9/11 ANNIVERSARY: Leaders in tears as America begins ceremonies to remember | Mail Online

Incredibly beautiful photographs at this site.

9/11 ANNIVERSARY: Leaders in tears as America begins ceremonies to remember | Mail Online

Whatever happened to the presidential book race?

When it came out in 2008 that President George W. Bush was an avid reader--about 100 books a year, non-fiction--the left, particularly librarians, were incredulous, critical of the selections, or used the word "allegedly" when reporting it. Then about two years later it was revealed that Obama was more into fiction, and read very little--maybe 10 books a year. Then they just made excuses. This past summer it was explained as "escapist fiction" for his vacation and books for his daughters. Well, maybe there will be something for the ALA Banned Books Week, because I'm sure there's a good reason Obama doesn't read and George Bush does.

Some people get Obama loud and clear

In 2008 we were in a recession cycle and an election cycle. But even those of us who had to hold our noses to vote for McCain could tell a growth candidate from a non-growth. As senators, Obama's growth record votes were zero, and McCain's 94%. Is it any wonder he's floundering in restoring the economy. Look at his record!

According to the Club for Growth it costs $80,000 for a small business to create a new $40,000 job--a so called "middle class" salary. That's because of taxes, benefits, mandates, etc. Now how big of a government stimulus and additional tax breaks would a small businessman need to create a job and hire you? The first stimulus in 2009 failed to create or save jobs. The money went to save unions (public and private) and to create new government jobs (unemployment hovering around 3.5 in that sector). The second will too. Why? Obama is pro-growth for government, and anti-growth for the private sector. His record as a senator said it; his record as a president proves it.

Last night I attended a gathering of "like minded" conservatives. They were all Christians, but members of a number of different churches from Lutheran to Roman Catholic to Pentecostal to "not a member." And their issues were diverse, too--abortion (Heartbeat bill), Issue 2 (public unions), Issue 3 (defeating Obamacare), protecting Israel from extremists to confronting jihadism. But none of these issues will matter if Americans continue to struggle financially, because they'll lose interest in the highly charged and critical moral issues.

People are waking up about Obama. The Tea Party gets it; the 9/12 Glenn Beck groups get it; the libertarians get it; about 50% of the Republicans get it; and about 25% of the undeclared, fence-sitters get it. Time to shake things up in local elections this November and nationally next November.

The media, the Tea Party, and the President

"We have seen Obama in numerous cowboy movies. Obama is the loud mouth guy standing on the steps of the jail-house yelling at the crowd. He works the crowd into a frenzy causing them to overrule the sheriff and the law, drag out the prisoner and hang him without a trial.

Since the beginning of his presidency, on numerous occasions, our community-organizer-in -chief has worked his minions into a frenzy to punish white police, banks, Wall Street, corporate CEOs, private jet owners, Arizonians, insurance companies, doctors, the rich, and anyone opposing Obamacare.

As testimony to the effectiveness of the Tea Party, Obama has instructed his minions, Congressional Black Caucus and unions to escalate their slander and level of vitriol which now includes threat of violence. The left has set aside September 17th as their National Day of Rage. Lord knows what evil they have scheduled. The left has created a violent hate-filled game titled, "Tea Party Zombies Must Die". www.teapartyzombiesmustdie.com

Meanwhile, the liberal media appears tone deaf to the lies, hate, anger and violence coming from the left. When Obama instructed his minions to "push back twice as hard" against those who opposed Obamacare, black conservative Kenneth Gladney was beaten and sent to the emergency room by SEIU thugs. Clearly, Obama's new enforcers are misinformed flash mobs of black youths attacking whites across America."

Lloyd Marcus

PBS alters transcript to hide Obama gaffe

Timothy Birdnow notes the mistakes Obama made about Lincoln in his "pass this jobs bill now speech," and how PBS covered for him. Well, you can't complain he is stuck to the teleprompter and then gripe that he's not reading the words written for him. He can't be a Lincoln scholar, a Keynesian economist, a climate scientist and a military expert all at the same time.

Blog: PBS alters transcript to hide Obama gaffe

Democrats and Socialism

Fifty three percent of Democrats and 61% of liberals have a positive image of Socialism according to a 2010 Gallup Survey. 42% of Democrats in a recent Rasmussen survey thought the government should control the economy completely. Somehow they are able to separate the disasters from the dreams--afterall, "Nazi" is short for National Socialism where the government controls all business, and Communism is just Socialism with goals beyond the national borders, but everything is owned and directed by the government.

What’s meant by "socialism" in these surveys by Gallup and Rasmussen is that government needs to direct as much of the economy as possible. So how's that working out for us? The Obama Administration isn't the first to gobble up huge portions of the private sector, or take what used to belong to the states. I remember when there was no Department of Education, no HUD, no HHS. Now our biggest cities like Detroit and Cleveland are Democrat controlled, but with holes in the center from constant federal funding feeding on their problems. Our state universities couldn't survive without sucking on the teat of the federal government for "research grants."

The War on Poverty is nearly 50 years old and it's being fought by poverty-pimps commanded by wealthy bureaucrats and the fox holes are fatherless homes. So when the Tea Party, the Conservatives and Republicans, call Democrats and their Presient what they themselves have self-identified--socialists and communists--why the retaliation and name calling of racist, homophobe, fear monger, hater, etc.?

Dreamers Refusing to Wake by Fred Siegel - City Journal

The debate--Romney and Perry

For now until and unless I find out something I don't like, Perry is my pick since Jindal and Ryan don't seem to want to run. I've had enough of pretty boy socialism, limp wrists and bowing and scraping, and the White House filled with union goons and Chicago hoodlums. Let's have a little cowboy bluster to fill the sails of the economy instead of just hot air.

Romney said that his business experience makes him more qualified than "career politicians" to create jobs as president. But Perry took some air out of his balloon by pointing out that that business experience didn't help Romney create jobs in Massachusetts. It ranked near the bottom of the country in that category. Perry noted that Texas had created more jobs in a few months than the Bay State under Romney created in four years. Romney tried to explain quickly the difficulties of governing in a liberal state but primary voters probably don't care about Romney's misfortune.

Romney, though smooth enough for most of the debate, played a dangerous game by cheap-shotting Perry on Social Security. How dare Perry call Social Security a "Ponzi scheme," said Romney, who presented himself as a champion of Social Security and Perry as a destroyer of it. But Social Security is a Ponzi scheme for the young and Perry properly stood by his remark and calls for Social Security reform.

American Spectator

Henry Clay ran for president 5 times and lost each time

He also served in the Senate before he was 30 (the age stated in the Constitution). However, he's an important American statesman. The Contenders starts tomorrow night on C-SPAN with the story of Clay.

C-SPAN The Contenders

Who's the genius on the staff who scheduled it?

I think Boehner did Obama a big favor by not accepting his jobs speech/campaign speech timing. It was an idiotic plan made by a troll. What politician (besides Obama) schedules a campaign speech opposite the other team's debate? He has nothing to say and chose a huge venue for its release. The bigger the venue the smaller the speaker. He was taking a chance that Republicans wouldn't even show up (then in addition to blaming Bush, the Tea Party, and riots in Muslim-land, he could blame the House).

“It is a big deal that the House said ‘no’ to the president from our end,” a White House source with intimate knowledge of what took place between the House and the president told me Thursday. “This confirms what we all know: They will do anything in the House to muck us up.”

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0911/62505.html#ixzz1XN2HVlhM

Thursday Thirteen--13 memorable music programs at Lakeside, Summer 2011

We have a summer home in Lakeside, Ohio--a Chautauqua community estblished as a Methodist campground in 1873 with educational and cultural programming every day. Here are 13 of the musical shows we really enjoyed. Lakeside has a large auditorium that seats over 2,500, plus a bandstand in the park, and a theater called "Orchestra Hall," but most musical events are in Hoover Auditorium. There are 2 hotels, several B&Bs, plus private cottages for rent. Lots of planned activities for children. Gated community. No alcohol.

1. On Aug. 27 Helen Welch provided a tribute to “ladies of song,” including Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha Franklin, Karen Carpenter and Patsy Cline. She is British, lives in Hudson, Ohio, and belts out some fabulous songs.

2. Shiloh Mountain Trio sang at the bandstand the Sunday night of the last week, Aug. 28. A Christian group, they are siblings and children of a Baptist pastor. They are named in honor of Mt. Shiloh Baptist Church in Cadiz, Ohio. We stayed for the whole concert and even bought a CD. YouTube of how they make their music.

3. Mike Albert is the Big-E (an Elvis impersonator) and very popular at Lakeside. He always puts on a fabulous show--this is probably the 8th time we’ve seen him.

4. Although it wasn’t billed as an evening program at Hoover Auditorium, Thomas Lloyd who is the band director at Columbus State (didn’t know they had one) gave an interesting lecture on the Music of the Civil War Era, and we in the audience had an opportunity to sing many of the songs with his leadership. This was the 8th Civil War Week at Lakeside.

5. The closing concert of the Lakeside Symphony Orchestra on Aug. 19 featured guest pianist Dr. Angelin Chang, professor of piano at Cleveland State. Our friends David and MaryAnn enjoyed the show with us.

6. Another winner with the Orchestra was Chad Hoopes on Aug. 16, a violinist who at 16 has a fabulous career ahead. I was enchanted. Instead of giving him a bouquet of flowers, he was presented with a print of one of my husband’s paintings (the orchestra).

7. Michael Shirtz, director of choral music and Arts at Terra State Community College in Fremont, played on Aug. 11 with his quartet. He’s so talented, and earlier in the season was also a presenter on history of American music.

8. We actually weren’t here on July 23 to hear the OSU Alumni Band, but if we had been, we would have heard a fantastic concert.

9. The Lakeside Symphony Orchestra opened its 48th season on July 27 with a program of “Light Classics.”

10. Carpe Diem String Quartet on June 21 originated at Ohio Wesleyan University and provides many educational programs, but they also can really wow an audience.

11. If you ever have the opportunity to hear the Raleigh Ringers Handbell Choir based in Raleigh, NC, don’t miss it. I’ve never seen such huge handbells!

12. And oh do we love Riders in the Sky who’ve performed in all 50 states, and here at Lakeside a number of times. They sing cowboy music.

13. Usually we don’t have secular music programs on Sunday evening, but this year on May 29 (Memorial Day week-end) the performers were Phil Dirt and the Dozers. This incredibly talented group can sing anything, but are particularly famous for their 50s and 60s music, and are great fun to watch and listen to.

The last sunset

Summer for the Bruces is over on Labor Day week-end. We returned to Columbus on Sunday, so this last Sunset was either Friday or Saturday. Sunsets and sunrises this summer were not as spectacular as some--the heat and haze blocked a lot.

Obama's New Old Jobs Program

It's busy work Mr. President. The stimulus (ARRA) didn't stimulate--that one mile of sidewalk in my neighborhood didn't produce anything the community couldn't afford. And FDR's WPA didn't create jobs it was a relief program for able bodied workers. And no business can take a "tax break" if they don't have a product or a market--and you've killed both.

On a visit to Asia, the late economist Milton Friedman observed workers digging a canal, using shovels. He asked a government bureaucrat why they weren't using modern excavation machinery. The answer: "You don't understand. This is a jobs program." Friedman replied, "Oh, I thought you were trying to build a canal. If it's jobs you want, then you should give the workers spoons, not shovels."

Gov't Is Job Killer, Not Creator - Investors.com

Dear POTUS: If we can’t believe you on civility… | The Anchoress

The Anchoress writes:
"I have one question. When you get up there before the joint-session of Congress, with your “You-are-the-only-folks-keeping-the-barbarians-from-the-gates” Vice President seated behind you, and you tell us you have a plan, and that it is a plan for all Americans, knowing that the whole nation (and every man and woman in that chamber) is aware that Teamsters leader Jimmy Hoffa referred to “your army” and called for the opposition “sons of bitches” to be “taken out” while you said nothing, gave no correction, made no rebuke — not even by way of a later statement, how will you make them believe you?

Mr. President, we all remember your eloquence in Arizona last January, when you declared that irresponsible rhetoric had no place in public discourse. You said,

“At a time when our discourse has become so sharply polarized – at a time when we are far too eager to lay the blame for all that ails the world at the feet of those who think differently than we do – it’s important for us to pause for a moment and make sure that we are talking with each other in a way that heals, not a way that wounds.”"

Dear POTUS: If we can’t believe you on civility… | The Anchoress

Whodathunkit?

"Single women are in much worse financial condition than other Americans, according to an analysis of the Federal Reserve Board’s most recent Survey of Consumer Finances." an OSU College of Education prof was quoted as being surprised. I'm not.

Labor On--his thoughts about "Labor Day"

"I have wondered how a nation so rich, so vibrant and so innovative could allow its wealth-creation mechanism to be controlled by elected career politicians and appointed bureaucrats. They are not creators or generators of wealth and value. They are parasitic blood-sucking consumers of the labor and inspiration of others." Charles Earl

Little Stuff-minoosha: Labor On

Illegal Immigration--where Bush and Obama were joined at the hip

However, whereas amnesty hurt Bush with his constituency, it helps Obama. So he just commanded it like any petty dictator who wanted cheap votes and even cheaper labor.

"Facing a difficult reelection climate, and frustrated by the inability of his party to move immigration reform legislation through the Congress, Obama has decided to simply ignore existing federal law requiring deportation of illegal aliens in custody. He has decreed that hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants who would otherwise be subject to mandatory deportation, will be permitted to stay in the United States; including many illegals currently enrolled in schools."

Immigration Dispute Has Constitutional Undertones | The Barr Code

Today is G-Day

The last of my hair color will be cut off this morning. It was a shock to me when my mother, aunt, sister, etc. went for the natural look. I felt like I'd aged. My husband and daughter both suggested I go blonde, which brown fades to anyway, but I never really cared for that look. Deborah says she loves saving the money. So, we'll see--if I don't like it I can always go back to color.

Brown, 2007

Blonde, 2003

Brown, 1981

Brown, 1971

Brown, 1964

Ask Amy: Husband’s crisis throws wife a curveball

It's really naive for a wife left behind to assume "no other woman is involved" after the husband decides to leave after 30 years. Wake up and smell the coffee, lady. Or maybe it's another man. But something doesn't pass the sniff test here.

Ask Amy: Husband’s crisis throws wife a curveball - The Washington Post

Did you evolve from slime, ooze and sludge?

Here's what the guys who think you did, think of you if you believe the Bible (In the beginning God. . .; In the beginning was the Word. . .; He is before all things. . . ; Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation?. . . ):

"It is very troubling to think that with all the billions of dollars we have spent on "education" that we have so may uneducated people. It's even more troubling to think about how the trillions of dollars wasted on religious "stuff" (buildings and properties, salaries, lawsuit settlements, velvet slippers and gold chapeaux, etc., etc.) could have been better served invested in new technology, basic research, infrastructure construction and maintenance, "real" education, social services, etc.). Shameful foolishness."

Found at a "science" blog comment.

Late July Organic Dark Chocolate Sandwich Cookies

I picked up two boxes of these dark chocolate sandwich cookies at Giant Eagle today. Oh my, they are just as good as I'd hoped they would be.

Ingredients: Organic wheat flour, organic evaporated cane juice, organic palm oil, organic powdered evaporated cane juice with organic corn starch, organic whole wheat flour, organic cocoa, organic cocoa (processed with alkali), organic chocolate liquor, organic cocoa butter, organic brown rice syrup, organic evaporated cane juice syrup organic roasted barley, organic vanilla extract, sodium bicarbonate, soy lecithin, sea salt and natural flavors.

Other bits of information from the box: We are family owned and operated and all our products are certified USDA Organic (Steve, Nicole & Family). Logos for USDA Organic (green and white), whole grain (gold) and Vegan (white).

On box: (Cardboard box, plastic tray and foil wrap.) Produced without dangerous pesticides. No trans fats or high fructose corn syrup. No artificial flavors, colors or preservatives. Kosher and Vegan. Antioxidants. 2 g whole grains per serving (3 cookies, 33 g).

The name (Late July): “Late July is a moment in time when life is simple, pure and good. It’s watching your child laughing and playing with his dog on the beach. It’s the middle of summer when you’re knee deep in sand castles and problems are a million miles away. . . A constant reminder that our ingredients need to be a special and pure as the moments they represent.

Remember ladies, dark chocolate is good for you!