History
*Northumberland was founded in 1772.
*purchased from the Iroquois in the first Treaty of Fort Stanwix in 1768, and the village was laid out in 1772. During the American Revolution, Northumberland was evacuated during the Big Runaway in 1778, and only finally resettled in 1784.
Geography
*It sits at the confluence of the north and west branches of the Susquehanna River.
*According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
*Population - 3,714
*Male - 47.4%
*Female - 52.6%
*White - 96.38%
*African American - 0.73%
*Hispanic or Latino - 0.62%
*Native American - 0.13%
*Asian - 0.19%
*Other - 0.40%
*two or more - 0.16%
*Median Income - $31,891
*Males - $31,162
*females - $22,203
*Under Poverty Line - 7.7%
*Education
*78% Graduation Rate
*2005 11th grade
*49% Proficient In Math
*62% Proficient in reading
*Ranked 384/606
*Notable Residents
*Joseph Priestley - English Chemist and Co-Discoverer of Oxygen.
*Paul Tibbets - Piliot that Droped Bomb on Hiroshima, Japan.
Crime (in the last 7 years)
*Murder - 1
*rape - 12
*Robbery - 3
*Assault - 11
*burglary - 163
*Theft - 460
*Auto Theft - 32
*Arson - 2
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Marriage
I've seen discussions in the community about marriage among atheists. Some people don't feel that it is necessary to be married. That is totally up to the life style that you chose to live. There certainly are benefits that come from marriage, and there is nothing religious about it.
In these discussions, people were talking about our rights and benefits. I think that a lot were left out so I decided to make a list for myself.
On the order of 1,400 legal rights are conferred upon married couples in the U.S. Typically these are composed of about 400 state benefits and over 1,000 federal benefits. Among them are the rights to:
* joint parenting;
* joint adoption;
* joint foster care, custody, and visitation (including non-biological parents);
* status as next-of-kin for hospital visits and medical decisions where one partner is too ill to be competent;
* joint insurance policies for home, auto and health;
* dissolution and divorce protections such as community property and child support;
* immigration and residency for partners from other countries;
* inheritance automatically in the absence of a will;
* joint leases with automatic renewal rights in the event one partner dies or leaves the house or apartment;
* inheritance of jointly-owned real and personal property through the right of survivorship (which avoids the time and expense and taxes in probate);
* benefits such as annuities, pension plans, Social Security, and Medicare;
* spousal exemptions to property tax increases upon the death of one partner who is a co- owner of the home;
* veterans' discounts on medical care, education, and home loans; joint filing of tax returns;
* joint filing of customs claims when traveling;
* wrongful death benefits for a surviving partner and children;
* bereavement or sick leave to care for a partner or child;
* decision-making power with respect to whether a deceased partner will be cremated or not and where to bury him or her;
* crime victims' recovery benefits;
* loss of consortium tort benefits;
* domestic violence protection orders;
* judicial protections and evidentiary immunity;
* and more....
Most of these legal and economic benefits cannot be privately arranged or contracted for. For example, absent a legal (or civil) marriage, there is no guaranteed joint responsibility to the partner and to third parties (including children) in such areas as child support, debts to creditors, taxes, etc. In addition, private employers and institutions often give other economic privileges and other benefits (special rates or memberships) only to married couples. And, of course, when people cannot marry, they are denied all the emotional and social benefits and responsibilities of marriage as well.
as you can see their are many secular reasons for marriage.
In these discussions, people were talking about our rights and benefits. I think that a lot were left out so I decided to make a list for myself.
On the order of 1,400 legal rights are conferred upon married couples in the U.S. Typically these are composed of about 400 state benefits and over 1,000 federal benefits. Among them are the rights to:
* joint parenting;
* joint adoption;
* joint foster care, custody, and visitation (including non-biological parents);
* status as next-of-kin for hospital visits and medical decisions where one partner is too ill to be competent;
* joint insurance policies for home, auto and health;
* dissolution and divorce protections such as community property and child support;
* immigration and residency for partners from other countries;
* inheritance automatically in the absence of a will;
* joint leases with automatic renewal rights in the event one partner dies or leaves the house or apartment;
* inheritance of jointly-owned real and personal property through the right of survivorship (which avoids the time and expense and taxes in probate);
* benefits such as annuities, pension plans, Social Security, and Medicare;
* spousal exemptions to property tax increases upon the death of one partner who is a co- owner of the home;
* veterans' discounts on medical care, education, and home loans; joint filing of tax returns;
* joint filing of customs claims when traveling;
* wrongful death benefits for a surviving partner and children;
* bereavement or sick leave to care for a partner or child;
* decision-making power with respect to whether a deceased partner will be cremated or not and where to bury him or her;
* crime victims' recovery benefits;
* loss of consortium tort benefits;
* domestic violence protection orders;
* judicial protections and evidentiary immunity;
* and more....
Most of these legal and economic benefits cannot be privately arranged or contracted for. For example, absent a legal (or civil) marriage, there is no guaranteed joint responsibility to the partner and to third parties (including children) in such areas as child support, debts to creditors, taxes, etc. In addition, private employers and institutions often give other economic privileges and other benefits (special rates or memberships) only to married couples. And, of course, when people cannot marry, they are denied all the emotional and social benefits and responsibilities of marriage as well.
as you can see their are many secular reasons for marriage.
Taking The Bible Literally
I've heard a lot lately that most Christians in these modern times only believe that the stories in the bible are only parables to teach us how to live our lives. I don't believe that. I believe that with all of the details included in most of these stories, the bible really was intended to be taken literally. The details thrown in are to make you think everything actually happened as it was written.
There are so many details to every story. The measurements and construction of Noah's ark, The begetting of generations, the exact materials and measurements of temples...these are just a few small examples. If these stories were not intended literally, why are these here?
again..The details thrown in are to make you think everything actually happened as it was written.
I think the reason most Christians say that these stories are only parables is because of the violence and hatred in the old testament. I understand that Christians put most of their focus in the new testament because it tells of their savior. But to completely disown the old testament is ignorant. Is Jesus not the son of god? the two testaments go hand in hand. It explains history of the land before Jesus walked the earth. It also explains the tyranny of their newly found Messiah's father. would you put your faith in Hitler's son if he said he was sent by his dad to save you? ...even though this is a dramatized question, it works as a good analogy.
While we are talking about the interpretation of the old testament, wouldn't it make more sense to be Jewish? I mean, it is the original belief that God himself set forward and Jewish people are considered His chosen people. If the creator of the universe tells you one thing, why would you believe a man that tells you differently? There is a reason Jesus was crucified. he was a blasphemer according to God's original laws. He was killed for claiming to be the messiah. Those Jewish people who believed him are catholic and Catholicism broke into separate branches of protestants. I really cant see how those Jewish people who believed him could not see what was going on. Then again, the bible even contradicts itself when it comes to the messiah. So how could you know this was actually the chosen savior?
anyway, I think that whoever wrote the bible wanted to make it pretty clear that it was intended to be taken literally. And the people who DO take it literally are the ones who you have to look out for. Extremists in any group are a bad thing.
The Bible says that not one interpretation is private, but I think you certainly should draw the line somewhere when it comes to a book that you are putting you're absolute faith in.
There are so many details to every story. The measurements and construction of Noah's ark, The begetting of generations, the exact materials and measurements of temples...these are just a few small examples. If these stories were not intended literally, why are these here?
again..The details thrown in are to make you think everything actually happened as it was written.
I think the reason most Christians say that these stories are only parables is because of the violence and hatred in the old testament. I understand that Christians put most of their focus in the new testament because it tells of their savior. But to completely disown the old testament is ignorant. Is Jesus not the son of god? the two testaments go hand in hand. It explains history of the land before Jesus walked the earth. It also explains the tyranny of their newly found Messiah's father. would you put your faith in Hitler's son if he said he was sent by his dad to save you? ...even though this is a dramatized question, it works as a good analogy.
While we are talking about the interpretation of the old testament, wouldn't it make more sense to be Jewish? I mean, it is the original belief that God himself set forward and Jewish people are considered His chosen people. If the creator of the universe tells you one thing, why would you believe a man that tells you differently? There is a reason Jesus was crucified. he was a blasphemer according to God's original laws. He was killed for claiming to be the messiah. Those Jewish people who believed him are catholic and Catholicism broke into separate branches of protestants. I really cant see how those Jewish people who believed him could not see what was going on. Then again, the bible even contradicts itself when it comes to the messiah. So how could you know this was actually the chosen savior?
anyway, I think that whoever wrote the bible wanted to make it pretty clear that it was intended to be taken literally. And the people who DO take it literally are the ones who you have to look out for. Extremists in any group are a bad thing.
The Bible says that not one interpretation is private, but I think you certainly should draw the line somewhere when it comes to a book that you are putting you're absolute faith in.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
childhood indoctrination
I don't want my kids to think the way I think. I want them to think the way THEY think. they are real people, not clones for us to live vicariously.
I think the real problem is that parents want their kids to be just like them, to achieve where they couldn't and to believe what they always wanted the rest of the world to beleive. Also, to not be unruly. I wonder..if the bible didn't tell us to honor our mothers and fathers, would we have more personality? hm...
I think that a parent's job is to give children the necessary means to grow up on their own, not mold them in their image. I think that a parents job is to teach kids about everything, not just something in a narrow point of view.
doing otherwise is just making them vulnerable in real life situations.
It doesn't mater to me what belief my children have in the future, what matters to me is that they have the right to do so, and to choose freely.
and don't even get me started on parents who disown their homosexual children...
I think the real problem is that parents want their kids to be just like them, to achieve where they couldn't and to believe what they always wanted the rest of the world to beleive. Also, to not be unruly. I wonder..if the bible didn't tell us to honor our mothers and fathers, would we have more personality? hm...
I think that a parent's job is to give children the necessary means to grow up on their own, not mold them in their image. I think that a parents job is to teach kids about everything, not just something in a narrow point of view.
doing otherwise is just making them vulnerable in real life situations.
It doesn't mater to me what belief my children have in the future, what matters to me is that they have the right to do so, and to choose freely.
and don't even get me started on parents who disown their homosexual children...
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Social Medicine
To everyone out there who is afraid that social medicine is a step closer to comunism, think about this.
it is very hard to get insurance if you are considered high risk or have pre existing conditions. well....what the hell do you think we're trying to get insurance for?!
For most people, the easiest way to get health insurance is if you have a job were you are working full time and have these kinds of benefits. but..in today's economy, this is a very rare thing to attain.
This means that the people without health insurance also dont have very good jobs and sources of income.
When these people need medical help, they cannot afford it and are only going deeper into debt.
I know this because I am one of these people.
Fear is no reason to deprive people of the help they need. We need government for a reason, wither we like the direction it's heading in or not.
it is very hard to get insurance if you are considered high risk or have pre existing conditions. well....what the hell do you think we're trying to get insurance for?!
For most people, the easiest way to get health insurance is if you have a job were you are working full time and have these kinds of benefits. but..in today's economy, this is a very rare thing to attain.
This means that the people without health insurance also dont have very good jobs and sources of income.
When these people need medical help, they cannot afford it and are only going deeper into debt.
I know this because I am one of these people.
Fear is no reason to deprive people of the help they need. We need government for a reason, wither we like the direction it's heading in or not.
If it wasnt inspired by God...
If Christians believed that their bible wasn't written by god, Christians would spend there time trying to ban it instead of getting it into public schools.
think about it. The bible consists of so many things that they spend so much time trying to tell the world is wrong.
such as: incest, Adultery, Mass murder of men, women and children, manslaughter, religious intolerance, slavery, supporting unequal rights, selfishness, polygamy, thievery, cannibalism....these are all things that either happened or were threatened in the name of god.
It seems that most Christians try their hardest to ignore this, or say that the old testament isn't relative any more. they say that the lord has changed laws in the new testament, but the new testament clearly stats that Jesus came to uphold these laws, not to change them.
They might also say that these things are interpreted incorrectly. the bible has something to say about this too:
2 Peter 1:20 "no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation."
so...what do you think?
remember, congress gave our school systems the right to use the bible as an example of literature.
I'm not so sure I'd be ok with that. But on the bright side, A freethinker would realize how evil it really is.
think about it. The bible consists of so many things that they spend so much time trying to tell the world is wrong.
such as: incest, Adultery, Mass murder of men, women and children, manslaughter, religious intolerance, slavery, supporting unequal rights, selfishness, polygamy, thievery, cannibalism....these are all things that either happened or were threatened in the name of god.
It seems that most Christians try their hardest to ignore this, or say that the old testament isn't relative any more. they say that the lord has changed laws in the new testament, but the new testament clearly stats that Jesus came to uphold these laws, not to change them.
They might also say that these things are interpreted incorrectly. the bible has something to say about this too:
2 Peter 1:20 "no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation."
so...what do you think?
remember, congress gave our school systems the right to use the bible as an example of literature.
I'm not so sure I'd be ok with that. But on the bright side, A freethinker would realize how evil it really is.
Labels
Most of my friends know that I am interested in politics, and that I am unaffiliated and that I refuse to consider my self liberal or conservative.
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of individual liberty and equal rights.
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports minimal and gradual change in society.
These terms do not make a lick of sense to me. To be conservative in this day in age..it's pre-determined that you support a nation "under god".
To be liberal these days, it's pre-determined that you are only after the freedom of the people, if it goes against the constitution or not. that is at least what politicians and the media are making it seem to be.
now, liberals tend to agree to the separation of church and state which is clearly in the constitution but yet most conservatives are religious and are against this idea?
so..where does this leave someone who fully supports the constitution and doesnt want it to change while supporting liberty and equal rights?
A better question...why do we feel that we have to label ourselves as if on a store shelf and the American people are buying?
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of individual liberty and equal rights.
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports minimal and gradual change in society.
These terms do not make a lick of sense to me. To be conservative in this day in age..it's pre-determined that you support a nation "under god".
To be liberal these days, it's pre-determined that you are only after the freedom of the people, if it goes against the constitution or not. that is at least what politicians and the media are making it seem to be.
now, liberals tend to agree to the separation of church and state which is clearly in the constitution but yet most conservatives are religious and are against this idea?
so..where does this leave someone who fully supports the constitution and doesnt want it to change while supporting liberty and equal rights?
A better question...why do we feel that we have to label ourselves as if on a store shelf and the American people are buying?
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