JAMES MADISON QUOTE - 1822

"A popular government without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a Prologue to a Farce or a Tragedy; or, perhaps both. Knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power knowledge gives."

SCOTTSBORO WEATHER - SUN & MOON RISE

Monday, December 24, 2012

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from Southern Appalachia


Jesus, Jesus, rest your head.
You have got a manger bed.
All the evil folk on earth,
Sleep in feathers at their birth.

(But) Jesus, Jesus, rest your head.
You have got a manger bed.
Have you heard about our Jesus?
Have you heard about his fate?
How his mother came to the stable,
On that Christmas Eve so late?
Winds were blowing.
Cows were lowing.
Stars were glowing, glowing, glowing.
Jesus, Jesus, rest your head.
You have got a manger bed.
—Kentucky folk carol; collected by John Jacob Niles: 1912-1913 and 1932-1934
http://www.appalachianhistory.net/


Sunday, December 23, 2012

"Gun Control" and Weapons Confiscation, a Tyrants Tool of Oppression


Remember Waco, note the U.S. Flag and the State of Alabama Flag flying on the M-60 tank. Make no mistake, the purpose of the Second Amendment is for the citizens to take arms in the prevention of such tyrannical actions of criminals and government.
 
 
A horrible picture; a picture of a burned child in the aftermath of Waco. Did this child and the other 46 innocent women and children deserve to be murdered. Where is the outrage now when agents of the United States Government murdered 46 innocent women and children at Waco Texas utilizing gas outlawed by the Geneva Conventions, military equipment in our own nation was used against BABIES? Many were infants and children under 12 years of age. There was no prosecution for the murdering of the innocents. 



Now misinformed folks want to remove the citizens right to defend themselves with semi-automatic assault weapons from tyrants in our own government and criminals? The move to confiscate weapons: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/12/16/feinstein-to-introduce-assault-weapons-ban-bill/comment-page-8/

Have you not seen the news crew video of armed officers beating up an old woman and citizens who were attempting to defend their homes in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina? Their homes folks, police and the military broke into their homes conducted illegal searches, assaulted citizens and stole their firearms. No prosecution for those crimes.
Here is the video

How about it, do you think this is justice in the United States of America?

The following mixed media displays make good points.
Legal Drugs resulting in school shootings. Is there a move to ban these drugs, a likely cause of psychotic behavior?
 
Death by physicians. Should we ban doctors and health care??
 
Shall we ban vehicles because idiots drive drunk or inebriated because of drugs?
 
 Commentary and quotes by famous Americans on the Right to Bear Arms, our Second Amendment.
“And that the said Constitution be never construed to authorize Congress to infringe the just liberty of the Press, or the rights of Conscience; or to prevent the people of the United States, who are peaceable citizens, from keeping their own arms; …”Samuel Adams
quoted in the Philadelphia Independent Gazetteer, August 20, 1789, “Propositions submitted to the Convention of this State”
 
“Firearms stand next in importance to the constitution itself. They are the American people’s liberty teeth and keystone under independence … from the hour the Pilgrims landed to the present day, events, occurrences and tendencies prove that to ensure peace security and happiness, the rifle and pistol are equally indispensable … the very atmosphere of firearms anywhere restrains evil interference — they deserve a place of honor with all that’s good.”George Washington
First President of the United States
 
“Those who hammer their guns into plowshares will plow for those who do not.”Thomas Jefferson
Third President of the United States
 
“The constitutions of most of our States assert that all power is inherent in the people; that … it is their right and duty to be at all times armed; … “Thomas Jefferson
letter to Justice John Cartwright, June 5, 1824
 
Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed; as they are in almost every kingdom in Europe. The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword; because the whole body of the people are armed, and constitute a force superior to any band of regular troops that can be, on any pretence, raised in the United States. A military force, at the command of Congress, can execute no laws, but such as the people perceive to be just and constitutional; for they will possess the power, and jealousy will instantly inspire the inclination, to resist the execution of a law which appears to them unjust and oppressive. ---Noah Webster, An Examination of the Leading Principles of the Federal Constitution (Philadelphia 1787).
 
The whole of that Bill [of Rights] is a declaration of the right of the people at large or considered as individuals...[I]t establishes some rights of the individual as unalienable and which consequently, no majority has a right to deprive them of.
---Albert Gallatin to Alexander Addison, Oct 7, 1789, MS. in N.Y. Hist. Soc.-A.G. Papers, 2.
 
Saint George Tucker (1752-1828) served as a colonel in the Virginia militia, was wounded in the Revolutionary War, was a law professor at William and Mary, and later was a justice on the Virginia Supreme Court from 1804 to 1811. He was also a friend of Thomas Jefferson. In 1803 he published a five-volume edition of Blackstone's Commentaries on the Laws of England. Some of his quotes:
 
"This may be considered as the true palladium of liberty .... The right of self defence is the first law of nature: in most governments it has been the study of rulers to confine this right within the narrowest limits possible. Wherever standing armies are kept up, and the right of the people to keep and bear arms is, under any colour or pretext whatsoever, prohibited, liberty, if not already annihilated, is on the brink of destruction." 
 
"If, for example, a law be passed by congress, prohibiting the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates, or persuasions of a man's own conscience or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people to assemble peaceably, or to keep and bear arms; it would, in any of these cases, be the province of the judiciary to pronounce whether any such act were constitutional, or not; and if not, to acquit the accused from any penalty which might be annexed to the breach of such unconstitutional act."


Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Jackson County Commission Meeting - Coal Mining Issue Back in the News



Monday was a combined work session and regular session for the Jackson County Commission. Unfortunately I could not be present for both sessions. As soon as the video of the work session (in part) finishes down loading I will post it on my blog. Work Session Agenda posted below.

Item 19, D&E Mining was a previous issue and resulted in a public hearing in 2009. Info and links below.
Nov. 23, 2009 County Commission Meeting, issue involving D&E Mining- "Exception to decrease the Right of Way on County Road 81 for the purpose of mining was disapproved. A motion was made and approved to maintain a 100ft right of way in the area proposed by D & E Mining to mine on County Road 81." http://arklite.blogspot.com/2009/11/jackson-county-commission-meeting_24.html

Oct. 27, 2009 meeting on issue: "2) Public Hearing set for Nov 19, 2009 to consider the issue of allowing D & E Mining the right to mine coal from under the current right of way of Co RD 81. Ms. Manning, current County Engineer as well as the previous County Engineer have remarked, in their opinion, "mining close to the road way, 15 feet, was an unsafe act." The current right of way extends 50 feet from the edge of the county right of way. Further comments from the commission indicated there were concerns over safety of children on school buses as well as citizens traveling the area. http://arklite.blogspot.com/2009/10/jackson-conty-commission-meeting.html

News Story by David Brewer on issue as reported by the Huntsville Times: http://blog.al.com/breaking/2009/11/sand_mountain_residents_claim.html

Other potential problems: "6) Coal Recovery, including removal by auguring, coal underlying the right-of-way of Jackson County Road 81."
http://surface-mining.alabama.gov/P3935R2/Data%5CPart%20III.pdf Hazard?
Questions - What is the extent of auguring operations under the right of way? Depth-amount of material removed-hazard to the public's right of travel? Have laws been violated and was the commission aware of the tunneling under the right of way?
Is the County Engineer aware of the mining company's actions in this permit as it relates to tunneling/auguring activity?  
 
 


Commission Chair to establish committees: http://thedailysentinel.com/news/article_13029768-4607-11e2-b303-001a4bcf887a.html Next meeting will be Monday, Dec. 17, 2012 at 5PM

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Scottsboro City Council Meeting - Vacant City Council Position Filled


Last night was a work session and regular city council meeting. The big news-Gary Stewart selected to fill the position left by Mr. Hodges when he was elected as the Jackson County Commission Chairman. Video of the regular council session is posted below the agenda.

Work Session Agenda
 
 
Regular Meeting Agenda
  



Daily Sentinel article: http://thedailysentinel.com/news/article_4e10038e-4474-11e2-ba34-0019bb2963f4.html

Saturday, December 8, 2012

TVA Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant - NRC 95001 & 95003 Inspection Reports/Citizen Input

NRC 95001 & 95003  INSPECTION-PUBLIC REPORT


On Wednesday December 5, 2012 the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, NRC, held an update and safety/inspection report for the 3 nuclear reactors at the Tennessee Valley Authority's Browns Ferry Nuclear Facility. This report was related to three White findings, 95001 Inspection and one Red finding, 95003 Inspection. Huntsville Times/Al.com report: http://blog.al.com/breaking/2012/12/browns_ferry_preparing_for_fin.html 

NRC Browns Ferry Unit 1 information and Reports: http://www.nrc.gov/info-finder/reactor/bf1.html
NRC Browns Ferry Unit 2 information and reports: http://www.nrc.gov/info-finder/reactor/bf2.html
NRC Browns Ferry Unit 3 information and reports: http://www.nrc.gov/info-finder/reactor/bf3.html
 
All U.S. civilian nuclear power reactor reports and status may be found at this NRC link:  http://www.nrc.gov/info-finder/reactor/index.html 
 
GE Mark 1 Nuclear Reactor Diagram
 
Chattanooga Times Free Press article by Pam Sohn: "The Nuclear Regulatory Commission's regulators told TVA nuclear officials Wednesday that it is lifting the white safety findings from the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant. TVA chief nuclear officer Preston Swafford and Browns Ferry's plant manager Keith Polson said they will in January ask NRC to schedule a third volley of inspections aimed at lifting the NRC's most serious safety flag -- a red finding that has been hanging over the plant for more than a year."

"The red flag stemmed from a faulty valve on a shutdown cooling system on Unit 1 that went unnoticed for 18 months. RC found that the failure was a one of TVA's safety and maintenance culture there. n Wednesday, plant manager Polson told NRC officials that TVA had created an improvement plan containing over 1,000 action items."To date 72 percent of those actions are complete," Polson said." http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/dec/06/browns-ferry-gets-green-light-on-some/

If the TVA requests the final inspection in January 2013 it is expected that the comprehensive final inspection to remove the "Red Flag Finding," the most serious safety finding reflecting degraded conditions, will begin in April 2013 according to NRC officials.

Previous articles about the TVA Browns Ferry Nuclear Facility and the GE Mark 1 type of nuclear reactors on this blog: http://arklite.blogspot.com/search/label/TVA%20Browns%20Ferry This listing contains previous NRC meetings on Browns Ferry and the related issues concerning defects in the GE Mark 1 type of nuclear reactors which exploded and melted down at Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Facility in Japan due toan extended Station Blackout as a result of a natural disaster.

VIDEO Part 1-NRC and TVA Presentations


VIDEO Part 2 Public Presentations The Browns Ferry Incident - If we forget our history, we are doomed to repeat it.

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Scottsboro City Council

 
Wednesday, December 5, 2012 was a continuation of the Nov. 28th meeting. Video and agenda of the Nov 28 meeting  may be found at http://arklite.blogspot.com/2012/11/scottsboro-city-council-finance.html
 
AGENDA
 
 
The meeting continuation was to vote on the City of Scottsboro Bond Issue, which was accepted and approved.
 
Second was a nomination and vote on the replacement Council Member for Matthew Hodges position. Mr. Hodges was elected as the chairman of the County Commission. There were three nominations: 1) J.D. Stephens; 2) Deborah Light; 3) Linda Bray.
 
Ms. Light and Ms. Bray each received 2 votes. There was no one elected by the council due to the split vote. The issue will be brought forward at the next City Council regular meeting December 10, 2012.
Daily Sentinel's report: