Gathered Stones Rock and Gift Shop is now open. Our address is 603 Cherry Street, Suite 150, we are on the main street in Sumas, WA. We will be open Teusday through Friday 10-5:30pm, and Saturday 10-4pm. We have rocks, minerals, jewlery, fine jewlery, cabachons, tumblers, gold pans, tumbled stones, scroll saw woodworks and much more. We have some rock that we sell by the pound like soapstone and jade. Please stop by, and you'll be sure to find something you like. Please e-mail gatheredstones@msn.com or call 360-542-1261 if you have any questions.
We hope to see you soon.

MSNBC held a debate last night and did all they could to pretend Ron Paul was not there. Ron Paul, the man who is moving up in the poles, the man who actually has support and money (his supporters sent him 1.8 million dollars this past Monday with an average of a fifty dollar donation), the man who knows more about economics than all the candidates on stage put together was ignored to such an extent it was shameful. Here are the candidates, the number of questions asked and the time they took to answer them: Romney: 13 questions, 21:11 minutes; McCain 13 questions, 16:00 minutes; Giuliani (who so far has come in last in nearly every primary except for one fourth place finish - oh, and he is so broke his staff is working for free) 11 questions: 13:50 minutes; Huckabee was asked nine questions, 12:11 minutes and Ron Paul, the man who the media does not see only got 6 questions and was allowed a measly 6:31 minutes to respond. This is what you call a fair debate?

Here are some of my thoughts. Thanks so much for your willingness to help the effort!

Upcoming changes in Oregon's drivers licenses will ultimately mean each citizen of our state can be tracked by the federal government. In addition, this highly personal and private information will be available to foreign countries. Any criminal could access your private data. Oregon has just applied for an extension that would put us in compliance with the Real ID Act of 2005. Other states are rejecting Real ID. They cite privacy, states rights, and fiscal issues as reasons for resistance.

The federal government is attempting to bully the states into compliance. They've threatened to withhold state highway funds and tell us we won't be able to fly, take a train, or enter a federal building without this identifier. At the least, it would subject those people in non-compliant states to lengthy pat-down searches.

Republican Party of Louisiana Chairman Roger F. Villere, Jr. today announced the preliminary results of delegate elections held at GOP caucuses across the state on Tuesday evening.

More than 10,000 Republican voters met at 11 locations around Louisiana to choose delegates to the 2008 Louisiana Republican Convention, which will elect nearly all of Louisiana's delegates to the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

"Preliminary results show that a majority of the 105 state convention delegates who have been elected ran on a statewide pro-life uncommitted slate," Villere said. "I congratulate the candidates and supporters of this group on their victory and look forward to working with them to keep our Party platform pro-life at the state and national conventions," he said.

For all those who can not understand why we support Ron Paul, please let George Soros explain it to you. Replace “authorities” with “the Fed”. Published today in the Financial Times.

The worst market crisis in 60 years

By George Soros

Published: January 22 2008 19:57 | Last updated: January 22 2008 19:57

The current financial crisis was precipitated by a bubble in the US housing market. In some ways it resembles other crises that have occurred since the end of the second world war at intervals ranging from four to 10 years.

However, there is a profound difference: the current crisis marks the end of an era of credit expansion based on the dollar as the international reserve currency. The periodic crises were part of a larger boom-bust process. The current crisis is the culmination of a super-boom that has lasted for more than 60 years.

In the beginning of a change, the Patriot is a scarce man, brave, hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, however, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a Patriot. ~Mark Twain

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.

These are real results:

Clinton 5,326 51% 12
Obama 4,739 45% 13
Edwards 394 4% 0
Uncommitted 31 0% 0
Kucinich 5 0% 0
Richardson 0 0% 0

Dem Total = 10495(98% reporting)

Romney 22,629 51% 18
Paul 6,077 14% 4
McCain 5,641 13% 4
Huckabee 3,607 8% 2
Thompson 3,518 8% 2
Giuliani 1,907 4% 1
Hunter 890 2% 0
Tancredo 0 0%

Republican total = 44260 (99% reporting)

Clearly showing a HUGE republican turnout of 4x that of the democrats.

Ron Paul vs Hillary vs Barrack

Paul 6,077
Clinton 5,326
Obama 4,739

This is the real story!!

THE NATURE OF INFLATION

Earlier this month, for the first time in history, the price of oil hit $100 a barrel. Oil prices have increased 5-fold in the last six years, starting from a low of less than $20 a barrel in early 2002. In 2007 alone, crude oil prices jumped nearly 60 percent. Analysts blame a weak dollar and rising demand for the spike in prices. Rising oil prices have brought into sharp focus the economic challenges facing our nation. In recent years the value of the US dollar has dropped, consumer debt has reached an all-time high, and we’ve entered into a nationwide housing crisis in which about one out of every 100 mortgages could end in foreclosure.

Fun on the Rocks
Ingredients:
Group of fun-loving, interesting people
Rocks, rock and more rocks
Gems, Minerals and Fossils
The Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals is a 50 year-old ranch style flagstone home with native myrtle and quilted maple woodwork that has been converted into a museum. The country estate lies just a half-hour west of Portland. Feast your eyes on the Northwest’s finest collection of world-class gems and minerals in elegant displays throughout the museum. There’s something for everyone — dazzling opals, emeralds, amethysts, giant crystals and fabulous petrified logs.
Duration: —
Hours: 1 – 5 pm, Wednesday — Sunday
Pricing: $4.50 adults; $4 seniors; $3 students; free for children under 6
Notes: Two week notice required
Minimum: 12 pp
Maximum: 60 pp
Contact:
Jane Guariniello, Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals
(503) 647-2418
info@ricenwmuseum.org