Amendments...................

                                     Amendment VI
     In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed; which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defence.

On imbibing.................

During the Civil War, Secretary of War Edwin Stanton delivered this confidential report to the President:
     "Mr. President," intoned the bearded Stanton gravely, "I must tell you that witnesses have observed General Grant actually imbibing in his tent."
     "Is that so?" drawled Lincoln.  "Can you tell me what brand of whiskey he's drinking?"
     "I don't understand why that is necessary," replied his confused secretary of war.
     "Because," answered Lincoln, "I want to send a case of it to my other generals."
James C. Humes, The Wit & Wisdom of Abraham Lincoln

Irrational......................

"It is not irrational to listen to a crazy idea from a proven sane performer.  It is often irrational to listen to a seemingly good idea from a proven nonperformer.  He may sound good, but his record may prove otherwise."
-Henry Cloud, Necessary Endings:  The Employees, Businesses, and Relationships That All of Us Have to Give Up in Order to Move Forward

Opening paragraphs....................

The ungentle laws and customs touched upon in this tale are historical, and the episodes which are used to illustrate them are also historical. It is not pretended that these laws and customs existed in England in the sixth century; no, it is only pretended that inasmuch as they existed in English and other civilizations of far later times, it is safe to consider that it is no libel upon the sixth century to suppose them to have been in practice in that day also.  One is quite justified in inferring that whatever one of this laws or customs was lacking in that remote time, its place was competently filled by a worse one.

-Mark Twain, from the Preface to A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court

Talking about us humans..............

"Men, it has been well said, think in herds; it will be seen that they go mad in herds, while they only recover their senses slowly, and one by one."
-Charles MacKay,  Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds

15,518,755 views.............................

And no wonder................Some pretty fair guitar work

 John Butler........................................Ocean
 

Things were simpler back then.........

Mungo Jerry...........................................In the Summertime

Nothing at all........................

Amendments...............

                                      Amendment V
     No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb, nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use without just compensation.

Fifty ways.............................

All-Swagga talks effectiveness- here:

11 of his 50 traits and habits of highly effective men:

Develop an attitude tough as nails and expect positive outcomes even when times can be uncompromising.

Initiate Action. When you see a problem jump right in anticipating that you’ll be part of the solution. 

Stay off your high horse. You can’t be effective or helpful with your own agenda in the way.  Focus on what’s in front of you.

Be a good listener. Stop talking about you. Listen!

Pay your bills. You can go more places with good credit than the dollar bills in your front pocket.

Slow down. Finish your thoughts and ideas before communicating them.

Fill your time with quality. Spend more time during the day completing things that are all-important. 

Never quit but give up being judgmental.

Make sacrifices. Do things you don’t enjoy in order carry out a broader objective.    

Practice what you preach. Enough said!

Never give up. Always finish what you started.

Advice for dealing with us introverts.......

What's bad for the goose...................

From the Privatization Blog:
Even from a conservative, free-market perspective, 
government subsidies for businesses distort markets, 
foster monopolies, undermine competition, and reduce 
efficiency.  The same complaints that business advocates 
make about the welfare system apply to government 
programs to help businesses - the vicious cycle of 
dependence, the lack of incentive to work hard or face 
difficult choices, the inevitable favoritism (some businesses 
get taxpayer subsidies, others miss out, and those that do 
have an unfair advantage over competitors who might 
otherwise win in a free marketplace).  It has a chilling 
effect on market-driven innovation, improvements in 
efficiency, or "creative destruction." 


thanks warren

Go to the place that's the best........

Norman Greenbaum..................................Spirit in the Sky

The uncommonly wise..................

Michael Wade diagnoses societal ills on a regular basis.
Exhibit A for that claim is here:

thanks bruce

Soapbox...............

WRM talks morality.  Full post here.  Excerpt here:

"Liberty depends upon virtue. Without strong personal ethics (which usually, though not invariably, are cultivated by faith in God) free markets crumble and free societies do not stay free. Unethical business puts companies at risk of collapse by legal means, if caught, and by the crushing weight of economic reality otherwise. It goads young businessmen into joining that culture if it remains widespread and unchecked.

"Education needs to reconnect with both religion and morality, and tolerance of unethical personal and business behavior among the rich and the powerful needs to be recognized for what it is: a deadly threat to all we hold most dear...."

Another reason to follow The Hammock Papers...

Rob's blog is here

Amendments...................

                                     Amendment IV
     The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Sunday's verse..................

²² Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 

²³   For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 

²⁴  Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 

²⁵  Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?

²⁶  Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

²⁷  “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 

²⁸  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! 

²⁹  And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 

³⁰  For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them.

³¹  But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

³²  “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 

³³  Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 

³⁴  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

The Holy Bible

Luke 12:22-34

New International Version

From the Ragamuffin............

"In order to be free to be faithful to this sacred man and his dream, to others and ourselves, we must be liberated from the damnable imprisonment of self-hatred, freed from the shackled of projectionism, perfectionism, moralism/legalism, and unhealthy guilt. Freedom for fidelity demands freedom from enslavement."


Ragamuffin Ramblings here