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And now, intrepid explorers...TO INFINITY! AND BEYOND!

Saturday, July 31, 2010

The End Of Due Process, Privacy and the Constitution - Selective Lawlessness

The End Of Due Process, Privacy and the Constitution- Selective Lawlessness.

With the PATRIOT ACT and its ramifications, the U.S. Constitution, and all of the government abuses which the Constitution's original framers ("America's Founding Fathers") had specifically prohibited in the spirit of government "of, for and by the People" (instead of the reverse, which is despotism at best, and fascism at its worst) and had created specifically to limit the power of a goverment to enslave the very people it is supposed to serve...the very populace to which it is accountable, the government has effectively awarded itself privileges to exempt it from the highest laws of the land, and to disregard the truest notion of Democracy at its whim.

"Sadly, most Americans, motivated by a combination of fear of terrorism, indolence, desperation and powerful "patriotic propaganda" do not fully realize that they have become nothing more than servants of the government, without power, without a voice, and most regrettably, without a democracy. The American people are now run by a little consortium comprised of an incredibly powerful government and its ever-increasing collection of agencies and a few very wealthy, powerful families. This is not Conspirarcy Theory -- this is the gradual deterioration of any notion of fairness, a declining level of expectation and participation amongst the public, and the abdication of real freedom for the illusion of safety." -- Douglas Castle

The quotation which follows from Benjamin Franklin, one of America's greatest Founding Fathers, inventors, philosophers, statesmen, authors and exemplary Patriot, says it much more eloquently...
















I have always been a fan of the legendary Ben Franklin, as I have been an admirer of his vision, his wit, his sense of humor, his knowledge of Human Psychology and his views. I suspect that were Ben alive today, he would be amazed at the transmogrification of his democratic ideals and his views on personal liberties, freedoms, innovation and FREE ENTERPRISE. Further, I don't think that he would recognize the United States at all.
---------------

The article extract which follows appears courtesy of AP (Associated Press):

FBI access to e-mail, Web data raises privacy fear
By PETE YOST, Associated Press Writer Fri Jul 30, 1:19 pm ET

WASHINGTON – Invasion of privacy in the Internet age. Expanding the reach of law enforcement to snoop on e-mail traffic or on Web surfing. Those are among the criticisms being aimed at the FBI as it tries to update a key surveillance law.

With its proposed amendment, is the Obama administration merely clarifying a statute or expanding it? Only time and a suddenly on guard Congress will tell.

Federal law requires communications providers to produce records in counterintelligence investigations to the FBI, which doesn't need a judge's approval and court order to get them.

They can be obtained merely with the signature of a special agent in charge of any FBI field office and there is no need even for a suspicion of wrongdoing, merely that the records would be relevant in a counterintelligence or counterterrorism investigation. The person whose records the government wants doesn't even need to be a suspect.

The bureau's use of these so-called national security letters to gather information has a checkered history.

The bureau engaged in widespread and serious misuse of its authority to issue the letters, illegally collecting data from Americans and foreigners, the Justice Department's inspector general concluded in 2007. The bureau issued 192,499 national security letter requests from 2003 to 2006.

Weathering that controversy, the FBI has continued its reliance on the letters to gather information from telephone companies, banks, credit bureaus and other businesses with personal records about their customers or subscribers — and Internet service providers.

That last source is the focus of the Justice Department's push to get Congress to modify the law.

The law already requires Internet service providers to produce the records, said Dean Boyd, a spokesman for the Justice Department's national security division. But he said as written it also causes confusion and the potential for unnecessary litigation as some Internet companies have argued they are not always obligated to comply with the FBI requests.

A key Democrat on Capitol Hill, Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Patrick Leahy of Vermont, wants a timeout.

The administration's proposal to change the Electronic Communications Privacy Act "raises serious privacy and civil liberties concerns," Leahy said Thursday in a statement. [continued...] ####
---------------

Pandora's box has already been opened. Sadly, all of the abuses, brutality, entitlement and power-madness have already escaped into our sacred culture. This is happening throughout many cultures, many sovereign nations throughout the world -- it is a predictable response to crisis management and short-sighted, fearful masses of people. I try hard not to picture sheep being herded and led to the slaughter when I hear of these frightening things. I also do not believe that there is a civil, peaceful way of reversing this process... an accelerating trend of increased government power over citizens worldwide. My fear is that it may ultimately lead  to catastrophic clashes between hungry, homeless, overtaxed, overworked disenfranchised "serfs" and their self-proclaimed "Lairds of the Land."

International Trend Observations: Expect increasing government regulatory activity; expect an increasing percentage of the world's unemployed or underemployed populace to be working for governments or governmental agencies; expect the stock of the largest corporations who are most deeply entrenched with their respective goverments (usually through major, long-term contracts) to retain and gain some value; expect the largest banks to act more directly as extensions of government agencies, and only barely as lenders (although they will still enjoy holding our money at ransom, and charging us whopping fees to get it back out); expect an increase in the percentages of the world's "working poor" and a continued decrease in the numbers and ranks of the formerly stabilizing "middle class,"; expect people to be working (without retirement) to the point of death or complete disability.

My Only Proposal: Be entrepreneurial, and collaborate with other free-thinking, like-minded entrepreneurs to build a cross-border international community of free(er) people. This is the only reasonable alternative to waiting for violent revolution, financial aid which will never come, or getting on the government dole and "gaming the system." The irony is that this method of gaming the system is that this is the most significant talent that the urban poor and the politically rich have in common. It is certainly easier than problem-solving, innovation and productivity.

Faithfully,

Douglas Castle

p.s. You can only "game the system," while there is a system left to game. This is solid advice, or perhaps even a warning to governments and to those clever non-producers among us who live, generation after generation, off of various government programs. 

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Douglas Castle
Join my TNNWC Group, LLC collaborative business community (GICBC) at no cost by clicking on http://bit.ly/JoinTNNWC.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

TNNWC - "Finding capital, traffic and global clients". The essential tools for entrepreneurial businesses and emerging enterprises. Only at http://www.TheNationalNetworker.com. Grow your company.

TNNWC - "Finding capital, traffic and global clients". The essential tools for entrepreneurial businesses and emerging enterprises. Only at http://www.thenationalnetworker.com/.  Grow your company.


Douglas Castle
Join my TNNWC Group, LLC collaborative business community (GICBC) at no cost by clicking on http://bit.ly/JoinTNNWC.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Shades Of Meaning - Perception and Reception

SHADES OF MEANING

Dear Friends:

How you translate your thoughts into words can be the difference between making a point or losing a point; forming an alliance or starting a feud; between having followers follow you with lighted touches to storm the palance, or having them tie you up and place you one the pyre. Words can free us, or they can imprison us. Words can inspire or deflate. Choose your words carefully. Every word matters. Every word carries a measure of meaning. Shades of meaning are subtle differences which can dramatically change how you are perceived, or how your message is received.

What are the key differences between the following word pairs in terms of 1) how the speaker will be perceived, and 2) how his or her message will likely be interpreted:

  • Involved vs Committed;
  • Eager vs Anxious;
  • Desperate vs Determined;
  • Problem vs Challenge:
  • Hurdles vs Barriers;
  • I need you -vs- I want you;
  • "Think what you want" -vs- "I'm sorry that I haven't made myself clear to you."
  • Integrity vs Loyalty
  • Stupidity vs Ignorance of the Facts
Faithfully,

Douglas Castle

p.s. Remember "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me?" Bones heal fairly rapidly -- an angry insult born or disappointment said by a parent to a child can take the better part of a lifetime to heal.

Words heal. Words hurt. When somebody says, "Aw, those are just words," he or she is in either in a blissful state of ignorance in matters of psychology...or in a learned defensive state of denial.


Douglas Castle
Join my TNNWC Group, LLC collaborative business community (GICBC) at no cost by clicking on http://bit.ly/JoinTNNWC.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

"Crisis management kills. Don't just react. PLAN!" - Douglas Castle. Become a Member of TNNWC for free at http://bit.ly/JoinTNNWC.

Rank The REAL Reasons Why New And Young Businesses FAIL.

A Quick Survey For Entrepreneurs and Emerging Enterprises
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Douglas Castle
Join my TNNWC Group, LLC collaborative business community (GICBC) at no cost by clicking on http://bit.ly/JoinTNNWC.
 

Monday, July 12, 2010

Your Words - What They Say About You To Others - Douglas Castle

Your Words - What They Say About You to Others.  - Douglas Castle (http://aboutdouglascastle.blogspot.com/)

Dear Colleagues, Friends and Members:

Your words, and the phrases that you use, speak volumes to others about whether you are dealing from weakness or strength -- from knowledge or ignorance. I had a lengthy discussion with my dear friend and Co-Chaiman of TNNWC Group, LLC, Adam J. Kovitz.

Just to solidify the concept, some examples follow. Of course, your words are only a small portion of your total sensorial communication to others...body language, posture, facial gestures, pregnant pauses, the use of intervals of silence, had gestures, head nodding, eyebrow raising, your vocal pitch (the highness or richness of your voice), your vocal speed the avoidance of "thinking out loud" with "er...ah....let's see...that's a tough one...ummm....ummmm," and numerous other signaling devices help to tell your audience (whether one individual or an auditorium full) whether you are worth taking seriously or not.

1. If you are in command, you won't say in a pleading tone, "We need to have you folks buy-in to...." You will say " In order to do this properly, we'll require each of you to fall into line with this policy...." The word "need" speaks of weakness, and the concept of "buy-in" turns you from a leader into a pitchman.

2. Don't talk around a point. Get to the point and follow it with a call to action. After every conversation, the person you've spoken with should be expecting something more from you, or he (or she) should have an assignment which he or she is obligated to give to you within a defined timeframe.

3. Don't ask,"Would you be interested in...????" Say: "I'd like to discuss something with you, and I want your input."

4. If you ask a question, and there is silence in response -- leave it there -- don't fill the gaps with conversation. Leave the other party to think, and to answer. Don't let him or her off the hook. Be patient -- you have the leverage if you've asked a question.

5. Don't ask, "Are you interested in......?" Instead ask, "Do you believe that you're qualified for..."

These are just a few examples. Be conscious of your speech. Avoid the use of any words which show uncertainty or weakness, or speak of desperation. Remember: It is Human Nature. People are attracted to strength and decisiveness.

By the way, another hint: Never be corned into making a stupid or feeble answer to an important question. 

Either, 1. Buy time to get it right ("That is an important question. It is too important to give you a casual or off the cuff answer. It warrants some further exploration on my part. I would suggest we revisit this within_________days, so I can give you my complete thoughts. Your question is important enough to answer properly, is it not?" The other person has been put on the spot, and you have bought some time to make an intelligent decision or reply after conducting some research.) or, 2. Refer a qualifying question back to the other party ("It would be helpful to all of us here if you would be specific about the exact circumstances that you are referring to in somewhat general terms." -- This puts the other party off-balance, on the defensive, and might de-fuse the intensity of the question. It also looks, to both the other party and the audience, as if you are eager to answer the question, if the other individual can find the words to express it properly. It makes you look a bit smarter, and makes the interrogator have to do some work to answer what seems to be a reasonable request for clarification. The interrogator will be seen as being on the defensive, and you will be perceived as being in control.

If you've just learned something new, put it to use. Starting now.

Faithfully,

Douglas Castle

Douglas Castle
Join my TNNWC Group, LLC collaborative business community (GICBC) at no cost by clicking on http://bit.ly/JoinTNNWC.

Thursday, July 08, 2010

The Great Gun Debate Rages On - With The Most Important Underlying Issue Unaddressed.

The Great Gun Debate Rages On - With The Most Important Underlying Issue Unaddressed.



 


Dear Friends:

I believe in a an unfettered right to self-defense under any and all potentially life-threatening circumstances (and I've lived a few of them). The problems are really that 1) criminals and gov't zealots will always be able to get arms, and will use them on anybody whom they choose if they are  either desperate, depraved or simply "following orders"; 2) otherwise well-intended "defenders of their own persons and property," will make careless mistakes and cause fatalities due to ignorance or negligence in handling weapons purchased for defense or target-shooting, and 3) Human Nature involves a horribly conflictory monster mix of distrustfulness, fear, a will to dominate (i.e., to bully) and an undeniable propensity toward violence.

A person bent on an act of violence will use any available tool as a weapon. A gun merely simplifies and further de-personalizes the process. The absense of a gun is too often remedied with a box cutter, a baseball bat, a tire iron, a knife or even a stone.

The sad reality is that as long as people wish to impose power over other people, and as long as people see their own propensity toward violence mirrored in the eyes of others, they will want to either own guns (for acts of violence and acts of vigilance), or to control the rights of others (whom they distrust or wish to dominate) to own guns.

Human Nature, as always, is the larger, unaddressed issue. Perhaps this remains so because it is such a source of shame when one gazes back upon the history of our species, with its slaughter, holocausts, ethnic cleansing, rioting, massacres and consistent pattern of violence and brutality. I believe that guns are just another means for Human Beings to meet their ultimate ends -- and for Humanity to meet its ultimate end.

Faithfully,

Douglas Castle

p.s. My friend Joyce forwarded me the article which follows. Simply click on the hyperlink and you will magically be connected with a thought-provoking news article from a Pennsylvania newspaper. The "castle doctrine" is just a bizarre coincidence. I swear.

"Now, Pennsylvania gun rights advocates are aiming at their next target: giving gun owners the right to fire rather than flee when threatened in their homes or cars or, ideally, any public place where they have a right to be."


Douglas Castle
Join my TNNWC Group, LLC collaborative business community (GICBC) at no cost by clicking on http://bit.ly/JoinTNNWC.



Douglas Castle's Somewhat Uninteresting BLOGGER Profile.



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