my own drum

Atlanta inventor Lonnie Johnson has developed a method to produce electricity which requires no fuel, produces no harmful by-products, and needs no moving parts.

The Johnson Thermo-Electrochemical Converter, or JTEC, uses natural heat to force ions out of a hydrogen cell. It is made up of two closed hydrogen cells which are attached to pairs of electrodes. The cells are stacked - one being a low temperature stack and the other is a high temperature stack. Current flow compresses the hydrogen in the low temperature stack, ionizing the hydrogen and forcing the electrons through a membrane to the high temperature stack, where the hydrogen expands. Current is generated as electrons are freed. The high temperature stack generates more power than than the low temperature stack which creates an excess. This excess can then be used to power electrical devices. Hydrogen is not consumed or added in the process, and no emissions are produced.

Here's a link that probably explains it all better than I could ever hope to explain: JTEC System

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A group of burglars made their rounds in the East Atlanta neighborhoods on October 27, 2008. In two cases, the homeowners had installed video cameras and managed to obtain footage of the burglaries. Fortunately no one was home - one of the burglars can be seen carrying a pistol as he stands on the back porch of a home.

If you notice the date and timestamp on the first video, you'll see that the entire heist takes less than two minutes. The second video is also less than two minutes in length, but has been compiled from different cameras. I have to assume the robbers were just as quick at the second home. Also, both of these robberies took place within a half hour time span. There is no telling how many other homes were robbed in that same day, but it might be interesting to try to find out. One thing I did notice when watching these videos is that both homes had a deck. Perhaps the burglars targeted these homes because people with decks are known to have wide screen TV's? I don't know.

The video footage from both of these homes has now attracted national news attention. The local paper in Atlanta has also carried information about these burglaries. And, at least according to the comments on one of the videos, the perps are now in custody. Let's all pray that they get plenty of time to reconsider their chosen career path, especially in light of the fact that one of them was armed.

From looking at the first of these videos it appears that the burglars knew about the video camera on the back porch. Three out of the four made attempts to conceal their identity. The fourth appears to be an idiot, but a clearly recognizable idiot. In the second video it appears that none of these guys had a clue that they were being videotaped for all the rest of us to see.

In both cases, the homeowners have vowed to improve the surveillance on their property with the addition of more cameras. I would hope they pony up for something with better resolution as well. One of the burglars looks like he could be one of the dope dealers in my neighborhood, but a closer look at the first video indicates that's probably not the same guy. And, when I think about it, dope dealing is probably far more lucrative than stealing and neither one will warrant much more than a wrist slap from a judge in this town.

Kudo's to the homeowners for posting these video clips on YouTube. It's good to see that site has more potential than watching some moron fire bottlerockets out of his ass.

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Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin was recently in Denver and she sat for an interview with a local station (KUSA-TV). That interview included a feature called "Question from the Third Grade." The interviewer asked our Veep-Want-To Be, "Brandon Garcia wants to know, What does the vice president do?"

"That's a great question, Brandon, and a vice president has a really great job, because not only are they there to support the president's agenda, they're like the team member, the team mate to that president," Palin said.

"But also, they're in charge of the United States Senate, so if they want to they can really get in there with the senators and make a lot of good policy changes that will make life better for Brandon and his family and his classroom. And it's a great job and I look forward to having that job," she said.

According to the constitution, the vice president's main duty is to replace the president if the president dies, resigns, is removed from office or can no longer carry out his or her duties for other reasons. The Constitution names the vice president as the president of the Senate but allows the vice president to cast a vote only to break a tie.

From Article 1, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution:
The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided.

From Article 2, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution:
In Case of the Removal of the President from Office, or of his Death, Resignation, or Inability to discharge the Powers and Duties of the said Office, the same shall devolve on the Vice President, and the Congress may by Law provide for the Case of Removal, Death, Resignation or Inability, both of the President and Vice President, declaring what Officer shall then act as President, and such Officer shall act accordingly, until the Disability be removed, or a President shall be elected.

From Amendment 20, item 3 of the U.S. Constitution:
3. If, at the time fixed for the beginning of the term of the President, the President elect shall have died, the Vice President elect shall become President. If a President shall not have been chosen before the time fixed for the beginning of his term, or if the President elect shall have failed to qualify, then the Vice President elect shall act as President until a President shall have qualified; and the Congress may by law provide for the case wherein neither a President elect nor a Vice President elect shall have qualified, declaring who shall then act as President, or the manner in which one who is to act shall be selected, and such person shall act accordingly until a President or Vice President shall have qualified.

From Amendment 25, item 1 of the U.S. Constitution:
1. In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President.

Nowhere in any of that do I read where the Vice-President "runs" the Senate. If John McCain has not yet had any doubts about his choice of running mate, surely now is the time. I'm reminded of that fateful day when Alexander Haig was running around the White House declaring himself to be "in charge" To wit:

In 1981, when President Ronald Reagan was shot, Vice President George H.W. Bush was traveling in Texas. Secretary of State Alexander Haig responded to a reporter's question regarding who was running the government by stating, "Constitutionally, gentlemen, you have the President, the Vice President and the Secretary of State in that order, and should the President decide he wants to transfer the helm to the Vice President, he will do so. He has not done that. As of now, I am in control here, in the White House, pending return of the Vice President and in close touch with him. If something came up, I would check with him, of course."

Clearly Alexander Haig did not know the presidential line of succession any more than Sarah Palin understands the duties of the Vice-President. Thank you Sarah Palin for educating our third graders.

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The Toltec people were mostly prominent in Mexico, Yucatan peninsula, the Gulf coast and possibly ranging as far as the Pacific coast. Their appearance was after the fall of Teotihuacan and before the rise of the Aztecs, or roughly 900 to 1200 AD. The word Tolteca is synonymous with artist, artisan or wise man. And so it generally considered that the Toltects were a force of intelligence. However, the Toltecs also had a warrior class. It seems that they were perhaps smart enough to want to protect themselves.

In the modern world there are several reputable Toltec scholars and teachers. Recently my travels have allowed me to cross the path of one such teacher, don Miguel Ruiz. Actually, a friend let me read one of his books, The Four Agreements.

To be honest, my first reading of this book was difficult. Not because the material within was hard to understand, but because of the simplicity and straightforward way the material was presented. I read at a fairly high grade level, devouring technical manuals with ease. So when I encounter a book written to reach the rudimentary reader I cringe.

In my first reading of this book I was able to grasp that something important lay within the pages. So I set it down, and two weeks later began reading again. This time I got it, I understood the message. And the message is clearly meant to help each of us attain a higher level of personal and spiritual interaction.

I'm going to give you each of the four agreements here, but I will not expand upon their meanings. I have no desire to infringe upon the original authors discourse. I do recommend that you search out this book and read it for yourself, then pass it along to a friend. (There is a link to Amazon.Com at the bottom of this article - it is for your easy reference, I have no affiliation or interest in Amazon.com.) And so, here are the four promises:

1) Be impeccable with your word.
2) Don't take it personal.
3) Don't make assumptions.
4) Always do your best.

Pretty simple stuff, right? Don't be so fast. I have found that in my everyday life it is very difficult to practice these four agreements consistently -- and I consider myself a fairly decent person. I actually have more than two decades of practicing 12 step principles on my side, and these four agreements have opened a brand new dimension.

Starting from the day that you accept and understand these four agreements your life can be transformed. You can be free of daily drama, conflict, and stress. You can immediately improve your personal relationships. You can free yourself from the bondage of self. You can dream of a life that you always wanted, and see that dream become realized. You can be happy again. You can bring happiness to others.

Now is the time for you to embrace change. It's time to become the person that you should be.

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Amazon.com - The Four Agreements

The Dead Mans Party is THE Halloween bash to attend. The party will feature 4 bands, special guests, a Halloween costume contest, vegan sweets, organic tea, a photo booth, and corroborative doodling (Collabadoodle). Admission is only five dollars.

The entertainment will include The Natives, The Back Pockets, Dark Nites of Camalot, El Jefe, and others. You are encouraged to bring your musical instruments for some community jamming.

Gather your ghoul friends and come celebrate the season with us at Dead Mans Party. The location is 368 Ponce de Leon Ave. It's a little hard to see from the road, but there is a gate on Ponce that leads back to the main building. If you get lost, it's immediately next door to the Yaarab Shrine, located at 400 Ponce de Leon Ave. (You can't miss the Shrine.)