NoelSH {A Blog By Noel Herron

Victorville citizens gathered in the hundreds at street corners and City Hall to protest tax increases and government spending on income tax day.

“My daughter’s in college now. Without these taxes she wouldn’t have to take any loans out. We pay for things like welfare abuse and illegal immigration,” said Diane Reeder, as she stood on the corner of Bear Valley Rd. and Cottonwood Ave.

“I don’t believe that anyone is listening to us,” said Karen Smith.

“I don’t think it’s a Democrat or Republican issue,” said Frank White. White, the Apple Valley protest organizer, was sending a surprising message when he was marching up and down Bear Valley Rd. with his American flag hung upside down. “The upside down flag represents a company in distress. I’m your average American family and I’m in distress.” White is married and has five children.

White once owned a swimming pool company that later took a dive. “When I had my company, payroll tax and workers’ comp was insane.”

Meanwhile, at Victorville City Hall, radio show host Barb Stanton held her own tea party protest. Victorville citizens were able to have their voices heard as nearly 200 people gathered holding signs that said “Taxed enough already” and “No taxation without representation” and “Don’t tread on me.” “We’re not taking it any more,” said Carl Kerns on the issue of government spending.

Protesters used the opportunity to let off steam over the rising national debt and the state’s deficit. They also expressed a lack of trust of their representatives, and even distributed recall petitions against Assemblyman Anthony Adams.

This is other review that was published in my college newspaper.

The Sonic Drive-In is supposed to be known for its 50’s atmosphere, complete with carhops and roller skates. Unfortunately for the Sonic that recently opened in Apple Valley, the food has adopted the bland and greasy motif, but it’s not all bad.

The cheeseburgers are large, with a juicy patty and the buns are soft, warm and fresh. This is all complemented by the reasonable price; however the fries and tater tots are awful. The fries are soggy with no flavor and a greasy aftertaste. The tater tots are only slightly better, having a crispy outer shell but they still lack flavor and have the same greasy aftertaste.

A redeeming feature of Sonic is their drinks. They have a wide array of fruit slushes. Another way that Sonic rises above the rest is their attention to the regular soft drinks. Often other fast-food places have their soft drinks over carbonated. Sonic’s soft drinks taste identical to soda bought in a can or bottle.

The girls at Sonic do wear roller skates, but they all wear different kinds. Some waitresses wear roller skates while others wear roller blades. Sonic is trying for the nostalgic 50’s theme, but with the girls wearing modern roller blades and polo shirts with black pants, the roller skate gimmick looks more utilitarian than thematic.

Aside from the food, drinks and service, Sonic also has issues with its parking lot configuration. During their busiest time of the day, the cars lined up for the drive-through can block surrounding parking spaces, making it very difficult to back out.

Not withstanding the negative, Sonic is still a competent fast-food restaurant. For the price you’ll get plenty of food and its selection of fruit slushes makes it stand out from the rest.

Originally published in the Victor Valley College RamPage news paper, this is the first of two articles that I ever had published, ever.

The Sonic Drive-In is supposed to be known for its 50’s atmosphere, complete with carhops and roller skates. Unfortunately for the Sonic that recently opened in Apple Valley, the food has adopted the bland and greasy motif, but it’s not all bad.
The cheeseburgers are large, with a juicy patty and the buns are soft, warm and fresh. This is all complemented by the reasonable price; however the fries and tater tots are awful. The fries are soggy with no flavor and a greasy aftertaste. The tater tots are only slightly better, having a crispy outer shell but they still lack flavor and have the same greasy aftertaste.
A redeeming feature of Sonic is their drinks. They have a wide array of fruit slushes. Another way that Sonic rises above the rest is their attention to the regular soft drinks. Often other fast-food places have their soft drinks over carbonated. Sonic’s soft drinks taste identical to soda bought in a can or bottle.
The girls at Sonic do wear roller skates, but they all wear different kinds. Some waitresses wear roller skates while others wear roller blades. Sonic is trying for the nostalgic 50’s theme, but with the girls wearing modern roller blades and polo shirts with black pants, the roller skate gimmick looks more utilitarian than thematic.
Aside from the food, drinks and service, Sonic also has issues with its parking lot configuration. During their busiest time of the day, the cars lined up for the drive-through can block surrounding parking spaces, making it very difficult to back out.
Not withstanding the negative, Sonic is still a competent fast-food restaurant. For the price you’ll get plenty of food and its selection of fruit slushes makes it stand out from the rest.

I’ve given up on arguing about the “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance. I think I’ve found some middle ground, rather than leave it in or take it out.

One thing that we seem to have forgotten is that you don’t have to say anything. It has only been a few years since I was in grade school and had to say the pledge every day. And I remember on several occasion where I was told that I had to say the pledge. Granted, there was that option if you brought a letter from your parents.

So I think it’s OK to leave the “under God” as long as it’s stressed that you don’t have to say the pledge in the first place. And students should only be reminded that they don’t have to say the pledge as often as they’re told that they have to. So all you have to do is tell them once, and just remind them whenever there’s some confusion.

I don’t really see a First Amendment violation in having the words “under God” in the pledge. You don’t have to say, and all it is is a personal declaration, it has no legal value. No one will ever put you in the witness booth and say “You made an oath, Sir. Everyday in elementary school you swore to that flag!”

I consider this a compromise, but I think it should also be understood that the pledge is loosing its luster. It seems odd that we have to recite it everyday, that we would have to reaffirm our patriotism everyday. And it’s also stupid that kids have to say it when they probably don’t understand what the words mean, or what they embody, or the brevity of what they’re saying. While at the same time, adults only have to say it every once in a while. Indeed, it’s considered retribution to not have to say the pledge everyday when you graduate.

If it were at all possible, I think the Pledge of Allegiance should be phased out. So we can start pledging allegiance to uphold Americs values to each other, rather than a flag. Or so that we can stop idol worshiping.

Here’s the lyrics:

Hey, Mich Steele, gonna steel the mike

With a flow so rich it ‘ll get a tax hick.

Droppin’ rhymes so fine

They’ll make you blush.

And beats so fat

You could call them Rush.

O! say can you see

By your mom’s ugly face?

We won’t need Scalia

To rull on this case.

The chairmen is missin’!

Call Nancy Gracy!

And crank up the right-wing Republican base!

You better get a voucher

‘Cause your rhymes are failin’

Your games a diein’ moose

and I’m Sarah Palin.

You’re gonna disappear

Like the middle class.

Take a penny up my loafer;

Put the rest up your ass!

Just to take advantage of Internet and be able to write down a few, hopefully, memorable words and spread an idea I’m gonna talk about the radical minority.

The question is posed in many subjects about the seeming harmlessness of the radical minority. It happens in politics, but, from my point of few, it’s asked more in regards to religion. I do consider radicalism a threat regardless of its volume, and heres why. The real problem isn’t necessarily radicalism but rather a party’s vocalism. It really doesn’t matter how big a group is just as long as people are listening. It also seems that radical denominations of a group tend to be more all encompassing of their ideology. This means that more moderate ideologs might be more prone to agree with the more radical group because they still agree on the same things. A moderate might also be swayed by the radicals compassion on the subject and thus think that they would be more strict at enforcing their standings. So, in a sense, the radicals are the alpha-males of the pact, the betas might not be in agreement the whole time, but they can count on the alpha to protect what they do agree upon.

For example: A fundamentalist Christian runs for public office. A lot of people consider him to be over the top, but they still agree with him most of the time. More specifically, the fundamentalist wants to keep “under God” in the Pledge, wants to expand the faith-based initiative, and thinks that intelligent design should be taught along side evolution. Now, the moderate might agree with points one and two but disagrees with the third point. But they will still vote for him, because if he is willing to defend something as controversial as intelligent design then theres no way that he will give an inch on the other two issues. And so the radical is put into power.

You know, it’s Valentines Day, and I was going to make some funny connection between the spirit of the holiday and the fact that I got to see Christopher Moore, but that would have just been creepy, let alone not funny. So, I will keep those two things mutually exclusive. Yes, I got to go see Christopher Moore speak, my dad drove me, it was a lot of fun. And, yes, it is Valentines Day, go have sex with someone ’cause I won’t be.

The drive took about three hours which was kind of a bitch. It was snowing by the time we left. It got worst as we proceeded down the hill. Then the snow let up but it was followed up be some really thick fog. After that it started clearing up. But in the wake of the storm it left the road wet and glistening. That, combined with the setting sun in our faces, you couldn’t see the lines on the freeway. It got a little scary in there, but it only lasted a few minutes until the sun went away and we drove into a dryer area.

There really isn’t anything to say about his speech, because there really wasn’t a speech. There’s a video of Moore speaking in 2007 at a Borders and if you watch that you’ll know pretty much what this was like. What you can take away from hearing him speak is that he is a really nice guy. He’s kicked back, easy goin’, funny—of course. And—speaking from the 3 minutes that I spent with him—friendly.

I managed to get two of my books signed and grab a picture with him. The only thing I have to say about the picture is that I though I was making a smile. I think it was a cross between a laugh and a smile, also, my posture looks like I’m trying to pass a cannon ball. It looks goofy in a cool way.

Oh, yeah. And while we were gone, my mom cut the tips of two of her fingers off. No foolin’. She kept them in the fridge because she thought they could be put back on. We told her to through them away, we’ll buy her another set.

It occurred to me today that I never published this review. I never got around to perfecting it. And now that I lost interest in it I might as well post it as is. Enjoy.

If you’re like me and you start all of you reviews with the phrase “if you’re like me” then you’re probably like me. In that case my sympathies. But I digress. You’re here (or at least you were) to read my review of The Physics of Star Trek, by Lawrence Krauss. I’m not much or a reader (granted that’s a fact I wish to change) so the fact that I was able to buy, read, and finish this book, before all of the fiction became reality, speaks a lot for the book right there! However, if you one of those people who enjoy reading, and you have an affinity for Star Trek, and no girl friend then you will still find this book just as fantastic as I did.

First off, this isn’t you grandmother’s book, unless shes Lise Meitner (the physicist), or Marie Curie (the chemist, for those of you who don’t like smart woman). The book is for the people who are interested in science, and who aren’t afraid to consider space and time the same thing—or to boldly go where to one has gone before. The book does introduce concepts that may be hard to visualize, especially when Krauss discuses aspects of quantum mechanics. But don’t let that discourage you! Mr. Krauss does the fine job of explaining physical concepts to you, that with a little effort you will be quite able to understand. One of the most impressive aspects of the book is that Lawrence Krauss is able to take a piece of fiction and apply physical realities to it without losing you in translation.

Krauss makes no effort to skim over the hard issues that the writers of Star Trek have placed in front of him. He will tell you how you could make a matter-antimatter generator by breaking it down to joules. He will tell you why you would die in the Enterprise if you were to approach the speed of light because you forgot the inertial dampers, and how you could build one. He will tell you why you wouldn’t be able to see an approaching Bird of Prey if it was following you at light speed on-board the Enterprise.

Lawrence offers the people who wish to see Star Trek a reality by offering them hope of its plausibility. He will remain optimistic in certain aspects of the Star Trek universe, even if there is not explanation about how something could work, by applying slightly more shady science that still needs some work. Or he will analogize existing science to that which might exist in the 23rd century.

However, he won’t beat around the bush if somethings impossible. About half of the book is dedicated to concepts in Star Trek that are, frankly, impossible. Lawrence will make his best attempted to justify a concept, but if there is an existing prohibiter, then he will deem it impossible. You will be surprised how often the Star Trek writer nailed a concept that does hold scientific validity, but you will also be disappointed at what they bombed on.

Lawrence Krauss is a very talented writer, and it shows greatly in this book. You can read it smoothly, and enjoy it. And be satisfied with the idea that your learning something in the proceses. It is much appreciating to see a scientist as prestigious as Krauss delve into such detail as in The Physics of Star Trek. It offers a new way of thinking about science-fiction which can give us a greater opportunity to look at fantasy and make it a reality.

If you have an interest in science and/or Star Trek, at all you, will enjoy this book. If you are interested in physics, and Star Trek, then this is a must read. If Star Trek isn’t necessarily your thing, but you do have an interest in physics, this book offers a great context for the more exotic aspects of physics, which you can still appreciate even if it is centered around Star Trek.

I fear that some atheists might feel that, since they reject certain beliefs, that they must reject any of its byproducts. Even in their own culture, Christmas being the most obvious. I might be wrong, but I see no issue with atheists (of which I am one) saying “Merry Christmas”. It seems that over the years Christmas has shifted a little from its original “praise Christ” origins. Nowadays , Christmas seems to be more about the feeling than the meaning.

I know that even before I became an atheist that the religious meaning of the holiday was secondary. I primarily participated in the event to show my gratification and love for the important people around me. When ever my parents would ask me why we were celebrating Christmas I would have to amuse them (and Jesus, because I didn’t want to go to hell) with the boilerplate “To praise the birth of Christ”.

I know that that was the reason why the holiday had been invented, but honestly I really only cared about the presents. It wasn’t until my mid-teens that I began to give gifts, and began to appreciate to pleasure of giving. So I never really had the time to recognize the holiday for what it really was, because only a few years later I became an atheists. And here I am today still enjoying Christmas, and giving gifts.

I suppose that the biggest objection to my view from other atheists that don’t think we should celebrate Christmas is, “Do you really need one day out of the year to tell someone you love them?” And I would say no. In fact, I give gifts arbitrarily when I have the money. The choice to participate in gift giving on Christmas is because of the mood generated during that time of year. For the most part, people appear happier, and the colors, lights, smells, combinations of hot and cold, pin trees, and the like, appeal to me.

Another complaint about an atheist celebrating Christmas is the obvious one, “What are you doing celebrating the birth of Christ?” Which I’ve already answered, you can take the Christ out of Christmas because there’s plenty more to participate in.

On Thursday, July 9, 1868 The United States Congress ratified the 14th Amendment, which stated that “No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” It would take another hundred years, during the Civil Rights Movement, before the US would recognize all African-Americas as true equals. And now, over the course of 140 years, we have owned up to our words and elected an African-American to the highest position in this country. This marks a shining date for America, were we can show that we have circumvented our lowly hatred and intolerance. I, and everyone reading this is a witness to an inextricable peace of history, and I, for one, couldn’t be more proud. I couldn’t be more proud for myself for being a part of this point in history, but also to the African-American community which for whom discrimination is a part of their recent history, and they who have fought long and hard for their rights, have now reached a vindicating level of equality. May my, and everyone else president, President Obama, bring on an era of hope, and prosperity.