September 12, 2009 D.C. Tea Party

I'm very proud to have attended what seems to have been the first "Tea Party" in Seattle on February 16, 2009.

The movement has continued pretty continuously since. Today, it seems at least 10s of thousands or perhaps 100s of thousands and maybe even up to a million mainly ORDINARY Americans have descended on Washington DC to show their disagreement with the Federal Government's HUGE deficits and new, increased spending.

This is a wonderful freedom we enjoy, the right to gather, protest, and speak, whatever the issue.

Update 11:22 AM
Crowd estimated to be 2,000,000!!

Update 9/14/2009 #1
Crowd estimates vary, still. Ranges from 200,000 to 2,000,000, most likely around 400,000.
Still, a HUGE crowd. If it had been for a different cause, say anti-war, it would have gotten a lot more coverage, I think.

Update 9/14/2009 #2
I'm a numbers and statistics geek. A seemingly smart person says 850,000


Photo by Mary Katherine Ham, via Instapundit.

Home From California

I had a great road trip to California! I stayed the first night in a motel in Yreka, CA. The next morning, I continued on to Cupertino to visit my good friends the Uminos. It was a brief visit, but it is always good to see them! I then drove the rest of the way to San Diego, I arrived around 10:00 PM at my Uncle Butch's.

On Sunday evening, I attended the 50th wedding anniversary of my Aunt Joyce and Uncle Maurice. It was a wonderful party at a nice Italian restaurant in San Diego.

The rest of my stay included fun, humorous and spirited discussions with Uncle Butch, visiting with Cousins Eric, Susan and Rhonda, visiting Uncle Dick and Aunt Joyce.

I stopped in Portland yesterday evening on the way home to see a very good old friend, Dennis. We had dinner and a drink together in Beaverton, OR. I got home last night after stopping to pick up my retriever Midas at my brother's in North Bend. I had a great time, but it's also good to be home!

I'll post some pics later.

"Funemployment" & Heading To California

My 4 month contract through Excell Data just finished yesterday. I worked with some very bright and funny folks at the job site at IOD. We wrote a lot of great VB.NET code, had a lot of laughs and yes, had a few vigorous political debates. Contracting life is funny- you go somewhere, meet some folks, write some code, then you're gone, and you don't know what's next. Strange, but fun.

The end of the project is at a good time, I've been invited to attend an important family event in Southern California on Sunday. I've decided to drive down (due to the last minute nature of the invite, and the high car-rental costs in So Cal).

I'll hang out down there for a week or so, visiting family and hopefully a few friends along the way. Kinda like a mini version of my grand USA trip last year!
-Greg

Health Care Debate

I had this exchange on an email thread I've been on since 2004 or so re: Nationalized Health Care:

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(My friend Larry said): the free market has proven that it cannot run health care.

(Me): You're kidding right? What we need is a FREER market. As it stands, 82% of all Americans have health coverage. I know of NOBODY who has ever gone untreated in this country (with one exception, and that guy was running from the law...). When I was between contracts last year, I CHOOSE NOT TO HAVE coverage for 7 months. Dumb? Maybe. But, a lot of college age kids and young adults CHOOSE not to get coverage. Not a tragedy.

Did I tell you about my friend Dave?

My friend Dave had virtually NO assets, and when he got sick with heart disease and cancer, the government covered him COMPLETELY. The government took care of ALL his hospital bills from 1999 until he died (AS WE ALL WILL) in 2003. The Government covered his housing for a couple years at the end, too. The worst part of the story was the horrific government bureaucracy he had to deal with. He HATED that part. He sank endless hours filling out paper work as he suffered horribly and was on the way to his grave.

I feel bad for Eric's story of the high cost of his ER visit. However, when I got in a car wreck, I had to pay $500 to repair the car. My body is a lot more important to me than my car- I'm willing to pay to keep it (my body) going.

That bottom line is: "What is important to you?" Upholding the constitution and it's guarantees of freedom or a bunch of free goodies?

I'll throw out the quote I've heard from leftist friends re: Bush's wiretapping program:

'Those who would sacrifice freedom for security deserve neither' - Benjamin Franklin

100 Year Annivesary of the Model T

Most of you know who know me, know that I love history. This little video was really fascinating to me, a brief history of the Model T (1909 to 1928). Almost 15 1/2 million were built! Consider the time, the early 20th century, and your realize that is a HUGE number!

Watch the Video Here!

This Time, Senator Cantwell

I've almost become an activist!

Dear Senator Cantwell,

I'm very concerned about the story of fired AmeriCorps inspector general Gerald Walpin. I watched him being interviewed this evening on cable television, and he certainly seems like a competent man. This is a very important story, the executive branch may have broken the law by firing him without good reason and without the required 30 day notice.

Even if this firing was legal, it looks suspicious when the President fires someone investigating wrong-doing of a major supporter/contributor.

An opinion I share on this issue:
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/Fired-AmeriCorps-IG-responds-White-House-charges-are-false-48257187.html

The rule of law is essential in our Constitutional Republic, and no one, even the President, is above the law.

Thank you,
Greg Moon
Seattle

Price Reduced for "Passion For Murder"!

We've reduced the price of Passion for murder - The Homicidal Deeds of Dr. Sigmund Freud to $14.95! Also, we are selling the electronic version of the book for just $7.95.

As always, Eric Miller provides scads of free essays at the Passion for Muder Website!

The alleged killer: