Monday, November 30, 2009
Health Care battle begins in Senate
They should let them use baseball bats. Al Franken would pee his pants and C Span would handily win the ratings wars.
AWOL
To my regular readers my apologies for the very light posting. The usual demands of work and family have been compounded by a very challenging semester in graduate school. More substantial posting should resume by the weekend provided that I get these two %#$@*?! research papers done in time.
Again and again
Four brave Cops have lost their lives at the hands of another failed product of America's "justice system". While finishing their reports in a suburban Seattle coffee shop these heros were executed by a criminal released on early parole. This is why parole is a failed system. This is why when we say twenty years it should be twenty and life without parole should be just that.
So for the sake of political expediency and against the will of the people four more men and women had to lay down their lives for the rest of us. If reports about the perpetrator's identity are true, shame on Mike Huckabee.
Please in charity remember the sacrifice of Officers Greg Richards, Mark Renninger, Tina Griswold and Ronald Owens. May they rest in peace.
So for the sake of political expediency and against the will of the people four more men and women had to lay down their lives for the rest of us. If reports about the perpetrator's identity are true, shame on Mike Huckabee.
Please in charity remember the sacrifice of Officers Greg Richards, Mark Renninger, Tina Griswold and Ronald Owens. May they rest in peace.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Erosion
The message is getting clearer. Support for the National Health Care initiative is waning. While never enjoying a clear mandate from the voters polls now indicate that there is no clear call for Congress to continue down the path toward socialized medicine.
Just 38% of voters now favor the health care plan proposed by President Obama and congressional Democrats. That’s the lowest level of support measured for the plan in nearly two dozen tracking polls conducted since June.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 56% now oppose the plan.
Despite a distinct lack of support Democrats in Congress seem more determined than ever to force this multi trillion dollar debt upon us. I hope the sway in public opinion is not too late.
The rest here.
Just 38% of voters now favor the health care plan proposed by President Obama and congressional Democrats. That’s the lowest level of support measured for the plan in nearly two dozen tracking polls conducted since June.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 56% now oppose the plan.
Despite a distinct lack of support Democrats in Congress seem more determined than ever to force this multi trillion dollar debt upon us. I hope the sway in public opinion is not too late.
The rest here.
The high price of fashion
Tributes have been paid to a British student who died after slipping on her high heels and falling under a train while waving goodbye to her friends, Sky News reported.
The rest here.
The rest here.
Thin skin
PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh City Council has tentatively approved paying $50,000 to settle a free speech lawsuit filed by a man cited for giving a city police officer the middle finger.
Thirty-five-year-old David Hackbart, of Butler, made the gesture at a driver in April 2006, then did it again when someone yelled at him — realizing only later the second person was a police officer.
First point to consider here is that if I ticketed every person who has flipped me off in a twenty five year career I would have had scant time to do anything else. Part of the job is having a thick skin. If a little thing like some imbecile flipping you the bird is enough to cause the ACLU to come gunning for you, perhaps it is time to find another line of work.
Secondly, if the nitwit flipping the entire world off was cited with something like driver inattention (both hands on the wheel) then this incident would not have been a problem. Everyone just needs to lighten up a bit.
The rest here.
Thirty-five-year-old David Hackbart, of Butler, made the gesture at a driver in April 2006, then did it again when someone yelled at him — realizing only later the second person was a police officer.
First point to consider here is that if I ticketed every person who has flipped me off in a twenty five year career I would have had scant time to do anything else. Part of the job is having a thick skin. If a little thing like some imbecile flipping you the bird is enough to cause the ACLU to come gunning for you, perhaps it is time to find another line of work.
Secondly, if the nitwit flipping the entire world off was cited with something like driver inattention (both hands on the wheel) then this incident would not have been a problem. Everyone just needs to lighten up a bit.
The rest here.
Living Hell
This one will freak you out a bit.
A car crash victim diagnosed as being in a coma for the past 23 years has been conscious the whole time.
Rom Houben was paralysed but had no way of letting doctors know that he could hear every word they were saying.
'I dreamed myself away,' said Mr Houben, now 46, who doctors thought was in a persistent vegatative state.
He added: 'I screamed, but there was nothing to hear.'
Fully aware of everything going on around him and not able to communicate. Now armed with a device that allows him to tap out messages and communicate with his surroundings he remains paralyzed. Do you think he has at least one friend who is stupid enough to sit at the bedside and ask him "what's new?".
The rest here.
A car crash victim diagnosed as being in a coma for the past 23 years has been conscious the whole time.
Rom Houben was paralysed but had no way of letting doctors know that he could hear every word they were saying.
'I dreamed myself away,' said Mr Houben, now 46, who doctors thought was in a persistent vegatative state.
He added: 'I screamed, but there was nothing to hear.'
Fully aware of everything going on around him and not able to communicate. Now armed with a device that allows him to tap out messages and communicate with his surroundings he remains paralyzed. Do you think he has at least one friend who is stupid enough to sit at the bedside and ask him "what's new?".
The rest here.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Fillipino flattery
First of all, how can you compare a turkey to a roasted pig. Hands down they won this one out of the gate. Add to it standard fare like lumpia and ponset and you have the makings of a party that makes you wish you were wearing some type of elastic waist pants. Round out the meal with sticky rice and this coconut thing I did not even bother to get a name for and you have one terriffic meal.
My family and I are very grateful to have received an invitation to this traditional house blessing. We wish Mimi and Jose many years of joy in their new home. And they can invite us over for dinner any time.
Farvman has been clearly holding out on me.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
One trick pony
Anyone else tired of this yet?
The Rev. Jesse Jackson on Wednesday night criticized Rep. Artur Davis (D-Ala.) for voting against the Democrats’ signature healthcare bill.
“We even have blacks voting against the healthcare bill,” Jackson said at a reception Wednesday night. “You can’t vote against healthcare and call yourself a black man.”
Reverend Jesse Jackson, who to my knowledge has ever produced anything other than a need for ongoing hate and discontent, decided to deploy the race card when Congressman Davis decided to represent the best interests of his constituents rather than those of Jackson. Oh, Jesse! Give it a rest already and spend some time with those out of wedlock kids of yours who seem to pop up from time to time.
And for those of you surprised at his most recent action, here is a little reminder of where the good Reverend is coming from.
The rest here.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson on Wednesday night criticized Rep. Artur Davis (D-Ala.) for voting against the Democrats’ signature healthcare bill.
“We even have blacks voting against the healthcare bill,” Jackson said at a reception Wednesday night. “You can’t vote against healthcare and call yourself a black man.”
Reverend Jesse Jackson, who to my knowledge has ever produced anything other than a need for ongoing hate and discontent, decided to deploy the race card when Congressman Davis decided to represent the best interests of his constituents rather than those of Jackson. Oh, Jesse! Give it a rest already and spend some time with those out of wedlock kids of yours who seem to pop up from time to time.
And for those of you surprised at his most recent action, here is a little reminder of where the good Reverend is coming from.
The rest here.
Honor
Sometimes honor is an elusive concept to people. To put the concept in perspective I would like to steer you over to Random Acts of Patriotism. Its fine American author has two posts of note. One describing the actions of a true American hero. The other....well, you will get the point. You can view the posts here.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Dignity
Despite knowing me quite well my friend the Trenton Polack has sent me a video chronicling his recent adventures at the NJ State EMS Conference. So, like in a John Huston western let us imagine our hero approaching us from the distance. While his faithful steed kicks up a small yet persistent dust cloud as he traverses the great plains of South Clinton Avenue he slows to a stop, looks intently in to the camera squinting his sun baked eyes against the blazing rays of the afternoon sun. He politely tips his hat, and then........
Kudos
Hearty congratulations to my friend The Maestro on his successful presentation on Gregorian Chant this evening. His very informative presentation was well received by his colleagues and esteemed clergy who attended. Well done!
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Like we needed another reason
Surely I am not alone in my opinion that the UN should be disbanded and the prime real estate turned in to condominums or something useful. Yet another reason they should be tossed out from Fox News.
United Nations and Iranian officials have been secretly negotiating a deal to persuade world powers to lift sanctions and allow Tehran to retain the bulk of its nuclear program in return for cooperation with U.N. inspectors.
The rest here.
United Nations and Iranian officials have been secretly negotiating a deal to persuade world powers to lift sanctions and allow Tehran to retain the bulk of its nuclear program in return for cooperation with U.N. inspectors.
The rest here.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Free Cheese
There is a great post over at the Bloviating Zepplin wherein he brilliantly outlines a long held hypothesis of mine regarding the American electorate.
The American electorate, the bulk of it, is only concerned with its Free Cheese. What can the “gubmint” GIVE ME?? is the rallying question from the great unwashed masses.
Politicians know this, and know that, without skyrocketing promises of MORE Free Cheese, they stand a snowball’s chance in Hell of acquiring much of any political seat.
The PEOPLE have brought this about; I believe every bit as much AS the politicians themselves.
The American electorate has lost its courage and is becoming more and more accustomed, through education, through youth, through the courts, of having their Free Cheese mindsets VALidated.
We’d best be talking, if we want to save this country, about a lot of NO! in our immediate future.
There is no such thing as a free lunch. There is no such thing as free cheese. Someone is picking up the tab.
The American electorate, the bulk of it, is only concerned with its Free Cheese. What can the “gubmint” GIVE ME?? is the rallying question from the great unwashed masses.
Politicians know this, and know that, without skyrocketing promises of MORE Free Cheese, they stand a snowball’s chance in Hell of acquiring much of any political seat.
The PEOPLE have brought this about; I believe every bit as much AS the politicians themselves.
The American electorate has lost its courage and is becoming more and more accustomed, through education, through youth, through the courts, of having their Free Cheese mindsets VALidated.
We’d best be talking, if we want to save this country, about a lot of NO! in our immediate future.
There is no such thing as a free lunch. There is no such thing as free cheese. Someone is picking up the tab.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Domestic tranquility
The attack at Fort Hood by a domestic terrorist gave me cause for great reflection. It is sometimes easy to forget how tenuous our freedom really is. For many, the site of lower Manhattan in 2001 has begun to fade from memory. Thanks to a top rate military and intelligence community, attacks like the one at Fort Hood are the exception more than the rule. A short segment I caught on the tube tonight reminded me just how lucky we are.
I was watching a program about World War II out of the corner of my eye while giving this week's homework assignment one last look before firing it off into cyber space for my Professor to filet. The story was about the desperation of the Russians as the blitzkrieg rolled in to their land. The Red Army having no modern way to battle the Nazi Panzer tanks used a Pavlovian technique to train dogs as anti tank weapons.
Dogs would be starved and then trained to seek their food under tracked vehicles. This hungry animals were taken to the battlefield with remote control explosives strapped to their backs. When they reached the tank and the soldier/handler would detonate this enormous charge destroying both tank and animal.
As I type this my very spoiled Newfoundland is snoring at my feet. How lucky we are not to face such hardship and desperation. How very important is it for us even now to be ever vigilant against enemies both foreign and domestic.
I was watching a program about World War II out of the corner of my eye while giving this week's homework assignment one last look before firing it off into cyber space for my Professor to filet. The story was about the desperation of the Russians as the blitzkrieg rolled in to their land. The Red Army having no modern way to battle the Nazi Panzer tanks used a Pavlovian technique to train dogs as anti tank weapons.
Dogs would be starved and then trained to seek their food under tracked vehicles. This hungry animals were taken to the battlefield with remote control explosives strapped to their backs. When they reached the tank and the soldier/handler would detonate this enormous charge destroying both tank and animal.
As I type this my very spoiled Newfoundland is snoring at my feet. How lucky we are not to face such hardship and desperation. How very important is it for us even now to be ever vigilant against enemies both foreign and domestic.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Contradiction
Apparently we must be fairly stupid. For the last year or so the Democrats in Washington have been trying to pass their Health Care legislation that will cost the taxpayers trillions of dollars. Despite their conflicting schemes as to where the funding will come from to foot the bill of their social programs the numbers have remained fairly constant. Further, the President is fully supporting this program. So when I found this on Fox News I became confused.
WASHINGTON — The Obama administration, mindful of public anxiety over the government's mushrooming debt, is shifting emphasis from big-spending policies to deficit reduction. Domestic agencies have been told to brace for a spending freeze or cuts of up to 5 percent as part of a midterm election-year push to rein in record budget shortfalls.
Yet with the economy still in distress and unemployment pushing past 10 percent, prospects for making a dent in a trillion-dollar-plus annual deficit seem slight. And since the Pentagon and Department of Veterans Affairs would likely be shielded from such cuts, overtures toward trimming the deficit may hold more symbolic value than substance.
President Barack Obama is expected to make post-recession spending restraint a key theme of his State of the Union address in January and an important element of the budget he submits to Congress a few weeks later. He is under increasing pressure, including from moderate and conservative members of his own party, to show he is serious about tackling a deficit that has become both an economic and political liability.
Now I am not a math whiz but why don't we start by cancelling plans to increase spending. Then maybe we can address the need for a meat cleaver to attack the defecit. Even if they are successful in achieving even a five percent cut in the budget it will be insignificant in comparison to the financial mill stone they are slinging around our collective necks with Cap and Trade and the Heatlh Care bills. Another case of bait and switch?
We will see how stupid we all really are in 2010 I suppose.
WASHINGTON — The Obama administration, mindful of public anxiety over the government's mushrooming debt, is shifting emphasis from big-spending policies to deficit reduction. Domestic agencies have been told to brace for a spending freeze or cuts of up to 5 percent as part of a midterm election-year push to rein in record budget shortfalls.
Yet with the economy still in distress and unemployment pushing past 10 percent, prospects for making a dent in a trillion-dollar-plus annual deficit seem slight. And since the Pentagon and Department of Veterans Affairs would likely be shielded from such cuts, overtures toward trimming the deficit may hold more symbolic value than substance.
President Barack Obama is expected to make post-recession spending restraint a key theme of his State of the Union address in January and an important element of the budget he submits to Congress a few weeks later. He is under increasing pressure, including from moderate and conservative members of his own party, to show he is serious about tackling a deficit that has become both an economic and political liability.
Now I am not a math whiz but why don't we start by cancelling plans to increase spending. Then maybe we can address the need for a meat cleaver to attack the defecit. Even if they are successful in achieving even a five percent cut in the budget it will be insignificant in comparison to the financial mill stone they are slinging around our collective necks with Cap and Trade and the Heatlh Care bills. Another case of bait and switch?
We will see how stupid we all really are in 2010 I suppose.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
U. Mass update
A few days ago I posted about the University of Massachusetts hosting a speech by a member of the United Freedom Front. The domestic terrorist was invited to speak at the school in the interest of providing an open exchange of ideas. I maintained that the faculty of U. Mass was a bunch of Leftist nitwits. My intrepid friend H. Carl Farvman did a bit of research and found the logo from U. Mass. Check it out.
This logo reminded me of something. Farvman found what he believed to be the inspiration.
None of you are surprised, are you?
Angel on his shoulder
My brother recently ran in to an old friend and co-worker. While catching up over a cup of coffee his friend related a story about a fellow they both used to work with. It seems that Joe was watching a television show about people who very generously donate a kidney to someone in need. Not a relative or friend mind you but just another soul needing a transplant. Joe was apparently moved by this program and incredulous as it may seem began the process of offering one of his kidneys for transplant to whoever might need it.
Needless to say all of his family, friends and co-workers thought he had taken complete leave of his senses. Undeterred and feeling that it was his destiny to do this good dead he continued in a rigorous medical screening process. In the last phase of the testing before the program would match him with a donor it was discovered that he had a cancerous tumor on one of his kidneys. The physician told Joe that had he not had this medical screening this growth would have likely not been discovered until it had spread. A death sentence.
The tumor has been removed, Joe is in good health and is looking for other charitable works to offer in thanks for this unexpected gift from God.
Needless to say all of his family, friends and co-workers thought he had taken complete leave of his senses. Undeterred and feeling that it was his destiny to do this good dead he continued in a rigorous medical screening process. In the last phase of the testing before the program would match him with a donor it was discovered that he had a cancerous tumor on one of his kidneys. The physician told Joe that had he not had this medical screening this growth would have likely not been discovered until it had spread. A death sentence.
The tumor has been removed, Joe is in good health and is looking for other charitable works to offer in thanks for this unexpected gift from God.
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