Saturday, August 26, 2006
Liberal Quicksand
Liberal Quicksand: "August 25, 2006
Congress Sets up a Ruling Class
Posted by Hank Dagny in Social Security at 5:32 am | Permanent Link
This must be a campaign issue every year! SOCIAL SECURITY:
Perhaps we are asking the wrong questions during election years. Our Senators and Congressmen do not pay into Social Security. Many years ago they voted in their own benefit plan. In more recent years, no congressperson has felt the need to change it. For all practical purposes their plan works like this:
When they retire, they continue to draw the same pay until they die, except it may increase from time to time for cost of living adjustments. For example, former Senators and Congressmen and their wives may expect to draw $7,800,000, with their wives drawing $275,000.00 during the last years of their lives.
This is calculated on an average life span for each. Their cost for this excellent plan is $00.00. These little perks they voted for themselves are free to them. You and I pick up the tab for this plan.
The funds for this fine retirement plan come directly from the General Fund–our tax dollars at work! From our own Social Security Plan, which you and I pay (or have paid) into — every payday until we retire (which amount is matched by our employer) –we can expect to get an average $1,000 per month after retirement.
Social Security could be very good if only one small change were made. And that change would be to jerk the Golden Fleece Retirement Plan from under the Senators and Congressmen. Put them into the Social Security plan with the rest of us and then watch how fast they would fix it.
If enough people receive this, maybe a seed of awareness will be planted and maybe good changes will evolve. WE, each one of us… can make a difference. - Rush Limbaugh
Next time a candidate for Congress says they will ‘work for you’, tell them you want them to slash their retirement benefits to equal ours. Let’s see if they put our money where their mouth is. – Hank Dagny"
Congress Sets up a Ruling Class
Posted by Hank Dagny in Social Security at 5:32 am | Permanent Link
This must be a campaign issue every year! SOCIAL SECURITY:
Perhaps we are asking the wrong questions during election years. Our Senators and Congressmen do not pay into Social Security. Many years ago they voted in their own benefit plan. In more recent years, no congressperson has felt the need to change it. For all practical purposes their plan works like this:
When they retire, they continue to draw the same pay until they die, except it may increase from time to time for cost of living adjustments. For example, former Senators and Congressmen and their wives may expect to draw $7,800,000, with their wives drawing $275,000.00 during the last years of their lives.
This is calculated on an average life span for each. Their cost for this excellent plan is $00.00. These little perks they voted for themselves are free to them. You and I pick up the tab for this plan.
The funds for this fine retirement plan come directly from the General Fund–our tax dollars at work! From our own Social Security Plan, which you and I pay (or have paid) into — every payday until we retire (which amount is matched by our employer) –we can expect to get an average $1,000 per month after retirement.
Social Security could be very good if only one small change were made. And that change would be to jerk the Golden Fleece Retirement Plan from under the Senators and Congressmen. Put them into the Social Security plan with the rest of us and then watch how fast they would fix it.
If enough people receive this, maybe a seed of awareness will be planted and maybe good changes will evolve. WE, each one of us… can make a difference. - Rush Limbaugh
Next time a candidate for Congress says they will ‘work for you’, tell them you want them to slash their retirement benefits to equal ours. Let’s see if they put our money where their mouth is. – Hank Dagny"
Liberal Quicksand
Liberal Quicksand: "August 25, 2006
The Liberal’s Message on the War on Terror is Why They Lose Elections
Posted by Hank Dagny in Liberals, Wars and the War on Terror at 3:39 pm | Permanent Link
It is time to consider how many dead Americans there would be by now and in the future if we had not invaded Iraq.
Iran and Iraq were both considered dangers to the peace in the Middle East. Both were being dealt with thru diplomatic channels for decades. Finally the United States had enough and the dictatorship of Iraq was eliminated.
Now Iraq may not be perfect, but it is not a danger to peace in the Middle East. It will not be attacking its neighbors any time soon. Iran is still a danger to peace in the region and the liberals still want to talk. Liberals can ignore truth and evidence staring them right in the face. That is what makes them liberals.
It is also time to consider just how many American soldiers would still be alive if it was not for traitors like the liberals, Democrats, the NY Times and the rest of the MSM trying to drag the moral of the country down every single day - while inspiring the enemy to fight on.
We should also consider the real punishment we could meld out to the terrorist bases in Syria, Lebanon and Iran if liberals would become Americans again.
The discussion in a war should be whether to destroy half and see if they want to surrender or just destroy it all and talk after. Not whether or not we should pull out because the enemy is on their last legs causing them to go for broke – and therefore we are taking some casualties.
If the Democrat portion of this country were still loyal Americans - which they obviously are not - we would be debating whether or not we should drop two nukes on Iran or one. Not whether we should wear gloves while holding the Koran.
Any judge with a feminist hyphenated name, an ACLU contributor and an activist for affirmative action case stealing – we know is a liberal that will sell this country’s security down the river for a political victory. They had to go to Detroit for find liberal ignorance and treason in high enough places to try and help our nation’s enemies.
The liberals have tried to send a really powerful message to the American voter for this coming election. Their thinking is that they just didn’t get their message out last time.
Reality time. You succeeded. You succeeded the first time. The message is loud and clear. You have no courage, faith, resolve or patriotism to fight for your country’s defense. Congratulations liberals. Americans can hear you loud and clear. That is why you lose. – Hank Dagny"
The Liberal’s Message on the War on Terror is Why They Lose Elections
Posted by Hank Dagny in Liberals, Wars and the War on Terror at 3:39 pm | Permanent Link
It is time to consider how many dead Americans there would be by now and in the future if we had not invaded Iraq.
Iran and Iraq were both considered dangers to the peace in the Middle East. Both were being dealt with thru diplomatic channels for decades. Finally the United States had enough and the dictatorship of Iraq was eliminated.
Now Iraq may not be perfect, but it is not a danger to peace in the Middle East. It will not be attacking its neighbors any time soon. Iran is still a danger to peace in the region and the liberals still want to talk. Liberals can ignore truth and evidence staring them right in the face. That is what makes them liberals.
It is also time to consider just how many American soldiers would still be alive if it was not for traitors like the liberals, Democrats, the NY Times and the rest of the MSM trying to drag the moral of the country down every single day - while inspiring the enemy to fight on.
We should also consider the real punishment we could meld out to the terrorist bases in Syria, Lebanon and Iran if liberals would become Americans again.
The discussion in a war should be whether to destroy half and see if they want to surrender or just destroy it all and talk after. Not whether or not we should pull out because the enemy is on their last legs causing them to go for broke – and therefore we are taking some casualties.
If the Democrat portion of this country were still loyal Americans - which they obviously are not - we would be debating whether or not we should drop two nukes on Iran or one. Not whether we should wear gloves while holding the Koran.
Any judge with a feminist hyphenated name, an ACLU contributor and an activist for affirmative action case stealing – we know is a liberal that will sell this country’s security down the river for a political victory. They had to go to Detroit for find liberal ignorance and treason in high enough places to try and help our nation’s enemies.
The liberals have tried to send a really powerful message to the American voter for this coming election. Their thinking is that they just didn’t get their message out last time.
Reality time. You succeeded. You succeeded the first time. The message is loud and clear. You have no courage, faith, resolve or patriotism to fight for your country’s defense. Congratulations liberals. Americans can hear you loud and clear. That is why you lose. – Hank Dagny"
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Compassion
A few backround facts. GDP
per capital for the US in 2003 was $37,562 per year, or $102.91 per
day, compared with $2892 in India, where 34.7% earn less than $1/day
and 79.9% earn less than $2/day. By comparison, China's per capita
income in 2003 was $5003, while 16.6% earned less than $1/day and 46.7%
less than $2/day.
More per capita income figures for 2003: World $8229. Developing
countries $4359, Japan $27,967, Israel $20,033, Lebanon $5074, Saudi
Arabia $13,226, Mexico $9168, Arab states $5685, Iran $6995, Haiti
$1742, and Nigeria $1050. The life expectancy of a child born in
America today is 77.4 years , Italy 80, Japan 82. In Nigeria it is
43.4; in Haiti 51.6.
We live in a wonderful, safe and free country. We can afford
humanity and compassion towards people inside and outside our country
who are not so blessed.
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Sunday, August 20, 2006
Oil History of Events
| Overview | |
This chronology was originally published by the Department of Energy's Office of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, Analysis Division. Updates for 1995-2005 are from the Energy Information Administration. Please click here for the latest monthly chronology and for a more detailed chronology for past years. World Nominal Oil Price Chronology: 1970-2005  The price data graphed above are in nominal terms, i.e., they are in "dollars-of-the-day" and have not been adjusted for inflation. Clicking the picture above will enable you to access oil prices in real terms that are adjusted for inflation. Historical and forecast real and nominal crude oil and gasoline price information is maintained on a more frequent basis on the Short Term Energy Outlook Webpage . 4. Oil embargo begins (October 19-20, 1973) 6. Oil embargo ends (March 18, 1974) 7. Saudis increase tax rates and royalties 8. US crude oil entitlements program begins 10. Official Saudi Light price held constant for 1976 11. Iranian oil production hits a 27-year low 13. Iranian revolution; Shah deposed 15. US phased price decontrol begins 17. Iran takes hostages; President Carter halts imports from Iran; Iran cancels US contracts; Non-OPEC output hits 17.0 million b/d 18. Saudis raise marker crude price from 19$/bbl to 26$/bbl 19. Windfall Profits Tax enacted 21. Saudi Light raised to $28/bbl 22. Saudi Light raised to $34/bbl 23. First major fighting in Iran-Iraq War 24. President Reagan abolishes remaining price and allocation controls 26. US boycotts Libyan crude; OPEC plans 18 million b/d output 27. Syria cuts off Iraqi pipeline 28. Libya initiates discounts; Non-OPEC output reaches 20 million b/d; OPEC output drops to 15 million b/d 30. Norway, United Kingdom, and Nigeria cut prices 33. Saudis link to spot price and begin to raise output – June 1985 35. Wide use of netback pricing 36. Wide use of fixed prices 37. Wide use of formula pricing 40. Exxon's Valdez tanker spills 11 million gallons of crude oil 42. Iraq invades Kuwait 44. Persian Gulf war ends 45. Dissolution of Soviet Union; Last Kuwaiti oil fire is extinguished on November 6, 1991 50. Nigerian oil workers' strike 51. Extremely cold weather in the US and Europe 52. U.S. launches cruise missile attacks into southern Iraq following an Iraqi-supported invasion of Kurdish safe haven areas in northern Iraq. 53. Iraq begins exporting oil under United Nations Security Council Resolution 986. 54. Prices rise as Iraq's refusal to allow United Nations weapons inspectors into "sensitive" sites raises tensions in the oil-rich Middle East. 55. OPEC raises its production ceiling by 2.5 million barrels per day to 27.5 million barrels per day. This is the first increase in 4 years. 56. World oil supply increases by 2.25 million barrels per day in 1997, the largest annual increase since 1988. 57. Oil prices continue to plummet as increased production from Iraq coincides with no growth in Asian oil demand due to the Asian economic crisis and increases in world oil inventories following two unusually warm winters. 58. OPEC pledges additional production cuts for the third time since March 1998. Total pledged cuts amount to about 4.3 million barrels per day. 59. Oil prices triple between January 1999 and September 2000 due to strong world oil demand, OPEC oil production cutbacks, and other factors, including weather and low oil stock levels. 60. President Clinton authorizes the release of 30 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) over 30 days to bolster oil supplies, particularly heating oil in the Northeast. 61. Oil prices fall due to weak world demand (largely as a result of economic recession in the United States) and OPEC overproduction. 62. Oil prices decline sharply following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, largely on increased fears of a sharper worldwide economic downturn (and therefore sharply lower oil demand). Prices then increase on oil production cuts by OPEC and non-OPEC at the beginning of 2002, plus unrest in the Middle East and the possibility of renewed conflict with Iraq. 63. OPEC oil production cuts, unrest in Venezuela, and rising tension in the Middle East contribute to a significant increase in oil prices between January and June. 64. A general strike in Venezuela, concern over a possible military conflict in Iraq, and cold winter weather all contribute to a sharp decline in U.S. oil inventories and cause oil prices to escalate further at the end of the year. 65. Continued unrest in Venezuela and oil traders' anticipation of imminent military action in Iraq causes prices to rise in January and February, 2003. 66. Military action commences in Iraq on March 19, 2003. Iraqi oil fields are not destroyed as had been feared. Prices fall. 67. OPEC delegates agree to lower the cartel’s output ceiling by 1 million barrels per day, to 23.5 million barrels per day, effective April 2004. 68. OPEC agrees to raise its crude oil production target by 500,000 barrels (2% of current OPEC production) by August 1—in an effort to moderate high crude oil prices. 69. Hurricane Ivan causes lasting damage to the energy infrastructure in the Gulf of Mexico and interrupts oil and natural gas supplies to the United States. U.S. Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham agrees to release 1.7 million barrels of oil in the form of a loan from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. 70. Continuing oil supply disruptions in Iraq and Nigeria, as well as strong energy demand, raise prices during the first and second quarters of 2005. 71. Tropical Storm Cindy and Hurricanes Dennis, Katrina, and Rita disrupt oil supply in the Gulf of Mexico. |
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New Sisyphus
New Sisyphus: " Civilization will not last, freedom will not survive, peace will not be kept, unless a very large majority of mankind unite together to defend them and show themselves possessed of a constabulary power before which barbaric and atavistic forces will stand in awe.
-- Winston Churchill, University of Bristol, July 2, 1938."
-- Winston Churchill, University of Bristol, July 2, 1938."
JoeRoseBlog: 10/17/2004 - 10/23/2004
JoeRoseBlog: 10/17/2004 - 10/23/2004
Hello.
After the news that Gertrude had died, I tried to describe to some friends and colleagues (up this way) who she was (they had heard some stories), but did not do a very good job. So, I wrote something which may or may not be totally accurate, but is "as I remember it......"
Please indulge me for a few minutes. The passing of an era seems worth some mentioning.
Gertrude died on Saturday. She was well in to her 90s. Passed away in her sleep in the home she had lived in for over 60 years.
I first met Gertrude when Paula Chaney took me over to her house to make introductions. Gertrude and Paula's grandmother (another fine lady whose strength, grace, and continued faith while watching 3 of her children die in such rapid succession still amazes me) had been neighbors since the 1930s. Gertrude had a wonderful garage apartment and I wanted to be the first person called the next time it became vacant. We hit it off. I had been to a good school (Baylor), displayed proper manners, and had the recommendation of the Chaney family. Several months later, I got the call, and was able to move in after the place had been carefully scrubbed cleaned and used for family visiting at Thanksgiving.
There were only a couple of rules: The apartment was furnished and the furniture up there remained there. No overnight visitors of the opposite sex. Do not use excessive amounts of electricity (electric was included and she had kept records back to the 1960s of how many watts had been used each month). She considered me her guest. A paying guest, but a guest nevertheless.
Gertrude was an old school southern lady. Her phone listing and most of her correspondence came to Mrs Robert Lindsey, even though he had passed sometime in the early 1970s. She enjoyed "highballs," but only after 5 pm. Smoked some, but never while walking. She was active member of the Episcopal Church, but thought there was too much emphasis over the Old Testament, especially all the "begets." She liked to look at the Neiman Marcus catalogues to see what the stores were "showing" each season. She saved stuff and liked to get every last use out of anything. The garage had an old refrigerator where she stored paint. It had to be ancient because the one in the house seemed really old. Liked to work in the yard, camp and fish. I will never forget picking her up at the train station late one evening after a long day of travel. Of course she still had on her hat and gloves.
Gertrude and her sister (quite a character herself) lost their mother at a very early age and were shuttled from one family member to another. Gertrude was on her own by the time she was 17. She was lucky to meet a lady who owned a very successful dress making business in Fort Worth. The lady gave Gertrude a job because of her sassiness, took her in, and they remained family until the lady's death. The job allowed Gertrude to support herself and attend college. She was elected class representative to greet Charles Lindberg when he traveled across the US. When commenting on that experience, I heard her say more than once, "I wasn't really pretty, but I was awfully cute."
I knew Gertrude after her husband died, her eyes were not so great, and her hearing shot. Did not weigh more than 90 pounds dripping wet, most of the time with a pony tail on top of her head. She was still driving a green Ford (circa early 1970s), kept immaculately clean and mechanically tuned. She was an artist, a painter, having won ribbons and recognition at art shows, but now only painted periodically or for a specially requested wedding present. She did however, remain as active and curious as her body allowed. She was always working in and around the house. I would be amazed to she her crawling all over the place meticulously watching anyone who was doing work at her house: painters, plumbers, carpenters, gardeners and/or electricians. Mainly, out of curiosity to see what they were doing. Once, I went outside to see what all the commotion was on top of my roof. It was her - up two stories in the air - with a rope tied around her waist cleaning out gutters. After that I ran downstairs to assist anytime I heard ladders.
She listened to McNeil - Lehrer and books on tape each evening when she did not have company or some other engagement.
She was great fun to be around. We would have "highballs" - play cards, discuss what was going on in the world and our neighborhood. She was quick with an opinion and always stayed curious. I enjoyed hearing updates of her family and sitting with her and her sister or her only child, a daughter named Bobbie Joyce, when they came to visit. She considered me family.
The last time I saw Gertrude was in a hospital room. I had written a postcard - telephoning was too much trouble with her "ears" (hearing aids) - to let her know when I would be in town and could come by and see her. When she realized who it was she commented, "Oh, it must be April 17th or 18th, because that is when you said you would be here." We got caught up, laughed, and joked. She told me that I was handsome for the last time.
Several years ago Paula and I were discussing with her yet another death in the Chaney family, which she had seen grow up and loved so much. She talked about plans for her own death - to be cremated and buried in Llano next to her husband Bob, but without fan fare. She wanted Anne Hoey, her favorite rector, to do the small, simple service. And she told us just to call Weed-Corley (the funeral home) and tell them to "come and get it......."
Gertrude was my friend.
I will always miss her.
Time to "come and get it......."
Hello.
After the news that Gertrude had died, I tried to describe to some friends and colleagues (up this way) who she was (they had heard some stories), but did not do a very good job. So, I wrote something which may or may not be totally accurate, but is "as I remember it......"
Please indulge me for a few minutes. The passing of an era seems worth some mentioning.
Gertrude died on Saturday. She was well in to her 90s. Passed away in her sleep in the home she had lived in for over 60 years.
I first met Gertrude when Paula Chaney took me over to her house to make introductions. Gertrude and Paula's grandmother (another fine lady whose strength, grace, and continued faith while watching 3 of her children die in such rapid succession still amazes me) had been neighbors since the 1930s. Gertrude had a wonderful garage apartment and I wanted to be the first person called the next time it became vacant. We hit it off. I had been to a good school (Baylor), displayed proper manners, and had the recommendation of the Chaney family. Several months later, I got the call, and was able to move in after the place had been carefully scrubbed cleaned and used for family visiting at Thanksgiving.
There were only a couple of rules: The apartment was furnished and the furniture up there remained there. No overnight visitors of the opposite sex. Do not use excessive amounts of electricity (electric was included and she had kept records back to the 1960s of how many watts had been used each month). She considered me her guest. A paying guest, but a guest nevertheless.
Gertrude was an old school southern lady. Her phone listing and most of her correspondence came to Mrs Robert Lindsey, even though he had passed sometime in the early 1970s. She enjoyed "highballs," but only after 5 pm. Smoked some, but never while walking. She was active member of the Episcopal Church, but thought there was too much emphasis over the Old Testament, especially all the "begets." She liked to look at the Neiman Marcus catalogues to see what the stores were "showing" each season. She saved stuff and liked to get every last use out of anything. The garage had an old refrigerator where she stored paint. It had to be ancient because the one in the house seemed really old. Liked to work in the yard, camp and fish. I will never forget picking her up at the train station late one evening after a long day of travel. Of course she still had on her hat and gloves.
Gertrude and her sister (quite a character herself) lost their mother at a very early age and were shuttled from one family member to another. Gertrude was on her own by the time she was 17. She was lucky to meet a lady who owned a very successful dress making business in Fort Worth. The lady gave Gertrude a job because of her sassiness, took her in, and they remained family until the lady's death. The job allowed Gertrude to support herself and attend college. She was elected class representative to greet Charles Lindberg when he traveled across the US. When commenting on that experience, I heard her say more than once, "I wasn't really pretty, but I was awfully cute."
I knew Gertrude after her husband died, her eyes were not so great, and her hearing shot. Did not weigh more than 90 pounds dripping wet, most of the time with a pony tail on top of her head. She was still driving a green Ford (circa early 1970s), kept immaculately clean and mechanically tuned. She was an artist, a painter, having won ribbons and recognition at art shows, but now only painted periodically or for a specially requested wedding present. She did however, remain as active and curious as her body allowed. She was always working in and around the house. I would be amazed to she her crawling all over the place meticulously watching anyone who was doing work at her house: painters, plumbers, carpenters, gardeners and/or electricians. Mainly, out of curiosity to see what they were doing. Once, I went outside to see what all the commotion was on top of my roof. It was her - up two stories in the air - with a rope tied around her waist cleaning out gutters. After that I ran downstairs to assist anytime I heard ladders.
She listened to McNeil - Lehrer and books on tape each evening when she did not have company or some other engagement.
She was great fun to be around. We would have "highballs" - play cards, discuss what was going on in the world and our neighborhood. She was quick with an opinion and always stayed curious. I enjoyed hearing updates of her family and sitting with her and her sister or her only child, a daughter named Bobbie Joyce, when they came to visit. She considered me family.
The last time I saw Gertrude was in a hospital room. I had written a postcard - telephoning was too much trouble with her "ears" (hearing aids) - to let her know when I would be in town and could come by and see her. When she realized who it was she commented, "Oh, it must be April 17th or 18th, because that is when you said you would be here." We got caught up, laughed, and joked. She told me that I was handsome for the last time.
Several years ago Paula and I were discussing with her yet another death in the Chaney family, which she had seen grow up and loved so much. She talked about plans for her own death - to be cremated and buried in Llano next to her husband Bob, but without fan fare. She wanted Anne Hoey, her favorite rector, to do the small, simple service. And she told us just to call Weed-Corley (the funeral home) and tell them to "come and get it......."
Gertrude was my friend.
I will always miss her.
Time to "come and get it......."
Saturday, August 19, 2006
American and Proud of it.
American and Proud of it.: "Leadership?
A leader must instill confidence in the followers.
A Leader must have full confidence in his/her abilities.
A leader must believe in their subordinates.
A leader must have good communication skills
A leader must be able to convince people their views are the right views.
A leader needs to have the ability to solicit advice and choose between differing views.
A leader must be able to motivate people.
A leader needs to have a self-motivation quality second to none.
A leader should see to it that any action is not a half assed attempt.
A leader should follow up on all tasks given to subordinates.
A leader should be prepared to either promote or demote based on performance.
A leader needs to lead by example.
A leader should be able to remove obstacles in the way of completing tasks.
A leader is what is needed in our country.
A leader is what is missing from our country.
A leader would see the path we are on and correct it.
A leader would allow the Military to do its job.
A leader would not allow the MSM to dictate policy.
A leader would not allow dissenting opinion based on polls to change military tactics.
A leader should never start something they have no plan to finish.
A leader better be able to project leadership on both sides of the political aisle.
A leader is absent in America.
A leader is absent in Israel.
A leader better turn up in both countries very quick.
I am a supporter of the Republican Party, I supported Bush. I stand by my vote for him.
Not because I am happy with his performance as of late, but because the choices were worse in both elections.
Bush get your head out of your ass! and unleash the American might on the Muslim Horde before it becomes necessary for us civilians to do it. I am so sick of this patty cake bullshit. Right now I am not a very proud American.
IF there are any true Leaders out there America needs you NOW!"
A leader must instill confidence in the followers.
A Leader must have full confidence in his/her abilities.
A leader must believe in their subordinates.
A leader must have good communication skills
A leader must be able to convince people their views are the right views.
A leader needs to have the ability to solicit advice and choose between differing views.
A leader must be able to motivate people.
A leader needs to have a self-motivation quality second to none.
A leader should see to it that any action is not a half assed attempt.
A leader should follow up on all tasks given to subordinates.
A leader should be prepared to either promote or demote based on performance.
A leader needs to lead by example.
A leader should be able to remove obstacles in the way of completing tasks.
A leader is what is needed in our country.
A leader is what is missing from our country.
A leader would see the path we are on and correct it.
A leader would allow the Military to do its job.
A leader would not allow the MSM to dictate policy.
A leader would not allow dissenting opinion based on polls to change military tactics.
A leader should never start something they have no plan to finish.
A leader better be able to project leadership on both sides of the political aisle.
A leader is absent in America.
A leader is absent in Israel.
A leader better turn up in both countries very quick.
I am a supporter of the Republican Party, I supported Bush. I stand by my vote for him.
Not because I am happy with his performance as of late, but because the choices were worse in both elections.
Bush get your head out of your ass! and unleash the American might on the Muslim Horde before it becomes necessary for us civilians to do it. I am so sick of this patty cake bullshit. Right now I am not a very proud American.
IF there are any true Leaders out there America needs you NOW!"
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Sunday, August 06, 2006
Warts & All: The Home
Warts & All: The Home: "The Home
I don’t really remember a lot about the people there. Most of them, anyway. But I remember that farm. It was beautiful. I often wished I could live in a place like that, with my family.
"
I don’t really remember a lot about the people there. Most of them, anyway. But I remember that farm. It was beautiful. I often wished I could live in a place like that, with my family.
"
Iraqi Bloggers Central
Iraqi Bloggers Central: "On February 20, 1258 A.D., the Mongols overran Baghdad, plundered and destroyed the city, and conducted a massacre of the residents that claimed 800,000 lives. Things don't look as bleak for the Iraqis now, still the topic of an Iraqi Civil War is being bandied about in the Media every day, and I have to ask: Is Iraq currently involved in a Civil War?
Christine: At this point in time I cannot say. The situation is extremely complicated and the violence there is caused by many different factions. If there is a civil war going on, it is a very low level one and only in the beginning stages."
Christine: At this point in time I cannot say. The situation is extremely complicated and the violence there is caused by many different factions. If there is a civil war going on, it is a very low level one and only in the beginning stages."
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
USATODAY.com - A life without left turns
USATODAY.com - A life without left turns
After he retired, my father almost always accompanied my mother whenever she drove anywhere, even if he had no reason to go along. If she were going to the beauty parlor, he'd sit in the car and read, or go take a stroll or, if it was summer, have her keep the engine running so he could listen to the Cubs game on the radio. (In the evening, then, when I'd stop by, he'd explain: "The Cubs lost again. The millionaire on second base made a bad throw to the millionaire on first base, so the multimillionaire on third base scored.") If she were going to the grocery store, he would go along to carry the bags out — and to make sure she loaded up on ice cream.
As I said, he was always the navigator, and once, when he was 95 and she was 88 and still driving, he said to me, "Do you want to know the secret of a long life?" "I guess so," I said, knowing it probably would be something bizarre.
"No left turns," he said.
"What?" I asked.
"No left turns," he repeated. "Several years ago, your mother and I read an article that said most accidents that old people are in happen when they turn left in front of oncoming traffic. As you get older, your eyesight worsens, and you can lose your depth perception, it said. So your mother and I decided never again to make a left turn."
"What?" I said again. "No left turns," he said. "Think about it. Three rights are the same as a left, and that's a lot safer. So we always make three rights."
"You're kidding!" I said, and I turned to my mother for support. "No," she said, "your father is right. We make three rights. It works."
But then she added: "Except when your father loses count."
I was driving at the time, and I almost drove off the road as I started laughing. "Loses count?" I asked. "Yes," my father admitted, "that sometimes happens. But it's not a problem. You just make seven rights, and you're okay again."
I couldn't resist. "Do you ever go for 11?" I asked.
"No," he said. "If we miss it at seven, we just come home and call it a bad day. Besides, nothing in life is so important it can't be put off another day or another week."
My mother was never in an accident, but one evening she handed me her car keys and said she had decided to quit driving. That was in 1999, when she was 90. She lived four more years, until 2003. My father died the next year, at 102. They both died in the bungalow they had moved into in 1937 and bought a few years later for $3,000. (Sixty years later, my brother and I paid $8,000 to have a shower put in the tiny bathroom — the house had never had one. My father would have died then and there if he knew the shower cost nearly three times what he paid for the house.) He continued to walk daily — he had me get him a treadmill when he was 101 because he was afraid he'd fall on the icy sidewalks but wanted to keep exercising — and he was of sound mind and sound body until the moment he died.
A happy life
One September afternoon in 2004, he and my son went with me when I had to give a talk in a neighboring town, and it was clear to all three of us that he was wearing out, though we had the usual wide-ranging conversation about politics and newspapers and things in the news. A few weeks earlier, he had told my son, "You know, Mike, the first hundred years are a lot easier than the second hundred." At one point in our drive that Saturday, he said, "You know, I'm probably not going to live much longer." "You're probably right," I said. "Why would you say that?" he countered, somewhat irritated. "Because you're 102 years old," I said. "Yes," he said, "you're right." He stayed in bed all the next day. That night, I suggested to my son and daughter that we sit up with him through the night. He appreciated it, he said, though at one point, apparently seeing us look gloomy, he said: "I would like to make an announcement. No one in this room is dead yet." An hour or so later, he spoke his last words:
"I want you to know," he said, clearly and lucidly, "that I am in no pain. I am very comfortable. And I have had as happy a life as anyone on this earth could ever have."
A short time later, he died.
I miss him a lot, and I think about him a lot. I've wondered now and then how it was that my family and I were so lucky that he lived so long.
I can't figure out if it was because he walked through life.
Or because he quit taking left turns.
Michael Gartner has been editor of newspapers large and small and president of NBC News. In 1997, he won the Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing.
After he retired, my father almost always accompanied my mother whenever she drove anywhere, even if he had no reason to go along. If she were going to the beauty parlor, he'd sit in the car and read, or go take a stroll or, if it was summer, have her keep the engine running so he could listen to the Cubs game on the radio. (In the evening, then, when I'd stop by, he'd explain: "The Cubs lost again. The millionaire on second base made a bad throw to the millionaire on first base, so the multimillionaire on third base scored.") If she were going to the grocery store, he would go along to carry the bags out — and to make sure she loaded up on ice cream.
As I said, he was always the navigator, and once, when he was 95 and she was 88 and still driving, he said to me, "Do you want to know the secret of a long life?" "I guess so," I said, knowing it probably would be something bizarre.
"No left turns," he said.
"What?" I asked.
"No left turns," he repeated. "Several years ago, your mother and I read an article that said most accidents that old people are in happen when they turn left in front of oncoming traffic. As you get older, your eyesight worsens, and you can lose your depth perception, it said. So your mother and I decided never again to make a left turn."
"What?" I said again. "No left turns," he said. "Think about it. Three rights are the same as a left, and that's a lot safer. So we always make three rights."
"You're kidding!" I said, and I turned to my mother for support. "No," she said, "your father is right. We make three rights. It works."
But then she added: "Except when your father loses count."
I was driving at the time, and I almost drove off the road as I started laughing. "Loses count?" I asked. "Yes," my father admitted, "that sometimes happens. But it's not a problem. You just make seven rights, and you're okay again."
I couldn't resist. "Do you ever go for 11?" I asked.
"No," he said. "If we miss it at seven, we just come home and call it a bad day. Besides, nothing in life is so important it can't be put off another day or another week."
My mother was never in an accident, but one evening she handed me her car keys and said she had decided to quit driving. That was in 1999, when she was 90. She lived four more years, until 2003. My father died the next year, at 102. They both died in the bungalow they had moved into in 1937 and bought a few years later for $3,000. (Sixty years later, my brother and I paid $8,000 to have a shower put in the tiny bathroom — the house had never had one. My father would have died then and there if he knew the shower cost nearly three times what he paid for the house.) He continued to walk daily — he had me get him a treadmill when he was 101 because he was afraid he'd fall on the icy sidewalks but wanted to keep exercising — and he was of sound mind and sound body until the moment he died.
A happy life
One September afternoon in 2004, he and my son went with me when I had to give a talk in a neighboring town, and it was clear to all three of us that he was wearing out, though we had the usual wide-ranging conversation about politics and newspapers and things in the news. A few weeks earlier, he had told my son, "You know, Mike, the first hundred years are a lot easier than the second hundred." At one point in our drive that Saturday, he said, "You know, I'm probably not going to live much longer." "You're probably right," I said. "Why would you say that?" he countered, somewhat irritated. "Because you're 102 years old," I said. "Yes," he said, "you're right." He stayed in bed all the next day. That night, I suggested to my son and daughter that we sit up with him through the night. He appreciated it, he said, though at one point, apparently seeing us look gloomy, he said: "I would like to make an announcement. No one in this room is dead yet." An hour or so later, he spoke his last words:
"I want you to know," he said, clearly and lucidly, "that I am in no pain. I am very comfortable. And I have had as happy a life as anyone on this earth could ever have."
A short time later, he died.
I miss him a lot, and I think about him a lot. I've wondered now and then how it was that my family and I were so lucky that he lived so long.
I can't figure out if it was because he walked through life.
Or because he quit taking left turns.
Michael Gartner has been editor of newspapers large and small and president of NBC News. In 1997, he won the Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing.
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