Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Fairness Doctrine?

If we really want to discuss "fair", try walking in a Libertarian's shoes. Or a Reformer's or Constitutionalist's shoes.

It's amazing that the vast majority of people who take the World's Smallest Political Quiz (http://www.theadvocates.org/quiz.html) fit within the Libertarian side of the spectrum. Yet they hardly know about the Libertarian Party. They are delighted to find a party actually pushes for limited government, and they agree that the government is involved in our lives in ways it has no business being involved. Yet come election time, they STILL vote for Republicans or Democrats.

A LOT of that would change, if their wasn't a BIpartisan effort of Republicans & Democrats doing their best to exclude every other political party from the process.

America has almost irreparably transformed itself from a nation of rugged individualists, to a nation of urban worker-drones. Instead of individuals who live for Freedom, most drones would rather be free from living.

And we are our own worst enemy because WE are the ones electing the same people back into office.

Thomas Lessman
Libertarian Party of Kansas: www.LPKS.org
Constitution Party: http://ks.constitutionparty.com/
Reform Party of Kansas: www.vote-ks.org

Friday, November 07, 2008

Sonny Scroggins receives award

From the Topeka Capital-Journal, Friday Nov. 7, 2008.
Source URL: http://www.cjonline.com/stories/110708/loc_353115113.shtml

I respect Sonny Scroggins. And even when I don't agree with him, I still respect his views.

The reason is because Sonny doesn't talk out of both sides of his mouth. In Sonny's words, if it ain't right for a white man to do or say it, then it also ain't right for a black man to do or say it.

I can respect a man who stands up for his beliefs. Even more so when they aren't hypocritical about them. And after a knowing Sonny for a few years, I consider him a good friend.

Thomas Lessman
Web: www.ThomasLessman.com
Blog: www.talessman.blogspot.com

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Supporting Ann Mah in 2008

(Published in the Topeka Metro on Friday, October 31st, 2008)
I campaigned twice for the 53rd District KS House of Representatives, in 2004 & 2006. Both times, Ann Mah beat me to the ground in total number of votes. Granted, I had an uphill battle running as a Libertarian with a very limited budget.

In between campaigns, I've had the honor of working with Ann Mah on several issues. Though I haven't always agreed with her votes, she has earned my respect in many ways.

Ann Mah is very responsive to OUR FEEDBACK. Simply put, if you let her know (respectfully) how you feel about any issue she has to vote on, she will listen. If enough people tell her the same thing, she will go with the wishes of her constituents.

Ann Mah goes out of her way to make herself available for her constituents. I really appreciate the public forums she hosts at Lake Shawnee and other areas, where she invites her constituents to actively contribute their ideas.

Also, Ann Mah's constituent service is the best I've ever seen. She literally does the best she can to help her constituents with issues that fall within her scope as State Representative.

I do not know much about Ann's current opponent, Cecil Washington. He may well be a good man, but I've never been contacted by him, nor have I ever heard anything else about him except for Jack Woelfel's letter in his support.

Ann Mah has earned my respect the hard way, and I feel confident supporting her campaign for a 3rd term as my State Representative in the 53rd District.

Respectfully,

Thomas Lessman
Web: www.ThomasLessman.com
Blog: www.talessman.blogspot.com

Monday, October 20, 2008

Political Insanity

I realized a long time ago, that BOTH parties - Democrats AND Republicans - are sticking it to us. Some individuals in those parties are good people with good intentions. But overall those two parties are now rotten with political corruption. Yet because they have more money and more power, people just keep voting for one or the other while completely ignoring the alternatives.

It's a shame how bad things are in the US today, especially when most people turn a blind eye to it. Face it, our government and both major political parties have sold US out!

Many of the best average jobs (production, customer service, now technology and others) have been outsourced to other countries. Our economy is about to crash like a cheap glass house - watch out for those flying shards of glass! Foreign nations own controlling interests in so many American businesses, and our government owes those nations an almost ungodly amount of debt that our children will never be able pay off.

Government agencies like SRS, the IRS, the FBI, CIA, and even the judicial/legal system, routinely ignore the Constitutional rights of citizens. They are literally destroying the lives of your friends, family, and neighbors.

Yet through it all, the American people just refuse to believe what they see. We think we're the greatest people to ever live, and these kinds of tragedies can't happen in America! But they DO happen, and instead of making it stop, most of us would rather sit on our *$$ and watch sports or reality TV shows.

"This can't happen in America; somebody should put a stop to that! Oh look the football game is on. Hey we'll just elect the same people back into office again. Sure they've screwed us around too many times to count, but I don't want to vote for a 3rd party even if I agree with most of their ideas..."

Vote Libertarian! http://www.lpks.org/
Constitution Party: http://www.cp.org/
Reform party: http://www.votekansas.org/

Respectfully,
Thomas Lessman
Web: http://www.thomaslessman.com/
Blog: http://www.talessman.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Judge "Backroom Deals" Jackson & a Crooked Attorney Named "Pope"

Yesterday I witnessed one of the most obvious cases of backroom dealing I've ever seen, in the Shawnee County courthouse. It was an assault case, with the Shawnee County DA prosecuting one of my neighbors, Scotty Dundee Wilson, for an incident where Wilson assaulted and sucker-punched me in front of a 27 news camera last year during the floods.

I mean literally, the incident was caught on camera, by then-reporter Brian Dorman. At no point did I do anything but defend myself from this 400 lb bully and his 350 lb brother (I'm only 155 lbs). In fact, the only thing I DID do was say some words to him after he attacked me.

Keep in mind, at no point was I on trial; I was only involved as a witness. Wilson purchased the services of an attorney named "Pope". EVERYONE who saw the tape, could see it was an obvious case of a big bully attacking a smaller guy - just because he can.

As I said, I have a witness in Brian Dorman, who at the time was a TV Reporter for 27 news (now he's an Anchor for 13 news). He and I actually became acquainted during this incident, which started when Scotty and Will Wilson attempted to take the news camera away from Brian Dorman while he was interviewing me about the 2007 flood. Scotty Wilson (literally on camera), got in my face, pushed me about 8 feet away, then a minute later got in my face again, and sucker-punched me.

And yet, after going into chambers with Wilson's attorney (Pope), Judge Jackson declares it was "mutual combat". Even though NOT ONCE did I do anything but raise my arms in defense as Wilson came at me.

Next week I will be protesting Judge "Backroom Deals" Jackson. As far as I'm concerned, that son-of-a-bitch has no business sitting on any bench, especially when he cares more about backroom deals than justice.

Sincerely,

Thomas Lessman
Web: www.ThomasLessman.com
Blog: www.talessman.blogspot.com
------------------------------------

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Truckhenge Music Festival II (2008)

All I can say...
...is the 2nd Truckhenge Music Festival was one hell of a great party!!!

Special thanks to Bob Cutler of the Klusterfux, Jen and Adam Angellini from Wakamojo, and Bob Curry from Side Effects, for helping us get things done.

9 bands: Wakamojo - Schumann's Resonance - Klusterfux - SideEffects - Mirror Image - Hammerjunk - Obone - Lazer Panther - The Hemorrhoids. Remember those bands, I'm sure you'll be seeing a LOT more about them over the next year! In fact, several of them are competing in the Battle of the Bands at the Boobie Trap bar tomorrow night (Saturday Sept. 27).

This 2nd concert was MUCH better than the first concert last year! For one, there was NO band drama to deal with; these bands work together very well! Second, since we kept more control over the event this year (instead of letting someone else take over and BS), we knew much more about what was going on, than we did last year.

I've heard anywhere from 300 to 400 people came out this year. 350 was my estimate, so we'll go with that for now. We actually lost count after 156 people signed the list - it was starting to form a line so we decided to just let people sign the list on their own.

The sound was great! Truckhenge forms such a great natural amphitheater that the sound doesn't have to be blasted up too loud - it sounds great all the way through the audience area and isn't distorted or blowing your head off.

And some of the bands played great remake songs that were also remade to include "Truckhenge" in them. That's a cool theme that I'm sure we're going to work with next year!

Oh, there will definitely be a "Truckhenge Music Festival III (2009)"! We'll have a meeting in October for anyone interested in working with us to make next year's party even better. We're already planning to spread it over a whole weekend (instead of just one night), so look for a Friday to Sunday event. If we get some sponsors and some volunteers, we may also set up a second stage.

The possibilities are here, we just need people to step up!

Thomas Lessman
Web: www.ThomasLessman.com
Blog: www.talessman.blogspot.com

Lessman's Farm website: www.LessmanFarm.com
Truckhenge: www.Truckhenge.com

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Ready for 2008 Truckhenge Music Festival?

I've been so busy helping coordinate this year's concert at Truckhenge, I haven't been able to concentrate enough to update this blog! Tune in to the Jim Cates Show on CJOnline this Tuesday (Sept. 16), when I'll be on air to talk about this year's concert! (Click here to download the archived show)

Truckhenge Music Festival
Saturday September 20, 2008
NO Admission fees, free camping, and BYOB!
(Gates open at 12:00 noon, music starts at 6:00 PM)
Website: www.LessmanFarm.com/events.html

9 confirmed bands!
Wakamojo - Schumann's Resonance - Klusterfux - SideEffects - Hammerjunk - Obone - Lazer Panther - The Hemmorhoids - St. Nick

We're proud to help support the local music scene. Come out to the Lessman Farm and PARTY with some of Topeka's best local bands. Hope to see you there!

Thomas Lessman
Web: www.thomaslessman.com

Lessman's Farm website: www.LessmanFarm.com
Truckhenge Concert page: www.LessmanFarm.com/Events.html

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Anonymous Cowards

Topeka City Councilmember Jack Woelfel wrote a good letter to CJonline that was published yesterday. The letter was basically thanking the Capital-Journal for making people add their real names (and verifying the identity) before they would publish their letters. Here is his letter: http://cjonline.com/stories/082508/opi_322042433.shtml

I agree that sometimes it can be convenient or “safer” to post comments anonymously. But some anonymous posers are nothing more than cowards who like to talk trash, feeling free to say whatever they want because they think they are free from any kind of retribution.

Take “TopekaVoter” (aka Jason Chaika) from CJonline. That coward is stupid enough to post my daughter’s names online, because he’s mad at me for not supporting gay marriage.

Maybe cowards like that should be hiding their identities. But try telling our founding fathers that anonymity is good. Look at the Declaration of Independence. Do you see any names like “KingGeorgeSux” or “DixieQueen”?

No. Those who signed the Declaration of Independence were obviously NOT cowards. They stood behind their words by signing their real names. I guarantee they faced a LOT worse consequences than people posting trash on CJonline.

I don’t like some of Jack’s politics, but I DO respect what he wrote in his letter. Raubin & Megan, you of all people should agree with that - you speak your mind AND stand behind your words by saying “This is who I am and this is how I feel”. Whether I agree with you or not, I would never call you cowards. But most people who post anonymously are nothing more than childish cowards who want to talk trash freely without facing the consequences of their words.

For cowards like TopekaVoter (aka Jason Chaika), perhaps that is in their best interests. After posting my daughters’ names online, he definitely has a good reason to hide his identity.

Thomas Lessman
Web: http://www.thomaslessman.com/
Blog: http://www.talessman.blogspot.com/
====================

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Meth Wars: Program Monitors Pharmacies

I believe government news like this "Program to monitor pharmacies in meth battle" needs to be recieved cautiously.

Sure it "feels good" to hear the government is going to "do something" to stop illegal drug use. But I need to know a LOT more information before I can just accept another government program, especially when it appears to be a seriously invasive program.

What information are they going to collect from the pharmacies? Who will be collecting the information, where will it be stored, and how will it be used? How do they expect this to fix the meth problem? How will they fund the program? What will they do with the already existing programs that are similar but apparently aren't working? If those other programs are working, then why do they need another program?

WE the People keep letting the government jump into whatever programs it wants, without paying attention to the consequences. We've already got serious budget and economic problems.
Why are we being told that they government doesn't have enough money to pay for all of the road construction, infrastructure, police positions, and various social services the government says it needs?

If the government doesn't have enough money to pay for its existing needs, why is it starting new programs that will cost more and be even more invasive, without disbanding the older similar programs that apparently aren't working?

Thomas Lessman
Web: www.ThomasLessman.com
Blog: www.talessman.blogspot.com
====================

Libertarian Party of Kansas: www.LPKS.org

Sunday, August 03, 2008

Government again blowing smoke up your...

From the Topeka Capital-Journal story "Little of tobacco settlement spent on smoking cessation". Here is my response:

It's amazing how much BS people will let the government get away with.

Certain state leaders claimed the $$$ from the lawsuit would go to reimburse states for tobacco-related illnesses and programs, and for educational "smoking prevention campaigns". Instead, State leaders spent the $$$ on just about everything BUT what we were told it would be spent on. It went to road work, pet projects, and many other non-smoking related things.

I predicted that outcome even back when the lawsuits first hit the news. The next prediction is even worse. Since the State blew all that lawsuit and tax money, guess what they'll say when smoking-related health costs and deaths continue to increase?

Government: "Golly people, all these rising health care costs mean we have to raise your taxes - AGAIN!"

Get rid of bad government. Vote Libertarian! www.LPKS.org

Thomas Lessman
Web: http://www.thomaslessman.com/
Blog: http://www.talessman.blogspot.com/
====================

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Political Party Member Disparity Reduced

This is my comment on a story in the Topeka Capital-Journal titled "Political party member disparity reduced". http://cjonline.com/stories/072608/loc_309880856.shtml

Libertarians, Constitutionalists, Reformists, Greens, and other parties have been trying to give you more choices for decades.

Yet time after time, you keep re-electing the same Republicans and Democrats, just different faces.

A lot of Republicans, and some Democrats, are beginning to understand the Libertarian party as being more in tune with what can save America.

But with 523 registered Libertarians in Shawnee County, and only 7 or 8 of us show up for the monthly meetings?

Bottom line is that no matter what party you are registered with, if you don't actively participate in that party, you have only yourself to blame when things don't go the way you want.

LPKS/LNEKs meetings: Last Thursday of each month.
LNEKs meeting this Thursday (7-31-08). 7:00-8:00 PM. Planet Sub on 21st & Wanamaker (Next to Target). All meetings are open to the public!

Thomas Lessman
Web: http://www.thomaslessman.com/
Blog: http://www.talessman.blogspot.com/
=====================

Monday, June 30, 2008

2008 Country Stampede

This was the first Country Stampede I've ever been to. I never thought I'd say this, but that concert was the most fun I've had in years! One way or another, I will FIND a way to go back next year!

I met Chris Simmons from The Simmons Brothers band; you can hear their music for free on The Simmons Brothers' MySpace page. Someday we hope to see them play at Truckhenge!

I also got to see live performances by Rascall Flatts and Taylor Swift. And there were tons of things to do besides listen to music - I highly recommend the Toyota Tundra exhibit, THAT is a vehicle with excellent offroad performance!

This year I only got to attend Saturday's events. Next year I hope to get a better package, for all 4 days and with camping. If you can go, I highly recommend it, and you should plan ahead by at least 3 months! EVERY hotel room, bed & breakfast, and other sleeping places were taken between Manhattan and Topeka! I'd estimate at least 4'500 people were in the main area on Saturday around 7 pm. It was crowded but not too badly. And there were TONS of activities and things to sign up for.

Anyway, I really had a good time, and I want to thank Shannon for taking me. While there I took notes, so now I have more ideas for the next concert we host at Truckhenge!

Thomas Lessman
Web: http://www.thomaslessman.com/
Blog: http://www.talessman.blogspot.com/

Lessman Farm, Catfish Pond, & Truckhenge:
www.thomaslessman.com/LessmanFarm/

World History Maps by Thomas Lessman:
http://www.worldhistorymaps.info/
=================

Friday, June 27, 2008

Irrational Hatred from the Left

I've been told my writings often come across as "harsh", because I'm honest, blunt, and to-the-point. And I admit that sometimes, especially when I'm in a bad mood, my writings can come across as harsh, though I think it's because people aren't used to hearing some of the things I say. I'm just not "politically correct".

Often I get accused of being a "woman hater" because I advocate for equal rights and equal responsibilities for men and women. I say things like, "Men and women are equally human, and each are equally capable of evil and mean things towards each other". I'm all for women and men having equal rights and equal responsibilities. That also means that men should get the same rights that women have, and women should have the same responsibilities as men have. And neither gender should have privileges that are not given to the other gender.

On the Topeka Capital-Journal site (http://www.cjonline.com/), I often butt heads with certain commenters who disagree with my views. However you'll note that there are often as many people who DO agree with me and what I say.

One commenter in particular, named "TopekaVoter", takes the "hate Thomas" line a bit further in the comments section on Kathleen Parker's latest column, "Domestic violence requires new approach". (For the record, I am a big fan of Kathleen Parker and I respect her views very much. And I agree with her take on the domestic violence issue).

This "TopekaVoter" is a big pusher of gay marriage. His site is http://www.kansasequalitycoalition.org/ (because I believe in showing all sides of a disagreement).

I honestly don't care about the gay marriage issue. As far as I'm concerned, heterosexuals and homosexuals are both equally human. There should be no laws specifically discriminating for or against anyone based on sexual orientation. (Which is why I think most "pro-marriage" legislation is unconstitutional, if it specifically states that homosexuals cannot get married).

If gays want to marry, I say, "more power too them". Though I think they should be aware that marriage is no longer the commitment it once was, but is instead a potential trap, especially if children are involved. But IF we expand marriage beyond its current definition of one man and one woman, then we also have to allow polygamy, harems, and any other form of "marriage" - because if it's called "discrimination against gays" for marriage to be only one man and one woman, then it's also discrimination against other forms of marriage. You can see a better description of my views in my blog post about Gay Marriage "Rights".

Yet TopekaVoter will have NONE of that logic! So now he says I hate gays, women, and however many other groups he could think of. And he goes beyond the limit of "just plain ignorance" in trying to explain himself. Read our disagreement for yourself on CJonline's site, here <http://cjonline.com/stories/062708/opi_296139446.shtml>.

What is your take on my views, or about that discussion? I'm curious what you think.

Thomas Lessman
Website: http://www.thomaslessman.com/
Blog: http://www.talessman.blogspot.com/
================

Wednesday, June 04, 2008

Racism is Racism

Affirmative action IS racism. The sky IS blue. Those are two facts that are just plain common sense. One more and I'm on a roll...

The Wikipedia definition of RACISM: Racism, by its simplest definition, is discrimination based on racial group. People with racist beliefs might hate certain groups of people according to their race, or in the case of institutional racism, certain racial groups may be denied rights or benefits. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racism)

Telling me that I can't go this college because I'm white is every bit as racist as telling my friend he can't go this college because he's black.

I realize that some people are too racist to understand that. But I believe most people have enough common sense to understand that racism is bad no matter whom it's directed towards. Even if they don't have the courage to stand up and speak out against ALL forms of racism.

"It doesn't matter whether you call it 'reverse discrimination', 'white/black power' or 'affirmative action'; racism is still racism, and it's wrong."

Thomas Lessman
Web: www.ThomasLessman.com
Blog: www.talessman.blogspot.com
====================

Monday, May 26, 2008

Open Questions Regarding Abortion

What right can possibly be more precious or sacred than the right to life?

For the "pro-choice" crowd, and others who think that "a woman's choice" sounds nice: why do you not extend that same choice to men, or at least give equal rights to men? You claim to be "pro-choice", but only for women. How is that equal? What happened to equal rights? Or is it just that you think women are "more equal" than men?

I've heard feminists label unborn children as "parasites", fetuses, lumps of flesh, or anything else they can think of to de-humanize them. That's literally doing the same thing to unborn children that Nazis did to Jews.

The simple fact is that what you call "choice" is literally taking a human life, which is murder. You may call it abortion or choice or whatever. Nazis called it racial purity, but the end result is still the same. Murder.

I have an open invitation for anyone who has answers to my questions. Please answer them by responding in the comments section.

Thomas Lessman
Website: http://www.thomaslessman.com/
Blog: http://www.talessman.blogspot.com/
====================

Thursday, May 22, 2008

World History Map Corrections & Updates

After a short break, I'm back to working on my world history maps again. I haven't made any more new maps yet, but I have been going back over some of them and making some corrections and improvements. So far I've gone over the maps of 323 BC, 200 BC, 100 BC, and 001 AD. (That's 4 down, 35 to go!)

Source References
Probably one of the most important improvements is that I'm doing a better job of documenting my sources. A lot of people wanted to know where I was getting my information for the maps, but originally I didn't document that info very well. If you want to see the sources of my information, check out the new TAL_Map_Sources.html page.

Corrections on borders
You'll notice on recently updated maps some of the borders are change significantly. For example, notice the difference in the map of 100 BC, between the OLD version and the NEW version, especially in India. The reason is because originally I only had a few sources. As more information becomes available, I show it in the map.

Note: On maps after 800 AD, my borders in Northern Europe are inaccurate due to the geographical differences between my base map and the source maps from http://www.euratlas.com/. A Wikipedian named User:Bogomolov_PL did a great job of showing me how I was off on the map of 1200 AD. If anyone can do the same thing Bogomolov did, and show me how I can correct the borders of other maps, it would be greatly appreciated!

How to Report Possible Errors:
I appreciate any information that can help make the maps more accurate. If you'd like to report a possible error on any map, please see here. Some people have sent me emails telling me about errors in the maps. Unfortunately they usually don't send their source info, and I cannot make any changes without source information to back up the change!

Questions, Concerns, and Feedback:
Please feel free to email me if you have any questions, concerns, or feedback. I do appreciate anything that can help improve them!

Thomas Lessman
Website: www.thomaslessman.com
Blog: www.talessman.blogspot.com
Email: talessman@yis.us

World History Maps by TAL: www.worldhistorymaps.info

Lessman's Farm & Catfish Pond:
www.thomaslessman.com/LessmanFarm/
=======================

Friday, May 16, 2008

Jim Cates

In October of 2002 I started listening to the Jim Cates Show. Before that I hadn't thought much of talk radio. Since then I've become a loyal listener, frequent caller, and occasional guest on his show.

Recently Cumulus Broadcasting decided to terminate the # 1 rated talk show in Kansas. The only details are that the new station management wanted to change the format in a way that would effectively cut the heart out of the show - they wanted to end the Open Lines sessions and censor any "negative" issues.

The Jim Cates Show provided a community forum for people in Topeka, and he allowed anyone to call in and discuss issues of importance. Like everyone, Jim has his own views, but his show was never about HIS views - he allowed the public a chance to speak. Even when Jim disagreed with a caller, he was always respectful about it, but he made it a point to let people speak even if they have opposing views.

I've always liked his show, but I've really been impressed with the man himself. Jim Cates has a level of sincerity and integrity that too many people seem to lack today. It wasn't just on air either; every time I've seen Jim in public, whether at the park, a coffeehouse, or even his favorite local bar, he has always been friendly and cool to hang out with.

This morning we held a rally at Cumulus headquarters in downtown Topeka. I'd say about 30-35 people showed, many of them were people I knew from their on-air voice. Several sponsors were also their, announcing that they were pulling their advertising from ALL Cumulus stations until Jim Cates is reinstated.

After my recent correspondences with certain Cumulus officials, I've lost confidence in that corporation. Regardless of the few short "standard replies" they've given, the fact is that Cumulus has effectively silenced the voice of the people, and basically told their most loyal listeners where we could put our voice...

I hope Jim is able to get his show back on air, perhaps on AM 580 WIBW. Or maybe his Sunday morning show on 49 KTKA will expand to a few days per week? Topeka has a lot of potential, and people like Jim Cates can help us reach that potential.

Respectfully,

Thomas Lessman
Website: http://www.thomaslessman.com/
Blog: http://www.talessman.blogspot.com/
Email: talessman@yis.us

World History Maps by TAL: http://www.worldhistorymaps.info/

Lessman's Farm & Catfish Pond:
www.thomaslessman.com/LessmanFarm/

=======================

(Note: the Topeka Capital-Journal also has a short article about this situation)

Saturday, May 10, 2008

Buzz Hates Atheists

A guy name Buzz had his opinion about atheists published on CJonline, in a piece titled, "Letter: Rights for All Others". I wonder if he held anything back, or did he tell us how he really feels?

I'm not even atheist and I can see the bigotry in his words. I'm going to repeat some of his rant, but I'll switch the words "atheist" and "christian" so you can see how this sounds:

"What societal good have Christians ever done? Atheism is the only reason Christians even have the right to believe in God. It wasn't some native tribe's beads that gave Christians that right, because it was Atheists who established protections for minorities in this country."

In his letter, Buzz blames atheists for Hitler, Stalin, and several other nasty characters in history. It makes me wonder, does he also blame atheists for the Crusades, the Inquisition, Islam, Oil prices, the Titanic, and Mondays?

Buzz, is there anything bad that you DON'T blame on atheists?

For the record, I do see atheism as a type of religion (religiously anti-religious). And some atheists do go overboard sometimes when they are defending their beliefs against others. Some atheists are even as fanatical as some christian or muslim fanatics (like Pat Roberts, Louis Farrakhan, Phred Phelps, and Bin Laden).

However most atheists are good and simple people trying to survive and live their life as best as they can. Just like the vast majority of christians, jews, muslims, and even spiritual but non-religious people like me. They have their own beliefs and don't want to be harassed or treated unfairly because of their religion.

Hate-filled rants and religious bigotry have caused enough misery on our planet. And it started long before atheism was even thought of.

Sincerely,

Thomas Lessman
Website: http://www.thomaslessman.com/
Blog: http://www.talessman.blogspot.com/
--------------------

World History Maps
: http://www.worldhistorymaps.info/

Monday, May 05, 2008

Gay Marriage "Rights"?

I got into a debate with a local "Gay Rights" activist on our local newspaper website over the "Gay Marriage" issue. I really don't care what consenting adults do, and I don't care if someone is gay or not (as long as they don't shove it in my face). Because honestly, the more guys who are gay, the less competition there is... DUH!

However, the issue of "gay marriage" interests me because I see the much of the same hypocrisy, distortions, and victimology from the "gay rights movement" as I do from Feminists and other "professional victim" groups.

First, there is no "Right to Marry", just like there is no "Right to have sex" or a "Right to drive". Marriage is only a government-granted privilege (not a human right). Marriage was originally a religious ceremony meant to symbolicly unite a man and woman in a committed relationship. Unfortunately the Government took over the power to grant marriages. We ALL know that when the government gets involved, bad things happen. So what was originally a religious ceremony has now become a potential gold mine for one partner, and a trap for the other. Government has no good reason to get involved in marriage, but they did it anyway and made a mess of it!

Second (and my main point) is that, IF traditional marriage (one man and one woman) is considered discrimination against gays, then doesn't it also discriminate against bigamists, polygamists, and guys with large harems? Thus, if we expand the definition of "marriage" to include homosexual couples, then don't we also have to expand marriage to allow bigamist, polygamist, plural, and any other type of marriages that aren't considered "traditional"?

(After all, would it be fair to discriminate against polygamists, and not allow them to marry the way they want to, simply because they aren't gay?)

One commenter responded by saying that we could write the laws so that any two (and ONLY two) people could marry. He obviously ignored or didn't see what I was getting at.

The gay rights activist, however, responded to my question with hostility, basically making false assumptions about me and my intentions. The interesting part was where he said, "I will not be derailed by your weak attempts to compare my committed loving relationship to any other controversial group. I.E. What's next people... robot marriage?"

In other words, he believes it's discrimination to not allow "his people" to marry the way they want to marry, but he believes it's okay to use that same "discrimination" against other groups that aren't like his. And even though he calls it discrimination, he still used the same type of argument that his opponents use against his cause. (His "What's next, robog marriage" is too similar to the "What's next, do we allow beastiality marriages" argument I've seen other people use to argue against gay marriage.

His response is comparable to a Jew arguing that it was ok for the Nazis to murder Gypsies, Gays, Poles, and other groups because they aren't like his people. It's exactly like feminists, who argue that gender discrimination is wrong, but only if it's against a woman because they think it's okay to discriminate against men.

Just like feminists and race-baiters, this guy is so stuck on seeing himself and "his group" as a victim class, that he can't see his own bigotry and hypocrisy and thus becomes what he accuses his opponents of.

Respectfully,

Thomas Lessman
Website: http://www.thomaslessman.com/
Blog: http://www.talessman.blogspot.com/
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Sunday, May 04, 2008

The Matrix (of Family Law)

This is something I published on the original Million Dads March Network site back in 2003. I got the idea after seeing an article by Jim Untershine on the Men's News Daily website.

(FYI the MillionDadsMarch.org domain name and website are no longer under my control. During my last campaign the domain lapsed and I apparently didn't renew it in time. Someone else took the domain name, and I have no idea who they are. The site is totally different than my old site).

The Family Law Matrix

"You are here because you know something. You can’t explain what you know, but you feel it. You’ve felt it your entire life; that there is something wrong with the world. It is like a splinter in your mind driving you mad. It is this feeling that brought you here.

The Family Law Matrix is everywhere. Even now in this very room. You can see it when you look out your window or when you enter the court room. You can feel it when you are allowed to visit your kids, and when you pay your $upport. You can hear it on the news. It is the world that has been pulled over your eyes to blind you from the truth.

The truth is that you are a slave to Family Law. Like everyone else you were born into its bondage. Drawn into a deadly trap that you cannot smell or taste or touch. It is a prison for your mind.

Unfortunately no one can be told what the Family Law Matrix is. You have to experience it for yourself. If you pay the "child $upport bill" and accept being a visitor to your kids, the story ends. You will wake up in your bed and believe… whatever it is you want to believe.

If you refuse to pay the bill or to accept being an UNEQUAL PARAENT then stay in this wonderland, and we'll show you just how deep the rabbit hole goes.

Remember, all we offer is the truth, nothing more…"
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Thomas Lessman
. http://www.thomaslessman.com/
Blog: http://www.talessman.blogspot.com/
Email: talessman@yis.us
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Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Is Topeka Really So Bad?

(Kudos to CJonline's Ric Anderson, who is challenging readers to submit stories about what is GOOD about Topeka. His article is here: (http://blogs.cjonline.com/index.php?entry=7134)

Some people complain about Topeka a LOT, saying there's nothing to do around here, or that Topeka is SO boring, or is just such a terrible place to live. But what gets me about those people who just complain about Topeka is that they have a glossy blank stare when you ask them HOW to make it better.

There are actually quite a few of good things about Topeka. And Shawnee County too! All you have do do is just look around...

Lake Shawnee has so much going on that it's one of the best features of the area. A big lake for boating, camp grounds, a great walking trail, golf, paddle boats, ball diamonds, playgrounds, and plenty more.

Speaking of walking trails, not only is the one at Lake Shawnee a great one, but so is the new Shunga Trail, which goes through most of Topeka. Another cool (unofficial) trail is the levee system along the river. Walk from Oakland to Tecumseh!

Truckhenge, just east of Billard Airport, is a cool grassroots art park that also has the best-stocked Catfish pond in the state. See the website at www.thomaslessman.com/LessmanFarm/

Those are only a FEW of the good things about Topeka. Seriously, just look around and you'll see so many things you hadn't thought of...

Respectfully,

Thomas Lessman
Website: http://www.thomaslessman.com/
Blog: http://www.talessman.blogspot.com/
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Saturday, April 26, 2008

Drunk Driving Prevention: Use Common Sense

Drunk driving is a terrible problem that is (and should be) a crime. But it can also be an honest mistake that all too easy to make, and current policies don't help the situation. Here are two common problems with common sense solutions that will go a LONG way to prevent drunk driving:

Problem 1: Lowering the legal limit only puts more drunk drivers on the road. Many drunk drivers honestly have no idea they were over the legal limit. I don't know of any bars equipped with a breathalyzer. I don't know anyone who owns a breathalyzer (or who knows where to get one). How can anyone know they are over the legal limit if they have no way of seeing what their blood/alcohol level is?

Solution: Breathalyzers need to be available so people can see for sure whether they are legally drunk or not. Either allow bars to install them, or help people get a breathalyzer installed in their car. Or instead of setting up checkpoints, have some officers go to bars and OFFER to let people take a breathalyzer (by choice), so people actually have a way to know for sure whether they are legally drunk or not BEFORE they get in their car.

Problem 2: Forcing bars to kick everyone out at 2am with no exceptions puts people in a sudden bind. Especially if they just finished their (last call) drink and they haven't felt the effects yet. That can easily lead to people honestly not realizing they're drunk until they are already on the road!

Solution: Allow bars to stay open longer but stop serving alcohol at 2am. That way if someone needs to sit for a while and sober up, they can do it in the bar instead of in their car. If the bar wants, it can also serve breakfast to customers so they can sober up and while waiting for their food and eating. That would let people have time to sober up AND it would let the bar make more money by giving its customers what they need. A win-win situation!

Conclusion: There are more changes that would help prevent drunk driving, but the two above would be a good start. Laws are necessary to define crimes and punishment, but should we really punish someone harshly if they honestly didn't know they were breaking the law? We have to make sure that people actually have a way to know if they are breaking the law, so they have the opportunity to do the right thing before it's too late.

Thomas Lessman
Website: http://www.thomaslessman.com/
. Blog: http://www.talessman.blogspot.com/
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Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Is Rape OK if the Rapist is a Woman?

The big list of female teacher sex offenders is at http://www.worldnetdaily.com/?pageId=39783 . (Keep in mind these are only the well-known cases. Many of these predators are never reported or punished.)

Some people may think there was no harm done, and some people even say the boys were lucky to be raped. In reality, statutory rape is every bit as harmful to boys as it is to girls. Notice that many of these teachers became pregnant by the boys they raped, thus leading to further victimization of the boys because,

1. How many 14 or 17 year-old boys are ready to be fathers? (Answer: young boys and girls aren't ready to be parents, period.)

2. Underage boys still have to pay $upport even though they were raped. For example, a 12 year-old boy in Kansas was forced to pay $upport to the babysitter who raped him. See:
. . . 2a. Hermesmann v. Seyer on Wikipedia (a good summary of the case)
. . . 2b. State of KS ex rel. Hermesmann v. Seyer, http://www.kscourts.org/Cases-and-Opinions/opinions/ctapp/1997/19970905/76971.htm.

3. How will the boy handle the stress of raising a child, going to school, missing events, and working after school to pay $upport to his rapist?

4. How will this rape effect the boys' views on women and sex, and how will it affect his future relationships with girls his own age?

5. Will the boy be able to have a normal family of his own? Will having a child keep him from forming healthy relationships? If he ever is able to start a family, how will he be able to support his own family AND the person who raped him?

I can go on but any normal person understands how statutory rape can hurt male victims as badly as it can hurt female victims. It's not the fantasy some people may dream of, but it can become a life-altering nightmare.

Female sex predators are as dangerous to boys as male sex predators are to girls. Will this female teacher/rapist get the same punishment as a male teacher/rapist, or will she enjoy the usual female sentencing discount?

Thomas Lessman
Website: www.ThomasLessman.com
. Blog: www.talessman.blogspot.com
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Sunday, April 13, 2008

Attorney "Ethics" Leave Innocent Man in Prison for 26 Years

What words could possibly do justice to this terrible situation? Not many things would be worse than spending most of your life in prison - especially for a crime you didn't commit!

I understand the attorneys probably acted "legally and ethically" within the bounds of their duty as attorneys. It obviously wasn't an easy decision for them; they feel bad and possibly had some trouble sleeping. I wouldn't ever want to have to make a decision like that. But I don't feel AT ALL sorry for them, nor do I think they did the RIGHT thing.

Really I think he (Mr. Logan) should be able to sue them (the attorneys) and the state, for wrongful incarceration and other damages he suffered because of their... ommission?... negligence?... blind obedience?... or whatever you want to call it.

There may not be any laws specifically against what they did. I agree that they had a tough decision to make, and they were in a way, "just doing their jobs". But that's the same excuse Nazi soldiers used to justify their crimes. And in this situation, I see the attorneys' actions (or lack thereof) to be similar in nature. Though I'm willing to bet that if Mr. Logan were to sue the attorneys, no US court would rule in his favor.

Regardless of what the laws say or omit, and regardless of what any "code of ethics" says, there is ALWAYS a line between "Right" and "Wrong". Maybe they couldn't see that line because of the foggy grey Ethics area. But they knew he was innocent, and that he was at constant risk of being raped or murdered while in prison.

Yet they still made a conscious decision to withold information that would have set this innocent man free. It may have been a tough decision for the attorneys, but their choice cost an innocent man 26 years in prison, putting him in extreme danger and effectively destroying his life. And NO amount of ethics can give Mr. Logan half of his life back.

Thomas Lessman
Website: http://www.thomaslessman.com/
Blog: http://www.talessman.blogspot.com/

World History Maps
. http://www.worldhistorymaps.info/

Lessman Farm and Truckhenge
. www.thomaslessman.com/LessmanFarm/
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Thursday, April 10, 2008

Woman Convicted of DUI, Sentencing Postponed

See also from the Topeka Capital-Journal, 4-10-2008: Sentencing postponed for woman involved in fatal DUI wreck.

I saw this wreck happen; in fact, Justin's car was right behind my car. I saw her lights coming towards me and suddenly it registered that she was in MY lane! I swerved just in time to avoid her - she literally missed me by less than 4 feet. I swerved back onto the road and looked in my rear view mirror just in time to see her hit his car head-on. He and I were each going about 60 mph; I don't know how fast she was going.

I've seen a LOT of things in my life, including seeing other people die, but what I saw that night shook me. I've lived in this area my whole life (30 years) and didn't know any of the people involved. But I DO know what I saw. Out of respect for the Mr. Fujibayashi and his family, I'll keep those details between myself and the police report.

What really got me was a week later, when I was called to the Highway Patrol headquarters. They needed a statement from me, as a witness, because it seemed that Ms. Dennon and another witness (her friend) were trying to claim that she was in the correct lane, and that Mr. Fujibayashi was in the wrong lane.

In other words, they were trying to save Dennon's skin, by blaming it on her victim, the man she killed!

As a single parent myself, I understand the need to get out and away and have fun. Everybody makes mistakes, and sometimes they are fatal. However drunk driving is no innocent mistake, it's extreme reckless negligence. And in this case, her actions ruined 3 lives.

It's a shame that Ms. Dennon's child will have a mother in prison. It's an even greater shame that Ms. Dennon needlessly took a life, tried to blame it on her victim, and now her daughter is going to pay the price.

There is a MySpace page in memory of Justin Fujibayashi. http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=143196782

Sincerely,

Thomas Lessman
Website: www.ThomasLessman.com
Blog: www.talessman.blogspot.com

World History Maps

. www.WorldHistoryMaps.info

Lessman Farm and Truckhenge
. www.thomaslessman.com/LessmanFarm/

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Wednesday, April 09, 2008

"If You Don't Like It Here, You Should Move..."

It's often tempting if you don't agree with someone else's political views, to tell them they should "move to some other country" if they don't like it here so much. That kind of thinking is actually un-American, although it's a sin I myself have occasionally fallen into.

One of the most beautiful things about America is that you can live here, be a citizen, and disagree about certain things, even major things, but we're all allowed the right to have our own ideas, beliefs, and opinions. It's in the first amendment of the Bill of Rights. A good read, I highly recommend it!

I don't agree with views of a lot of people sometimes. And they don't agree with some of my views either. But we all have that right, and nobody has to leave just because they don't agree with somebody else.

Disagreeing with the President, or agreeing with the President, or not liking a certain type of tax or government program, or whatever, doesn't mean somebody is "un-American", nor do they need to leave.

America (the US) is the greatest nation on Earth. That doesn't mean the government is always right, and it doesn't always act in the best interest of We the People. It also doesn't mean that America is always right in the ways it deals with other nations. It's our duty as citizens to take care of this nation - including making sure our government stays in line.

And with the way things have been going, we are literally *this* close to losing our nation, people! Illegal immigration is FAR worse than most official reports admit. Our economy is on the verge of collapse (it will be comparable to the Great Depression 80 years ago, if we don't get a grip on it NOW). We have quite a few enemies around the world who are becoming major threats. And that's only the tip of the iceberg that's about to hit our Titanic...

Respectfully,

Thomas Lessman
. www.ThomasLessman.com
Blog: www.talessman.blogspot.com
Email: talessman@yis.us

World History Maps
. www.WorldHistoryMaps.info

Lessman Farm and Truckhenge
. www.thomaslessman.com/LessmanFarm/
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Sunday, April 06, 2008

Racial Issues, Part 1

I think Glenda Overstreet and I may finally agree on *something* related to racial issues. Seriously! The last 3 paragraphs in her post, "Apology vs. Action", may be the best common-ground place to start healing America's racial issues.

America has serious racial issues that we haven't handled very well. When I say "we", I mean EVERYONE in America: Whites, Blacks, Natives, Grandparents, Adults, Children, even Deceased people. Every generation in American history has faced racial issues that have changed over time. The issues we face are not the exact same racial issues that our parents, great-grandparents, or great-great-great-great grandparents dealt with. And each generation has handled these issues in their own way.

These racial issues are very complex and deep-rooted, and it will take a LOT of work on all sides before these wounds can be healed. I appreciate Glenda's last 3 paragraphs because she at least acknowledges that slavery has happened to some members of every race at some point in history. I'll add further that every race has also, at some point, enslaved members of other races. There is no such thing as an "innocent race".

I understand that in America's early years most blacks were brutally enslaved by some whites (not ALL whites). I also understand that blacks suffered discrimination even after slavery was abolished, and that some blacks still face various forms of discrimination. The thing is, Blacks aren't the only race to face discrimination in modern America. Policies like affirmative action, racial quotas, and other ill-conceived policies only substitute one form of discrimination for other forms of discrimination.

Whites and Latinos, Natives, and other races all suffer various forms of discrimination from members of other races. Everyone has their own stories of discrimination they've faced in their lives. Speaking from my view as a white male, I've seen and experienced discrimination many times, in many ways. But individual stories are not the point.

People must look past their own personal experiences, and realize that racism affects everyone. Blacks have legitimate reasons to feel historically exploited by America. So have Natives and Whites. There isn't any race in America that hasn't been exploited or discriminated against at some point in history.

Today we are all supposedly recognized as equals before the law, regardless of race or gender or etc. Which is how it should always have been, because each one of us is as human as the next person. Nobody is more human than anyone else. We are all equally human.

Respectfully,

Thomas Lessman
. http://www.thomaslessman.com/
Blog: http://www.talessman.blogspot.com/
Email: talessman@yis.us
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World History Maps by Thomas Lessman
. http://www.worldhistorymaps.com/

Saturday, April 05, 2008

Rape

(I decided to write this after reading an article in the Topeka Capital-Journal about a fundraiser for a new anti-rape group.

Rape is a terrible crime. There's another rape epedimic that gets little or no coverage, even though it happens more frequently than violent rapes.

The epedimic is in FALSE ALLEGATIONS of rape. Several studies have shown that between 20% to 40% of rape accusations are FALSE (as in, the accuser admitted she lied, or at least the evidence she lied was overwhelming).

Here's a good example: http://glennsacks.com/blog/?cat=21

False accusers have many of the same traits as other types of rapists. They pick victims and commit the crime based on revenge, it's a power trip, they don't want their husband to know what they were really doing out so late, they were bored or angry, etc.

Victims of rape by false allegation suffer many of the same problems as other rape victims. They become confused, fearful or suspicious of other people, withdrawn, unable to sleep, distracted or unable to work, depressed, and suffer post-traumatic stress syndrome.

Except that victims of other types of rape get support, shelter, sympathy, justice, and other help. But victims of rape by false accusation get none of that; instead they lose their friends, their jobs, their faces get plastered all over the news, and no justice (the rapist is rarely even punished).

I agree that true rape is a horrible crime. To falsely accuse someone of rape is actually a way of raping them. Someone who makes false accusations should be charged with "Rape by False Accusation", and if convicted get the same punishment like any other rapist.

Respectfully,

Thomas Lessman
. ww.ThomasLessman.com
Blog: http://www.talessman.blogspot.com/
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http://www.hisside.com/
http://www.falseallegations.com/

Wednesday, April 02, 2008

Libertarian Bob Barr for President?

GOPUSA sent out an article about former US Rep. Bob Barr, who may run for President as a Libertarian candidate. Bob Barr is a former Republican who decided the Libertarian Party was better. The article is located <here on the GOPUSA Forum>.

Like Ron Paul, Bob Barr seems to be an honest man of integrity. He fights to protect our freedoms and constitutional rights, and has the genuine interest of "We the People" at heart. Bob Barr is well known as a true Conservative and many people will flock to his campaign, like they did with Ron Paul. It will definitely make this campaign interesting again!

**Take the World's Smallest Political Quiz! Just 10 easy questions, and you'll know which political party supports your views. You may be surprised!

Personally, I support whomever I honestly feel is best for the job of defending our rights and freedoms. If a candidate has already been elected to office previously, they have an record of how they voted on legislation (elected voting record). If that record is good, and the candidate fulfilled their elected duties, and protected the Constitution and Bill of Rights, then they've likely earned my vote. If their record is bad (eg. they supported bad laws, restricted freedoms, or were otherwise bad leaders), I won't vote for them because I refuse to reward bad leadership by voting for it! Seems simple enough.

When you vote, are you confident in the people you vote for? Have you ever decided to vote for the "lesser of two evils" because you didn't think a 3rd party candidate couldn't win? If so, the bottom line is that you sold your vote to a candidate you don't agree with, and who really doesn't represent you. In other words, you voted against yourself!

Too many Republicans (and Democrats) have fallen victim to the "Our Party First" syndrome. That mindset got us 8 years of Clinton and 8 years of Bush. If we suffer 8 years of McCain, Obama, or Clinton #2, our lives will only go from bad to worse, or even more worse than that. Each of them might take us down a different drain, but the bottom line is that if they're elected we WILL be going down a drain.

The Republicans may well lose this election, and it's their own fault for ignoring common sense and putting up McCain as their candidate. I'd have switched parties for Ron Paul, but if the Republicans would rather support Bush and McCain over Paul or Barr, then it's no longer the Republican Party. It's become the "New Moderate Party", only most of its members don't want to believe it. Conservatives are starting to wake up and look for a party that supports their ideals.

The Democrats aren't doing much better. Their campaigns have been so intolerably ho-hum that many Democrats aren't even bothering to vote. There's a strong split between Hillary's "Femocrats" and Obama's supporters, and they are split along racial and gender lines.

We may yet see the demise of this faulty 2-party system, to be replaced by a multi-party (4 or more) system that gives people more choice and more representation. Conservatives may join the Libertarian Party, leaving the "Moderate Republican" party. The Democrats may split into 2 or more parties, covering minority issues, gender issues, and possibly labor issues.

I definitely don't agree with the GOPUSA editor, who said that Ron Paul should be kicked out of the Republican Party if he supports a Libertarian Presidential candidate. Some Libertarians said the same of me when I supported Republican Ron Paul's campaign. If the Republican Party starts kicking out members who vote for better candidates, then it's really lost it's mind! Didn't another party also deal harshly with people who supported better candidates from other parties? I believe it was called the Communist Party...

Thomas Lessman
. http://www.ThomasLessman.com/
World History: http://www.WorldHistoryMaps.info/
Blog: http://www.talessman.blogspot.com/
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Libertarian Party of Kansas: http://www.LPKS.org
US Libertarian Party: http://www.LP.org

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Parents' Rights Case Rejected by KS Court

* This post is in response to Michael Hooper's article, "Sperm donor takes case to Supreme Court", in the Topeka Capital-Journal on March 19, 2008.

Typical bureaucracy at work.

On one hand the government says it must force fathers to "be responsible". It passes more laws, hires more caseworkers, kicks in doors, even throws fathers in jail to force them to "be responsible". On the other hand, the courts decide that fathers won't be allowed to even BE fathers unless they have permission from the mother?


Most fathers are the best fathers they can be. But many fathers get blocked by vindictive mothers, biased judges, and a legal system that is hell-bent on destroying lives and families to keep itself in business. (see <Here> and <Here> and <Here> for related letters.)

I personally don't like what I've seen from this Daryl Hendrix guy. I heard him on the Jim Cates Show a few months ago and he said, "I don't want to go down the fathers' rights path...", like it's a bad thing. Maybe he was trying to be politically correct, I don't know. What I DO know is that a lot of people don't think before they speak. They don't care what happens to other people as long as it doesn't happen to them. They know what the courts are doing is wrong. They see me organize rallies to stand up for our rights as parents (see <Here> for example). But instead of stepping up and helping us defend their rights, they turn and walk away. Some are too lazy or apathetic, others think it won't happen to them, and everyone has an excuse for not getting involved. And when they finally get pulled into the system, they expect me to jump at the "opportunity" to help them.

The courts are segregating parents into unequal classes (custodial and non-custodial), which encourages parents to fight each other for power. Divorce and custody battles are big business for attorneys, mediators, judges, caseworkers, therapists, and other professionals who make their living off broken families. It's no longer about right and wrong; now the courts are mostly concerned about the almighty bottom dollar.

It's time to reign in the courts and end the bureaucratic industry of family destruction. The first step is to force the legal system to recognize
Mothers and Fathers equally as parents (with equal rights and equal responsibilities), unless they are proven unfit by a jury. Each parent should have the child 1/2 the time (or as close as possible), and family law needs reformed so that it encourages parents to work together to raise their children instead of fighting for power in court.

Thomas Lessman
. http://www.thomaslessman.com/
Blog: http://www.talessman.blogspot.com/
Email: talessman@yis.us

* * * Equal Rights for parents website: http://www.acfc.org/ .
*** http://www.hisside.com/, Glenn Sacks' radio show and blog about men's and fathers' issues.

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Wednesday, February 27, 2008

World History Maps update

A few updates in my world history maps...

I've now got 39 world history maps online, from 1300 BC to 1500 AD. The website is http://www.worldhistorymaps.info/. The maps cover the "old world" (Eastern Hemisphere) during every 100 years and several key points in history.

How much of the world did Alexander the Great conquer compared to Ghengis Khan? What were the Germanic kingdoms that replaced the Western Roman Empire? How big was the Roman Empire during Jesus' lifetime? How much smaller was the Roman Empire during the Crusades?

There are many different kinds of history maps available online, but very few large scale maps (covering large parts of the world during specific dates.) There are many maps of the world in 1900 AD, but what about a map of the world in 900 AD? We have all read about the Egyptian Empire, but what other nations did the Egyptians trade or compete with? http://www.worldhistorymaps.info/.

The Eastern Hemisphere in 1300 BC,
during the height of the Egyptian Empire

It took me a lot of time and research to make these maps, especially because sources often conflict, and I make corrections when new information comes my way. The maps aren't perfect (show me ANY perfect history map!). But they are as accurate as possible and updated whenever new, verifiable information is available to me.

So check them out; they show a view of history that is valuable but rarely seen. It gives you a better understanding of history when you can see the BIGGER picture during any given year.

Thomas Lessman
. http://www.thomaslessman.com/
Blog: http://www.talessman.blogspot.com/

World History Maps:
http://www.worldhistorymaps.info/
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Saturday, February 16, 2008

Truckhenge Media Coverage

Ever since I was a kid, my dad collected antique trucks. By 2001 he had several of them. Then a petty Shawnee County health inspector decided he didn't like my dad competing with some local landfills by allowing clean rubble dumping on our property. So the County took my dad to court charging him with misc. nuisances. One of which targeted my dad's collection of antique trucks. The Judge ordered my dad to "pick the trucks up". So he did!

He put them in the ground pointing up to the sky, painted them, and called them "Truckhenge". He's added several metal and beer-bottle sculptures, some boats, and more. The whole farm is really pretty cool.

The TV show "Rare Visions and Roadside Revelations" has taped the farm, and KDHE featured Truckhenge in its "Get Caught Recycling" campaign. There is also a nice video of Truckhenge at the http://www.roadsideamerica.com/ website and a good section about it at http://www.kansastravel.org/.

This Thursday, Feb. 21, 2008, there is a TV crew from Sweden that will come to Topeka to tape the Farm. Is that cool or what? My dad has definitely made a name for the farm and for himself. And believe me, it is a real cool grassroots arts park. He's happy to give tours, just make sure to stop at the house and he'll take you on a tour.

For more information, check out the official Truckhenge website, at
www.thomaslessman.com/LessmanFarm/ .

Thomas Lessman
. http://www.thomaslessman.com/
Blog: http://www.talessman.blogspot.com/
Email: talessman@yis.us

Monday, January 28, 2008

Prison Rape Board Game?

The article below my signature is from CJonline. The son of Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius has created and is marketing a board game about prison rape, called "Don't Drop the Soap".

America's a free country and he has the right to create whatever dumb offensive games he wants to create. That doesn't mean we have to sit by and do nothing, either. Rape is not a joke, and it's dispicable that someone would try to make a profit by making a game about it, much less calling it "entertainment".

This guy is the son of the Governor of Kansas. She (Governor Sebelius) is supporting her son's efforts to market this game, even defending it. If he made a board game about raping women and called it "Entertainment", would she be so supportive of him then?

Considering the numbers of people who have been released from prison after being found innocent due to prosecutor misconduct, false accusations, fabricated evidence, and other issues in the justice system, the creation of this game becomes even more despicable.

Rape isn't a game, and it's not funny when anyone is raped, whether they are a woman or a man. Instead of supporting her son's efforts to profit from a despicable game, Governor Sebelius should be educating him on how prison rape is every bit as serious and harmful as other forms of rape.

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Thomas A. Lessman
Web: http://www.thomaslessman.com/
Blog: http://www.talessman.blogspot.com/
Email: talessman@yis.us
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Article: Sebelius' son sells game out of Cedar Crest
By Tim Hrenchir, the Topeka Capital-Journal. Date: 1-26-2008
Source URL: http://cjonline.com/stories/012608/bus_240507951.shtml

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Chuck Adkins, the Bitchboy who hates Ron Paul

On Men's News Daily and Blogwonks, there is a writer who calls himself "Chuck Adkins", who apparently hates Ron Paul as much as the columnist who anonymously calls himself "Rogue Jew".

Both of these columnists will stoop to ANY low it takes to keep Ron Paul from getting elected. Aparently they hate integrity and honesty so much that they draft BS distortions about Ron Paul supposedly being racist, homophobic, etc. (Rest assured, Ron Paul is NOT either of those, and he has 100 times the integrity and honesty of ANY of the other politicians running for president).

But Chuck Adkins takes it so personally, he stooped to calling me a "bald headed four eyed freak" when I called him out on his lies. Then to top it off, Adkins actually deleted our whole exchange, probably after realizing his own words exposed how stupid he actually sounds making those false accusations against Ron Paul.

I get annoyed to no end by so-called conservatives (actually they are pseudo-conservatives) who whine about the tactics used by Feminists and liberals, then turn around and use those same tactics to stop a real man of integrity, like Ron Paul.

Chuck Adkins is just another hate-mongering moronic trash journalist, and it seems Blogwonks is getting overrun by these pathetic pieces of wannabe-media.

Thomas Lessman
. http://www.thomaslessman.com/
. http://www.worldhistorymaps.info/
Blog: http://www.talessman.blogspot.com/
Email: talessman@yis.us

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

Mens News Daily

For a long time now, I've been a supporter of a site called "Mens News Daily", which is a right-wing, alternate news source for men.

Many of the columnists on that site are great columnists, including Dave Usher, Jim Kouri, Carey Roberts, and Glenn Sacks, among others.

Some of the columnists are little better than the left-wing trash journalists they claim to hate. In particular is a columnists known only as "the Rogue Jew". I honestly thought for the longest time that the "Rogue Jew" was a satire column, making fun of things in a negative way. Thus I didn't usually pay much attention to them.

Until recently. It seems the "Rogue Jew" has taken it upon himself (herself?) to start calling presidential candidate Ron Paul a racist and white supremacist. They provide no proof of their claims, except to say that KKK members are the biggest donaters to his campaign. Again, they show no proof, only making up baseless allegations that would make any feminist blush with excitement.

When I attempted to question these false allegations against Ron Paul, the site's owner, Mike LaSalle, deleted my comments outright. It seems that the owner of Men's News Daily thinks it is okay to spread false allegations against a great presidential candidate, but not okay to question those making the false allegations.

What a shame. It seems that Men's News Daily, formerly a good bastion of news that you wouldn't see in mainstream media, has now become a right-wing version of the very feminist media it claims to hate. How sad...

For the record, Ron Paul is NOT a racist, and he is the last great hope for America to return to its roots of freedom and liberty for all. Remember, only freedom will return America to its roots, not shoddy journalism!

Sincerely,

Thomas Lessman
. www.ThomasLessman.com
. www.WorldHistoryMaps.info
Blog: www.talessman.blogspot.com
Email: talessman@yis.us