Better Ideas In Education

“Public education has seen little change in the past several decades, despite diminishing results. In these excerpts from his documentary, “Stupid In America'” John Stossel explores some better ideas.”


John Stossel – Better Ideas In Education

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Disney Cruise

My mom treated us (Amber, me, Bryson, Brandon, and Shaun) to a Disney cruise vacation last week. It was my first experience with a cruise and I amazed at how well planned these trips are. There were always lots of activities to see, do, and taste!

 We all spent time in our room laying in the circular window.  What a view!

 The first evening at dinner Bryson fell asleep. We had all been up since 4am.

 On the second day, the ship stopped at Nassau, and we to the Atlantis resort.  We took a tour of their impressive aquarium.

 On the plate in front of me are snails.  They were tasty.

 Bryson thought I was going to drop him off the edge into the ocean, so we didn’t get a very good picture. I don’t know why he though his own daddy would do something like that to him.

One of the funniest things I’ve seen in a while was the baby races.  You had to be there, but trust me, it was funny.

 The ship was equipped with interactive pictures that responded to special cards to be held up to them.  Bryson and Shuan went around and ‘solved the mystery’.

 Disney characters were everywhere.  The kids collected their autographs and we snapped some great photos.

  And if you order ‘nothing’ for dessert, this is what you get.

 Our last stop was Disney’s private island Castaway Cay.  We spent time on the beach, touring the island via bicycle, snorkling, and playing with stingrays.  These rays were very docile and were trained to eat our of your hand.

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Information on Changing to CFL Bulbs

Paul Wheaton has produced an excellent (and entertaining) video on his research comparing CFL and traditional light bulbs.  Check it out:


not so free light bulbs – farmer laboratory

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Paul Wheaton Permaculture

Here is a nice article featured on the front page of Montana’s largest weekly newspaper. It is about Paul Wheaton, who is on my short list of heroes. It explains how Paul got started in Permaculture because he sucked so bad at gardening.

“I used to explain permaculture with the story of the Sahara,” Wheaton says. “The Sahara used to be jungle and savannah. Then people learned about this new, hip thing. … It’s called agriculture. And you just pull the seeds out of your food and stick them in the ground right next to your house and then, boing! The food leaps out of the ground. And that’s so much closer than walking out to the woods.”

But, in time, the cleared soil loses nutrients. So they cut down more trees. “And then the rain doesn’t fall as much. And what the hell? It was falling great last year. Why isn’t it falling great this year? And the rain falls less and less and less, and then—desertification. And permaculture is the reversal of that.”

http://missoulanews.bigskypress.com/gyrobase/grow-wild/Content?oid=1669018

My favorite quote:  “Weeds: Because Mother Nature is Not Your Bitch”

 

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Harry Reid Preached We Should Audit the Fed in 1995

Listen to Harry Reid pour on and on about how we need to audit the Federal Reserve and how destructive the Fed is by controlling the money and causing the biggest unfunded mandate ever known. This video is from Jan 1995. RELEVANCE: In July 2012 the very same Harry Reid is saying he will not allow a vote on the Audit the Fed legislation, which just overwhelmingly passed in the House. He is effectively squashing the effort. Our legislators are bought and paid for and do NOT have the public’s best interest at heart.


Harry Reid: “I think we should audit the Federal Reserve”

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Keynesian Economics vs. Austrian Economics

It is no wonder almost all politicians and statists support Keynesian economics. It gives them a reason to interfere and control markets, which proves their existence is needed. The folks that follow the Austrian school saw all of this disaster coming (heads-up, there is more to come). We would be wise to start listening to the ones who get it right instead of the ones who are wrong.


Keynesian Economics vs. Austrian Economics

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Militarization of Police and War on Drugs

My favorite brain food is Dan Carlin’s Common Sense podcast. His last episode “Show 232 – Fearsome Safety” was excellent. He covers a couple of  complicated and emotional topics: Militarization of Police and War on Drugs. In cases where I’ve talked about these issues with non-libertarians before, it has led to an all-out hostile and emotional argument. Dan is much more skilled at explaining concepts than I am, so maybe his approach is more effective at getting people to open up their minds and think about these things. I hope so. See what you think: http://www.dancarlin.com/disp.php/csarchive/Show-232—Fearsome-Safety/police-security-safety

Spoiler alert:  Dan comes to the conclusion that laws MUST be based on nature (of man).  If not, they will NOT work!  (and I agree with that)

 

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The Constitutional View of Gun Crime

This video is from the testimony of Suzanna Gratia Hupp, who survived the Luby’s Massacre in Killeen Texas in 1991. This is a ‘must view’ video! Both of Hupp’s parents were murdered in the event, and she retells the story of being unable to defend herself because she left her gun in her vehicle because she feared receiving a felony if she was caught. She correctly explains the proper meaning of gun rights and the correct context of the second amendment.


Gun Control – A victims perspective!!!

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Social Security is Generational Theft

Social Security is a Ponzi scheme. It is immoral. Are we going to keep kicking the can down the road?


John Stossel – Generational Theft

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Crony Capitalism & Government Regulation

Another great video from LearnLiberty goes into the relationship between big corporations and government regulations. I’d especially like for folks who are sympathetic to the occupy movement watch this!


How Cronyism is Hurting the Economy

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