Courtesy goes a long way

Tags: Original Vigil ∙ FCC ∙ cable TV ∙ Time Warner Cable ∙ Comcast ∙ Adelphia ∙ radio spectrum ∙ morality ∙ competition ∙ change the channel ∙ fiber optics

Certain fundamentalists trot out the scare tactics again

Tags: Original Vigil ∙ classic ∙ ritual crime ∙ approved faiths ∙ skimmed ∙ Christianity ∙ rItual occult symbols ∙ crime ∙ poseur ∙ sexual predator

Bloggers can be legitimate journalists too

Tags: Original Vigil ∙ First Amendment ∙ Google ∙ Amazon ∙ classic ∙ favorites

Do Freedom of the Press and Freedom of Speech apply to websites?

Tags: Original Vigil ∙ First Amendment ∙ FEC ∙ Bush League ∙ Kerry

The Anthony Diotaiuto killing

Tags: SWAT ∙ Balko ∙ Original Vigil

Pagan and magick books do not a terrorist make

Tags: Original Vigil ∙ Koran ∙ Bible ∙ Pagan ∙ Corporate Clone ∙ classic ∙ filmmaking ∙ TV production ∙ writers tools ∙ architecture ∙ thinking ∙ autism ∙ Asperger syndrome ∙ history ∙ favorites

The public sector isn't free

Tags: Original Vigil ∙ public sector ∙ classic ∙ private sector ∙ favorites

The Salmon-Thirty-Salmon

Tags: Original Vigil ∙ boondoggle

How a benevolent and socially progressive government drags people down

Tags: Original Vigil ∙ freely chosen ∙ classic ∙ victimhood ∙ Social Security ∙ favorites ∙ flood insurance ∙ good intentions ∙ bad choices ∙ compassion

Is the society or culture more important than the individual?

Tags: Original Vigil ∙ individual freedom ∙ collectivist ∙ classic ∙ favorites

The last, best hope for freedom

Tags: Original Vigil ∙ internet ∙ competition ∙ Apple ∙ classic ∙ Network Solutions ∙ Amazon ∙ MacHighway ∙ Google ∙ LibraryThing ∙ sex ∙ informed choice ∙ internet ∙ favorites

What does the call for a "progressive judge" on the United States Supreme Court really mean?

Tags: Original Vigil ∙ classic ∙ Lensman ∙ Robert A. Heinlein ∙ Ronny Ray Gun ∙ Pax Americana ∙ favorites ∙ Margaret Thatcher ∙ John Paul II ∙ libertarian ∙ Christianity ∙ Isaac Bonewits

Looks like it is the GOP's turn to celebrate Big Government solutions

Tags: Original Vigil ∙ classic ∙ favorites

News about Camp Williams in Utah

Tags: Original Vigil ∙ rumor ∙ discredited

“WalMart: A Place to Pray”

Tags: Original Vigil ∙ Lego ∙ Lego Factory ∙ Ronny Scherer

Now that government has failed, what next?

Tags: Original Vigil ∙ union ∙ temp workers ∙ willing to pay ∙ willing to sell

A Utah camp for New Orleans refugees seems to be more like a POW camp

UPDATED TO ADD: Much of the information in the original piece was either a misunderstanding or an exaggeration. This is from before I routinely fact checked. - NW

Tags: Original Vigil ∙ rumor ∙ discredited

A blog with a first hand look at one of the Katrina refugee camps

UPDATED TO ADD: Much of the information in the original piece was either a misunderstanding or an exaggeration. This is from before I routinely fact checked. - NW

Tags: Original Vigil ∙ rumor ∙ discredited

The EPA says that cap-and-trade helped make it possible

Tags: Original Vigil ∙ global warming ∙ carbon dioxide ∙ computer models

A pet peeve

Tags: Original Vigil ∙ clipping ∙ skimmed ∙ John Flint ∙ Sonny Perdue ∙ Weston ∙ Florida ∙ Oliver Porter ∙ Sandy Sprints ∙ Georgia ∙ competition ∙ provide services

Because of the G8 summit, here are a few of my thoughts on global warming

Tags: Original Vigil ∙ classic ∙ favorites

A pet peeve

Tags: Original Vigil ∙ ozone ∙ EPA ∙ Jeffrey R. Holmstead ∙ clipping ∙ skimmed ∙ cap-and-trade ∙ Bush administration

This is a page from the original version of Pagan Vigil. There are some formatting differences. Originally published at www.paganvigil.com/C322448388/E4543350

It's for your own good!

A friend pointed this site out to me.

My question, why don't people who are lactose intolerant just avoid milk products?

The answer is that according to these people, folks can't be trusted to make up their own minds. And it is a chance for lawyers to make money and certain people to get a lot of media attention. Even if the money is awarded, the chances of those who suffered actually getting more than a token payment is very small.

Why is it that people who want to do something for your own good won't trust you to make the choice?

Posted: Mon - August 15, 2005 at 07:50 PM

Tags: Original Vigil ∙ lactose intolerant ∙ milk products ∙ choice

This is a page from the original version of Pagan Vigil. There are some formatting differences. Originally published at www.paganvigil.com/C322448388/E1545986641

A pet peeve

Classic liberalism rests on the defense of individual liberty and private property, usually with a limited government. In America today, that is called libertarianism.

Modern liberalism depends on an ever increasing government intervention to control economic activity an channel it towards worthy ends.

The two have nothing to do with one another, even though modern liberalism claims descent from classic liberalism by way of social democracy.

From my viewpoint, modern liberalism is trying to cash in on the reputation of classic liberalism in order to justify their actions, even though those same actions violate both the spirit and letter of classic liberalism

Posted: Tue - August 9, 2005 at 07:18 AM

Tags: Original Vigil ∙ classic liberalism ∙ modern liberalism ∙ libertarian ∙ progressive

The real problem with "progressive" laws

Tags: Original Vigil ∙ classic ∙ progressive ∙ favorites ∙ civil forfeiture

Just the FAQs about my Vigil

Tags: Original Vigil ∙ neoconservative ∙ Bush League ∙ Wayland ∙ War on Terror ∙ The Matrix

Because of the G8 summit, here are a few of my thoughts on global warming

Tags: Original Vigil ∙ global warming ∙ classic ∙ climate change ∙ four questions ∙ public science ∙ favorites

A few thoughts on the big summer films and declining box office revenues

Tags: Original Vigil ∙ originality ∙ sequels ∙ remakes ∙ market research ∙ War of the Worlds ∙ King Kong

Does religion really define public morality? Should government control religion?

Tags: Original Vigil ∙ religion ∙ Christianity ∙ Founders ∙ classic ∙ favorites

What does the call for a "progressive judge" on the United States Supreme Court really mean?

Tags: Original Vigil ∙ classic ∙ progressive ∙ favorites ∙ liberal ∙ progressive ∙ Sandra Day O'Conner ∙ Democrat ∙ Supreme Court ∙ Kelo v. New London ∙ Berman v. Parker ∙ private property ∙ urban renewal ∙ social engineering ∙ Pfizer

"Lessons" I don't agree with from a progressive list

Tags: Original Vigil ∙ charity ∙ extortion ∙ classic ∙ favorites

Despite the "push for impeachment," it is not one individual or party we should be worried about

Tags: Original Vigil ∙ classic ∙ progressive ∙ conservative ∙ RICO Act ∙ Sherman Anti-Trust Act ∙ Brown ∙ originalist ∙ victimhood ∙ human rights ∙ favorites

The only worthy faiths and beliefs are those freely chosen

Tags: Original Vigil ∙ classic ∙ progressive ∙ media bias ∙ Billy boy ∙ Bush League ∙ Diebold ∙ favorites

This is a page from the original version of Pagan Vigil. There are some formatting differences. Originally published at www.paganvigil.com/C149884619/E668386334

This is awfully familiar. The U.S. has been accused of human rights abuses before

““As usual, individuals with no responsibility in the matter, their humanitarian impulses outraged by conditions that were frequently beyond help, began carrying to America tales of indifference, negligence, and callousness on the part of the troops.  Generally these stories were lies.  The thousands of men assigned to the job of rescuing the DPs and organizing relief for them were Americans.  They were given every facility and assistance the Army could provide, and they were genuinely concerned in doing their utmost for these unfortunate of the earth.  But because perfection could not be achieved some so-called investigators saw a golden chance for personal publicity.  They did so at the expense of great numbers of Americans who labored night and day to alleviate the average lot of people who had suffered so much that they seemed at times beyond suffering.””
     — General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Crusade in Europe

Hat tip to William Katz at FrontPageMagazine.com

Posted: Mon - June 13, 2005 at 05:48 AM

Tags: Original Vigil ∙ humor ∙ Eisenhower ∙ human rights ∙ skimmed ∙ short

Computer security expert switches his company from Windows to Macintosh

Tags: Original Vigil ∙ clipping ∙ skimmed ∙ Financial Times ∙ Microsoft ∙ China ∙ censorship

Guess which word the popular version uses. It is not Freakin'

A work in progress. Comments and suggestions are welcome.

Tags: Original Vigil ∙ KYFHO ∙ F. Paul Wilson ∙ The Equalizer ∙ An Enemy Of The State ∙ Jack Williamson ∙ consent ∙ Jeffersonian ∙ Great Depression ∙ gold ∙ bad choices ∙ consequences ∙ charity ∙ extortion

Does the secret Downing Street memo really tell us anything new?

Tags: Original Vigil ∙ George W. Bush ∙ Bill Clinton ∙ presumed guilty ∙ classic ∙ nothing to fear ∙ favorites ∙ income tax

Complaints show that public schools are insulated from the forces that would force improvement

Tags: Original Vigil ∙ classic ∙ ACLU ∙ Rush Limbaugh ∙ mission creep ∙ McCain-Feingold ∙ reform ∙ USAPATRIOT ∙ criminal foreiture ∙ jury nullification ∙ Real ID ∙ Homeland Security ∙ Faith Based Initiative ∙ traffic cameras ∙ gun ownership ∙ targeting doctors ∙ broadcast standards ∙ favorites ∙ civil forfeiture

Douglas Adams Passing Day

Tags: Original Vigil ∙ John Kerry ∙ Iraq ∙ short ∙ skimmed ∙ clipping

Does the secret Downing Street memo really tell us anything new?

Tags: Original Vigil ∙ Bush League ∙ naughty press ∙ classic ∙ favorites

Competition breeds progress and encourages honesty

Tags: Original Vigil ∙ public schools ∙ classic ∙ for the children ∙ favorites

The delayed examination of why Real ID threatens freedom

Tags: Original Vigil ∙ privacy ∙ national security ∙ Real ID ∙ War on Drugs ∙ DEA ∙ IRS ∙ INS ∙ FDA ∙ classic ∙ Microsoft ∙ Hewlett-Packard ∙ favorites

This is a page from the original version of Pagan Vigil. There are some formatting differences. Originally published at www.paganvigil.com/C322448388/E859607230

Computer security expert switches his company from Windows to Macintosh

The Security Awareness Company has switched from Windows based computers to Macintoshes. You can find some of the details here. Microsoft is either unwilling or unable to deal with some of the security issues in it's products, leaving room for third party suppliers to pick up the slack.

Just as you shouldn't have to be a high-end audiophile to turn on the radio or a certified mechanic to drive a car, you shouldn't have to be an expert in the operating system to use a computer.

Apple, for all of it's weaknesses (and it does have some major ones), is much closer to delivering an "appliance" computer that just works without having to worry if your computer is infected or if it will crash today.

But in a market controlled exclusively by one company, the average person wouldn't have that choice. And Microsoft would have very little incentive to get better.

Posted: Mon - May 30, 2005 at 07:32 AM

Tags: Original Vigil ∙ Security Awareness Company ∙ Windows ∙ Macintosh ∙ Microsoft ∙ Apple ∙ appliance

This is a page from the original version of Pagan Vigil. There are some formatting differences. Originally published at www.paganvigil.com/C149884619/E656387568

Did you hear what you thought you heard?

““Again and again in recent years, the filibuster has been the shame of the Senate and the last resort of special interest groups. Too often, it has enabled a small minority of the Senate to prevent a strong majority from working its will and serving the public interest.””
     — Senator Edward Kennedy, 1975

Just remember what he said then and what he says now. Then ask yourself what the difference is.

Posted: Fri - May 27, 2005 at 08:33 AM

Tags: Original Vigil ∙ Ted Kennedy ∙ filibuster ∙ Senate ∙ short ∙ skimmed

The only worthy faiths and beliefs are those freely chosen

Tags: Original Vigil ∙ Pagan ∙ reciprocity ∙ religion ∙ classic ∙ favorites ∙ cross posted

This is a page from the original version of Pagan Vigil. There are some formatting differences. Originally published at www.paganvigil.com/C149884619/E102079043

'Isms' are not good

““It's not that I condone fascism....or any 'ism' for that matter.  'Isms' in my opinion are not good.  A person should not believe in an 'ism', they should believe in themselves.  I quote John Lennon, 'I don't believe in Beatles...I just believe in me.'  A good point there.  After all, he was the walrus.  I could be the walrus, I'd still have to bum rides off of people!””
     — Ferris Bueller's Day Off

One of the great all time arguments against isms of any kind.

Posted: Sat - May 21, 2005 at 02:45 PM

Tags: Original Vigil ∙ Ferris Bueller ∙ isms ∙ humor ∙ short ∙ skimmed

Competition breeds progress and encourages honesty

Tags: Original Vigil ∙ classic ∙ competition ∙ Microsoft ∙ Apple ∙ favorites

My take on true believers of all stripes.

Tags: Original Vigil ∙ religion ∙ favorites ∙ Christianity ∙ Pagan ∙ classic ∙ freely chosen ∙ Founders ∙ personal choice ∙ reciprocity

My long delayed but necessary explanation.

Tags: Original Vigil ∙ media failure ∙ naughty press ∙ discredited

Just the FAQs about my Vigil

Tags: Original Vigil ∙ libertarian ∙ progressive ∙ socialist ∙ modern liberal ∙ religion ∙ economic freedom ∙ human rights ∙ personal freedom ∙ conservative ∙ bad choices ∙ for your own good ∙ smaller than absolutely necessary ∙ Zero Agression Principle ∙ KYFHO ∙ Pagan ∙ individual freedom ∙ personal responsiblity ∙ part time troublemaker ∙ person of faith ∙ Zero Aggression Principle ∙ Non-Aggression Principle ∙ Veritas

Douglas Adams Passing Day

Tags: Original Vigil ∙ humor ∙ Douglas Adams ∙ towels ∙ short ∙ skimmed ∙ passing day ∙ calendars

Radley Balko makes a better case for free markets

Tags: Original Vigil ∙ clipping ∙ guest content ∙ skimmed ∙ Radley Balko ∙ TheAgitator

This is a page from the original version of Pagan Vigil. There are some formatting differences. Originally published at www.paganvigil.com/C149884619/E916169645

Daniel Webster on those who want to rule

““In every generation there are those who want to rule well - but they mean to rule. They promise to be good masters - but they mean to be masters.””
     — Daniel Webster

And of course, they only promise to do it for "your own good."

Posted: Mon - May 9, 2005 at 09:15 PM

Tags: Original Vigil ∙ short ∙ Daniel Webster ∙ skimmed ∙ rulers&masters ∙ "your own good"

My take on true believers of all stripes.

Tags: Original Vigil ∙ favorites ∙ true believers ∙ MLK Day ∙ Arizona ∙ Somebody Else's Problem ∙ Bonewits ∙ E pluribus unum ∙ power with ∙ classic ∙ Hillary Clinton ∙ George W. Bush ∙ Bill Clinton