rant-and-rave

WTF... Water Bottle Recycling

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 22:58:15 +0100

Water bottles…what’s the deal with water bottles? I happen to notice the other day that I was throwing away a lot of water bottles. So I thought to myself why are these bottles not recycled especially since the explosive growth of bottled water over the last 10 years or so.

Now first off I live in Michigan where we have a ten cent refund on carbonated soda, beer, and I know some energy drinks. So my question is why is it that water bottles get no love? The plastic is the same as the plastic in a soda bottle. The processing of them shouldn’t be any different. In fact the only difference would be that the automatic bottle return machines would have to have the software updated to handle the new UPC codes for the bar code scanners.

I just don’t seem to understand the logic in having soda bottles refundable and not water bottles. Now I’m sure in 1978 when the law was enacted that the bottled water industry was not as prevalent as it is today. As a kid growing up in the 1980’s the only bottled water I can remember was Perrier®.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not some tree-hugging liberal who cries myself to sleep every night over the destruction of Mother Earth. But this does just seem to me to be good common sense to me. Plus think of the oil that would be saved to produce new ones. I’m sure we’ll feel some of that savings at the pump.

Tell me what you think about this issue and whether you think my logic is fuzzy or not. If you stand with me then please make a donation (in the form of bottle deposit refund slips) to support me in this fight to reduce needless waste.

Thank you,

Bryan Danielson

One Nation Under Me

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 01:11:37 +0100

One Nation, Under Me

I pledge allegiance to the flag, and to the one nation under me…

My nation, the one I would like to start would clearly be a grandiose utopia for the likes of me, as I would be happy one day to see my nation bloom. In my nation, being started in current day, I will have hindsight of previous mistakes that have been perpetrated throughout history. There would be room for all different peoples to become citizens, however, there would be a tough entrance policy, and full assimilation would be required. In my nation there would be a few ideologies that would be not accepted. Issues that would be idolized in my nation: the abolishment of religion, the removal of political party systems, the KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) method, checks and balances, and the removal of welfare-state mentality. There would be a, “If you don’t work, you don’t eat,” rational behind these polices. In my nation, there would be plenty for those who want to participate, and nothing for those who don’t. All rights would only apply to citizens of my nation.

Education would be a mandated for everyone until the age of 25. School years would consist of 365 days a year except holidays. Curriculum would be determined later in detail, but would encourage free thinking, independent thought and the KISS method. This would also include practical real-world knowledge. Schooling would be free and open to everyone.

Government will be transparent to everyone. The old-world thoughts on a representative democracy government would be one of the keystones to my nation, once again, along with the KISS methodology. Candidates for elected office would serve the designated constituents needs. They will vote based off what the people in their district want. Political parties would be banned and the Electoral College system. Candidates would work solely on the issues and not on a political street gang mentality. The government shall stay fluid with the times with the exception of its core beliefs. All citizens will be required to vote, this would be based behind the train of thought of, “If you don’t vote you don’t count.” The penalty for such disregard, would include, but not be limited to fines, imprisonment, and deportation. Majority rule will be the standard.

Justice shall stay blind and simple in practice and beliefs. It also will be fluid with the times. The court system shall be based off the U.S.A. style of a justice system. There would be the local courts, the appellate courts, and the Supreme Court of the land. Courts will not be allowed to dictate public policy with the exception of ruling on issues of constitutionality. Lawsuits must be based on some form of merit or the suit bringer will be penalized, by steep fines and/or imprisonment. Law enforcement will be granted certain latitudes, but will not place itself above the law. Firearms shall be allowed to citizens with full civil rights. Checks and balances will be in place to enforce such policies. Death penalty will be constituted and open to discussion for public or private viewing based on the citizens’ majority rule. Those that are deemed redeemable shall have the chance to have a full restoration of their civil rights.

Taxes will be simplified and regulated as a flat income tax based system. Everyone will have to pay the same percentage point as everyone else, regardless of wealth. Along with income tax there would also be sales tax on goods and services.

Other rights afforded to the people will be the following. Helmets will be optional for motorcycle riders, except passengers. Seatbelts will be optional for drivers of their own personal vehicle, but not for a person driving someone else’s vehicle and all passengers must wear seatbelts regardless of whose vehicle. Suicide and attempted suicide will be legal. Assisted suicide will be legal, and must be performed by a trained and licensed individual. Abortion shall be legal. Birthing privileges shall be mitigated by and doled out by the appropriate institutions. Population control policies will be strictly enforced. Health care shall be open and free to all citizens. Organ donation shall be mandatory upon death. English will be the official language.

First off, I should say that I love the U.S.A, and I would like to see these theories enacted here first. If these laws or rights couldn’t happen here, and I had a chance to start my own nation, then these are the rules I would constitute. Now my nation would quite obviously not be for everyone, which is why this is called “My Nation”. These rights and privileges are what I hold to be true to my conscience being. I make no bones about these beliefs and believe it is better to wear them on my sleeve than to hide them and have a hidden agenda. Or in the words of Malcolm X, “I have more respect for a man who lets me know where he stands, even if he’s wrong then the one who comes up like an angel and is nothing but a devil.” This quote has become one of the basis’s for which I guide my life. I may be seen as abrasive, confrontational, controversial, and ignorant, but I will not bend my beliefs to goose-step behind someone else. Nor will I hide any longer in the shadows to appease the thin-skinned masses. For my word needs to spoken, or at the very least to plant the seed of free thinking. My beliefs may never flourish, certainly within my lifetime, and some may try to stop me, but I must press on for what I feel is a just and virtuous lifestyle.

I welcome open, intelligent, reason-fueled debate about my beliefs, but it’s difficult to find anyone to accomplish this with. These people are few and far between. Most people would rather call me a dirty word and walk away. I suspect this is because of a lack of knowledge on the issues, because that person is just blindly following behind propaganda or rhetoric. The other reason is probably out of frustration because of a lack of communication skills. The “No, I’m not. You are,” defense. It makes it hard to argue with people like that. They tend to drag someone down to their level and beat him/her with experience. This makes for a challenge to cultivate an argument tailored just for these types of people. But, tailor it I must in order to communicate my message to everyone, for alienating someone is a sure-fire way to create an enemy.

Consequences of my beliefs are difficult for me to ferment. Due to the simple fact that these are my beliefs, but in order to better understand my rationale I have to take an outsider’s view of these beliefs. Some of the consequences to my beliefs that I’m cognizant of are creating a hatred toward me or people who may hold some or all of my truths. This is certainly not my intent. Other negativity towards me consists of fear, either for me or from me, once again not the intended effect that I’m trying to display. Another effect, and this could just be my paranoia, is to be flagged or monitored by the government. I suppose this is a possibility, but not a very probable one. Maybe I read 1984 by George Orwell too much, and feel some form of totalitarianism rearing its ugly head. (Orwell) These derivatives are far from what I intended. I am just hoping to increase awareness, challenge the norms, produce independence, eliminate simpletons, and create the informed. Once I have done this, then I believe my beliefs will follow as a by-product to the thinking class. But, until then, I feel I must keep my word in the forefront to awaken the great majority to stand-up and think for themselves.

So how do I go about spreading my gospel? A question I ask myself often. Am I the right purveyor of this message? Is it the right time to spread these points? Or is it that since it’s not the right time, which makes it the right time? These are all good questions for which I have no answers to. I also don’t feel that I’m the best champion for these ideas; for I feel I’m not a king, but better a kingmaker. Who would best convey this message? When is the right time? So, where do I find the answers to these questions? I know enough that these questions could best be answered by someone with a more worldly and/or political knowledge than I have. So, who do I ask these questions to? Who, of great intellectual stature, would lease their time and entertain the notion of listening to me? How would I go about asking these questions? How do I frame the questions in order to maximize the responses? Are my ideas really that radical, or is there some conservative underpinnings in society that stamp into our consciousness that make such subjects taboo? At times, it feels like I have more questions than answers.

My notion of my own nation is at times just an illusion of grandeur. What it does do, though, is to help me express my ideas, beliefs, and thoughts into an easily expressible form. That also helps to avoid confrontation, because in a sense, I’m posing a hypothetical. This is the type of behavior I need to stop conducting because it helps no one and serves no purpose. I need to stand stronger in my beliefs and not fear the conflict that may result from it. I need to remember that I can beat most opposition if I stay strong in my convictions. These subjects need to be spoken about, and the awareness level needs to be raised. These thoughts need to be discussed and debated, without the cloudiness in judgment that religion and politics burden our souls with; also without misconceptions, prejudgments, or assumptions, because if we free our minds, the rest will follow.

With all of this information that I have laid out there, I now ask people to think hard about the issues I have placed upon them. And if people find my knowledge to be true, I ask them, please be a citizen of my nation.

Social Networking is a Scourge

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 16:32:32 +0100

http://www.freep.com/article/20100228/NEWS06/2280505/1322/Homeowners-to-find-tax-bill-cuts-easy/Web-site-opens-the-door-to-break-ins.com

Ok, so I’m reading an article this morning about social networking and how someone came up with a website called www.pleaserobme.com and it amazes me how people think this is going too far. It seems also that people think that just cause are world is increasingly digital, that old world crime won’t happen to them.

Wake-up people! Thieves aren’t just breaking into your Ebay account, there still throwing a brick through your sliding glass window, to steal the very computer you used to tell everyone online about how they stole your Ebay Account. Our world may seem purely digital, but crime isn’t…yet. Security is relative, subjective and sometimes seems philosophical. When it comes to thievery the old saying really applies “when there’s a will, there’s a way”. Some of you reading this might be thinking that this kind of attitude means that we should all just give up…wrong. Security is like the old adage of out running a bear. I don’t have to out run the bear; I just have to out run you. Security is the same way, I don’t have to out secure the robber, I just have to out secure you. The criminal will take the path of least resistance.

This takes me to another issue, about how social networking is a scourge on our digital society. I believe that the really root of the problem lies in the inappropriate use of these social networking sites by people who didn’t have any social skills to begin with. Plus who don’t know how to use the technology and/or media to begin with also. If your divorce proceedings mattered that much to me I would ask you about it! Plus I don’t need a status update about how angry you are for having to wait for three hours at the DMV to get your plates renewed. I could care less! Also if you’re really that interested in my life, then why don’t you call, or call me back when I call.

Being an independent, antisocial, loner, with loose family ties and out of the loop when it comes to family gossip (which social networking is actual good for) means I have no use for it currently in any way, shape, or form. Because gossip, rumor, and insinuation don’t interest me very much, they serve no useful propose.

These are just some of the reasons among many that have kept me from these sites.

Stay Educated,

Bryan Danielson

Capturing my own narcissism

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:07:32 +0100

I never realized something about myself till just today; what petty forms narcissism can come in. I was looking at my web page today and I noticed that I went straight to the web counter and all of a sudden it hit me how vane I am. Now I could argue that in the world of pettiness this is somewhat of a non-issue.

Though it wasn’t so much the bee-line to the end of the website that I noticed, but the other thoughts that started running through my head. Like, who’s visiting my site? What do they think of my site? Is it just 3-4 people who have visited 28 times? (28 is the current count at time of publication)

So this got me wondering just how narcissistic I am. I like to think that I am not to wrapped up in vanity; that I’m pretty well grounded. Then I think of another question, is a little bit egotism really a bad thing. Roe example like alcohol, a little bit ever so often is good for the liver, but a lot is bad since alcohol is a poison. This is why the symptoms of a drunk are the same as someone who just taken cyanide.

But let’s digress back to the central topic. I do also find that it’s kind of therapeutic to now that people care enough to at the very least type in a URL for you.

So in that sense I will keep it up and use it to feed my self-importance, because my website is the best. (Wink wink, nod nod)

Property Seizures

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:05:25 +0100

http://www.detnews.com/article/20091113/METRO/911130372/1409/METRO

I read a story today in The Detroit News by two staff writers (link to story above) about how the Wayne County Prosecutors office is seizing people’s property, and not charging them with a crime. Also law enforcement openly admits in some cases that the people did nothing remotely illegal. Yet they seized their vehicles anyway, at a cost of $900 the first time and $900 additional each subsequent time, plus towing and storage fees.

Now Wayne County says that it has the right under two state statutes, MCL 600.3801, and MCL 333.7521 (MCL=Michigan Compiled Laws, same as Ohio Revised Code=ORC). The way I read the law states that MCL 600.3801 is specifically targeting prostitution, and is a nuisance abatement case. It also says that “Nuisance abatement cases are civil actions that are brought to halt a nuisance for the ‘public good’.” The keyword in this statement is that it is a “civil action”, which speaks to me that law enforcement has no place in being involved. MCL 333.7521 only has to do with monies involved with items subject to forfeiture, and has no real bearing in this matter.

One critic of this practice believes that this is just state sponsored extortion. I have to concur with this belief. I have a hard time seeing Wayne County’s justification behind these seizures when no charges are filed or arrest made. Especially in light of such blatant misuse of the law, it’s almost criminal. In fact it is in some states, Ohio for example, police cannot take property from you without charging you for it, so as to be used as evidence against you. If they do take your property without charging you, then it’s called theft.

I find this law to be in violation of the fourth amendment, protection from unreasonable search and seizure. Maybe even the fifth and sixth amendments, due process and trial by jury.

Death Fascination

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:35:56 +0100

I read a story this morning in The Oakland Press by two AP writers, about how the site of the Cleveland serial killers house has become a unofficial tourist location. It got me wondering as to what it is that makes seemingly normal people act goofy around death, especially grusome death. Now full disclousure, I too used to rubberneck at an accident scene. I though have grown over this morbid fascination and I remember when I lost it. It was the night before Christmas Eve, a couple of years ago, and I was on my way home. While driving on I-90 through the East side of Cleveland, traffic came to a stand still. I turned on my C.B. radio to hear what was going on. It was a jumper, a man had step out it front of a semi-truck in order to commit suicide. After sitting on the highway for 3 hours, one lane finally opened up. As I got to the accident scene, I could see the red soaked roadway contrast against the white graininess of the salt, and the numerous yellow spray-painted circles, signifying where body parts had been found. From that point on I couldn't look at the crash scenes anymore, I had lost my appitite for the morbidity. So now, I have to sit back and wonder what is it that people hope to see when they visit the "House Of Horrors" (as its been dubed locally). Are they expecting to find a body themselves, some clue as to the depravity of man so as to insert a moral superiority, or maybe its something more twisted like being able to brag to friends and family that "I was there man. I seen it with my own two eyes." with such a strong curiousity, I now believe that the Coroners office should sell tickets to autopsies in order to help with ever-increasing budget problems. Lets pull away box-office sales in order to keep cities/counties from sinking in red-ink. after police conduct their crime scene investagations, let's open up the crime scene to onlookers, for a small fee. We may just be able to turn law enforcemnt into a profitable endeavor. Thats just what I think.

(Please excuse my spelling and grammical errors, I'm working without a spell-check.)