I haven’t posted to my personal blog lately, and for good reason. I’ve been armpits deep in several other projects.
I’ve written two more articles for the Homefires blog on the New York Times. In the first article I talk about the difficulties in adapting communication styles from the Marine [...]
My latest article, 10 Proven Test Taking Strategies, is live on Primer. Check it out and leave feedback in the comments.
[...]While I abhor literary ego-stroking, some catching up seems prudent, as much has changed in my life recently. So I shall seek to refrain from boring you, but be warned, this post is all about my boring life. Nothing of value lies within. Enter at your own risk. No refunds [...]
Last Thursday, July 9th 2009, the Showtime series Penn and Teller: Bullshit! took on the subject of video game violence. I was part of the filming of this episode late last year and appear several times throughout. Filming my parts of the episode was great fun, and I think the [...]
Quick background for non-veterans: The Montgomery G.I. Bill is a benefit that subsidizes education costs for veterans. While on active duty service members can elect to pay $1200 one time and in return they receive 36 months of payments towards full-time education after they [...]
I’m getting pretty bored with talk radio. About the only shows I care to listen to anymore are Dale Jackson, Neal Bortz, and Rush. I like Dale because he’s local. Can’t get that news or commentary anywhere else. I like Neal because he’s a libertarian that actually discusses principle with [...]
I can’t believe it. A candidate I supported all the way from the first primary election has actually made it into office. This is truly a great day for liberty. Mr. Sanford remarked about the victory
“It is refreshing to know that voters still care about the issues affecting them and [...]
If you live in Alabama’s 7th senate district, don’t forget to vote to elect a new senator today. I will be voting for Paul Sanford and I encourage you to do the same. Sanford is facing off with Democrat candidate Laura Hall.
[...]Since the Gourmet Beer Law removed the 6% ABV restriction on Alabama beer, here are the top ten beers you’ll want to try that you couldn’t previously buy in Alabama.
10. Rogue Shakespeare Stout
OK, I cheated. At 6% ABV this was already legal in Alabama…but it’s so good I had to [...]
HB373, the Gourmet Beer Bill, has passed the Alabama senate! It is now in the hands of Governor Riley. If he signs the bill then it will become law and remove the archaic 6% ABV restriction placed on Alabama beer. This will open up a new source of revenue to [...]
This morning Governor Riley signed HB373, the Gourmet Beer Bill, amidst incredible constituent support. Estimates indicate the governor’s office received over 3000 phone calls and an undetermined number of emails in support of the bill. After conflicting early reports of the bill’s signing from the governor’s press office, the governor’s [...]
HB373, the Gourmet Beer Bill, has passed the Alabama senate! It is now in the hands of Governor Riley. If he signs the bill then it will become law and remove the archaic 6% ABV restriction placed on Alabama beer. This will open up a new source of revenue to [...]
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Photo by Tyler Pierce
Today the Alabama senate briefly considered the Gourmet Beer Bill, a bill that removes the 6% alcohol by volume restriction placed on beer (and beer only, not hard liquor) sold in Alabama. Alabama is one of the only states left [...]
The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable by Nassim Nicholas Taleb is an interesting perspective that seeks to prove much of what we know (or think we know) is a lie. Perhaps lie isn’t wholly accurate, but rather much of what we know isn’t nearly as certain as [...]
After a long and arduous primary battle and runoff election, Paul Sanford has emerged as the GOP’s nominee to face Democrat Laura Hall for the Alabama Senate District 7 seat vacated by Parker Griffith.
If Mr. Sanford is able to win the general election, it would mark the first time that [...]
Buffalo Wild Wings in Jones Valley will be host to a pep rally for Paul Sanford tonight at 7 PM. The Sanford campaign has also really taken off the gloves and challenged Sam Givhan to a wing-eating contest. Givhan has not yet accepted. A collection will be taken at the [...]
The Alabama Senate District 7 seat vacated by now U.S. Congressman Parker Griffith is still up for grabs. The GOP primary runoff vote is this Tuesday, April 21st. I encourage everyone in District 7 to make a special effort to vote in this race. Voter turnout is usually very low [...]
Today we celebrate tax day, the deadline upon which all some of us owe our non-apportioned taxes that are Constitutionally required to be apportioned. I will spend part of today at my local Tax Day Tea Party in Huntsville. In case you’re unfamiliar, Tax Day Tea Parties are taking place [...]
Corporal Brady Gustafson has been awarded the Navy Cross, the Department of the Navy’s highest award. The Navy Cross is second only to the Medal of Honor. Furthermore, the Marine Corps is sometimes a little conservative (some might say stingy) with awards. For example, the other services award [...]
Photo by Tyler Pierce
On his blog, A Postmodern Orthodoxy, Garrett Smith muses on the nature of individual liberty applied to government and theology—partially in response to my recent post, Random Thoughts. I greatly enjoy Garrett’s blog, and as I pondered his [...]
Photo by Tyler Pierce
I saw Watchmen at the Monaco theater last night. I was not impressed. A meth addict with a crayon and a sticky note could compose a more compelling story while waiting for his batch to cook. If you’re a fan [...]
Today Nate Hagens published a thought provoking piece on The Oil Drum, a blog discussing “energy and our future.” He recounts his days as a fresh MBA graduate when “I don’t know but I will research it and get back to you” was encouraged as a response to questions [...]
From the New York Times:
On Monday, Freddie Mac’s chief executive, David M. Moffett, unexpectedly resigned less than six months after he was recruited by regulators, having chafed at low pay and the burdens of second-guessing by government officials, according to people with knowledge of the situation.
Fannie Mae has also [...]
Picture by Andrew Snavely
My latest article on Primer focuses on New Year’s Resolutions, why I hate them, why they are doomed to failure from the beginning, and how to succeed despite them. Check it out and leave a comment either on Primer or here.
Let’s take a break from stimulus bills and tax dodging cabinet members to unite together in harmony and reflect on the train wreck embedded below. Take a look at this “interview” with Joaquin Phoenix on the David Letterman show and answer me one simple question: WTF?
[...]Brian at Flashpoint always does a great job of soliciting questions and answers from North Alabama local political candidates. I’m not ashamed to say I usually base my voting decision on his email interviews. How else can you objectively compare four different people running for chairman of the [...]
Yesterday evening you might have noticed that the Pamela Furr show wasn’t playing on WVNN in the 5-7 PM slot. A source close to WVNN tells me that she is gone for good. Apparently budget cuts at Cumulus, the corporate owner of WVNN, forced the dismissal of several personnel including [...]
Every day I notice that newspapers read like excerpts from Atlas Shrugged. Published in 1957, Atlas Shrugged is the magnum opus of author Ayn Rand. The book details a world economy that is crippled by a system that values need over production–a system that punishes productivity, burdening the productive with [...]
Nothing breaks the monotony of work like a little competitive exercise. My co-workers that don’t use Crossfit (yet) have been intrigued by the methods that David and I often talk about. All of us have used pullups and pushups to get some exercise while taking a [...]
A New York Times article published last week details new research on the physiological benefits of not being a clean-freak germaphobe. It says that letting kids play in the dirt, play with animals, and even not wash their hands before eating can be beneficial when used with common sense. [...]
I have to point everyone to this excellent article at Reason Online. It’s a fictional letter from Michael Phelps to the world, detailing what he should have said.
[...]For the second straight year the Super Bowl was a nailbiter. I didn’t have a stake in either team, but I had somewhat hoped to see the Cardinals rise to the occasion since they have so rarely earned a trip to the Super Bowl. #92 James Harrison’s 100 yard interception [...]
You may have heard by now that it costs more than a penny to produce a penny. It’s true. It also costs more than a nickel to produce a nickel. 2005 was the last year that the U.S. Mint turned a profit on either the penny or the nickel. The [...]
I’ve been in the market for about a month to replace my 6+ year old Pentium 4 2.0 GHz computer with something that can open iTunes in less than 10 seconds. About a year ago I added a dedicated computer for my wife in our office for her to work [...]
Today I offer my sincere congratulations and respect to President Obama. I did not support his candidacy for president, but I will support him as president. However, just as I did with President Bush, I plan to criticize President Obama every time he trades our liberty for security or the [...]
I consistently read Paul Krugman’s column in the New York Times. Each week I am astounded that such an educated and accomplished economist can actually believe the things he professes. Mr. Krugman endorses Keynesian economic principles, namely that of huge government deficit spending. I am not putting words in [...]
This month the Crossfit Journal reports on Amie Taylor, a 9th grade algebra teacher in Arlington, Texas. In a rather unorthodox way, Amie applies fitness methodology to her classroom instruction. Amie uses Crossfit, a set of fitness principles that utilize [...]
It is absolutely upsetting and slightly frightening that President Bush recently approved a bailout backage for the auto industy after the senate voted down that same measure. This shows a blatant disregard for the will of the people above and beyond the already shaky status quo. Senator Richard Shelby correctly [...]
This news story sounds a little fishy:
HUNTSVILLE, ALA. - Police are investigating a home invasion that occurred early this morning. Officers were called to [address] between 2:15 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. [Joe] told police he answered a knock at his door and two men shoved him to the ground. The [...]
I’m currently reading Alan Greenspan’s book Age of Turbulence. One idea he explores at length is the necessity of property rights in a free market economy. He rightly points out that the backbone of the American economy is a trust between buyers and sellers that buyers will pay and [...]
I have a new article on Primer this week: 5 Easy to Remember Math Tricks That You Can’t Live Without. Check it out and leave feedback in the comments (on either site).
[...]While this information is a little old, I suppose it’s better late than never. Brian at Flashpoint recently posted a transcript of his response from Senator Richard Shelby about the financial bailout. Below are the responses I received from Representative Bud Cramer and Senator Jeff Sessions. While I am [...]
The week prior to November 4th I listened to many conservative talk radio commentators utterly lablast the accuracy of polls that showed a resounding Obama victory coming on November 4th. On Monday November 3rd I listened to a local commentator tell a caller, “None of them are accurate. None of [...]
I am participating in a project with purplestates.tv that interviews one blogger from each state for fifty consecutive days. The interview takes the form of a video recording my answers to several questions. The video is now live here. The 2.5 minutes is compiled from many minutes of [...]
Today I’ve heard plenty of the usual rhetoric about those like myself who did not vote for either John McCain or Barack Obama, but chose a different candidate. Without exception the comments have been condescending and greatly lacking in logic. Here are the usual arguments and their logical flaws:
1. A [...]
I’m very interested in the American political process. I like to read/watch/participate in politics if for no other reason than mental exercise. That being the case, I will take this opportunity to opine on several facets of this presidential race that have caught my attention, aggravated, amused, or puzzled me.
1. [...]
This is the best SNL political skit I’ve seen since Will Ferrell coined the term “strategery” while playing President Bush. Is Sarah Palin the first VP nominee to raise the roof on national TV?
Terry Manning from The Montgomery Advertiser recently interviewed Alabama political bloggers on a variety of topics. My blog was among those contacted, and I’m proud to be featured among such local political blogs as Brian LeCompte’s Flashpoint and Dale Jackson’s The Attack Machine. The article can be found [...]
