545 vs. 300,000,000 People
-By Charlie Reese
Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them.
Have you ever wondered, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, WHY do we have deficits?
Have you ever wondered, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes?
You and I don't propose a federal budget. The President does.
You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does.
You and I don't write the tax code, Congress does.
You and I don't set fiscal policy, Congress does.
You and I don't control monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bank does.
One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one President, and nine Supreme Court justices equates to 545 human beings out of the 300 million are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.
I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered, but private, central bank.
I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman, or a President to do one cotton-picking thing. I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator's responsibility to determine how he votes.
Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party.
What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker, who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits.. ( The President can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it.)
The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes. Who is the speaker of the House?( John Boehner. He is the leader of the majority party. He and fellow House members, not the President, can approve any budget they want. ) If the President vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to. [The House has passed a budget but the Senate has not approved a budget in over three years. The President's proposed budgets have gotten almost unanimous rejections in the Senate in that time. ]
It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million cannot replace 545 people who stand convicted -- by present facts -- of incompetence and irresponsibility. I can't think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people. When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.
If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair.
If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red.
If the Army & Marines are in Iraq and Afghanistan it's because they want them in Iraq and Afghanistan ..
If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement plan not available to the people, it's because they want it that way.
There are no insoluble government problems.
Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power.
Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like "the economy," "inflation," or "politics" that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.
Those 545 people, and they alone, are responsible. They, and they alone, have the power.
They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses. Provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees... We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess!
Charlie Reese is a former columnist of the Orlando Sentinel Newspaper.
What you do with this article now that you have read it... is up to you.
This might be funny if it weren't so true.
Be sure to read all the way to the end:
Tax his land,
Tax his bed,
Tax the table,
At which he's fed.
Tax his tractor,
Tax his mule,
Teach him taxes
Are the rule.
Tax his work,
Tax his pay,
He works for
peanuts anyway!
Tax his cow,
Tax his goat,
Tax his pants,
Tax his coat.
Tax his ties,
Tax his shirt,
Tax his work,
Tax his dirt.
Tax his tobacco,
Tax his drink,
Tax him if he
Tries to think.
Tax his cigars,
Tax his beers,
If he cries
Tax his tears.
Tax his car,
Tax his gas,
Find other ways
To tax his ass.
Tax all he has
Then let him know
That you won't be done
Till he has no dough.
When he screams and hollers;
Then tax him some more,
Tax him till
He's good and sore.
Then tax his coffin,
Tax his grave,
Tax the sod in
Which he's laid...
Put these words
Upon his tomb,
'Taxes drove me
to my doom...'
When he's gone,
Do not relax,
Its time to apply
The inheritance tax.
Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL license Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Excise Taxes
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Permit Tax
Gasoline Tax (currently 44.75 cents per gallon)
Gross Receipts Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)
Liquor Tax
Luxury Taxes
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Personal Property Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Service Charge Tax
Social Security Tax
Road Usage Tax
Recreational Vehicle Tax
Sales Tax
School Tax
State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone Federal Excise Tax
Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax
Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Taxes
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
Telephone Recurring and Nonrecurring Charges Tax
Telephone State and Local Tax
Telephone Usage Charge Tax
Utility Taxes
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft Registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax
STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY?
Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago, & our nation was the most prosperous in the world. We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.
on the road
Monday, February 04, 2013
Tuesday, January 08, 2013
When your ready for some facts start digging and quit reacting to what you see and subscribe to on T.V:
http://youtu.be/Ooa98FHuaU0
http://youtu.be/Ooa98FHuaU0
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Friday, June 01, 2012
Marty Sullivan's Kayakers Newsletter #61
Number 61 Newsletter
Topics:
Items of Interest: Outings by "Adventures in Florida," FPTA and "Paddle Florida"
Events and Races: Note the North Carolina Challenge in September, and see SUP races listed in “2012 EAST COAST RACE SCHEDULE.”
Articles: Why a Tippy Boat?
Important note: If you know of events and races, email me the info so I can share it with others!
Marty Sullivan
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ITEMS OF INTEREST:
Greg Pflug's "Adventures in Florida" leads trips in Bahamas, Botswana, Viet Nam and other countries, as well as Utah, Missouri, and of course Florida. These trips are more adventurous and daring than the usual paddling trips, augmented by Greg's culinary skills. Check out his web site athttp://www.adventuresinfloridacom/.
The Florida Paddling Trail Association (FPTA) schedules day trips on its calendar, seehttp://floridapaddlingtrails.com/calendar.asp?caldate=20120601. In June there are upcoming trips on Ocklawaha River, Indian Key in the Florida Keys, Rock Springs Run, Withlacoochee River, and Rainbow River.
"Paddle Florida" offers multi-day camping trips on the Suwannne River, Withlacoochee River, the Keys and other waterways. See http://paddleflorida.org/,
EVENTS AND RACES:
Florida Competition Paddlers Events (usually 10-12 mile course and 4-5 mile course in protected waters):
> June 2, 2012, Wascissa River Race, Tallahassee, FL, Contact George Blakely, 850-385-4974,gblakely@fsu.edu
> June 9-10, 2012, Sunshine State Games, sprint and marathon races. see www.flasports.com. Contact John Edwards, 727-459-6366, canoechamp@aol.com
> July 1, 2012, Mere Mortals Race, Suwannee River State Park, Live Oak, FL, Contact Larry/Glenda Frederick, lf6978@yahoo.com, 352-495-9846
> Sept 8, 2012, St. John's River Paddle Battle, Blue Spring State Park, Orange City, FL. 4 and 10 miles. Contact Marty Sullivan, 407-484-0112, jsullivan2@cfl.rr.com.
> Sept 22, 2012, Puffer Fish Race, Tarpon Springs, FL. Contact Cindy/Karl Vogel, 727-938-7685
> Jan 20, 2013, Estero River Race, Estero, FL (Ft. Myers Beach). Contact Paula, 239-992-4050,erol@aol.com
National Trails Day Event, June 2, Saturday, Islamorada, Florida Keys. Celebrate Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail with a "pedal" and/or a "paddle!" Meet Mark Terrill for a bicycle ride and historical tour at the Hurricane Monument at MM 81, Matecumbe Key. Then meet Monica Woll st 1 p.m. for a celebratory paddle at MM 78.5 to paddle out to Indian Key. Bring your own gear, including helmet for biking and/or life jacket for paddling. Contact Monica for more info, 305-853-3571 or 305-360-0846.
Back to the Chattahoochee Race and Festival Atlanta Ga. June 9 Sat 8 & 10 Mile All Classes. Contact: Tammy Bates 404-352-9828 tbates@ucriverkeeper.org www.chattahoochee.org
The Outdoors Inc. 31st Annual Canoe & Kayak Race, Missippi River, Memphis Riverfront, Memphis, TN, June 16, 2012. $15,000 cash and prizes. 3.1 miles. Seehttp://www.outdoorsinccom/pages/canoe-race. Huge turnout, lots of top-notch paddlers. For more information contact Joe Royer, 901-767-6790 or JoeRoyer@OutdoorsInc.com.
Dawson County Jaycees Canoe & Kayak Race, Dawsonville Ga. August 4 Sat, 8 Miles All Classes Contact: David McKee 770-401-1122 dmckee@dawsoncounty.org
Savannah Paddlefest Augusta , Ga. Aug. 25 Sat. 8.5 Miles All Classes Contact: Andy Weed 706-826-8991 aweed@savannahriverkeeperorg www.savannahriverkeeper.org
North Carolina Challenge, September 28, 2012, Cedar Island, NC. A 100-mile event in coastal waters of North Carolina. The NCC is run as an unsupported, expedition-style adventure races for kayaks, canoes and small boats. Your safety and well being are completely up to you. You should be an expert kayaker and/or sailor before you consider this challenge. Although this event is not an ocean race, the location is coastal, subject to the same weather patterns and conditions one finds beyond the narrow barrier islands and impacting the shallow sounds. For more info seehttp://watertribe.org/nc-challenge/
Miami Kayak Challenge on Biscayne Bay, Miami ,FL Sept. 30 Sun., All paddlecraft. Fund raiser Cystic Fibrosis. 3, 6 & 12 mile courses Event info: www.miamipaddlechallenge.com www.adventuresportsmiami.com. Contact: Sue, tvpeople@ymail.com (305) 978-2233 OR Jose jpinera@cff.org www.meetup.com/miami-kayak-club
River Rocks Race Chattanooga Tenn. October 6 Sat, 3 & 6 Miles All Classes Contact: Daniel Miller 423-756-7756 DEMillerco@yahoo.com
Suwannee Race Challenge & Marathon White Springs FL Oct. 13-14 Sat/Sun 26 & 52 Miles All Classes Contact: Rod Price 407-227-5606 rodbprice@hotmail.com www.aca1.com
ONGOING: 2011 West Coast Offshore Series for Surfskis, Outriggers and Paddleboardshttp://clearwatercanoeclub.com. All races $5 per person. Sand Key Sailing Center, Clearwater, FL
2012 EAST COAST RACE SCHEDULE
(NOTE: PD = Paddleboard, SUP = stand-up paddleboard, SK=surfski OR=outrigger)
2-Jun "Paddle for Humanity" PD, SUPs, SK, OC-1s, dories Deerfield Beach, FL www.paddleforhumanity.org
3-Jun Surf Swap Challenge SUPs Ocean City, MD dawnehman@yahoo.com
9-Jun Surfguys SUP Race SUPs Melbourne Bch www.surfguyssurf.com/sup-race.html
9-Jun 2nd Annual Panacea Paddle SUPs Carolina Bch, NC www.panaceaadventures.org
16-17 Jun Space Coast Paddle Blast PD, SUPs Cocoa Beach, FL eastcoastpaddleboard@yahoo.com
23-Jun 3rd Annual Onslow Bay Challenge PD, SUPs, SK, OC-1s, 2s, 6s, SK, dories Topsail, NC sidearmsurfskate@gmail.com
30-Jun Pink Paddle (Breast Cancer Awareness) PD, SUPs Ponce Inlet, FL mosurf@mindspring.com
7-Jul East Coast Paddle Board / SUP Champs * PD, SUPs, SK, OR Ponce Inlet, FL mosurf@mindspring.com
7-Jul Shem Creek Shootout SUPs, surfskis, OC-1s Mt Pleasant, SC dcliff1@comcast.net
14-Jul St Pete Splash SUPs, surfskis, OC-1s St Pete Beach, FL http://supsplashrace.com/st-pete/
28-Jul Annapolis SUP Race SUPs Annapolis, MD www.supannapolis.com
4-6 Aug USLA Lifeguard National Championships USLA specific Cape May, NJ www.usla.org
17-Aug "Paddle for Humanity" PD, SUPs, SK, OC-1s, dories Washington, DC www.paddleforhumanity.org
8-Sep Battle on the Bay SUPs Ocean City, MD dawnehman@yahoo.com
5-7 Oct Clash at the Passes Paddleboards, SUPs, SK, OC-1s, SK, dories Palm Island Fl Marc@h2soul.com
6-Oct Sandbridge Hei Hei SUP Surf/Slalom Open Ocean Race Virginia Beach, VA supalohamovement.com
20-Oct Golden Isle Paddleboard Classic SUPs St. Simons Is, GA www.goldenislessup.com
27-Oct Causeway to Causeway Challenge PD, SUPs, SK, OC-1s, 2s , 6s, dories Cocoa Beach, FL www.cocoabeachsurfmuseum.org
3-4 Nov Calusa Classic PD, SUPs, SK, OR, kayaks Lee County, FL www.calusabluewaypaddlingfestival.com
4-Nov 3rd Annual Golden Nugget SUP 5K and 10K – Shem Creek /Charleston Harbor Mt Pleasant, SC mtpleasant@halfmoonoutfitters.com
WHY A TIPPY BOAT?
by Marty Sullivan
Because with some time in the boat it'll feel more comfortable and you'll be more rested at the end of a long day of paddling. The kayaks you would normally buy from Current Designs, Wilderness Systems, etc. are quite stable and easy to keep upright. Race boats are difficult to keep upright but there's a big advantage -- efficiency that results in more speed.
Stability comes with the burden of lower efficiency, and less efficiency means more effort to go the same distance. So, there's a tradeoff between efficiency and stability. More drag is caused by more contact with the water. A wider, flatter bottom gives more stability but requires more surface area in contact with the water. The most efficient shape, least area, is a semicircle. But it's also the most unstable. A rowing shell has this round shape for the hull cross-section and has zero stability with minimum wetted surface.
In analyzing wetted surface versus drag, I utilized Matt Broze's calculation spreadsheet (http://www.marinerkayaks.com/mkhtml/downloads.htm) and compared drag for 13 kayaks with lengths of 15.4 to 15.8 feet (waterline length). Wetted surface for these kayaks ranged from 21.5 to 25.1 square feet, and frictional drag varied from 2.4 to 2.8 pounds. I ignored hydrodynamic drag since I looked at drag at a speed of 3.5 knots (4.0 mph), at which speed hydrodynamic drag is small and about the same for all these boats. (Hydrodynamic drag is a whole other animal and tends to become significant at speeds over 4.5 knots.)
The results of my analysis were, at 3.5 knots (4 mph), there is approximately 0.1 pound additional drag for each additional square foot of wetted surface area. This is about a 4 percent drag increase per square foot of area, and a total drag variation across these 13 kayaks of about 16 percent All of these kayaks are pretty stable and are designed to serve the recreational to intermediate paddler. Power output to drive these boats at 3.5 knots varies from 20.7 to 23.9 watts. To go 5 knots (5.8 mph) it takes about 90 watts of power with these analyzed boats.
The average beam of these boats (at the waterline) was 22.7 inches. However, to have the optimal shape and minimize wetted surface, that is a semicircle, the beam would need to be about half that, or about 11 1/2 inches. How would you feel in a boat with 11.5-inch beam? So, a compromise is needed between efficiency and comfort for all us "regular" paddlers.
There's an additional advantage to rounded-bottom boats in choppy seas A flat-bottom boat tends to lurch side-to-side in a beam chop since it wants to keep the bottom level with the choppy water. A boat with a more rounded bottom tends to let the chop ride under the boat without tipping it side to side. The rounded bottom makes for more predictable handling in rough seas. and predictable handling is a huge advantage when seas get lumpy.
My advice, if you're interested in efficiency, is to get a boat that feels somewhat on the tippy side. With some time in the boat, it'll feel comfortable and you'll be much more rested at the end of a long day of paddling. Download the Broze spreadsheet and see if the boat you're interested in is listed. Also, check Sea Kayaker magazine to see if it has been analyzed since the magazine uses this spreadsheet to calculate drag.
Monday, May 28, 2012
A person very special to me turned me on to this wonderful "tofu" mousse. Its awesome with everything!
Bittersweet Chocolate-Banana Mousse
-3/4 to 1cup semisweet chocolate chips
-1 12oz box silken tofu (soft)
-2 large ripe bananas
-1 teaspoon vanilla extract
-2 to 3 tablespoons light brown sugar
-1/4 teaspoon salt
-1 teaspoon raspberry vinegar
Melt the chocolate
Puree all the other ingredients together, gradually adding in all of the banana
Add chocolate to blender and puree until very smooth, chill, and enjoy!
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Asian Slaw
Recipe courtesy Alton Brown
Ingredients
1 (3-inch) piece ginger, grated fine
1/2 cup rice wine vinegar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 lime, juiced
2 tablespoons sesame oil
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 head Napa cabbage, sliced thin
1 red bell pepper, julienne fine
1 yellow bell pepper, julienne fine
2 serrano chiles, minced fine
1 large carrot, grated fine with a peeler
3 green onions, cut on the bias, all of white part and half of the green
2 tablespoons chiffonade cilantro
2 tablespoons chiffonade mint
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Directions
In a small bowl, or food processor combine ginger, vinegar, soy sauce, lime juice, oil, and peanut butter. In a large bowl, combine all
other ingredients and then toss with dressing. You can save some of the dressing to dress noodles that can be added to this dish
along with stir fried pork to make an entire meal.
Friday, April 13, 2012
Thursday, April 12, 2012
| Last nights camp on Long Cay |
| Spencer Quong preparing cracked lobster |
| Gail loving life |
| Yet another reason to love the Exumas |
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