The thinking poem

If you're black
are you cutting him slack?

If you're brown
are you hanging around?

If you're rainbow
do you think he's slow?

If you're white
do you think he's your knight?

If you're taupe
do you think he's a dope?

If you're green
do you think he's a dream?

If you're a liar
do you think he's on fire?

If you're thinking
what I'm thinking
you think he's stinking.

Project Gunrunner and Fast and Furious--Obama's Watergate?

"After watching this [C-SPAN] video, the reasons behind David Ogden’s resignation [from DoJ] after working for Attorney General Eric Holder for less than a year, appear clear: He wanted to reduce his chances of becoming the “fall guy” for the Obama Administration after news of this doomed-from-the-start gun-running operation became public."

» Project Gunrunner Tied Directly to President Obama - Big Government

Something borrowed

Let's see a movie.

OK. What's on?

There's a Kate Hudson movie at the dollar theater. You know how you love Kate Hudson.

Who's Kate Hudson?

Why the Arabic World Turned Away from Science

"To anyone familiar with this Golden Age, roughly spanning the eighth through the thirteenth centuries a.d., the disparity between the intellectual achievements of the Middle East then and now — particularly relative to the rest of the world — is staggering indeed. In his 2002 book What Went Wrong?, historian Bernard Lewis notes that “for many centuries the world of Islam was in the forefront of human civilization and achievement.” “Nothing in Europe,” notes Jamil Ragep, a professor of the history of science at the University of Oklahoma, “could hold a candle to what was going on in the Islamic world until about 1600.” Algebra, algorithm, alchemy, alcohol, alkali, nadir, zenith, coffee, and lemon: these words all derive from Arabic, reflecting Islam’s contribution to the West.

Today, however, the spirit of science in the Muslim world is as dry as the desert."


The New Atlantis » Why the Arabic World Turned Away from Science

It's amazing what a little rain can do

It's very dry and crispy in northern Ohio, so it is a treat to see all the green around Columbus. Our complex has well water sprinkler system, but the whole metropolitan area has had more rain than the Toledo area. Still we expect some heat build up, so after church I put on some walking shoes, a sleeveless denim dress, and walked for about 15 minutes. It's not as much as I get at the lake where I walk everywhere, but it sooths the conscience.

Some of our neighbors still haven't discovered that now that we have sidewalks, they are expected to take care of the area they can't see from their yard (huge bushes to hide the street). Weeds, grass clippings, and branches from the bushes are making the walk a bit hazardous. 1195 Kingsdale Terrace has a lovely house and yard, but I wish they'd step around the corner and see what we see. 'Taint purty.

Had to go to Caribou this morning since Panera's opens late. I noticed that there's a bulletin board for customers to post their "goals." Some are really funny, but pathetic too, because they are so unrealistic and vague ("change the world"), there's no way to get there from here. I've written before about the best book I ever read on the topic of planning is "Stop setting goals." Worth another look:

The book I'd been waiting for my whole life I didn't read until the first official day of my retirement (Oct. 1, 2000). Its title grabbed me and I knew it was written for me: "STOP SETTING GOALS" by Bob Biehl (Nashville: Moorings, 1995).

The premise is that some people are energized by achieving goals they have set, and others (a higher percentage) are energized by identifying and solving problems. And it isn't semantics. To ask problem solvers to set goals puts knots in their stomachs and interferes with their natural gifts. To ask goal setters to work on a problem puts them in a foul mood because they think "negative" when they hear "problem."

Problem solvers see goal setters as sort of pie-in-the sky, never-finish-anything types, and goal setters see problem solvers as negative nay-sayers. Bigotry, in both directions.

I'm willing to bet that most librarians are problem solvers and that's why they chose the field. I used to be in Slavic Studies. In my own mind, I thought the Soviet Union collapsed from pathologically terminal five year plans--too much goal setting and not enough problem solving.

Biehl poses an interesting question that works for both groups. "What three things can we do in the next 90 days to make a 50% difference (by the end of this year, by the end of the decade, by the end of my life). It makes no difference if you say, "what three goals can we reach" or "what three problems can we solve," because either personality can get a handle on this question.

I was challenged during my last year at work to stop using the word "problem" and replace it with "challenge" or "opportunity." It was a good time to retire. It took away all motivation for showing up at work for a darn good problem solver.

Call his bluff - Charles Krauthammer

These are the days I'm ashamed I registered as a Republican in 2000. These guys/gals have no spine. Boehner said getting Obama to commit to something and stick with it is like trying to nail Jello, but the Republicans are the bowl of Jello, sweet, low fat, and completely useless. They are up against a liar, a cheat, a swiveling socialist head that speaks out of any hole that's open, and all they can do is worry that they'll look bad in November 2012 when he tries to blame them for his failures. His own party can't trust; why should Republicans?

He won’t sign anything less, he warns, asking, “If not now, when?” How about last December, when he ignored his own debt commission’s recommendations? How about February, when he presented a budget that increases debt by $10 trillion over the next decade? How about April, when he sought a debt-ceiling increase with zero debt reduction attached

Call his bluff - The Washington Post

Thursday Thirteen -- Comparing Grandmothers

13 things about my grandmothers that make them different than today’s grandmothers

We are at Lakeside on Lake Erie, a summer Chautauqua community, where I have noticed big differences between today’s solicitous, attentive grandmothers and those no nonsense, sensibly shod ladies of the 1940s and 1950s when I was spending time with grandmothers. One of my grandmothers was born in 1876 (a centennial baby), and the other in 1896 (a turn of the century baby). So even they were a world apart in life style and experiences. Altogether, I had six grandparents (2 sets of grandparents, 1 great-grandparent couple), and loved them all, and have many fond memories of spending a lot of time with them, but. . .

My paternal grandparents, great-grandparents and Uncle and aunt and their baby, 1935

1. I never saw either of my grandmothers in slacks, let alone jeans, shorts or a swim suit.

2. I never saw either of my grandmothers on a bicycle. Can’t even picture it!

3. I never saw either grandmother drive a car, although I know one did when she was young and middle age (one was blind, the other had mild strokes in her 60s). I also never saw them ride a horse either, but I know they both did--one even rode a horse to church with several children aboard.

4. My grandmothers never read to me.

5. My grandmothers never supervised crafts for me or played games with me or took me swimming, because that’s what cousins and older sisters were for in those days.

6. My grandmothers never had house pets--there might be a cat or dog around, but it lived outside where it could earn its keep.

7. Neither of my grandmothers was a particularly fine cook--if we ate well at their homes it was a holiday and the younger generation of aunties or daughters supplied the food. Both kept gardens and canned.

8. I never ate in a restaurant with my grandmothers when I was a child, nor did they buy me huge helpings of ice cream I couldn‘t finish.

9. My grandmothers never wore make-up--or even wedding rings as I recall.

10. Neither of my grandmothers cared much about house cleaning or yard work.

11. When they were my age (now) both my grandmothers were in business--one managed several farms, the other a small call-in service to pick up and remove dead animals.

12. Neither was the huggy, smoochy type, but both knew how to soothe a crying baby.

13. Both were married over 60 years, one over 70.

The Elder Justice Act

The new Elder Justice Act (EJA) is a part of Obamacare (PPACA). There were already two acts (Older American Act and Violence Against Women Act) and seven federal agencies spending $651 million in 2009 to protect older Americans under President Bush. EJA authorized $777 million over 4 years, which is pennies for an increase, especially to cover the goals spread over 50 states and hundreds of agencies. But it plays well for votes. Massive government programs often start small. The reasoning of the two authors from Chicago(XinQi Dong, and Melissa A. Simon received 3 grants to write the article I read in JAMA, one from the bailout) is that the current acts and appropriations did not protect older adults, therefore more money for the same failed programs was needed.

The key, gold plated, diamond encrusted words here that will create a never ending income stream for lawyers, doctors, academicians, advocates, workshop providers, community organizers, nursing home administrators, care givers, accountants, physical therapists and broadband providers are

Grants
Incentives
Staffing
Electronic records
Collect
Disseminate data
Sponsor and support training programs
Hearings, conferences to set research priorities

I defend her right to burgers and fries

It's not often I defend Mrs. Obama--only in 2 areas--as a fine example for other young women in marriage and family (i.e., she married the father of her children) and in her desire to see a healthier America (even if I don't always support her methods like that garden someone else has to take care of). All First Ladies seem to come under attack--they (the opposition) were merciless with Hilary Clinton and Nancy Reagan. They even picked on Mary Lincoln. Lady Bird wanted to beautify the country and campaigned against bill boards and she succeeded. Helen Taft wanted to beautify Washington, D.C. with better parks and she succeeded. So Michelle Obama wants us not to be so fat.

Meanwhile, yesterday she ate a 1700 calorie lunch (burger fries shake) and the conservative bloggers and talkers are going crazy. Lighten up. Criticize her politics--that's bad enough. However, diabetes and high blood pressure are serious and even more deadly in the black community. We all pay for that in loss of lives, and in our own insurance costs, whether it's Obamacare or one of the Blues.

Also, every dieter knows an occasional pig-out helps the cause.

Sudan leader's hat tip to Bush

When we visited Ireland in 2007 we found that Bill Clinton was beloved by the Irish for brokering the peace. George W. Bush right now is much loved in South Sudan for the same reason. (Although I don't think Obama mentioned it Saturday, the day of the big Reveal.) And obviously, Politico, a left source, is pretty snarky about it too in this article. But it will be up to the people of South Sudan to make this work. Right now they really don't have much understanding about what a "country" is, at least not in the sense the Irish did. But they do want to be able to harvest their crops, marry, have families and visit relatives without being slaughtered by Arab Muslims.

Sudan leader's hat tip to Bush - Reid J. Epstein - POLITICO.com

The Omaha anecdote and the Obama antidote

"The Omaha Public Schools used more than $130,000 in federal stimulus dollars to buy each teacher, administrator and staff member a manual on how to become more culturally sensitive. . . ." The book is infused with the usual hate and diversity drivel about America--and we paid for 8,000 copies.

James Taranto reports today that Clinton asked for a stimulus package in 1993 of 16 billion when unemployment was 7.3, and Congress didn't approve and 12 months later unemployment was 6.5. The economy recovered without massive infusion of federal money. Obama asked for 800 billion when unemployment was 7.6, got it, and the economy tanked and unemployment rose to 10.2.

Liberals believe government programs fail because they aren't big enough. It's the classic plan of doing more that fails. Really? How about a nice big tax increase, that should do it. How big did the stimulus need to be in order to really tank the economy into a real Depression--which actually we haven't avoided yet.

Obama continues Bush errors

G.W. Bush made two huge mistakes during his two terms--No Child Left Behind (NCLB) domestically, and in foreign policy believing that 7th century Muslim cultures wanted Democracy, free markets or rights for women. They obviously don’t like Western culture, are fearful of 50% of the world’s population (women) and want no part of democracy. Not even do the women want this. Not only did this spend us terribly into debt, but Obama is following in his tracks with Bush-lite “Race to the Top” education policy and supporting various elements of Arab Spring, especially the Muslim civil war in Libya. Both are a waste of money and blood--theirs and ours. We don’t need educational reform imposed from Washington; and Muslims don’t want our form of government, especially not for women, whom they need to keep enslaved for their own self esteem and sexual slavery. I say, let them keep their ways if it works for them. Bush believed in the beauty of democracy. I don't know what Obama believes in, but if he doesn't want it for us, why impose it on them?

Sometimes atheists are right

From a summary of Atlas Shrugged. Liberals ponder why Christian consevatives admire her writing since she was an atheist. Truth is truth, and enabling bad behavior is still damaging no matter which party does it or their motives for good.

Politician invariably respond to crisis that in most cases they themselves have created, by spawning new government programs, laws and regulations. These in turn create more problems and poverty, which inspire politicians to create more programs and the downward spiral repeats itself until the productive sectors of the economy collapse under the weight of taxes and other burdens imposed in the name of fairness, equality, and do-goodism.

The writer of this blog (Curly Willow Ranch) is a volunteer at a domestic abuse shelter for women. When a woman tries to manipulate the system for her own use playing the victim, or mentally can't respond to the responsibilities required (like toileting her children), the shelter can't help her.

We're at an age

when instead of weddings, we're attending the 50th anniversary parties.

We didn't know them when they got married, but here we are with the happy couple, 50 years later.

Vote or Die--the Democrat motto for Blacks

South Sudan Is About to Become a Nation - News Analysis - NYTimes.com

Although I guess I'm not surprised that New York Times gave more credit to George Clooney than to George Bush, it remains a fact that it was a priority of President Bush to stop the killing of black Christians by Arab Muslims with the establishment of a new country. Whether these western drawn borders hold any better than they did in the middle east remains to be seen.

South Sudan Is About to Become a Nation - News Analysis - NYTimes.com

Why is the President puzzled that business isn't expanding?

I’m puzzled that the President is puzzled that uncertainty is keeping people from expanding businesses and hiring more people. (New unemployment figures 9.2) Sure can tell that he’s never run a business. I’m beginning to understand why he was never around for a vote on anything. He must have left town when the questions got tough. With his threatening to raise taxes and transfer more wealth to entitlement programs, with his starting a 3rd front war, what could there be to cause tremors in the business climate? I wonder.

Thursday Thirteen July 7, 2011 from Lakeside, Ohio

Can you tell I don't have my editing software on this laptop? That photo actually says Thursday Thirteen from Lakeside, Ohio.

We've been here since Monday June 20, at the chautauqua on Lake Erie, Lakeside, Ohio. It is a gated community with a 10 week season. We own a cottage here, so we're here most of the summer, but started coming here in 1974 when our children were very young. Here are a few things I've done here recently.

1. Used the new (last year) laundromat because my washing machine died the first day we were here. It's about 25 years old, so it will probably not be worth trying to find a repairman.

2. Lots of walks along the lakefront at sunrise, but the weather has been a bit overcast, so they haven't been as beautiful as last year when I had 70 sunrise walks.

3. Visited the local farmers' market three times, but because of a very wet spring the growing season has been delayed, so I've only purchased one head of cabbage and one green pepper, but they have been fabulous--grill lightly with onions in olive oil, toss in a little corn and butter, and it's a fabulous lunch.

4. Won a jar of horseradish at the herb group meeting last week. The topic was horseradish--didn't know there was a horseradish company in Springfield, Ohio. Love it! It may be my first door prize.

5. Walked to the tiny local grocery store about 6 times--since I'm carrying the purcases, I don't buy a lot at a time. Staples are more expensive than a supermarket, but the meat is about the same, and there is wonderful made in the store ham salad, potato salad and cole slaw.

6. Read a book from the local library (inside the Methodist church run by volunteers), "Chosen by a horse." It was an excellent memoir and you don't have to like horses to enjoy this poignant story of a woman's healing through her love for her pet.

7. Slowed down a bit to manage our colds, which we got about a week ago.

8. Had friends Wes and Sue over for dinner of bratwurst and sauerkraut on our deck.

9. Enjoyed the fireworks on the 4th on the lakefront with our friends John and Wilma.

10. Went to friends' cottage to watch the last Glenn Beck Show on June 30. We don't have cable here. Then we all went out to eat.

11. Attended some amazing music programs the first week like Carpe Diem, a string quartet, and Raleigh Ringers, a handbell and chime group from Raleigh, NC. Usually I get sleepy and go home after an hour, but these groups were outstanding.

12. Attended several lectures on Christians and foreign policy and how the military builds cultural bridges. Both speakers were excellent.

13. Had a wonderful boat ride around the area with the "wooden boat society" group followed by a delicious dinner of walleye at the Hotel Lakeside. Enjoyed the company at our table--former clients of my husband.

If you'd like to play Thursday 13, check it out.

Lakeside Wooden Boat Society Summer Evening Cruise

Tonight we have tickets for the wooden boat cruise and dinner. First there will be a cruise on Lake Erie (weather permitting, and right now it looks permissable) from the Lakeside Dock at 6 p.m. Then at 7:30 there is dinner at the Hotel Lakeside (Walleye Primavera is our menu choice, but there was also filet mignon or portabella stuffed chicken breast as choices). Then after dinner there will be a lecture by Neil Allen on "Strangers in our Bay" about the unique boats from the 1940s to the present that have visited Sandusky Bay.

Are Lutherans taller than Methodists?

It's Lutheran Chautauqua Week--and so is next week. It's also the 4th of July week, so Lakeside is bursting at the seams. There were about 700 kids in the parade on Monday. Last night's program at Hoover Auditorium (seats about 3,000) was a group of Kenyan Acrobats. The men performers were athletic, slender and muscled; the women were overweight--extremely. Not like here where many men are overweight.

As I sat in my seat looking up and around waiting for the program to begin it occurred to me I had never seen so many tall people--i.e. well over 6'--in my life. I wondered if they were Lutherans. Descendants of the Scandanavians and Germans who settled around here. It is particularly striking among the women. When I was growing up a 6' woman was relatively unusual, but it is nothing today to see women 6'3 or 6'4. I suppose they marry men their height or taller and pass it on to the next generation. Women my height (5'5") just grow sideways.

Yesterday's afternoon program on Stress and Nutrition by Dr. Wendy Stuhldreher was pretty much what I expected--eat less, move more, and eat all the colors. Eating fish is always recommended, but I was impressed by one chart she showed where mackerel exceeded all others (twice as much as salmon) in what we need in acronyms, EPA and DHA. She recommends drinking milk, something I haven't done in about 50 years. . . either skim (yuk) or 1% (almost yuk). So while I'm blogging this morning I'm sipping a cup of milk.

I left before the Q & A, so maybe she addressed this, but the audience was very lean and healthy looking, even with the average age of about 65. In fact, I've seen so many overweight people here, particularly young people, it's almost like a "not welcome" sign had been posted outside the Green Room. She was definitely preaching to the choir. Doesn't that happen with so many topics that could educate us? People, particularly those on vacation, don't want to hear bad news, whether it's political, religious or dietary.

She recommended we look at the portion control web site, MyPlate.gov