A Lucky Find

Sometimes very short newspaper articles can convey a whole lot. The Sydney Morning Herald reported on 12 August 1914: “A baby boy, about 3 months old, was found on the edge of the cliffs at Blue Fish Point, Manly, about 8pm on Monday. It was without a stitch of clothing.”
The chances of someone finding this baby on a cold winter’s night at that location must have been very slim. What became of the infant? What became of his mother? We do not know, but let’s hope his life took a turn for the better.

Mission Australia kicks off training for City2Surf

Mission Australia's preparation for the 2010 City2Surf is officially underway with the Sydney Roosters hosting the first training session at Moore Park last Thursday.

For the third year in a row, clients from Mission Australia's homeless mens services in Sydney will participate in the event.

This year the team's training schedule is designed by Sydney Roosters forward Jason Baitieri, and facilitated by the Michael Project's Recreation Officer, Adam Bowden.

The Roosters will host fortnightly training sessions for the weeks leading up to the City2Surf, which should provide an interesting training project for 'coach' Jason Baitieri:

“I had a fantastic time helping the guys out and passing on my knowledge that I have gained through my years playing rugby league. I am looking forward to seeing the progress over the coming weeks leading up to City2Surf”

As part of their Community Engagement Program, Sydney Roosters work with charities like Mission Australia to encourage players to take responsibility for community engagement in addition to playing commitments.

Ron Paul: It Is Obamas War He is The One Sending More Troops Over There!

CNN July 05, 2010

Ron Paul Congratulates Michael Steele CNN 07/04/10

Ron Paul on CNN 07/04/10: RNC Chair Michael Steele War Comments

Dr. Paul's statement concerning Michael Steele and Afghanistan
“I would like to congratulate Michael Steele for his leadership on one of the most important issues of today. He is absolutely right: Afghanistan is now Obama’s war. During the 2008 campaign, Obama was out in front in insisting that more troops be sent to Afghanistan. Obama called for expanding the war even as he pretended to be a peace candidate.
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My Country 'Tis of Thee

"My country, 'tis of thee,
Sweet land of liberty, Of thee I sing.
Land where my fathers died!
Land of the Pilgrims' pride!
From ev'ry mountainside,
Let freedom ring!"
-- Samuel Francis Smith
(1808-1895) Baptist minister, journalist, author
Source: America, first stanza of song also known as My Country 'Tis of Thee
http://quotes.liberty-tree.ca/quote_blog/Samuel.Smith.Quote.F310

Declaration of Independence

"The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.— That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.— Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world. ..."
-- Declaration of Independence

Source: Declaration of Independence, IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.
http://liberty-tree.ca/research/Declaration.of.Independence
http://quotes.liberty-tree.ca/quote_blog/Declaration.of.Independence.Quote.C266

Ron Paul weekly update : Big Government and the Fed: A Sinister Alliance

Big Government and the Fed: A Sinister Alliance


http://www.RonPaul.com - 07/05/2010

by Ron Paul

Last week I was pleased to see my Republican colleagues take up the cause to fully and completely audit the Federal Reserve by including my language from the Federal Reserve Transparency Act in a motion to recommit the Financial Regulation Reform Bill.

Although this effort was defeated by the Democrat majority there were many good reasons to support it. The Federal Reserve Transparency Act would eliminate restrictions on GAO audits of the Federal Reserve and open Fed operations to congressional oversight. Additionally, audits could include discount window operations, open market operations and agreements with foreign central banks, such as the ongoing dollar swap operations with European central banks.

Since its inception the Federal Reserve has always operated in the shadows without sufficient scrutiny or oversight while Congress has kept its hands off and its eyes closed. The Federal Reserve has presided over the near-complete destruction of the United States dollar. Since 1913 the dollar has lost over 95% of its purchasing power, aided and abetted by the Federal Reserve's loose monetary policy.

The Federal Reserve Transparency Act would achieve much more needed transparency of the Federal Reserve system. However, House and Senate negotiators failed to include the full language of my legislation in the conference report for the Financial Reform Bill, and the full Congress missed yet another opportunity to demand accountability from the Federal Reserve by defeating the Republicans' motion to recommit. Over 320 members of Congress from both parties co-sponsored my original bill, which was incorporated into that motion to recommit. Almost 200 members of Congress who care about the Federal Reserve transparency voted for this motion to recommit. Unfortunately they find themselves in the minority.

Any legitimate objections to the audit proposals were addressed in the language of the motion to recommit. Thus it is clear that the real reasons for opposing it are unstated and indefensible. The real reasons are that politicians like to spend money far exceeding income and it is convenient to have an enable of this in the Federal Reserve. The easier it is for the Fed to create money hidden from public view and accountability, the easier it is for politicians to spend that money and make sure their friends and interests are taken care of through shady political processes.

The broader reasons for supporting this entire financial regulatory reform bill are just as sinister. This is not about cracking down on big banks, as some claim. Rather, this is about not wasting a crisis. This is about using a traumatic event to increase government power and control over the economy. If it was really about addressing the causes of this recession, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would have been dealt with or abolished. Failed companies would just fail rather than being bailed out. Instead, a permanent bailout mechanism is being established. The Fed and its ability to control interest rates and create cheap money would be reformed, or better yet, abolished. But instead its power is being increased, and this Congress refuses to even fully audit it.

So yet again in the midst of a crisis government insists on acting in ways outside the scope of the Constitution, hoping that the crisis gives them cover. The truth is that in the crises is when we need constitutional limitations the most.

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Ron Paul is America's leading voice for limited, constitutional government, low taxes, free markets, and a return to sound monetary policies.