Bill Starr's Blog

Why FIJA Activism is Important » no third solution » Blog Archive

2009-11-06T21:48:00.000-05:00

Good argument for fully-informed jurors.

no third solution » Blog Archive » Why FIJA Activism is Important

Can the Rampaging Leviathan Be Stopped or Slowed? | The Beacon

2009-11-06T21:11:00.000-05:00

Sobering commentary for lovers of liberty on the realities of the U.S. political landscape.

Can the Rampaging Leviathan Be Stopped or Slowed? | The Beacon

Texan police officer Kim Munley who shot Fort Hood gunman hailed as a heroine - Times Online

2009-11-06T20:31:00.000-05:00

Just heard on Twitter about the woman who stopped the Fort Hood shooter.

Texan police officer Kim Munley who shot Fort Hood gunman hailed as a heroine - Times Online

Campaign For Liberty — Marriage License & Registration, Please | by Steve Bierfeldt

2009-11-06T12:39:00.000-05:00

Thoughtful arguments for separation of marriage and state.

Campaign For Liberty — Marriage License & Registration, Please | by Steve Bierfeldt

A Gun-Free Zone at Ft. Hood by Jacob G. Hornberger

2009-11-06T12:27:00.000-05:00

"Why do shooters select gun-free zones to commit their massacres rather than, say, gun shows? No doubt that question continues to befuddle the gun-control crowd."

A Gun-Free Zone at Ft. Hood by Jacob G. Hornberger

On Getting Mugged -- The Arizona Rifleman » Blog Archive

2009-11-04T13:15:00.000-05:00

One more example of a gun defusing an ugly situation without needing to be fired (usually the case).

The Arizona Rifleman » Blog Archive » On Getting Mugged

Concealed carry and property rights are compatible

2009-11-03T08:22:00.000-05:00

"You are also assuming responsibility for the safety of your guests or customers if you forbid self-defense. If you fail, you are almost as guilty as the attacker."

Concealed carry and property rights are compatible

Book Review - Isabel Paterson and the Idea of America

2009-11-02T18:11:00.000-05:00

Nice review of a book I am reading and enjoying.

Book Review - Isabel Paterson and the Idea of America

Halfway back to normal sunrise time in Indiana

2009-11-01T08:24:00.002-05:00

The end of 7.8 months of DST today gets Indiana halfway back to a normal sunrise time.

Asking our state legislators and governor to petition the United States Department of Transportation to put Indiana back in the central time zone again would finish the job.

The table below compares sunrise time today in Indianapolis with other United States cities located in their geographically-correct time zone.

Sunrise times on 1 November 2009

7:14, Indianapolis (eastern time)
6:30, Philadelphia (middle of eastern time zone)
6:28, St. Louis (middle of central time zone)
6:26, New York City
6:23, Chicago
6:18, Boston
6:14, Indianapolis (if returned back to central time)
6:14, Bangor, Maine
6:10, Nashville TN
6:04, Las Vegas

Ref: http://www.usno.navy.mil/USNO/astronomical-applications/data-services/rs-one-year-us/

How much extra evening daylight per year?

2009-10-31T21:19:00.003-04:00

Some in Indiana who favor staying on eastern time are concerned that there would be no benefit from daylight saving time if Indiana were on central time instead.

This is not the case at all.

Currently, in Indianapolis, during the 238 days (7.8 months) per year of DST, there are about 105 minutes per day of daylight shifted from the morning to the evening. During the remaining 127 days (4.2 months) of "standard" time, there are still 45 minutes per day of daylight shifted from morning to evening.

Over the course of a year, Indianapolis "enjoys" an average of 84 minutes per day of daylight shifted from morning to evening.

How does this stack up with other locations around the country?

[Compared with other United States cities located in their geographically-correct time zone], there are virtually no other locations in the country that have as much morning daylight shifted to the evening as Indianapolis on eastern time.

Average minutes per day shifted from morning to evening

84, Indianapolis (eastern time)
40, Philadelphia (middle of eastern time zone)
40, St. Louis (middle of central time zone)
35, New York City
30, Chicago
26, Nashville TN
24, Indianapolis (if returned to central time)
23, Boston
20, Las Vegas
14, Bangor, Maine

{ Fri, 6 Nov 2009, 12:30 pm EST, slight addition for accuracy, see "[]" above }

Time to rethink Daylight Saving Time?

2009-10-31T12:26:00.000-04:00

Is it time to rethink the wisdom of Daylight Saving Time -- especially observing it for 7.8 months as we do now in the United States?

I think so.

The following 2008 study at University of California, Santa Barbara found:

"Our main finding is that — contrary to the policy's intent — DST increases residential electricity demand."

Back during World War II, when the main residential usage for electricity was lighting, there may have been a bit of an argument for DST.

Now that the use of electricity for heating and air conditioning outweighs that for lighting in the typical U.S. residence, DST has become more of a two-times-per-year annoyance, and is actually more likely "anti-green" (for those who care about such things).

Adding insult to injury, the typical home in 2009 is likely to have a few more timekeeping devices that need attention than did the typical home of the 1940s. E.g., PDA, answering machine, stove, microwave, vehicles, water softener.

NBER WORKING PAPER SERIES DOES DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME SAVE ENERGY? EVIDENCE FROM A NATURAL EXPERIMENT IN INDIANA

Congressman Ron Paul - Anything Less Than Full Disclosure is Unacceptable - Texas Straight Talk

2009-10-30T07:16:00.000-04:00

Any select group of people, no matter how wise and educated, simply cannot replace the wisdom of the market. We need to know who the Fed deals with, what they buy, how much they spend, and who benefits. -- Ron Paul

Congressman Ron Paul - Anything Less Than Full Disclosure is Unacceptable - Texas Straight Talk

- Obama Seeks to Silence Free Speech Through Blasphemy Laws

2009-10-28T13:19:00.000-04:00

Freedom of thought and freedom of expression are fundamental human rights — and a key element of this freedom is the ability to say that you believe that someone else’s position is wrong. The advocates of blasphemy laws wish to restrict this freedom to themselves alone: they would sit above all of us, dictating what may be said and thought on the most fundamental questions which confront us as human beings. No greater tyranny is imaginable than to seek to compel another man’s conscience through coercion of law. -- Rt. Rev. James Heiser

- Obama Seeks to Silence Free Speech Through Blasphemy Laws

CEO of ING Insurance to Woods: Who Cares about Austria's economy? - Stephan Kinsella - Mises Economics Blog

2009-10-28T13:11:00.000-04:00

Funny story for anyone else like me who is into Austrian economics.

CEO of ING Insurance to Woods: Who Cares about Austria's economy? - Stephan Kinsella - Mises Economics Blog

The Edwards Threat -- The Weekly Standard -- Nov 2007

2009-10-25T07:08:00.000-04:00

Some prescient thoughts on presidential power and health care, just as applicable to Obama as they were to Edwards.

The Weekly Standard

Dangerous Censorship From the Left - FOXNews.com

2009-10-24T12:09:00.000-04:00

In the end, if the left has its way, and all criticism of Obama is boycotted, forbidden, or categorized as racist, America will have indeed become exactly what the Tea Party attendees and town hall protesters have been cautioning: a socialist nation with a totalitarian dictator whose policies can’t be questioned in public. -- Noel Sheppard

Dangerous Censorship From the Left - FOXNews.com

Gun Control: Schemed by Tyrants, Supported by Fools by Michael Gaddy

2009-10-24T12:03:00.000-04:00

Those who advocate gun control as a means of enslaving the people will never be influenced by an intellectual argument, presentation of facts and figures, or a simple plea to do that which is right... Don’t waste your time, money or efforts on "educating" those who believe in gun control. This criminal government is doing it much better than we ever could. -- Michael Gaddy

Gun Control: Schemed by Tyrants, Supported by Fools by Michael Gaddy

OUR VIEW: A score for medical pot | federal, marijuana, medical - Opinion - Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

2009-10-24T11:16:00.000-04:00

"Imagine how free some states would become if federal authorities respected all state laws, including those protecting gun and property rights." (Interesting that my newspaper decided to omit this paragraph.)

"The administration’s memo is a step in the direction of ending prohibition. It’s a small step, but first steps are milestones."

OUR VIEW: A score for medical pot | federal, marijuana, medical - Opinion - Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

He's high on U.S. pot-policy reversal

2009-10-24T11:08:00.000-04:00

A voice of common sense on unwarranted intrusion by government into the private lives of the citizens whose rights this very government was instituted to help secure.

He's high on U.S. pot-policy reversal

Lecturing the New York Times on Libertarianism by Jacob G. Hornberger

2009-10-19T21:46:00.000-04:00

Excellent little tutorial on libertarianism.

"Libertarians simply believe people shouldn’t be punished by the state for making what some consider is the wrong choice. Libertarians might disagree with the peaceful choices you make in life, but we will defend your right to make them."

Lecturing the New York Times on Libertarianism by Jacob G. Hornberger

Professional Anti-Anti-Semitism And Anti-Racism

2009-10-19T20:12:00.000-04:00

"Wielding the fearsome brand of "Anti-Semite" as a powerful weapon, the professional Anti-Anti-Semite is able, in this day and age, to wound and destroy anyone he disagrees with by implanting this label indelibly in the public mind." Rothbard, 1990

Rothbard's words might just as well be applied to the professional Anti-Racists of 2009.

PAT BUCHANAN AND THE MENACE ANTI-ANTI-SEMITISM

Words Speak Louder Than Actions

2009-10-10T20:06:00.000-04:00

"If people can be rewarded merely for what they plan to do, then maybe they should just give all presidents a Nobel Peace Prize."

Words Speak Louder Than Actions

Congressman Ron Paul - Bombs and Bribes - Texas Straight Talk

2009-10-10T20:00:00.000-04:00

Foreign policy wisdom from Ron Paul.

"Without much humility or regard for human life, our foreign policy has been reduced to alternately bribing and bombing other nations, all with the stated goal of “promoting democracy”. This policy of endless intervention in the affairs of others is very damaging to American liberty and security. If our government really wanted to promote freedom, Americans would be free to travel and trade with whoever they wished. It is our bombs and sanctions and condescending aid packages that isolate us."

Congressman Ron Paul - Bombs and Bribes - Texas Straight Talk

Plymouth, PA Cops Assault Me and Terrorize My Toddler Son Right Outside My Home | George Donnelly

2009-10-10T19:47:00.000-04:00

"A citizen’s alarm or concern does not alone negatively impact the rights of a person lawfully carrying a firearm."

Plymouth, PA Cops Assault Me and Terrorize My Toddler Son Right Outside My Home | George Donnelly

Central time makes sense for Indiana » Evansville Courier & Press

2009-10-08T18:26:00.000-04:00

I agree. Central time makes sense for all of Indiana.

Central time makes sense for Indiana » Evansville Courier & Press