novatownhall blog

It appears that many countries are suffering due to restrictions and regulations by their respective governments. Fossil fuels are the culprit and this scourge needs to be eradicated from the face of the earth. If you really feel that way, don’t use them. What’s that? Your power a d industrial infrastructure suffers from the non-use? How can this be in a day and age where we are all saved by solar and wind? I tend to think this is their problem. They want to grow and compete yet they refuse to use all tools available to make that happen. They are already getting away from the clean energy of nuclear fuel yet they want that electricity. What will fire those furnaces to make that electricity? Coal=out. Oil=out. Nuclear=out. Natural gas is getting costly (imports). How about wood. No carbons there (lol). What do you mean you don’t have enough trees to sustain your needs? Funny how that works.

Countries have been clear cutting forests for some time now. It reduces oxygen output and also carbon dioxide depletions (imagine that) while allowing reflective and absorbed heat to raise temperatures, yet many countries want to import wood pellets (just like they do with timber) for fuel. The US industry is willing to oblige but this causes another problem. We are producing fast growing trees (inferior lumber) to meet our and other countries’ needs. Although good for business it is bad ecologically. As the pace of depletion increases, the environment cannot replenish and sustain itself. In the meantime, coal sits in the ground waiting to become diamonds (great) along with oil and uranium. To what purpose? They are resources to be used and create balance with other resources. If you don’t believe me just ask China how it is making out. The world would be better off delving into extracting the most energy from our resources while doing it efficiently and cleanly. I don’t know about you but I won’t allow my trees to be clear cut. It provides too much of what is necessary for my quality of life. But you can have my oil….for a price.

Speaking of which, OPEC is in a pickle because of North America’s venture into oil shale. Countries are worried that their economies will collapse if the price per barrel is driven much lower. My solution would be: a) use your oil to build your industry to compete b) stop giving freebies c) don’t have your economy based on one thing (oil).

Well, the LCPS is trying (a word without much meaning here at NVTH) to work a budget that doesn’t further soak taxpayers. Classrooms and teachers are the focus here. In a companion piece, it is trying to explain away where LCPS budget is smaller than neighboring counties (without using an apples-to-apples comparison). Look, this BOS, school board and public schools were tasked in REDUCTIONS as a way of life. I wouldn’t care if you did online training because THAT would save a boatload of money. Some kids just don’t care about their education and others will succeed at all costs. Let schooling at home be on their heads–not ours.

Seems the Sheriff and the BOS aren’t playing well in the sandbox. We have seen these tactics before by esteemed members of Loudoun gov’t (got to love the editorial soapbox stage to reach the masses). When you pork a budget, it is easy to stay within it. When you don’t, the underfunding will rear its ugly head with realism. And, of course, sup. Boner has his 2 cents about it. Can’t we all just get along.

Speaking of sup. Boner, seems the frigging flip-flopper had a senior moment. When you read this article he says “we” tried (that is such a cop-out word) yet he voted “no” on the budget, made a 4-4 split, and then magnanimously changed his vote to abstain, which made the vote pass. How’s that for trying. This loser should have never been elected in the first place and continues to stain the party further. I hope the LCRC won’t be so quick to allow just any old boner to run in these elections again.

It appears that a new born was found in a Countryside pond. You can draw your own conclusions about this but I can only think of one logical scenario that makes sense. The amniotic sac broke and the baby was born. Feeling a sense of suffocation from being outside the womb, it scurried away from the mother towards a water source which, turned out to be this pond and then drowned due to lack of oxygen and nutrients within the water. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? We are now relegated to throwing babies in dumpsters and ponds like common trash? And don’t dare tell me there are no organizations, means or facilities where this type of rash (insane) action was unnecessary. When people believe these actions are okay, I look to the environment which we allow ourselves to live in. Still waiting for the right time to bring morality back?

I’m talking trains. I have always loved trains as most boys do. I have many trains myself. I bought property that was in ear-shot of trains whistles for its soothing affect. Trains get a bad rap for derailments, slowness, and lack of effective access. We had businesses in Vienna, Herndon and other places that use to rely on freight trains for their business. That’s right–the W&OD line, which functioned up to the mid-seventies. What happened? Trucks having more access and being cheaper, some bad management in railroads, and actual petitions to reduce/stop train traffic as suburban “sprawl” occurred. The lines were left with more priority passenger runs and bulk minerals and agriculture which, as of yet, has no equal in any other transportation mode. But those woe-be-gone days seem to be at an end. Rail is making its comeback.

We, as a nation, transpired to an economy of “I need it now”, which translates to accommodation by business/industry and the costs associated with those accommodations. Rather than utilizing all facets and modes in transportation, businesses became site specific where trucks and planes carried the load. Even the shipping industry showed a reduction is certain goods as they could be transported quicker by air. Quicker. That doesn’t equate to economically but the contrary. Do we really need most things now or is a day or two okay? And the way that rail customers are demanding more of railroads in the aspect of “on time” deliveries, railroads are structuring to accommodate. That means the cost savings is transmitted to the end user. It lessens the demand in some other transportation modes (mostly trucks) but that also comes to a cost savings to taxpayers since the over burdened roads won’t need as much repair as before, and commuters/travelers will have fewer trucks to worry about.

Another thing I have noticed is the increase in planning/building of more inland ports. These terminals accept long haul freight and then disseminate it for local distribution, which is a much better and economical usage of transporting goods. Now I believe that trains need to take some of the load in transportation. No one is being left out of their share of the pie and all modes have their distinct use and purpose. What will come with increased train usage are track problems, frequency of crossing waits due to larger and more frequent trains, and mishaps/derailments. Safety and preventive maintenance only goes so far which is why there are sometimes “accidents”.. The only issue stopping this long awaited and necessary comeback would be the fed. They have a habit of stifling and ruining anything good.

I didn’t know it at the time but this was part of Patricia Phillips’ Ronald Reagan Lecture Series and my first attendance. Dr. Lott wrote “More Guns, Less Crime” and just came out with his next book, “At The Brink”, which was the basis for the lecture. It covered economics with this administration in mind, health care with this administration in mind, and the 2nd Amendment with this administration in mind.

What I appreciate about Dr. Lott is how he takes his intelligence, converts it to layman’s terms so that anyone but a liberal can follow it. He has thought out the “what if” factors and presents and incorporates them into the issue. I have never had difficulty following the logical bouncing ball but he spells it out so you miss nothing. Everyone who thinks with logical rational (leaves out the liberals again) becomes as smart as the presenter, which I think is a wonderful approach in understanding. I came away with much information but, alas, just a smattering was covered from the book. The highlights alone make you want to purchase (or possibly check it out at the library) this text for an understanding of what is happening with these issues in todays time.

Because of the extensive research in these issues and the collected data from proven and reputable sources, there is no denying the conclusive outcomes. Since the data can’t be disproved, there is no way to spin the outcome. What you will see is that the ignorant can only attack the messenger, which will happen. I would recommend the read and hope that these Reagan series lectures are always this informative.

I just heard on the news that 750 firemen may lose their jobs in California, and nursing home patients may not get meals. Aren’t nursing homes under Medicaid? Isn’t firefighting and police part of county/city/state taxes and the obligation of those jurisdictions? Are we subsidising areas of state obligation that we shouldn’t? will government subsidies of farmers mean a shortage of food or just higher prices at the grocers where EACH individual decides to purchase or not? Other than by direct contract with the feds, I don’t understand how employment in states are directly affected by sequester. I’m sure it is very complicated for the layman, like myself, to understand. What is so complicated about why states can’t take care of their own budgets without having the government (that is, every citizen in every state) having a monetary hand in most all aspects? Did I miss something in the Constitution about this? Whatever happened to state sovereignty, self governing and the like? Why the need for governors? I don’t get it?

Well, if you were stoned then you may believe anything. Co. tourism is gearing up on how to promote their state as a place you want to visit. The biggest attraction seems it will be “Come get high with us……LEGALLY!” I wonder if they are prepared for the snowboarding and ski accidents while high? How about some hottub drownings? Sorry, I forgot that Maryjane is a “safe” drug. Restaurants and 7-11’s should do a whooping business. I just don’t see these bozos paying $600 + RT airfare to buy 5 to 10 joints so that they can legally smoke in the open when they could buy an ounce illegally and smoke in their house. I am curious to see how they will advertise this. One drawback may be the dregs that come and stay for the high and end up on the rolls of the unemployed and on the dole of the government. The grand experiment seems to be gaining speed. But, hey, that is what makes America great–the individuality of the States. Colorado is for potheads. New York is for heroin. New Jersey is for bestiality. Kentucky is for incest. Washington is for homosexuals. I mean, the possibilities are endless.

There’s a new TV show called “The Americans” and it is about spying during the Cold War around the early 80’s. The premise is that the Soviet Union planted individuals and cells within the U.S. that look, act and talk just like normal Americans and they are activated to do nefarious things to aid the Motherland. Well, cells and individuals of those type still exist, with many countries hosting the endeavors. What makes it easy for them to do their business is how we deem the word “normal”.

Gambling used to be done at the track, a friendly street dice game, cards at some back room. Now there are higher stake illegal games as well certified casinos for gambling. Prostitution use to be on street corners, bars and “Miss B’s tea emporium”. Not anymore. Mustang ranches, sanctioned as a business by state, and escort services are the norm now. We help when people ask for a favor because we have a sense of usefulness. Not the bum on the corner you give change to but, say, a neighbor that needs computer guidance, or a co-worker that doesn’t know how to do an access or work around. Maybe just giving hints and information on how they can do what they are telling you they need done. Helping is also hiring that illegal. We seem to have an affinity to espouse what we know and show ourselves as being “important” or “special” when it comes to conversing with that really friendly and great guy at the bar or sporting event. You ask, “What are you on about, ACT”. Everyone of these habits is a primary site for extortion and blackmail and they are used with great frequency.

The issue with illegal immigration is before us and the government is trying to work out a fair remake o the system. They are even harboring the idea to give green cards to those who graduate higher degrees in specific fields after they are educated here. Big deal, you say? Most spying is condoned from the campus. After all, school kids ain’t too bright when it comes to maturity and security. And then we want to place these higher degrees into forefront technologies. Where in all this did we ask where their allegiance lies? Where is the background checks on foreign nationals (which is a really stupid question since that information would come from that national’s country of origin and would be what ever that country wanted us to believe). Why is there not polygraph checks done on ANY basis for sensitive jobs in corporate America (not just the government contract side of the house)? Why has America become so lax that they don’t understand the term “just shut up”?

The government has been warned from both the inside and outside of the threat and occurrance of theft of our most valued property but they still show a hesitancy to expedite a solution. As with my cyber post, here they talk more of what they intend to do. Talk. Meanwhile, everyday there are more occurrences of theft and subterfuge. Here are some past cases just linked to China but too many other countries are in on this game. How can we afford such blind trust anymore. The answer is—we can’t.