I'm dress shopping

On line. Suggest some brand names, please, or store. It's been awhile. Dressy. Sleeves. Not short. Not straight. Not white or black.  Size 8-10. $50 or under.

 

Thursday Thirteen--13 buttons, pushed, sewn, pressed and unused

1. Buttons on my jeans and slacks don't seem to stay where they should. The thread weakens and they fall off. Do you suppose it's the 10 lbs?

2. Other buttons don't want to meet up with the assigned button hole.

3. I just discovered that if I press the "unlock button" twice on my car key, that the lights stay on instead of just blinking to say "hello, here I am."

4. We have a new garage door and opener. It's super quiet and a perfect match for the paint, although it is metal. The opener is about the size of a fat ballpoint pen and I have difficulty finding and pressing the button.

5. After my mother died 10 years ago, I brought home her button tin. That's a carry over from 19th century and Depression day thrift. They rarely match anything, but I can identify some buttons from items of family clothing 60 years ago. Some could be from my great-grandfather's work shirts.

6. We have a lot of TV sets. Most have buttons for functions I don't understand.

7. The remotes for each TV are different--even more buttons I don't use. Like Zoom and Angle. Input and Sleep.

8. Rosie O'Donnel, that brilliant, wealthy, political strategist, has pushed my buttons with her ignorance. She is demanding that Obama seize the assets of BP and Great Britain. She says she doesn't care if it's communism. Well, no Rosie, that's called National Socialism. Remember Hitler? That was his system. The state steals private wealth. You're next in that system. It's not just for corporations.

9. AP has a story today that the BP reports read like fiction, with deceased experts and environmental plans for animals and plants that aren't in the Gulf of Mexico. Welcome to the research/report world, AP! That's another button for me. I constantly write to government agencies, non-profits, academic and media websites reporting mistakes, bad citations, bad links, non-existent experts and plans designed to only bring in more grant money, never to solve a problem. I rarely get a response. But if I do, I'm usually told it's not their responsibility or that I'm the one who is mistaken.

10. I wore a really bright printed jacket to coffee today. It must have pushed a button for another customer because she complimented me and said my husband should take me out for brunch. She wears more colorful clothes than I do--I don't much care for this garment.

11. I don't know when Mother Nature pushes the button for Mother Duck under the bush at our front door, but she must really be getting tired of sitting on those 9 eggs.

12. My new dryer, bought to replace the Maytag piece of junk that died after 4 years, doesn't have an alarm buttom to tell me "time to walk downstairs and unload."

13. We're having our furnace maintenance done today. We always use this company. There's a $25 off coupon on the web where you'd never see it which expired June 6. That's another button, constantly being pushed. Coupons. I hate them--on-line, in the newspaper, in the door-hanger bag, attached to the product, or in conjunction with another product like breakfast at Denny's combined with an oil change. Makes no difference. Coupons add costs to everyone's purchase just like all marketing and advertising, but they are grossly unfair and expensive to those of us who don't use them.

Come join other bloggers at Thursday Thirteen.

The Trailer For Glenn Beck's New Book Is Just As Nuts As You'd Expect (VIDEO)

Huffington Post writer must have had a red face after learning he/she ridiculed Rudyard Kipling and not Glenn Beck. Had to append an update. These people are so transparent. If it's Beck, it's got to be bad, right? Or have they always thought Kipling was a bad poet? Beck, Stu and Pat were chortling over some of the ignorant comments at the post--probably removed now.

The Trailer For Glenn Beck's New Book Is Just As Nuts As You'd Expect (VIDEO)

Sandals--a poem inspired by looking at feet

Summer time
Break out the sandals
The thongs and the glam.

Show bunions, corns
and calluses--
Summer’s grand slam. 

Elton John CDs

Today at the Discovery Shop (benefits Cancer research) I found two Elton John CDs. "Love Songs," (1996) and "Duets" (1993). If he can sing at Rush Limbaugh's 4th wedding, he can sing in my kitchen (that's where the cd player is).  $1.00 each.  Good buy.

25,000 pieces of hate mail

Mark Levin interviewed the rabbi David Nesanoff (not sure of the spelling) who interviewed Helen Thomas when she proudly demonstrated her hatred for Jews and Israel. (He was interviewing a number of people at the White House Jewish Heritage celebration that day.) She knew she was being interviewed--it was not a secret recording. He is now getting hate mail, and he says the people have no shame in their anti-semitism--they supply their names, e-mail and even addresses. Hatred of Jews and smearing a man who simply asked a question and didn't editorialize while she gave her appaling answers. Keep in mind, that those people who weep for Palestinian Arabs, like Helen Thomas, never decry the way they are treated in Syria, Jordan or Lebanon, where millions lived for generations and will never be allowed citizenship, a home or a job. Palestinian Arabs are better treated in Israel where they are citizens and have rights than they are in Arab countries where they are hated and reviled.

Governor Chris Christie--I hope this guy runs for President some day

"My argument is not with teachers in New Jersey. My argument is with a union who collects $730 a year from every teacher and school employee in the union in mandatory dues. And if you don't want to join the union here's your option: you can be out. You pay 85% of $730 ... to be out. It's like the Hotel California. You can check in anytime you like but you can never leave. That raises for the teachers union, get ready, $130 million a year. What do they spend that money on? ... $6 million in negative advertising against me since March 16th. Think about that. That's a little over two months they have spent $6 million on New York TV and Radio, Philadelphia TV and radio to attack me. That's dues money that is coming from their teachers, mandatory no choice, and from all of you because those salaries come from your property taxes and your state income taxes."

NewYorkistan?

The new threat to America. Home grown Islamic terrorists. The most recent foiled plot in New York City included a man whose parents are Palestinian, and "Carlos Eduardo Almonte, a naturalized American who came from the Dominican Republic and converted to Islam, highlights another trend among terrorist conspirators that analysts are beginning to study: the disproportionate number, not only of converts to Islam, but converts of Hispanic origin."

New York may be a target, but it's also a breeding ground.

NewYorkistan? by Judith Miller, City Journal 9 June 2010

Gay men thinner than heterosexuals

Some stereotypes are true. Actually, most are based on fact, like the one about librarians not being fashionable and wearing funny shoes.* Seems gay men are skinny and lesbians fat.

"In a study published in American Journal of Public Health, researchers determined that while 21 percent of straight men were classed as obese, only 14 percent of gay men were. The opposite was true of gay women. 26 percent of lesbians were found to be obese, as compared with 17 percent of the straight women."

Study: Gay men thinner than heterosexuals, lesbian heavier (ChicagoPride.com)

Kerith J. Conron, Matthew J. Mimiaga, and Stewart J. Landers, "A Population-Based Study of Sexual Orientation Identity and Gender Differences in Adult Health," June 1, 2010

*When I worked for the State of Ohio in the 80s, I had to dress much nicer than when I worked in a library, and I always wore high heels. But, being me, they were sort of chunky and sensible heels--not over 2". One of my co-workers observed, "So, it's true that librarians wear sensible shoes."

Traveling? Watch out for "tourista"

In 2008 and 2009 I travelled internationally and developed severe diarrhea and vomiting on the return trips to the United States. As a result of the 2008 trip, I spent a few days in the hospital. So, if you're doing any travel this summer (I'm definitely not), here are a few precautions (all of which I followed) from Harvard Men’s Health Watch, April 2010.

Traveler’s diarrhea, or “tourista,” is a well-known hazard for visitors to developing countries where sanitation is flawed. Here are some tips to prevent intestinal infections:

•Wash your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand gel before you eat.
•Avoid salads, uncooked vegetables, and unpasteurized milk and cheese.
•Only eat fruit that you’ve washed in clean water and peeled yourself.
•Do not eat undercooked or rare food. Eat cooked foods while they
are still piping hot. Be especially wary of food from street vendors.
•Avoid the water unless you have boiled it yourself; chemical disinfectants
and water filters are available for use in special circumstances. Don’t use ice made from untreated water. Don’t use untreated water to brush your teeth. In general, unopened bottled or canned beverages are safe, as is coffee or tea made from boiled water.
•Ask your doctor about taking along antibiotics in case prevention fails.
•Above all, suspect everything.

Sarah, Nancy and Hillary

I was surprised that someone in the MSM gave Hillary Clinton the credit for so many women running for office and doing well in the recent primaries--even the conservatives. Huh? Hillary Clinton would not have been a powerful New York Senator if she hadn't been first lady for 8 years, and if she didn't have the backing of all her husband's friends and cronies. Nancy Pelosi and Sarah Palin, although at opposite ends of the political spectrum, did not run on their husbands' coattails or names. In fact, the joke goes, "So you think you've got it bad? Imagine somewhere there's a Mr. Pelosi!" Who even knows his name? But credit should also be given to the various grass roots conservative and constitutional groups. Indirectly, that leads back to Obama--people are outraged by his behavior, character and beliefs and it has been an energizing force, so they are out-running and out-performing the tired old Republican blah, blah, blah, and looking for something different.

Let them speak, as long as they aren't Tea Party voters

Nancy Pelosi was heckled and shouted down at a Progressive America's Future Now conference. Her security warned her they were throwing things. This is not right no matter who the politicians, but how this woman can be so terrified and weepy over peaceful Tea Party conservatives and so patient with really dangerous people whose intent is to destroy this country is beyond me. I heard the audio. They want their money--like NOW. After all, they supported Obama and Pelosi and it's payback time. These folks are just mean scavengers.

Pelosi Heckled at Liberal Conference - Political Hotsheet - CBS News

Pelosi heckled at liberal activist conference - The Hill's Blog Briefing Room

FOXNews.com - Hecklers Pounce on Pelosi During D.C. Speech

Pelosi delivers speech over screams of health-care activists

Oh, yes, and they were also anti-Israel. Did Pelosis address that? Or is that type of racism OK with the Dems? You can go to their website and download their play book. The campaign certainly has plenty of money from the looks of its sharp web pages.

The alien in the White House

When I commented on my blog some time ago that Obama was not "one of us" I received such vicious, race-baiting comments I think I took that essay down. People Liberals think you're talking about race or ethnicity, not character or patriotism. So I was glad to see Dorothy Rabinowitz's column in today's WSJ, "The alien in the White House" because she covers it all. The man doesn't know or respect our history--not even its failings. Who but the clueless about the spiritual base of the Civil Rights movement would turn Martin Luther King day into a national work day? Who but a man who had no respect for the military would make small talk to his audience before addressing a Muslim terrorist attack on our soil, on our military base? What President ever would jump into a purely local issue--behavior of police observing a break-in and call it racist without knowing the facts--but wait weeks and weeks to rally his subordinates in charge of the regulatory agencies to address an economy killing oil disaster? Who would go on an apology tour while we are still at war--or what commander-in-chief would all but ignore those wars he promised 3 years ago to end? Who but one who is an empty hollow shell, a man without a country, without an inner source, a complete narcissist, a man with no belief system except failed marxism, political grave of the spiritually dead. No, he isn't one of us. Nor is he in any traditional sense of the word, a leader.

Dorothy Rabinowitz: The Alien in the White House - WSJ.com

What about unintentional slip ups of CFAT regulations?

Ohio State’s Office of Environmental Health and Safety has reminded faculty and staff about the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS). These are comprehensive security regulations intended to prevent the intentional misuse of certain chemicals by sabotage, theft, diversion or direct attack. Homeland Security has authority to impose civil penalties up to $25,000 per day and shut down facilities that fail to comply. Is there a per day fine if it is an accident? Or a watchdog not watching? I mean something like an oil rig explosion where there was no sabotage from environmental anarchists, the left, terrorists or jihadists, just cozy relationships between government agencies and the oil company?

A note to the Helen Thomas and other Jew haters . . .

Saying "I regret . . . " is not the same as saying, "I'm sorry. . . "

When an "apology" is a political statement.

"I deeply regret my comments I made last week regarding the Israelis and the Palestinians. They do not reflect my heart-felt belief that peace will come to the Middle East only when all parties recognize the need for mutual respect and tolerance. May that day come soon."

Don't blame it on her age. Here's a review of her anti-Israel rants and tantrums. I've read that she is of Christian Lebanese extraction; well, no Arab country has treated Palestinians worse than Lebanon, and unfortunately, that includes its Christians, which are also a minority there.

Obama on BP: I want to know “whose ass to kick”

He might start with the federal agencies, and there's an alphabet soup bowl full of them. I'd start with MMS. Maybe there's been too much ass kissing, and Fox dissing in the White House. Obama's response to everything is always the wagging finger, the angry look, or flashing eyes. He's very unpresidential in that way. It doesn't build any confidence that he knows what he's doing. Call another commission. Threaten to fire someone whose business he doesn't own (yet). Whatever: this shows that big tenacled government doesn't respond well to really big problems. It's snarled in red tape and is preventing clean up and protection of the gulf states. If you've had a car wreck, maybe you need to get the injured to the hospital before you call the CEOs of the auto company to the White House for a tongue lashing. Today it's a mechanical/technology failure, but where will the leadership and coordinated response come from if it were a volcano, or an unidentified bacterial epidemic, or a nuclear plant failure, or collapse of the internet?

Hot Air » Obama on BP: I want to know “whose ass to kick”

Spill reveals Obama's lack of executive experience | Washington Examiner

In Gulf, It Was Unclear Who Was in Charge of Rig - NYTimes.com

Operational mistakes

Teach your children well

At a party last night I met a 23 year old college graduate, employed, about to move in a house owned by a family member. Her big concern? She doesn't know how to clean. Either her former roommates, parents, or a cleaning service did it. I turned to her father and asked how could this happen. And he just shrugged. It's not that hard if you start them young. Pick up toys. Hang up clothes. Wipe up spills. Wash and dry dishes. Put them away. Dust. Vacuum. It's a life skill. I told her she was welcome to come here and follow me around--I'm certainly no fastidious housekeeper, but I could show her a few things. Another neighbor offered to give her some rags. "What do you do with them," she asked. Then she said she also didn't know how to garden--so I was a bit more sympathetic. I don't either. "You mean like tomatoes and beans?" I asked. "No, weeds and grass." I suggested she hire a neighborhood kid to mow the lawn.

She definitely needs Flylady.

Catwatch

She hates to ride in the car, but she loves it after she gets there.

Rush Limbaugh marries descendant of John Adams

Maybe the Gores don't want to make it work, but Rush keeps on trying. This is his fourth marriage. All the media call him anti-gay, but he isn't. Remember, what passes for anti-gay these days is a simple belief in man/woman marriage, and he certain does have that. He is a former disc-jockey who enjoys a wide range of musical genres, so I'm not at all surprised that openly gay Elton John provided the music.

FOXNews.com - Radio Host Rush Limbaugh Heads Down the Aisle

Don't buy this edition of America's documents

How's this for a disclaimer on a cut and paste edition of the U.S. Constitution, with the Bill of Rights and all of the Amendments; The Declaration of Independence; and the Articles of Confederation:

"This book is a product of its time and does not reflect the same values as it would if it were written today. Parents might wish to discuss with their children how views on race, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, and interpersonal relations have changed since this book was written before allowing them to read this classic work."

Reviewer at Amazon.com writes: (Wilder Publications & A&D Publishing) DO NOT buy this publication. The publisher inserted "notes" all over the place. I don't know if it was an accident in the copying of the documents from one format to another but it detracts from the text (and also comments negatively on the disclaimer).

It's either a leftist paste up, or a really sloppy PC version. The publisher's getting so much negative publicity on this that it will probably work to its advantage. It's like when the left wing filters misquote Rush Limbaugh--more people tune in to see what he's saying.

Hotel Lakeside Dining Room reopens!

And we've eaten there twice already--great food and service.

Not sure this changes any image of the librarian

The librarians of UW go Lady GaGa.

Grayson Wants Republicans Sent To Prison

The new face of McCarthyism . . . Alan Grayson. Refuses to speak to the question which is what do you say to those that point out environmentalists have forced off-shore drilling.

REP ALAN GRAYSON: How about just tracking down every single person who said drill baby drill and putting them all in prison. Why don’t we do that?

STEPHANIE MILLER: There you go.

Miller can't be accused of McCarthyism--she's just a talk-show host and has no power. Grayson is with the government.

The Radio Equalizer: Brian Maloney: Democrat Tells Libtalker He Wants Republicans Sent To Prison

All Things Digital: The Eighth D

In this morning's print edition of the Wall Street there was a summary of the eighth D: All Things Digital conference which on-line links to June 1. What I found interesting were the photos of key participants WSJ chose to interview: Steve Jobs (Apple), James Cameron (movies), Julius Genachowski (government, FCC [watch out for this guy!]), Mark Zuckerberg (FaceBook), Steve Ballmer and Ray Ozzie (Microsoft) and Alan Mulally (Ford). And oh yes, one woman, Vivian Schiller (government, NPR). Hmmm. After decades of summer math programs, pushing computers on little girls, Title 9, and the feminist movement, the best they can do is a woman from NPR when touting advances and the future of technology? Sometimes 8 pictures tell a lot. If women ever had a level playing field, it's technology. It was the perfect storm of non-gendered skill sets and government boosts and set asides. And girls still couldn't compete with the nerds, geeks and ADD boys.

Come on ladies. Maybe you need to take a few risks, act up in class, invest your own money, drop out of college, relocate for better jobs, stop griping about the glass ceiling and the good ole boys network, and start your own business.

All Things Digital: Excerpts From the Conference - WSJ.com

NPR's Vivian Schiller on Why Internet Won't Kill Radio - WSJ.com

Obama and why the other Gulf has worsened

"Not wanting to attach the President's identity to an inevitable disaster is understandable as a political response, but not as one of a true leader. President Obama, who was nearly omnipresent during his first six months in office as the official spokesman for every matter from health care to the location of future Olympic games to the competence of the Cambridge, Massachusetts police department, had little to say in the first several weeks that oil flowed freely into the Gulf of Mexico. Some would say that criticizing the President for being too public earlier and too inaccessible later shows inconsistency. In actuality, such criticism rightly recognizes that the President has no concept of when his leadership is most needed."

More on this at Music City Oracle

Wrinkle ladies--Anita Renfroe

A Christian entertainer--wife of a Baptist minister.

And don't miss her "You raise me up," about underwire.

Notice what happens to the crowd

The Star Spangled Banner, "Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: “In God is our trust!”



American Daughter reports on this, and writes out all four verses.

Dennis Hopper, 1936-2010

Somehow I missed the news that movie star Dennis Hopper died on May 29, but noticed it while reading Richard's blog, Three Score and Ten. Richard has interesting family and career stories, and knew Hopper through the business when he was younger. I think I'd seen him in two or three movies--Rebel without a Cause and Hoosiers. But I only remember Hoosiers. But he had over 200 roles in TV and movies, so I guess we just ran in different circles. When I did notice him in a small part, I think I mainly thought, "Oh yes, the crazy guy with the drug problems." As you can see, I'm not much into film. I didn't know about his art sideline/career. Seems to have been a really wonderful photographer even at a very young age.

Dennis Hopper, The Photographer : NPR

I checked the notice in the LA Times, which didn't seem to have much to write about except other people and the era in which he performed.

And what a messy way to die--with your wife and daughter battling for the estate. At least, why else does a near death, pain overwhelmed man file for divorce except his offspring are encouraging it?

Consumer Reports Warns of Protein Drink Dangers

Lead, arsenic and cadmium in protein drinks? Why? You don't need the protein--you sure don't need these heavy metals.

"The Consumer Reports investigation sent fifteen protein drinks to an independent laboratory for analysis, reviewed government documents and interviewed health experts, fitness experts and consumers. They found that most people get enough protein in their regular diet and do not need these supplements. Consumer Reports recommends that people who need more protein, can find it in healthier, cheaper sources such as milk, eggs and chicken breast.

The results of the laboratory analysis found that all fifteen of the protein drinks tested contained one or more of the contaminants arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury. Three of the products tested raised particular concern because consuming more than three servings per day could expose the consumer to levels of these contaminants that are above recommended limits."

Consumer Reports Warns of Protein Drink Dangers | InjuryBoard New York City

Thinking about how it might have been different for the Gores--and us

When the news came out about the Gores separating, I started thinking about the election of 2000. I liked Al Gore back then, and wouldn't have been sorry if he won although I did vote for George Bush, having just registered as a Republican. Gore won the popular vote, but not the electoral vote. And he would have won that if even his own state had gone for him. But let's imagine he'd won.

1) The bitterness he felt toward the Clintons for not supporting his candidacy probably would have eventually melted away, but he would have made sure Bill Clinton, and possibly even Hillary sat on the sidelines for his 8 years.

2) We still would have had the 9/11 attack, and because the WMD drum beat had been building primarily by the Democrats (go back and look at Kerry, Clinton, and Kennedy) in the late 90s I'm guessing . . .

3) we would have been at war in Afghanistan and Iraq just the same--and maybe even more quickly and with no opposition from any Democrats, since Gore was their man . . . not even that young, inexperienced Senator from Illinois. President Clinton had missed an opportunity to capture Osama, so Gore would have been gleefully going after him. What a prize that would have been for him.

4) It's possible the war may have come to an agreeable end because it would have had full support of his party, giving less reason for the enemy to keep fighting.

5) But possibly it could have dragged on and on, due to bad intelligence, mismanagement of resources, etc., stronger al-Qaeda. That doesn't change with presidencies. Our current president has hardly paid any attention to it after making it a campaign issue.

6) We still would have had Hurricaine Katrina in 2005, and since all the disaster planning and red tape were directly in the lap of NOLA's mayor and the state governor, there would have been no difference there--not even in the billions of aid received afterward.

7) And if the long war continued, by the election of 2008, the country would have been so sick of "Gore's War," it would have elected a Republican--probably not McCain--and we never would have heard of Sarah Palin and she could have finished her term as governor of Alaska. Maybe Tom Tancredo or Fred Thompson.

8) The whole global warming fiasco would have proceded on a much more scientific, less hysterical routes, with Al Gore busy elsewhere, and no school child or college student would have been forced to sit through that dumb film. He probably wouldn't have been investing in carbon exchange businesses--serious conflict of interest for a president.

9) We still would have had the current recession because that was brought on by pushing people into mortgages (CRA) who really couldn't afford them, and then bundling and selling the bad debt, and that began in the Carter years, and was completely bi-partisan, badly thought out politics. Although the recession of 2000-02 might have lasted longer if Gore had been president--Democrats are reluctant to cut taxes to goose the economy.

10) John Edwards wouldn't have been a v.p. candidate in 2004, nor a presidential candidate in 2008 (would have been Leiberman), so he wouldn't have been messing around with and impregnating the videographer. So perhaps his marriage could have been saved, too.

11) No one would have heard of Barack Obama, in fact, Illinois might not have even reelected him to another term. I don't know who the Republican president would have been in 2010, but I know he would be making a lot of trips down to the Gulf and would not have hastily stopped all drilling with no information on the current problem, he wouldn't have been having show trials of CEOs, there wouldn't have been a deficit building stimulus package, and although like all Republicans he would have thrown more money at social programs, he wouldn't have taken over private health care. In short, if Al Gore had won in 2000, we wouldn't have the Obama years.

12) And finally, the Gores' marriage would have survived--at least I can't think of any presidential couple who divorced after 8 years in the White House--not even the Clintons who had good reason.

Obama, Cloward-Piven and the Oil Spill

The Cloward-Piven Strategy is to bring about the demise of capitalism by overloading the system, largely by making more people desperate and dependent on the government. So don't assume that Obama's incompetence in health care, in immigration, in the environment, in the Middle East, or in the Gulf isn't part of an overall strategy.

Stu Tarlowe writes: "Thus, Cloward-Piven's goals are served by more and more aliens flooding across the border and filling jails, emergency rooms and welfare rolls. It is also served by the mortgage crisis; in fact, Professors Cloward and Piven were the creators of ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now), which helped pressure banks to implement the lending policies that precipitated that crisis. But Cloward-Piven seeks a financial crisis far wider-ranging and more encompassing than a mere mortgage meltdown.

So if the oil spill in the Gulf manages to destroy the fishing and tourist industries in that region, shut down oil drilling, raise the price of oil and of food all over the country, and bring more and more Americans to a financial breaking point and thus dependent on food stamps and other government programs, Obama and Co. will smile and nod at one another as the Cloward-Piven strategy hums merrily along."

American Thinker Blog: Don't be fooled by Obama's 'incompetence'

BP's negligence plus the government incompetence equals a case for global warming?

"On Wednesday President Obama faced the reality that he and those sharing his agenda and beliefs cannot make their "global warming" case, that after billions of taxpayer dollars trying to make it stronger they only find themselves in a deeper hole of public resistance. So he lapsed into saying that a company's negligence and governmental incompetence finally, somehow, provide that elusive reason to cede lifestyle decisions great and small to the state, through a scheme that is according to all parties climatically meaningless. But that's ok, the issue's not "global warming" anymore.

You see, the public aren't buying "global warming", so the issue is no longer the issue. It never was anyway. The issue is whatever might work. So far, the Senate's global warming bill has been called "not an environment bill" by Sen. John Kerry, who instead says it's a jobs bill, and a national security bill. Yeah, that's it."

There's a ton of money in cap and trade--all the big players in government, the banks they've been bailing out, Fanny and Fred--they're all invested in making "green" work and can make millions if they pull it off. Don't let them con you.

The American Spectator : AmSpecBlog : And Bob's Your Uncle

Keith Olbermann confuses the arks

And he calls Palin dumb!



Also, his May ratings were the lowest this year. I'm guessing President Gee doesn't have a problem with his "public discourse."

An Hour That Makes All the Difference

Really? Eating together can do all this?

". . . teens who eat dinner with their families are 40% more likely to get good grades, as well as 42% less likely to engage in underage drinking, 59% less likely to smoke, and 66% less likely to use drugs. They are also much less likely to suffer from depression, fight with other kids, get in trouble at school, and engage in promiscuous behavior. In a related study, researchers found that children who ate dinner with their families every day or on most days were 15% less likely to be overweight than children who never or only sometimes ate dinner with another family member."

An Hour That Makes All the Difference

Romanoff, the second shoe to drop

Andrew Romanoff of Colorado was offered a job to drop out. Obama wants the other Democrat. You know what this e-mail, just released yesterday, means, even though the White House will spin it. These are three very distinct, clear job descriptions. I'm sure they weren't sent by Messina for editorial corrections. Rahm Emanuel's fingerprints are all over this, as they are with Sestak, as they will be when Blago sings. It's like the Nixon years--what did the President know and when did he know it? Except, our poor inexperienced President is probably as clueless about ethics as he is oil spills--where would he have learned? At least Nixon knew.

Romanoff says of the non-offer, non-bribe: "In September 2009, shortly after the news media first reported my plans to run for the Senate, I received a call from Jim Messina, the president's deputy chief of staff. Mr. Messina informed me that the White House would support Sen. Bennet. I informed Mr. Messina that I had made my decision to run," Romanoff said in a statement released early Wednesday evening. "Mr. Messina also suggested three positions that might be available to me were I not pursuing the Senate race. He added that he could not guarantee my appointment to any of these positions. At no time was I promised a job, nor did I request Mr. Messina's assistance in obtaining one."

CNN Romanoff details possible job offer
Romanoff Cracks

It's possible Tipper thought their marriage was maturing---into green dung heap

Forty years of standing by her man, and having their funds and lives co-mingled. And this is what it comes to . . legislating carbon caps, funding carbon research, investing her money in phony balony carbon exchanges like CCX  (worth trillions) while building and managing  huge homes, becoming a movie star celebrity, and denigrating her country. An aging, overweight, has-been hypocrite vs. your freedom and a huge settlement before it all collapses.  Which would you choose?

Or, and this is still my first guess, there's someone else. Counselor Mona Loeser in today's WSJ said, "It's extraordinarily unusual for a man to leave a marriage without having somebody." I heard my pastor say that in 1977 after 30+ years of marriage counseling. But he went a bit further--said he'd never known it to happen. I do know of one case--happened a few years ago--a man I know left his wife just to get away from her nagging and criticism, and there was no one else. But somehow, after 40 years, I would think the Gores would know how to deal with that.

Our new garage door

It's being installed this morning. I hope it doesn't disturb the mother duck on 9 eggs by the front door. The bottom panel of the door takes on water and then it starts to peel and look ugly. We've already replaced it once since moving here in 2002. So we're going for a new door--this one is metal, but will match the color of the building trim. We're also having a quieter opener/track installed, one that will have more than 10,000 open/closings, the life expectancy of the "average" opener. But because of the insulation in the door, other Americans get to help pay for our door with our tax deduction. Yes, our new brown garage door is "green." Actually, I'm more concerned about the gasoline powered vehicles that will be inside the garage, than I am an insulated door. Besides, who knows when whatever is in our insulation (roof and attic newly installed in 2001) and door, will be declared unsafe for .5% of the population and will need to be replaced? With Obama's new stop drilling rules and the regulations to come even though no one knows what caused the accident and the old regulations weren't being followed by either the government or BP, we just know gasoline is going to become very dear.

The flap in the press about Rand Paul

Rand Paul's comments about the 1964 Civil Rights Act show his inexperience with the press. Barack Obama in his early years, and even in his presidency, could get away with saying stupid things about police, terrorists, illegals, etc. because of his party and his race, but not a Republican/Libertarian. That said, which party really supported the Civil Rights Act overwhelmingly in both houses in 1964? The Republicans. Look it up.

The fundamentals of civil conversation at Ohio State University

President Gee in wanting "civil discourse" isn't mentioning any names, of course, but who do you really think he's including in this condemnation of the national civil debate? Surely not Katie Couric, or Keith Olbermann, or NYT opinion pieces disguised as news. He's not going to condemn union protests over capping pensions, or students protesting tuition hikes, but I'm guessing he's terribly concerned that peaceful Tea Party protests have been held in every state and the capital and the movement is growing.

"The profusion of fractious talk radio and bias disguised as cable news." Do you think he has ever watched Glenn Beck for a week and followed an American history lesson on his chalk board, or read one of his recommended books? Has he watched a Fox panel, where not two sides, but perhaps four are represented, and no one is shouting, or labeling? No, he's probably getting his "news about the news" through a filter like other liberals and academics.

He's not lifting up our current U.S. President as the most thin-skinned, whiny, petulant national leader in memory is he? He doesn't criticize the national media for NOT performing their role in keeping the administration on track by investigation and thorough analysis. No, he's going after the talkers and alternate media that actually do analysis. Glenn Beck, love him or hate him, is doing the job of the press--he's peeking under the skirts of the girlie men of this administration. College presidents never concern themselves over the bias of the regular broadcast media or the major newspapers (which are dying from lack of advertising). Has Gee ever spoken out when Christians and Conservatives are shouted down or denied access to an audience on college campuses? Do conservatives feel safe speaking out on the Ohio State campus?

"We cannot allow the diatribe and venom to shackle our nation’s progress." (Gee) This is the leading up to reinstating the so-called "fairness doctrine."

The fundamentals of civil conversation : onCampus

Parker got smart too late about Obama and Pelosi

Sen. Arlen Specter switched parties in Pennsylvania and lost to Joe Sestak (the guy who turned down a bribe to not run against Obama's choice, the former Republican Specter). Then Alabama's Rep. Parker Griffith, a Democrat, switched parties, and he also lost.

"I do not regret changing parties. I think politically it may have been a mistake. On principle, it was the right thing to do, and I'm happy about it," said [Parker] Griffith, the morning after losing the Republican primary to challenger Mo Brooks. . . .

He said he would continue to support local Republicans and planned to vote for Brooks in November. "I think Obama is a socialist. I think Nancy Pelosi is, as well," he said, repeating recent campaign themes linking Democrats, government spending and a suffocating national debt. (Huntsville Times)

Flotilla "Peace Activists" Attack Israeli Security Officers at Tel Aviv Airport

Thirteen female European activists, arrested for their participation in the flotilla to Gaza, attacked Immigration Authority officers escorting them to the airport for their deportation, the Interior Ministry reported Wednesday.

The Vicious Babushka: Flotilla "Peace Activists" Riot, Attack Security Officers at Tel Aviv Airport

Do you get the impression these "peace activists" (sounds like "meat eating vegetarians") are looking for a fight? That they are unhappy they weren't kept in jail? And they could've brought in humanitarian aid through Egypt--that's an Arab, Muslim country. Actually, they can dock in Israel, and bring in aid that way.

I watched a CNN analysis of the raid--it was bizarre. They were clueless about the violence against the Israelis. Jews, where ever you are, be careful. Read history. You're being set up.

About 2,300 running for Congress

More than 2,300 people are running for 471 House and Senate seats in the midterms. It's the highest number of candidates in at least 35 years, says MyWay.com. It's anti-incumbent and anti-Obama sentiment that's driving it. People are putting up their own money--they know they won't win but they'll have a voice.

My Way News - About 2,300 running for Congress, most in decades

David Brooks is not a bold thinker

What passes for criticism in a NYT Op-Ed column left me speechless. David Brooks actually writes that after pulling off amazing things in the first 16 months, Obama's become bogged down. The oil spill is a turning point. Huh? No Mr. Brooks, Obama cooked his goose by attempting to "fundamentally transform the country." His campaign promise.

• The health care bill was agonizing, and he did that first instead of addressing the jobs problem.
• It barely squeaked through with no one knowing what was in it, and even with all the MSM like NYT, WaPo and WSJ rooting for it, and his deadly monotonous speeches, it has turned out to be a bust with 70% of American voters not wanting it.
• He dawdled and crept along on the Afghanistan decision last summer, and God only knows how much that set a resolution back. I think he's addressed the war maybe three times in 16 months.
• His national security, anti-terrorism plan has become a joke because all he knows how to do is rename the problem so that the words, Muslim, Islam, jihad and terrorist don't appear in any media reports.
• He criticizes the Arizona SB1070 without ever having read the bill--a more serious rerun of the
•  Gates/police problem last summer where he called out the police without ever learning the facts.
• The ARRA has done zip, nada, zilch in restoring the economy--we had loads of evidence from FDR in the 1930s that this government take over doesn't work, but he did it anyway.

Just where is the "bold movement" of which you wrote, Mr. Brooks?

"For the past 16 months he has been on nearly permanent offense, instigating action with the stimulus bill, Afghan policy, health care reform and the nearly complete financial reform. Whether you approve or not, this has been an era of bold movement.

But now the troops are exhausted, the country is anxious, the money is spent and the Democratic majorities are teetering. The remaining pieces of legislation, on immigration and energy, are going nowhere. (The decision to do health care before energy is now looking extremely unfortunate.) Meanwhile, the biggest problems are intractable. There’s no sign we will be successful in preventing a nuclear Iran. Especially after Monday’s events, there’s no chance of creating a breakthrough in the Arab-Israeli dispute. Unemployment will not be coming down soon. The long-term fiscal crisis won’t be addressed soon either."

Op-Ed Columnist - The Oil Plume - NYTimes.com

Not All Latino Immigrants Accepted As 'White'

This isn't about just the Census! Who do you suppose is encouraging Latinos NOT to become Americanized, not to be stirred into the melting pot, to continue speaking Spanish, to march on Cinco de Mayo, to hoist the Mexican flag, and to watch Telemundo, where all the spokeswomen are glamorous, European types? American immigrants are being sold out by the very organizations who are claiming to help them, all for the almighty political vote--which in most cases means the Democrat party. We know many proud Americans of Mexican descent, 2nd and 3rd generation (and most don't know a word of Spanish other than those on the restaurant menu just like the rest of us).

Despite Efforts, Not All Latino Immigrants Accepted As 'White'

Footage of Mavi Marmara Passengers Attacking IDF Soldiers

Although most of the "volunteers" and "passengers" were Turkish, about 15 countries were represented, including 16 people from the USA. I hope our government has a record of them--you know, the proper documents that we all have to show when involved in a crime. Israel is very touchy about passports, so I'm sure they were examined closely before they released them and sent them packing.



"The Israeli prime minister's office announced that all foreigners from the flotilla who were detained would be released and deported by sometime on Thursday. There were about 600 activists on the six ships." CNN

The Gores

I was as shocked and saddened as anyone to hear about the Gores. And there's no way I believe the story being put out--not after 40 years.

"They were college sweethearts whose public struggles — her battles with depression, his searing loss to George W. Bush in 2000 — did nothing to suggest anything besides a stable and mutually supportive team. The Gores — he is 62, she is 61 — were never trailed by rumors or whispers, and people close to the family said Tuesday that they expected no second shoe to drop. This decision, they said, was simply about a couple that had grown apart after four decades."

Assumptions Go Asunder as Gores Split - NYTimes.com

When Do They Tune Out?

"So an oil spill that he had as much ability to prevent as George W. Bush did to stop Katrina from hitting shore has snared the president, who oversold himself and the power of government. But the Joe Sestak scandal may be worse. For one thing, it’s a White House–made mess, not a natural disaster."

Commentary » Blog Archive » When Do They Tune Out?

I started tuning Obama out during the 2008 campaign, reached for the remote as he looked down his nose at us and our country and wagged his finger, promising us more taxes and higher energy bills, and of course, transparency and honesty in government. His transparency has come in strange ways. He's still a thin skinned, narcissist, Chicago thug, and nothing he's said since July 2008 has changed what he wrote in his books, said in his speeches, or the friends and associates with whom he surrounded himself. He is what he is.

Angela McGlowan at the Nashville Tea Party

Angela McGlowan is from Mississippi and is running for Congress, as a pro-life, pro-family, pro-Second Amendment conservative.

Oprah and Orpah

Oprah (no last name needed) is the richest woman in the United States. . . and no, the lists don't say that because they include women who got their wealth from their family status, and inheritance--wife, widow, daughter, granddaughter, etc. Oprah actually earned her billions. And then there's Orpah, the check-out clerk (not her real name). Orpah is a Biblical name, the daughter-in-law of Ruth (means "she who turned back") and Oprah is probably a misspelling of that Biblical name on her birth certificate.

Poor Orpah behind the cash register is about Oprah's age, but she's white, skinny, with a long gray pony tail, a sullen grimace for all the customers, and no fashion sense at all, unless baggy t-shirts and work boots are in style.

So, here's a question for all you Democrats and liberal Republicans. How much of Oprah's wealth should be redistributed to Orpah who didn't get the personality, looks or education to become a successful talk show host and media mogul? She's a victim. Maybe her parents died; maybe she had an abusive husband; maybe she was a single mom.  Just because she rarely speaks to the customers and isn't photogenic, didn't pursue an education (although I really don't know--perhaps there were no scholarships or loans for skinny, unathletic white teen girls in the 1970s) doesn't mean she deserves to have so much less money than Oprah. She'd probably enjoy a few of those acres by the ocean in California, or attentive personal assistants, or dining out in fancy restaurants, or even Oprah's health care plan.

So, liberals, how would you redistribute Oprah's wealth to Orpah? And how much before Oprah would notice it was even gone?

Clinton Cutout

This [Whitehouse] alibi boils down to: "We didn't try to bribe Sestak; we got Bill Clinton to try to bribe him for us. But what we were offering wasn't worth anything. So it couldn't be a bribe."

So if it is not (whatever the definition of "is not" is) a bribe, then it isn't a felony. But, an uncompensated seat on a commission is still a "thing of value."

Clinton Cutout - IBD - Investors.com

Mushroom soup for dinner

It's a good thing I blogged it. Norma's mushroom soup.

Pelosi has a new duty--this one is shocking

A pro-abortion Catholic seeks to pursue policies in keeping with "what would Jesus do." Now that she's cheek to jowl, shoulder to shoulder, linked to the most deadly administration in our nation's history, she believes she must pursue public policies "in keeping with the values" of Jesus Christ, "The Word made Flesh. She's just unbelieveable, funny almost if her contradictions weren't so tragic. How many millions have been aborted by now--how many embryos will die for science?

Pelosi, who is a Catholic and who favors legalized abortion, voted against the ban on partial-birth abortion that was enacted into law in 2003. . . After Pope Benedict XVI met privately with Speaker Pelosi in February 2009, the Vatican issued a statement saying: "His Holiness took the opportunity to speak of the requirements of the natural moral law and the Church's consistent teaching on the dignity of human life from conception to natural death which enjoin all Catholics, and especially legislators, jurists and those responsible for the common good of society, to work in co-operation with all men and women of good will in creating a just system of laws capable of protecting human life at all stages of its development."

CNSNews.com - Pelosi Says She Has a Duty to Pursue Policies in Keeping With The Values of Jesus, 'The Word Made Flesh'

Our salt intake--looks, taste and preservation

The Sunday New York Times had an interesting article on salt. Interesting because the journalist, Michael Moss, actually put the positive contributions of salt at the beginning of the article instead of burying them at the end as I've come to expect from WaPo, NYT, WSJ, LAT, CD, etc. or anything contributed by AP.

It's a fascinating article, and I encourage you to read it, but just to briefly highlight some of the positives of salt--flavor enhancer, preservative, crisper, color enhancer, plumping, texture, and masking bitterness. Without salt a lot of processed food would taste and look like "damp dog hair on cardboard." And of course, currently the processed food industry must be demonized. Without that industry, we probably wouldn't have any sick people at all!

I bought a box of Cheez-it knock offs (store brand) the other day to serve as nibbles for about half the price. The list of ingredients looked the same, but about half were broken and crumbly. Must have been something wrong in the salt ingredients. Now I know.

Pushed to Lower Salt Use, Food Industry Pushes Back - NYTimes.com

See what happens when you don't read the bill? White House fights state challenges to Obamacare

And of course, we taxpayers will be footing the bill for these challenges--both at the state end and the federal. Sigh. Full employment for government lawyers. Now that's job security!

The Obama administration responded to the first court challenge to health care this week, asking a judge to dismiss a lawsuit from Virginia the claims that the federal law violates a state statute.

The Congressional Budget Office released figures that suggest the health care law will $115 billion more than previously estimated.

Another aspect of the law that flew under the radar is potential tax penalties for as many as one-third of companies subject to the law.

Read the whole article. But in a nutshell, this may be the messiest legislation, and the most expensive, in my life time.

Congress.org - News : White House spars with states

He Was Supposed to Be Competent

No Peggy. That's not why he was elected. Everyone, even his strongest supporters, knew his resume, and competence in anything wasn't on it. Even you were swooning during the campaign because he wasn't George Bush.

Noonan names three political disasters and then ponders whether he can possibly survive. His sycophant supporters and his props in the media won't bat an eyelash.

"There was the tearing and unnecessary war over his health-care proposal and its cost.

There was his day-to-day indifference to the views and hopes of the majority of voters regarding illegal immigration.

And now the past almost 40 days of dodging and dithering in the face of an environmental calamity. I don't see how you politically survive this."

You just watch, Peggy. It will all be George Bush's fault. Obama wanted a failed, weakened United States, and by gum, he's going to get one!

Peggy Noonan: He Was Supposed to Be Competent - WSJ.com

Sestak and Obama White House

If you google "Joe Sestak Barack Obama" you get about 1,200,000 hits--and since he only claimed victory in the primary a few days ago, that's huge--even with duplicates and reposting. I wonder how this will affect the voters who might turn to the Republican candidate saying "a pox on both your houses." Pols and bloggers from Chicago can't imagine what all the fuss is about. Doesn't everyone bribe?

Talking points memo has a number of stories on this.

Obama ‘Hasn’t Conveyed That He Really Cares’ About Oil Spill

And how many days without a press conference? That surprised me. The man is on TV constantly. And after all the press did for him he doesn't even take them to the dance.

"I look at it from the position of a journalist, and what I see is that, you know what, the messaging is just wrong. He's just not been fully engaged. He just hasn't conveyed that he really cares about this issue, and that he's not off to the side watching."

Breitbart.tv » NPR’s Williams: Obama ‘Hasn’t Conveyed That He Really Cares’ About Oil Spill

Obama's Memorial Day appearance in Illinois canceled by rain, thunderstorm and high winds

Torrential rain, lightning, thunder and strong winds forced President Barack Obama to cancel a Memorial Day speech he'd scheduled at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Illinois.

Obama's Memorial Day appearance in Illinois canceled by rain, thunderstorm and high winds | StarTribune.com

Remembering Uncle Clare on Memorial Day

I was looking through some old letters that were returned to the family and found this clipping about Uncle Clare's funeral in a thank you note my grandmother had written to my mother's friend Arlene. The enlistment date isn't correct as I think he enlisted in 1942, but September 1944 was when his unit joined with 40th Photographic Reconaissance Squadron, which is probably where that date mix-up came. Also my aunt's name is Dickson, not Dicks. Clare came home in October 1947, three years after his death, on the Honda Knot, a huge funeral ship bearing over 3,000 coffins. I don't think my grandparents were ever the same. I'm not sure why they chose this photo, except he looks like the farm boy he was, who had perhaps just removed his cap to squint at the growing crops, instead of handsome and suave in his Air Corps uniform.

"A navy launch approached the Honda Knot and offered another massive wreath from President Truman. Dignitaries in the audience included Army General Mark Clark, who had led American troops in Italy during the war, and the Secretary of the Navy John L. Sullivan, who honored these fallen heroes, many of whom had passed under the Golden Gate Bridge on ships bound for the Pacific war. Six of the 3,012 flag-draped coffins aboard the Honda Knot were removed the next day to lie in state in the rotunda of San Francisco’s city hall, where ordinary citizens of a sorrowful nation paid their last respects. The six dead represented servicemen from the Army, the Navy, the Marine Corps, the Air Force, and the Coast Guard, along with a civilian, all killed in the war. From the early morning until late that night, thousands of mourners filed by the coffins of knelt in prayer by their sides. The arrival of the Honda Knot and the Joseph V. Connolly officially initiated what one observer called the “most melancholy immigration movement in the history of man,” the return to the United States of 233,181 American dead after the end of World War II. America’s army of fallen warriors was coming home from the four corners of the earth, from Guadalcanal and Australia, from New Guinea, Japan, China, and Burma in the Pacific theater. From the Mediterranean theater men were returned from Libya, Sicily, Italy, Yugoslavia, and Romania. The bodies of men who had died in France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany also came home. Most had been killed in action or had died of wounds from direct combat against the enemy." From the book Safely Rest, by David P. Colley

Nice to hear from you

When I opened my e-mail today I had a nice letter from someone who'd read my blog on the links from Joyce Foundation to President Obama to CCX to Al Gore to Goldman Sachs.  (These carbon exchanges remind me of investing in fantasy baseball.) He thanked me.  Occasionally there are comments or e-mails to balance the lefties who claim to only have my best interests at heart and want to shut me down, either on Facebook or blogspot. Either I write too much (you need to get a life, Norma) or I haven't researched it (even though I provide the links) or I'm buying into right wing conspiracies (it's not a conspiracy if they explain what they're doing) or s/he is just bossy and won't take the time to write her own stuff so they come here and complain.  The nasties just get deleted.  It's always "freedom for me and not for thee" when you're left of center. Even when Obama followers aren't transparent on purpose, they are.

How old, how young?

How old do you have to be before younger people step aside on the walking path along the lake?  It's a gorgeous day in the neighborhood--perfect for a walk heading east.  Giant tanker at the Marblehead dock, sunny day, a few clouds, and a nice breeze.  I was almost mowed down by a 20-something jogger--I stepped into the grass--and then a 40-something ran by with her big dog--and I stepped aside.  I was walking on the far right, leaving them plenty of room, but they were enjoying the great weather and not looking.

Flowers are terrific in May. As are the greens that just don't appear any other time of the year.  All the colors and blooms I remember from the days 50 years ago when most people didn't go to the nurseries to buy annuals.  Peach, pink, rose, purple, blue and white iris.  Early rose bushes.  The lilacs are finished now. Bridal wreath just about done. Later in the summer there will be hollihocks along the lakefront, and then the many types of lilies.

This morning I saw a huge hawk circling and two tiny parent birds trying to attack it to keep it away from the nest.  Parenting is never easy, and in the law of nature, only the fittest survive.  I hope my mother duck at the front door is staying close to the nest.  Her coloring is just perfect for that location, but when she gets frightened and leaves the 9 eggs (that we can see), they are so light they almost glow against the leaves and mulch.

As every Spring at Lakeside there are changes.  People scraping cottages and freshening with new paint; ripping off an old porch and adding a new; some cottages sold over the winter; others went up for sale--the biggest gap will be the 3 on our street all owned by the same couple who have relocated to New York; and some deaths.  When we only see each other a few months of the year time is so compressed.

Just heard about the death of my high school classmate Neal--I'd only seen him once or twice in the last 50 years.  He left school early to enter college and rarely came back for reunions, or else we didn't come back at the same time.  But he was a very smart kid who wrote plays for our class to perform.  It was a very small town, but the teachers all knew he was a rare one, and encouraged his unusual abilities. I'm sure everyone in the class remembers Neal, and I'm sorry for his children who have lost both parents within one year.

This year there will be restaurant service at the Hotel Lakeside again--and that is great news.  I stopped in and picked up a menu today--casual fare except for week-end evenings.  Now that Abigail's has closed there were not many choices for dining out, so people were leaving the grounds for Marblehead and Port Clinton.  And that's not good for the rest of the merchants who depend on people strolling by and impulse purchases.  I still remember sitting in the Hotel dining room in the summer of 1988 looking at the newly rebuilt pavilion and saying to Bob, "I think I'm ready to buy a cottage."  I thought he'd pass out from happiness, and he didn't say much for fear I might change my mind.  We took a different walking route on the way back to our rental, and passed this tiny cottage with a for sale sign in the yard, and the rest is history as they say.

And this blog is so long and so all over the place because I'm on the porch picking up a connection from God knows where and it won't last long--so bye, and have a great holiday week-end.

On Holiday

Can barely get a connection, so I'll probably not do much til Monday, plus my memorial day story is on my other computer.  Great weather at the lake and friends will be joining. us.

What exactly is "top priority" for President Obama? Not the economy, stupid

It certainly isn't the oil spill is it? He'll do what he always does. Create a commission and build a gallows for the CEOs. Then pounce on more green in the sky plans.

If you google "Barack Obama top priority" you'll get 444,000 matches, many duplicates, many off topic. But most will show he'll put on a happy (or defiant) face for whomever is the audience. A true politician--that behavior knows no party, kingdom or philosophy. When he was campaigning he was all over the priority map, just like today, but ECONOMY certain was a biggie--and it has worsened since he became the candidate to beat in July 2008 because he switched priorities as soon as he took office. Dates refer to the reporting, not the speech--and I've selected just a few--but it was pretty obvious, unemployment / jobs / economy certainly took a back seat to taking over segments of the economy, discouraging investment, and raising taxes during the recession.

Economy, June 10, 2008

Liberalize abortion laws, October 17, 2008

Improve image abroad, November 6, 2008

Economy, November 7, 2008

India, (date not posted, but appears to be 2008)

Health care reform, June 3, 2009

Haiti, January 14, 2010

Clean energy jobs, January 27, 2010

Jobs, January 29, 2010

Health care, January 28, 2010

Unemployment, April 2, 2010

Jobs, April 27, 2010

Oil spill, April 28, 2010

Jindal has a plan; so does Obama

The difference in the two plans is the men's character, patriotism, and world view. Bobby Jindal is a state governor, a loyal American first,who knows he is supposed to protect the people who elected him. Barack Obama is the president of all of us who believes he is a "world citizen" first, and he gives the bird to the people on the left who elected him and his backsides to those who didn't.

Obama's plan is to dawdle, form commissions, and speechify until the gulf states are so damaged they'll have no choice but to take more handouts from the federal government. Hopefully, if his plan is successful, taxes on energy will soar, so that he'll then have even more reasons to point to "green" technology to pay off all his cronies.

Bobby Jindal for President, and the sooner the better.

Jefferson officials fully support Jindal's plan to build barrier islands against oil spill NOLA.com

Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick Sentenced To Prison

Did anyone really believe this crook was going to pay back what he owed? At $6 a month, how long does it take to pay back a million? And Obama campaigned for him. Because I listen to Detroit radio local talk shows when we're at the lake, this is all we heard in 2008. Someone should have been listening more closely to the wealth transfer promises through health care and cap and trade of a certain candidate. That is a much bigger loss to honest taxpayers than this clown.

Epoch Times - Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick Sentenced To Prison

USDA puppy mill report

All the major news sources regardless of geographic location or editorial slant (most from AP) are reporting that the USDA APHIS isn't doing its job in putting "puppy mills" out of business. If you do a Google search on "USDA puppy mill report" you get about 35,000 hits (I haven't found the original, however), but if you add in one word, "Amish" you'll get about 24,000. Ohio news sources have been reporting on the puppy mill industry by our local Amish for years. I think there have been a number of reports in recent years at the federal oversite level, at least 3 in this decade. Nothing changes. I don't think puppy mill operators have a lot of political clout or lobbyists in Washington, so something else is going on.

I'd like to point out something about the USDA and how it could have more staff and money to put these folks out of business. The USDA still offers 100% financing, no money down, home mortgage schemes, luring people, middle class and/or poor, into situations they really can't afford. Check out its "rural development" site--it's just amazing what it will do for you if you want to get out of the city. Regulating animals bred for sale is a bona fide agricultural arm of the government responsibility, in my opinion. Our security, health and welfare are directly related to the health and welfare of animals. Putting people into bad mortgages, a plan that brought us to this recession, is not.

Decisions about disclosure

The opening paragraph of an essay titled, "Disclosure" by Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky of Boston in the May 5, 2010 issue of JAMA was stunning in the author's lack of understanding her role in protecting the general public and specific individuals from serious disease. Others I'd give a break, but she had an MD and MPH after her name! The paragraph really wasn't essential to the thrust of her topic, which was about being a woman (pregnancy, motherhood) in academic medicine. Here's what she wrote:

"Early in my career, one of my patients with HIV infection, Robin, a recovering heroin addict, had re-enrolled in school and was newly engaged. Her fiance was unaware that she was HIV infected and she would not discuss using condoms, let alone her HIV infection, with him. I encouraged her to confide her infection to her fiance--for the integrity of their relationship and for the value of his health--at each of our clinical encounters. Finally, she did so. He left her. She stopped taking her antiretroviral medications and restarted using heroin. Although the fiance may have reduced his risk of infection, the consequences of my intervention were tragic for my patient. Robin's case reinforced that disclosure is a risky business because the truth can trigger an unexpected, sometimes devastating chain of reactions."

No, it wasn't unfortunate that the fiance left her; it probably saved his life, assuming he wasn't already infected. No, Rochelle Walensky's intervention as a doctor and public health official wasn't tragic--it was probably a requirement of her job! No, Robin didn't start using heroin again because her fiance left her--she was an addict and no one, not even the love of a good man could change her if she wasn't up to the tough behavior needed to kick it. No, stopping the antiretroviral meds wasn't a tragedy because she would just become reinfected as the heroin addiction took over her mind. Part of getting well is a behavior change, chastity and monogamy, something she can't do on drugs. And finally, it's just entirely possible that the fiance left her because he realized she valued his life so little, that he would never again be able to trust her.

You go girls!

When Jean Mellman, 86, Shirley Boster, 87, Harriet Korn, 93, Naomi Schottenstein, 81, Fannie Shkolnik, 92, and Shirley Yaffe, 85, were young, bat mitzvah ceremonies - the female equivalent of a boy's bar mitzvah, typically at 13 - didn't exist. Today, Conservative, Reform and Reconstructionist Jews offer bat mitzvahs for girls; Orthodox synagogues do, too, but the girls don't read from the Torah. In recent years, rabbis across the country have offered ceremonies to elderly women to make up for what they didn't have available when they were young. Rabbi Cary Kozberg has modified the typical Torah reading requirement of a bat mitzvah. Each woman will read a Hebrew blessing before the rabbi reads a portion of the Torah and explain the meaning in their life. And of course, the perspective will be very different than that of a 12 year old.

'Girls' to finally have bat mizvahs | The Columbus Dispatch

The Wealth Gap, Research and Policy Brief May 2010

THE RACIAL WEALTH GAP INCREASES FOUR FOLD shouts the headline of the liberal think tank at Brandeis, the Institute on Assets and Social Policy ( IASP), May 2010 report. I looked around for a definition of a "household" but couldn't find one for this wealth gap study. Nor could I find a contact to ask. Also, I haven't seen any mention in the news reports I've seen that the gap between wealthy white households and middle income white households is much bigger than between middle income whites and blacks. Someone needs to look at marriage. Even in middle class white households, children before marriage is becoming socially acceptable--but it's still financially a bad, bad idea, especially for the children. The women's movement just hates to tell women this, but "marrying up" is the best way to go for women. Postponing marriage until you're 35 and moving up the career track doesn't necessarily "create wealth." And savings rates--couldn't find anything in the summary. Also, someone needs to ask one of these think tanks on the left if all the social programs put in place since Johnson's War on Poverty have been working against minorities or have they just been buying votes.

http://iasp.brandeis.edu/pdfs/Racial-Wealth-Gap-Brief.pdf

Repurposing an old car lot

We purchased and serviced at least two Fords--maybe three--at the old Graham Ford facility at 707 West Broad just west of downtown. It closed in November 2008 and now there are plans to return it to its original "holy" purpose--servicing the poor and needy, and providing museum space for Columbus Catholics.

The Rev. Kevin Lutz, pastor of Holy Family Catholic Church, envisions "an elegant makeover. They say the church could create a Catholic cultural center to house its Jubilee Museum, have plenty of room for events and provide a new home for the Holy Family soup kitchen. "There's a lot of beauty surrounding that spot," Lutz said, recalling the work of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, who were there from about 1865 until 1965."

There will be a fund raiser on June 19--they need to raise $4 million to purchase the property. The current location of the Holy Family soup kitchen doesn't have handicap access.

Holy intentions for an old car lot The Columbus Dispatch

Google this

The search strategy "Calderone the hypocrite" brings up 67,000 matches. I'm just saying. . .

Tuesday Update: Now it's up to about 77,000--sample of some of the titles, some from blogs, but most from news agencies.

Calderon Is a Welfare-Pimping Hypocrite and Congress Out of Touch

Oblahblah and Calderone diss our Border

Althouse: Did Obama's speechwriters write Calderon's speech?

EDITORIAL: Go back to Mexico - Washington Times

Obama and Calderon: Insulting Americans together - Monday, May 24

Calderon The Hypocrite

Mexican president, Calderon: Hypocrite. - CNN iReport

Calderon's rebuke is that of a hypocrite » Opinion » Leader Call

Lavish state dinner for Mexican hypocrite

I don't know the cost of Wagyu steak, but a hamburger is $40.00 for half a pound. It's over the top that President Obama so lavishly entertains a "neighbor" who is so critical of us, when Calderone's own immigration policy is much more harsh, "anti-brown" and racist than ours.

State Dinner Menu for Mexican President Calderon: Oregon Wagyu Beef in Oaxacan Black Mole. Briefing Memo - Lynn Sweet

For example:

An immigrant who becomes a naturalized Mexican citizen can be stripped of his Mexican citizenship if he lives again in the country of his origin for more than five years, under Article 37. Mexican-born citizens risk no such loss.

Foreign-born, naturalized Mexican citizens may not become federal lawmakers (Article 55), cabinet secretaries (Article 91) or supreme court justices (Article 95).

The president of Mexico, like the president of the United States, constitutionally must be a citizen by birth, but Article 82 of the Mexican constitution mandates that the president’s parents also be Mexican-born citizens, thus according secondary status to Mexican-born citizens born of immigrants.

The Mexican constitution forbids immigrants and naturalized citizens to become members of the clergy. Article 130 says, “To practice the ministry of any denomination in the United Mexican States it is necessary to be a Mexican by birth.”

The Mexican constitution singles out “undesirable aliens.” Article 11 guarantees federal protection against “undesirable aliens resident in the country.”

The Mexican constitution provides the right of private individuals to make citizen’s arrests. Article 16 states, “in cases of flagrante delicto, any person may arrest the offender and his accomplices, turning them over without delay to the nearest authorities.” Therefore, the Mexican constitution appears to grant Mexican citizens the right to arrest illegal aliens and hand them over to police for prosecution.

The Mexican constitution states that foreigners may be expelled for any reason and without due process. According to Article 33, “the Federal Executive shall have the exclusive power to compel any foreigner whose remaining he may deem inexpedient to abandon the national territory immediately and without the necessity of previous legal action.”

http://www.c4ads.org/files/waller_csp_apr2006_mexico.pdf

Senate Judiciary Committee requests Kagan documents

Here's a shocker. The Clinton library thinks it will be too difficult to find and submit for review the Kagan documents.

Terri Garner, director of the William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum, said in an interview Wednesday that it would be "very difficult" for her facility to meet the deadline. She said the records request is overly broad and "too general in scope" and that, under the Presidential Records Act, attorneys for both Clinton and President Obama have the right to read and review each document before it is released to the committee.

What is it with this administration and documents? Illegal aliens shouldn't have to have any, because that might mean there was proof they are illegal. President Obama hasn't released a single document about his past, the way other presidents and candidates have done--not medical, not educational--no wonder there are so many conspiracy theories. What's he hiding? And now Kagan? Her paper trail has got to be very thin, all the more reason to have the Clinton records. When I was a librarian, if the Dean needed something, we stayed until we found it.

Senate Judiciary Committee requests documents on Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan - latimes.com

Tea Parties vs. Unions as protrayed in the press

Nina Easton of Fortune magazine reported on an incident in her Washington, D.C., neighborhood in which 500 screaming, placard-waving SEIU members and allies surrounded the home of Greg Baer, deputy general counsel at Bank of America, to protest bank foreclosures. Can you imagine how the press would have treated even one tea party protestor at the home of an SEIU member? Obama or Pelosi would have been on TV that night wagging fingers or weeping for the shame of it. The only reason it was reported at all is that Easton lived in the neighborhood and reported what she saw--the police when called by Baer, whose 14 year old was home alone hiding in a locked bathroom, refused to come. Are police members of unions? .

"Last Sunday, on a peaceful, sun-crisp afternoon, our toddler finally napping upstairs, my front yard exploded with 500 screaming, placard-waving strangers on a mission to intimidate my neighbor, Greg Baer. Baer is deputy general counsel for corporate law at Bank of America (BAC, Fortune 500), a senior executive based in Washington, D.C. And that -- in the minds of the organizers at the politically influential Service Employees International Union and a Chicago outfit called National Political Action -- makes his family fair game." Link

The liberals are turning our freedoms inside out and upside down, and those of you who claim to be "moderate Democrats" ought to see that your party has been stolen from you by near anarchists and scum bums. People are not safe in their homes when these busloads of terrorists are turned loose by the union leaders.
John Fund: Tea Parties vs. Unions in November - WSJ.com

Update on police protection--the buses had a D.C. police escort!: "According to Corporal Dan Friz, an MCPD spokesperson in Rockville, Maryland, the department received a disturbance call from one of Baer’s neighbors at 4:10 pm last Sunday. Four MCPD units arrived at Baer’s Greenville Rd. address at 4:15 pm. At least two Metropolitan Police Department units from the nearby District of Columbia were already at the scene when they arrived.

Why? Because police cars attached to the Washington MPD’s Civil Disturbance Unit had escorted the SEIU protesters’ buses to Baer’s home. Such cross-jurisdictional escort activity is not uncommon for both departments according to Friz and Metro Police Department spokesperson Officer Eric Frost. Still, the District police did not inform their colleagues of what was about to happen in one of their Maryland neighborhoods."

A hospitalist looks at socialized medicine

Erik DeLue, a hospitalist who blogs, recently had a paid 4 day visit to St. Petersburg, Russia with his wife, an art historian. Since Obamacare had recently been passed, he decided to take a quick look at state sponsored health care.

"As if vodka were a truth serum, I got an earful of reality about Russian health care. If you need basic care, and by that I do mean very basic care, everyone has access. If your health care needs are more complicated, be prepared to wait a long time or be willing to pay much more money out of pocket than most can afford.

The other option is to find healthcare in another country—again, an option available to only a select few. But Russia is an extreme example of socialized medicine gone bad, and the demise of its health care system has more to do with the country’s political history than it does with the basic tenets and structures of socialized care.

As this was an international conference, I had a chance to speak to people from many different countries, including Germany, France and England. Most of these Western Europeans were generally happy with their health care system, but all complained of longer wait times and difficulties with getting subspecialty care, at least when compared to how our current American system works. They also noted that those with money were able to move ahead in the line, hardly a surprise no matter which the nation or particular political system."

For the rest of the story, see it here.

DeLue seems to believe we are moving to the idea that health care is a right, and if that is so, we need to determine how to ration it.  Did anyone hear that during the months of debate?

Most Europeans and even most Americans don't realize that all Americans have health care, they don't all necessarily have health insurance. In fact, if they don't have insurance, they may actually get to spend more time in the hospital healing and not be sent home according to a pay formula, as I learned when my friend's son who was unemployed had an appendectomy.

 I'm really puzzled when I read that if people only had insurance they wouldn't be struggling with obesity. As if there were no fat, middle-class, well-employed white people. It's peer pressure, not insurance, that keeps people trim, exercising and eating right.

NPR's Nina Totenberg gushes over Kagan after saying federal courts could threaten Obama legacy

It's no secret that Nina Totenberg of NPR is a liberal--she doesn't attempt to disguise it. Recently she has all but gushed over Elena Kagan, Obama's pick for the Supreme Court. The only naysayers she could find to quote were people even further left than she is. Can you imagine if she were writing about a Roberts or Alito only mentioning conservative sources. I looked back to 2006 and then she was remarking (not exactly complaining) about the unanimity in the decisions of a Roberts led court. In this source, she's ginning up some fear that her precious Obamaic legacy could be thwarted.

E-net! - NPR's Nina Totenberg says federal courts could threaten Obama legacy

Well, not to fear. She's got Superwoman Kagan to the rescue. But then, it isn't called NPR (National Progressive Radio) for nothing.

Weiner Matters--He's hired new staff

I finally got Weiner Facts to work--it's such a popular website, it's hard to get in.

"Check this one out! In the past, Weiner would have to go online to Media Matters to read about what he was supposed to say that day. But now, Weiner has changed all that. He just hired someone from Media Matters to work as his press secretary!"

Weiner Facts » Blog Archive » Weiner Matters

I hope Mr. Weinger is grateful--before Glenn Beck, no one had heard of him, and in politics, name recognition is everything. Media Matters is the anti-Bush, anti-conservative, anti-American site that filters the news for liberals. It's funded, I've heard, by George Soros, the Hungarian Communist who has had great luck with capitalism.