Thursday, July 31, 2008

Marriage in the USA

Ok... I know I haven't written for a while, and I will update everyone this weekend. But I needed to chime in and talk about something that is starting to piss me off.

America is built around freedom and equality. We have gone to wars with other nations and ourselves over this. Thousands and thousands of people have died to protect this belief. And this is what makes Americans Proud to be an American!

Now lets think about this some more for a moment...

In the First Amendment to the United States Constitution
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
There is the Establishment Clause.

The establishment clause has generally been interpreted to prohibit 1) the establishment of a national religion by Congress, or 2) the preference of one religion over another or the support of a religious idea with no identifiable secular purpose.

Notice what I highlighted in that statement. The FIRST Amendment basically states there must be a Seperation of Church and State in the USA.

Now everyone knows there are benefits to being married:
  1. Joint parental rights of children
  2. Joint adoption
  3. Status as "next-of-kin" for hospital visits and medical decisions
  4. Right to make a decision about the disposal of loved ones remains
  5. Immigration and residency for partners from other countries
  6. Crime victims recovery benefits
  7. Domestic violence protection orders
  8. Judicial protections and immunity
  9. Automatic inheritance in the absence of a will
  10. Public safety officers death benefits
  11. Spousal veterans benefits
  12. Social Security
  13. Medicare
  14. Joint filing of tax returns
  15. Wrongful death benefits for surviving partner and children
  16. Bereavement or sick leave to care for partner or children
  17. Child support
  18. Joint Insurance Plans
  19. Tax credits including: Child tax credit, Hope and lifetime learning credits
  20. Deferred Compensation for pension and IRAs
  21. Estate and gift tax benefits
  22. Welfare and public assistance
  23. Joint housing for elderly
  24. Credit protection
  25. Medical care for survivors and dependents of certain veterans
Now on to the definition of Marriage. Certain people want the law to say between a Man and a Woman, and some people want it to say between two consenting adults. The people who are fighting for the Constitution to state a Marriage is between a Man and a Woman, are doing this mainly because that is what is stated in the bible.
Have you not read, he replied, that at the beginning the Creator "made them male and female," and said, "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh"? So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate (Matthew 19:4–6, Mark 10:6–9).
Now stick with me here... If the Constitution were made so that the definition of Marriage (which in the United States of America lawfully gives you certain benefits) is between a Man and a Woman (definition from Christianity beliefs) then this is support of a religious idea in the Constitution.

And this would directly conflict with the very First Amendment of the United States of America, which is the poster child for the Bill of Rights. Oh ya remember that...

Sorry, no matter what your religious beliefs. If you are a US Citizen, have fought to protect America, or fought to get another nation freedom, then you believe in or fought for the US Constitution and what it stands for.

First Amendment – Establishment Clause, Free Exercise Clause; freedom of speech, of the press, and of assembly; right to petition

Second Amendment – Right to keep and bear arms

Third Amendment – Protection from quartering of troops

Fourth Amendment – Protection from unreasonable search and seizure

Fifth Amendment – due process, double jeopardy, self-incrimination, eminent domain

Sixth Amendment – Trial by jury and rights of the accused; Confrontation Clause, speedy trial, public trial, right to counsel

Seventh Amendment – Civil trial by jury

Eighth Amendment – Prohibition of excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishment

Ninth Amendment – Protection of rights not specifically enumerated in the Bill of Rights

Tenth Amendment – Powers of states and people

Therefore, you cannot have the statement, "Marriage is between a Man and a Woman" in the Constitution. It, in itself, is against the Constitution.

Nater

If you don't want Gay and Lesbian marriages, DON'T GET ONE!

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

US Open Pictures

Here are my pics from Tuesday's practice round. There was some definite June Gloom out there. It was foggy, cloudy, windy, and kind of cold. But this should all be gone by the weekend, and we should have some good weather.



Nater

Monday, June 09, 2008

US OPEN BABY!!!

I'm going to the OPEN! I'm going to the OPEN!


I will take pics tomorrow and post them Tuesday evening.

NATER

Thursday, May 29, 2008

Back to School

So this evening I registered for courses at SDSU. I am starting an online program to get my Professional Certificate in Project Management. I feel that until I can start on a Masters degree (most programs require 2 years in industry), I can get my PMI Certificate. Callaway is offering tuition reimbursement for this program for me, so thats cool.

Here is the description for the program. SDSU gives me a year to complete it, but I see myself getting it done by the end of summer. Should be interesting since I have been out of school for a couple years now, and I have a full-time job that is very mentally taxing. I feel that it will get me more prepared to embark on a Master's Program though.

So I hope this goes well and doesn't burn me out too much...

NATER
(now a Viking and an Aztec...)

Friday, May 16, 2008

My New Driver

So I bought myself a new driver. Not really to replace the one I have, but just as a test club and a spare. I got the new FT-5 iMix, <- check out the website. This is a cool new product that we just released. It allows me to change shafts or club heads as I wish.

So if I am playing a short tight course, I could take an FTi head and a shorter shaft and make a very straight and dependable driver. If I am playing a more wide open course, I could take an FT-5 head and a longer shaft to get more distance.

Or I can even take it to the next level. If its cold, I could use a softer flex driver to help attain more height. On wet days, use a driver head with more loft to increase my carry. On windy days get a shorter stiffer lower lofted driver to hit low penetrating shots. As you can see the options are endless...

Currently all I have is one head and one shaft. But I am planning on having about 5 to 6 shafts shortly. Don't know when I will be getting another head though. Kind of waiting for the new FTi LCG head in a fade configuration. I just hook the normal one TOO much.

Anyways, here it is:




Isn't she a beauty...

NATER

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Great Callaway Video

So here is a movie that they filmed about the process we take to make our golf balls at work. They spent a full day going through and filming us. Sorry... I am not in it, only our prototyping crew.

But its a good watch and you can see the full process from start to finish. Just click on the Callaway Logo below, the video is in the lower right hand corner.


NATER

Tuesday, May 06, 2008

My Logitech Harmony One

So I got a Logitech Harmony One Universal Remote. This thing is awesome! I spent about 5 minutes setting it up and about 20 minutes customizing it.


The cool part is the multi-function buttons on the touch screen lcd. I have programed in "PLAY A DVD", you just press this button and the TV turns on, the DVD turns on, the stereo turns on, and it will even press play for me. Hit "Watch TV", and the DVD player turns off, the stereo turns off, the TV's input turns to the cable box, and the cable box turns on. This thing can even control a remote control HVAC system, light systems, pretty much anything that has a remote...

This thing is just phenomenal. Best part is that it was Slick Nater's best deal ever!

NATER