::::: : the wood : davidrobins.net

My name is David Robins: Christian, lead developer (resume), writer, photographer, runner, libertarian (voluntaryist), and student.

This is also my son David Geoffrey Robins' site.

Honey's back

News, Work ·Friday July 17, 2009 @ 17:20 EDT (link)

I picked up Honey from the airport Wednesday, after workaholics (which management is spinning as "wonderful Wednesdays" now—I don't see why they bother, it's the same thing as before). The WA-520 exit near Microsoft (at 40th) was closed, so I had to detour to 148th; then I had to wait for 25 minutes on I-405S—construction or an accident, I never found out, and the government's I-405 construction information radio said nothing about it.

Today was Office "Friday fest"—food and drink on the soccer field. I got a Mac & Jack and some kettle corn and left early, stopping at the grocery store to pick up a few things for "Second Amendment Day" Sunday. Hopefully the weather continues to be nice—it's scorching today.

Books finished: The Federalist Papers, The Federalist Papers, A Foreign Policy of Freedom.

DVDs finished: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Season 4.

An afternoon of firearms

News, Guns ·Saturday July 11, 2009 @ 19:54 EDT (link)

I decided to pick up some ammo for the upcoming MS Gun "Second Amendment Day" next week at the Sultan pit; I headed down to Issaquah and stopped at Big-5 first. I wandered around looking for ammo before realizing it was behind the counter (which is common to large retailers; gun stores just keep it on the shelves). I got some 12 ga. shells there and then crossed the I-90 to West Coast Armory, much loved and highly recommended by Microsoft shooters. I'd stopped in before, but this time I picked the brain of employee Ken Lin about shotguns, rifles, and scopes. He cheerfully explained what I asked and let me try several scopes and handle various firearms. After I try out some firearms and scopes with live fire on 2A Day I hope I can give them some business. The Remington 700 sniper rifle I looked at was beautiful, and they had some very nice scopes too, if pricey (generally, not over other prices I'd seen). I picked up some more ammo for 2A Day in hopes of trying out guns (.40, .45, and 7.62). I wanted to get some rifle ammo, but wasn't sure what would be best to get. Hopefully for trials I can buy a couple rounds at the pit, even if I have to overpay a little.

On the way home I stopped in to SVRC to shoot my Glock 34 for a while. I tried out the used bowling pins some of us at Microsoft had bought in a group buy ($0.83/pin); they're decent targets.

I mowed the lawn when I got home, but it hadn't grown much due to the weather. Tomorrow I need to go around and edge and pull a few weeds.

Inspection Monday

News ·Saturday July 11, 2009 @ 00:37 EDT (link)

Home inspection for the current offer will be this Monday at noon.

I've opened some windows and the door to the top deck, and will be doing some trimming of the lawn tomorrow or Sunday, although with the heat it hasn't been growing as fast as usual (either that or it knows I have a gas-powered mower now and aren't [ain't?] afraid to use it). This trimming will also include edging and doing whatever I can to traumatize the bamboo, and picking up some of the leaves and pulling the worst of the weeds (and possibly spraying what's left of my evil weed killing chemicals from my backpack sprayer).

I made a "junk run" to Safeway to pick up some chips and candy (all I've had in three weeks… I've mostly been good).

Books finished: The Federalist-Anti-Federalist Debate Over States' Rights.

Offer number two

News ·Tuesday July 7, 2009 @ 20:19 EDT (link)

(Again, prices have been removed.) The people that made the ridiculously low offer came back with a higher offer. We countered. I initialed and signed papers this evening with our realtor, Chip Dusseau. I think I'm okay with this: we'd do slightly better than break even, provided they don't ask for more than $2k after the inspection. But we're getting ahead of ourselves: they haven't accepted the counter yet. Should hear from them tomorrow or the next day.

Majority rule is evil

Political ·Monday July 6, 2009 @ 00:40 EDT (link)

Federalist #39 sparked this, although the specific mention is arguably a case of necessary evil:
Were the people regarded in this transaction as forming one nation, the will of the majority of the whole people of the United States would bind the minority, in the same manner as the majority in each state must bind the minority; and the will of the majority must be determined either by a comparison of the individual votes, or by considering the will of the majority of the States as evidence of the will of a majority of the people of the United States.
"Bind" is the word that sticks out as dangerous.
Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.
—attributed (probably incorrectly) to Benjamin Franklin
This is not to say that minority rule is an improvement: any sort of "rule" implies coercion, and coercion should be avoided whenever possible, i.e., first, let the individual decide. Subsidiarity at its finest!

It's not "ruling" (despite arguments) if a minority can stop an action, such as the passage of a law. A minority can stop a constitutional amendment from passing: is that tyranny? It would be a good idea to require supermajorities for all laws, especially takings, if they cannot be replaced by individual choice (and most can).

Sometimes majority decisions are a necessary evil. If so, they should just go to form, and not reduce liberty. Arguably the adoption of the Constitution was such a case: the Articles of Confederation were fairly powerless to defend the nation and allow it to act among the other powers, and the Constitution did not generally reduce liberty, although it upheld the ability of majorities to do so—but they already could under the Articles.

To conclude, some quotes from Professor de la Paz, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, R. A. Heinlein:

"The more impediments to legislation, the better. But, instead of following tradition, I suggest one house of legislators, another whose single duty is to repeal laws. Let the legislators pass laws only with a two-thirds majority… while the repealers are able to cancel any law through a mere one-third mnority. Preposterous? Think about it. If a bill is so poor that it cannot command two-thirds of your consents, is it not likely that it would make a poor law? And if a law is disliked by as many as one-third is it not likely that you would be better off without it?"

As to financing government: "Goodness me, sir, that's your problem. I can think of several ways. Voluntary contributions just as churches support themselves… government sponsored lotteries to which no one need subscribe… or perhaps you Congressmen should dig down into your own pouches and pay for whatever is needed; that would be one way to keep government down in size to its indispensable functions whatever they may be…. But if you really believe that your neighbors must have laws for their own good, why shouldn't you pay for it. Comrades, I beg you—do not resort to compulsory taxation. There is no worse tyranny than to force a man to pay for what he does not want merely because you think it would be good for him." (Emphasis mine.)

Fireworks, Bellevue downtown park

News ·Saturday July 4, 2009 @ 23:49 EDT (link)

I looked around to see where the nearest best fireworks show would be; I considered Carnation, but they wanted $4 to park and Bellevue billed their event as the eastside's largest fireworks show, and Bellevue Square was offering free parking. So I decided on Bellevue; and I dropped TH and Katt a note figuring I might see them there since they live nearby (it was the same park as the OC picnic). I hadn't been to the event previously, and wasn't aware that it crammed (they claimed) 60,000 people into that small park.

When I got there (~2045) I figured I'd swing by the park parking lot to try for a spot—ha! It wasn't even possible to attempt: it was by permit only, probably for symphony and fireworks vehicles (and important politicians). Even nearby side streets were packed, so I gave up and drove to Bellevue Square. The crossings were flooded with people, and police were directing traffic. I wonder if McIvor was there (yes, there's a Bellevue cop called McIvor (say it out loud…)). Despite our OC picnic here, I was carrying concealed because of the crowds and because a lot of my attention would be on photography.

There was an ocean of people in the grassy area spreading out from the stage to infinity. They were on blankets and camp chairs, with hardly space in between to walk. I finally found a square yard or so of unclaimed grass and set up my camp chair under me and and my tripod in front of me.


My strategy if I return in future years is either The latter's more likely; I hate waiting around, and I really only wanted to see the fireworks. Unless I could get reasonably close, the nearby chatter tends to ruin the music. If I biked in from a reasonably distant side street, I could get there almost exactly on time, allowing time to put up my tripod only; I wouldn't need to thread through the sea of people (or wait for the crawling, milling sheep to make their sluggish way out of the park): I could set up on one of the paths (as long as they weren't blocked off as firework fall areas) or even outside the park proper.

The general atmosphere brought me back to the Memphis in May event in 2002, except the Memphis event had better food, was less crowded, had better music, and a better backdrop for the fireworks (the Mississippi—ah, the reflections!—with the bridge all lit up).

I took about 400 pictures of the fireworks, experimenting with a few different speeds (1/10 to 1" did best). I kept the ISO equivalent to 400; it might have been better to set it lower so I could do longer exposures without whiteouts. But I'm quite happy with the results.


AS said they got there ~1930 and managed to park on the first level of the garage, and get out within 15 minutes. I had to park in the far reaches of the third level (3J) and it took an hour to get out of the lot (2225-2330). What a mess!


I stopped in at work again: still no build, but I synced a build break fix and now there's hope for Monday.

Independence Day tea party, Mercer Island

News, Political ·Saturday July 4, 2009 @ 17:57 EDT (link)

I went to the Independence Day tea party at Luther Burbank Park on Mercer Island (2040 84th Avenue SE). It was very easy to find; parking was a bit scarce but I got a spot after circling the lot a few times: people were coming and going. I arrived about 1330; there were some good speakers. I was very impressed by (Attorney General) Rob McKenna. I left around 1630, and stopped into work on the way home: my build had failed so I attempted to revive it.


The crowd on the stage are the veterans that were present, asked to step forward by one of the speakers.

I packed in my lunch, and ate it between photographs. I was also open carrying: it seemed the day for it, although freedom should not be restricted to one day. Great signs, great liberty-minded people: what a great atmosphere. It's good to be part of a movement that realizes government is the problem, that government needs to serve the people, that "government is best which governs least" (Paine), and that redistribution is theft (as a bumper sticker I saw recently says: "The difference between government and mafia? Size."). And kudos to CAPR (the Citizens' Alliance for Property Rights) for coming out with their giant "Private Property is the Basis of Freedom" sign. Government is infringing on all our freedoms: but if property rights are gone, then how shall the others be exercised? Can there be effective speech when government controls the press? Can there be effective defense against tyranny without weapons? As another sign said: "Remember the natural right of secession." Perhaps this time liberty will win over tyranny.

"You always have rights"

Political, Work ·Saturday July 4, 2009 @ 17:30 EDT (link)

Rights are not tokens handed out by countries. You always have rights. They are inalienable. The state has no more authority to hand out rights than a clown at the circus.
—Hugh Diedrichs, September 2008

What a great quote for this day. Hugh worked at Microsoft, but unfortunately was let go in the layoffs earlier this year. He was a frequent and now much missed participant in Conservatives and Libertarians at Microsoft (CLAMS) discussion list. I also have this quote on my door in building 36.

On this day, consider your natural rights: while governments may enumerate them, for example in our Bill of Rights, and sometimes evil governments may stifle, subvert, or suppress them, they are always there and always yours, and you need not ask anyone's permission to exercise them. Among these rights are speech, self defense, and property: but there are many others, which we must be vigilant to protect from government encroachment.

Another quote I considered was one from the Declaration of Independence:
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.
Twice in the history of America has independence been declared: once liberty won (the American Revolution), and once tyranny (Lincoln over the Confederate States of America). To whom then will go the next attempt? Secession is not a right governments may give out either: what government would willingly lose taxes and land (Lincoln: "If I do that [recognize the Confederate States of America], what would become of my revenue?")? Certainly the British government did not willingly cede autonomy to the 13 colonies. One would think that based on this experience, the Federal government would have acknowledged the new nation and begun trade negotiations: but instead they provoked a bloody war of conquest. And so again, I must ask: to whom the next war of independence? To the people, and to liberty: or to the oligarchs of government, and to tyranny?

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress

Political, Media ·Friday July 3, 2009 @ 23:55 EDT (link)

From The Moon is a Harsh Mistress (R. A. Heinlein):
[After the invading Terran ship is seen to crash in the distance.]
"What happened, Mike? Wouldn't they give you control after you burned their eyes [radar] out?"
"They gave me control, Man."
"Too late?"
"I crashed it, Man. It seemed the prudent course."
Nothing exemplifies the title more than Mike's chillingly practical decision, highlighting an earlier discussion about taking no prisoners (don't want people that will defect, and no good could be seen to come from keeping enemies alive).

In general, though, the book is great because it exemplifies the birth of a libertarian (or minarchist) society. Some interesting suggestions for future government modifications are suggested by the Professor, including having two houses—either elected or even just randomly chosen—one of which requires a two-thirds majority to pass laws, and another which can only repeal laws, needing only support of one-third of the members. The idea of requiring a supermajority to pass law is criticized in The Federalist, but in retrospect I think we'd all be better off if laws were harder to pass and easier to repeal.

DVDs finished: The Godfather DVD Collection, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Season 3.

Politics luncheon at the Tap House Grill

News, Political, Work ·Thursday July 2, 2009 @ 17:50 EDT (link)

Today a few—that is, four—of the Microsoft "politics" discussion list (internal mailing list) members got together for lunch at the Tap House Grill in Bellevue (550 106th Avenue NE). Two liberals and two conservatives (counting myself as a conservative, for those not following along at home: conservative libertarian, close enough). We didn't discuss politics much, but I think we were all fans of non-interventionism, and there was even support for my idea of giving the military an individual option regarding fighting foreign wars (as opposed to defending the country here), and requiring funding to be through voluntary contributions. All of us were pro-gun, although one person objected to .50 BMG rifles being sold to civilians. Nobody trusted government very much.

I parked across the road and paid $6 for the privilege (was there just over an hour); I considered parking at the Barnes and Noble lot (and looking around a little so I could get validated), as one of the other people there did, but it felt morally dubious.

I mentioned later on the list that we might get a better response if we picked a spot closer to campus, even the Commons; one of the attendees plans to make this get together a regular (probably monthly) event.

Books finished: The Dragon Reborn.

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