Care to know the most significant congressional legislation passed in 2010. It was bipartisan and I whole heartedly agree with the final vote.
Beginning January 1, 2011 the sound level on your television will not rise when commercials begin. It has been so tedious lo these many years to reach over, grab the remote, then lower the decibel range.
Chuckie Schumer(D-ink New York) was a major sponsor. That's certainly something to put on his resume'.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Goodby & Hello
It's that time of year. Time to focus on how silly New Year's Eve is and what we old-timers don't miss out on when we hit the hay at 10 pm.
Consider how many gala events you've attended on December 31. Name one that was fabulous. Doubtful there were many.
Would you wager that the percentage of baby's conceived takes place between midnight and 3 am on January 1?
December 31, 1969: My buddy and I were in a building elevator in downtown Waterloo, Iowa and dateless. It was 5 pm. What a stroke of luck. With us were two dateless young ladies. Four young people, New Year's Eve and dateless. You figure it out. Understand these girl's weren't exactly homecoming queens. I'm sure they felt the same. I know we went somewhere but memories fade. Did we have a conversation? Was there eating, drinking, necking? Don't know because I can't remember. I do recall we found out my friend's date was pregnant but only by three months so she didn't show.
That was a plus.
This was my one and only New Year's Eve extravaganza. Of course, in almost exactly one year I was married. That makes a huge difference. Marriage and going out and acting silly don't go together.
Here posted are my New Year's Resolutions for 2011: I will continue to lie on my back, watch television and go to my favorite web sites on the computer.
I will tell all acquaintances I will lose weight;
all the while realizing I will keep traveling down the road to Fatville by shoveling unlimited calories in my pie hole.
I promise there isn't one golf course in the western hemisphere I that will escape my pathetic swing. Also, my golf course swearing will improve but still be said under my breath.
I promise to detest Obama policies and make fun of liberals for being dumber than retarded circus elephants. I promise to maintain my very dry sense of humor.
I will tell all within earshot I am 65 years old and to show me the respect I deserve. This will be cool because inside I'm laughing knowing being 65 doesn't me crap.
Happy New Year. It's been a fun 2010 and I'm a very lucky man.
Consider how many gala events you've attended on December 31. Name one that was fabulous. Doubtful there were many.
Would you wager that the percentage of baby's conceived takes place between midnight and 3 am on January 1?
December 31, 1969: My buddy and I were in a building elevator in downtown Waterloo, Iowa and dateless. It was 5 pm. What a stroke of luck. With us were two dateless young ladies. Four young people, New Year's Eve and dateless. You figure it out. Understand these girl's weren't exactly homecoming queens. I'm sure they felt the same. I know we went somewhere but memories fade. Did we have a conversation? Was there eating, drinking, necking? Don't know because I can't remember. I do recall we found out my friend's date was pregnant but only by three months so she didn't show.
That was a plus.
This was my one and only New Year's Eve extravaganza. Of course, in almost exactly one year I was married. That makes a huge difference. Marriage and going out and acting silly don't go together.
Here posted are my New Year's Resolutions for 2011: I will continue to lie on my back, watch television and go to my favorite web sites on the computer.
I will tell all acquaintances I will lose weight;
all the while realizing I will keep traveling down the road to Fatville by shoveling unlimited calories in my pie hole.
I promise there isn't one golf course in the western hemisphere I that will escape my pathetic swing. Also, my golf course swearing will improve but still be said under my breath.
I promise to detest Obama policies and make fun of liberals for being dumber than retarded circus elephants. I promise to maintain my very dry sense of humor.
I will tell all within earshot I am 65 years old and to show me the respect I deserve. This will be cool because inside I'm laughing knowing being 65 doesn't me crap.
Happy New Year. It's been a fun 2010 and I'm a very lucky man.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Learning To Listen
Have you ever had the opportunity to be around great people and miss out on their talents and charisma because you didn't know how to listen? Then, later on, kick yourself for not taking advantage of that squandered opportunity. Think about all the men and women in our lives we've rubbed shoulders with who, if given the opportunity, could have imparted almost unlimited wisdom on us. I'm not talking about saying 'hi' to a movie star or famous athlete, either. I'm referring to every day Americans who've made their mark.
Reflect on your life and think about those who could have, and you don't know how I hate to write this, could have " made a difference in our lives". It reads so Tom Brokaw-ish, doesn't it?
I have a bad habit and it probably applies to a lot of us. We can be a poor listeners when conversing. I guess it's human nature to think that everything we say is Shakespearean in nature. I'm sure you understand what I'm saying. While people are speaking to us we're thinking about what we're going to say next. We only hear one side of the conversation and it's ours.
I get a kick out of characters who are successful. Usually, they exude self-confidence, have wonderful senses of humor and could give a whit what others think. Is it okay to say I'm in awe of these folks? They have so much to give if only we would listen.
My last boss is one of these guys. I hope he doesn't read this post because he'd be overly embarrassed. He's a real hero to me. I used to be and still am entranced in his presence; sit on his every word. He had the unique ability to make everyone feel important and that what they said is Gettysburg Address worthy. My boss has 38 patents to his name. We're talkin' 38! He's a Captain of Industry but you'd never know it. If you were in a room of 1,000 and had to pick him out it couldn't be done. His philosophy: always keep a low profile. He is a man of many talents. He invented the first titanium golf club. That, in itself is noteworthy. But, it goes even further. He invented a product that has saved world industries billions of dollars in maintenance costs. Put my boss up against Harry Reid--no contest. Actually, that's not a fair statement. Put me up against Reid. It'd be an easy smack down.
I used to carry around a small notebook and write down things he said off the cuff. One time I was distressed because of a business problem. He quickly said, "MJ, sit back, relax, and give it twenty-four hours. Things are never as bad as they seem". And he's right.
My next door neighbor is a character. He isn't dull by any stretch and that's why he's so much fun to be around. His home is a golf museum but he's not impressed with himself. His best friend is Jack Nicklaus. I encourage him tell stories about his other friendships: Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, President Gerald Ford, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, and those were/are only some of his pals. I'm not in awe of the gentleman. It's that he's a walking, talking history book. Lots of times I'll go next door and he'll ask me in to visit. All the while he's sitting in his underwear and t-shirt, smoking a Marlboro Light. He could care less what others think. I like this attitude.
Great story about the guy! Wanna hear it? Okay, here we go. There's a very private golf course in New Albany, Ohio; men only. My neighbor was the president of the club for a particular year. One day he walked into the restaurant and was told that he couldn't get in without a sport coat. He was peeved since he was the head honcho. At any rate, some anger ensued but he went to his car to get his coat. When he came back into the restaurant he had the coat on but he was also in his underwear. What a guy! His wife confirmed this tale to me.
My college baseball coach is the best. He was the starting quarterback for the University of Iowa in 1952. He's also another hero. I may have referred to the following statement in the recent past but I sometimes ask friends, "was there a defining moment for you in college"? Was there one thing that sticks out that helped make you what you are today"? I usually get some answer like, "that night I got drunk and promised I'd never do that again", or, "when I was elected to student council".
For me, it was a baseball road trip and I 'had' to room with Coach. All that night I peppered him with questions about life and coaching and jobs but the thing that stood out was when he started talking about his wife and children ; how much he loved his wife and how special each child was in their own particular way. I immediately knew that I wanted what he had and from then on that was my focus and that night was my defining moment.
And, just think, all we have to do is listen. It's out there for all of us. I only brought up three people. Imagine, if you will, the thousands of others whose paths we've crossed who can provide us all with rules for living in a humerous and educational manner. Life is amazing.
Reflect on your life and think about those who could have, and you don't know how I hate to write this, could have " made a difference in our lives". It reads so Tom Brokaw-ish, doesn't it?
I have a bad habit and it probably applies to a lot of us. We can be a poor listeners when conversing. I guess it's human nature to think that everything we say is Shakespearean in nature. I'm sure you understand what I'm saying. While people are speaking to us we're thinking about what we're going to say next. We only hear one side of the conversation and it's ours.
I get a kick out of characters who are successful. Usually, they exude self-confidence, have wonderful senses of humor and could give a whit what others think. Is it okay to say I'm in awe of these folks? They have so much to give if only we would listen.
My last boss is one of these guys. I hope he doesn't read this post because he'd be overly embarrassed. He's a real hero to me. I used to be and still am entranced in his presence; sit on his every word. He had the unique ability to make everyone feel important and that what they said is Gettysburg Address worthy. My boss has 38 patents to his name. We're talkin' 38! He's a Captain of Industry but you'd never know it. If you were in a room of 1,000 and had to pick him out it couldn't be done. His philosophy: always keep a low profile. He is a man of many talents. He invented the first titanium golf club. That, in itself is noteworthy. But, it goes even further. He invented a product that has saved world industries billions of dollars in maintenance costs. Put my boss up against Harry Reid--no contest. Actually, that's not a fair statement. Put me up against Reid. It'd be an easy smack down.
I used to carry around a small notebook and write down things he said off the cuff. One time I was distressed because of a business problem. He quickly said, "MJ, sit back, relax, and give it twenty-four hours. Things are never as bad as they seem". And he's right.
My next door neighbor is a character. He isn't dull by any stretch and that's why he's so much fun to be around. His home is a golf museum but he's not impressed with himself. His best friend is Jack Nicklaus. I encourage him tell stories about his other friendships: Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, President Gerald Ford, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, and those were/are only some of his pals. I'm not in awe of the gentleman. It's that he's a walking, talking history book. Lots of times I'll go next door and he'll ask me in to visit. All the while he's sitting in his underwear and t-shirt, smoking a Marlboro Light. He could care less what others think. I like this attitude.
Great story about the guy! Wanna hear it? Okay, here we go. There's a very private golf course in New Albany, Ohio; men only. My neighbor was the president of the club for a particular year. One day he walked into the restaurant and was told that he couldn't get in without a sport coat. He was peeved since he was the head honcho. At any rate, some anger ensued but he went to his car to get his coat. When he came back into the restaurant he had the coat on but he was also in his underwear. What a guy! His wife confirmed this tale to me.
My college baseball coach is the best. He was the starting quarterback for the University of Iowa in 1952. He's also another hero. I may have referred to the following statement in the recent past but I sometimes ask friends, "was there a defining moment for you in college"? Was there one thing that sticks out that helped make you what you are today"? I usually get some answer like, "that night I got drunk and promised I'd never do that again", or, "when I was elected to student council".
For me, it was a baseball road trip and I 'had' to room with Coach. All that night I peppered him with questions about life and coaching and jobs but the thing that stood out was when he started talking about his wife and children ; how much he loved his wife and how special each child was in their own particular way. I immediately knew that I wanted what he had and from then on that was my focus and that night was my defining moment.
And, just think, all we have to do is listen. It's out there for all of us. I only brought up three people. Imagine, if you will, the thousands of others whose paths we've crossed who can provide us all with rules for living in a humerous and educational manner. Life is amazing.
Free Wi-Fi Given To SF Public Housing
(AP) SAN FRANCISCO - "San Francisco has finished installing free Wi-Fi in its public housing facilities as part of a citywide housing improvement initiative.
Mayor Gavin Newsom and the San Francisco Housing Authority announced Tuesday that 33 developments are now equipped with wireless broadband.
Newsom says expanded Internet access will create job and educational opportunities and improve quality of life for residents.
The city has committed $95 million to overhauling infrastructure and upgrading services at its most distressed public housing facilities.
San Francisco has more than 6,500 public housing units serving very low-income families, seniors and disabled city residents".
And these people get money for the computers by doing what?
Mayor Gavin Newsom and the San Francisco Housing Authority announced Tuesday that 33 developments are now equipped with wireless broadband.
Newsom says expanded Internet access will create job and educational opportunities and improve quality of life for residents.
The city has committed $95 million to overhauling infrastructure and upgrading services at its most distressed public housing facilities.
San Francisco has more than 6,500 public housing units serving very low-income families, seniors and disabled city residents".
And these people get money for the computers by doing what?
Palin Faces Gloomy Poll Numbers
From Scott Conroy at Real Clear Politics:
"A new set of poll numbers released on Tuesday reinforced the daunting challenge that former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin would face in turning the tide in her favor among both Republican primary and general election voters if she were to decide to run for president in 2012.Perhaps the most discouraging new number as it relates to Palin's presidential ambitions was a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll, which showed that 49 percent of Republicans said that they were now "very" or "somewhat likely" to support a Palin presidential bid".
Want to know how stupid the Liberal Left is? They are so ignorant even MJ Hawkeye, a Physical Education Major in college can figure this thing out. Bashing Palin on a daily basis is mandatory for these people and she's not running for anything. "Hey, dufus crowd. Please keep using up your oxygen on something that isn't going to happen".
She's a fake out. Think about a football game and a wide receiver moves to the right sideline while the offense is as close to the left sideline as possible. The 'fake out' person is very good so the defense has to cover him with their very best. It's a waste. The very best in this case being; Keith Olbermann, Chris Matthews, the morons at the NY Times, Cynthia Tucker at the Atlanta Constitution and the rest of the blowhards in the media.
Keep on truckin', Sarah. I'm lovin' your plan.
"A new set of poll numbers released on Tuesday reinforced the daunting challenge that former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin would face in turning the tide in her favor among both Republican primary and general election voters if she were to decide to run for president in 2012.Perhaps the most discouraging new number as it relates to Palin's presidential ambitions was a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll, which showed that 49 percent of Republicans said that they were now "very" or "somewhat likely" to support a Palin presidential bid".
Want to know how stupid the Liberal Left is? They are so ignorant even MJ Hawkeye, a Physical Education Major in college can figure this thing out. Bashing Palin on a daily basis is mandatory for these people and she's not running for anything. "Hey, dufus crowd. Please keep using up your oxygen on something that isn't going to happen".
She's a fake out. Think about a football game and a wide receiver moves to the right sideline while the offense is as close to the left sideline as possible. The 'fake out' person is very good so the defense has to cover him with their very best. It's a waste. The very best in this case being; Keith Olbermann, Chris Matthews, the morons at the NY Times, Cynthia Tucker at the Atlanta Constitution and the rest of the blowhards in the media.
Keep on truckin', Sarah. I'm lovin' your plan.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Thank You, Readers
This is humbling. My blog began a little over two years ago as a hobby. It is that still, a hobby.
Some retirees take up crossword puzzles. That is not my style; too much thinking involved plus my pencil point would keep breaking and the erasure.Well, let's not even go down that road.
Gardening ain't my bag and as for carpentry work----fuhgetaboutit!
Cars: If they go forward and backward, right and left, that's all I need to know. I could care less about engines, cams----heck! I can't even think of the names of any car words. What about 'hemi'. Is that one?
I enjoy writing! There's something about, every once in awhile, writing a word or phrase that fits and looks good to the eye. My doctor buddy will say a nifty word and I'll think, "I'll put that in a blog today".
Now, for the appreciative part. Today, I learned how to figure out how many hits I receive on this site. In twenty-four months it comes to 8,750. "Wow", I thought, "that's not too bad" for a rookie. Ladies and Gentlemen, it gets better. In the last twenty-eight days 2,034 kind people have jumped on board. I'm sure some come and go three or four times a day but I'll just say they don't but only to make MJ Hawkeye look a lot better.
I am humbled and overwhelmed. I can't thank you enough.
Some retirees take up crossword puzzles. That is not my style; too much thinking involved plus my pencil point would keep breaking and the erasure.Well, let's not even go down that road.
Gardening ain't my bag and as for carpentry work----fuhgetaboutit!
Cars: If they go forward and backward, right and left, that's all I need to know. I could care less about engines, cams----heck! I can't even think of the names of any car words. What about 'hemi'. Is that one?
I enjoy writing! There's something about, every once in awhile, writing a word or phrase that fits and looks good to the eye. My doctor buddy will say a nifty word and I'll think, "I'll put that in a blog today".
Now, for the appreciative part. Today, I learned how to figure out how many hits I receive on this site. In twenty-four months it comes to 8,750. "Wow", I thought, "that's not too bad" for a rookie. Ladies and Gentlemen, it gets better. In the last twenty-eight days 2,034 kind people have jumped on board. I'm sure some come and go three or four times a day but I'll just say they don't but only to make MJ Hawkeye look a lot better.
I am humbled and overwhelmed. I can't thank you enough.
111th Congress: Worst In History
(CNSNews.com) — The federal government has accumulated more new debt–$3.22 trillion ($3,220,103,625,307.29)—during the tenure of the 111th Congress than it did during the first 100 Congresses combined, according to official debt figures published by the U.S. Treasury.
That equals $10,429.64 in new debt for each and every one of the 308,745,538 people counted in the United States by the 2010 Census.
The total national debt of $13,858,529,371,601.09 (or $13.859 trillion), as recorded by the U.S. Treasury at the close of business on Dec. 22, now equals $44,886.57 for every man, woman and child in the United States.
In fact, the 111th Congress not only has set the record as the most debt-accumulating Congress in U.S. history, but also has out-stripped its nearest competitor, the 110th, by an astounding $1.262 trillion in new debt.
That equals $10,429.64 in new debt for each and every one of the 308,745,538 people counted in the United States by the 2010 Census.
The total national debt of $13,858,529,371,601.09 (or $13.859 trillion), as recorded by the U.S. Treasury at the close of business on Dec. 22, now equals $44,886.57 for every man, woman and child in the United States.
In fact, the 111th Congress not only has set the record as the most debt-accumulating Congress in U.S. history, but also has out-stripped its nearest competitor, the 110th, by an astounding $1.262 trillion in new debt.
Monday, December 27, 2010
Another Obama Promise In The Toilet
BY CAROL ROSENBERG
crosenberg@MiamiHerald.com
The Obama administration acknowledged Sunday that it has no new timetable for closure of the prison camps at Guantánamo, while reiterating a White House talking point that the controversial detention center is an al Qaeda ``recruiting tool.''
One of President Barack Obama's earliest executive orders was to order the prison camps emptied by Jan. 22, 2010. But spokesman Robert Gibbs told CNN's State of the Union program that there's no end in sight
crosenberg@MiamiHerald.com
The Obama administration acknowledged Sunday that it has no new timetable for closure of the prison camps at Guantánamo, while reiterating a White House talking point that the controversial detention center is an al Qaeda ``recruiting tool.''
One of President Barack Obama's earliest executive orders was to order the prison camps emptied by Jan. 22, 2010. But spokesman Robert Gibbs told CNN's State of the Union program that there's no end in sight
A Review: 'The King's Speech'
The Queen and I celebrated our forty-first anniversary in a whoop-dee-do way yesterday afternoon by attending a movie. I was dreading the thought because it starred Colin Firth. He's Lizzie's favorite since she watched him in Pride and the Prejudice: "800 million times"! I think she fashions herself as the one who finally snags Firth aka, Mr. Darcy. He always seemed sort of prissy to me.
Regardless, the movie we saw is "The King's Speech". If you didn't know the story, which I didn't, the title is enough to make you deliriously bored.
Come to find out, the main character of the story, the second son of George V, who rule England in the 1930's, is a stammerer. Are you excited with joy, yet? Read on. His brother is a 'rounder' but when daddy dies 'the rounder; becomes King. Too bad because he's in love with a twice divorced American, Wallis Warfield Simpson. According to British law marrying a divorcee' is forbidden. The King has to give up his throne to 'the stammerer'.
Long story short; the movie tells how the new king overcame his inability to speak to his subjects. Still not excited? I wouldn't be, either, but the screen play is delightful as is the performance of Geoffrey Rush, who plays his speech instructor, Lionel Logue. Logue's a commoner but because of who he is and the success he has working with George VI becomes a lifelong friend and confidant. This is significant since the scenario of the film takes place just prior to World War II. With the advent of radio and sound communication the King's voice gave reassurance to the British people on a daily basis as England approached a world crisis. It wouldn't be beneficial to have your king, your leader, sound like Porky Pig. Especially so since Hitler, a darned good speaker, could incessantly mock him.
The movie lasted two hours and was excellent. The theater was packed and at the conclusion everyone applauded. That's a good sign that this film will receive some big time awards. We enjoyed the movie. Nobody died on screen except for George V and he had the decency to do it lying in bed and going to Never Never Land peacefully. There was no gratuitous sex and there were bits of clever and humerous banter between Rush and Firth. There was some usage of the S and F words but they were placed in the movie with purpose.
See the film. It was outstanding.
Regardless, the movie we saw is "The King's Speech". If you didn't know the story, which I didn't, the title is enough to make you deliriously bored.
Come to find out, the main character of the story, the second son of George V, who rule England in the 1930's, is a stammerer. Are you excited with joy, yet? Read on. His brother is a 'rounder' but when daddy dies 'the rounder; becomes King. Too bad because he's in love with a twice divorced American, Wallis Warfield Simpson. According to British law marrying a divorcee' is forbidden. The King has to give up his throne to 'the stammerer'.
Long story short; the movie tells how the new king overcame his inability to speak to his subjects. Still not excited? I wouldn't be, either, but the screen play is delightful as is the performance of Geoffrey Rush, who plays his speech instructor, Lionel Logue. Logue's a commoner but because of who he is and the success he has working with George VI becomes a lifelong friend and confidant. This is significant since the scenario of the film takes place just prior to World War II. With the advent of radio and sound communication the King's voice gave reassurance to the British people on a daily basis as England approached a world crisis. It wouldn't be beneficial to have your king, your leader, sound like Porky Pig. Especially so since Hitler, a darned good speaker, could incessantly mock him.
The movie lasted two hours and was excellent. The theater was packed and at the conclusion everyone applauded. That's a good sign that this film will receive some big time awards. We enjoyed the movie. Nobody died on screen except for George V and he had the decency to do it lying in bed and going to Never Never Land peacefully. There was no gratuitous sex and there were bits of clever and humerous banter between Rush and Firth. There was some usage of the S and F words but they were placed in the movie with purpose.
See the film. It was outstanding.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Hef Gets Engaged
"Hef who", you say? Well, it's Hugh Hefner, the founder of Playboy enterprises. In an interview, published on Fox News, the octogenarian(84 years old) stated that man should not be by himself. The lovely bride to be is Crystal Harris, Playboy bunny from December 2009. Miss Crystal is 24. So what's sixty years difference in ages? Why, just imagine all that Hughie can show and tell Ms. Harris about the olden days. He was alive when condoms were made of bark. The Model T was in it's second decade and movie pictures were still silent. The Great Depression hadn't yet begun but for the bride to be that phrase might have an entire new meaning brought on my Hef's inability to perform. If ya' know what I mean.
Maybe they'll just be good friends.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Attending Christmas Mass
Lizzie had another brilliant idea for this year's Christmas church services. She thought we should attend Mass on the 25th at 9 am instead of the Christmas Eve Midnight Mass(fat chance of that) or the later ones on Christmas Day. At 9 o'clock, people are either sleeping in or opening gifts and attendance would be sparse. It was. Chances are millions of Catholics are upset about Christmas falling on Saturday. According to the rules we're required to go again on Sunday. Ha-ha!
I do my very best to keep my focus at Mass. It's important to me that I take part in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and prepare myself for Holy Communion. As I've gotten older I try to understand the the Gospels and the message they provide. Even so, being human, it can sometimes be difficult to maintain that focus--but I try.
We belong to a very affluent congregation. Not that we are. The close proximity of our church to our home makes it convenient to get there. Sometimes, I'm amazed at the attire people wear in God's house; men and women alike. Some men still wear their golf gear and Converse low cuts even though there's twenty inches of snow on the ground. My buddy is a Baptist and sings in their choir. He asked me to attend their Christmas program and I did. If I hadn't worn a coat and tie I'd have been the only one there who was out of uniform.
Three weeks ago, at our church, St. Brigid's, I noticed a girl, around fifteen, wearing a burgundy velvet sweater, a burgundy skirt showing her rump cheeks and black panty hose underneath. She was sporting two sets of large neck pearls and a pearl bracelet. Is this the new style? Every time she stood up she fiddled with her sweater at the waist and flung her head so the flowing blond hair swooshed around her head. Since she looked like a hooker I wondered if her parents, standing next to her, thought the same. Probably not. Maybe her mom was saying, "isn't she just so darling". Who knows?
At our Christmas service, across the aisle from me, sat a gorgeous mom, thirtyish, blond hair, legs that rose to the ceiling. What a babe! That's one of the problems with our church; too many female distractions. Anyway, I told myself, If I saw this women downtown, I'd take a Polaroid, have her autograph it then super glue it to the refrigerator. She looked that good. But, this woman had on the same exact outfit as the fifteen year old. Hooker clothes should not be church clothes.
Sometimes, I marvel at the 'who cares' attitude displayed by some parishioners at church. Nothing in this world seems to bother them.
Ten minutes into Mass one of the lector's was reading from Isaiah. The congregation was seated. Then, a couple walked down the aisle, all the way to the front of the church and sashayed into a front row pew. I'd like to think this would take a bunch of courage, or confidence, or pizzaz, or arrogance! Couldn't they wait for the reader to finish his task without bringing attention to themselves? For me, it'd be as though I was in my home, sitting on the toilet, and my neighbor walked in unannounced and started washing is hands. Being oblivious to everything around you might be a blessing, but I doubt it.
We used to belong to a church in Westerville, Ohio, one of the largest in the State.
One Sunday, sitting in front of us, sat a lady surrounded by her grown family. The priest was giving his homily; telling us how to get to heaven. Her cell phone went off------three rings. The priest and congregation all turned to give her a look. This is what we heard, "Not much, what are you doin". Self-assured or oblivious? Hmmmm!
Church is a lot different from what it was when I was growing up in the Fifties. I was an alter boy. We use kneelers in the Catholic Church. It's because, for an hour, we stand, sit, kneel, sit, stand and kneel some more. When I was a kid the kneelers were wooden and, over time, destroyed knees. They weren't made out of balsa wood, either. They were constructed of the hardest wood known to mankind with razor blades inserted that cut your kneecaps. If our rear ends came close to touching the pews the nuns would whack us across the back of the head then tell us we were going to Hell as soon as Mass was over. If I ever wanted to do a doctoral thesis a good topic would be: "Incidents Of Knee Replacements Between Baptists And Catholics".
The one thing I've noticed about the Catholic Church and it's changes over the years is it's become lenient; almost a church for sissies. There are too many different ways to slide and get by with it.
Now, don't get me wrong. I love being Catholic. Who wouldn't. The way I see it the Son of the Big Boss is our founder. That's a huge plus. There are a zillion saints who have gone before us who can offer a helping hand into heaven and all we have to do is pray to them. Hey! We have Purgatory and we can burn off some time of very intense heat if we help an old lady across the street. We've got holy water, holy candles, incense and, if you listen to my Protestant friends, secret handshakes and secret chants. Pssst! Don't tell anyone but we really don't. I'd say we've got a lot going for us and that ain't all bad.
Merry Christmas, everyone.
I do my very best to keep my focus at Mass. It's important to me that I take part in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and prepare myself for Holy Communion. As I've gotten older I try to understand the the Gospels and the message they provide. Even so, being human, it can sometimes be difficult to maintain that focus--but I try.
We belong to a very affluent congregation. Not that we are. The close proximity of our church to our home makes it convenient to get there. Sometimes, I'm amazed at the attire people wear in God's house; men and women alike. Some men still wear their golf gear and Converse low cuts even though there's twenty inches of snow on the ground. My buddy is a Baptist and sings in their choir. He asked me to attend their Christmas program and I did. If I hadn't worn a coat and tie I'd have been the only one there who was out of uniform.
Three weeks ago, at our church, St. Brigid's, I noticed a girl, around fifteen, wearing a burgundy velvet sweater, a burgundy skirt showing her rump cheeks and black panty hose underneath. She was sporting two sets of large neck pearls and a pearl bracelet. Is this the new style? Every time she stood up she fiddled with her sweater at the waist and flung her head so the flowing blond hair swooshed around her head. Since she looked like a hooker I wondered if her parents, standing next to her, thought the same. Probably not. Maybe her mom was saying, "isn't she just so darling". Who knows?
At our Christmas service, across the aisle from me, sat a gorgeous mom, thirtyish, blond hair, legs that rose to the ceiling. What a babe! That's one of the problems with our church; too many female distractions. Anyway, I told myself, If I saw this women downtown, I'd take a Polaroid, have her autograph it then super glue it to the refrigerator. She looked that good. But, this woman had on the same exact outfit as the fifteen year old. Hooker clothes should not be church clothes.
Sometimes, I marvel at the 'who cares' attitude displayed by some parishioners at church. Nothing in this world seems to bother them.
Ten minutes into Mass one of the lector's was reading from Isaiah. The congregation was seated. Then, a couple walked down the aisle, all the way to the front of the church and sashayed into a front row pew. I'd like to think this would take a bunch of courage, or confidence, or pizzaz, or arrogance! Couldn't they wait for the reader to finish his task without bringing attention to themselves? For me, it'd be as though I was in my home, sitting on the toilet, and my neighbor walked in unannounced and started washing is hands. Being oblivious to everything around you might be a blessing, but I doubt it.
We used to belong to a church in Westerville, Ohio, one of the largest in the State.
One Sunday, sitting in front of us, sat a lady surrounded by her grown family. The priest was giving his homily; telling us how to get to heaven. Her cell phone went off------three rings. The priest and congregation all turned to give her a look. This is what we heard, "Not much, what are you doin". Self-assured or oblivious? Hmmmm!
Church is a lot different from what it was when I was growing up in the Fifties. I was an alter boy. We use kneelers in the Catholic Church. It's because, for an hour, we stand, sit, kneel, sit, stand and kneel some more. When I was a kid the kneelers were wooden and, over time, destroyed knees. They weren't made out of balsa wood, either. They were constructed of the hardest wood known to mankind with razor blades inserted that cut your kneecaps. If our rear ends came close to touching the pews the nuns would whack us across the back of the head then tell us we were going to Hell as soon as Mass was over. If I ever wanted to do a doctoral thesis a good topic would be: "Incidents Of Knee Replacements Between Baptists And Catholics".
The one thing I've noticed about the Catholic Church and it's changes over the years is it's become lenient; almost a church for sissies. There are too many different ways to slide and get by with it.
Now, don't get me wrong. I love being Catholic. Who wouldn't. The way I see it the Son of the Big Boss is our founder. That's a huge plus. There are a zillion saints who have gone before us who can offer a helping hand into heaven and all we have to do is pray to them. Hey! We have Purgatory and we can burn off some time of very intense heat if we help an old lady across the street. We've got holy water, holy candles, incense and, if you listen to my Protestant friends, secret handshakes and secret chants. Pssst! Don't tell anyone but we really don't. I'd say we've got a lot going for us and that ain't all bad.
Merry Christmas, everyone.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Simply Put
"Scratch a conservative and you will almost always find a happy person; scratch a liberal and you are likely to encounter a seething cauldron of disappointment and rage".
Powerline.com
Powerline.com
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Nationalizing Energy Sources
WASHINGTON (AFP) – US President Barack Obama’s administration said Thursday it will regulate greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, after legislation on climate change died in Congress.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said it would regulate fossil fuel power plants and petroleum refineries — which together emit nearly 40 percent of US greenhouse gases — starting in 2012.
“We are following through on our commitment to proceed in a measured and careful way to reduce greenhouse gas pollution that threatens the health and welfare of Americans and contributes to climate change,” EPA chief Lisa Jackson said in a statement.
thanks to weasel zippers
When Good Intentions And Good Inventions Go Awry
Consider the great inventions in history when they were first announced. Most of us marvel at new things and suggest we live in the greatest of ages.
Lately, I've been looking back on my life and thought of things I've witnessed that younger folks would think happened in the Dark Ages. Old Timers easily recall Saturday mornings as we kids sat around the radio listening to our favorite shows. Then along came television in the Fifties. "Whatever could be wrong with television, we thought"? Well, when Elvis Presley first appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1957 the TV cameras were not allowed to show his person below the hips; Elvis the Pelvis and all that. No, not much could go bad with television except cable came along.
Watch the Comedy Channel some night. It's a series of blips, one after another; F this and F that. Tune into the Sundance Channel. Last night Lizzie and I watched a movie and a buxom young lady said the F word a lot, sans blip.
The same goes for computers. Initially, and Al Gore told us so, the computer would change mankind forever. He was correct. I'm the first to admit I'm addicted to the computer but what I'm not addicted to is pornography. The number one site(s) on the net are pornographic. The lives and marriages it has destroyed are incalculable not to mention the amount of dollars it takes out of personal pocketbooks.
I read a story a year ago that The Villages, Florida has the highest rate of STD's in the United States. Maybe God is smarter than we think and He had a good reason for male menopause. Until Viagra came along little or no natural sex after 60 was a given .
Every invention can be created for good but it's 50/50 that the devil has an opportunity to do his work, too. Free choice is a fabulous concept but we should always know that temptation comes with changes and new inventions.
This brings me to the latest change. Won't it be interesting to witness the ramifications brought on by the elimination of, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell". There will be lawsuits, changes in laws and changes in lifestyles that will become acceptable when six months ago they weren't. And they won't be limited to the Armed Forces. There are going to be changes that none of us can anticipate and some activist lawyer will initiate it. Marriage between a man and his loving pooch? You laugh but there will to be something in some legal code, California is a good choice, to bring it on. Then when it happens we'll look back and ask, "what is this world coming to", as we did in the Fifties.
By the way, did you know my mother-in-law was a flapper in the 1920's? Her poor, poor parents! They must have thought the world was coming to an end.
Lately, I've been looking back on my life and thought of things I've witnessed that younger folks would think happened in the Dark Ages. Old Timers easily recall Saturday mornings as we kids sat around the radio listening to our favorite shows. Then along came television in the Fifties. "Whatever could be wrong with television, we thought"? Well, when Elvis Presley first appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1957 the TV cameras were not allowed to show his person below the hips; Elvis the Pelvis and all that. No, not much could go bad with television except cable came along.
Watch the Comedy Channel some night. It's a series of blips, one after another; F this and F that. Tune into the Sundance Channel. Last night Lizzie and I watched a movie and a buxom young lady said the F word a lot, sans blip.
The same goes for computers. Initially, and Al Gore told us so, the computer would change mankind forever. He was correct. I'm the first to admit I'm addicted to the computer but what I'm not addicted to is pornography. The number one site(s) on the net are pornographic. The lives and marriages it has destroyed are incalculable not to mention the amount of dollars it takes out of personal pocketbooks.
I read a story a year ago that The Villages, Florida has the highest rate of STD's in the United States. Maybe God is smarter than we think and He had a good reason for male menopause. Until Viagra came along little or no natural sex after 60 was a given .
Every invention can be created for good but it's 50/50 that the devil has an opportunity to do his work, too. Free choice is a fabulous concept but we should always know that temptation comes with changes and new inventions.
This brings me to the latest change. Won't it be interesting to witness the ramifications brought on by the elimination of, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell". There will be lawsuits, changes in laws and changes in lifestyles that will become acceptable when six months ago they weren't. And they won't be limited to the Armed Forces. There are going to be changes that none of us can anticipate and some activist lawyer will initiate it. Marriage between a man and his loving pooch? You laugh but there will to be something in some legal code, California is a good choice, to bring it on. Then when it happens we'll look back and ask, "what is this world coming to", as we did in the Fifties.
By the way, did you know my mother-in-law was a flapper in the 1920's? Her poor, poor parents! They must have thought the world was coming to an end.
$37 Million Liberal Lectures Greedy CEO's
On Tuesday, the noted liberal Ben Affleck, went on NPR to promote his new movie about corporate layoffs, “Company Men”, and to bash greedy CEO’s and bankers.
NewsBusters reported:
On Tuesday’s Morning Edition, actor Affleck was selling his new movie about corporate layoffs, Company Men, and anchorman Steve Inskeep carefully led the left-wing actor onto a soapbox to lecture about the immorality of American capitalism and financiers who do nothing but “move money back and forth”:
INSKEEP: There’s a line in Company Men that’s staying with me. Tommy Lee Jones is at a corporate conference table. Someone else at the conference table is discussing their plans to lay off a bunch of workers. And nearly all the workers being laid off are older, which could be construed as being wrong or illegal. Someone at the table says: “Oh, no. This is going to pass legal scrutiny.” And Jones responds: “I always thought we aimed for a little higher standard than that.”
AFFLECK: That speaks so perfectly to people’s feelings about our country. It’s like it’s just about getting by, or people can like let people go if they can get away with it, that there’s no deeper sense of right or wrong. The banks shouldn’t — people shouldn’t make such a giant profit off just moving money back and forth. And CEOs’ pay shouldn’t be 200 times the average worker. It used to be nine times.
Affleck then went on to lecture about the tea party.
Thanks Ben, for giving us a heads up on which movie we can skip this holiday season.
NewsBusters reported:
On Tuesday’s Morning Edition, actor Affleck was selling his new movie about corporate layoffs, Company Men, and anchorman Steve Inskeep carefully led the left-wing actor onto a soapbox to lecture about the immorality of American capitalism and financiers who do nothing but “move money back and forth”:
INSKEEP: There’s a line in Company Men that’s staying with me. Tommy Lee Jones is at a corporate conference table. Someone else at the conference table is discussing their plans to lay off a bunch of workers. And nearly all the workers being laid off are older, which could be construed as being wrong or illegal. Someone at the table says: “Oh, no. This is going to pass legal scrutiny.” And Jones responds: “I always thought we aimed for a little higher standard than that.”
AFFLECK: That speaks so perfectly to people’s feelings about our country. It’s like it’s just about getting by, or people can like let people go if they can get away with it, that there’s no deeper sense of right or wrong. The banks shouldn’t — people shouldn’t make such a giant profit off just moving money back and forth. And CEOs’ pay shouldn’t be 200 times the average worker. It used to be nine times.
Affleck then went on to lecture about the tea party.
Thanks Ben, for giving us a heads up on which movie we can skip this holiday season.
ObamaCare Rationing Begins
From Investors Business Daily
Medicine: The FDA has reversed its approval of a widely used cancer drug approved in Europe to treat breast cancer on the grounds it doesn't provide a "sufficient" benefit. Let the terminally ill and their doctors decide.
One of the blessings of blocking the omnibus spending bill was that it included $1 billion for the implementation of ObamaCare.
Yet the first effects are still being felt, the latest being the Food and Drug Administration's revoking of regulatory approval of Avastin to treat late-stage breast cancer.
The reason given by the FDA was that the drug does not provide "a sufficient benefit in slowing disease progression to outweigh the significant risk to patients." What risk? These women are dying.
The drug buys them precious time, and the only risk they face is from an FDA saying "pull the plug."
On the same day the FDA channeled Dr. Kevorkian, its European counterpart, the European Medicines Agency, issued a statement approving Avastin for metastatic breast cancer.
Medicine: The FDA has reversed its approval of a widely used cancer drug approved in Europe to treat breast cancer on the grounds it doesn't provide a "sufficient" benefit. Let the terminally ill and their doctors decide.
One of the blessings of blocking the omnibus spending bill was that it included $1 billion for the implementation of ObamaCare.
Yet the first effects are still being felt, the latest being the Food and Drug Administration's revoking of regulatory approval of Avastin to treat late-stage breast cancer.
The reason given by the FDA was that the drug does not provide "a sufficient benefit in slowing disease progression to outweigh the significant risk to patients." What risk? These women are dying.
The drug buys them precious time, and the only risk they face is from an FDA saying "pull the plug."
On the same day the FDA channeled Dr. Kevorkian, its European counterpart, the European Medicines Agency, issued a statement approving Avastin for metastatic breast cancer.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Is Obama Spiderman?
The Arrogant One held a news conference prior to Christmas vacation touting his lame duck accomplishments and even mentioning 'bipartisanship'. It was at this moment I flipped channels and went to reruns of NCIS. I shouldn't have. Number One son called immediately after his speech and said, "Dad, he thinks he's Peter Parker" aka, Spiderman. Recall the scene in Spiderman I The Movie, when Ben Parker, Peter's uncle, gives the boy wonder some much needed advice about his newly acquired abilities:, "With great power comes greater responsibility". Haunting, isn't it!
I knew my boy wouldn't steer me in the wrong direction since he's a super hero aficionado so I googled the phrase. Yep, there it was, all over the internet. BHO had quoted Uncle Ben. Barry should never try to trick the 'in' crowd. They can ferret out phoniness quicker than I can pluck a nose hair. Some people reference Abe Lincoln, some Ronald Reagan but, you, Mr. President, cited a Marvel comic book character. Who next, Bozo the Clown?
Maybe our leader should seriously consider new speech writers, some who've read and can quote from the Constitution.
I knew my boy wouldn't steer me in the wrong direction since he's a super hero aficionado so I googled the phrase. Yep, there it was, all over the internet. BHO had quoted Uncle Ben. Barry should never try to trick the 'in' crowd. They can ferret out phoniness quicker than I can pluck a nose hair. Some people reference Abe Lincoln, some Ronald Reagan but, you, Mr. President, cited a Marvel comic book character. Who next, Bozo the Clown?
Maybe our leader should seriously consider new speech writers, some who've read and can quote from the Constitution.
Wanted:(All) Your Money, Peons!
Lizzie flew back from Kansas City into Columbus, Ohio International last night around 11pm. It's a forty minute drive to the airport so the opportunity to listen to the Mark Levin Show was there for the taking. Levin is brilliant. He graduated from Temple University Phi Beta Kappa and by the age of 24 served in the Reagan White House as a Cabinet advisor. He's a legal wizard, bombastic, hyper critical of non-conservatives, a no-holds barred insulting, liberal detesting, self-confident brainiac. In other words, my kind of guy. But, "whoa", Mark was on vacation and a sub had taken his place. His name is Brian Sussman and he's a conservative talking head out of San Francisco; Nancy P's stompin' grounds. His station is KSFO conservative talk. It is, according to Sussman, a 5,000 watt blow torch that is the number one station in the Bay area. Bay Area/Conservative? That's funky! Sussman is also the author of a best selling book exposing climate change for what it is; fraudulent.
Last night's conversation got on the topic of the Estate Tax. Sussman played an audio clip from 'Gay Guy", Barney Frank***. Frank stated, "it's not right for heirs to retain money from those who made it. They're getting money for doing nothing"!
Chew on that one, people. So, that's his justification for taking money that would go to children of small businessmen, farmers and ranchers. That is such a gay statement it deserves to be on everyone's refrigerator. Soooooooooo-the government gets 35% and craves 55% of your money upon your death for DOING NOTHING!!!!! Sussman brilliantly stated it was damned fine of George Steinbrenner to die in 2010. Otherwise, his heirs would have owed the government $600,000,000.00 in estate taxes. Thank the Lord for his timely demise because his family would be required to sell the New York Yankees to pay the taxes on that which the old man earned----by working! Do ya' comprehend how absolutely infuriating the prior sentence reads? Arrrgggghhhhh!
Check this out from YahooFinance.com:
People in USA: 308,745,538>This is million
Debt: $13,868,461,000,000>This is trillion
Trillion is more than million
There's a fella on the radio who has a syndicated week-end financial show. His name escapes me but the show is titled, 'It's Your Money'. Realistically this thinking is all B.S. As far as the Liberal Party(democrats) are concerned, it's their money. And, when the government can take your property then it's called communism. Yes, communism!!!!! Re-read this entire post while your having your oatmeal. I just finished writing and I am so po'd I wish I was an elephant so I could poop in Barney Franks' yard.
If you're a commie lib have a rotten day!
***As long as we have DADT eliminated it's right and proper to call a spade a spade.
Last night's conversation got on the topic of the Estate Tax. Sussman played an audio clip from 'Gay Guy", Barney Frank***. Frank stated, "it's not right for heirs to retain money from those who made it. They're getting money for doing nothing"!
Chew on that one, people. So, that's his justification for taking money that would go to children of small businessmen, farmers and ranchers. That is such a gay statement it deserves to be on everyone's refrigerator. Soooooooooo-the government gets 35% and craves 55% of your money upon your death for DOING NOTHING!!!!! Sussman brilliantly stated it was damned fine of George Steinbrenner to die in 2010. Otherwise, his heirs would have owed the government $600,000,000.00 in estate taxes. Thank the Lord for his timely demise because his family would be required to sell the New York Yankees to pay the taxes on that which the old man earned----by working! Do ya' comprehend how absolutely infuriating the prior sentence reads? Arrrgggghhhhh!
Check this out from YahooFinance.com:
People in USA: 308,745,538>This is million
Debt: $13,868,461,000,000>This is trillion
Trillion is more than million
There's a fella on the radio who has a syndicated week-end financial show. His name escapes me but the show is titled, 'It's Your Money'. Realistically this thinking is all B.S. As far as the Liberal Party(democrats) are concerned, it's their money. And, when the government can take your property then it's called communism. Yes, communism!!!!! Re-read this entire post while your having your oatmeal. I just finished writing and I am so po'd I wish I was an elephant so I could poop in Barney Franks' yard.
If you're a commie lib have a rotten day!
***As long as we have DADT eliminated it's right and proper to call a spade a spade.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Rowdy High School Students
There's a story on the inter net from TheBlaze.com regarding a high school in Haymarket, Virginia dealing with ten students called, The Christmas Sweater Club. During this festive time of the year these junior boys find different, non-vulgar, non-offensive, possibly off the charts Christmas sweaters to wear in the halls of ol' HHS. In addition, the kids would stand at the school doors in the morning and fling, toss, throw those two inch candy canes in plastic wrappers as fellow students entered the building. The school called these tosses 'malicious endangerment'. The result is the school principal, a female with a hyphenated last name(code for abortion loving LGTB), had the kids arrested! No, wrong word. She had the boys head off for two days detention then clean the hall floors. Cripes! I've known school leaders like this. What a pain. According to the story, a vice-principal voiced displeasure at their crazy antics by saying Christmas was a stressful time of year for students and suicides were up. Hang oneself with a candy cane? Possible, not probable, unless getting hit with a two inch cane creates stress.
For the next week I'm going to be on the lookout for more stupid administrative PC foolishness.
They shouldn't be too difficult to find.
For the next week I'm going to be on the lookout for more stupid administrative PC foolishness.
They shouldn't be too difficult to find.
US And GOP Cave On START
Strategy: The heirs of Ronald Reagan abandon his legacy and dream of defending America from nuclear attack. Our security will rest on ambiguous language and vague assurances, not on the genius of U.S. technology.
Peace in our time, or should we say appeasement in our time, as a sufficient number of GOP senators signed on the New START treaty to give the Democrats and President Obama the 67 votes needed for ratification.
The Hill reported that Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., became the 10th Republican to support the treaty on Monday. Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass., was No. 9, saying on Monday afternoon, "I believe it's something important for our country and I believe it's a good move forward."
Outgoing Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, says he supports the treaty as does another lame duck, Sen. Robert Bennett, R-Ohio, who said a letter from President Obama brought him on board.
Obama sent a letter to Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell on Saturday assuring him that we "will continue to develop and deploy effective missile defenses to protect the United States."
That letter needs to be sent to Medvedev and Putin, not to the U.S. Senate, for that is not the Russian understanding. "Russia will have the right to opt out of the treaty if ... the U.S. strategic missile defense begins to significantly affect the efficiency of Russian strategic nuclear forces," Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on April 6.
This effectively gives Russia a veto over the defense of the American people against nuclear attack.
As we've shown, the Russian strategic arsenal is old and poorly maintained. It will fall below treaty limits even if we do nothing.
From Investors Business Daily:
The same Russia that threatened Poland with the deployment of SS-26 Iskander missiles in the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad if it accepted the U.S. ground-based Interceptor missile system desperately needs U.S. missile defense neutered.
State Department documents published by WikiLeaks document how the Russians told the Obama administration they would not cooperate with the U.S. on any issue as long as we pursued a robust missile defense. This is why on Sept. 17, 2009, the 70th anniversary of the Soviet invasion, the Poles received a midnight phone call telling them we were pulling the plug.
This past weekend, 59 senators voted to reject the McCain-Barrasso amendment, which would have stripped from the treaty preamble language linking offensive and defensive systems. That language gives the Russians cover to withdraw from the treaty if we enhance our missile defenses in the slightest.
Peace in our time, or should we say appeasement in our time, as a sufficient number of GOP senators signed on the New START treaty to give the Democrats and President Obama the 67 votes needed for ratification.
The Hill reported that Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., became the 10th Republican to support the treaty on Monday. Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass., was No. 9, saying on Monday afternoon, "I believe it's something important for our country and I believe it's a good move forward."
Outgoing Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, says he supports the treaty as does another lame duck, Sen. Robert Bennett, R-Ohio, who said a letter from President Obama brought him on board.
Obama sent a letter to Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell on Saturday assuring him that we "will continue to develop and deploy effective missile defenses to protect the United States."
That letter needs to be sent to Medvedev and Putin, not to the U.S. Senate, for that is not the Russian understanding. "Russia will have the right to opt out of the treaty if ... the U.S. strategic missile defense begins to significantly affect the efficiency of Russian strategic nuclear forces," Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on April 6.
This effectively gives Russia a veto over the defense of the American people against nuclear attack.
As we've shown, the Russian strategic arsenal is old and poorly maintained. It will fall below treaty limits even if we do nothing.
From Investors Business Daily:
The same Russia that threatened Poland with the deployment of SS-26 Iskander missiles in the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad if it accepted the U.S. ground-based Interceptor missile system desperately needs U.S. missile defense neutered.
State Department documents published by WikiLeaks document how the Russians told the Obama administration they would not cooperate with the U.S. on any issue as long as we pursued a robust missile defense. This is why on Sept. 17, 2009, the 70th anniversary of the Soviet invasion, the Poles received a midnight phone call telling them we were pulling the plug.
This past weekend, 59 senators voted to reject the McCain-Barrasso amendment, which would have stripped from the treaty preamble language linking offensive and defensive systems. That language gives the Russians cover to withdraw from the treaty if we enhance our missile defenses in the slightest.
FCC Restricts Freedom Of Expression
Gov. Jay Rockefeller: "There's a little bug inside me that says let's get rid of Fox, MSNBC, good-bye. Then Congress could do our job without interference". All of this brought on by today's FCC 3-2 vote to regulate the internet; 3 Votes from democrats and 2 by Republicans.
To all my Dem enemies, "still think your pals in congress have your best interests at heart"? And the answer to that would be a resounding "Yes" for two reasons: (1)liberals confuse reality with Brothers Grimm and (2) they fail to understand the consequences of internet restriction i.e. freedom of thought and expression.
To all my Dem enemies, "still think your pals in congress have your best interests at heart"? And the answer to that would be a resounding "Yes" for two reasons: (1)liberals confuse reality with Brothers Grimm and (2) they fail to understand the consequences of internet restriction i.e. freedom of thought and expression.
305.9
Damned fine header, don't ya' think? Are you still asking yourself, "what's this 305.9 he's writing about"? Smart folks already know. Taking a trip to a buddy's to return a golf club I passed my local United Dairy. It's where I buy that ever so good, strawberry cheesecake ice cream. It's also where I buy gasoline and smack dab in front of me was the sign. Is it possible I've ever paid that much for gas per gallon, ever?. If so, I don't recall it. The vomit inducing thing, though, is that very same UD store, just two days ago, was at 2.69. Every station passed by my little Mazda had the same price and I went by 50 or sixty stations, at least. Oops! A Shell station was at 304.9. Prior to the last election Obama thought fuel might go to 4.00 but he didn't think as quickly. He felt it'd be after Cap and Trade went into effect and it'd be good the the American people. As Desi Arnez might have said, "splain that one to me, Luci".
One of my friends who worked in the oil industry could explain to me the reasons for rises and falls in pricing. I suspect it has something to do with futures markets along with supply and demand but what do I know. For your convenience and to save drive time wasting fuel go to www.gasbuddy.com to find out the less expensive gas prices in your area. Thank me with a personal check, please.
One of my friends who worked in the oil industry could explain to me the reasons for rises and falls in pricing. I suspect it has something to do with futures markets along with supply and demand but what do I know. For your convenience and to save drive time wasting fuel go to www.gasbuddy.com to find out the less expensive gas prices in your area. Thank me with a personal check, please.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Thompson Illinois Correctional Facility-A Joke
"Congress will adjourn this week without providing the money to buy the empty Thomson Correctional Center, yet again casting doubt over the future use of the long-dormant prison."
Ladies and Gentlemen: I bring you a blurb from an Iowa newspaper, the Quad City Times. I knew I had written about the Thompson, Illinois Correctional Center some time ago. Yep! It was Dec. 15, 2009. The Obama Administration along with Illinois US Senator, Dick Durbin, were touting the job creation that would be achieved when the federal government took over the now empty prison. Jobs, jobs, jobs, the twerp Durbin told America. Hah! This was to be the place where Gitmo prisoners would be sent after we closed that horrendous tropical Bastille. I laughed thinking that the stone cold winters would surround terrorists in pig country. Pigs feet and entrails all around. What could be better?
It can now be told. The government, federal and state do not have the money to complete the project-----and probably never will. It was all a phony hoax as is the case when dealing with guvment people.
Ladies and Gentlemen: I bring you a blurb from an Iowa newspaper, the Quad City Times. I knew I had written about the Thompson, Illinois Correctional Center some time ago. Yep! It was Dec. 15, 2009. The Obama Administration along with Illinois US Senator, Dick Durbin, were touting the job creation that would be achieved when the federal government took over the now empty prison. Jobs, jobs, jobs, the twerp Durbin told America. Hah! This was to be the place where Gitmo prisoners would be sent after we closed that horrendous tropical Bastille. I laughed thinking that the stone cold winters would surround terrorists in pig country. Pigs feet and entrails all around. What could be better?
It can now be told. The government, federal and state do not have the money to complete the project-----and probably never will. It was all a phony hoax as is the case when dealing with guvment people.
On Turning 65
The big 6-5 looms ahead of me in a few short weeks. Personally, I could care less. There are a lot of advantages to being 65. I get a feeling of superiority, and deservedly so, when asking for help; "Hey, young man" I say. That evokes pity on this old-timer. I can flirt incessantly with young women(under 50) without being perceived as a threat. Actually, the list could be endless if I put my mind to it.
I received a phone call from my pill provider this morning asking me all kinds of questions about that part of Medicare which actually isn't a part of it; what plan I was on and such. Last week I finalized my medical plan with my agent. I went for Plan G. If there had been a Plan Z I probably would have opted for that one. You see, I'm a dull knife when it comes to insurance policies; always have been, always will be. They bore me. Thank the Lord for Lizzie. She understands this stuff and tries her best to explain it to me. "Yawn". My agent did the same. And my reaction was: "Yawn, okay, what ever you say".
This got me to thinking about the general population turning 65. There have to be millions of folks who have gone before me who were clueless. I mean, people who can't read or write. Guys and gals who don't have a GED in anything. People who have been without Medicare because they'd never heard of it. You know, the ones who go to the emergency room at the hospital to cure a headache.
Am I so stupid I need things explained to me the way some President reads a book to second graders? Yes, I am. Ignorance may be bliss but I'm thinking millions and millions and billions of dollars are going down the tubes because folks entering the "check-out generation" have no idea of what to expect in the way of bennies. Or, "yawn", don't care.
Turning 65 is-------------------------now what was I writing about? Oh well, never mind.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Minnesota Is Al Qaeda Country
From the Minnepolis Post:
Santa Claus, as portrayed by Dennis Jackson, won’t be visiting students at the Head Start classes in St. Peter, Minnesota this year.
Jackson has made appearances the past four years at the classes for students who need help preparing for school, but this year officials said, “No, no, no.”
The reason: The classes have many immigrant children who don’t celebrate Christmas, says the Mankato Free Press.
Santa’s a little frosted, the paper says.
It kind of burnt me up,” he said.
The official explanation from Chris Marben, who coordinates regional Head Start programs through Mankato-based Minnesota Valley Action Council: “We have Somali families in the program. We’re respecting the wishes of families in the program.”
Santa Claus, as portrayed by Dennis Jackson, won’t be visiting students at the Head Start classes in St. Peter, Minnesota this year.
Jackson has made appearances the past four years at the classes for students who need help preparing for school, but this year officials said, “No, no, no.”
The reason: The classes have many immigrant children who don’t celebrate Christmas, says the Mankato Free Press.
Santa’s a little frosted, the paper says.
It kind of burnt me up,” he said.
The official explanation from Chris Marben, who coordinates regional Head Start programs through Mankato-based Minnesota Valley Action Council: “We have Somali families in the program. We’re respecting the wishes of families in the program.”
DADT
Two thoughts on rescinding the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy. I'd like to have a quick answer as to how many congressmen voting in the affirmative served actively in the Armed Forces. Secondly, how strange it seemed to listen to democrat senators and representatives speak of the patriotism of our gay soldiers who deserve to be positively recognized by the public. It seems so strange since we so often see democrat hypocrites neglecting our soldiers when it comes to pay, voting rights and general respect.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Goo Goo Googly Eyes
Lizzie suggested I make a trip to the optometrist before the end of the year. It was one of those suggestions that didn't require a conversation. There are just some things that aren't worth the hassle. If she says eye doctor, well, okey-dokey by me. The same goes for a physical.
At any rate, Lizzie's best friend knows this woman who could use the business so the appointment was made. Eye doctor's office visits are all the same; the machine that poofs the eyeballs, read a chart, cover one eye with a wand and read the bottom line and finally, the obligatory put some drops in to dilate the pupils. I always ask, "will I be able to drive with my eyes the size of half dollars"? I get a "No problem" answer then proceed to drive home at 3 mph because I can't see my steering wheel.
I learned two things at the eye doctor's today. The reason I had to get my eyes tested right now is because in two weeks I'll be on Medicare and, unless we seniors have a cataract operation, we are without insurance. This makes sense to me since eyes for oldsters are like shoes worn daily. They wear out quickly and for old goats like me, if we were insured, we might as well put a cot in the eye doctor's office. Another thing I learned is glass frames cost more than a new Saab. Is it me or are these things outrageous in price? I didn't know if I was looking at the price of frames or a serial number on a hundred dollar bill. The final result was the least costly ones I could find came to 10 bucks over $150. I asked the poor slug who answered my incredulous questions: "Why so expensive". He answered that they were made of titanium(what happened to plastic) and they are a designer style. Aha, I'm paying for the Kobe steak of eye frames! "Sorry, pal, I think I'll stay with the 'cheaters' I'm wearing ". And do ya' know what I did next? I went home knowing I'd saved a bundle, smiling all the way, even though my pupils were still the size of basketballs.
At any rate, Lizzie's best friend knows this woman who could use the business so the appointment was made. Eye doctor's office visits are all the same; the machine that poofs the eyeballs, read a chart, cover one eye with a wand and read the bottom line and finally, the obligatory put some drops in to dilate the pupils. I always ask, "will I be able to drive with my eyes the size of half dollars"? I get a "No problem" answer then proceed to drive home at 3 mph because I can't see my steering wheel.
I learned two things at the eye doctor's today. The reason I had to get my eyes tested right now is because in two weeks I'll be on Medicare and, unless we seniors have a cataract operation, we are without insurance. This makes sense to me since eyes for oldsters are like shoes worn daily. They wear out quickly and for old goats like me, if we were insured, we might as well put a cot in the eye doctor's office. Another thing I learned is glass frames cost more than a new Saab. Is it me or are these things outrageous in price? I didn't know if I was looking at the price of frames or a serial number on a hundred dollar bill. The final result was the least costly ones I could find came to 10 bucks over $150. I asked the poor slug who answered my incredulous questions: "Why so expensive". He answered that they were made of titanium(what happened to plastic) and they are a designer style. Aha, I'm paying for the Kobe steak of eye frames! "Sorry, pal, I think I'll stay with the 'cheaters' I'm wearing ". And do ya' know what I did next? I went home knowing I'd saved a bundle, smiling all the way, even though my pupils were still the size of basketballs.
We're Number 1
Japan has lowered it's corporate tax rate by 5%. This means the United States now has the honor and distinction of once again being number one in something. We have the highest corporate tax rate in the world. And union thugs and their minions wonder why companies and jobs go overseas.
Obamaminski Signs Tax Bill
I promised I wouldn't watch Obama give his bogus speech on the Bush tax cuts aka, Obama tax increases. It was, as expected, self-aggrandizing but I was struck with awe and disdain at his last sentence. "I will now sign this bill so that the American people will see a bigger paycheck in January". What a pile. We're getting what we already had. I'm not getting more in my paycheck. I'm getting the same amount. Yes, there is a reduction in social security taxes but they are good for one year. Remember: when taxes and spending go up the price of everything else goes up. Talk to me in six months about the price of food. Have you checked out where the corn is going. It is virtually impossible to eat ethanol gasoline when corn is being subsidized for fuel.
We've been tricked again.
We've been tricked again.
The Lamestream Media
O'Reilly and his interview with Sarah Palin 12/17/2010. The lead-in promo asks, "Does Palin, having her own reality show, make her less presidential. iOwnThe World nails it. This once again proves Palin is right when she refers to them all as the "lamestream media".
From iOwnTheWorld.com:
If someone who is not currently a public servant and has not declared her candidacy for any public office does a reality television show, does that make her less presidential?
If someone who is the President of the United States goes on Jon Stewart’s show on Comedy Central, David Letterman and Mythbusters, does that make him less presidential?
From iOwnTheWorld.com:
If someone who is not currently a public servant and has not declared her candidacy for any public office does a reality television show, does that make her less presidential?
If someone who is the President of the United States goes on Jon Stewart’s show on Comedy Central, David Letterman and Mythbusters, does that make him less presidential?
Obama Tax Increases: A Dud
What a waste of oxygen the 'Obama Tax Increases' has turned out to be. All that occurred by stalling off the debate for two more years is the creation of angst for small business. Job planning and expansion takes time. Along with the supposed health care legislation, as it now stands, how many companies can seriously think about adding jobs when they don't know if they can pay for them?
Face it, Republicans and Democrats don't have clue one as to what's going on in this country. Furthermore, they leave cow pies on our faces on a daily basis.
As Rush Limbaugh stated on his radio show of Dec. 15, "politicians only care about the people on one day, election day, then it's back to business as usual" or words to that effect.
Face it, Republicans and Democrats don't have clue one as to what's going on in this country. Furthermore, they leave cow pies on our faces on a daily basis.
As Rush Limbaugh stated on his radio show of Dec. 15, "politicians only care about the people on one day, election day, then it's back to business as usual" or words to that effect.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
N.O.W. Attacks Hooters
From the SF Chronicle:
The National Organization for Women filed complaints against local Hooters restaurants Thursday, but not for exploiting its scantily clad waitresses by subjecting them to leering and groping customers.
The subject this time was Hooters' catering to children.
The restaurants in San Francisco, San Bruno, Sacramento and Orange County are classified as "adult entertainment" establishments but also serve minors, NOW's California chapter said in papers filed with police and prosecutors.
What's more, the organization said, Hooters provides child menus, high chairs and booster seats, and sells T-shirts in children's sizes that identify the wearer as a "Future Hooters Girl."
Commentary: The only thing N.O.W. has proven is they are massive failures. If they were really doing their job they'd have all these future Hooter's girls aborted at birth or, better yet, before, so job temptations for these future tramps wouldn't mess up their agenda.
Al Sharpton: Stupid And A Racist
From Brent Bozell and our good friends at Newsbusters:
Al Sharpton said Thursday he spoke to the Federal Communications Commission about holding public hearings next year that Rush Limbaugh would be forced to attend to explain so-called "racist" statements he's made on the air.
Chatting with MSNBC's Ed Schultz, Sharpton said he had a "very good meeting on Tuesday" with FCC officials and that "some of the commissioners" were interested enough in following up on his concerns that this could come to fruition in the coming months."
Isn't this classic? I have no doubt Sharpton can get the FCC to listen to him. Why not. They're an arm of Obama and would love nothing better than shut down all the conservative sites. My dream would be for Rush to go face to face with the racist Sharpton. Big Al would look like bent nails after that performance.
By the by, has anyone seen Jesse? He's worse than Waldo. Must not be any potential shakedowns available or he's trying to protect the kid from going to jail for Illinois bribery.
Another Stupid, Wasteful Gov't Program
From CCPO TV 33 News:
Healthier choices will soon be coming to school lunchrooms, after federal officials signed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act on Monday.
At least one Ozarks school district says the requirements are unfair.
Nixa, Missouri schools superintendent Stephen Kleinsmith says this program would cost his district $150,000 annually. It's money he claims will go right in the trash can.
For three years, Jean Gray has been spooning out lunch at Nixa's Century Elementary.
"These are new potatoes, these are good," says Gray to one kindergartender who wrinkled her nose at the mashed potatoes.
Wednesday was chicken patty day, a favorite of Nixa students.
"The chicken patty tastes like chicken," says kindergartener Chase Kolstad.
Chicken patties are one of Kolstad's favorites, second only to pizza, but he likes his veggies, too.
That's a good thing, now that Nixa, along with all U.S. schools, will soon be serving more vegetables.
Monday, President Barack Obama signed a federal mandate, requiring schools to serve healthier lunches.
"When school meals are sometimes the only source of nourishment for so many kids, we have an obligation to make sure that those meals are as nutritious as possible," said First Lady Michelle Obama on Monday.
"The premise behind it is wonderful, but there's only so much we at the local school can do without the extra money," says Jennifer Chastain, principal of Century Elementary.
Nixa says, with the new requirements, each lunch will cost the district 25-cents more, on average. The program only reimburses 6-cents per lunch.
And, now, the vegetables often end up in the trash.
Healthier choices will soon be coming to school lunchrooms, after federal officials signed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act on Monday.
At least one Ozarks school district says the requirements are unfair.
Nixa, Missouri schools superintendent Stephen Kleinsmith says this program would cost his district $150,000 annually. It's money he claims will go right in the trash can.
For three years, Jean Gray has been spooning out lunch at Nixa's Century Elementary.
"These are new potatoes, these are good," says Gray to one kindergartender who wrinkled her nose at the mashed potatoes.
Wednesday was chicken patty day, a favorite of Nixa students.
"The chicken patty tastes like chicken," says kindergartener Chase Kolstad.
Chicken patties are one of Kolstad's favorites, second only to pizza, but he likes his veggies, too.
That's a good thing, now that Nixa, along with all U.S. schools, will soon be serving more vegetables.
Monday, President Barack Obama signed a federal mandate, requiring schools to serve healthier lunches.
"When school meals are sometimes the only source of nourishment for so many kids, we have an obligation to make sure that those meals are as nutritious as possible," said First Lady Michelle Obama on Monday.
"The premise behind it is wonderful, but there's only so much we at the local school can do without the extra money," says Jennifer Chastain, principal of Century Elementary.
Nixa says, with the new requirements, each lunch will cost the district 25-cents more, on average. The program only reimburses 6-cents per lunch.
And, now, the vegetables often end up in the trash.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Eric Holder Protects Muslims
From Investors Business Daily:
This Justice Department's social activism knows no bounds. First it meddled in a border state's right to protect itself. Now it's trying to rewrite school policy to pander to Muslim law.
On Monday, Justice sued an Illinois school district for rejecting a Muslim teacher's request to take a three-week leave of absence to travel to Mecca. The suit claims that the Berkeley School District discriminated against middle-school instructor Safoorah Khan, whose religion "required" her to perform the hajj, and is seeking damages for this so-called victim.
But it's not stopping there. It seeks an order mandating school officials adopt policies accommodating all Muslim customs, no matter how unreasonable.
This Justice Department's social activism knows no bounds. First it meddled in a border state's right to protect itself. Now it's trying to rewrite school policy to pander to Muslim law.
On Monday, Justice sued an Illinois school district for rejecting a Muslim teacher's request to take a three-week leave of absence to travel to Mecca. The suit claims that the Berkeley School District discriminated against middle-school instructor Safoorah Khan, whose religion "required" her to perform the hajj, and is seeking damages for this so-called victim.
But it's not stopping there. It seeks an order mandating school officials adopt policies accommodating all Muslim customs, no matter how unreasonable.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Dublin, Ohio Is Amazing
There was a shooting in Dublin, Ohio today. A woman, age 30 shot a guy, same age. He wasn't shot with a water pistol or a rubber band; nothing like that. Don't know for certain but it could have been a love triangle or maybe he dumped her. {UPDATE: She was his former finace'} She held him at gunpoint, kidnapped him then shot him---with a real honest to goodness gun.
Anyway, and this is absolutely mystifying and amazing. In our community of 50,000 it's the first shooting in this city since May of 2000. Doesn't that boggle your mind? Not once in ten years have we had a drunk go bonkers and drop someone in a bar. In ten years no husband has caught his wife doing the nasty with a guy(and vise-versa) and off'd him. There hasn't been a robbery of any kind with crook and/or crookee getting bumped off. The odds of this have to be incalculable.
Oh, the guy didn't die so we still have some work to do in that department.
Anyway, and this is absolutely mystifying and amazing. In our community of 50,000 it's the first shooting in this city since May of 2000. Doesn't that boggle your mind? Not once in ten years have we had a drunk go bonkers and drop someone in a bar. In ten years no husband has caught his wife doing the nasty with a guy(and vise-versa) and off'd him. There hasn't been a robbery of any kind with crook and/or crookee getting bumped off. The odds of this have to be incalculable.
Oh, the guy didn't die so we still have some work to do in that department.
Government Rip-Off
From HubPages.com:
"The federal estate tax will be 55% on estates valued at more than $1 million. In 2011 the death tax will go back to the $1million exemption and any taxable income beyond $1 million will be taxed at 55%. This just doesn’t seem fair considering they earned the money and paid the taxes while they were working. Now their heirs will have to pay tax again on money that was already taxed.
Have you ever stopped to consider the American Dream is a nightmare? Most people don't give a whit about the Death Tax since they think it doesn't affect them. But, people, 1 million dollars is not that much. The multimillionaire dilberts could care less since they have high powered lawyers to hide their wealth. It's the small businessmen and farmers, the backbone of America, who receive the shaft. When you earn money there's a tax. When you invest your money you get taxed. When you die, another tax and it's all done by your government. If there was ever a justifiable cause for revolution it'd be to overthrow the IRS. If there's a liberal out there who can justify this horrid piece of legislation I'd like to hear from you.
Love Pats
From the Raleigh News and Observer:
So said, Tim Ely, a retired U.S. Army officer in response to a TSA employee’s comment that the x-ray scanner showed that “there was something suspicious hanging from between my legs”
Ely, who once was in charge of a military police unit in Guantanamo Bay, was flying from Raleigh Durham Airport on November 20th, 2010 when a false alarm from the full body scanner triggered a TSA body pat down.
After enduring a genital grope from the front and rear vantage points, Ely asked what exactly on the scan had triggered the alarm. In response to the question Ely says, “He said there was something suspicious hanging from between my legs.” Ely responded with, “I told him that something suspicious was my [genitals], you dummy.”
Buffett & Gates
Once again, a democrat came out against tax cuts for the rich. This time it is Sen. Mark Udall(D-umb, Colorado). Quoting the senator, " most of the wealthy want to pay higher taxes,citing Warren Buffet and Bill Gates" Well, whoop-dee-do. Buffett and Gates have so much off shore protected money a Saudi Arabian sheik could never spend it. Someone please tell me, aside from the above mention mega-billionaires, who is touting that higher taxes be paid. You've heard this before. If they want to pay higher taxes go ahead and do it. Nothing's hold them back.
As an aside, I wonder how gifts to charities will tail off if the 'rich' are required to pay more. Maybe nothing because we all know the Liberals, for the most part, don't give to charity.
As an aside, I wonder how gifts to charities will tail off if the 'rich' are required to pay more. Maybe nothing because we all know the Liberals, for the most part, don't give to charity.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Winter In Iowa, A Poem
> It's winter in IOWA
> And the gentle breezes blow
> Seventy miles an hour
> At thirty-five below.
>
> Oh, how I love IOWA
> When the snow's up to your butt
> You take a breath of winter
> And your nose gets frozen shut.
>
> Yes, the weather here is wonderful
> So I guess I'll hang around
> I never could leave IOWA
> Because I'm frozen to the ground.
Anonymous
> And the gentle breezes blow
> Seventy miles an hour
> At thirty-five below.
>
> Oh, how I love IOWA
> When the snow's up to your butt
> You take a breath of winter
> And your nose gets frozen shut.
>
> Yes, the weather here is wonderful
> So I guess I'll hang around
> I never could leave IOWA
> Because I'm frozen to the ground.
Anonymous
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Flying To Iowa
MJH had to make a quick, one way trip to Iowa this past Wednesday. My reader's will know that there are three places I enjoy meeting new folks: on the golf course, in airports and on airplanes. It's probably that I open up becoming more flippant in my conversations since chances are pretty good I'll never see these people again.If I make a massive faux pas who cares. I won't see them again so no harm no foul. I read a report that most air travelers will confide openly to strangers because there is that chance, though minute, that the other person may be the last person they ever talk to if their flight goes down. I always sit in the back of a plane. Who wants to go first? Besides, being in the last seat allows me to see the reaction of those in the first row when that bad thing happens. Then I'll know how to act without making a fool of myself.
At any rate, I was sitting in the Columbus terminal and a salesman from out east was chatting with me; asked where I was from and where I was going. After I said Iowa he wanted to what it was like. "Winter or Summer", I said. "Winter", he responded. "Take a picture frame. Put in a sheet of white paper, 8x11. Hang it on the wall and look at it until mid-April". If an Iowan lives in the top tier of the state add a month.
There were two kids, a girl age 10 and a boy, 15 onboard. They sat to my right and were from Fairmont, West Virginia. I asked where they were headed. I enjoy talking with kids. As Art Linkletter said, 'they say the darndest things'. The lad, Jamar, told me they were going to see Grandma in San Diego. Being a former teacher I know Christmas vacation starts around Dec. 20. "How'd you get out of school so early", I asked? "Just told 'em we were goin'. Bet the SAT's at Fairmont H.S. aren't that great. Anyway, as we approached Chicago I had the girl, his sister, Danija, look out my window. I pointd out the Sears Tower and told her it was one of the tallest buildings in the world. She was more interested in Lake Michigan. "Is that the ocean"? "Atlantic", I said. I didn't want to tell her the Pacific. She'd get all screwed up when she got to San Diego.
Our plane was loaded with Orientals. I'm reminding you we're flying to Des Moines, Iowa; must've been a convention going on. For awhile I thought there was a remote chance we were headed for Seoul or Inchon. Anyway, there was a couple in front of me and to the right. Both were reading a non-English book. They were conversing in non-English. All of a sudden the husband poked his wife and had her read something. You know what she did? Started laughing---in English. It came out; "Ha-ha-ha". I'd never thought of this but, as God is my witness, I wondered why it didn't sound like; "Jung-jung-jung" or words similar. Strange, huh? Do ya' think the entire world laughs in English?
At any rate, I was sitting in the Columbus terminal and a salesman from out east was chatting with me; asked where I was from and where I was going. After I said Iowa he wanted to what it was like. "Winter or Summer", I said. "Winter", he responded. "Take a picture frame. Put in a sheet of white paper, 8x11. Hang it on the wall and look at it until mid-April". If an Iowan lives in the top tier of the state add a month.
There were two kids, a girl age 10 and a boy, 15 onboard. They sat to my right and were from Fairmont, West Virginia. I asked where they were headed. I enjoy talking with kids. As Art Linkletter said, 'they say the darndest things'. The lad, Jamar, told me they were going to see Grandma in San Diego. Being a former teacher I know Christmas vacation starts around Dec. 20. "How'd you get out of school so early", I asked? "Just told 'em we were goin'. Bet the SAT's at Fairmont H.S. aren't that great. Anyway, as we approached Chicago I had the girl, his sister, Danija, look out my window. I pointd out the Sears Tower and told her it was one of the tallest buildings in the world. She was more interested in Lake Michigan. "Is that the ocean"? "Atlantic", I said. I didn't want to tell her the Pacific. She'd get all screwed up when she got to San Diego.
Our plane was loaded with Orientals. I'm reminding you we're flying to Des Moines, Iowa; must've been a convention going on. For awhile I thought there was a remote chance we were headed for Seoul or Inchon. Anyway, there was a couple in front of me and to the right. Both were reading a non-English book. They were conversing in non-English. All of a sudden the husband poked his wife and had her read something. You know what she did? Started laughing---in English. It came out; "Ha-ha-ha". I'd never thought of this but, as God is my witness, I wondered why it didn't sound like; "Jung-jung-jung" or words similar. Strange, huh? Do ya' think the entire world laughs in English?
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
The Iowa Shuffle
Since you've already read today's post headlines if you're from Iowa, Minnesota or Siberia it's a given you're aware of the subject matter.
In Dublin, Ohio last night's temps were in the teens. It's been this way for five days. Yowie! I'm used to playing golf up to Christmas in this area. Not this year. I looked out at the fish pond behind our condo upon awakening this morning. There's ice on it.
Lucky for me I know the 'Iowa Shuffle'.
It's a hoot watching Ohioans in this weather trying to walk on ice. They can't do it because they've had no practice. Falling down, for them, is the same as eating breakfast. It happens every day. For us Iowans traversing icy sidewalks and driveways is like riding a bike. Once you learn you never forget.
The procedure: Walk out the front door, see ice, put feet tight together, shuffle forward, never backward or sideways, six inches at a time; no more no less. It takes longer to get where you're going but I haven't fallen on my can since I was ten. While running on a sidewalk I slipped and cracked the back of my head. It was my parent's fault. They never taught me the 'Shuffle' so I had to learn it the hard way. We Iowans are tough nuts.
In Dublin, Ohio last night's temps were in the teens. It's been this way for five days. Yowie! I'm used to playing golf up to Christmas in this area. Not this year. I looked out at the fish pond behind our condo upon awakening this morning. There's ice on it.
Lucky for me I know the 'Iowa Shuffle'.
It's a hoot watching Ohioans in this weather trying to walk on ice. They can't do it because they've had no practice. Falling down, for them, is the same as eating breakfast. It happens every day. For us Iowans traversing icy sidewalks and driveways is like riding a bike. Once you learn you never forget.
The procedure: Walk out the front door, see ice, put feet tight together, shuffle forward, never backward or sideways, six inches at a time; no more no less. It takes longer to get where you're going but I haven't fallen on my can since I was ten. While running on a sidewalk I slipped and cracked the back of my head. It was my parent's fault. They never taught me the 'Shuffle' so I had to learn it the hard way. We Iowans are tough nuts.
Monday, December 6, 2010
One Million Dollars
When did being a millionaire not mean much? How about now. I was thinking about millionaires and started googling Ohio. We're on the skids. Last year there were 177,000 households with a net worth of 1M. Four years ago it was 233,000 families. Hmmm. When did Pelosi, Reid and Obama take over? Actually, the two congressional boobies were in control the last two years of the Bush administration so I'll give them credit for the initial downslide. Last year the U.S. number of super rich was at 8 million. I'll call them 'super rich' because Al Gore told us anyone making over $70K should be labeled 'rich'.
I was laughing at Obama on TV tonight as he stumbled and fumbled on the agreement with taxes. He was livid that the Estate Tax wouldn't jump to 55%. If there isn't a better argument for class warfare than the estate tax then the Pope just converted to Islam.
I was laughing at Obama on TV tonight as he stumbled and fumbled on the agreement with taxes. He was livid that the Estate Tax wouldn't jump to 55%. If there isn't a better argument for class warfare than the estate tax then the Pope just converted to Islam.
Pigford
The media is protecting the White House again…by ignoring the Pigford Black Reparations Scam expose that Andrew Breitbart is running at Big Government.
As you read the news online, watch TV, and peruse the papers, please keep track of what news outlets are reporting on Breitbart’s Pigford expose…and which ones are deliberately silent on this.
All of this is going to break wide open in 2011 when the new Congress convenes and Michele Bachmann, Peter King, and Darryl Issa demand investigations into all the Pigford claimants. There are 94,000+ black people who each got checks for $57,000 by claiming they were discriminated against by the USDA…while there were only 18,000 black farmers in existence. Who are all these other people and why are they getting all this “Obama money”?
That question will be asked repeatedly starting in January.
But the media SHOULD be talking about Pigford now, as Breitbart is exposing what’s happening.
They, of course, are not.
Insert sound of chirping crickets here.
Let’s keep track of the media’s silence on this and start asking why the “papers of record” are so quiet about all of this.
As you read the news online, watch TV, and peruse the papers, please keep track of what news outlets are reporting on Breitbart’s Pigford expose…and which ones are deliberately silent on this.
All of this is going to break wide open in 2011 when the new Congress convenes and Michele Bachmann, Peter King, and Darryl Issa demand investigations into all the Pigford claimants. There are 94,000+ black people who each got checks for $57,000 by claiming they were discriminated against by the USDA…while there were only 18,000 black farmers in existence. Who are all these other people and why are they getting all this “Obama money”?
That question will be asked repeatedly starting in January.
But the media SHOULD be talking about Pigford now, as Breitbart is exposing what’s happening.
They, of course, are not.
Insert sound of chirping crickets here.
Let’s keep track of the media’s silence on this and start asking why the “papers of record” are so quiet about all of this.
A Few Thoughts On Unemployment Benefits
Common nonsense says Obama is about to get the okay to extend unemployment benefits to, what, 99 weeks. Personally, this is a source of extreme irritation to MJ Hawkeye. Hey gang, I didn't grow up in a household made of candy canes and frosting. My dad was a railroad worker and ma a nurse. There were many times in the olden days, the 50's and 60's, when the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen went out on strike and Pops was out of work. I'm certain he could have cared less since old dad sort of liked staying home and playing cards at the Twelve Bells tavern. Later on, in my teen years, he had to take odd jobs, house painting was one of them. I'll give my parents credit for one thing. We never took public assistance. PA was a badge of dishonor in those days. I know the part about not taking public assistance. It had the same impact on me and there have been times in my 64 years I qualified.
I was a high school teacher and coach beginning in 1968, got married in 1969 and by 1972 we had two babies with a third to come along in '76. A random thought crossed my mind just yesterday. My take home pay as a teacher/coach in '70 was $404.12 per month. That's twenty bucks a day. Amazing, isn't it. Anyway, over the course of the next eighteen years in education I had the responsibility of trying to make ends meet. There was one period when I lost a job due to cut backs. Know what I did? I sat on my ass, complained to whoever would listen at the county court house and complained to my congressman that I should receive thousands of dollars in benefits! I lie. I didn't do any of that crappola and neither would the hard working conservatives of this country today. I went out and found a job, or two jobs or whatever it took to keep food on the table.
Get this: In 1977, while living in Davenport, Iowa I took a teaching job thirty miles southwest of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. That's a four hour drive from our home. I'd get up at 3am, drive to the Badger State, do my thing then go home on Friday afternoon. Why'd I do this? Easy answer. It was a job and my wife and kids needed me to do so. I'm not special and non-Democrats would do the same. The democrat party has set up their constituents for failure and made them feel not only happy about it but has forced them to expect perpetual government gifts and favors. Disgusting!
This brings us to the crux of the unemployment benefits problem of today. There are jobs out there; plenty of them. Do you think the jobs might be demeaning to the unemployed. Is it possible some of these folks might have to work two shifts at $10 bucks and hour? It's possible. No, it's most likely. I have sympathy for those who are out of work. I don't have sympathy for those who do nothing about it but complain and expect a handout because they can breathe. Last week I posted a chart showing how those making under $14.5 thousand a year were better off than those making $60 grand per because of government giveaways. Check it out.
I was a high school teacher and coach beginning in 1968, got married in 1969 and by 1972 we had two babies with a third to come along in '76. A random thought crossed my mind just yesterday. My take home pay as a teacher/coach in '70 was $404.12 per month. That's twenty bucks a day. Amazing, isn't it. Anyway, over the course of the next eighteen years in education I had the responsibility of trying to make ends meet. There was one period when I lost a job due to cut backs. Know what I did? I sat on my ass, complained to whoever would listen at the county court house and complained to my congressman that I should receive thousands of dollars in benefits! I lie. I didn't do any of that crappola and neither would the hard working conservatives of this country today. I went out and found a job, or two jobs or whatever it took to keep food on the table.
Get this: In 1977, while living in Davenport, Iowa I took a teaching job thirty miles southwest of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. That's a four hour drive from our home. I'd get up at 3am, drive to the Badger State, do my thing then go home on Friday afternoon. Why'd I do this? Easy answer. It was a job and my wife and kids needed me to do so. I'm not special and non-Democrats would do the same. The democrat party has set up their constituents for failure and made them feel not only happy about it but has forced them to expect perpetual government gifts and favors. Disgusting!
This brings us to the crux of the unemployment benefits problem of today. There are jobs out there; plenty of them. Do you think the jobs might be demeaning to the unemployed. Is it possible some of these folks might have to work two shifts at $10 bucks and hour? It's possible. No, it's most likely. I have sympathy for those who are out of work. I don't have sympathy for those who do nothing about it but complain and expect a handout because they can breathe. Last week I posted a chart showing how those making under $14.5 thousand a year were better off than those making $60 grand per because of government giveaways. Check it out.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
The Mick
In the very northeast corner of Oklahoma you'll find the community of Commerce, Oklahoma. It's population is 2,500 and it sits adjacent to Miami, Oklahoma, population 12,000. Miami is the home of two significant things: Heisman Trophy winner, Steve Owens and 14 gambling casinos. A very dear friend and his wife are citizens of Miami.
Commerce, on the other hand, is the boyhood home of Mickey Mantle. Three years ago my buddy and I were driving around looking at the sights when I saw the sign, 'Commerce, Oklahoma'. "Hey, this is the home of Mickey Mantle", I said. Everyone knows this, don't they? Being in love with baseball I asked my buddy where the MM museum was located. "Ain't one", he said. And he was right. There was a skimmed baseball diamond with no grass and a rickety old backstop. A white sign, one foot by two feet, read 'Mickey Mantle Field' in black letters. How sad that one of the greats couldn't have a better legacy. After all, he's 'The Mick'.
I won't go into the sordid details of the Mickey's life. He died of cancer most likely brought on by cirrhosis of the liver. His wife, Merlyn, along with their four sons were alcoholics but were rehabilitated as was Mantle during the last two years of his life. Two of the boys are dead; one from alcoholism and the other from Hodgkins Disease. Mickey Mantle was not a role model. Mantle was a womanizer and alcoholic and this is as far as I want to go on the subject. It's almost unimaginable that he's been dead for fifteen years already.
Mickey, toward the end of his life, used a line first uttered by the great Detroit Lion quarterback, Bobby Layne; "If I'd known I was going to live this long I'd have taken better care of myself". Sad but true.
The Mick came into my life in 1951 just as he was beginning his career. I was completely enthralled with baseball and baseball players. In a couple of years the Baseball Game of the Week(Yes, there was only one then) was on TV hosted by Dizzy Dean and Buddy Blattner. I told you I loved baseball.
My first glove was a Nellie Fox. It didn't have a leather string tying the fingers together. I slept with it and I still have it. I've kept every glove but one(sold it to my best friend) I've used from that original onto Little League, Babe Ruth, high school and college. There is nothing like the smell of oil being rubbed into a glove to make it soft and pliable. Holding a baseball glove and then putting your fingers inside is an experience unexplainable to those who never will. If I close my eyes and bring the glove to my nose then take a whiff and inhale deeply, I can remember how I robbed Pat Ahlstrom of a sure double in a grade school softball game by making a fantastic over the shoulder catch in the centerfield gap. Even though it took place in 1958 I want to believe that Pat has never forgiven me. The smell of the glove reminds me how, as a catcher in college, I shifted my weight to the right, snagged a potential wild pitch then threw out the base runner at second. He was from Knox College and had never been tagged out on the base paths----until my throw. The brain is flooded with these thoughts and many more; many too numerous to mention. The nice thing about baseball memories is we players rarely, if ever, recall errors, only successes. This is the way it should be and this is, once again, why I love baseball
I love the feel of a brand new, shiny baseball. The seams stick out just so and you know, by doing a throwing motion and snapping the wrist at the proper time, you are The Man. If you then place your two longest fingers on the right side of the ball with thumb underneath, well, a curve ball that breaks to the outside of home plate better than Sandy Koufax ever did can be easily done in your mind. Can you see it? I can.
When we were kids we tried to emulate baseball players mannerisms. One of my classmates, Sweat Culver, a Hall of Fame baseball coach at Creighton Prep in Omaha was a master of these impersonations. He had The Mick down to a science. He'd take off running, both arms tucked together near the armpits, then pull up lame, the way Mickey did if he'd strained a muscle. Mickey Mantle wasn't my hero. Henry Aaron had that distinction. None of us knew about Mantle's philandering and alcohol problems. We didn't have a twenty-hour news cycle then and sports writers protected the players 'for the good of the game'. When I was age ten everybody knew the name Mantle. I'd be willing to wager the great percentage of our American population today, woman and children included, know his name and who he was.
On June 8, 1969 a friend and I had some time to kill before a flight to Europe. We decided to head out to Yankee Stadium to watch a game. What a thrill. Little did we know it was Mickey Mantle Day; the day they retired his number and placed his plaque in center field alongside that of Joe DiMaggio. To Mantle's credit and out of respect he made sure his bust was installed below that of Joltin' Joe.
Commerce, Oklahoma 2010 is different from what I witnessed three years ago. There's a beautiful community baseball field named after Mickey with his name on the center field scoreboard and it gave me a good feeling knowing MJ Hawkeye could have his picture taken alongside the life-sized statue of the great baseball Hall of Fame player, Mickey Mantle.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Practice Makes Perfect
Tim Tebow, former Florida Gators quarterback, and now the Denver Broncos quarterback has NEVER fumbled !!!!
In 2007 Florida’s Tim Tebow was awarded the Heisman Trophy as a sophomore, the first time ever the award has gone to a second year player..
In addition to his amazing passing, running and TD stats is the fact that he has NEVER fumbled the ball! How is he able to hold on to the football so well? What grip does he use??
Tim’s grip training technique was inspired by his girlfriend, of 2
years, Amber.
Any questions?
from Big Fur Hat
Rush Is Sooooooooo Funny
In listening to the maestro this afternoon he said something that got me to laughing out loud. He was mentioning how stupid the Democrats e.g. Sherrod Brown(D-ork, Ohio) and Pelosi(D-ink, Calif.)are for trying to convince the people that unemployment benefits are good because they grow the economy and create jobs. Said Rush, "if this is the case why not pay farmers to not grow food so we can have more food or pay oil companies not to drill so there will be more oil". That about sums it up. I hope the Stupid Party can understand this.
I Broke A Promise To Myself
When my children left the home and I didn't have to do Christmas shopping for them I made myself a promise. Never again would this person venture out to buy gifts. Never would I be seen in Target, Dick's Sporting Goods or Toys R Us between Thanksgiving and January 1. Here's a clue for you. People during the season are crazy! It's more than a jungle out there. It's a jungle in hell! My home would become a cave. It would be a place to hibernate. For eighteen years I've adhered to this philosophy until today.
A dear lady from my old company is retiring in three weeks. She told me this yesterday. In the course of our conversation I decided I'd buy her a parting gift so after further talking and my prodding she mentioned how much she enjoyed reading. There's a new book out, The Autobiography of Mark Twain. Samuel Clemens made it clear that his story and reflections would not be published until 100 years afte his death. Well, if my math is correct and since he died in 1910 my guess is this is the year.
There are six, count 'em, six Barnes and Nobles in the Columbus area. I hit all six stores. A smart man would've come home, called on the telephone, then struck out to pick it up. Not me. I was on a mission. There is not one Twain book available in all of Columbus, Ohio. Did I mention I went to two Border's? The waiting list said they 'might' have one available in January. I tried Amazon.com as well. Sold out!
All was not lost, though. I had lost my Swiss Army mini-knife and if you've read earlier posts you know how not having one in my hand sends me into a panic.
Thank God for Meijer clothing and food store. They had what I needed and I'm comfortable again in my own skin. I enjoyed writing this blog. It was like a Seinfeld episode; a story about nothing.
Consider this; my Christmas shopping is finished for twenty-eight days and I feel better already.
A dear lady from my old company is retiring in three weeks. She told me this yesterday. In the course of our conversation I decided I'd buy her a parting gift so after further talking and my prodding she mentioned how much she enjoyed reading. There's a new book out, The Autobiography of Mark Twain. Samuel Clemens made it clear that his story and reflections would not be published until 100 years afte his death. Well, if my math is correct and since he died in 1910 my guess is this is the year.
There are six, count 'em, six Barnes and Nobles in the Columbus area. I hit all six stores. A smart man would've come home, called on the telephone, then struck out to pick it up. Not me. I was on a mission. There is not one Twain book available in all of Columbus, Ohio. Did I mention I went to two Border's? The waiting list said they 'might' have one available in January. I tried Amazon.com as well. Sold out!
All was not lost, though. I had lost my Swiss Army mini-knife and if you've read earlier posts you know how not having one in my hand sends me into a panic.
Thank God for Meijer clothing and food store. They had what I needed and I'm comfortable again in my own skin. I enjoyed writing this blog. It was like a Seinfeld episode; a story about nothing.
Consider this; my Christmas shopping is finished for twenty-eight days and I feel better already.
Alan Grayson: The Face Of Stupidity
Alan Grayson is the recently defeated congressman from Orlando. Only God knows how he was elected in 2008 but his opponent this year, Daniel Webster barely squeaked out an 18% victory. Hah! Grayson took to the floor of the House yesterday to berate Rush, Beck and Hannity among others for being hypocrites when it comes to not extending the Bush tax cuts OR by increasing the Obama taxes(whichever you prefer). Grayson, the dufus with only a few days left to spew his hatred, fails to realize the radio talkers provide jobs by employing others, something the 'nutcase' doesn't. Here's the real kicker. Grayson's net worth is $31.12 million and how many jobs does one think he creates? He's a lawyer, folks. That explains it all.
From The Daily Caller:
In a Thursday speech on the House floor, Rep. Alan Grayson, D-FL, took some of his waning minutes in office to launch a rhetorical attack against conservative pundits and figureheads, including: Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Bill O’Reilly, Sean Hannity, Sarah Palin, Newt Gingrich, and George W. Bush. Grayson condemned the hosts for their private earnings and what they stood to lose should upper-bracket tax cuts increase in 2011.
“Instead of placating these people and letting them spew out onto the airwaves their lies about the Bush tax cut ever revealing the fact that they stand to gain millions, millions of dollars each year from their selfish desire to take advantage of the rest of America, let’s do this,” said Grayson. “Let’s take that money and create jobs.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Kinda Interesting Stuff
When all is considered I didn't see that many things on the way to and coming home from Texas. I'd never seen a wild pig but did on the way to my brother in laws lake home. People tell me they're a nuisance. My buddy in Oklahoma said his deer hunting license specifically says, 'Pigs-no limit'.
Driving in Texas is different. There are five speed limits: 50, 55, 60, 65 and 70. A driver has to be on his toes since they can change, one to the other. in a heart beat. Trust me, I know. How can a driver be sandwiched between two vehicles and get a ticket? I fumed about it all the way back to Ohio.
I can be a cheap skate if I desire and reading directions are not my forte'. My philosophy is ready, fire, aim. I'm not very mechanical, either. Once, a long time ago, I took a six week class on the difference between a flat head and phillips screw driver. When I was in Iowa I had a decision to make before filling my gas tank. Regular unleaded was going for $3.00 and something called 10% ethanol was priced at $2.72. Hmmm. Yes or no? Yes or no? That little voice kept saying, 'no'. My stupid voice said, 'go for it'. Readers, never under any circumstance put corn in your car engine. My gas mileage went from 30 per gallon down to 20 and stayed that way for five total fills.
Lizzie and I made the twenty hour drive home on I-30 and I-40 across Texas, Arkansas and Tennessee. I've never seen more semi trucks in my life. They all play the vertical shuffle, too. Three for four trucks play a game where they constantly pass each other. As I pull up to go around one of these behemoths it pulls out in front of me causing a quick brake by me. It then attempts to pass it's partner at 0.000000000001 mph faster than the other is going. This is when my swearing goes from under my breath to uber loud. The game gets even worse because the passer makes his move going up a grade, decides it can't get around, then slowly falls back to get behind the passee. After this it's not long before we start the game over.
I-30 took us through Arkansas. This was detestable for me. I'd never been there but the thought of going through Bill Clinton's home state bothered me worse than experiencing a case of the shingles. I promised myself I wouldn't spend one dime before I got to Tennessee. Around 7 pm I was getting hungry and saw a Sonic burger chain store in some little hamlet. Sonic is one of my son's clients so I thought, "it's not actually going to hurt since I'm promoting my boy. My son designed the comic work books and toys put in the children's hamburger sacks. I ordered a chicken sandwich, catsup, mustard, pickles and extra onions. The waitress was a very cute high school girl with a syrupy southern drawl. She must have called me 'sir' ten times before I placed my order. I liked this and I liked her. At any rate, just to make conversation, I mentioned that my son had designed the aforementioned toys and games they supplied. Land o'goshen. It was as though Justin Bieber, Jewel, Taylor Swift and every super hero created by Marvel comics descended on this one little Sonic at the same time. The cheerleader yelled at the other workers about my relationship with my creative offspring. The staff all gathered around to have their picture taken with me. People, these kids must lead very, very boring, not to mention, sheltered lives. I can only imagine what happened at the local high school the next day. Do ya' think there was a pep rally in my honor? It's impossible to fathom what the old-time dps'ers*** on the corner benches at First St. and Main had to say. I wish I could remember the name the burg. The newspaper headline the next day must have been a doozy.
***dead pecker society
Twenty-Four Truths But Not Quite
I have a friend who forwarded me one of those e-mail lists. Basically, it's for men only. Due to a lack of space I've cut down the list for two reasons: (1)I didn't think some were funny and (2)I might want to elaborate on a few. Wishing to remain anonymous my friend suggested I use his high school nickname. He informed me it was 6-Volt. That in itself should be a good story. I'll find out about it in a week. I have a feeling it's going to be good copy for a blog. The possibilities for 6-Volt are endless.
THE LIST:
I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear
your computer history when you die.
Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you
realize you're wrong.
I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was
younger.
There is great need for a sarcasm font.
How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?
Was learning cursive really necessary? For me, this is important. When I was in grade school the nuns required us to use the Palmer Method. My penmanship reads like a girl's. It's also the only subject I took where I received an A.
Map Quest really needs to start their directions on # 5. I'm pretty
sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.
Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the
person died.
I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.
Bad decisions make good stories. Hip-hip hooray for this. I'm the king of bad decisions.
I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to
answer when they call.
I think the freezer deserves a light as well.
I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or
Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lite than Kay.
I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option.
I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and
hunger. It's the reason the bean bag chair and potato chips were invented.
How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod
and smile because you still didn't hear or understand a word they said?
I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up
to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front.
Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get
dirty, and you can wear them forever.
Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still
not know what time it is.
Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car
keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the
Donkey
The first testicular guard, the "Cup," was used in Hockey in 1874
and the first helmet was used in 1974. That means it only took 100 years
for men to realize that their brain is also important.
THE LIST:
I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear
your computer history when you die.
Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you
realize you're wrong.
I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was
younger.
There is great need for a sarcasm font.
How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?
Was learning cursive really necessary? For me, this is important. When I was in grade school the nuns required us to use the Palmer Method. My penmanship reads like a girl's. It's also the only subject I took where I received an A.
Map Quest really needs to start their directions on # 5. I'm pretty
sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.
Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the
person died.
I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.
Bad decisions make good stories. Hip-hip hooray for this. I'm the king of bad decisions.
I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to
answer when they call.
I think the freezer deserves a light as well.
I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or
Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lite than Kay.
I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option.
I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and
hunger. It's the reason the bean bag chair and potato chips were invented.
How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod
and smile because you still didn't hear or understand a word they said?
I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up
to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front.
Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get
dirty, and you can wear them forever.
Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still
not know what time it is.
Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car
keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the
Donkey
The first testicular guard, the "Cup," was used in Hockey in 1874
and the first helmet was used in 1974. That means it only took 100 years
for men to realize that their brain is also important.
WE BAILED OUT EUROPE!!!!!!!!
Weekly jobless claims rise unexpectedly by 26,000 to 436,000
(FoxNews, wires)
And the Federal Reserve gave Europe $3.3 trillion dollars. This is asinine and fatal!
·
(FoxNews, wires)
And the Federal Reserve gave Europe $3.3 trillion dollars. This is asinine and fatal!
·
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Swearing In Crib Sheet
thanks WeaselZippers
There was a slight mix-up during the swearing in of Republican Senator Mark Kirk.
On Monday, Vice President Joe Biden asked Kirk to place his right hand on the Bible and raise his left hand.
His hands should have been reversed, however, according to Senate tradition.
Biden’s spokesperson said they checked all the rules, and that in the end it doesn’t matter which hand Senator Kirk raised, as long as he agreed with the oath to uphold the constitution.
Here’s a cheat-sheet for you, Joe…
What Am I Missing
Home again from the bigger than huge trip to Texas. I need to gather my thoughts on a myriad of subjects before informing you of the interesting and not so interesting facets of our two week adventure. As you might well imagine the windshield time allowed for a great deal of talk radio. After my dose of Rush I successfully found stations carrying Michael Medved. He fascinates me. First, he's a former liberal who found the light. In addition to political discussions he is very learned in the arts and has guests to compliment the shows format. Medved does something that your normal run of the mill hosts don't. He poses questions to his audience and, for the most part, his callers are of a liberal bent. I'm amazed at how well he handles them. Yesterday, he posed the question: "if the Obama taxes go through how will this decrease the deficit"? Pretty simple, huh? Well, answers were the typical class warfare ones. Medved made one very salient statement. Regardless of who controls the congress whenever taxes are raised spending also rises----every time! According to Mr. Medved, for every dollar taken in due tax increases congress further increases spending by 1.17. Hey, why not. It's your money not theirs.
I doubt that congress will not enact the Obama tax increases but I do have a dog in this fight. My three children will see their federal income taxes go up. One of them would be $2,900, another at $4,900 and the third at $9,000. What am I missing? I was under the impression that Obama promised the American people that anyone making less than $250,000 would not see their taxes go up one single dime. I know I heard him say this often on the campaign trail. You don't think he said this to get elected, do you? Democrat suckers!
I doubt that congress will not enact the Obama tax increases but I do have a dog in this fight. My three children will see their federal income taxes go up. One of them would be $2,900, another at $4,900 and the third at $9,000. What am I missing? I was under the impression that Obama promised the American people that anyone making less than $250,000 would not see their taxes go up one single dime. I know I heard him say this often on the campaign trail. You don't think he said this to get elected, do you? Democrat suckers!
The Most Boring Day In Modern History
According to true knowledge.com:
The Most Boring Day in History - April 11 1954
It’s official! April 11 1954 was the most boring day in history.
Every day events of significance occur: a person is born who is destined for fame; events happen in the arts or sports and history is created.
We are building a knowledge base of the world's knowledge. Unlike a search engine, which finds relevant web pages statistically using keywords, True Knowledge (www.trueknowledge.com) is able to understand the knowledge it stores, reason with it and produce direct answers to questions. It also has an understanding of the importance of the entities referenced in these facts.
You can use True Knowledge to find out what happened on a particular day. For example, questions like these produce good results:
Who was born on the 3rd of May 1983?
Who died on January the 16th 2001?
What happened on April 3 2006?
It occurred to us that with over 300 million facts, a big percentage of which tie events, people and places to points in time, we could uniquely calculate an objective answer to the question 'What was the most boring day in history?' For fun, we wrote a script to scan all days (from the beginning of the 20th century) and set it going.
‘Boring’ is a subjective term. A 14-year old has a very different idea of boring to a 45-year old. In this case we used the almost equivalent concept ‘uneventful’ and found the day when the smallest number of important things happened (or were happening).
When the script completed, we had an answer:
Sunday, April 11, 1954
Nobody significant died that day, no major events apparently occurred and although a typical day in the 20th century has many notable people being born, for some reason that day had only one person that might make that claim: Abdullah Atalar - a Turkish academic.
The irony is though, that having done the calculation, the day is now interesting for being exceptionally boring! Perhaps we need to calculate the second most boring day...
The Most Boring Day in History - April 11 1954
It’s official! April 11 1954 was the most boring day in history.
Every day events of significance occur: a person is born who is destined for fame; events happen in the arts or sports and history is created.
We are building a knowledge base of the world's knowledge. Unlike a search engine, which finds relevant web pages statistically using keywords, True Knowledge (www.trueknowledge.com) is able to understand the knowledge it stores, reason with it and produce direct answers to questions. It also has an understanding of the importance of the entities referenced in these facts.
You can use True Knowledge to find out what happened on a particular day. For example, questions like these produce good results:
Who was born on the 3rd of May 1983?
Who died on January the 16th 2001?
What happened on April 3 2006?
It occurred to us that with over 300 million facts, a big percentage of which tie events, people and places to points in time, we could uniquely calculate an objective answer to the question 'What was the most boring day in history?' For fun, we wrote a script to scan all days (from the beginning of the 20th century) and set it going.
‘Boring’ is a subjective term. A 14-year old has a very different idea of boring to a 45-year old. In this case we used the almost equivalent concept ‘uneventful’ and found the day when the smallest number of important things happened (or were happening).
When the script completed, we had an answer:
Sunday, April 11, 1954
Nobody significant died that day, no major events apparently occurred and although a typical day in the 20th century has many notable people being born, for some reason that day had only one person that might make that claim: Abdullah Atalar - a Turkish academic.
The irony is though, that having done the calculation, the day is now interesting for being exceptionally boring! Perhaps we need to calculate the second most boring day...
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