Cook County Commissioner William Beavers was convicted on March 21, 2013 on tax-evasion charges at the federal courthouse in downtown Chicago. A jury found Beavers guilty on one count of corruptly impeding the Internal Revenue Service and three counts of filing a false federal income tax return for 2006, 2007 and 2008.
Others and there are many.
He did a great filibuster (it was actually a non-filibuster thanks to Harry making up more rules, but you know what I mean).
HARTFORD, CT, May 31, 2012 – Members of Generation X – the 35 million Americans born between 1965 and 1972 – have become less Christian and less Republican over the course of their adult lives, a new study [2012] by Trinity College shows.
Striking declines in the number of Catholics and Baptists combined with sharp increases in the number of non-denominational Christians and those claiming no religious affiliation (Nones) show increased religious polarization in this generation, even as its political re-orientation towards the Democratic Party has been accompanied by modest growth in the number of political independents.
Born in the wake of the Second Vatican Council in 1965, the Gen X-ers constituted the most Catholic generational cohort in American history, with fully one-third of them identifying as Catholics in 1990. But two decades later, approximately one out of five had fallen away from the faith. It was only thanks to the addition of approximately one million Latino Catholics their own age that the proportion of Gen X Catholics decreased to only 26 percent of the cohort.
In addition, shifts in religious identification since 1990 have resulted in the ranks of the Nones swelling by 67 percent (2.2 million persons) and those in the conservative, non-denominational Generic Christian tradition growing by 51 percent (1.8 million). Put another way, the percentage of self-proclaimed Nones increased from 11 percent to 16 percent of this cohort between 1990 and 2008. This increase is surprising since Americans have historically increased their religious identification between early adulthood and their mid-40s, as they marry, have children, and become settled in their communities.
Those were among the key findings of a new report by Barry Kosmin and Juhem Navarro-Rivera at Trinity College, who looked at the religious and political affiliations of Generation X, whose members reached adulthood during an era when American society was much influenced by the Christian Right. The findings are important as predictors about the future of American society, particularly the relationship between religion and politics, issues that have been front and center during this year’s presidential campaign.
The data are derived from the American Religious Identification Survey (ARIS), a large, nationally representative sample of adults in the Continental United States. The surveys were conducted in 1990 and again in 2008, highlighting trends over an 18-year period. The 1990 ARIS involved 113,723 respondents, including 16,959 adults between the ages of 18 and 25 years. The 2008 ARIS had an overall sample size of 54,461, with 6,407 respondents between the ages of 36 and 43 years.
“Generation X has shifted its allegiances to a surprising degree” said Barry Kosmin, director of the Institute for the Study of Secularism in Society and Culture (ISSSC) at Trinity. “Many in this generation of Americans have abandoned their religious roots and political affiliations in adulthood. Historically and sociologically, that’s an unexpected development.”
In terms of political affiliation, Gen X-ers leaned Republican by 5 percentage points in 1990 (34 percent to 29 percent Democratic), but in 2008 they favored the Democratic Party by 7 percentage points (33 percent to 26 percent Republican) This partisan shift away from the GOP was even more pronounced among Generation X Nones. In 1990, Nones were evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans, but by 2008, Nones leaned Democratic by more than 2 to 1 (33 percent to 15 percent).
“The fact that identification with religion declined among Generation X as they aged suggests that the secularization of Americans is not just about young people from today’s Millennial Generation abandoning religion because it has become too politicized,” said Juhem Navarro-Rivera, a research fellow at the ISSSC. “It is also an ongoing and wider process that involves older generations in American society, as exemplified by Generation X.”
The report’s religion data are based on responses to the question: What is your religion, if any? And the political party data are based on responses to the question: Generally speaking, do you usually think of yourself as a Republican, Democrat or Independent?
For more information about the ARIS series methodology, please visit: http://commons.trincoll.edu/aris/about-aris/metholodogy.
To download a copy of - The Transformation of Generation X: Shifts in Religious and Political Self-Identification, 1990-2008 please visit:
http://commons.trincoll.edu/aris/files/2012/05/ARISGENX2012.pdf
Barry A. Kosmin and Juhem Navarro-Rivera. "The Transformation of Generation X: Shifts in Religious and Political Self-Identification, 1990-2008" Faculty Scholarship (2012).
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/jnr_prri/4
“Over the weekend, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her center-right party won the biggest election victory of any chancellor since East and West Germany were reunited. Ordinarily, Americans aren’t that interested in other nations’ elections. But this could be one more domino in an emerging worldwide shift from left to right. First, Australian voters threw out the progressives after six disastrous years and elected a conservative leader who vowed to undo all their job-killing policies. Something similar happened in Norway. In Colorado, two liberal state senators who forced gun control onto the public were recalled. France hasn’t had an election yet, but the voters are drowning in buyer’s remorse for electing Socialist President Francois Hollande. His approval rating is a record-low 23 percent.
And now in Germany, conservative leader Angela Merkel not only triumphed, but support for the progressive Green Party cratered after they proposed a weekly “meatless” meal day. Germans who once lived under communism said they’ve had enough of politicians trying to control every aspect of their lives, even down to what they eat for lunch.
I’ve always said that nothing makes people want to vote for conservatives like putting liberals in charge for a year or two. If this backlash against big government overreach is as widespread as it seems, then our 2014 elections might be very interesting, indeed. And if the Republicans do win big, it might be hard to say who they have to thank more: Barack Obama for trying to force Obamacare down Americans’ throats, or Michelle Obama for trying to force broccoli down our throats.”
Planet Gore at National Review Online
“Antarctic sea ice has grown to a record large extent for a second straight year, baffling scientists seeking to understand why this ice is expanding rather than shrinking in a warming world.
On Saturday, the ice extent reached 19.51 million square kilometers, according to data posted on the National Snow and Ice Data Center Web site. That number bested record high levels set earlier this month and in 2012 (of 19.48 million square kilometers). Records date back to October 1978.
The increasing ice is especially perplexing since the water beneath the ice has warmed, not cooled.”
But there’s a problem. While the climate models confidently predicted that temperatures would maintain an inexorable rise in the 21st century, in fact, although more and more greenhouse gases have been pumped into the atmosphere, the global temperature has resolutely refused to budge.
So the IPCC’s dilemma is this. How can it expect the public to believe that recent warming is mostly manmade when the models on which it has based this claim have been shown to be fatally flawed?
But they are certain anyway . . .
One of the expected conclusions of the report to be released Friday in Stockholm from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) -- the international group that assesses the science related to climate change and its impacts -- is that there's 95% certainty that man-made global warming is real. A 2007 IPCC report put the confidence level at about 90%.
Senator Reid calls Republicans anarchists, and Rep. Pelosi calls them arsonists. That's pretty stiff language for people who thought the Occupiers were just great. All because the U.S. should not take on more debt? She's the one who said she didn't read the bill on healthcare. Now that we know it’s going to increase costs and still leave millions without health insurance, she's gets all bitchy?
http://www.wnd.com/2013/09/reid-goes-ballistic-on-tea-party-anarchists/
Many countries are being depopulated, not by war, but by birth control, abortion and natural death. Europe, Korea and Japan can't replace their own any longer, and have too few children being born to maintain the pensions and retirement costs (like medical and other social services) of their parents and grandparents. A total fertility rate of 2.07 is required to maintain population and Japan’s is 1.39. China, too, doesn't have enough young people, or women to continue its economic revolution. But globalists and leftists in the United States continue the push for abortion and gender selection and households with no children. Almost as though they had a plan to take over when certain developed countries are took weak and depopulated to fight back.
Both liberals and conservatives have ideas about people on food stamps that need adjusting. If you volunteer at a food pantry you'll see another side. I've worked the Lutheran food pantry in Columbus (3 days of food usually run by churches in most communities) and found people dependent on government programs are very resourceful, and if they have a special diet, they request those items. They also "budget" to a degree and manage to make their food last all but 3 days so they can come to the pantry at the end of the month. They will also turn down food if their children don't like it, or are getting breakfast, lunch and snacks at school. And like the rest of us, they pick out what they like even if they know better. Most that I observed look like they wouldn't be able to hold a job--alcoholics, pot heads, mentally ill, small children at home, elderly, handicapped, low IQ, or no transportation. With other federal and state benefits, a person on welfare in Ohio "earns" about $12.60/hour or about what an entry level teacher would get; in Hawaii they would get the equivalent of about $29/hour. That's another reason they are not working. They don't have the skills to earn that much and with TANF, Medicaid, SNAP, WIC, section 8 housing, HEAP, etc. they are better off not to work.
This is not to say there aren’t people down on their luck or in between jobs who need occasional help, but that’s rarely the regulars I see at the pantry. When a carpenter or stock broker loses his job and the mortgage is upside down or they’ve been through foreclosure, they need help too.
“Negotiation is how the Founders intended for things to work. They knew that people would disagree, but in negotiation and bargaining, all would come to something that was right for the country and about which everyone could at least accept, if not really agree. Mr. Obama has never really understood the office he holds, and it is always about him, not the country." Wall St. Journal 9-24-13, commenting on the lies Obama told himself and the nation about "never in the history of this country" yada, yada, when in fact 25 times since 1973 this has happened. I guess private schools (he never attended a public school) don't do any better with history than public schools. Or maybe it was that darn teleprompter again.
So Obama is expressing our national grief and concern about al-qaeda Somalis killing Christians and others in a Kenyan Mall (some of them possibly Somali-Americans), while at the same time arming al-qaeda linked rebels in Syria who are killing Christians and others. Does this make any sense?
http://news.yahoo.com/somalias-shebab-claims-responsibility-nairobi-mall-attack-182747786.html
Kenyatta, who called for patience, said he had received "numerous offers of assistance from friendly countries" but that for now it remained a Kenyan operation.
However, a Kenyan security source confirmed that Israelis "are rescuing the hostages and the injured". The Israeli foreign ministry refused to confirm or deny its agents were involved.
Sharon Jaynes writes at her website:
“Once I had a door-to-door vacuum salesman come to my house. To my detriment, I let him in. Before I could convince him I did not need a new vacuum cleaner, he had his demonstration trash sprinkled all over my foyer floor. Almost two hours later, I finally got him to leave.
What was my first mistake? You know it! My first mistake was to let him cross the threshold of my doorway and enter my house. Once he was in, it was difficult to get him out. It is the same way with our thoughts. Once we entertain a thought, once we allow the “salesman” to scatter his “trash” in our minds, it is hard to dismiss it or push it back out again. The place of easiest victory is at the threshold; don’t even let the trash in the door. It has been said, “Every spiritual battle is won or lost at the threshold of the mind.” I think victory is possible once the thought has passed over the threshold, but it sure will save us a lot of heartache and pain if we begin to recognize Satan’s lies and reject them from the start.”
I came across this looking for the exact citation for, “Hold every thought captive for Christ.” (Paul) The complete wording and citation is, For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5)
At this age, I wouldn’t make the mistake of letting in a salesman of anything unless I had invited him or called for an appointment, but my goodness, the dust and dirt still creeps in and I find ways to avoid cleaning it up (often checking FB or my blog instead). Better to have a good seal and filter so there isn’t so much to clean up later.
I eat walnuts everyday for breakfast—like their shape, I hope they are brain food 
Walnuts are known as the healthy nut. They are high in calories but you only need about 1 ounce a day (14 halves) to get the benefit of this great food. Walnuts contain higher amounts of omega-3 fatty acids than other nuts. Omega-3 fatty acids help lower triglycerides and blood pressure. My doctor is amazed that my blood pressure is perfect and I’ve never had any problems with high blood pressure. There are studies showing that omega-3 fatty acids may help with other conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, depression, and many more. Walnuts are a great source of protein, rich in fiber, B vitamins, magnesium and antioxidants such as vitamin E. Studies are showing they increase blood flow for type 2 diabetes. Melatonin is a hormone that decreases in our bodies as we age and melatonin improves sleep. Walnuts have melatonin. Do you have trouble sleeping? Eat a handful at night before going to bed. I have seen Dr. Oz talk about the health benefits of walnuts on his show. Dr. Oz said he carries them in his pockets to eat as a healthy snack and he never gets hungry during the day.
Walnuts are great in salads, desserts, cereal, oatmeal, yogurt and granola. Not all nuts are the same. Walnuts are unique in their many health benefits.
Tommy Bond “Butch” died in 2005 after a long and successful career directing and producing in TV. Served in WWII and graduated from college in 1951. Most of them, however, did not have a long and happy or successful life.
Pete the Pup – (? –1930) - An unknown assailant poisoned the original Pete.
Carl Switzer “Alfalfa” (8/07/27 – 1/21/59) was shot to death at age 31.
Robert Hutchins "Wheezer" - (3/29/25 - 3/17/45) - Died in an airplane accident at the age of 19.
William Robert Laughlin "Froggy" - (7/05/32 - 8/31/48) - Died in a bicycle accident at the age of 16.
Robert H. Young "Bonedust" – (9/15/17 - 9/10/51) - Died in a hotel fire, which started when he fell asleep smoking in bed.
Dorothy Dandridge "Dorothy" – (11/09/23 – 9/08/65) - Committed suicide after an investment scheme caused her to go bankrupt.
Harold Switzer "Deadpan" or "Slim" - (1/16/25 - 4/14/67) – As was the case with his brother, Harold was also killed following a dispute with another man.
Scotty Beckett "Scotty" - (10/04/29 - 5/10/68) – Died in a Hollywood nursing home after being severely beaten two days prior to his admittance. A bottle of pills and a note were found at the scene, however the coroner never determined the exact cause of death. He was just 38 years old.
Darla Hood "Darla" - (11/08/31 - 6/13/79) - Hospitalized for hepatitis in 1979, she soon died under what was later ruled to be "suspicious circumstances."
Kendall McComas "Breezy Brisbane" - (10/29/16 - 10/15/81) - Two weeks before his 65th birthday and apparent forced retirement from the U.S. Naval Weapons Center in China Lake, California, he committed suicide.
Robert Blake "Mickey" - (9/18/33 - present) - On April 18, 2002, he was arrested and charged with the murder of his wife, Bonnie Lee Bakely.
Darwood Kaye "Waldo" - (9/08/29 - 5/15/2002) - Killed by a hit and run driver while walking on the sidewalk.
Jay R. Smith "Jay R" - (8/29/15 - 10/05/2002) - Stabbed to death and left in the desert by a homeless man he had befriended.
William "Billie" Thomas, Jr. “Buckwheat” (3/12/1931 – 10/10/ 80) heart attack.
Wikipedia lists the others.
Most of this is from http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/notorious_murders/celebrity/carl_switzer/8.html
No President in my memory has so reflexively blamed SOMEONE ELSE for his failings: The economy. The Middle East mess threatening more wars. Arming al-qaeda in Syria. 73% of the losses in Afghanistan have been under Obama. Gun violence on military bases. Benghazi. Using the IRS to attack political enemies. NSA snooping. Operating without a budget (even when he had both houses). Obamacare train wreck and exempting cronies and campaign donors. Bailouts for unions and banks. Misspent AARA funding. The redline fiasco. On and on. I lose track. He is succeeding in destroying our country, perhaps it was in the plans all along. Nixon or Carter would be a breath of sanity and fresh air.
Spiraling health care costs. We've heard it so often it's burned in our national soul. But 100 years ago, health care was 5% of consumer income, and today it is 6%. Entertainment has soared as a percent of income, as has transportation. Where's the outrage? Food has dropped from 40% of consumer income to 15%, and if you cut eating out, it would drop even more. If a pill costs $100/week instead of pennies like an aspirin (which won't keep us alive), we are outraged, but don't consider the 10 years of research and FDA approvals and the recovery costs. We want the best when we go to the hospital for surgery or illness, but we want someone else to pay the bill and seem to want the RNs and doctors, cooks and janitors to work for free.
What has increased is the amount of government in our health care, not just in research, but in expensive, ever growing regulation of the insurance industry (they are now same species partners), plus creating a new bureaucracy and red tape that steps between us and our doctors. And now despite the soaring graft, payola and crime in Medicare, Medicaid, VA, S-CHIP, state programs and insurance companies, Obama wants an even fatter layer of government, plus he wants the IRS which is embroiled in its own scandal supervising it. (Can't wait for the IRS, NSA, our electronic medical record and the i-phone fingerprint to all be linked.) Whether or not the ACA was designed it to crash the economy is no longer the issue; that is what has resulted as we’re still struggling with Obama’s recovery.
No matter how liberal you think campuses are, it's worse. 62% of colleges and universities have unconstitutional speech codes. This one prevented copies of the Constitution from being distributed on Constitution Day.
A police officer at Modesto Junior College in California told a patriotic libertarian student that it was against college rules for him to hand out copies of the U.S. Constitution on campus.
Ironically, this flagrant violation of the student’s Constitutional rights took place on September 17th: Constitution Day.
The exchange between student Robert Van Tuinen and a campus police officer was captured on video. Tuinen told the officer that he wished to start a Young Americans for Liberty chapter on campus, and hoped that passing out copies of the Constitution would generate interest in that. The officer, however, maintained that Van Tuinen was not allowed to distribute flyers without college authorization.
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