Update: Expect the Unexpected
While I frequently post fun pictures and articles, I rarely give a written update about what’s going on, where we are, and how life is. So this is that update. Probably won’t happen for a while, so if you’re interested, this is it.
We’re still in California – unfortunately. L The goal was to be gone by later this year, but well, the Lord works in mysterious ways. The OC Fairgrounds where I had worked steadily for the last year and off and on for 5 years started going through a world of hurt and drama with the Governator and his cronies wanting to sell it, undervalued, so that they look like budget-saving heroes. Idiots (and a *facepalm to boot*). Well, after 6 months of drama, I had just had enough. If we were sold, there’s a good chance that we’d be out of a job. If we weren’t, we were still subject to 15% paycuts and furloughs. It was kind of a lose-lose situation. I’m proud of all my friends that are still hanging tough over there, but this guy cut and ran. I was offered a position by the Outdoor Channel as an IT Analyst. Now, if you know me at all, this is a dream job. Doing what I do for a company that supports hunting, fishing and offroading. Was a huge blessing to once again be working at a solid company without budget problems. The only problem is, it’s in Temecula. Which is 65 miles away from Costa Mesa. Regardless, I’m commuting. 130 miles a day. Yes, its joyous. I wake up before God does, fight the hoards on the 91, just to make a paycheck. Even with all of that, though, I’m still loving it. It’s a great company, I work with some amazing technicians, and they treat us like gold. The “industry perks” aren’t bad either. I won’t complain about massive discounts on guns, ammo and knives.
The plan is to commute to Temecula until Courtney finds a job out here (and our lease ends). At that point we’ll relocate out here for a while. The plan is still to end up in Texas (or Montana, or Nashville, or any state with a job that doesn’t end in “fornia”). My mother-in-law and her husband also just found out that he’s being moved back to Fort Worth for work, so it will be nice to have some family out there when we do eventually make the move. It’s funny how many people I know that are moving to Texas. Several of my close friends and tons of people I went to college with. Guess it just makes sense.
In other news, we’re not doing Stagecoach this year. I’m VERY bummed, especially since I’ll never be able to see Brooks and Dunn, but it was too expensive since we’re GOING TO HAWAII next month! Some friends invited us to stay at their timeshare with them, and we can’t turn that down since we don’t have to pay for a hotel! We’ll be there for a week and be loving every minute of it. It will be a nice vacation since we won’t be doing as many river trips. Since I’m not on furlough anymore, I actually have to work on Fridays L
Let’s see…what else. Oh, I left the band I was playing with for the last 4.5 years a few months ago. We had an amazing run and they’re still going strong, but with all the changes in my life, I don’t feel like it’s wise to pursue that route while trying to figure everything else out. I have a couple of friends in LA that have me doing some writing for some country artists, which is right up my alley, so I’m trying to keep busy with that. I’ve submitted a few cuts and have gotten good reviews even though nothings been picked up yet. We’ll see, but its something.
Well, I think that’s it right now. Hopefully these will be more frequent. I’m sure my 3 readers will appreciate that. We’ll enjoy the summer, take some camping trips, do some fishing, some hunting, and some offroading, and just live life while we can.
Keep on truckin.
Still nervous about the census?
For anyone wanting to refuse the census, for reference I have attached the note I included in my census form after answering question number 1 only.
Also, for anyone wanting justification as to why the census is wrong, here you go: http://nickparsonsproject.com/nervous-about-the-census
*This blog post is not intended to request that you not participate in the US Census. It is merely my opinion and should be treated as such. You will need to make up your own mind as to whether you will participate in the Census*
Nervous About the Census?
The upcoming census makes me nervous. Very nervous. It’s yet another thing the Federal government attempts to force us to participate in. 95% of the upcoming census is COMPLETELY unconstitutional. According to Article I, Section 2, Clause 3 of the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution, “Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State.” That’s it. The constitution does not allow for data to be harvested for other purposes. It says nothing about finding out people’s race, religion, marital status, income or property owned. It is merely a headcount to correctly proportion representatives (and thus funding). Yet data harvesting is EXACTLY what this upcoming census is doing.
I know a lot of people will say “I’m not doing anything wrong, who cares if they know my race?” Consider this info released by the Freedom of Information Act: Although the Federal Government “assures” us that census data is used for census purposes only, and kept under lock and key, during World War II, the US Government used census data to get the exact number of Japanese Americans living in an area. They used this data to gather up these people and take them away to the “concentration camps” that OUR government setup in order to “protect us”. (see attached census report scan) Need a newer example? After 9/11, the census data was again accessed, locating any area in the United States with a Arab population of more than 1000 people. Law Enforcement received multi-hundred-page breakdowns by Zip codes of every person who was self-identified on the census as Egyptian, Iraqi, Jordanian, Lebanese, Moroccan, Palestinian, Syrian, Arab/Arabic, or "Other Arab." These areas were put on “watch lists” and as a direct result, the no-fly list, domestic terrorist watch list etc., were all developed using this information. (see http://epic.org/privacy/census/foia/default.html) . Even General Sherman during the Civil War used collected census data to determine where he was going to drive his army.
Were you aware that private organizations and non-profits can obtain the information from census collection by simply asking for it. These organizations include the KKK and the MPAA. That’s right – a group existing for the purpose of racial hate can learn your race, and an organization who destroys people’s lives by suing them into oblivion for incorrect internet usage can see your profession and income. Motivation much?
Where does this data harvesting stop? This year they ask how much you make and where you work. Next time it might be asking you if you own any firearms, or second properties and their location. I am not a conspiracy theorist, and I don’t believe there is going to be a massive government crackdown, however it’s been proven time and time again that the “secure” census information is anything but secure. It’s been used by the government for illegal means many times, and nothing is stopping them from doing the same again.
So, how should we respond? It is in fact required right? Well, technically yes. If you don’t answer all of the questions, you will probably be contacted via phone or personal visit to finish the questionnaire. If you refuse that, your neighbors will be asked to verify your information. Lastly, there is a small chance (only happened to less than 100 people last time) that you can be fined up to $100 for refusing to answer the questions. I can’t tell you what to do, but I will tell you what I am going to do:
When I receive my census paperwork, I will answer the only question I’m Constitutionally required to: how many people live in your household. I will leave the rest of the questions blank and include a note when I return it stating that according to the US Constitution, Article I, Section II, Clause 3 of the 14th Amendment, I am only required to give you the enclosed information. I will answer any personal visits of phone calls with the same information and request that my neighbors refuse to answer questions about me. Should it occur, I will pay my $100 fine. But I will not participate in a collection of illegal data that is against the tenants that my country was built on.
To each his own, but the past abuse of census data forces me to cling to my belief in the Constitution over the chance that the government is, for once, going to do what it said it will.
For more reading, see http://www.toad.com/gnu/census.html
About Me
Nick ParsonsI'm a musician, a southern rock junkie, a card-toting NRA member and an off-roader. I like hunting, fishing, camping, and spending time with my wife, who coincidentally loves the same things. I believe in liberty and the Constitution of this great country - don't push your laws on me and I won't push my freedoms on you. I drink Coors in a can, play my music too loud, and buy my clothes at Walmart. I fix technology for a living, but I'd just as soon get rid of the damn stuff. I'm somewhat of a pessimist, and that won't change til the world does. I'm a blunt person, but honest to the end. I'm just trying to be a simple man.
