Wednesday, July 01, 2009

Firefox 3.5 Upgrade

I upgraded to Firefox 3.5 this morning and I have to say that I’m really pleased with this upgrade. There may be bugs that a few hours of use hasn’t turned up for me yet, but so far so good. It is sooooooooooo much faster than any previous version, for that reason alone, the upgrade is worth doing.

Get your latest copy of Firefox now, it is free.

A Snow White Carriage Hearse for Michael Jackson

I know there are lots of cynical and jaded people out there who are sick of MJ and the media hype, but I love pomp and circumstance and this pomp certainly seems a fitting end for the flamboyant King of Pop. Actually it is the perfect ending to the fairy tale that MJ tried so hard to recreate. I think this is a very cool way to end and if you don’t, perhaps a little time with your inner child is in order.

Snow white hearse: The horse-drawn carriage that is rumoured to be carrying Jackson’s body to his funeral

• Michael Jackson’s body will have ‘fairytale’ public viewing at Neverland Ranch before funeral on Sunday

In death, as in life, Michael Jackson is doing things with fairytale extravagance.

The singer’s body will be transported to his funeral in a white carriage led by two horses, instead of the traditional black vehicle, it is understood.

His body will then be placed on show in a glass coffin at Neverland, to give fans a chance to say their personal farewells.

The coach and coffin fit Jackson’s obsession with children’s stories such as Peter Pan and the fantastical style of his Neverland ranch.

Plans are being drafted to have the coffin taken to the ranch tomorrow or Friday and displayed either before or after a private funeral on Sunday, it was reported last night.

Read more

Cap & Tax Bill Requires Retrofitting of Homes Before They Can Be Sold

If this is true, it will be a financial disaster. Those who are already scraping to save their homes or who are trying to get them sold before they go into foreclosure surely don’t have the money to retrofit their homes for maximum energy efficiency. This could include such things as all new energy efficient windows, appliances, roofing materials, insulation, etc.

Via Gateway Pundit:

Under the new democratic cap and trade legislation all US homes will have to meet strict government eco-standards before they can be sold. This will cost homeowners thousands of dollars before the home can even be put up for sale.
CNS News reported, via Free Republic:

The 1,400-page cap-and-trade legislation pushed through by House Democrats contains a new federal policy that residential, commercial, and government buildings be retrofitted to increase energy efficiency, leaving it up to the states to figure out exactly how to do that.

This means that homeowners, for example, could be required to retrofit their homes to meet federal “green” guidelines in order to sell their homes, if the cap-and-trade bill becomes law.

The bill, which now goes to the Senate, directs the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop and implement a national policy for residential and commercial buildings. The purpose of such a strategy – known as the Retrofit for Energy and Environmental Performance (REEP) – would be to “facilitate” the retrofitting of existing buildings nationwide.

“The Administrator shall develop and implement, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy, standards for a national energy and environmental building retrofit policy for single-family and multi-family residences,” the bill reads.

It continues: “The purpose of the REEP program is to facilitate the retrofitting of existing buildings across the United States.”

The bill leaves the definition of a retrofit and the details of the REEP program up to the EPA. However, states are responsible for ensuring that the government’s plans are carried out, whatever the final details may entail.

“States shall maintain responsibility for meeting the standards and requirements of the REEP program,” the bill says.

Michael Jackson’s Will Filed in Court

The most interesting thing about the will is who he names as the backup guardian for his children in the event his mother predeceases him or is unable to be the guardian. Not one of his sisters or the mother of the children, but his long time friend, Diana Ross. The estate goes into the Jackson Family Trust for the use of his mother and his children.

• Michael Jackson’s Will Filed in Court

LOS ANGELES — Michael Jackson’s 7-year-old will was filed Wednesday in a Los Angeles court, giving his entire estate to a family trust and naming his mother as a beneficiary of the trust and the guardian of his three children.

The will names singer Diana Ross as a successor guardian to 79-year-old Katherine Jackson if necessary.

The will, dated July 7, 2002, estimated his estate at that time at more than $500 million. It gives the entire estate to the Michael Jackson Family Trust. His former wife Debbie Rowe is cut out of the will.

• Last Will of Michael Joseph Jackson

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Two Trillion Tons (Video)

Great Tea Party Theme Song

The Ghost of Tennessee Ernie Ford comes back to warn us that Barack Obama’s economic stimulus plan and budget could be hazardous to our economic well-being. Jim Gossett and Lars Larson wrote the lyrics for “Two Trillion Tons” for the Lars Larson Show on Westwood One Radio Network.

(H/T: Gateway Pundit)

Monday, June 29, 2009

Staying Rich in the New Normal

Just read this month an insightful and honest article “Staying Rich in the New Normal”, by Bill Gross, founder of Pimco about the current economic situation.  It was primarily about how to invest in this type of economic climate.  I’ve a lot of respect for Bill Gross and so many others from the private sector that have real insight about the economic issues at hand. Why are ones like them not being asked to advise on economic policy issues? These are the only “Czars” that could make sense and could make real difference!

I really believe the Fed, the Congress and all the bureaucratic clones that Obama has in place are clueless… offering only subjective dynamic consensus in a way that only bureauracrats can. They politicize and ignore the facts while continuing to not deal with the real world in a real way.

This is our problem; lock, stock and barrel! And I contend that we are the only ones that can force a positive change. We elected these clowns and the ones before them, and all the others before them. And we are the only ones that can reconfigure things and stop this madness by electing those that are more than just professional politicians.

Those with real experience to deal with real issues in the real world. Ones that will impose term limits to shut down the special interest politicians and groups polluting the process.

People like Bill Gross or perhaps your neighbor next door. Teachers, merchants, carpenters, Entreprenuers, doctors and yes even maybe… lawyers.

• Staying Rich in the New Normal

Oh I do have one comment.  It seems those at the Canada Free Press are a lot more real, conservative and Constitutional than most media we have here.  It makes me wonder how much the rest of the free world really thinks about where we’re going as a nation.  Does any of this remind you of the shining house on the hill?

• Obama’s Census to Castrate American Caucasians ---

It’s invasive.
It’s corrupt.
It’s rigged.
It’s unconstitutional.

Its purpose is the legislative transformation of the United States of America into a land where conservatives, Christians, and Caucasians will become political castrados.

It is biased and prejudicial.

It serves to channel billions of dollars into bogus political action groups, such as Acorn.

It promotes gay rights and same-sex marriages.

It is a document that was not something drafted by the Berkley chapter of the Barbra Streisand Fan Club or the Alec Baldwin wing of the American Civil Liberties Union.

It is President Barack Obama’s 2010 Census Form.

The form asks if you have a house with running water, if you have a flush toilet, if you go to work by ferryboat or trolleycar, if you are mentally challenged, if you are of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin, and if you are a white, black, negro, African American, American Indian, Asian Indian, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Native Hawaiian, Guamanian or Chamorro, Samoan, Fijian, or Tongan

It asks if you have hot and cold running water, a sink with a faucet, a frigerator, a bathtub or shower, a stove or range, and a flush toilet.

It asks if you use coal, gas, oil, electricity, or solar energy to heat your home or apartment, if you are deaf or blind, if you are mentally challenged, if you have a physical disability, if you are employed, self-employed, or retired, if you have troubled dressing or bathing, if you have difficulty walking or climbing the stairs, and if you speak a language other than English at home.

It asks your income, your educational level, and the time you leave your home in the morning.

But infinitely more telling is what the new census form doesn’t ask.

It doesn’t ask if you are a citizen of the U.S.A., if you are an immigrant, or if you are a Muslim.

Naturally, the questions are in English and Spanish, lest anyone think that America is an Anglo nation. Many stand in violation of the Constitution which states that a national census should concern itself solely the number of individuals in a household.

For this reason, Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann is refusing to answer the “very intricate” and “very personal” questions.

But there are problems with the Obama census beyond the intrusive nature of the comprehensive survey.

To assist in the hiring of census takers, the Obama Administration has opted to partner with the following special interest groups (not one of which represents the despised race of whites who settled this country):

* ACORN
* 100 Black Men of America
* African American Women’s House of Imagene (sic) Shelter
* American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
* Arab American Institute
* Asian American Federation
* Asian American Justice Center
* Asian and Pacific Islander Coalition on HIV/AIDS
* Association of Professors and Scholars of Iranian Heritage
* Boat People SOS
* Hispanic Alliance for Prosperity Institute
* Hispanic Federation
* Fundacion Azteca
* Latino Justice PDLDEF
* Mas New Mexico
* Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund
* Minority Access
* National Alliance for Hispanic Health
* National Alliance of Black School Educators
* National American Indian Housing Council
* NAACP National Voter Fund
* NAACP (National Association of Colored People)
* National Association for Black Social Workers
* National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs
* National association of Hispanic Federal Executives
* National Association of Hispanic Publications
* National Association of Latino Elected Officials
* National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs
* National Black Chamber of Commerce
* National Black Child Development Institute
* National Black Justice Coalition
* National Black Leadership Forum
* National Coalition on Black Civic Participation
* National Congress of Black Women
* National Federation of Filipino American Associations
* National Hispanic Leadership Institute
* National Hispanic Business Information Clearinghouse
* National Latino Research Center
* National Minority AIDS Council
* National Puerto Rican Coalition
* National Puerto Rican Day Parade
* Rainbow Push Coalition
* U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
* Voto Latino

Get the picture? Notice a racial bias?

These agencies will be paid millions in taxpayers’ dollars to assist the President in conducting the census and to make sure that all minorities are included in the official count.

Not one of the groups represents the despised race of white Europeans who settled this country and gave their sweat and blood to make it the most prosperous nation on earth.

Excluded from the list of census partners are such groups, as the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Elks Clubs, the Rotary Clubs, the Moose Lodge, and, of course, the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick.

This racial bias inherent in the census has raised the concern that the results will be rigged - - a concern that has been intensified by Mr. Obama’s selection of Robert M. Groves, a sociology professor at the University of Michigan,

Republican legislators have expressed alarm because Mr. Groves’s specialty is statistical sampling — roughly speaking, the process of extrapolating from the numbers of people actually counted to arrive at estimates of those uncounted and, presumably, arriving at a realistic total.

If minorities, immigrants, the poor and the homeless are those most likely to be missed in an actual head count, as Mr. Grove presumably believes, and if political stereotypes hold true, then the statistical sampling of the 2010 census will produce a windfall for the Democrat Party.

This result is certain since the census results as gathered by the above groups coupled with Mr. Grove’s calculation of the missed head count will determine which states gains seats in Congress and which ones lose them, as well as the allocation of federal dollars to states and cities based on population.

The Obama budget serves to ensure that the United States will be broke.

His foreign policies will serve the cause of the Muslim world to the detriment of Israel.

And his census will make sure that the time of the Judeo-Christian standards and culture in the land of the free and the home of the brave will come to an end.

The chickens have come home to roost.

More tomorrow

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Beat It! Fanatics, Get Out of My Land!

How Hot Is It?

Today is going to be another hot one. My backyard thermometer is already reading 100 degrees and it is only 11:10 AM.

Apologies again that blogging has been so lite recently. I’m still having a lot of problems with pain from the broken ribs and the damaged Teres Major muscle. I can control the pain to a large degree during the day, but it is aggravated when I lie down and try to sleep. It is this lack of sleep that has made it so hard for me to pull myself together and get blog posts up. I really thought I’d be further along in the healing process by now. There is improvement over two weeks ago, but not enough, not fast enough.

Since it is such a hot one today, I’m going to spend the day in the Jacuzzi and pool and hopefully the non-stress exercise of swimming will help speed things along. I think it will be a tank top and shorts since my right arm is nearly useless and the thought of the pain from trying to struggle into a bathing suit seems more than my mind is willing to accept.

Friday, June 26, 2009

“His talent, his wonderment and his mystery make him legend.”

“Just as there will never be another Fred Astaire or Chuck Berry or Elvis Presley, there will never be anyone comparable to Michael Jackson. His talent, his wonderment and his mystery make him legend.”

~~~ Steven Spielberg ~~~

Steven Spielberg pretty much says what I feel about Michael Jackson. As a boomer, I’m in stark disagreement with many who have chosen today to come out and tell us how they were never MJ fans, didn’t like his music and who have never gotten over the ridiculous charges of molestation. There are not many artists of the MJ era who had real talent. Pat Benetar was one, Eddie Van Halen another, and of course, the great Neil Diamond.

I prefer to remember Michael Jackson as Steven Spielberg does and to think of him in the words of Martin Scorsese, who directed the “Bad” video:

“Michael Jackson was extraordinary. When we worked together on “Bad,” I was in awe of his absolute mastery of movement on the one hand, and of the music on the other. Every step he took was absolutely precise and fluid at the same time. It was like watching quicksilver in motion. He was wonderful to work with, an absolute professional at all times, and — it really goes without saying — a true artist. It will be a while before I can get used to the idea that he’s no longer with us.”

May Michael go with God and forever have peace.

I’m Gonna Make A Change,
For Once In My Life
It’s Gonna Feel Real Good,
Gonna Make A Difference
Gonna Make It Right . . .

As I, Turn Up The Collar On My
Favourite Winter Coat
This Wind Is Blowin’ My Mind
I See The Kids In The Street,
With Not Enough To Eat
Who Am I, To Be Blind?
Pretending Not To See
Their Needs
A Summer’s Disregard,
A Broken Bottle Top
And A One Man’s Soul
They Follow Each Other On
The Wind Ya’ Know
‘Cause They Got Nowhere
To Go
That’s Why I Want You To
Know

I’m Starting With The Man In
The Mirror
I’m Asking Him To Change
His Ways
And No Message Could Have
Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World
A Better Place
(If You Wanna Make The
World A Better Place)
Take A Look At Yourself, And
Then Make A Change
(Take A Look At Yourself, And
Then Make A Change)
(Na Na Na, Na Na Na, Na Na,
Na Nah)

I’ve Been A Victim Of A Selfish
Kind Of Love
It’s Time That I Realize
That There Are Some With No
Home, Not A Nickel To Loan
Could It Be Really Me,
Pretending That They’re Not
Alone?

A Willow Deeply Scarred,
Somebody’s Broken Heart
And A Washed-Out Dream
(Washed-Out Dream)
They Follow The Pattern Of
The Wind, Ya’ See
Cause They Got No Place
To Be
That’s Why I’m Starting With
Me
(Starting With Me!)

I’m Starting With The Man In
The Mirror
(Ooh!)
I’m Asking Him To Change
His Ways
(Ooh!)
And No Message Could Have
Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World
A Better Place
(If You Wanna Make The
World A Better Place)
Take A Look At Yourself And
Then Make A Change
(Take A Look At Yourself And
Then Make A Change)

I’m Starting With The Man In
The Mirror
(Ooh!)
I’m Asking Him To Change His
Ways
(Change His Ways-Ooh!)
And No Message Could’ve
Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World
A Better Place
(If You Wanna Make The
World A Better Place)
Take A Look At Yourself And
Then Make That . . .
(Take A Look At Yourself And
Then Make That . . .)
Change!

I’m Starting With The Man In
The Mirror,
(Man In The Mirror-Oh
Yeah!)
I’m Asking Him To Change
His Ways
(Better Change!)
No Message Could Have
Been Any Clearer
(If You Wanna Make The
World A Better Place)
(Take A Look At Yourself And
Then Make The Change)
(You Gotta Get It Right, While
You Got The Time)
(’Cause When You Close Your
Heart)
You Can’t Close Your . . .Your
Mind!
(Then You Close Your . . .
Mind!)
That Man, That Man, That
Man, That Man
With That Man In The Mirror
(Man In The Mirror, Oh Yeah!)
That Man, That Man, That Man
I’m Asking Him To Change
His Ways
(Better Change!)
You Know . . .That Man
No Message Could Have
Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World
A Better Place
(If You Wanna Make The
World A Better Place)
Take A Look At Yourself And
Then Make A Change
(Take A Look At Yourself And
Then Make A Change)
Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Hoo!
Na Na Na, Na Na Na, Na Na,
Na Nah
(Oh Yeah!)
Gonna Feel Real Good Now!
Yeah Yeah! Yeah Yeah!
Yeah Yeah!
Na Na Na, Na Na Na, Na Na,
Na Nah
(Ooooh . . .)
Oh No, No No . . .
I’m Gonna Make A Change
It’s Gonna Feel Real Good!
Come On!
(Change . . .)
Just Lift Yourself
You Know
You’ve Got To Stop It.
Yourself!
(Yeah!-Make That Change!)
I’ve Got To Make That Change,
Today!
Hoo!
(Man In The Mirror)
You Got To
You Got To Not Let Yourself . . .
Brother . . .
Hoo!
(Yeah!-Make That Change!)
You Know-I’ve Got To Get
That Man, That Man . . .
(Man In The Mirror)
You’ve Got To
You’ve Got To Move! Come
On! Come On!
You Got To . . .
Stand Up! Stand Up!
Stand Up!
(Yeah-Make That Change)
Stand Up And Lift
Yourself, Now!
(Man In The Mirror)
Hoo! Hoo! Hoo!
Aaow!
(Yeah-Make That Change)
Gonna Make That Change . . .
Come On!
(Man In The Mirror)
You Know It!
You Know It!
You Know It!
You Know . . .
(Change . . .)
Make That Change.

RELATED:

• Remembering Michael Jackson

• Two Lost Icons: For Generation X, A Really Bad Day

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Burger “Queen” Porn

I am not normally a prude, but some things cross even my open-minded line and this Burger King ad is one of them.

The advertisement, “Blow Your Mind Away,” features a woman in bright red lipstick, looking shocked. Her mouth is wide open, with the sandwich extending from the edge of picture. The caption boldly states: IT’LL BLOW your mind away. Just in case viewers don’t get the sexual reference, there is another picture of the sandwich with the caption: “BK Super Seven Incher.” Even the fine print is suggestive: “Fill your desire for something long, juicy and flame-grilled with the New BK Super Seven Incher. Yearn for more after you taste the mind-blowing burger that comes with a single beef patty…”

Have we sunk so low that this type of vulgarity is now acceptable as advertising fare? Perhaps the Burger “Queens” out there will find it seductive, but I doubt parents will. 

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Gov. Sanford Admits Affair with Argentine Woman

Oh good grief.

• Sanford Admits Affair, First Thoughts

Gov. Mark Sanford (R-S.C.) admitted that he had conducted an extramarital affair with a woman in Argentina who he had gone to visit over the last five days—during which time a massive media story developed over where he was and why.

“I have been unfaithful to my wife . . . I developed a relationship with what started as a dear dear friend,” said Sanford.

He said that he had met the woman, who he did not name, roughly eight years ago and that it had become romantic within the last year. He visited her three times during the past year, Sanford said, and noted that his wife, Jenny, had been aware of the affair for the past five months.

Sanford announced his resignation as chairman of the Republican Governors Association but did not offer any hint of whether he was considering resigning as governor of the Palmetto State. Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour was quickly named as Sanford’s replacement at the RGA. Barbour said the Sanford news “hurts all of us who have gotten to know Governor Sanford over the years.”

Only the Best Hotdogs for the Iranians for 4th of July BBQ - Updated

• What’s Next After Hot-Dog Diplomacy?

• Hot dogs all over the world

• Britain, France & EU Condemn Iranian Slaughter-- Obama Serves Hotdogs

UPDATE:

• ‘WH Rescinds July 4 Invites To Iranians’

Here.

The White House has rescinded the invitations to Iranian diplomats to attend July 4 celebrations at U.S. embassies around the world.

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said nobody from Iran RSVPed to come, and at this point, the invitations are no longer valid.

“Given the events of the past many days, those invitations will no longer be extended,” Mr. Gibbs said.

Monday, June 22, 2009

Let Them Eat Ice Cream

What is wrong with this man? How can he be so incredibly tone deaf. Well, photo ops of narcissistic celebs are more important than those pesky protesters in Iran who are defying their “Supreme Leader” mullahs. Wouldn’t want to offend the mullahs, now would he?

From Atlas Shrugs:

....a ride in the presidential motorcade to get frozen custard from The Dairy Godmother on Saturday afternoon. Twelve dark vehicles wound thru small side streets to the Del Ray section of Alexandria, Virginia, a suburb of Washington.

Liz Davis, owner of the frozen custard shop, said she had about 4 minutes of “lag time” between knowing she would have “a visitor” and the President walking in with his daughters.

Although the flavor of the day was posted as butter pecan, the President ordered a small cup of vanilla frozen custard with hot fudge and toasted almonds. (ABC News)

Contrast:

An Iranian protester. Another victim of the regime. (Iran Press News)

I didn’t like Carter’s policies, I didn’t like Clinton’s wayward ways, but this man now in the White House is in a different league entirely. He is disgustingly contemptible as a human being plus his policies stink too. And just how much did that ice cream cone cost the tax payers with its motorcade and the personnel necessary to staff such an outing?

• Iran Police Quash Rally as Revolutionary Guards Warn Protesters

June 23 (Bloomberg)—Iranian police massing in force broke up a demonstration over the disputed presidential election just hours after the Revolutionary Guards said they would crush further protest.

[...]

Security forces were deployed in the capital to prevent further demonstrations after hundreds of thousands of Iranians took to the streets in more than a week of rallies. At least 17 people have been killed in the worst internal violence in the oil-producing nation of 66 million since the shah was overthrown in 1979.

[...]

The Revolutionary Guards, who answer directly to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and act as a counterweight to the Iranian army, warned the protesters to halt their activity.

‘Saboteurs Must Stop’

“The saboteurs must stop their actions” or face “the decisive and revolutionary action of the children of the nation in the Revolutionary Guards, the Basij and other security and military forces, to put an end to the chaos,” the state-run Mehr news agency cited the Revolutionary Guards as saying in a statement.

Also yesterday, the clerical Guardian Council, the top election body, acknowledged that the number of ballots cast in 50 districts surpassed the number of eligible voters in those areas, the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency reported.

RELATED:

• “I have a message for the international community”

Mohammad: Excuse me, sir. I have a message for the international community. Would you please let me tell it?  Roberts: Yes, go ahead.  Mohammad: Americans, European Union, international community, this government is not definitely—is definitely not elected by the majority of Iranians. So it’s illegal. Do not recognize it. Stop trading with them. Impose much more sanctions against them. My message...to the international community, especially I’m addressing President Obama directly - how can a government that doesn’t recognize its people’s rights and represses them brutally and mercilessly have nuclear activities? This government is a huge threat to global peace. Will a wise man give a sharp dagger to an insane person? We need your help international community. Don’t leave us alone.  Chetry: Mohammad, what do you think the international community should do besides sanctions?  Mohammad: Actually, this regime is really dependent on importing gasoline. More than 85% of Iran’s gasoline is imported from foreign countries. I think international communities must sanction exporting gasoline to Iran and that might shut down the government.

Reflections in Black Glass

The owner of the business where my daughter-in-law works bought a new house with all new stainless steel appliances. Since their refrigerator was only a couple of years old, she asked Penny if we would like to have it free of charge. So, here it is, delivered during last week and left on the back patio until we can get our existing frig cleaned out and moved. While I was out trying to get a decent picture of Fred, I noticed the reflection in the black glass door and thought it was kind of cool. That’s me taking the picture and the pool reflecting in the background.

Meet Fred

I’m dog sitting this week. Meet Fred, an English Pointer bred to be a hunting dog, however, this one is terrified of loud sounds, so has proved useless for his intended purpose. Instead, he is just a big ol’ galoot. 75 lbs. of dog who thinks he is a lap dog. Sweet and even tempered, very affectionate, but my dogs hate him and you can tell he just doesn’t understand why. He wants so much to be part of the family and to play, but he just doesn’t realize that when he brings one of his paws down on my little 5 lb. Mini Pin, he could break her back in one motion. She gets it and wants no part of him. And it is kind of funny to watch how incensed she becomes when Fred wants to put his head on my lap. You see, my lap belongs to Princess and she doesn’t care if he does outweigh her by 70 lbs, it is one thing to invade her home, quite another to try to claim her lap. Fun and games at the Pal2Pal household.

I tried to get a picture of him standing at point, but any little movement on my part catches his attention and he thinks I’m calling him, so I lose the shot.

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Twitter vs Iran’s Evil Regime

Two weeks ago you could read how Twitter was a useless time waster, just another place for narcissists to bombard us with inane details about their daily lives that no one really cared about. I read over and over again, “what is the point of Twitter?” What a difference a week can make.

Power to the people in 140 characters or less. Absolutely amazing!

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Inspiring and Heart Wrenching - Iran

An election protest is becoming a true Revolution:

I don’t know where this uprising is leading. I do know some police units are wavering. That commander talking about his family was not alone. There were other policemen complaining about the unruly Basijis. Some security forces just stood and watched. “All together, all together, don’t be scared,” the crowd shouted.

I also know that Iran’s women stand in the vanguard. For days now, I’ve seen them urging less courageous men on. I’ve seen them get beaten and return to the fray. “Why are you sitting there?” one shouted at a couple of men perched on the sidewalk on Saturday. “Get up! Get up!”

Another green-eyed woman, Mahin, aged 52, staggered into an alley clutching her face and in tears. Then, against the urging of those around her, she limped back into the crowd moving west toward Freedom Square. Cries of “Death to the dictator!” and “We want liberty!” accompanied her.

There were people of all ages. I saw an old man on crutches, middle-aged office workers and bands of teenagers. Unlike the student revolts of 2003 and 1999, this movement is broad.

“Can’t the United Nations help us?” one woman asked me. I said I doubted that very much. “So,” she said, “we are on our own.”

The world is watching, and technology is connecting, and the West is sending what signals it can, but in the end that is true.

There is so little we can do except be a conduit for the information these brave women and men are managing to get out thru Twitter and Facebook. 

Friday, June 19, 2009

Anyone Else See the Irony in This?

Not that North Korean nukes or Navy action should be subjects of humor or ridicule, but this struck me as ironic on some weird level when I saw the headline:

• U.S. Military Set to Intercept North Korean Ship Suspected of Proliferating Missiles, Nukes
  The USS John McCain, a navy destroyer, will intercept the ship Kang Nam as soon as it leaves the vicinity off the coast of China, according to a senior U.S. defense official.

Make Mine Freedom - Another Great Vintage Message Cartoon

Fun and Facts About America, John Sutherland Productions. Creative Commons license: Public Domain. This Cold War-era cartoon uses humor to tout the dangers of Communism and the benefits of capitalism. For more great vintage animation check out http://www.animationstation.info and subscribe to our podcast.

(H/T: Flopping Aces)

If you like “Make Mine Freedom,” then you’ll also want to watch this one we posted last month.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Governator Vows to Veto Tax Increases

Yeah, right. No tax increases, but we will double, triple, quadruple the fees you have to pay to register your car or do business, perhaps even breathe.

Received the following in an email today from the California Dream Team, Arnold’s site:

The Governor said yesterday that he will “without any doubt veto” any budget plan that includes tax increases sent to him by the Legislature.

Email your legislator today and ask them to vote no on any budget proposal that includes tax increases.

The people of California have been clear that they want Sacramento to:

* Live within its means
* Get rid of waste and inefficiency
* Not raise taxes

The Governor is committed to finding consensus on a budget plan that does these three things. Now is the time for lawmakers to join him and to work together to make the tough, but necessary choices to see our state through this fiscal crisis.

Email your legislator today, ask them to make finding a budget solution, that does not raise taxes, their top priority. 

Dems and Their Leftist Friends Love to Wag Their Fingers at Us Mere Mortals

Moonbattery ran this the other day and it made me laugh, so here I offer it to you for the same reason.

Economic Performance In Cities - Interesting Interactive Map

Via WILLisms:

Brookings released a study this week showing that although the global recession affects all of us, not all cities are facing the recession alike:

Click map for interactive version

Senator Silly Woman Boxer Makes Fool of Herself—Again! (Video)

I love this take from Planet Moron:

And to be fair, The Honorable Barbara Boxer, Senator of California, did work hard to get that title, toiling in a wide variety of jobs these past 35 years.

From 1974 to 1976 she worked for the government. From 1977 to 1983 she worked for the government. From 1983 to 1992 she worked for the government, and in 1993, after nearly two decades of working for the government, she finally secured the title of “Senator,” and continued working for the government.

Clearly, it was inappropriate for a mere Brigadier General to display a level of respect typically reserved for commoners. Sure, he served a tour in Iraq, but she serves on the Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation.

You try sitting next to John Kerry for five hours.

We have a chance to rid ourselves of this silly woman in 2010. Please visit Californians for Chuck DeVore U. S. Senate 2010 at: http://caforchuck.ning.com

It’s 3:00 AM

(H/T: Gateway Pundit)

NOTE TO READERS: Blogging remains lite this week due to my continued discomfort after my bad fall. I’m still having sleep issues and, although the pain has come down, it is still pretty intense, making it hard for me to concentrate on anything but how much I hurt. Sorry.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Beck Reads “The Letter” (Video)

(H/T: MsUnderestimated)

I’m a home grown American citizen, 53, registered Democrat all my life. Before the last presidential election I registered as a Republican because I no longer felt the Democratic Party represents my views or works to pursue issues important to me. Now I no longer feel the Republican Party represents my views or works to pursue issues important to me. The fact is I no longer feel any political party or representative in Washington represents my views or works to pursue the issues important to me. There must be someone. Please tell me who you are. Please stand up and tell me that you are there and that you’re willing to fight for our Constitution as it was written. Please stand up now. You might ask yourself what my views and issues are that I would horribly feel so disenfranchised by both major political parties. What kind of nut job am I? Will you please tell me?

Well, these are briefly my views and issues for which I seek representation:

One, illegal immigration. I want you to stop coddling illegal immigrants and secure our borders. Close the underground tunnels. Stop the violence and the trafficking in drugs and people. No amnesty, not again. Been there, done that, no resolution. P.S., I’m not a racist. This isn’t to be confused with legal immigration.

Two, the TARP bill, I want it repealed and I want no further funding supplied to it. We told you no, but you did it anyway. I want the remaining unfunded 95% repealed. Freeze, repeal.

Three: Czars, I want the circumvention of our checks and balances stopped immediately. Fire the czars. No more czars. Government officials answer to the process, not to the president. Stop trampling on our Constitution and honor it.

Four, cap and trade. The debate on global warming is not over. There is more to say.

Five, universal healthcare. I will not be rushed into another expensive decision. Don’t you dare try to pass this in the middle of the night and then go on break. Slow down!

Six, growing government control. I want states rights and sovereignty fully restored. I want less government in my life, not more. Shrink it down. Mind your own business. You have enough to take care of with your real obligations. Why don’t you start there.

Seven, ACORN. I do not want ACORN and its affiliates in charge of our 2010 census. I want them investigated. I also do not want mandatory escrow fees contributed to them every time on every real estate deal that closes. Stop the funding to ACORN and its affiliates pending impartial audits and investigations. I do not trust them with taking the census over with our taxpayer money. I don’t trust them with our taxpayer money. Face up to the allegations against them and get it resolved before taxpayers get any more involved with them. If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, hello. Stop protecting your political buddies. You work for us, the people. Investigate.

Eight, redistribution of wealth. No, no, no. I work for my money. It is mine. I have always worked for people with more money than I have because they gave me jobs. That is the only redistribution of wealth that I will support. I never got a job from a poor person. Why do you want me to hate my employers? Why ‑‑ what do you have against shareholders making a profit?

Nine, charitable contributions. Although I never got a job from a poor person, I have helped many in need. Charity belongs in our local communities, where we know our needs best and can use our local talent and our local resources. Butt out, please. We want to do it ourselves.

Ten, corporate bailouts. Knock it off. Sink or swim like the rest of us. If there are hard times ahead, we’ll be better off just getting into it and letting the strong survive. Quick and painful. Have you ever ripped off a Band‑Aid? We will pull together. Great things happen in America under great hardship. Give us the chance to innovate. We cannot disappoint you more than you have disappointed us.

Eleven, transparency and accountability. How about it? No, really, how about it? Let’s have it. Let’s say we give the buzzwords a rest and have some straight honest talk. Please try ‑‑ please stop manipulating and trying to appease me with clever wording. I am not the idiot you obviously take me for. Stop sneaking around and meeting in back rooms making deals with your friends. It will only be a prelude to your criminal investigation. Stop hiding things from me.

Twelve, unprecedented quick spending. Stop it now.

Take a breath. Listen to the people. Let’s just slow down and get some input from some nonpoliticians on the subject. Stop making everything an emergency. Stop speed reading our bills into law. I am not an activist. I am not a community organizer. Nor am I a terrorist, a militant or a violent person. I am a parent and a grandparent. I work. I’m busy. I’m busy. I am busy, and I am tired. I thought we elected competent people to take care of the business of government so that we could work, raise our families, pay our bills, have a little recreation, complain about taxes, endure our hardships, pursue our personal goals, cut our lawn, wash our cars on the weekends and be responsible contributing members of society and teach our children to be the same all while living in the home of the free and land of the brave.

I entrusted you with upholding the Constitution. I believed in the checks and balances to keep from getting far off course. What happened? You are very far off course. Do you really think I find humor in the hiring of a speed reader to unintelligently ramble all through a bill that you signed into law without knowing what it contained? I do not. It is a mockery of the responsibility I have entrusted to you. It is a slap in the face. I am not laughing at your arrogance. Why is it that I feel as if you would not trust me to make a single decision about my own life and how I would live it but you should expect that I should trust you with the debt that you have laid on all of us and our children. We did not want the TARP bill. We said no. We would repeal it if we could. I am sure that we still cannot. There is such urgency and recklessness in all of the recent spending.

From my perspective, it seems that all of you have gone insane. I also know that I am far from alone in these feelings. Do you honestly feel that your current pursuits have merit to patriotic Americans? We want it to stop. We want to put the brakes on everything that is being rushed by us and forced upon us. We want our voice back. You have forced us to put our lives on hold to straighten out the mess that you are making. We will have to give up our vacations, our time spent with our children, any relaxation time we may have had and money we cannot afford to spend on you to bring our concerns to Washington. Our president often knows all the right buzzword is unsustainable. Well, no kidding. How many tens of thousands of dollars did the focus group cost to come up with that word? We don’t want your overpriced words. Stop treating us like we’re morons.

We want all of you to stop focusing on your reelection and do the job we want done, not the job you want done or the job your party wants done. You work for us and at this rate I guarantee you not for long because we are coming. We will be heard and we will be represented. You think we’re so busy with our lives that we will never come for you? We are the formerly silent majority, all of us who quietly work , pay taxes, obey the law, vote, save money, keep our noses to the grindstone and we are now looking up at you. You have awakened us, the patriotic spirit so strong and so powerful that it had been sleeping too long. You have pushed us too far. Our numbers are great. They may surprise you. For every one of us who will be there, there will be hundreds more that could not come. Unlike you, we have their trust. We will represent them honestly, rest assured. They will be at the polls on voting day to usher you out of office. We have cancelled vacations. We will use our last few dollars saved. We will find the representation among us and a grassroots campaign will flourish. We didn’t ask for this fight. But the gloves are coming off. We do not come in violence, but we are angry. You will represent us or you will be replaced with someone who will. There are candidates among us when hewill rise like a Phoenix from the ashes that you have made of our constitution.

Democrat, Republican, independent, libertarian. Understand this. We don’t care. Political parties are meaningless to us. Patriotic Americans are willing to do right by us and our Constitution and that is all that matters to us now. We are going to fire all of you who abuse power and seek more. It is not your power. It is ours and we want it back. We entrusted you with it and you abused it. You are dishonorable. You are dishonest. As Americans we are ashamed of you. You have brought shame to us. If you are not representing the wants and needs of your constituency loudly and consistently, in spite of the objections of your party, you will be fired. Did you hear? We no longer care about your political parties. You need to be loyal to us, not to them. Because we will get you fired and they will not save you. If you do or can represent me, my issues, my views, please stand up. Make your identity known. You need to make some noise about it. Speak up. I need to know who you are. If you do not speak up, you will be herded out with the rest of the sheep and we will replace the whole damn congress if need be one by one. We are coming. Are we coming for you? Who do you represent? What do you represent? Listen. Because we are coming. We the people are coming.

Janet Contreras

It’s Wednesday, Why Not?

Monday, June 15, 2009

More Than 100,000 Take to Streets in Iran, Regime Thugs Fire on Crowd, at Least 1 Dead, Many Injured

The MSM was virtually silent over the weekend about the protest uprising in Iran over what the people believe to be fraudulent election results. Now they are playing catch up. If you need to catch up on what is happening, check out the following links that appeared over the weekend and stick to these sources for the raw story.

This first link, from Newsbusters, is full of videos giving us close and personal first hand accounts:

• YouTube Provides Better Coverage of Events in Iran Than MSM

Gateway Pundit also provides video accounts:

• Brave Iranian Woman Swing-Kicks a Regime Thug (Video)

And this link from Flopping Aces shows what using Twitter can do to get the word out from a country that isn’t allowing news coverage. Call it where there’s a will, there’s a way.

• Updates From Iran Via Twitter, Update: Major Violence Being Reported, Update: Media Ordered Out Of Iran & Film Confiscated

And, of course, you will want to read Michael Totten. He seems to have some of the best sources for information coming out of Iran:

• Iran on Fire (Continuously updated)

• Insurrection: Day 2

Neither Barack Obama nor anyone in his Administration has made a definitive statement on the uprisings. Why am I not surprised?

We have an opportunity here folks and need to support the people of Iran.

Reuters posted the following about an hour ago, and if this one line just about says it all:

The election outcome has disconcerted Western powers

• Mousavi rally draws tens of thousands in Tehran

Iranian supporters of defeated presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi march in Tehran on June 15, 2009.

More pictures at this link:

• Hope for Iran?

UPDATE:

Violence escalates.

• Iranian Opposition Leader Defies Ban-- Leads Massive Protest in Tehran (Video) ...Update: Gunfire at Rally- At Least 1 Dead ...Update: 15 Dead

• Pro-Mousavi Rallies in Iran; Don’t Underestimate the Significance of This Coup

• Iranians Detonate Reality Bomb

Another resource if you are interested in tracking what is happening in Iran is: http://www.irantracker.com/

Sunday, June 14, 2009

If It’s Sunday, It Must Be Time for Funnies

For all the Sunday Funnies, see Flopping Aces.

Flag Day: Fly It, Honor It,  Pledge Allegiance to It

I AM THE FLAG . . .
Original Poem By Howard Schnauber

I am the flag of the United States of America.

My name is Old Glory.

I fly atop the world’s tallest buildings.

I stand watch in America’s halls of justice.

I fly majestically over institutions of learning.

I stand guard with power in the world.

Look up and see me.

I stand for peace, honor, truth and justice.

I stand for freedom.

I am confident.

I am arrogant.

I am proud.

When I am flown with my fellow banners,

my head is a little higher, my colors a little truer.

I bow to no one!

I am recognized all over the world.

I am worshipped I am saluted.

I am loved I am revered.

I am respected and I am feared.

I have fought in every battle of every war
for more than 200 years.

I was flown at Valley Forge, Gettysburg,

Shiloh and Appomattox.

I was there at San Juan Hill,

the trenches of France,

in the Argonne Forest, Anzio, Rome

and the beaches of Normandy, Guam.

Okinawa, Korea and KheSan, Saigon, Vietnam know me,

I was there.

I led my troops,

I was dirty, battle-tested and tired,

but my soldiers cheered me

And I was proud.

America has been attacked by cowardly fanatics

And many lives have been lost

But those who would destroy me cannot win

For I am the symbol of freedom,

Of one nation

Under God

Indivisible

With liberty and justice for all.

I have been burned, torn and trampled

on the streets of countries I have helped set free.

It does not hurt, for I am invincible.

I have been soiled upon, burned, torn

and trampled on the streets of my country.

And when it’s by those whom I’ve served in battle it hurts.

But I shall overcome for I am strong.

I have slipped the bonds of Earth

and stood watch over the uncharted frontiers of space

from my vantage point on the moon.

I have borne silent witness

to all of America’s finest hours.

But my finest hours are yet to come.

When I am torn into strips  and used as bandages

for my wounded comrades on the battlefield,

When I am flown at half-mast to honor my soldier,

Or when I lie in the trembling arms

of a grieving parent

at the grave of their fallen son or daughter,

I am proud.

MY NAME IS OLD GLORY

LONG MAY I WAVE.

GOD BLESS THE USA

Our flag is out and flying proud, is yours?

And one of my favorite flag pics: LT at a San Diego Charger game

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Protesting Pelosi in Houston