55px; background-color:#f4f4e9; text-align:center; padding: 15px 0 15px 0; line-height: 19px;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewTitle" style="font-family: arial, sans-seris; font-size: 15px; color: #333333; font-weight: bold;"><span>Lavender Blossoms Mother's Day 5x7 folded card</span></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewSEOText" style="font-family: arial, sans-seris; font-size: 13px; color: #333333;"><span>Personalized <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/mothers-day-cards-stationery">Mother's day cards by Shutterfly</a>.</span></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewViewCollection" style="font-family: arial, sans-seris; font-size: 13px; color: #333333;"><span>View the entire <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery" style="color: #6666cc;">collection</a> of cards.</span></div></div></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetBottom" style="height:6px; background-image:url(http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/bottom.gif);"></div></div>Clifford Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07797733527778342382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34926474.post-28780219507243114762008-11-09T21:55:00.007-05:002008-11-09T22:01:48.601-05:00This Is The Essay That Had Me Chosen For Planning Abroad In Vienna, Austria!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTtiPqyJd-lys_8Zl_mxFC8SXW-XvBu1Hp8VXW36898ZKZsdmlq4_M-x2iI8_pR2nbFePYOE6z37yfoVaJhNCpcRt_OLdeSUetHr3IYZgBvVEPGytMuZqzL8dqLto7JXkLmQ7fLA/s1600-h/Vienna.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266858637458737314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 299px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTtiPqyJd-lys_8Zl_mxFC8SXW-XvBu1Hp8VXW36898ZKZsdmlq4_M-x2iI8_pR2nbFePYOE6z37yfoVaJhNCpcRt_OLdeSUetHr3IYZgBvVEPGytMuZqzL8dqLto7JXkLmQ7fLA/s400/Vienna.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><p>I want to be informed and prepared for the transition to the post-petroleum world. </p><p><br />On a recent trip to Charlotte, N.C. there was an opportunity to ride the new Lynx light rail system to the city center. Interestingly this trip could be directly compared to a previous trip on an adjacent road with the same beginning and end points during a convention 6 months earlier. Whizzing by beautiful new TOD’s, traveling faster than parallel traffic on South Boulevard and enjoying a conversation without having to pay attention to the road brought a realization; this is a big part of the future of planning and I want to be part of it.</p><p><br />Now is the time to prepare, if suburbs were developed with an eye toward the current century’s needs, our metropolitan areas would have been designed far differently. Metro Atlanta might not be following in LA’s footsteps. If there is going to be a transition to a post-petroleum world now is the time to plan for it.<br /></p><p>Although hybrid or even petroleum-free single occupancy mobility is the most obvious core of future transportation in America, transit oriented developments offer a bridge to that future as well as great benefits. I believe that light and heavy rail transit systems offer public mobility, less car dependence and spur more central development. A concerted effort to reduce oil consumption will stimulate a desire for shorter commutes, walkability and more political will in support of mass transit. These things can contribute to the reduction of sprawl and cause development in the city core and inner ring suburbs. This issue is so large because even the first stages of transitioning to an oil free future may cause a dramatic change in the form of today’s cities.</p><p><br />There are obstacles to this sort of change. There is an established, familiar petroleum based vehicular street grid system. Our culture fosters a strong desire for independence in mobility with a constant eye toward the cheapest or most luxurious alternative.</p><p><br />These two classes are going to be great opportunities to explain how a petroleum free future can come about and change our cities. Also they will answer questions I have for the detailed physical future of the North American city.</p><p><br />One of my chief questions will be, What does the footprint or street grid of a petroleum-free metropolitan area look like? Other questions are, will the cuts in sidewalks or the physical form of the street change? Could the street carry the energy needed for transportation? I also want to know if Developing countries could leapfrog Western ones as markets begin to emerge without the burden of obsolete infrastructure.</p><p><br />One of the strengths of Rome was in their aqueduct and road systems. Infrastructure is the key to economic vitality and is central to urban planning. I am open to new ideas and fresh perspectives on transportation. This is my passion and I want to be in the middle of the future.</p></div>Clifford Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07797733527778342382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34926474.post-65758464892378507952008-11-09T21:53:00.000-05:002008-11-09T21:54:26.441-05:00A reflection on Rawlsian (Socialist) FrameworkThe Rawlsian Framework is an extremely liberal political theory based on the ideals of collectivism. This “moral” theory is meant by some to be a guide for the creation of law. An earlier reading expressed an opinion that people with Marxist leanings often find themselves in the employment of planning as a way to implement their belief system on a society. (Beatley) This liberal approach to Growth Management is an effective way to aid the disadvantaged and limit the power of the bourgeoisie under the guise of fairness and populism.<br />To be sure there is an appeal to economic fairness in the Rawlsian Framework. Beatly advocates a view of a society not comprised of individuals but a collection of people in a mutual and shared endeavor. This is supposed to cause an equal distribution of the good and bad of life. Beatly goes so far as to question why the naturally advantaged by means of skill and dedication should received a greater distribution of benefits. This is a morally arbitrary and is essentially undeserved according to our writer!<br />When these ideas are put into planning the ideas of equal distribution corrupts the technical aspects of planning and planning takes on the role of social judge. Imagine trying to implement fairness in life whilst plotting roads and allocating space for commercial development. Social Judges planners are not.<br />I take personal offence that we are to be denied the fruit of our efforts if those fruits do not benefit society as a whole. The following passage from our text illustrates the most poisonous idea of justice and illustrates how deep into socialism Rawls had descended.<br />“Thus for Rawls the primary task of moral theory is to determine the appropriate standards of justice for governing their cooperative social arrangement and its resultant distribution of benefits and burdens” (Beatley)<br />This idea of “social justice” and cooperation is in direct contrast to the Anglo-Saxon and Judeo-Christian work ethic on which the United States was founded. This sort of thinking leads to wondering who is the least advantaged and how do we chose them? Who is making too much, has too much and how much should the government take to even the score of life? This is the heart and soul of Socialism. All one would need to do would be to look at the cities of the former Soviet Union and North Korea to understand where these theories lead. Their cities are Spartan and cleaned of references to faith and religion. The desolate cities and towns of those two nations are considered to be among the dreariest in the world.<br />One other aspect of this cannot be ignored. In Rawls “two principles of justice” Rawls arranges legal principles in serial order. The most striking thought is the thought that “equality under the law” is dead last. (Beatley) This sacred idea is behind such common things as discussion and formal democratic liberties. I put it that equality under the law is a primary, fundamental and basic right and most special privilege.<br />The principles in our text our principles I will try to avoid in my professional career. One should always hold a place for the disadvantaged. There is a always a place in the city for the disadvantaged. These principles however, are not based on morality, they are based on humanism .<br /> In this nation, any increase in wealth or benefit should always go to the most hardworking and dedicated. In the frame of Urban Planning, We must accept that our central business districts comprise our most dedicated members of society who hold the keys to our economic vitality. CBD’s deserve before other sections of a city the most progressive and innovated forms of infill and reurbanization. The most impoverished districts of most American cities look as awful because of the laissez faire attitude of their residents and the crime those residents commit. No, our hardest working do deserve the best laid Plans of mice and men.<br />Now I know why Rawls and his wife spent their first holiday writing an index for Nietzsche. (Friedrich Nietzsche)Clifford Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07797733527778342382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34926474.post-79051835315047324462008-10-05T20:38:00.000-04:002008-10-05T20:39:05.832-04:00By Thomas Jefferson"I sincerely believe that banking establishments are more dangerous than standing armies, and that the principle of spending money to be paid by posterity, under the name of funding, is but swindling futurity on a large scale."Clifford Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07797733527778342382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34926474.post-26487098070331640792008-07-13T22:09:00.008-04:002008-07-13T22:24:34.794-04:00Pictures From A Road Trip To North Carolina<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBeVJlni00Z-_ejifoEuYQPevIR-dEN7y-P9Eau-7wN7J2sGQ50kvoJ_kBrY9yQcVAb-BgYzhEVBTVMxN9hHFIRf4WoApWO0q-P_xEvGrHw3IfBdTcv7cWDsW_Usk-tTKUGkdyuA/s1600-h/1010.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222689880282502226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBeVJlni00Z-_ejifoEuYQPevIR-dEN7y-P9Eau-7wN7J2sGQ50kvoJ_kBrY9yQcVAb-BgYzhEVBTVMxN9hHFIRf4WoApWO0q-P_xEvGrHw3IfBdTcv7cWDsW_Usk-tTKUGkdyuA/s400/1010.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ_oivRrbc-h7FBXDPXxMd9AhKq3WescfjrzH4vSIbTF3xV684x5hWjEglx2vtL673C59VdQ6RdovOvfyFp7deNu6Zp3qtTjwfH6lSeIQEUVKYY6GEdQ3inGikpUvsnBhuZMBzxQ/s1600-h/1009.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222689354575191810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ_oivRrbc-h7FBXDPXxMd9AhKq3WescfjrzH4vSIbTF3xV684x5hWjEglx2vtL673C59VdQ6RdovOvfyFp7deNu6Zp3qtTjwfH6lSeIQEUVKYY6GEdQ3inGikpUvsnBhuZMBzxQ/s400/1009.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcpABfAdAdIUxsYQEVUJcRjL_zOfh6tC0UKKcC0cnPTM48aZUVz3cRDvLp-r5vyJmrrubjLQ44SnSevVAye_e0pMsPaHNsBO_Xm1GSBYma_fQ7IFICmowK08Y6mYtFdGCJCRb21Q/s1600-h/1004.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222688758544838418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcpABfAdAdIUxsYQEVUJcRjL_zOfh6tC0UKKcC0cnPTM48aZUVz3cRDvLp-r5vyJmrrubjLQ44SnSevVAye_e0pMsPaHNsBO_Xm1GSBYma_fQ7IFICmowK08Y6mYtFdGCJCRb21Q/s400/1004.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ky_AUiy3yUTIhXBjzMJ-5nrAKuzVvAIE6bfTFbNpq5E182B7-eWVMwZOYuGDHGyl9CHgYc9uvutru4X4TT3EGz_JveQG8cs4t26YW_toYsQ05sj0RhsbhW-exBehUe84xExZlQ/s1600-h/1002.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222688359051772082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ky_AUiy3yUTIhXBjzMJ-5nrAKuzVvAIE6bfTFbNpq5E182B7-eWVMwZOYuGDHGyl9CHgYc9uvutru4X4TT3EGz_JveQG8cs4t26YW_toYsQ05sj0RhsbhW-exBehUe84xExZlQ/s400/1002.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRlIE_QI72Sr9aVjVP48aKvV11SUJHKSMxx_aiiHdZ6JJuTbkug-8njWfAfPxFIZloL0IUQlt7uVOE9CDiX0EDppqHYLUxSXlZ-GkQWwuVIpVQE4Fae-WaS4nTvXebZQs2nguRSw/s1600-h/1001.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222687916943764962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRlIE_QI72Sr9aVjVP48aKvV11SUJHKSMxx_aiiHdZ6JJuTbkug-8njWfAfPxFIZloL0IUQlt7uVOE9CDiX0EDppqHYLUxSXlZ-GkQWwuVIpVQE4Fae-WaS4nTvXebZQs2nguRSw/s400/1001.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6YIaHY_MBEy3uYDvQWI9BoLzzzRIfpyvqKkudQZwFNCZ0efuuYiMlcztrB6WudLuztvUkc3gWNlS2H_RwwW4UZnvgKOqos5dYw4UmpSJQ8NNvn57vT7lRRfKYl7hunGIFLlA4Yg/s1600-h/1000.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222687567319673618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6YIaHY_MBEy3uYDvQWI9BoLzzzRIfpyvqKkudQZwFNCZ0efuuYiMlcztrB6WudLuztvUkc3gWNlS2H_RwwW4UZnvgKOqos5dYw4UmpSJQ8NNvn57vT7lRRfKYl7hunGIFLlA4Yg/s400/1000.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Clifford Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07797733527778342382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34926474.post-74936480964629254022008-07-13T21:43:00.002-04:002008-07-13T22:00:43.630-04:00Would you consider me a Facist?To anyone who has read the previous 50 posts, I have a question. It has come to my attention that my views concerning local governments are facistic and that I am on the side against freedom. Firstly I want to say that these accusations are not comming from a leftist hippy, but two close conservative relatives. After defending my views I even received a hearty Heil Hitler! hand gesture. I am still loved, it's just that this love comes from eyes suspicious that I may agree more with Hillary Clinton than Bob Dole. I digress<br />Here are the points that led to said accusations.<br /><br />1. People are often so ignorant of their local elected officials that many are better off appointed than elected.<br />2. If the footprint of a metropolitain area exceeds its county boundaries the city limits of the primary city should be enlarged to contain the ENTIRE footprint of the metro area. (South Florida would be an exception, seeing as the metro is 110 miles long a more prudent approach would be to consolidate the primary cities with their respective counties.)<br />3. A merger of counties around the state, they were created when the world was a much smaller place and before cars. Their function as mid level government is ineffecient in a world with cars, perhaps they can be salvaged if they were larger.<br />4. Zoning and major project plans of our primary cities ought to be directed from the State, for the benefit of the entire State. Specific examples inclued Ports, Airports and Rail Connections.<br />5. Current land use laws ought to be updated to reflect New Urbanism Ideals. Walkability, mixed use construction and planned rail service would be the hallmark of greenfield and brownfield development.<br />6. Green Beltways around major cities for the purpose of limiting sprawl. Two primary benefits are more greenspace around a cities perimiter and the prevention of Orlampa.(The suburbs of Orlando and Tampa becoming indistinguishable from each other) South Florida is 110 miles long without any break from development. The rest of the state is following suit.<br /><br />Comments are welcome, if you do believe that I am in need of an exorcism or "mental reconditioning" please e-mail me at <a href="mailto:cliffordsherley@gmail.com">cliffordsherley@gmail.com</a> if I do receive some e-mails on the matter I may reconsider my positions. If more than two people say something about you than it probably is true.<br /><br />Signing off and God BlessClifford Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07797733527778342382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34926474.post-71448521531975161422008-05-05T23:13:00.001-04:002008-05-05T23:14:47.425-04:00It is a sin to waste food.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2EQpmxKHJCX4izYIyFWLEkwaDvJ-LjcWEmvGG8sMyLOtN3Bvc_5yZ4a4LU1zW8GGLnxkcLN5ZoY88mEJ0x8M3T0LVPg1f7xj2GcN5R1pbdZG7PH-BOwP33g1rcIp7TmJ9_YK9GQ/s1600-h/stuartcarlson+milwjrlsentl.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197098020528255858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2EQpmxKHJCX4izYIyFWLEkwaDvJ-LjcWEmvGG8sMyLOtN3Bvc_5yZ4a4LU1zW8GGLnxkcLN5ZoY88mEJ0x8M3T0LVPg1f7xj2GcN5R1pbdZG7PH-BOwP33g1rcIp7TmJ9_YK9GQ/s400/stuartcarlson+milwjrlsentl.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>Clifford Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07797733527778342382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34926474.post-27872819502016220022008-04-16T22:09:00.004-04:002008-04-16T22:37:16.323-04:00The Superlative Degree of Comparison OnlyIt was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way--in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.<br /><br />"This is the most important election of our lifetime"<br />"When I was younger we didn't have any of this technology"<br />"It was never this bad"<br />"This is the first Imperial Presidency!"<br />"Partisianship has reached a new high"<br />"People weren't as immoral in the 50's"<br /><br />Spot on. Dickens knew a thing or two back in the 1700's. For those unfamiliar, this is the opening paragraph to <em>A Tale of Two Cities</em>Clifford Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07797733527778342382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34926474.post-70132731155356609572008-04-09T23:45:00.002-04:002008-04-09T23:51:22.979-04:00Another Example of Reconquista<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkboH9Idrz02-yuLGlEX7YLS_rZq-beBv4WXfWYedSvxYE3Jx8Zcu1ppKYYQzEgysOh368amWbdwSsnPTNQbWYmu-x6yUNFAkwR9tZFBBAkQRhMD1azaSZ-_Bvk12C9rPikDUALQ/s1600-h/470absolut.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187458178302298626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkboH9Idrz02-yuLGlEX7YLS_rZq-beBv4WXfWYedSvxYE3Jx8Zcu1ppKYYQzEgysOh368amWbdwSsnPTNQbWYmu-x6yUNFAkwR9tZFBBAkQRhMD1azaSZ-_Bvk12C9rPikDUALQ/s320/470absolut.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I'd say something but I don't think anyone is suprised by this. I would like to point out though, that I'm not sure they ever really had a claim to Oregon. Look closer, yeah, it goes all the way to Portland. We must not forget the contributions of Mexico to Oregon by way of Los Salem and Santo Eugene.Clifford Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07797733527778342382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34926474.post-49061684163839565762008-04-06T21:50:00.008-04:002008-04-06T22:05:10.395-04:00Pictures from my trip to the City of Washington<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoGMW-Fp-yfE38gMA4Whjgbxj5DmJZafhJrPRW18og1UFds64UoUBgQfrkLRvoAcEhTrOIEIotdMqttvFqLHh4ZgFC-EUiduLN-R0mdSBjUcT_gztYkzMDQLJ6tQSV2OJ94pLWKQ/s1600-h/Capital+Dome.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186318090026513570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoGMW-Fp-yfE38gMA4Whjgbxj5DmJZafhJrPRW18og1UFds64UoUBgQfrkLRvoAcEhTrOIEIotdMqttvFqLHh4ZgFC-EUiduLN-R0mdSBjUcT_gztYkzMDQLJ6tQSV2OJ94pLWKQ/s400/Capital+Dome.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div align="center">In Front of Congress, Just Like In All The Movies</div><div align="center"> </div><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdfhQKuwH7Zor55c5tyTs_4AS2v1jW1lp2_ZJPcZkQqxkuXJrF3LrJBTOkrqCwvoE1JM9V_M6RxohiT3wCa4cUXh8V-JTxJZHMIxNFoUs5UiDD66ICDXGZCxVNzQHnzAyeRnUcNA/s1600-h/Lincoln+Memorial.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186317763608999058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdfhQKuwH7Zor55c5tyTs_4AS2v1jW1lp2_ZJPcZkQqxkuXJrF3LrJBTOkrqCwvoE1JM9V_M6RxohiT3wCa4cUXh8V-JTxJZHMIxNFoUs5UiDD66ICDXGZCxVNzQHnzAyeRnUcNA/s400/Lincoln+Memorial.JPG" border="0" /></a> View Of The Lincoln Memorial </div><div align="center"><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_MCYYK8hq7ZDHtZLVm5idxHXnemQ3E-ifwyqf55Z-0SECNl0fQUDbpGudFkL9lrdKOuvpVt6WumLCd7NAVquFGUCQUcQZ-ff-MHCfiNO36loZqTKLT2Z81TKoA3J1ESnQJiIQfA/s1600-h/Mandy+and+I.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186316406399333490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_MCYYK8hq7ZDHtZLVm5idxHXnemQ3E-ifwyqf55Z-0SECNl0fQUDbpGudFkL9lrdKOuvpVt6WumLCd7NAVquFGUCQUcQZ-ff-MHCfiNO36loZqTKLT2Z81TKoA3J1ESnQJiIQfA/s400/Mandy+and+I.JPG" border="0" /></a> Mandy and I Across From FBI Headquarters</div><div><br /> </div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAG2dARAY3W-KvLxLfTzL5VLjd2ENW45G1U_R2chI2Taz4f5DZdUjAnGNq2NK9v6xrCrJBqdJv-iturxSm_d3BrILkcVZsSKk4vQ3B1T0mhtCjuCOlIGy-fewR7EVeEpMTxDz2sA/s1600-h/Random+Offices.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186315740679402594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAG2dARAY3W-KvLxLfTzL5VLjd2ENW45G1U_R2chI2Taz4f5DZdUjAnGNq2NK9v6xrCrJBqdJv-iturxSm_d3BrILkcVZsSKk4vQ3B1T0mhtCjuCOlIGy-fewR7EVeEpMTxDz2sA/s400/Random+Offices.JPG" border="0" /></a> Random Potomac Office Buildings</div><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5gCg2-PGVLRdHgkYev4WZR7fHtPd_W2EVpUvCgvyQHO-4VYYQgH7we6ldUWpNhGLEpyX9KA4MiOBgXYV5s42uAdRpAk2G-q_pspscQmg0tRgXMtommHFDSZdQZ4vezFbuiWN_OA/s1600-h/Washington+Monument.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186315178038686802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5gCg2-PGVLRdHgkYev4WZR7fHtPd_W2EVpUvCgvyQHO-4VYYQgH7we6ldUWpNhGLEpyX9KA4MiOBgXYV5s42uAdRpAk2G-q_pspscQmg0tRgXMtommHFDSZdQZ4vezFbuiWN_OA/s400/Washington+Monument.JPG" border="0" /></a> From the Base of the Washington Monument</div><br /></div>Clifford Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07797733527778342382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34926474.post-26813744727142723342008-04-06T20:51:00.012-04:002008-04-06T21:17:17.856-04:00My Favorite Quotes From Ann Coulter<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYoNp6ete5Yi_O460taF8MNhq1VDjzXkzzc3CT0hGTuJkuXxv0BlIuyFeKldvF_VOFkgQBnde03ddRL2foFs7A0bZpjX4-2GgpYfrJdE-Bnlnx9hGzo93JtIU2FwDD-w2q6TlsLg/s1600-h/coulter_shooting_gun.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186300064048772162" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYoNp6ete5Yi_O460taF8MNhq1VDjzXkzzc3CT0hGTuJkuXxv0BlIuyFeKldvF_VOFkgQBnde03ddRL2foFs7A0bZpjX4-2GgpYfrJdE-Bnlnx9hGzo93JtIU2FwDD-w2q6TlsLg/s320/coulter_shooting_gun.jpg" border="0" /></a> BTW for 49 she's totally hot.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><ul><li><div align="left">I think the government should be spying on all Arabs, engaging in torture as a televised spectator sport, dropping daisy cutters wantonly throughout the Middle East and sending liberals to Guantanamo. </div></li></ul><ul><li><div align="left">[Canadians] better hope the United States does not roll over one night and crush them. They are lucky we allow them to exist on the same continent. </div></li><li><div align="left"></div></li><li><div align="left">"Democrats cannot conceive of "hate speech" towards Christians because, in their eyes, Christians always deserve it." </div></li></ul><ul><li><div align="left">Here at the Spawn of Satan convention in Boston, conservatives are deploying a series of covert signals to identify one another, much like gay men do. My allies are the ones wearing crosses or American flags. The people sporting shirts emblazened with the "F-word" are my opponents. Also, as always, the pretty girls and cops are on my side, most of them barely able to conceal their eye-rolling. </div></li></ul><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><ul><li><div align="left">*In anticipation of their surrender strategy becoming substantially less popular in the wake of another terrorist attack, the Democrats are all claiming that the threat of terrorism was nonexistent -- notwithstanding 9/11, the Cole bombing, the bombing of our embassies, the bombing of the World Trade Center, the Achille Lauro, etc. etc. -- until George Bush invaded Iraq. </div></li></ul><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><ul><li><div align="left">*The "European Union" happens to be composed of people who hate our guts. It is the continent where Moveon.org-style lunatics are the friendly, pro-American types and the rest are crazy Muslims. </div></li></ul><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><ul><li><div align="left">*Apparently, even crazy people prefer targets that can't shoot back. The reason schools are consistently popular targets for mass murderers is precisely because of all the idiotic "Gun-Free School Zone" laws. </div></li></ul><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><ul><li><div align="left">*I'd build a wall. In fact, I'd hire illegal immigrants to build the wall. And throw out the illegals who are here. [...] It's cheap labor. </div></li></ul><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><ul><li><div align="left">*You know, ok. I made a few jokes — and they killed 3000 Americans. Fair trade. </div></li></ul><div align="left"></div><ul><li><div align="left">Six imams removed from a US Airways flight from Minneapolis to Phoenix are calling on Muslims to boycott the airline. If only we could get Muslims to boycott all airlines, we could dispense with airport security altogether. </div></li></ul><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><ul><li><div align="left">*The tolerant liberal suddenly becomes very intolerant when their official religion is challenged. </div></li></ul><div align="left"></div><ul><li><div align="left">Liberals' only remaining big issue is abortion because of their beloved sexual revolution. That's their cause: Spreading anarchy and polymorphous perversity. Abortion permits that. </div></li></ul>Clifford Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07797733527778342382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34926474.post-31579376166804618882008-04-06T20:31:00.001-04:002008-04-06T20:32:53.850-04:00If Orwell Only Knew<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2UWBViFtIj3-3QAfD8ToRI8OI8JLUHhutXVRWIXNWRrDrwRNlKxQjQx3H01-7APCmEd-v3XjJ7xkslJNNRe_KkEWrDreUyLTwPsDi3dR6XdEFypnN8hgsuxnXLJp9JPmZ2Kct0g/s1600-h/Map+near+Orwells+house+in+London.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186294854253442082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2UWBViFtIj3-3QAfD8ToRI8OI8JLUHhutXVRWIXNWRrDrwRNlKxQjQx3H01-7APCmEd-v3XjJ7xkslJNNRe_KkEWrDreUyLTwPsDi3dR6XdEFypnN8hgsuxnXLJp9JPmZ2Kct0g/s400/Map+near+Orwells+house+in+London.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYMa_whw1oT99fmMZJIWjOc6uSVB-SHrkBKLi6EJ1OHQyyfBalOYs1oipP1AQLqorGLcZ9rrnFSZ5A8YVp8Sgi92amfGYW5EXOBAlb0e598lP8463a_WTuWNx2k44PMrEnNf03OA/s1600-h/Map+near+Orwells+house+in+London.jpg"></a><br /><br /><div></div></div>Clifford Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07797733527778342382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34926474.post-37586232504723570202008-04-06T20:26:00.003-04:002008-04-06T20:31:09.240-04:00I've got the warm fuzzies big time.Note red and black being the colors of extensive and endemic surveillance societies, green and blue being those societies with adequate safeguards. Also notice which two major English speaking Western countries are red and black.<br /><br />Thaaaats right, the US and UK.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSv_46u0syexGOOIREOufGtWLLAjijlPbcgiz6ajraxeJoMUMpmnx1sREjRmL2parv4IsfaKqtHFAJjxyVnZFI4Y7Os9Vkw6HblwuDK55PN-67eoBfhpALdGnGcwhEUSfk1OJuUQ/s1600-h/Map+of+Surveillance+Societies.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186294102634165250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSv_46u0syexGOOIREOufGtWLLAjijlPbcgiz6ajraxeJoMUMpmnx1sREjRmL2parv4IsfaKqtHFAJjxyVnZFI4Y7Os9Vkw6HblwuDK55PN-67eoBfhpALdGnGcwhEUSfk1OJuUQ/s400/Map+of+Surveillance+Societies.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"> Click image to enlarge</span><br /><br /></div>Clifford Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07797733527778342382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34926474.post-88674619704273092432008-04-06T01:49:00.002-04:002008-04-06T01:54:15.471-04:00Barackillary<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWtfFojZMFcS1UO4CqmlDc0zDDkrdT7Gx6JJmscpdU1oGqa-VkJSFYbqR0LyBwUVYLsQ2Hj91wTYfDD92OrhAMydYiXguEzVHrIpQpSI55OhgTe27HQBL-ZTB5zgoqNG4gjGuQjQ/s1600-h/obama_clinton_split2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186005824429257682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWtfFojZMFcS1UO4CqmlDc0zDDkrdT7Gx6JJmscpdU1oGqa-VkJSFYbqR0LyBwUVYLsQ2Hj91wTYfDD92OrhAMydYiXguEzVHrIpQpSI55OhgTe27HQBL-ZTB5zgoqNG4gjGuQjQ/s320/obama_clinton_split2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Can you hear the Obasms and feminist shouting of a thousand watermelon socialists (Green on the outside Red on the inside) at such a proposal! </div>Clifford Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07797733527778342382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34926474.post-6307589287338995612008-04-06T01:46:00.002-04:002008-04-06T01:48:57.681-04:00And I thought I had embarrassing pictures<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy4Yys8gu_uYBTAPd8tcsS7EPubAm6BPCYg7A6AHZqFot_7oTZ0ek-qKx0UDjmPh3FeS-XcEWNCCJDwEOJmLKUOCAG0ak_l0aasDOo_nqSY5L_CYIq6IukXOo88taXCXO55q9tFg/s1600-h/Obama-Sharpton.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186005158709326786" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy4Yys8gu_uYBTAPd8tcsS7EPubAm6BPCYg7A6AHZqFot_7oTZ0ek-qKx0UDjmPh3FeS-XcEWNCCJDwEOJmLKUOCAG0ak_l0aasDOo_nqSY5L_CYIq6IukXOo88taXCXO55q9tFg/s320/Obama-Sharpton.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1_b7kfZoWrKQOu5wUbwJQ0cgc0Ym7v39EyolkpzPRF3WacqqKOOFQPW4VPJmD0qfE6P9BqxDALsATh7mTxhUAPZ0j-l32HzDEQNH9fKicS0uLbGVyZm4JbgJgrze70UlIeqenBQ/s1600-h/bill-hillary-clinton.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186004759277368226" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1_b7kfZoWrKQOu5wUbwJQ0cgc0Ym7v39EyolkpzPRF3WacqqKOOFQPW4VPJmD0qfE6P9BqxDALsATh7mTxhUAPZ0j-l32HzDEQNH9fKicS0uLbGVyZm4JbgJgrze70UlIeqenBQ/s320/bill-hillary-clinton.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRaieQoemNh7GV8l1BmH53bqKL7xrBu6pOC-BPzkJu4CawqqJucmQJxTuT4mwF1lIogPPaF6GeOZRgP062nMQFcJLbjYykrL_DwzTAS61Jh2iYOFBOw1Tp4ZELxxDWMvRxuD4QBg/s1600-h/John%2520McCain.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186004673378022290" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRaieQoemNh7GV8l1BmH53bqKL7xrBu6pOC-BPzkJu4CawqqJucmQJxTuT4mwF1lIogPPaF6GeOZRgP062nMQFcJLbjYykrL_DwzTAS61Jh2iYOFBOw1Tp4ZELxxDWMvRxuD4QBg/s320/John%2520McCain.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div></div>Clifford Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07797733527778342382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34926474.post-5908439406834634442008-04-06T01:26:00.002-04:002008-04-06T01:36:59.796-04:00At least the chickens are coming home to roost in Europe.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfOHlAS28uHfABRAoHW0WWljlw4_7oy3muEGdItH3VPAqsv_NNAMFrzlMazLd-d_j8kQllX4LXDu3GSdvQPOo7f98PbpaVQYOuFUdtYg8Q5cHe7Jt41MpQ1nsT7hKCb3RiKNc12w/s1600-h/chickenmep.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185999716985762690" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfOHlAS28uHfABRAoHW0WWljlw4_7oy3muEGdItH3VPAqsv_NNAMFrzlMazLd-d_j8kQllX4LXDu3GSdvQPOo7f98PbpaVQYOuFUdtYg8Q5cHe7Jt41MpQ1nsT7hKCb3RiKNc12w/s320/chickenmep.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC_Icmv-MNlvazAYoSDJzHK2YgNtNlmfflDmImAalJ847BJ7QlkwdfYAbvv3NBiFulFE7dxiFM7jjR-NUYaCYbAja3OF9t5Ub6STn5cYcbTuj1rcT8cv3ZQQ7IO1vxrRaQtn26lA/s1600-h/chicken.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185999643971318642" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC_Icmv-MNlvazAYoSDJzHK2YgNtNlmfflDmImAalJ847BJ7QlkwdfYAbvv3NBiFulFE7dxiFM7jjR-NUYaCYbAja3OF9t5Ub6STn5cYcbTuj1rcT8cv3ZQQ7IO1vxrRaQtn26lA/s320/chicken.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>A special shoutout to Nigel Farage of the UKIP (United Kingdom Independence Party) for helping to pull of this latest stunt at the corrupt and incompetent European Parliament. Corrupt because they are draging nation-states into their socialist ever-closer union. Incompetent because they refuse to allow electronic voting and count by hands raised in the 785 member strong parliament. </div><div> </div><div>Guess how often they get the vote wrong, no really, yours might be closer than theirs. They have no way of knowing how the vote went or who voted for what. I repeat, THEY HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING! Couple that with no accountablity on the various Members of Parliament and you have quite a problem for the post democratic European world. But I digress.</div><div> </div><div>Because the political elite have it put in their hearts to acomplish their hidden goal they have denied every country but Ireland the ability or willpower to hold a referendum on the new SELF AMENDING Lisbon Treaty. </div><div> </div><div>In other words they are too chicken for a referendum. </div><div> </div><div>God Bless America, </div><div>Nah Nah Noh Naaaah, Not God "Explicitive Deleted" America, God Bless America, </div><div> </div><div>Sorry I couldn't resist. ; )</div><div> </div></div>Clifford Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07797733527778342382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34926474.post-40620861306157254172008-04-06T01:02:00.003-04:002008-04-06T01:18:47.474-04:00You can't tell a Yuppie by their clothes.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmABfvsovrYt3D6SzQS25J1zNAqLKrP1L7uwAUt5h0R4zd5z3KVzKQdfPR5UNCgfUfyD8quSDyt8T4WwHTi2Lrhy9oVBTg7Vy2bygxWCxITNvDm2Qm_lU1cnbLDcJehtb7nOcGlg/s1600-h/yuppies.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185997414883292002" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmABfvsovrYt3D6SzQS25J1zNAqLKrP1L7uwAUt5h0R4zd5z3KVzKQdfPR5UNCgfUfyD8quSDyt8T4WwHTi2Lrhy9oVBTg7Vy2bygxWCxITNvDm2Qm_lU1cnbLDcJehtb7nOcGlg/s320/yuppies.jpg" border="0" /></a> There is a couple at church who I often happen to sit next to. Always fashionably dressed and mannered. (The kind you sit up straighter around) I often feel intimidated by people who look really well put together. Maybe inadequate is the word, but that's my problem and not anyone else's.<br /><br />The point is one Sunday I was sitting next to these people with their unfortunate name and stylish things and I needed to use the restroom.<br /><br />I always have to use the restroom. It's a problem.<br /><br />I made a sign as if to notify my fellow parishioners and hope maybe they move slightly to make my exit quick and the wife did something I did not expect. She moved over with a look in her eyes containing no malice or annoyance. The husband followed with a smile and similar niceness. They couldn't care less if they had to move because I needed to.<br /><br />How do you feel small around people who don't feel themselves to be big. The short answer is that you don't. In the list that I carry around in my head and with which I classify all I come in contact with, I moved them from Yuppie to Classy. Corny to be sure, but just because someone looks nice doesn't mean that are full of themselves or don't act nice also.<br /><br />We are often warned not to be prejudiced, but let us remember not to be biased on either end of the spectrum.Clifford Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07797733527778342382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34926474.post-6018979466525263292008-04-06T00:38:00.003-04:002008-04-06T01:01:55.002-04:00I identify with ...What?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyb3hF5smpuw38UZ4x5-tUVExPvdoeQZuJUzEy1srPSpJcYe0q7TM6Jfq7LONf0vp5gh2mRurzClQKsh5rchy6BWNAgKR9d6KCXbI4jhR-2vRP207N1uEOVUeqAdM8-zohP9UVrg/s1600-h/not+right.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185988429811708738" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyb3hF5smpuw38UZ4x5-tUVExPvdoeQZuJUzEy1srPSpJcYe0q7TM6Jfq7LONf0vp5gh2mRurzClQKsh5rchy6BWNAgKR9d6KCXbI4jhR-2vRP207N1uEOVUeqAdM8-zohP9UVrg/s200/not+right.JPG" border="0" /></a> I had a horrid realization the other night. Of all the books and columns I've read I can say only three people think the way I do. As a contemporary Pat Robertson has always articulated my views to a T, but if that wasn't bad enough there are two fictional characters with whom I also identify.<br /><br />While reading Orwell's 1984 and Deliverance I found myself consistantly feeling as if the protagonists of both books were taken directly from my inner conscience. Their thoughts and actions were so similar to what my own that I felt a comfort and familiarity with both characters. Yes you heard me: Deliverance and 1984. Something is deeply wrong upstairs. I've always known I thought differently, but this takes the cake.<br /><br />There are two great examples of how numbingly boring my point is. One is when the character Ed Gentry observed the precise moment when the suburbs of Atlanta stopped and became rural. Oh if the man could see sprawling capital of the New South Atlanta now! Another moment of revelation whas when Ed stood in his office and thought about how often men before stood the same way when making decisions. I liked Ed.<br /><br />1984 was love at first sight, the opening line is "It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen". Little did I know there was a Clifford about to run into trouble in London, the capital of Airstrip 1.<br /><br />Anyways this is my creepy little inner conscience.Clifford Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07797733527778342382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34926474.post-15787735636643568142008-04-04T22:01:00.004-04:002008-04-04T22:14:42.109-04:00Liberty's Soul<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYoj6_SnMSC4Bly3Vn81G0opBfuJ8ddfUC_qSxlB5v8sley2RL1trI4hVTgpJ8JAA7-jUCZiSoy4SPBeR2VylIloikd04QkMeER4okSDvDl38DZGPx1__EaWoU76q6-FXEcZOElw/s1600-h/washington+at+night.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185578505248076594" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYoj6_SnMSC4Bly3Vn81G0opBfuJ8ddfUC_qSxlB5v8sley2RL1trI4hVTgpJ8JAA7-jUCZiSoy4SPBeR2VylIloikd04QkMeER4okSDvDl38DZGPx1__EaWoU76q6-FXEcZOElw/s320/washington+at+night.jpg" border="0" /></a> Youtube has a video of Pentecostal singer Mickey Mangun singing Battle Hymn of the Republic and I strongly recommend anyone to view it. It is taped during the Library dedication of President Clinton. Clinton has frequented the Pentecostals of Alexandria and has mentioned them in his latest book. Anyway hearing the Battle Hymn and watching the jet fly by made me feel patriotic in a way I haven't for a long time. This nation is not always about money. It has a soul and maintains a wonderful religious ferver. Remember that righteousness exhalteth a nation Anytime I see an address finished with USA or see a large flag flying in the wind my heart swells for the country that allows such precious freedom to flourish. God Bless America<br /><p align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlmMFDiyzQin01SqxyWHuTonuoW8XRkeTUZaffe4XHKBXZQ4EsiPBWuWQJJWCdZvncd2mCZZnDMI4yWAEbUocQ5fVxmM5-HZmnldlwAG6Ap89SCSnbMkaU5hb8mEogvGivLObtBQ/s1600-h/washington+at+night.jpg"></a></p><br /><div align="left"><br /></div><br /><div align="left"></div>Clifford Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07797733527778342382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34926474.post-86824442561934429572008-02-03T01:20:00.000-05:002008-02-03T01:42:19.045-05:00Old English Cognates With Latin<p align="center">Origins of English<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNa218WN5KsXH_o4rtMaP5ePwAhRmVxXJsaWPIOVsDCJufg4fzMIdbvz2oVALZTHcV7h1a2K5twzTGD_1Go28lhs2_GSeURaU00VfZjohyphenhyphenSNITlvgF_IUQnd6z2z_3UrAqiNQDtg/s1600-h/601px-Origins_of_English_PieChart_svg.png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162636233170722578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 422px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 326px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="286" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNa218WN5KsXH_o4rtMaP5ePwAhRmVxXJsaWPIOVsDCJufg4fzMIdbvz2oVALZTHcV7h1a2K5twzTGD_1Go28lhs2_GSeURaU00VfZjohyphenhyphenSNITlvgF_IUQnd6z2z_3UrAqiNQDtg/s320/601px-Origins_of_English_PieChart_svg.png" width="266" border="0" /></a><br />It is funny how small the world can seem. Two of my intrests have collided in an unusual way. One of my favorite things to do is to read old books, many of which are written in the British English of the 17th and 18th centuries. Another interest is to learn Spanish. While reading these books I keep coming across obscure words that quite easily translate into Latin and Spanish. With so many cognates (words that have a common origin) it is a shame I'm not fluent in Spanish yet.</p><p align="center">English Latin Spanish Synonym</p><p align="center">felicity feleciter feliz happyness</p><p align="center">rudd rubor rojo reddness</p><p align="center">facile facile facil easy</p><p align="center">translucent lucere lucir clear</p><p align="center"></p><p align="center">It's true what they say, " English is a German language with a Latin vocabulary".</p>Clifford Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07797733527778342382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34926474.post-70111522361599218872008-02-03T01:00:00.000-05:002008-02-03T01:07:25.158-05:00Class is not going wellOn Thursday evenings from 6:30 till 7:50 I attend a class on Anatomy and Physiology at the local junior college. The teacher had fooled around for the first few classes and now he had three classes of material to cover in one night. While approaching the third hour of lecture with only one five minute break I noticed everyone was either rubbing their face or stabbing theirselves with the blunt end of their pens.<br />It reminded me of an episode of Seinfeld that brought this subject up.<br /><br /><em>Excerpt from Episode 45 "The Wallet"</em><br />JERRY: It's a tell. You gotta tell.<br />ELAINE: What tell? What's a tell?<br />JERRY: When you ask someone about their relationship and they touch their face you know it's not going too well. Go ahead ask me how it's going with somebody.<br />ELAINE: Um, uh, who's it going with, uh, Alice?<br />JERRY: Good, going good (scratches chin) And the higher up on the face you go the worse the relationship is getting. You know it is like - pretty good - not bad - I gotta get out.<br />ELAINE: How high did I go?<br />GEORGE: You almost did the nose.<br /><br />Yeah, Class is definitely not going well.Clifford Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07797733527778342382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34926474.post-42606134624089231822008-02-03T00:30:00.000-05:002008-02-03T00:44:05.000-05:00Grrr... Snowbirds<div align="center"><em><strong>Loxahatchee River</strong></em></div><br /><strong><em></em></strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBHmqKUX2jSUYRfNSiQDctm9Ah9mab9kTBnrONrXanXrm6NQsANQIGH4IiDMUeftBuRkbvecurv-Wt82WXKcR8DGWbOxvFuBzlG_rbckqMrHg46_ff6ivpqozUogzybp3Y4wJRXg/s1600-h/SFLE_LoxahatcheeRiver1-745877.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162622553699884802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBHmqKUX2jSUYRfNSiQDctm9Ah9mab9kTBnrONrXanXrm6NQsANQIGH4IiDMUeftBuRkbvecurv-Wt82WXKcR8DGWbOxvFuBzlG_rbckqMrHg46_ff6ivpqozUogzybp3Y4wJRXg/s320/SFLE_LoxahatcheeRiver1-745877.jpg" border="0" /></a> I know this is insignificant, but I was speaking with a snowbird this week. He was complaining about a floater in his vision. I winked at him and said I hoped people wouldn't think he was crazy for swatting air so much. "No they won't" he says, "they'll just think its because of all the mosquitos here in Florida."<br /><br />It felt like he just just another person here to use this State solely for it's warmth and sterile, planned communities. Many of these people that come for the winter are also begging for the portability exemption for their condo taxes. You know what? I think that if you don't even know that there won't be any mosquitos until March, then you don't deserve the tax break given to the locals who put up with the mosquitos in July.<br /><br />Another person I just love is my neighbor that lives two doors down in my condo building. Every January he leaves to go back to Michigan and boards up his windows like he is living in Warsaw during the German bombings. He is kind enough to take them back down when he returns every late December.<br /><br />I feel like my home is a HotelClifford Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07797733527778342382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34926474.post-10091036976350306682008-02-03T00:15:00.000-05:002008-02-03T00:20:31.311-05:00Why Population Figures Matter<div align="left">Infancy's the tender fountain,</div><div align="left">Power may with beauty flow,</div><div align="left">Mother's first to guide the streamlets,</div><div align="left">From them souls unresting grow-- </div><div align="left">Grow on for the good or evil, </div><div align="left">Sunshine streamed or evil hurled; </div><div align="left">For the hand that rocks the cradle </div><div align="left">Is the hand that rules the world. </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">William Ross Wallace</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hand_That_Rocks_the_Cradle_(poem)">full text </a></div>Clifford Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07797733527778342382noreply@blogger.com