Link:
https://dannyman.toldme.com/2020/01/29/stand-down-the-army-resilience-is-our-new-national-defense/
Thoughts during this morning’s commute.
The first thought was we should disband the standing Army. We don’t need one. A Navy, airpower, some Marines and special forces? Sure. We have a National Guard to respond to domestic emergencies. We probably want to maintain and modernize equipment in case we need a war. States can form militias if they like. We can find a lot of Americans who are fond of guns on short notice. If you want to carry a firearm, you get government training, and you’re eligible for the draft.
“Standing armies are dangerous to liberty.†–Alexander Hamilton
You can’t do it all at once. Closing bases and shutting off defense contractors retards economic activity. Twenty years. Spread money around impacted communities.
But what should the government be doing?
Defense wise, we need to focus on Information Security, and, for the main part, climate change and emergency preparedness. The enemy will not land on our shores and defeat us with missiles. They’ll hack our elections and take our power grid hostage. Between the threat of information warfare and climate change, we need resilient logistics. If all the computers crash tomorrow, can we get food between communities? Where does our military-industrial complex go? Logistics.
Rural communities ought to be able to assemble and maintain their own damn tractors and combine harvesters. Right now John Deere tells farmers they can’t fix their own equipment. The government could sponsor Open Source farm equipment and software. Every county ought to be able to assemble, maintain, and carry out most repairs on its farm equipment. Every region ought to have the capacity to build tractors and vehicles, end-to-end.
The US Army is not going to save the world from the threats it faces in this century. American leadership in finding ways to restore the atmosphere to health, while modeling how we can build resilient local communities is what needs to happen.
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Link:
https://dannyman.toldme.com/2013/02/19/presidential-decree-6-intellectual-commons-restoration/
In an age where innovation and creative thinking move ever faster, it is sick and demented that we have extended copyright periods to over a century. It is shame for the current generation and those of the twentieth century that the intellectual commons ended in 1923.
The gradual seizure of the intellectual commons. CC: Wikipedia
The United States hereby withdraws from International Copyright Treaties, especially the Berne Convention. The substance and spirit of the Copyright Law of 1790 shall be restored. All intellectual property rights must be recorded by the government. Software copyright protection requires a copy of source code for software to be stored in escrow with the government. Exclusive rights are conferred to the author for 14 years, plus an option to extend rights for 14 years if the author is alive at that time.
A Copyright Will Protect You From Pirates! CC: Wikipedia
All other works are Public Domain. Upon expiration of software copyright protections, the government will publish the source code.
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Link:
https://dannyman.toldme.com/2013/02/15/presidential-decree-5-traffic-light-equality/
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all people are created equal, that they are endowed by the Creator with certain inalienable rights: among these are life, liberty, and an equal right to cross a road intersection.”
If the pedestrians must push a button to cross the street, then the motorists have to push a button too.
If the bicyclists have to walk over the sidewalk to press a button to get a light to cross the street, then motorists have to get up out of their cars to press the button to cross the street.
If there are expensive sensors embedded in the road to detect a car to give them a light, then there are less expensive sensors to detect the presence of pedestrians and bicyclists who may also wish to cross the street.
If that is too difficult, then knock it off with the sensors and just program the light to give everyone a chance to traverse the intersection safely.
Also, it is decreed that if you want sensor-activated lights, then ye shall fund research to use weatherized video cameras to watch traffic of all modes approaching the intersection, in an effort to cycle the lights appropriately before the pedestrian/bicycle/automobile gets to the red light.
See Also: Copenhagenize.com: Motorists Dismount
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Link:
https://dannyman.toldme.com/2013/01/30/presidential-decree-4-webinars/
It is cool if you want to conduct training or give presentations using Internet technology. However, if you want to call it a “Webinar” you are required to ship a safety helmet and sippy cup to all participants. If you’re going to be retarded, be responsible about it.
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Link:
https://dannyman.toldme.com/2012/12/17/presidential-decree-3-a-well-regulated-militia/
“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
You can own any firearm you want. All firearms will be stored at armories. Armories will be regulated by the ATF. Safe transportation of armaments among munitions factories and armories will be entrusted to the National Guard. Owners of firearms may store their firearms at any armories of their choice. The operation of public armories shall be funded by subscriber fees.
Firearms owners will have access to their weapons for maintenance and skills training at their armory of choice. Different armories may have different facilities for maintenance and skills training.
Licensed hunters may “check out” not more than two firearms for the duration of the hunting season. Hunters may only check out firearms suitable for their type of hunting. Firearms intended for human combat are not to be checked out.
The Military, National Guard, and Law Enforcement Agencies shall have the ability to license their agents to bear firearms for human combat. These agents must have current training on the appropriate use of these firearms to ensure public safety. Agents should be provided with sufficient access to these firearms for the performance of their duty. When not on duty, firearms will be stored at either a public armory or a private armory maintained by their employer. Agents entrusted with combat firearms must have free and immediate access to mental health services during their employment, and submit to a basic psychiatric review every three months.
In the event of a collapse in public order, state of emergency, suspension of habeas corpus, revolution, coup d’etat, military invasion or occupation, or other circumstances in which government of the people, by the people, and for the people has been compromised or forfeited, armories may release firearms for public use at their discretion.
1 Comment
Link:
https://dannyman.toldme.com/2012/12/03/presidential-decree-2-car-alarms/
Audible car alarms are a public nuisance. Their use is thus prohibited, with the following exception:
The owner or operator of an automobile may actively trigger an audible car alarm if it would serve the interests of public safety. Any activation of an audible car alarm must be accompanied by a request for emergency services. Any button which triggers an audible car alarm must also send an automated distress signal to public safety authorities. If authorities do not respond in a timely fashion, concerned citizens are empowered to act on the behalf of the authorities.
If an alarm is raised in error, the responding authority must respond in one of two ways, at their discretion:
1) Use “the jaws of life” or comparable apparatus to remove or destroy the audible portion of the car alarm. If this apparatus is not available, sledge hammers, firearms, explosives and other such tools may be used, if they can be safely deployed without jeopardizing public safety.
2) Impound the automobile for not more than 90 days. Upon confiscation, all audible alarm technologies will be removed or rendered permanently inoperable, and the automobile will be made available to members of the impounding organization for their use for either official business or employee leisure.
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Link:
https://dannyman.toldme.com/2012/11/23/presidential-decree-1-black-friday/
On the Friday immediately following Thanksgiving, no store may open any earlier than it does on any other Friday.
On Thanksgiving, a store may extend their hours beyond the time they usually close, but all customers must be offered a complimentary slice of pie, of a size not less than 1/8 of a 9″ diameter pie, and no less than 1″ deep. A store must offer either pumpkin, sweet potato, or pecan pie, but may offer additional flavors. Customers will be allowed their fill of complimentary coffee, tea, drinking water, and whipped cream.
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