"" Running Rabbit: 2010
DEDICATED TO THE PROPOSITION THAT A BLOG CAN EXIST WITHOUT TRAFFIC, AND PROOF THAT SUCH CONCEPT IS WORKABLE, IS IN THE WORKS HERE, AND SHALL CONTINUE ON IN OBSCURITY FOR PERPETUITY.

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Can You Be Keynesian If You Are Not From Kenya?

Life is so strange, just when I had given up on Adriana Huffington, her blog posted this expose demonstrating the ignorance of rabid Obama supporters. God save this country from voters like these people! And, here is hoping this experience brings AH back from the uber-left.

Someone is blocking the accompanying video of the ill-informed demonstrators, and that is too bad.



Let's make one thing clear: John Maynard Keynes was an influential British economist who believed governments should intervene to help their economies.

Being a "Keynesian" means you subscribe to Keynes' ideas. It does not mean you are from Kenya.

But when asked by comedy group the Partisans if President Obama is a Keynesian, some apparently random people (for the country's sake, we hope they were planted) at the weekend's Rally to Restore Sanity had this to say:

"That he's Keynesian? Like he's not American? Is that what you're saying?"

Another said: "He was born in Hawaii. That is a state of the United States. He is born here legally, and he is an awesome president."

And another added: "It doesn't matter. All right, maybe it would matter on his views on things. But, like, most of us come from, you know, Ireland, Germany, Italy, you know, most of us come from different countries."

Finally, one woman got truly apoplectic at the question, shouting: "WHAT PROOF DO YOU WANT? HE GAVE YOU PROOF! HE GAVE YOU PROOF! HE WAS BORN IN HAWAII!"

So, What, He Doesn't Like Them Anymore?

“One of the reasons I made that mistake is that I paid particular attention to the farmers in my home state of Tennessee, and I had a certain fondness for the farmers in the state of Iowa because I was about to run for president.” - Al Gore

Two Foot Long Razor Blades

TSA, what is that, Russian for sheeple?

Adam Savage is on fire!

The Kitty And The Bunny

I had a dream last night that I was given three cats. Two of them were easy to care for and quickly became at home with their new surroundings. The third, an orange brown little rascal never made eye contact and soon was not to be found. I busied myself laying out quarters for the dart game. Then a small white bunny appeared. It occurred to me that my sister, who had given me the kitties, was looking for their bunny. I went inside to phone her when I discovered all but three of my quarters were missing. This was quite puzzling. So, I began to look around for what happened to my quarters. Now the bunny and the orange brown kitty were together and they headed for a tree in the back yard. When I came upon the other side of the tree I found a hole at the base with the roots forming two shallow and adjoining open compartments. From the one on the left came the white bunny. From the one on the right came the orange brown kitty. And, as they stepped away I saw my quarters, there, among the nest of small roots and leaves covering the bottom of the right compartment. The orange brown kitty was a hoarder and had taken all of my quarters, including the three left behind before.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

A Schiavo Economy

With apologies to her friends and family; this idea came to me as a way to demonstrate the absurd management of our nation's financial situation. The idea came to me while watching the latest episode of Family Guy, with Rush Limbaugh as guest.

At one point Rush's character says;
Wherever there's a woman in need of expensive life support her husband doesn't want, I'll be there.

Again, with apologies; isn't our current economic situation somewhat analogous to a person on life support? Or, at least, aren't there points of comparison between the two which are instructional to how they are seen by each side? Let me try to torture out the connection, as it came to me.

Unable to live on their own, expensive to keep going, continued existence valued, husband doesn't want to to pay the price.

As a brief description of the Terri Sciavo's situation those phrases have meaning, but, could we not replace those statements with the following and describe our economic woes?

Businesses failing of their own management, government bailouts cost a fortune, too big to fail, the taxpayer doesn't want to pay the price.

Crude, but accurate? I saw a parallel, is it really there? Can it be helpful in explaining the insanity in this government's economic recovery strategy?

(section of television show containing quote)

Full version of Family Guy episode here:

Monday, October 4, 2010

One Nation Of Slobs


So, the story is this; a group decided to have a counter rally to the one organized by Glenn Beck (8/28), so they hired buses to carry their labor buddies to Washington. They claimed their get together was not in reaction to the 8/28 Rally but announced their hope to exceed the attendance of that event. Why? If not to beat Beck, then why the comparison? Because they lie when they say it isn't about out-doing Beck, that's why. The picture above shows they failed, 8/28 is on the left, One Nation on the right.

Then, (to keep save face?), the speakers make the comparison during the Rally.


But, in comparing, they choose to fool their audience by comparing the attendance to the DAY AFTER the 8/28 Rally! And the crowd was probably dumb enough to buy it.

Apparently, Litter Is The New Green

That's progress?

Of cours, these are the same people who have pushed our society toward a greater reliance on others to do for us. The, so-called, entitlement mentality. The thinking at this rally must have been, 'leave it, someone else will pick up after us'.

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Enough Already

VOTE THEM OUT!

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Islamophobia, A Condition Mostly Affecting Muslims

Yes, that is what I said, most of the people who fear Islam are Muslims.

Sure, there are a great many in the world who fear the totalitarian rule which some seek to impose on the world in the name of Islam. Of course, sane people fear they could become victim to the violent acts of radical Islamists. But, most of those people fear the consequences, not the religion as motive for the subjugation and death brought forth in the name of Islam. Most people don't accept that such treatment is the result of religion. Thus, they don't blame Islam, or fear Islam, they blame/fear the nut jobs who seek to do them harm. That said nuts say they do it as part of Islam is a ruse easily detected and rejected by non-Muslims.

It is Muslims who accept the phony religious precepts behind the crimes, as being acts of their faith, and fear Islam. It is those who believe that killing the infidel is worthy who fear Islam. It is those who accept Sharia Law that are Islamophobic. It is those who respect the religious leaders who issue Fatwas who fear Islam. It is especially every Muslim who believes Islam to be a religion of peace, and who live their own lives expecting and giving peace, and yet do nothing to disqualify the so-called religious leaders who do not lay it on the line to denounce, reject, and extinguish every attachment between Islam and deeds of violence and subjugation toward non-believers who fear Islam.

It is Muslims who fear Islam, what other reason could there be for there capitulation in the face of non-peaceful leadership and teachings? None. They are cowards these Islamophobic Muslims, they are cowards. They can see the contradictions between pledges of peace and deeds counter to peace. They know when to lie (Taqqiya) to hide the truth that their professed religion is a sham. They are aware of every inconsistency and obfuscation in the laws of Islam and by its proponents and yet they do nothing; because they are afraid. They accept all of the disarray as being a part of their religion, and they are too afraid to do anything about it; it is Muslims who are Islamophobic, oh yes it is.

Monday, September 13, 2010

Islamic Concepts You Should Know

Today we present Taqiyya and Kitman, two concepts from the Koran which promote deceit; also known as lying!

Here are two sources for explanation of these Islamic Laws.

Wikipedia

The Religion of Peace

There are two forms of lying to non-believers that are permitted under certain circumstances, taqiyya and kitman. These circumstances are typically those that advance the cause Islam - in some cases by gaining the trust of non-believers in order to draw out their vulnerability and defeat them.


That is what we are dealing with every time we converse with Muslims, they will lie to promote their agenda. So what, you say, we all do? Fair enough, but do we have Laws that exonerate us from and encourage us to lie, even under oath?

Friday, September 10, 2010

Imam Rauf Is Confused, Scared And Generally A Goof, At Best

By way of introduction I offer Michele Malkin's response to the news from the Ground Zero Mosque's Imam that Americans will pay in blood if the Mosque is moved.

Shhhhhhh, we're told. Don't protest the Ground Zero mosque. Don't burn a Koran. It'll imperil the troops. It'll inflame tensions. The "Muslim world" will "explode" if it does not get its way, warns sharia-peddling imam Feisal Abdul Rauf. Pardon my national security-threatening impudence, but when is the "Muslim world" not ready to "explode"?

At the risk of provoking the ever-volatile Religion of Perpetual Outrage, let us count the little-noticed and forgotten ways.

Just a few months ago in Kashmir, faithful Muslims rioted over what they thought was a mosque depicted on underwear sold by street vendors. The mob shut down businesses and clashed with police over the blasphemous skivvies. But it turned out there was no need for Allah's avengers to get their holy knickers in a bunch. The alleged mosque was actually a building resembling London's St. Paul's Cathedral. A Kashmiri law enforcement official later concluded the protests were "premeditated and organized to vitiate the atmosphere."

Indeed, art and graphics have an uncanny way of vitiating the Muslim world's atmosphere. In 1994, Muslims threatened German supermodel Claudia Schiffer with death after she wore a Karl Lagerfeld-designed dress printed with a saying from the Koran. In 1997, outraged Muslims forced Nike to recall 800,000 shoes because they claimed the company's "Air" logo looked like the Arabic script for "Allah." In 1998, another conflagration spread over Unilever's ice cream logo -- which Muslims claimed looked like "Allah" if read upside-down and backward (can't recall what they said it resembled if you viewed it with 3D glasses).

Even more explosively, in 2002, an al-Qaida-linked jihadist cell plotted to blow up Bologna, Italy's Church of San Petronio because it displayed a 15th century fresco depicting Mohammed being tormented in the ninth circle of Hell. For years, Muslims had demanded that the art come down. Counterterrorism officials in Europe caught the would-be bombers on tape scouting out the church and exclaiming, "May Allah bring it all down. It will all come down."

Cont.

Imam Rauf, the man who couldn't foresee that the plans to build an Islamic Mosque at Ground Zero, (within a building struck by parts of a plane on 9/11/2001), would be a provocative move, now thinks it is his place to tell us what we already know; radical Islam is out to get us! Where does this guy get the idea that we need his leadership ominous instruction. We don't need his instruction, he needs ours.

The short-sighted Imam does not acknowledge the most glaring problem we face today. Radical Islam is a homicide sect which will make excuses to kill regardless of how behave. Instead he accuses those who oppose the location of his shrine as the being the intolerant ones. He seems to think we have forgotten that the terrorists have been killing us at every opportunity for decades. He seems to think that if he says we are wrong that we will accept his spiel. He seems ignorant, at best, that his pronouncement may be seen by the radical Muslims as a call to action. He appears to be a fifth columnist. He seems every bit the tool we suspect him of being. And, these impressions of him are his burden to carry, not ours.

I note that he made his most recent statements after his US Government paid trip to the Middle East. Or, should I call it his in-person consultations with his Islamic handlers? He certainly returned none the wiser to American sensibilities. His actions since his return have only increased tensions. We never heard of this man before this Mosque plan, and we won't miss him if he goes way.

This man should leave the public arena. He does not know how to further peaceful relations between Muslims and non-Muslims. He is doing nothing to quell the insanity abroad. He is doing nothing to insure domestic tranquility.

But, of course he won't just go away. So, it is left to us to tell him what he should do next.

  • First, humble yourself before the American public and acknowledge that you are an embarrassment as a domestic diplomat, and frightened beyond reason of the radical element in your religion thus making yourself useless in the war against terror.
  • Secondly, do whatever you must to move the Mosque beyond the territory damaged by the Islam-inspired murders of 9/11.
  • Thirdly, buck up and put your own safety on the line in the advancement humankind. Use your position as an Islamic holy man to instruct Muslims, both foreign and domestic, to stand down from anger and violence in reaction to the move. Be the symbol of Muslim reform toward a faith absent from insecurity and retribution. Cull from the Koran all sections which inspire or prescribe hatred, domination, and intolerance; and burn them yourself as a symbolic act.
  • Fourth, further bolster the education of Muslims to the beneficence of the the USA, and to the erroneous myth that America is anti-Muslim.
  • Fifth, Denounce those who choose to not accept the the USA is a source of good in the world.
  • Sixth, repeat steps three through six ad infinite until Islam gets it and truly becomes a religion of peace.
In other words; Imam Rauf, put up, or shut up! In this entire matter you have done nothing to make us respect you, it is time for YOU to grow! It is time for your religion to reform!

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Blue Pill, Red Pill

Time For The Religion Of Peace Reformation

I have been of a mind for some time to explain the need for Islam to reform. Hardly an original idea. But, one that has not been actualized and so needs repeating. In fact, an explanation of why Islam should reform is too obvious for explanation. Its adherents are lead by its tenets to be militant and domineering. And those that wish to live as peaceful Muslims are powerless to repudiate the radical element which lives and dies with the violent side of Islam. A reformation would delineate the two groups in a way which outsiders could appreciate. It would make it possible for suspicions of all Muslims to end at the Mosque portal.

Though, it would also put the reformed adherents right in the cross hairs of the radical elements' weapons; and I mean that in a literal sense. Muslims will die if they reform the religion. Bank on it. But, don't mourn for them, it is the price they will need to pay to wrest control of their faith from those who seek to subjugate them, (and non-believers as well). A high price, but a more worthy death than comes from those who kill in the name of Islam. And, a route to Paradise with honor. Converting Islam to a practice of faith in Allah (God), and a method of association with him irrespective to the temporal is a worthy cause. If Allah (God) really wanted some people to be more special than others he could accomplish that goal on his own, right? So, the portions which dehumanize the Earth's peoples are false witness to his wishes.

So, how does one go about reforming Islam? Edit the Koran, it is that simple. Remove all passages which promote violence, take out all reference to Islam as the master religion, lighten up on the total control of adherents lives, eliminate reference to controlling non-believers (Dhimmitude), add passages which increase tolerance for women and homosexuals, abolish deceit as a holy act. And, not being THE Koran expert of experts I stop my list here. But, I make no representation that these are the only changes needed. Change of leadership is clearly needed, and whether that means different people or just education for existing Imams is an open question. For there to be a religion of peace developed out of Islam there need to be massive changes and a well defined difference between the reformed and the archaic will be clear to all. The archaic will need to be made extinct, of course, for they and people dedicated to peace can never coexist. Voluntary extinction suits me, just as long as that means conversion and not suicide murder. But, one way or another the evil in the Koran must go and those who adhere to those ideals must go as well.

Muhammad was a man not a deity, and God (Allah) spoke to him; it can happen again. In my way of believing it happens to me continually; it is up to me to listen. Sometimes God speaks to me through others, I suggest that approach for he who reforms Islam; listen, and learn.

Remember, the higher powers exist without man's consent. So, whether you call the higher power, God, nature, science, or whatever; it existed before you did, and will be there when you are gone. Religion, however, is a man-made entity, even if you believe it was created at the direction of God. Man can change religion, that is within man's power. And, there is no time like the present to make use of that power.

ROPO

The "Religion of perpetual outrage", thank you Michele Malkin for that acronym. (delivered on this morning's version of Fox and Friends)

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Angel And The Dream


Angel McCoughtry, learn that name.




I came to know of her when she played for the University of Louisville Women's basketball team. Now she is a Pro. A number one draft pick after her senior season. And she keeps getting better and better.

Last night she led her Atlanta Dream squad to the WNBA Finals; I'm believing she will lead them to the Title as well. But, even in the Louisville newspaper they forget to mention her. When I learned this morning, on television, that she had scored 42 points (an WNBA playoffs record) and her team was headed to the Finals I was flabbergasted, her anonymity within the sports pages had lead me to believe her team was already eliminated; when in reality they had been tearing through the Eastern Conference from a 4th seed to win the tournament. As I normally do each morning I looked at the local paper in Louisville for their story on her feats; nothing, not one word. I chose to send the Courier-Journals my snide reaction to her absence from their morning paper.

I notice in your online paper this morning the lack of notice of Angel McCoughtry's outstanding performance last night. You may remember her, she starred in basketball for the University of Louisville just a few years ago. Well, last night she scored a personal best 42 points in leading her professional team, the Atlanta Dream, to the WNBA finals.

I follow your paper regularly from my home in Florida, and I haven't seen her name mentioned for quite some time. So, let me give you some perspective on what last night means. It means we have the female equivalent of when Wes Unseld led the Bullets to the Finals (and a Championship) to add to the town's basketball resume. And that is a big deal. The Courier Journal should assign one of its reporters to follow this story, and then CJ should print what is learned with pride.

And the hometown Louisville newspaper isn't the only one who is forgetting to remember her:

Last night while watching Angel McCoughtry drop 42 points on the New York Liberty in the Eastern Conference Finals, Bethlehem Shoals of AOL Fanhouse said something that caught me off guard.

"Why have you never told me about this woman?"

I was at a loss for words for a few moments while frantically trying to scan the numerous winding conversations we'd had about basketball for just one mention of McCoughtry. I couldn't think of one time where we'd discussed her. Even during the NBA All-Star game when she played in the celebrity game.

And that's just bizarre -- McCoughtry is obviously a player I've had on my radar for a while.






Now you have heard the name.
She is a winner!
A dream come true.
And, perhaps the player that revolutionizes the WNBA.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Hmmmmm

Anthony Johnson First Slave Owner In The Americas

And he was what?

Apparently some mistakes are not specific to any one group.

Update: Wikipedia changes over time, the influential portion of the biography is diluted now, so here is another source which makes if clear that a black man was the first slave holder in America.

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Iraq, Won Before The Ascension of Barry



This video is the product of Congressman John Boehner's office.

One of the most telling parts is when the newsman says that the lack of violence means there was no news from Iraq that day; because, in his mind, good news is no news.

Friday, August 27, 2010

Military May Get Squeezed Out Of Their Vote

Decisions by Washington bureaucrats over the next four weeks will have a profound impact on the upcoming November elections. These bureaucrats will decide whether or not those serving in the military from twelve states will have a full and effective opportunity to participate. If they choose to do anything other than aggressively enforce federal laws protecting military voters, many of those serving our nation won’t have a voice.

Every American can do something about it.

As I have written about before, the MOVE Act — signed into law in October 2009 — set a mandatory minimum time of 45 days before any federal election to mail ballots to overseas voters. MOVE was a rebuke to the bureaucrats who were stuck on a non-statutory 30-day standard used as a minimum in previous elections.

Blind bureaucratic reliance on the 30-day standard resulted in 17,000 overseas ballots not being counted in the 2008 election. The military postal service says 60 days is needed to get ballots to our troops and back again, but a law is only as good as the people enforcing it.


Sounds like criminal negligence to me, but at the very least complete incompetence on the part of those responsible for getting ballots our overseas troops. If this doesn't happen, if our military serving overseas is denied the opportunity to vote; heads should roll!

UPDATE-

In Washington, politicians always like to release bad news on a Friday, as fewer people notice. Today, the Pentagon announced that it had granted the waiver requests of five states seeking to escape requirements to protect military voters.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Klaatu Barada Nikto



Classic science fiction, The Day The Earth Stood Still; the story of an alien visitor who leaves a warning without otherwise altering human civilization, much. Somewhat of a forerunner to the Star Trek credo of not interfering with those they met on their voyage, Klaatu's warning essentially says stop your threatening behavior and we'll leave you to be the jerks you are, or something like that.

Their have been other incarnations of the magical phrase used by the visitor, and even a band named in his honor. The band is also from a foreign place, Canada, not Liverpool.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Immigration's Long Song

Word comes that the current administration is fining employers for employing illegal aliens at a greater rate than that of their predecessor administration. But, they are deporting fewer of the illegal alien workers than did their predecessor. So much for a comprehensive approach to the illegal alien worker problem.

To be clear, I applaud the increased pressure put upon the employer, for they need to be a part of the solution, but not just as a revenue stream for the government. Which, when one considers that the illegal alien is permitted to go down the street and find another job while his former employer is charged for giving him his last job, it is hard to take the government's efforts seriously, and easy for the jaded observer to see it as a scam.

Cue up Marvin Hamlisch's theme from the movie The Sting, and listen to this scenario.

Here's the plan fellows. We'll use our rhetoric as leverage to make the illegals sympathetic figures in the public arena. This will allow us to keep them in the country even after we have identified who they are. Next, we find out who is giving them work and we'll use the law to shake those trees for money. Of course, in order to keep our supply of illegal workers at its present level we'll just turn them loose to find another sucker who buys into our associates claims that hiring illegals is the only way the country's businesses can provide the people with food at affordable rates. It is a perfect Catch 22 for the employer, he is still compelled to hire the worker to for economic reasons, the supply of workers remains high, and we get our cut when we put the squeeze on the entrepreneurial employer trying to keep his company afloat. Oh, and one more thing, we'll need to make it seem unfair for people to ask if someone is legal, just to confuse and frustrate those who think it best to comply with the law as employers. KaChing!

Whereas, a serious attempt to enforce the laws would include doing both enforcement of the employer's obligation to ensure that the employer is legal, and documentation into the system as a criminal, followed by immediate deportation, of the illegal as a disincentive for them to repeat their violation of our sovereignty.

And, then, once these basic steps are being met we can establish a guest worker program, which prefers those who have shown themselves to be good citizens in the past, for temporary entry in our labor market. Then, and this is imperative, we must ensure that the guest worker program is correctly and consistently applied, thereby putting an end to illegal incursion by those only seeking a paycheck. Once all of this has been in place and working correctly, consistently, and, for as much as possible, glitch free; it will time to consider what criteria fits for allowing the guest worker to apply for a permanent place within our society; (these standards should be a high bar to cross with the burden of proof being upon the applicant not our nation and its citizens and governments).

In the present political environment it seems that getting to a resolution to the illegal alien situation is a long way off, the present state of capitulation endures without enough threat to its existence, too often we are just repeating the same stanza in a song that remains the same.

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Total Madness

I knew their song Our House, but did not know the band's name. A mate introduced me to them the other night, I present this video and recommend that you watch at YouTube (which can be accomplished by clicking on the YouTube icon on the video), so that the entire collection will play as intended. They are Madness.

On The Merits Of Purchasing Florida's Lifetime Fishing License

An economic question arises. Should a man only eight years away from being allowed to fish without purchasing a fishing license purchase a lifetime fishing license.

Does it make sense from a cost standpoint? Is the convenience factor enough to balance out any savings over making yearly (or an every five year) purchase of a renewed license? What other are the other benefits to owning a lifetime license?

My interest is mainly in "saltwater fishing", and I am a resident of the state, so we will evaluate the feasibility of buying that lifetime license. A Lifetime Saltwater License (residents only) sells for $301.50. So is that a good deal for me.

The first step to getting our answer is to calculate what yearly and/or five-year licenses would cost over an eight year span. And, to do that we must assume that the current prices will remain stable; a big assumption. However, that is the only data we have to work with, so let's begin with what we know.

Presently, a One-Year Saltwater license costs $17.00.

A Five-year saltwater license sells for $79.00.

A quick calculation shows that buying five Annual licenses would cost $85.00 at current prices the Five-year license saves us $6.00 over five years. Buying consecutive five-year licenses would cost $158.00, (2 x $79), and buying one five-year and three one-year licenses would cost $130.00. So, it makes sense to take the savings and buy a five-year license and three one-year licenses to cover the eight year period instead of eight one-year licenses, or consecutive five-year licenses.

Using that arrangement we arrive at a cost of $130.00 for eight years. However, we are not done because the Lifetime License includes additional permits which we want and would have to purchase separately. So, let's add in the cost of the Snook stamp.

A Snook stamp now costs $10.00 per year, up from $2.00/yr in 2009. A five year stamp offers no savings as it costs $50.00, or exactly five times the annual rate.

So, our cost now is $130.00 plus $80.00, or $210.00. But, the Lifetime License also includes the taking of spiny lobster, another $5.00/yr permit, which we may, or may not use. (After thirty years as a resident I have gone after spiny lobster one time, and that trip was unsuccessful). But, being a dreamer, I imagine that I might take up that pursuit; and I wouldn't want to find them and not be able to take them.

So, adding in both permits, we arrive at $250.00 for the next eight years, meaning that at the current rates I was lose $51.50 if I buy the Lifetime License now.

So, $301.50 versus $250.00, an easy choice? Not so fast. Let's consider the convenience factor, if I buy the Lifetime License I will never need to wonder if my license is current, I'll never need to go to the store to buy another one, and if I were to move out of state the Lifetime License remains in effect. Is that worth $51.50 (91.50 if I accept that the spiny lobster stamp will never be needed) over the next eights years? And, how much credit do we give to the notion that these rates will remain stable?

If, or perhaps I should say when, the rates go up will the increase more than equal the $51.50/91.50 extra I would pay now if they were to remain stable until 2018? As I already mentioned, the Snook stamp saw a 500% increase in just one year, and the spiny lobster stamp went from $2.00 in 2009 to $5.00 this year, a 250% up charge. And, while the saltwater license price remained the same as last year, who knows when, and by how much, it will be increased.

All things considered I believe it is still worth the investment for me. Had I thought to do this analysis even three years ago the answer would be obvious, buy it, and save! Now it is a bit of a gamble, but a cheap one. And, besides, I never thought to mention the prestige factor. when I tell people that I bought a Lifetime License it will surprise many that such a thing exists and I will be seen as more interesting, it will make me seem like the consummate sportsman with skills and dedication, and just think how impressed the ladies will be and how many hot dates I'll have when I'm ashore......; there I go dreaming again.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Harry Right On Point



Who can argue with the wisdom of his position? Why should America, or any sane group. give away the right to be a member of the group? They shouldn't!

That you Harry Reid, you have convinced me, no more anchor babies in the USA! Great speech Harry.

Boycott New York City

It is a thought that came to mind in light of the City's acceptance of the insulting (Ha)Mosque planned as a victory monument in the shadow of the fallen Twin Towers.

Of course, it is probably not practicable as almost every area of our nation's business, news, entertainment, politics, etc.. is linked to the Big Apple. Now, with the proposed (Ha)Mosque looming near Ground Zero, there is likely to be more influence upon the City from the Middle Eastern money (Iran and Saudi Arabia are cited as contributors to the building) than the American people could/would exert upon the City with an attempted boycott.

And, the idea of boycotting NYC would have probably never come to mind if not for the ridiculous boycotts levied against Arizona as that state seeks to conserve its attachment to the United States, and a civil life for its citizens. But, the boycott card has been played, and I can think of no better time to play the counter-boycott card than now, when so many American haters are attempting to use our laws against us. Some radicals chose to sue Arizona to prevent AZ from enforcing the law, citing the Federal government as the only one allowed to enforce immigration laws, and now some other cowards wish to recite the First Amendment to the Constitution as a shield against civility and common sense. In fact, in both of those cases common sense is defiled by those using a broad interpretation of our laws to impose their will at the expense of those simply seeking to pursue their own happiness. Building a (Ha)Mosque next to ground zero with money from a declared terrorist state, Iran, inhibits the peace of mind, (i.e. happiness) of those who lost friends and loved ones to the terrorist attacks on 9/11/2001 and the happiness and of all who saw the 9/11 as an unjustified attack. That building is an insult to intelligence and an assault on decorum. It will not promote peace and understanding, in that purported mission it has already failed.

So, as absurd as it sounds, as impractical as it may at first seem; it is imperative that the rest of the country boycott everything which comes from the city of New York until and unless the (Ha)Mosque is denied permission to build its shrine to terrorism and its monument to terrorist victory.

Note: the term "(HA)Mosque" is my alteration to a concept introduced to me by Rush Limbaugh. The Ayatollah in charge of the building of the shrine, (commonly referred to as Imam Rauf), supports the terror organization Hamas, and thus Rush has taken to calling the proposed shrine the "Hamasque". I separated out the first two letters partly for clarity, as it makes the tie to Hamas and partly because it illustrates what a joke it is that we are needing to have this discussion.

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Jackie Wilson Sad

The following is from an email sent to my Dad by one of his acquaintances, Jackie Wilson.


Dear Friends and others who may be interested,
This story reminds me of the times when I and my Moore TEA citizens group went to Raleigh on two different times for a rally on the grassy mall that is in front of the state legislature buildings. We had a permit and yet the police chose to challenge us both times about having American Flags!!!! They told us that having the flags might cause a problem with some groups that may be along the “parade route” (which was the sidewalks around the outside of the buildings) and a therefore those flags could be a “weapon”. Eventually, after about thirty minutes when we would not leave and we would not give up our flags (we had to take the poles from our posters -- which we did) we then were allowed to walk on the public sidewalks for our parade! What do you make of this???? By the way, there were maybe 200 or less people in our group and quite a few less than that along our route.
-Jackie


Amazing times we live in, now it is a problem for the authorities if you display the nation's flag?

Mr. Wilson had attached his personal story to that old email we have doubtless all seen about WWII hero Van T. Barfoot who ran afoul of his local authorities when he chose to display the flag at his Virginia home. Amazingly fouled up times, well beyond SNAFU, in my opinion.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Sailing Canoe

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Saturday, July 31, 2010

Makes Sense To Me

Sometimes the answer to a cultural problem is as easy as Nancy Reagan's solution was to the drug problem. Mrs. Reagan said to end drug abuse people should "just say no", which makes too much sense for some people. But, if we all say "no" when we are presented with the opportunity to misuse our local pusher's product, drug abuse is over.

Similarly, Morgan Freeman has an equally elegant answer to another social problem, he suggests we just don't talk about it. Simple. Direct. And, completely unlikely to happen because so many people have their entire existence wrapped up in the commerce of perpetuating it. Sort of like that drug dealer who really, really wants you to continue using, these other people need you to talk about it. If you don't talk about it, it fades away. Enough said.

Religious Insensitivity

You may have heard of the debate over allowing a mosque to be built near to the site of the World Trade center property. (If you haven't, then let us know which planet you hail from). My take on the matter; how can the Muslims be so insensitive! Knowing, as we all do, that the Twin Towers were leveled by Muslims in the name of Islam how can a reasonable person be adamant that they must build an Islamic holy place so near to the site of murder. Make the First Amendment argument, I am not swayed by your claim of your rights when it is clear to all that such exercise causes so much pain; it is tantamount to calling out fire in a crowded theater. Nobody involved in the controversy is calling for a prohibition, just that it isn't used as an insult to the memory of those lost. And, let there be no doubt, the continued insensitivity shown by the mosque's proponents in the face of the grief and anxiety expressed by the survivors of those murdered on 9/11/2001 makes it clear that the intent is to be selfish at best and hurtful for certain. Further, it is not beyond belief that locating where they propose is intended to be a beacon for Muslims, and especially Radical Muslims, that the so-called Religion of Peace scored a victory in New York City when it killed the innocent on that sky blue day. And, allowing them, the Radical Islamists, their shrine will only make matters worse; worse for those of us who really do want peace, and freedom.

We can take the Temple on the Mount in Jerusalem as a template for what this shrine will bring to our shores. Muhammad dies in that holy land and now the site where he ceased to breathe is a compound covered by a golden dome and forbidden to all but those who believe in the current translations of his words. We can expect similar intransigence from those who would control the 9/11 mosque. I honestly hope that it is not allowed at that location; if these people really want to live in peace, they need to change their definition of that word, accept that fulminating a perceived insult is the antithesis of furthering the goal of peace.

Now, for an Ayaan Hirsi Ali moment, or 43:29 worth of moments.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Breaking Up Triggers Addiction

romantic break-ups activate parts of the brain that are associated with addiction cravings


Now, here is one I can attest to first hand.

Surely Sherrod Got A Break

Gay Patriot withdraws apology.

VDH links it up from the Rev to the Sherrod.

Jon Stewart: ‘Andrew Breitbart may be the most honest person in this entire story’

Riehl presents her husband, biased too.

Webb on The Dream Come True

Hmmm.

Found via Instapundit via WE and WSJ.

It Must Depend On The Meaning Of Transparency

SEC claims to be outside of Freedom of Information Act.

Monday, July 26, 2010

HaHa

Thursday, July 22, 2010

"Full" Version Of Shirley Sherrod's Speech

I put full in quotations because, according to Tammy Bruce there is an edited portion at about the 18:39 mark. (I saw a break in the video around 21:19)

What the NAACP purports to be the entire speech.



Andrew Breitbart responds.

It’s unfortunate that the NAACP’s recent resolution and false accusations have forced us to show you video 1 when video 2 is the bigger problem. That’s not to say video 1 is not a problem, but this country can ill afford, in this time of economic peril, to waste our time poking and prodding at the racial hornet’s nest that was supposed to have been removed with this post-racial presidency. But now President Obama and the modern-day Democrat party reveal they are anything but post-racial.

Yet again, the juxtaposition of the real video evidence shown here versus the mainstream media’s straight faced reportage of the NAACP’s baseless accusations demonstrates that, once again, the American main stream media has asserted itself as the number one enemy of the truth, when the facts don’t fit the left-wing narrative. Like the NAACP, it has become no better than Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson in its willingness to exploit race for political ends and their unflinching support of the Obama’s left-wing agenda.






As with the politics of so many of the current issues, I submit this post with the firm knowledge that no minds will be changed. Such is the way in this "we" and "they" society.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

"What If the Beatles Were Irish?"

The Myth of the Monolith- The Disparate Tea Party


Life is a box of chocolates. And the Tea Party members are alive; thus you make a mistake if you lump them all together and expect to get the same experience when you taste them individually.

Tea Party groups at odds, with one another.

I have long been skeptical of joining any group, there is always someone who makes the rest look bad. Like that candy that doesn't suit your palate, you take a bite and don't swallow; and you don't put the uneaten portion back in the box either.

I attended the local Tea Party gathering a few weeks back, and I did not see anything that I didn't like (unless you count the woman who walked around with her parrot trying to draw attention more to herself than to an issue she wanted addressed; ego is everywhere). Mostly, the people who stood holding their signs, and those who passed and honked their car horns in sympathy were there because they seek a better nation and want our government to get out of the way of lives.

I will continue to be skeptical of all groups, but I will give each man/woman a fair chance to impress me.

Journ-O-lusion

Reporting collusion
Image illusion
Public delusion
Historical manipulation


JournOlist, abuse of public trust by the Fourth Estate.

Watching this all at home were members of Journolist, a listserv comprised of several hundred liberal journalists, as well as like-minded professors and activists. The tough questioning from the ABC anchors left many of them outraged. “George [Stephanopoulos],” fumed Richard Kim of the Nation, is “being a disgusting little rat snake.”

Others went further. According to records obtained by The Daily Caller, at several points during the 2008 presidential campaign a group of liberal journalists took radical steps to protect their favored candidate. Employees of news organizations including Time, Politico, the Huffington Post, the Baltimore Sun, the Guardian, Salon and the New Republic participated in outpourings of anger over how Obama had been treated in the media, and in some cases plotted to fix the damage.

In one instance, Spencer Ackerman of the Washington Independent urged his colleagues to deflect attention from Obama’s relationship with Wright by changing the subject. Pick one of Obama’s conservative critics, Ackerman wrote, “Fred Barnes, Karl Rove, who cares — and call them racists.”


Barnes and Rove respond.

Monday, July 19, 2010

Bonnie Koloc



What a voice!

The Sandboni Combs

Five technologies to clean up the oil.

Fun With Your Johnson

Friday, July 16, 2010

Who Will Control These Mad SUVs?

This headline:

Woman charged after SUV plows into Lexington store


The ridiculous nature of that statement was first brought to my attention by Rush Limbaugh who points out how quick to PC crowd is to notice the transport's general category when a vehicular mishap involves an SUV. The inference we are to assume, according to the PCers, is that SUVs are evil. Afterall, they are expensive, use mass quantities of fuel, and are only driven by Republicans. Okay, the last criteria is not true, but you get my point. And, since when did the truth get in the way of a liberal myth.

When is the last time you heard it said, or saw it written, 'that woman/man should be charged with endangerment for carrying live people in her/his Yugo'? When a small car crashes the occupant's chances for survival are diminished when compared to the same collision involving full sized vehicles. But, the green police like Yugos and other tiny tin cans because they create less carbon. And, saving the environment is more important than saving people.

So, the blame always goes upon the SUV, for it was the SUV that plowed, crashed, belched, guzzled........... The human who sat behind the wheel is only guilty of intoxication, recklessness, carelessness, being the SUV's willing accomplice........ After all, it is the SUV which is truly evil, the driver is just so much viable tissue mass.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

The Down Side To Being Unassociated With Either Major Party

I have never been a member of either the Democrat nor the Republican Party. I like the independence, I like not having to hang my head when the Party falters, (as they do nearly every day). On the other hand, I never get in on the payoffs that necessarily follow from the Party in power.

I have to hope against hope that the Party in power develops a level playing field for all; I am perpetually screwed!

Florida To Follow Arizona's Immigration Legislation Lead?

A Florida state representative says he is committed to proposing an “Arizona-style” immigration bill during Florida’s upcoming special legislative session that Governor Charlie Crist has called in response to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Despite reluctance from other members of his party, Republican state Rep. Kevin Ambler said Monday that he would propose a tough immigration bill, potentially opening the door to a new summer controversy in the Sunshine State.


Now, don't tease me, I live in Florida and would be proud if we took up such a law.

I often wonder why it is that a policeman has less right to speech than I have, I can go around all day asking people if they are legal, no problem. Of course, I can not demand that they show proof, so there is that difference. But, then, under the Arizona statute the lawman can't demand proof either without reason to believe that the person already in his custody may not be a citizen. At any rate, the Arizona law was designed to not do more than the federal law, and I see no reason that local police should not be allowed to help the feds when they can.

Vger, Still Going 12,000 Days Later

If you watched the Star Trek movies you know that the US spacecraft Voyager I fictionally survived to become an honored relic of a distant civilization. Today, thirty three after its launch it remains our oldest working spacecraft and continues its journey out of our solar system.

Some amazing pictures included there.

"Vger" was the corrupted pronunciation the aliens had come to call her, and, it is how we will forever remember her; fondly. Go Vger, go!

Obama Is Katrina

That is Glenn Reynolds' take after reading Jules Crittendon,s piece, Obama's Katrina.

So when people say “Obama’s Katrina,” it’s a contraction, not a possessive . . . .
- Reynolds

Friday, July 9, 2010

Kilroy




I have a very provocative idea using the "Kilroy Was Here" figure, modified, of course. When I finish the graphics I will post a copy here. It could get me killed, but what the hell, nobody lives forever.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Obama Using NASA To Promote Islam

If a Conservative President instructed to head of NASA to reach out to Christian nations to remind their populations of the all the contributions to math and science their forefathers made, the ACLU would be screaming about separation of church and state. As Obama does the same for his Muslim friends nobody from the ACLU makes a sound!

Where is the Obama administration's outreach to, if not religions besides Islam, secular groups, let's say, Republicans? If we see his motive for the Muslim outreach as a peace offering, where is his same outreach to his fellow countrymen; I mean American citizens? Just once I would like to hear him speak the name Republican with only praise for the good things they have done, and completely devoid of criticism and blame. Just once, for starters.

Anyway, Cal Thomas has a good take on the matter. Here, The right stuff goes wrong.

And, if you must hear it from Charles Bolden's own mouth, here is the video of the NASA Adminstrator's appearance on Al Jazeera. It is around the 1:30 mark ( I can't watch all 21:54 minutes, more power to you if you can. Let me know what I missed.), that he states that Obama has told him our space administration's mission is-


"foremost, he wanted me to find a way to reach out to the Muslim world and engage much more with dominantly Muslim nations to help them feel good about their historic contribution to science ... and math and engineering,"


Contributions which ended, what, one thousand years ago? Whatever. Whenever those contributions occurred, they did not come about as a result of Islam, and today's contributions must come in spite of the most repressive religion going. So, good luck with your foremost mission NASA; I liked you better when you were focused on amazing us with exploits into space.

Different Players; Same Games


Saturday, July 3, 2010

Security Fever- Bureacracy Run Amok?

A Bumper Crop


It is looking like a good year for avocados.

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Garage Biology

The tinkerers of the past have started industry from projects made in their garages, Sonia believes bio-technology could be the next do it yourself industry to make a splash.

A Clash Of Indoctrinations

I awoke to a story on the morning news show about a man who erected a billboard reading "One Nation Under God" as his way of countering a nearby billboard, erected on behalf of an anti-religious sect, which had left the reference to a deity out of that section of the Pledge of Allegiance moving on to to the next line of the Pledge, "Indivisible".

In promoting the idea of "One Nation....Indivisible" the contemporary atheists, who fear religion as a knee-jerk reaction, sincerely intend to help society move toward what they see as a more rational worldview.

In conserving the idea that there is a higher power the "Under God" proponent seeks to re-establish the long held view that there is a God and we are beholden to him for our existence.

Both sides are right, according to the lessons they learned in their formative years. We are witnessing a clash of indoctrinations. Each side comes to their position as the result of their experience.

And, both are behind unproven concepts, science is not on either side of this debate. It can not be scientifically proven that their is or isn't a deity. Quantifying that proposition so far is beyond our abilities. But people are stubborn, and I say that in the the best sense of the word, they adhere to what they know first and accept change slowly. This type of stubbornness is not a bad thing, or a good thing, it is the way we are. There are reasons that change takes time, the primary one being that there are no timeouts in life when we can turn off events while we sort out new concepts. We learn early on and live out our lives according to those lessons until, or unless, we have the energy and insight to see a better way.

A religious belief, or disbelief, is an accepted life position. It is not the truth, except in that way that the truth is always that which we believe it to be. And, when one man's truth is contrary to the truth of another man it becomes a clash of indoctrinations. When either side can use the Scientific Method to quantify their position the clash can be resolved in favor of one position or the other. This is a rare happening, even Einstein's theories are only true until someone finds an error in his thinking. And it happens, even to the greatest minds of an age. The truth formulated by the greatest living scientist before Einstein is no longer the holder of that title because Einstein saw something truer. This world is complicated that way, stubbornly adhering to one's indoctrination is a good thing for a being with limited resources and a short amount of time to use them, but that stubbornness is not an intellectual proof.

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Plato Had A Code

Plato so feared for his safety that he invented a way to hide some of his ideas within his writings. That code has been cracked.

“Plato’s books played a major role in founding Western culture but they are mysterious and end in riddles,” Dr Kennedy, at Manchester’s Faculty of Life Sciences explains.

“In antiquity, many of his followers said the books contained hidden layers of meaning and secret codes, but this was rejected by modern scholars.

“It is a long and exciting story, but basically I cracked the code. I have shown rigorously that the books do contain codes and symbols and that unraveling them reveals the hidden philosophy of Plato.

“This is a true discovery, not simply reinterpretation.”


Of course in today's United States we have free speech and would never have to fear to publish our thoughts, or do we?

The Oil Spill Solutions Not In Use

Winston Groom wrote Forrest Gump, and now he has a story to tell that is not fiction, just true horror!

And frustration.

And what were the responsible parties doing all this time—those institutions that are supposed to be protecting citizens from this kind of nightmare? From all appearances, they were doing squat!


I expect he would feel better if these ten solutions were enacted, NOW!

Including the use of the ship, SS A-Whale, a uniquely efficient oil skimmer.

The S.S. A-Whale skimmer is a converted oil tanker capable of cleaning 500,000 barrels of oil a day from the Gulf waters. Currently, the largest skimmer being used in the clean-up efforts can handle 4,000 barrels a day, and the entire fleet our government has authorized for BP has only gathered 600,000 barrels, total in the 70 days since the Deepwater Horizon explosion. The ship embarked from Norfolk, VA, this week toward the Gulf, hoping to get federal approval to begin assisting the clean-up, but is facing bureaucratic resistance.

Sunday, June 27, 2010

On The Black Panther Voter Intimidation Dismissal- No Justice

I and other Justice attorneys diligently pursued the case and obtained an entry of default after the defendants ignored the charges. Before a final judgment could be entered in May 2009, our superiors ordered us to dismiss the case.


We must say, CORRUPTION!!!

More evidence:
Most corrupt of all, the lawyers who ordered the dismissal - Loretta King, the Obama-appointed acting head of the Civil Rights Division, and Steve Rosenbaum - did not even read the internal Justice Department memorandums supporting the case and investigation. Just as Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. admitted that he did not read the Arizona immigration law before he condemned it, Mr. Rosenbaum admitted that he had not bothered to read the most important department documents detailing the investigative facts and applicable law in the New Black Panther case. Christopher Coates, the former Voting Section chief, was so outraged at this dereliction of responsibility that he actually threw the memos at Mr. Rosenbaum in the meeting where they were discussing the dismissal of the case. The department subsequently removed all of Mr. Coates' responsibilities and sent him to South Carolina.

Friday, June 25, 2010

Grand Rants Has A Fly In The WH

Funny stuff.


And this one too.....




Images borrowed from Grand Rants

Then Brits

I know many a Brit nowadays, the local English Pub here in Naples, Florida is full of them. And, I think Michael Moynihan has it about right, they are more Ameriphobes than we are Anglophobes.

His citation of how the Brits dwell upon the American pronunciation of aluminum is right on mark; they obsess over it. And his claim that they are dismissive of all things American is real.

Having spent large amounts of time in the United Kingdom—most of it greatly pleasurable, excepting the interminable pub conversations about silly Yanks who demand ice in their beverages and don’t properly pronounce aluminum—it strikes me as a little bizarre that this banal bit of political populism has engendered such hurt feelings.

Mark Steyn Blisters the One

In a piece entitled Gulf War 3 Mark Steyn makes us laugh at the too serious fraud that the Left has discovered Obama to be.

From his rewrite of the song about the Battle of New Orleans:

“I fired off a speech
But the British kept a-spillin’
Twice as many barrels as there was a month ago,
I fired off a speech
But the British kept a-spillin’
Up the Mississippi from the Gulf of Mexico . . .”


To his classic one liners:

(from a previous article he describes Obama as) the very model of a modern major generalist,


(Or Hillary should get her campaign going because) It takes a Spillage


To his surgical dissection of Obama's image:

Excellent. The president directed his Nobel Prize–winning Head of Meetings to assemble a meeting to tackle the challenge of mobilizing the assembling of the tackling of the challenge of mobilization, at the end of which they directed BP to order up some new tackle and connect it to the thingummy next to the whachamacallit. Thank you, Mr. President. That and $4.95 will get you a venti oleaginato at Starbucks.


Steyn does not dissapoint; too bad we can't say the same for our President.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Society Is Not Ready To Act Fair In The Aftermath Of Removing 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

It started to become clear to me as I read the comments associated with an article about murder in Louisville, Kentucky. The gist of the story is that a gay man confessed to police that his estranged lover had killed a third gay man and buried him in the basement after the three of them had sex. The two that remain alive have a history of crime.

The comments that resulted from that article were peppered with apologies for gayness.

The only reason this paper is making such a big deal out of this issue is the alternative lifestyle of those involved. Theres (sic) no crime in being gay! The bashing aimed at us is not fair! Stop it!!!

---
Gay bashing is pretty awful, granted. To separate out gays from the rest of our population is ignorant and cruel,..........

---
Wow...some real ignorance in these forums (as usual - this post is just one of many). An "alternative lifestyle?" I hope you're referring to the drug lifestyle. Being gay is not a lifestyle any more than being straight is. One's sexuality is only one part of a person's life.

---
If you actually believe that foolishness, chances are you are a bigot.

---
I'd bet it has more to do with being a meth head

---
Is it only perverted group sex because they're gay? This seems to be mostly about drugs and drug money, not sex. I'm sure that all sorts of variations of sex happen on a regular basis between all sorts of combinations of people and nothing this crazy comes out of it.

---


That gayness is protected in the politically correct segments of our culture is well understood.

Public universities seems to be in a rush to embrace alternative lifestyles and consequently seem to hire more than their fair share of outright freaks and criminals.

---
Doesn't matter what horrible crime they commited. If they are gay and you say anything then you are a bigot. It is the world we live in now. Special treatment for some.

---
Are you serious? A body buried in the basement for six months, murder, drug use - none of this would be news if these guys weren't gay? The fact they are gay just adds another element to this bizarre story.


The usual annoying rehash of the two side's positions in the snafu that is the homosexual debate. Though, to make an earnest parallel to the gayness apologists I should cite those who found humor in the situation, they are the ones who truly bring truth to the matter with brevity.

One of them was the instigator and the other one just got sucked into it.

---
This takes stabbing you in the back to a whole new level.

---
You only hurt the ones you love . . . to death. Bwaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!

---
Again we understand the old adage, "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned!"

---
Gayngstas

---
Arrested Thursday night? Darn, that means they had to miss the parade.

---
What's this world coming to when you can't even trust your boyfiend with your deepest, darkest secrets?

---
Maybe they will try the "three's a crowd" defense.

---
Sounds like somebody must have get rubbed the wrong way!

---
Out of the closet and into the tub.


Sure they are dark, and insensitive, but so is murder. If you can't take the line, don't do the crime!

And, after seeing the number of comments that were deleted by the newspaper I have to say to them, stop trampling on our First Amendment rights!

I feel especially victimized in this regard, I posted a comment which was removed so completely that it doesn't even have the "comment has been removed for violating the terms of service" tag that appears throughout the list of comments. I really got under somebody's skin;, which is a particularly uncomfortable way for me to put it since I can only assume that the editor who took down my remarks is gay, yuck! Why else would a common sense analysis which contained no personal attacks, or even a bias against being gay.

My remarks simply stated the case that we are not ready to allow gays to serve openly in the military because we are not capable, as a society, of judging when someone is discriminated against because of their sexual orientation. Further, we face the same situation when religion is in the mix, and I cited the case of Nidal Hasan at Ft. Hood as evidence. Hasan went unchallenged, in spite of multiple people feeling he was not right, because of his Muslim religion; folks were afraid to offend. The same thing happens with gays, often we are encouraged to treat them as saints as a way of counteracting a perceived bias against them even though there is other cause for concern, it is assumed that it is always a discrimination when it may be a healthy survival reaction. Until, and unless, we can see a person's negative reaction to another person for what it truly is, be that irrational hate or well founded fear; we are not ready to accept the openness that gays demand. Not in society at large, especially not in the military where trust in your fellow soldier is a life or death matter.

My response was, this response, was initiated by a 'straight's kill too' remark posted to the article. That post and my reply follow:

Replying to GtownGuy:

About a year ago I met a really creepy straight guy who was nice-enough looking. But something about him made the hairs on my neck stand up & shiver. Tommy & his girlfriend were being evicted from their rental home, so a gay friend of their gay nextdoor neighbor took them into his South End home. Hey - the straight couple then MURDERED their gay benefactor. Trial coming up.

To which I said;
Wonder what point you think you are making?

Sounds to me as if someone dropped the ball and let their friends take in a creepy guy. I hope someone will think twice next time and act to warn the community about the danger someone sensed.


Now, it isn't clear to me that all fear of homosexuals is irrational, or even unnatural (for avoidance of homosexuality may be a biological imperative as much a part of a straight person as is the claim by homosexuals that they are born that way), but, it is clear to me that we can not now discern between bias, rational/irrational or natural/unnatural, in a quantifiable way and that until we can measure it precisely we can not judge when it is well placed and when it is abnormal. Thus, leaving it out of the equation, to the extent that such is possible, is the best way to proceed when people's lives are at stake. This applies to other special interest groups too, following up on Hasan would have saved lives but fear of offending Muslims got in the way, same happens with race, and gender. We already know how complex it is to deal with those obvious differences, adding another protected class only creates an additional burden for our soldiers; and one they don't need in the time of war, i.e. now! Protecting our nation is not a liberal arts symposium, it is deadly serious stuff. Full attention to the task at hand may be the only way to stay alive. Wondering whether you are offending someone has to take a backseat at serious times. Second guessing is like taking a mulligan on every golf shot, it is cheating! Don't ask, don't tell; stay on message and identify yourself as your nation's best defense. Sacrificing to accommodate someone's personal life is a distraction from duty.

Monday, June 21, 2010

A Friend's Plea To Selfish Smokers

Sure smoking is your choice, and you have the right to do it you wish, but as my friend Steve says you are hurting more than yourself. The following essay is his plea for you to stop. He asks this of you on behalf of those who love you and will miss you.


This is the email I sent to my co-workers on Friday. Feel free to send it or use it in any way you want. As one of my friends who responded said, if only one person quits as a result of this email it would have been well worth the effort.

From: Johnson, Steven
Sent: Friday, June 18, 2010 2:58 PM
Subject: To my friends and co-workers...



Hello to all,



As you may or may not know, my father passed away on Monday. I state this not for sympathy, but to get your attention.



My father was 81, had lung cancer, and for the 12-15 years before that he suffered from COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) and bronchitis. He was a strong man, but our family was forced to watch as these diseases slowly robbed him of his ability to enjoy his favorite hobbies (boating & fishing), and then his ability to get around or even out of the house, and finally his life. My grandfather and great-grandfather both lived past the age of 95, and given the advances in medicine, my dad should have live to at least age 90. Unfortunately, these diseases combined to shorten his life by at least 10%.



But the worst part of this story is that while these diseases were the thieves, my father knew that he was the one responsible for letting these robbers into his life. He expressed to me on several occasions his profound regret that he ever allowed these thieves to influence his life – because they robbed and harmed not just him, but more importantly to him, his family. We are here, left to miss him… and while his passing was inevitable, it didn’t have to happen this soon.



The thieves that my father allowed in are the same ones that many of you allow in to your own lives today – cigarettes. As you all roll your eyes, I ask you to consider my plight today. My father is gone, and his whole family is hurt by that absence, because he indulged himself and didn’t think about others. That is how HE described the 40 years he smoked, not my interpretation.



And so, as your friend and co-worker, I will ask those of you who smoke one small favor… please stop. Don’t do it because I ask or even for yourself, please – PLEASE – think of your family, and spare them the pain of seeing what I have seen, and from accepting a loss that can still be delayed. Your life is precious – to me as a friend and co-worker, but most importantly, to your family who loves you and wants you to stay around as long as possible. We will all someday face the end of our lives, but there is no reason to hasten that day’s arrival. I know and understand that quitting is hard, but the alternative – for you and your family – is much, much harder.



Are those cigarettes really worth losing 10% or more of your life and the pain you and your family will be forced to endure? I hope the answer is no. Your family, friends, and the world would be much better off if you stuck around a while.

Friday, June 18, 2010

Boxing Bab's Ears

Received the following in an email Snopes confirms that it was sent by the man cited.



Do you remember the scene? The Senate. Barbara Boxer hearing from a Brigadier General? Silly General! He addresses Barbara as "Ma'm", and she CORRECTS him, telling him she's "worked SO hard to earn the title, "Senator", so please to use that when speaking to her.


Get a load of this letter!

Read the letter sent to Sen. Barbara Boxer from an Alaskan Airlines pilot below. Many of us witnessed the arrogance of Barbara Boxer on June 18, 2009 as she admonished Brigadier General Michael Walsh because he addressed her as "ma'am" and not "Senator" before a Senate hearing.

This letter is from a National Guard aviator and Captain for Alaska Airlines named Jim Hill. I wonder what he would have said if he were really angry. Long fly Alaska !!!!!

Babs:

You were so right on when you scolded the General on TV for using the term, "ma'am," instead of "Senator". After all, in the military, "ma'am" is a term of respect when addressing a female of superior rank or position. The General was totally wrong. You are not a person of superior rank or position. You are a member of one of the world's most corrupt organizations, the U.S. Senate, equaled only by the U.S. House of Representatives.


Congress is a cesspool of liars, thieves, inside traders, traitors, drunks (one who killed a staffer, yet is still revered), criminals, and other low level swine who, as individuals (not all, but many), will do anything to enhance their lives, fortunes and power, all at the expense of the People of the United States and its Constitution, in order to be continually re-elected. Many Democrats even want American troops killed by releasing photographs. How many of you could honestly say, "We pledge our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor"? None? One? Two?


Your reaction to the General shows several things. First is your abysmal ignorance of all things military. Your treatment of the General shows you to be an elitist of the worst kind. When the General entered the military (as most of us who served) he wrote the government a blank check, offering his life to protect your corpulent derriere, now safely and comfortably ensconced in a 20 thousand dollar leather chair, paid for by the General 's taxes. You repaid him for this by humiliating him in front of millions.


Second is your puerile character, lack of sophistication, and arrogance, which borders on the hubristic. This display of brattish behavior shows you to be a virago, termagant, harridan, nag, scold or shrew, unfit for your position, regardless of the support of the unwashed, uneducated masses who have made California into the laughing stock of the nation.


What I am writing, are the same thoughts countless millions of Americans have toward Congress, but who lack the energy, ability or time to convey them. Regardless of their thoughts, most realize that politicians are pretty much the same, and will vote for the one who will bring home the most bacon, even if they do consider how corrupt that person is. Lord Acton (1834 - 1902) so aptly charged, "Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely."


Unbeknownst to you and your colleagues, "Mr. Power" has had his way with all of you, and we are all the worse for it.


Finally, Senator, I, too, have a title. It is "Right Wing Extremist Potential Terrorist Threat." It is not of my choosing, but was given to me by your Secretary of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano, and you were offended by "ma'am"?


Have a fine day. Cheers!

Jim Hill
16808 - 103rd Avenue Court East
South Hill , WA 98374

If you care about the way our Country is heading, please circulate this to remind every voter that the "cesspools" MUST be pumped out when we go to the polls in November, 2010


Bravo Jim Hill!

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Congressman John Fleming Continues To Push HR 615 - Congress Should Use The Healthcare Forced Upon The Rest Of Us.

The latest email from Congressman Fleming introduces a new website they have set up to promote HR 615. Go to America Speaking Out to push the vote button in support of HR 615.