Does Obama really need a "kill switch" for the Internet?

After the way Obama has handled the Gulf coast crisis (by shutting down the livelihoods of thousands, arriving late to the clean up party, plus threatening our energy sources), do you really trust this "kill switch" idea, regardless of the name they give it?

"Senator Joe Lieberman and other bill sponsors have refuted the charges that the Protecting Cyberspace as a National Asset Act gives the president an Internet "kill switch." Instead, the bill puts limits on the powers the president already has to cause "the closing of any facility or stations for wire communication" in a time of war, as described in the Communications Act of 1934, they said in a breakdown of the bill published on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee website."

China, Iran, North Korea and other statist governments have a kill switch, why not ours? Just what are you ready to give up for "cybersecurity?"

Techworld "Obama Kill Switch Plan

Capt. Pete Hegseth on Elena Kagan

Elena Kagan is intellectually dishonest on many fronts says this veteran of the Iraq War, Pete Hegseth--she zeroed in on military recruiters, treated them as 2nd class citizens, blocking equal access to the best and brightest during time of war, encouraged war protestors on campus, and then went to work for the crafter of "don't ask don't tell."

Capt. Pete Hegseth on Elena Kagan. | RedState

HT Dave

Have they considered WMD?

Remember how the left poo-pooed WMD--like biological and virus warfare--after it was Bush's problem? They were all worried when Clinton was in office--even had the intelligence to show the dangers.

Iraq is a long way from [here], but what happens there matters a great deal here. For the risks that the leaders of a rogue state will use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons against us or our allies is the greatest security threat we face." — Madeline Albright, Feb 18, 1998

Now physicians and scientists are struggling to understand the causes of persistent health problems reported by veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. The Department of Defense can't seem to find out what this particulate matter is.

“The U.S. Army asked the National Research Council to evaluate the Enhanced Particulate Matter Surveillance Program. The committee of experts it convened concluded that, despite the limited data collected, the Program's results clearly document that military personnel deployed in the current Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts are exposed to high particulate concentrations. The committee strongly endorses the Department of Defense's effort and recommends continuing and expanding the research.”

Report

A tax on pale (white) Americans

I have little sympathy for people who go to tanning salons to ruin their skin for a later date (on my dime), but I do feel badly for the salon owners who were doing nothing illegal and will have to pay this additional (no new taxes except for the uber rich--B.O.). Although like any business, they will pass this cost along to the customer. If customers decide to give up this unhealthy practice, the owner will need to find a new business.

People--just look at the splotches, brown spots, wrinkles and scars from surgery that your grandparents have. Whether they were addicted to indoor tanning, the beach or the garden, sun is only good for you in little doses and moderation.

Speaking of addictions, Archives of Dermatology (2010; 146(4):412-417) has reported on addiction to indoor tanning among college students. They found that those addicted to tanning also have a greater problem with alcohol, marijuana and anxiety, but were not necessarily more depressed. Bad news, good news, I guess. Maybe the anxiety stems from comparing tan lines or bikini waxing.

Federal tax on tanning salons takes effect today - Healthy Living : The Orange County Register

Less than half the stimulus spent--but more dribbles on the way as election nears

Press release

"The Ohio Middle Mile Consortium announced today that Com Net, Inc., a founding member, has been awarded federal stimulus funding that will add almost 700 new miles of broadband fiber to rural and underserved communities throughout western Ohio.

“This is a great day for Ohio. Comprehensive broadband services for the state are vital to enhancing education, retraining our displaced workforce and preparing our future workforce to drive Ohio economic development,” said Ohio Board of Regents Chancellor Eric D. Fingerhut, who had called on the Ohio Academic Resources Network (OARnet), the technology operations arm of the University System of Ohio, to coordinate a unified approach for federal stimulus broadband applications.

OMMC partners Com Net, Inc., Horizon Telcom, OneCommunity and OARnet formed a public-private partnership to create a comprehensive statewide plan to expand broadband infrastructure to the underserved and unserved areas of the state. This plan will focus on community anchor institutions such as schools, hospitals, public safety and local governments to ensure the development of an affordable and sustainable broadband program.

In March 2010, the OMMC members submitted applications to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) for the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) to develop a Comprehensive Community Infrastructure (CCI). BTOP funding was established as part of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA), better known as the federal stimulus package.

As part of its first wave of announcements, the NTIA awarded $30 million in federal stimulus funding . . "

The ARRA stimulus, AKA Obama slush fund. . . not to be confused with the BP Obama slush fund, which is too small to even register.

Obama's not stupid, so is he incompetent or are we paranoid?

In writing about the Gulf oil spill at Hot Air, Steven De Beste ponders two possibilities:“The sane answer: they’re blithering incompetents. The paranoid answer: they’re doing it on purpose.” The comments coming in say the readers are going for the paranoid answer, because no one anywhere is as incompetent as Barack Obama. Here’s a good response and I think I agree with her, having noted a number of these things in the last 70 days or so, but with less salty language.

Steven, I have always respected you and admired you ever since I discovered your blog but I have to disagree with you concerning the Gulf Oil Disaster.

Ask yourself just how stupid, clueless and incompetent one has to be to refuse permission for the governors to build sand berms to block the oil getting ashore because those berms “might damage the environment”.

Ask yourself just how stupid, clueless and incompetent one has to halt skimmers from going out because the Coast Guard has to make sure everyone has a life vest and there are fire extinguishers on board. We aren’t talking about people in a Bass boat going out for a day’s fishing, we are talking commercial vessels and those are things that the CG inspects all commercial craft for every freaking year.

Ask yourself just how stupid, clueless and incompetent one has to allow BP to use Corexit as a dispersant. Why not just use Agent Orange or Plutonium as a dispersant fercrissakes! And where is all the “concern about the effect on the environment” that the Obama regime is showing by blocking the sand berms. Corexit is one hell of alot more damaging to the environment then a freaking sand berm.

Ask yourself just how stupid, clueless and incompetent one has to do what we have seen the Obama regime pull over the last week which is basically shut down all non government reporting and observing of this disaster and threatening those who do not comply with felony charges. Hell, even that Obamafellating jerk Anderson Cooper can figure out that something is really wrong with that.

Sorry, hun, but if it walks like a duck, swims like a duck and quacks like a duck it is a freaking duck-not a hampster. The actions, words and deeds of the Obama regime concerning GOD are not the acts of stupid, clueless and incompetent people. There is an agenda behind it, then just haven’t let it slip out to someone who might leak it like they did concerning the border and the Arizona immigration law. They blatantly admitted that they will not enforce federal law and will try to destroy Arizona and other states immigration laws because they want to push their amnesty agenda. If I were to venture a guess they want to use this to ram through crap ‘n tax, shake down BP for money for their slush fund because they won’t get another “stimulus” package out of the legislative branch and they want to nationalize the oil companies. All one has to do to see that one working is to take a look at what they are doing to the refineries in Texas-so far the government has taken over 3 of them IIRC and more takeovers are on the way. 1/3 of the petroleum refining capacity is in Texas-do you really want those refineries controlled by Maxine Waters and the Obama regime. If you do I hope you enjoy paying 3 to 4 times more for everything that you buy/use because that is what is coming (just take a look around at everything you own that is made out of plastic and then triple the cost to manufacture it). BTW-we don’t have transporter technology yet so just about everything you use comes in via truck and $10/gal for gasoline will put a bit of a crimp in your “lifestyle”.  Nahanni on July 6, 2010

Did you fall in love in 1957?

Then you might like the movie Letters to Juliet, starring Amanda Seyfried, Vanessa Redgrave, Christopher Egan, Gael García Bernal. And if you're my age, the only name on that list you recognized is Vanessa Redgrave--but you may not recognize her. When you see her, you'll realize just how old we are!

Actually, I can't tell you much about the movie which came out in mid-May which we saw on a Sunday night at the Lakeside Orchestra Hall (movie theater). Between the British accents and Italian, and then the distractions of the extremely noisy ceiling fans and the two giggling 20-somethings sitting behind us, we really might as well have worn ear plugs.

But the general idea is that Amanda's character (Sophie) and Bernal's character (Victor) are engaged, but both are busy doing other things--he's a chef and she's a researcher and they are on a "pre-honeymoon" in Tuscany region of Italy (which is why I wanted to see it). She finds a group of "secretaries" who answer letters from the love-challenged. She comes across a hidden letter written in 1957 about Lorenzo, from a Brit named Claire--they had fallen in love as teenagers and she had to go home. Well, if I got the story over all the noise, the rest is a comedy as Charlie (Claire's grandson), Sophie and Claire scour the countryside looking for Lorenzo. Finally, Claire spots a young teenager working in the fields and declares that's him--and it was Lorenzo's grandson. The guy who plays Lorenzo is Redgrave's real life husband. Happily ever after ending, unless you liked Victor, who loses out, but he really cared more about food and his restaurant, so he didn't really lose.

I hadn't met my husband yet in 1957, but I did fall in love that summer. His name was Tim. No, wait . . . Jim. No . . . Jerry, or was it Terry? Anyway, it was a great time to be in love and write letters.

12 Reasons for Visiting a Farmers' Market

I've subscribed to the University of Nebraska at Lincoln Food Reflections for about 15 years, and always enjoy Alice Hennemen's articles. You can subscribe. Since I just visited the Farmers' Market at Lakeside this morning before I went to my Chaucer class, I thought this was timely--"12 reasons for visiting a farmers' market." Ours is pretty small, so some of these points don't apply--it's not festive, although I do often stop and chat with neighbors. Several of the tents do have wonderful flowers, too. Today I bought blueberries, fresh green beans, a tomato, one ear of corn (they always look at me with disbelief, but my husband hates corn), and a bunch (quart?) of freestone peaches, very sweet. Last week I bought rhubarb (which I froze for future pies), beets with tops, a head of cabbage, a huge green pepper, zucchini, and a quart of raspberries.

Yes, fresh produce tastes wonderful--and today there was a booth with home made pastries, which really didn't look like they would be good for you--they might have been free of preservatives, and locally baked, but they were just loaded with calories.

I only have to walk 2 blocks. "Locally grown" doesn't mean it's healthier or better for you, especially if you put it in the refrigerator for several days. I had some of the beans for lunch, grilled with onions, and they weren't cold, so they weren't tough. I'll probably prepare the rest for supper. Also fixed the corn on the cob in the microwave--cut off the stem, run it under water and cook on high for about 2 minutes. Strip off the husks and silks easily. Spread on the butter and salt--delicious.

12 Reasons for Visiting a Farmers' Market

Bio-medical research

Remember how Obama was applauded for his promises to pour more money into biomedical research? Well, it happened--sort of. JAMA reports when the 2011 budget is adjusted for inflation, there is no increase, and there is actually LESS because the ARRA stimulus infusion of $10.4 billion comes to an end.

In the coffee shop I saw a woman with a 30 year old face and the body of a 12 year old. Maybe she has EDNOS? That means she hasn't been diagnosed with anorexia (self starvation) or bulimia (binging and purging), but an "eating disorder not otherwise specified." EDNOS actually has a higher mortality than anorexia or bulimia, but seems to be in a limbo of medical indecision on how to classify it.

In another issue of JAMA I saw an article about race and aggressive treatment at the end of life and survival in long term acute care facilities. It seems that black patients at the end of life prefer a more aggressive treatment. They are less likely to have do-not-resuscitate orders in place at the time of hospitalization and are less likely to favor withdrawal of life sustaining measures in the ICU. Such a dilemma for a progressive, liberal publication. Is this liberal or conservative? Cultural? Religious? Racial? Moral?

The end result is African-American patients are sicker when they transfer to a long term facility and are less likely to survive--the whites who were the sickest with the poorest prognosis died in the acute care hospital! So blacks are more likely to die while ventilator dependent. But then the writers (social workers and PhD types) have to face the fact that this unplanned, unforeseen racial/cultural disparity opens up financial incentives for physician owned specialty hospitals, and home health services. Capitalism! Oh the horror! Better the government panel step in and decide their fate, right?

Eulogizing Robert Byrd--is that a white sheet over that casket?

Hearing Barack Obama and Bill Clinton lauding a former official of the Ku Klux Klan was certainly bizarre. They didn't just eulogize him, they noted with some puffery and pride found only among Democrats that he had rejected that nastiness in his past. God knows, I'm all for redemption, and so thankful that God doesn't grade on a curve, but did Byrd really change all that much? Was his (or any liberal's) objection to Justice Thomas and Secretary Rice really about their qualifications and not their race? There's a lot to overlook in this good old boy

"In a March 2005 fundraising appeal to the radical group MoveOn.org, Obama said, “Senator Robert Byrd was one of the first senators I met with when I came to the Senate three months ago. Senator Byrd understands the history, the importance, and the role the Senate plays in our government...”

Reeling off a long list of charges against the Bush Administration and Senate Republicans, all of which were either untrue or totally misleading, Obama concluded by saying, “Above all, Robert Byrd understands just how sacred the Constitution of our country truly is and fights every day to protect it.”

This is the same Robert Byrd who wrote in a 1944 letter to a Mississippi senator, “I shall never fight in the armed forces with a Negro by my side.”

This is the same Robert Byrd who wrote in a 1945 letter to that same Mississippi senator, “Rather I should die a thousand times, and see Old Glory trampled in the dirt, never to rise again, than to see this beloved land of ours become degraded by race mongrels, a throwback to the blackest specimen from the wilds.”

This is the same Robert Byrd who wrote in a 1948 letter to the Grand Wizard of the West Virginia Klan, at a time when Klan membership was in steep decline, “The Klan is needed today as never before and I am anxious to see its rebirth here in West Virginia and in every state in the Union.”

This is the same Robert Byrd who holds the distinction of being the only man to use the “n-word” on the floor of the U.S. Senate during the last half century, or more.

Obama’s fundraising appeal for his KKK colleague was a successful one. Within 48 hours, nearly $823,000 poured into the Byrd campaign coffers. And when Obama traveled to West Virginia to campaign for Byrd, the Charleston Daily Mail opined, “If the African-American trailblazer has any qualms about endorsing the man who filibustered the 1964 Civil Rights Act and who disdainfully referred to blacks as ‘the darkest specimens of the wilds,’ he’s keeping them to himself.” Paul Hollrah

Stuff I like--Lakeside businesses

We have a new laundromat in Lakeside, and I've used it. I took in a huge pile of bedding and was in and out in 45 minutes for $5.00. I have an apartment size washer and dryer in my tiny basement, just big enough for underwear and t-shirts, but I don't do bedding. It's newly remodeled and owned by Tom and Marcy Winkel who purchased a cottage here in 2001. We chatted a bit. Tom grew up in Upper Arlington and attended Watterson and Marcy used to work at the Worthington Public Library and the College of Medicine at OSU.

Joyce Christman and Erin Rosson have moved Artists 'N Cahoots, the art store, to the former Cokesbury location. You should see the wonderful window display of red, white and blue for this week! Jewelry, Christmas tree ornaments, hand sewn bags, stained glass trimmed mirrors, decorated pots and paintings. If you go inside you can see my husband's paintings and prints. For the most part, they represent the teachers at the Rhein Center.

On Saturday I stopped in at Marilyn's Too on 2nd Street. Always fun to browse through her lake themed gifts, cards, clothing, and furniture. Great Lakeside Cat's Meow stuff. Marilyn is a great cheerleader for all the teen campers at Lakeside. She just loves kids.

July 5 clean up

On my morning walk today--about 6 a.m.--the sun was barely visible. A thick haze. I saw about 20 Canada geese newly arrived and honking. And although the lakefront didn't look like the Washington Mall after the Obama inauguration, it was pretty sad. I don't think most Lakesiders litter like this, but there were hundreds of guests and many, many children spreading blankets, setting up chairs, and bringing along food and drink for the long, long wait of an hour or so. [sarcasm]

I know the groundskeepers will be out to do the clean up soon, but I picked up things as I went along: plastic cups with lids, spoons, forks; plastic water bottles--some never opened; empty boxes of sparklers and exploding rocks; soft drink cans; napkins and tissues; paper coffee cups; blankets, towels, folding camp chairs; dog leash; broken fixture for in-ground watering system; battery operated something with a strap; pair of white socks. But I didn't disturb the biker in a sleeping bad at the east end or the plastic bag of dog poop at the west end.

What may be the most time consuming for the grounds staff and which is the fault of Lakesiders are the hundreds of softball size+ rocks that people bring from the lakefront to anchor their blankets in case it gets windy. Each one of these will have to be picked up by hand and thrown back into the rip-rap in order not to damage the mowing equipment. Bad, bad on the people who don't pick up and remove their rocks when they take their blankets back to the cottage.

Lakeside provides at least 4 styles of trash cans, which may be part of the problem. Some people don't know whether the container is for certain plastics, or just cans, or for paper trash, so they just leave the mess on the park benches.

The above photo is actually from July 2008--haze is haze on any days.

Kagan hearings conclude

After what the Democrats did to Robert Bork and Justice Thomas, I'm not a bit surprised that these hearings don't reveal much. We all know who she is and how she'll vote.

Among those who remain concerned about Kagan is Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Alabama) who told a reporter that he "was disappointed in the hearings." As Sen. Sessions put it: "I felt she was less than open, less than candid with us. . . she didn't say much. I thought she obfoscated her philosophy . . ."

Asked if he would vote for her confirmation, Sen. Sessions replied: "I am going to continue to review the record . . . my comfort level with this nominee is less today than before the hearing started . . . several different aspects of her testimony worried me . . ."

ACLJ • American Center for Law & Justice

What the Earth Knows

Although I believe in creation as told in Genesis (In the beginning God. . . ), most environmentalists and global warmists don't, so they could benefit from this calm assessment in American Scholar of geologic time. The web page was pretty messed up on my screen, so I'm linking to the print version.

"The geologic record as we know it thus suggests that climate is a profoundly grander thing than energy. Energy procurement is a matter of engineering and keeping the lights on under circumstances that are likely to get more difficult as time progresses. Climate change, by contrast, is a matter of geologic time, something that the earth routinely does on its own without asking anyone’s permission or explaining itself."

The American Scholar » What the Earth Knows » Print

U.S. Budget and Economy: Long-term Unemployment

This blogger is not an economist, a politician or a partisan--he's a math major who collects and charts data. The average and median duration of unemployment have risen to their highest level since 1948 and 1967, respectively. The average has reached 35.2 weeks and the median has reached 25.5 weeks weeks, according to government data. Whatever Obama is doing, isn't working--at least not for the long term unemployed--although some believe he's not spending enough money. All of the durations are starting to trend down except for the longest, those unemployed for 27 weeks and over.

Bush and other presidents also struggled with recessions (gray band in chart), and you can see on Davis' charts where those long term unemployment figures went. We know from both Presidents Hoover and Roosevelt in the 1930s and 40s, that pushing money at it and more government interference, isn't the solution. FDR led us further, deeper and longer into an economic swamp. Even the threats (promises to redistribute through higher taxes) made by Obama in 2008 frightened investors and rocked the economy.

U.S. Budget and Economy: Long-term Unemployment (updated)

My Father's Daughter -- The Story of Hannah Pool

This title was on NRO's summer 2010 reading list. It looks really good and both the professional and reader reviews at Amazon are positive. Maybe something for next year's book club?

Hannah Pool was adopted by British parents from Eritrea and "grew up in middle-class comfort in England, missing the hardships, deprivation, and war in Eritrea. But she also grew up with the fantasy of many adopted children of someday being reclaimed by the birth family, as well as the guilt of being curious about her birth family and seeming ungrateful of the adopted family. In Pool’s case, there were the additional layers of differences in race and nationality. Still, when a biological brother contacted her, she wavered for 10 years before returning the contact. At nearly 30 years old, Pool returned to Eritrea to meet her family and reconnect with the culture of her birth.

Writers who recommend titles include Denis Boyles, Orson Scott Card, John Derbyshire, Nancy French, David Gelernter, Jonah Goldberg, Allen Guelzo, C. R. Hardy, Arthur Herman, Hugh Hewitt, Carrie Lukas, William McGurn, Eric Metaxas, Joseph Pearce, John J. Pitney, Father George W. Rutler, Hans von Spakovsky, and John Yoo.

Amazon.com: My Fathers' Daughter: A Story of Family and Belonging (9781416593690): Hannah Pool: Books

Six Months to Go Until The Largest Tax Hikes in History

Here's some good news for Obama supporters and the main stream media. The biggest tax hike in our history is just down the pike. Despite all those promises, despite all that transparency and all the hopey changy swoons. Yes, it's change all right. More statism, more government control, more freedoms lost. You didn't really believe he could get the money for redistribution of wealth just from the wealthy, did you? For starters. . . the Bush tax cuts are going to expire. After that, there will be the Obamacare new taxes--20 or so. Then the AMT, new taxes on employers, and changes in charitable deductions. Oh, you Democrats must just be popping your buttons, you're so proud of your guy. And your fall back will always be, "It's all Bush's fault."

"Personal income tax rates will rise. The top income tax rate will rise from 35 to 39.6 percent (this is also the rate at which two-thirds of small business profits are taxed). The lowest rate will rise from 10 to 15 percent. All the rates in between will also rise. Itemized deductions and personal exemptions will again phase out, which has the same mathematical effect as higher marginal tax rates. The full list of marginal rate hikes is below:

- The 10% bracket rises to an expanded 15%
- The 25% bracket rises to 28%
- The 28% bracket rises to 31%
- The 33% bracket rises to 36%
- The 35% bracket rises to 39.6%"

But read more here: Six Months to Go Until The Largest Tax Hikes in History

HT Murray for the link

The Overton Window

I bought The Overton Window for my husband for Father's Day (and 2 shirts).  So far, he's enjoying it.  We've been married almost 50 years and I can't recall ever seeing him read fiction.  I don't read much fiction myself, but thought I'd be the one reading this.

"Glenn Beck's latest bestseller is a work of fiction -- but the method of political subversion it is based on is all too real. Named after its originator, the late Josef P. Overton, "The Overton Window" is a way of manipulating public opinion so that ideas once thought of as radical become acceptable -- while ideas once considered mainstream become fringe. Move "the window" of acceptable opinion and you change the debate. Change the debate and you change the country. " NRBS

It's been resting comfortably at the top of the NYT list and Amazon, and of course has been panned and criticized by the LA Times, WaPo, and NYT. I mean, could Glenn Beck do anything well? I think he has more subscribers than the New York Times does.

Portland police re-opening Gore investigation - Road Runner

I think I preferred not knowing the sex details of the Al and Tipper marriage.

Portland police re-opening Gore investigation - Road Runner

His alleged affair with his film producer

Stuff I like--Neutrogena Age Shield Sunblock

I don't "do" sun, but my husband is a sailor and even more fair skinned than I am (and a red-head when he had hair).  So I bought this product for him, Neutrogena Age Shield Sunblock, SPF 45.  One day when I knew I would be outside at an event I used it in place of my regular moisturerizer, and it is just fabulous.  It is non-greasy, has no fragrance, makes your skin feel fabulous, and I haven't seen any reaction with my own make-up.  Neurogena also makes a product called Age Shield, so I assume this is the same product with some sun block added, but I've been fooled before.  I haven't actually tried the one called Age Shield Face, just "Age Shield Sunblock." Therefore, I use it on my arms, neck and legs, too. Maybe it's my imagination, but I think it is a bit reflective--I like that.