Goofy Dragon AL Gore

Scientist Fired by Gore Calls Warming Fears ‘Mistaken’
Princeton University physicist Dr. Will Happer, who says he was fired by Vice President Al Gore for failing to adhere to Gore’s views on global warming, has now declared that man-made warming fears are “mistaken.”

Happer, who served as the director of Energy Research at the Department of Energy from 1990 to 1993, said, “I had the privilege of being fired by Al Gore, since I refused to go along with his alarmism. I did not need the job that badly.”

He said in 1993, “I was told that science was not going to intrude on policy."

Imagine that!

Now Happer has asked to join the more than 650 international scientists who have spoken out against man-made global warming fears and are cited in the 2008 U.S. Senate Minority Report from Environmental and Public Works Committee ranking member James Inhofe, R-Okla.

“I am convinced that the current alarm over carbon dioxide is mistaken,” Happer told the committee on Dec. 22.

President-elect Barack Obama’s choice as his top science adviser, Harvard University professor John Holdren, is a staunch believer in the dangers of man-made global warming and advised Gore on his documentary “An Inconvenient Truth.”

Another great surprise!

Dr. Happer has published over 200 scientific papers, and is a fellow of the American Physical Society, The American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the National Academy of Sciences.

Sen. Inhofe said that the statements of prominent scientists like Happer who are willing to publicly dissent from climate fears strike a blow to the United Nations, Gore, and the media’s claims about global warming.

“The endless claims of a 'consensus' about man-made global warming grow less and less credible every day," Inhofe said.

Happer declared, “I have spent a long research career studying physics that is closely related to the greenhouse effect — for example, absorption and emission of visible and infrared radiation, and fluid flow. Fears about man-made global warming are unwarranted and are not based on good science. The earth's climate is changing now, as it always has. There is no evidence that the changes differ in any qualitative way from those of the past . . .
“Computer models used to generate frightening scenarios from increasing levels of carbon dioxide have scant credibility.”

When a Democrat tells you "the argument is over, we have a consensus", stand by for the argument. They are almost always trying to tell you the outcome before the discussion, it's just easier for them. Hard facts are just too unemotional, it's feelings that really matter.

That would be if you don't care that pursuing these goals will bankrupt the nation and it's businesses.

Besides, interrupting Al's cash flow would be bad ......for Al!



From NEWSMAX

Christmas Cheer by the foot candle...

We went on a cruise around town to enjoy the show provided by Christmas lights. There are fewer lights this year than in years before. We went downtown and the riverfront, usually decorated, is pretty sparse. We scaled down this year because I just didn't feel up to doing the edges of the roof and the several conical shapes designated as trees.

We went to several of the traditional areas where the neighbors fight it out tooth and claw to see who can blow a breaker with cheer. I know one guy who loves to wow his daughters, who had a separate service installed for his Christmas display. He fills his front field with every conceivable anthropomorphic hallucination indicating a holiday is upon us. Good on him, it's way cool.

Some areas showed restrained good taste, the heck with that!

I like volume in lights, I want to hear the electric meter scream for mercy.

Children, we went to the poorer section of the hood, and found several houses that could be seen from space. The magnetic field from the lights would confuse migrating birds to the point they would circle the house until the breakers tripped.

Bring out the shades baby! Talk about your excess of cheer!

We need to show the people that we ENJOY!!!! our Christmas Holiday!

Next year I'm pulling out the stops!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to All and to all a good night.

May you all prosper in the New Year.

God Love you and Keep you safe from harm and Liberals, I love liberals too, but they should live with the consequences of their stupidity.

Sorry, a wild Turkey told me to say that.

Explorer???? OK!

Your result for The Steampunk Style Test...

The Explorer

32% Elegant, 45% Technological, 40% Historical, 72% Adventurous and 9% Playful!

You are the Explorer, the embodiment of steampunk’s adventuring spirit. For you, clothing should be rugged and reliable, and just as functional as it is attractive. You probably prefer khaki or leather, and your accessories are as likely to include weapons as technological gizmos. You probably wear boots and gloves, and maybe a pith helmet. Most of what you wear is functional, and if you happen to wear goggles people had better believe that you use them. In addition to Victorian exploration gear, your outfit probably includes little knickknacks from your various travels. Above all, you are a charming blend of rugged Victorian daring and exotic curiosity.

Try our other Steampunk test http://www.helloquizzy.com/"> style="color:#131313">HelloQuizzy

The second tribute to TLOML

I've pointed out that TLOML is the strongest person I know. She has withstood life and some real bastards for a long time. She has the strength of character, if not the physical strength, to deal with things that would send me to the bell tower so to speak. If I can't do anything else, I have her back. I am not polite, many times. If you want a solution, I can make it happen. You might not like it, but a large hammer will change things.

This is my tribute to her, a Dragon on a string, only there because he wants to be.

Not much to look at, but a sure thing in a dog fight.

There are times when you just know to STFU....

When The Love of My Life and I started dating the first of those things we found that we really enjoyed, that can be done in public, was road trips. We visited San Francisco, later we went out west and camped. While we were there we hiked and generally did and saw some wonderful things. During my first marriage I had done a couple of driving trips all around the west and mid west, and thought it would be cool to share the experience with a couple of the more adventurous kids.

The planning was done and off we went. I had a four wheel drive Suburban to provide room for four and,,,,,stuff. We camped hither and yon for roughly two weeks. From the Badlands to Vegas and Tombstone, we went where ever the urge took us and stayed the night.

One of the many places I wanted to go was Devils Tower. This Native American sacred sight is known as the Home of the Bad God. It's as impressive as any natural structure I have seen. It is in a rather remote area. Oh, well actually, go to the end of the world and turn left, drive until you see the sign.

We had camped at Badlands National Park, and driven a long day to get to the approximate time zone. I don't know how long the ride was, but every one was napping, including, occasionally, the driver. The Love of My Life was driving, at the posted speed limit of 55mph.

Remember that number.

I woke up long enough to wonder where the hell we were. I was in the navigators seat and snagged the map, started looking for road signs, and trying to get information from TLOML.

The road was long straight and apparently endless, then I saw a sign, and almost immediately a town. When I looked up from the map again, I saw the highway sign that indicated our turn.

Then I really screwed up bad. I said "You need to turn here", and she did.

At 55 miles an hour, TLOML took both her little hands on the wheel, and yanked that land yacht into a right turn.

It must have looked like a cartoon. Dust flying, tires bellowing, passengers pasted to the window on the down hill side. I knew we were going over. If I hadn't been wearing my seat belt I probably would have flown out the drivers window.

Jesus in all his mercy, must have reached down and held that truck in the road.

That must have been what woke up Officer Peterson.

He was a young man performing his duty, apprehending a wild eyed, breaker of the law. He fired up the cruiser and in short order blue lighted TLOML and allowed her a short bleep of siren.

About that time I made another life changing mistake, my second of the day. As the good officer reached the window, I was about to try to help, I said "Now baby," that's as far as I got.

TLOML turned to me, I swear lightning came out of her eyes, ears and butt all at once. She told me, "don't you BABY ME!!!" everyone for miles knew that I would not baby her anytime soon, on pain of a fate worse than death.

From that point on I was peeping out of the crack at the bottom of the seat. Officer Peterson stepped back for a second, and then did a lot of talking from behind his hand.

I think he strangled occasionally.

As soon as he determined that I was an idiot (not too difficult) he gave us directions and sent me off to my fate.

I wonder why he was wiping his eyes while walking to his car, must have been the dust.

New Hobbies

I think I'm going to take up a few hobbies, say for instance, cliff diving or grizzly goosing. Something a little exciting, perhaps crocodile teasing, or explosive ordnance disposal while intoxicated ( perhaps the only way to do that and not blow an artery), maybe just motorcycle racing with out a helmet.


I don't really have a death wish, but I did go to a Christmas dinner at the "Assisted Living" facility where my mother in law is incarcerated.


Locks on the doors, to keep the little dears from wandering off, a very high ratio of care givers (most of whom I expect to become alcoholics, I would) and a lot of artificial high spirits.


The music was provided by an ancient rocker with the most amazingly preserved hair color. He was ten years older than me, with not a strand of grey. How does he do that? Super Glue, perhaps, only his hair professional knows for sure.


The food was excellent, beef you could eat with a straw, crab cakes, shrimp, and stuffed mushrooms. Nothing that required teeth to chew, you could easily gum the stuff into submission, and they did.

Wine was offered, I begged for a full bottle, to divert my thoughts.

I've never seen so many walkers outside of a Hollywood Florida mall. They were lined up like assault vehicles at a Mayday Parade in Moscow.

The Christmas Carols were rendered in a voice that may have been strong once, but broke all too often now. Betty, who sat across from us, sang along in a beautiful little girl voice, that hasn't belonged in a little girl for a tragically long time. I saw a little old lady cry when she was told to eat her dessert. I saw too many people, who were at one time, strong parents and spouses, and providers.

Now the lights are on and nobody's home. This was the first time I've seen my mother in law without makeup or her hair done. That's a real sign of how far she has gone from here. There were way too many empty vessels.

Then you see the secret glances, you look at their eyes, and see that some are not gone, but only hiding.

Excuse me I have to go write my name on some bullets.

You can't make this stuff up....

Lawyers Associated with ACLU Allies Seek Damages for People Accepting Mortgages They Could Not Pay
Much the same people and organizations who insisted on the issuance of subprime mortgages to "people of color" have now made a claim that former home owners are entitled to damages because they did not / could not pay for the mortgages they insisted on. Much the same lawyers who insisted on these mortgages are now seeking these damages, unless the defendants settle out of court.
The facts for this article, but not all of the legal conclusions, come from an article in the Los Angeles Times on 30 November, 2008. It concerns a complaint filed with the Department of Housing and Urban Development's fair housing and equal opportunity unit by the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) against two of the biggest three Wall Street ratings firms, claiming discrimination against "African American and Latino home buyers."

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-harney30-2008nov30,0,7730854.story



Go read this article, this group is going to get the money, not because the suit has any merit, but because of perception. The CEO's don't want to appear as though the little guy has been abused.



I think I'm 'gonna be sick!

Saw this at Hollys place....

and like it because I have done a lot of these things, and it's just fun.

1. Started your own blog.
2. Slept under the stars.
3. Played in a band.
4. Visited Hawaii.
5. Watched a meteor shower.
6. Given more than you can afford to charity.
7. Been to Disneyland.
8. Climbed a mountain.
9. Held a praying mantis.
10. Sang a solo.
11. Bungee jumped.
12. Visited Paris.
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch.
15. Adopted a child.
16. Had food poisoning.
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty.
18. Grown your own vegetables.
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France.
20. Slept on an overnight train.
21. Had a pillow fight.
22. Hitch hiked.
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill.
24. Built a snow fort.
25. Held a lamb. a calf, but not a lamb.
26. Gone skinny dipping.
27. Run a Marathon. (half marathon)
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice.
29. Seen a total eclipse. (Lunar, and solar)
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset.
31. Hit a home run.
32. Been on a cruise.
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person.
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors.
35. Seen an Amish community.
36. Taught yourself a new language.
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied.
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person.
39. Gone rock climbing.
40. Seen Michelangelo's David.
41. Sung karaoke. (but I never been that drunk.)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt.
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant.
44. Visited Africa.
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight.
46. Been transported in an ambulance.
47. Had your portrait painted (drawn.)
48. Gone deep sea fishing.
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person.
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. (2/3 of the way up)
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling.
52. Kissed in the rain.
53. Played in the mud.
54. Gone to a drive-in theater.
55. Been in a movie.
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business.
58. Taken a martial arts class.
59. Visited Russia.
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies.
62. Gone whale watching.
63. Got flowers for no reason.( given and recieved)
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma.
65. Gone sky diving.
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp.
67. Bounced a check.
68. Flown in a helicopter.
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial.
71. Eaten Caviar.
72. Pieced a quilt.
73. Stood in Times Square.
74. Toured the Everglades.
75. Been fired from a job.
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London.
77. Broken a bone.
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle.
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person. (Walked in, 4000ft down)
80. Published a book.
81. Visited the Vatican.
82. Bought a brand new car.
83. Walked in Jerusalem.
84. Had your picture in the newspaper.
85. Read the entire Bible.
86. Visited the White House.
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
88. Had chickenpox.
89. Saved someone’s life.
90. Sat on a jury.
93. Lost a loved one

91. Met someone famous.

92. Joined a book club.

.94. Had a baby.
95. Seen the Alamo in person.
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake.
97. Been involved in a law suit.
98. Owned a cell phone.
99. Been stung by a bee.
100. Read an entire book in one day.

A lot of water under the bridge, and most of those things not completed are on the list. If some of the really odd jobs come through, the rest may follow.

Now I know why it's called "Black Friday"

I decided that I would be brave and accompany The Love Of My Life to do the Christmas Shopping for the grand babies. That would be on the biggest shopping day of the year.

Up at three forty five, at the mall at four o'clock, thoroughly pissed off by four fifteen. The women in the "zone", do not compare well with hogs at the trough, with regard to size or manners.

I and my daughter were walking down an aisle when, out of a side aisle comes a gray hired road block, about two zip codes across the butt, who stops and bends over, (tempting target) blocking the aisle. I started the pattern for the day, by apologising loudly for being on her planet.

Some what later another svelte (for an Orangutan) little lady, breaches over like a break action shotgun, and pulls her cart up behind her and blocks the path of about fifty people. I think that one needed an overweight permit and a wide load banner on her car.

We did indeed brave Wally Mart, after the stampede (no one died) and picked up a few things. We paid for the lot and went to the exit, just in time to hear a self righteous ass proclaim to the door grannie, "You can inventory my cart if you must, but it will be a manager who does it."
The elderly ladies promptly lost concentration and "had to DO something", whereupon she took off with my receipt (???) to get help!

Oh! Damn!

Now this is apparently the horses ass's pet peeve, someone looking in his cart to make sure he isn't stealing, like anyone knows or cares who the idiot is.

It's a policy at all their stores, it reduces theft, no one is being singled out, get over your self!

Now the twit has his cart across the door way, and the battle axe has my receipt! He wont leave and I can't!

Then mouthy twit boy starts to step back, and the TLOML is on the verge of climbing his back like a window shade, to save him from screaming like a third grade girl, I reached over her head and pushed the dude and told him "Don't step on my wife!" He said sorry and moved a half step away.

Smarter than he looks.

The Assistant manager shows up, checks his stuff, because the wind bag "gives his permission", the battle axe, throws us our receipt, now we all leave.

All is well, then the wind bag tries to justify himself to me!

Bad Idea!

The meat head is as big as I am but nowhere near as pissed off. I told him to "shut up and go home no one gives a crap about his reasons!"

I wish you could have seen the look on his face.

The next debacle came when we took the grand babies to the "Shopping Towne" for the lighting of the Christmas Tree, and Sandy Claus arrival. Just us, and about two thousand people I've never seen in my life. You could listen and hear the IQ points drain away like the sand in an hour glass. No one barricaded the streets or side walks, the rent a cops looked and acted like they were hired that day (probably true), and the cute little PR girl couldn't spell "clue" with spell check.

Disaster by the numbers.

When the band marching ahead of the Jolly Old Elf's Land Rover was heard, the entire mob surged into the street. I ask you, how the heck is he supposed to get to the tree when the mob is in the way? Four wheel drive comes to mind, but thats just me. We'll over look the fact that the rent a cops couldn't let the chain down, so the band and sponsors mascots had to step over the chain.

At this time I issued instructions for the second time that day.

Some self appointed Hawt Dude starts hitting on Ms. Claus, who is driving the Land Rover. He is yelling loud enough to make himself heard through the closed window.

Right beside my ear.

I turned to him, looked him in the eye and told him very calmly, "Don't yell in my ear again."

Saw the whites of his eyes, I did. Didn't hear a peep afterward. Learns quick, he does.

The end of my evening was spent on deposit guard for my sons store, they did 15K at the Game Stop, and there have been muggings in the area.

By this point I was ready to pistol whip a mugger for stress relief.

Black Friday indeed!

Next year it's full dress SWAT, I wounde how that will go over?

Repost....and I still mean it

Best idea yet,
Stand up for your right to not be controlled by the perpetually offended. From an E-mail.


I will be making a conscious effort to wish everyone a Merry Christmas .. My way of saying that I am celebrating the birth Of Jesus Christ. So I am asking my email buddies, if you agree with me, to please do the same. And if you'll pass this on to your email buddies, and so on... maybe we can prevent one more American tradition from being lost in the sea of "Political Correctness".

If your chosen religion, or non religion, as the case may be, does not have a holiday of significance to you, at this time of year, please feel free to enjoy mine. This enjoyment is not conditional on belief, but rather, on your good will, and tolerance. This is not a licence to change my holiday to something other than what it is intended.

Enjoy it, or leave it alone, your choice.

Try to make me feel guilty, or change it from something enjoyable, that comes with a free Ass Kicking.

Don't worry, we'll tell you Merry Ass Kicking, as we cruise out of sight.

How do you put a bow on that?

If you care....you should know a little

You Should Be Allowed to Vote

You got 14/15 questions correct. Generally speaking, you're very well informed. If you vote this election, you'll know exactly who (and what) you'll be voting for. You're likely to have strong opinions, and you have the facts to back them up.

http://www.blogthings.com/shouldyoubeallowedtovotequiz/">Should You Be Allowed to Vote?

First ever award

I was grinding through my e-mail, because I've been away for a couple of months, and found that Brigid, of Mausers and Muffins fame has granted me an award.

The much coveted "Duck Tape" award.

I guess it's because I "fix" nuclear power plants, as well as everthing else that gets dropped in my lap.

I feel,,,,, different,,,,,special,,,,,

ducky!

Home again

We finally got in Monday evening. We left Ct. in 25 F or so and arrived home in the 60 F range. I don't mind saying it was good to come home.

Actually it was wonderful.

Then life set in.

I thought the drivers in Ct. were bad, while I was there. I am now convinced the drivers here can give lessons in stupid.

On a brighter note, the grand babies were actually glad to see me. The oldest who currently has some issue with personal contact generally, and males particularly, never even turned a hair. She walked in the door, took one look and came over and gave me a wonderful hug. That doesn't sound too strange, except she has never seen me with a beard. Think bear.

Today is Thanksgiving, a day that is seldom remembered as a religious holiday. Mostly it's the day before Black Friday. The most horrendous shopping day of the year. I am sure we will hear about the retailers going under because everyone is sitting on their money, as we have for the last twenty years.

Historically this occasion was a day set aside for giving thanks to, dare I say it, God for his blessings, and the survival for one more year.

Everyone, should, in the depths of their heart, thank what ever they believe guides them, for the past year. You have no guarantee of another day.

At my housse today, we will eat too much, and be grateful too little, we will welcome someone who can't get home to their family, and my mother in law who can't get back from where she has gone.

I will eat left overs for ever, and be grateful.

May each and everyone be healthy, happy, and avoid your just desserts, for one more year.

Brass Dragon out.

New England weather.....

Last night it got down to 16 deg F, it's colder in some places, but it's enough for now. The ponds froze over, and at 1100 hrs, it's only 31deg F. I have some work to do outside, but I'm going to wait until it's above freezing before I go out and wallow on the ground.

The sky is clear and blue, and cold. As long as the wind stays down it may be ok.

Well, so much for that hope. The pine tree next door is dancing, gonna be chilly.

Free fire zone?

More than 90 ships have been hijacked by pirates this year off the Horn of Africa. Since it arrived in the Gulf of Aden this month, the Tabar has escorted about 35 ships through the "pirate-infested" waterway, the Indian government said.

The piracy epidemic has captured the imagination of a public enamored with the romantic image of swashbuckling seamen of yore, engaged in swordplay and barking out orders to fellow buccaneers. But experts say today's pirates are tough young criminals armed with AK-47s and dressed in camouflage.

It's romantic until you have the gun in your face, then, not so much.

Seems the Marines fixed this little problem once before, time for a reduex.

Tomorrow is the day....

Lay off tomorrow,,,,,,WHOOOOO!!!! HOOOOO!!!!

Most of my life I've dreaded a lay off. Now it's a normal part of the job, and welcome.

The LOML is flying up so we can do tourist things, amongst other important activities! :>)

Almost two months of six night weeks, ready for a break I am!

It just keeps getting deeper...From the Slimes

The proposed rule would prohibit recipients of federal money from discriminating against doctors, nurses and other health care workers who refuse to perform or to assist in the performance of abortions or sterilization procedures because of their "religious beliefs or moral convictions."

It would also prevent hospitals, clinics, doctors' offices and drugstores from requiring employees with religious or moral objections to "assist in the performance of any part of a health service program or research activity" financed by the Department of Health and Human Services.

But three officials from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, including its legal counsel, whom President George W. Bush appointed, said the proposal would overturn 40 years of civil rights law prohibiting job discrimination based on religion.

The counsel, Reed Russell, and two Democratic members of the commission, Stuart Ishimaru and Christine Griffin, also said that the rule was unnecessary for the protection of employees and potentially confusing to employers.

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 already prohibits employment discrimination based on religion, Russell said, and the courts have defined "religion" broadly to include "moral or ethical beliefs as to what is right and wrong, which are sincerely held with the strength of traditional religious views."

Obama has said the proposal will raise new hurdles to women seeking reproductive health services, like abortion and some contraceptives. Michael Leavitt, the health and human services secretary, said that was not the purpose.

This piece comes from a subsidiary of the New York Times, and if you can believe it, is critical of a rule issued by President Bush. (Quick put on your shocked face!) The substance of the rule as I read it, States “you can’t force anyone to participate in activities they actually believe are wrong.”

The Civil rights act says, “you can’t refuse to employ a person because of race, religion or sexual orientation”, nowhere does it infer that after you have hired a person, and they refuse to perform their job for moral, ethical or religious reasons, that they can’t be terminated for non performance. If an employee won’t work, then they don’t have to be paid.

Consider the quandary of a health care worker who was hired under a job description that did not include abortion, and as an expansion in the business plan, is now required to assist or perform abortions.

Most of us would quit and be dammed to the consequences. Would anyone try to convince me that people wouldn’t be forced out of their jobs, because “we can’t lose the federal money”? Those people who can offer care, with the exception of abortion, have as much right to a job as anyone else.

This rule doesn’t say “You can use religion to avoid hiring someone.” It says ”You can’t fire me because I can’t do this due to my beliefs.”

As to Obama’s statement, I fail to see the right to an abortion as “reproductive health services”. If you consider the statements of women who have had abortions, it could be quite the contrary.
Once again the Obamasiah shoots from the hip with out thinking through the issue. I have heard more times than I can count, every one deserves a job. Why not people who don’t want to kill the unborn?

Why should those workers be discriminated against because they just can’t kill a baby?


emphasis mine

Irony is where you find it....

At o330 I am sitting in Connecticut, listening to guys from Alabama, Arkansas, New Hampshire, make fun of the accent of a farmer from Maine.

It's OK, he took his turn laughing at a guy from Rhode Island.

I guess they can't hear them selves.

It works for me

Big Potential Seen in Miniature
Nuclear Plants

In an editorial, Investor's Business Daily (11/11) writes that former vice
president Al Gore, in his call for the US to produce all of its electricity
"from carbon-free sources within 10 years," "does not mention nuclear
power, a source from which we already get 20% of our electricity and from
which we could get more, thanks in part to the development of a new
type of power plant that compares roughly to the evolution from the
room-size vacuum-tube computers of the 1950s to today's laptops. Using
technology developed at the Los Alamos National Laboratory and licensed
from the U.S. government, New Mexico-based Hyperion Power Generation
Inc., has taken its first orders for miniature nuclear power plants that
could literally fit in your backyard. The module produces about 70
megawatts of thermal energy or 27 megawatts of electricity via steam
turbine, enough to power about 20,000 American-style houses." IBD adds,
"Other companies are working on similar nuclear projects, large and
small."

Now we can only hope they don't try to make them fool proof, it'll never happen because fools are so ingenious. It just makes them bigger.

Ready to go home....

This circus is winding down, thank God. I am only working seventy five hours a week, why would that tire anyone out?

I brought the bike to ride for economic reasons, and discovered that there are …other things to consider.
When riding in 20 degree weather, a sneeze inside a full face helmet becomes a white out. When it’s cold enough, and you have to keep the face plate open because of the former situation, your eyes will water and you get an ice cream headache, and....

snotcicles.

I got into the supervisor position, sort of as a default candidate. However, I have done well enough to rate the same position at the next job and probably some after that. I am basically a glorified tool runner and facilitator. I get calls from folks who don’t want to make a decision. I have no problems there, give me the info and I can make a decision.

I will be going to Minnesota in March or before, a lot like Siberia, I’m told. This will be over for me by next Friday, I expect. The love of my life is going to fly up and we will do some sight seeing before we drive back. I'll need to take some pictures to put on this site, it’s really pretty up here. The drive to work and back is along the Niantic River. The boats anchored out and the water front homes make some classic pictures.

Another long ride.

I know this is out of order, but life isn't very organized just now.

I drove the mobile survival facility seven hundred twentythree miles on Saturday.

Some things I noticed:

I95 transitions from Superhighway to Parking lot in the distance of one panic stop with both feet on the whoa peddle.

The Cross Bronx Express Way, is express only due to the insane volume of traffic.

A New Yorker will change lanes at any speed, as long as you do not physically occupy the space they want.

They pay for the George Washington Bridge, in it's entirety, daily, in tolls. One pickup and trailer, $32? multiply that by a bazillion.

My GPS navigation soft ware isn't up to date, yet. Working on it. I didn't get lost, but I did get really ticked.

The law of gross tonnage doesn't apply.

I am hungry at the end of the day, even though my butt has been eating upholstery all day.

The last nut in the can......

again.

I have a friend who is, actually, certifiable.Well, several of them, but now I know why. He lived several years alone in the middle of no where, with nothing to fill the evenings.

I can feel his life.

I am living it this weekend. It's raining fit to drown frogs. I'm seven hundred miles from home and eight weeks from the drive back.

It's a good thing they're paying me pretty well. I could hook this dog up and be down the road in a few minets.

This should be a very interesting few weeks.

And I'm off....

Well. I'm always a little off, but I have to go to work too. The company I will work for this fall called yesterday and wants me to take a supervisor position. More money, possible bonus based on no rework and no injuries to my direct reports.

OK, more money, and an extra weeks work, on the front end. That cut all the slack out of my prep time.

Therefore, posting will take a beating.

I was getting all would up for a bash at Gaffey the Democrap. (Obamessiah, This is the best country in the world, lets change it!)

Guess it'll have to wait.

The Red Knights Motorcycle Club

I was invited to attend a meeting of this club by a prospective son in law.

Good move on his part.

These gentlemen are connected in some way to the fire service, active, retired, or disabled. They are a little brash, a little crude, they drink a little, and might eat too much.

My kind of folks!

Obviously they like motorcycles.

There are more of them than I've seen at meetings, a lot more. I met more of them at the 343 Memorial Ride this past Saturday. Like a couple of hundred more.

This is the second year that the RKMC has sponsored a group ride to raise funds for the State Burn Center. I hope this isn't my last chance to participate in this work. They raised a big hand full of money.

We had a victim from the burn center as mascot, and a fire fighter who was at the World Trade Center to lead the ride.

I will post the tally here when I can contact someone for the official numbers. I'm guessing two hundred plus bikes.

A rider gets a shirt (naturally, got to have the shirt) a pin for your colors, lunch and the chance to participate in something really cool.

The entire traffic division in our town, probably thirty officers, volunteered on their day off, to provide escort and blocking at intersections. That can be a little unsettling when you are riding left file, in the right lane, and an unmarked Mustang running lights and siren hustles by to leap frog the car ahead to the next light. Trust me that car can really hustle, and we had been warned, if you wander across the line, you may become a bug in his grill.

Ouch!!

No worries, all went well. It was the coolest thing I've done lately.

We arrived in time for the ride, barely, after the ten hour flight from Mexico and a five hour drive from Dulles. I had been up for twenty seven hours with an hour and a half nap. Color me droopy.

I am a prospective member and hope to be voted in at the next meeting. The Red Knights are a national organisation, that parallel the Blue Knights.

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Another cool thing that shows here, the owner of the shop that ordered the back rest for my bike, wasn't able to get it in time so he let me ride his Harley. That let TLOML enjoy the ride, with out worrying about slipping off the back. Not many shop owners will hand you the keys to their personal property and say have a nice day!

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Rob at The House of Chrome is way cool for the helping hand!

We're baaaack......

As requested here are pictures.

The vacation criteria was ..blue water, white sand, palm trees and cheap rum. We got all that and more.

I don't know how cheap the rum was, because the venue was all inclusive. One price for lodging, food, transfers, drinks and tours. The mini bar was replenished daily with drinks and beer. the restaurants were top notch and the service was all with a smile.

The five days and four nights thing, turned into three days and four nights. Thanks to two travel days. We got a half day at the pool the day we checked in.

Our second day we toured Chizen Itza, Just... WOW!

The third day was grey and cloudy for the morning, thanks to Ike.

The fourth day was sunny and breezy and we spent the majority of the day at the pool. I was under a palm tree and the Love of My Life was toasting in the edge of the pool.

Lots of cold beer and lots of good food, and nothing to do but lay in the shade.

I could probably stand a couple of weeks more there.

Some things stand out. The mosquitoes were big enough to molest buzzards. That's understandable, as the place is built in a mangrove swamp.

We had dinner in a beach side restaurant with open walls and no AC the first night, when we noticed the table closer to the outside had two couples seated and move to another table in short order. We were sitting close to a spice that was burned to keep the mosquito's away, and they were not in the draft that carried the smoke.

Poor babies!

I had bought insect repellent shortly before, for the next day on the tour and had it in my pocket. The second couple, apparently newly wed, were moved to a table just out of my sight behind me. The young lady, a tall thin, blond continued to swat and twist. TLOML was facing her and got the full show. TLOML was feeling pretty sorry for the girl and I was about to offer the bug spray, when TLOML said "OMG! cooter shot", I spit wine across the table and tried not to choke. TLOML looked at me and said "I swear she had her foot behind her head!"

Sorry I missed that.

The distraught young man was being berated by his new spouse and and was slowly sinking into his chair. You could tell he had "locked brain syndrome" and wasn't going to come up with any answers. I was a heart beat away from sticking my nose in when she asked a waiter if they had insect repellent. When the waiter turned away to go and ask, I put my can of bug spray in his hands. He offered it to the girl, who was massively relieved. The first couple who had been swarmed, also asked if they could use some. I asked them to go outside and spray, to avoid the flame from the little candles on the table turning the whole cloud into a fire ball.

I made four friends on the spot.

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Several things made a lasting impression, like the young ladies who came to the resort and could only afford half their bathing suits, and the half they wore was too small. I felt soooo sorry for them.

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In the resort every thing was beautiful, outside was grinding poverty. I know poor, and these people couldn't work their way up to mearly poor in a life time.

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The skill of the local drivers was on display a little too much. A short van ride resulted in a least six near crashes, not bumps, crashes.

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All things considered it was one of our better trips, I would go back tomorrow, and stay longer.

Out of town

Gettin' out of town for a few days, didn't win the big one (91 mil) so I have to come back. Goin' to Cancun. Fly out of D.C. to Miami, (just my luck) and then on to the Yucatan. I feel like I'm playing "run dodge and jump", Army dudes will remember that one from Basic, with storms.

We are going to Chechinitza, remember that one? A huge city that was built before Europe got started good.

Pics when we get back.

Don't go in the water.....

.....unless you're a surfer. Then you won't go anyway, too trashy and no good breaks. About eight feet, and this is nine hours before peak winds.

Rip currents are very bad about now, but some parents were letting their kids play on the edge of the drop off at low tide.

That would be where the currents are strongest.

Just trying for a little pay back on the insurance costs, I guess.

After all, it's useless if you don't file a claim

Pretty stupid if you do.

Fortune smiles.....

....on the homestead. Our storm passed to our west. We got some wind and some rain. No damage. the power flickered but didn't go off. A "going over" with the mower and clear the roof with the leaf blower and we're good. We may not be done yet but it's close.

Thanks to the Master of the Deep.

Today I expect to be busy,,,,

Hurricane tonight, rain and wind today. I suppose I'll be about making the yard missile free.

Happily there is nothing like a glass patio table at a hundred miles an hour, and I hope to keep it that way.

Evil just got a bath.....

The Kitty above is fifteen years old, and has never enjoyed a single bath. She gets 'em. she just doesn't like 'em.

I'm afraid.

I Love IT!!!!!!!

"What's the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull? Lipstick."

Sarah Palin

Not made in my home....

Long ago and far away, or so it seems, a young man decided to go hiking. He had been on the Grand tour of every whore house in South America and the Med, courtesy of the US Navy, howsomever, carousing with five thousand or so of your closest friends didn't fill the void of his wandering soul.

He was determined to find real adventure.

Boy, Howdy!

I don't know that he spun a globe and threw a dart while drunk and blind folded, but I wouldn't be surprised.

His first hike ever, he decided to go to Nepal.

Talk about gettin' out of town.

At one point in our history I had given him some nonverbal indication that bad things were about to befall him, at my hand. When we got past that, with out legal or medical involvement, we actually became friends.

Imagine my surprise!

When I got the news that he was about to risk his life gallivanting about the Himalayas, I extended an offer for help and education. I taught him some lessons that I had learned the hard way about caring for his feet, advised him on foot ware and taught him some things about what to do when the above didn't work.

I should have told him not to eat anything that you didn't see cooked. Poor sap caught something in Thailand that cost him about twenty pounds and two weeks of work before it left his system.

Partly because of my efforts on behalf of his feet, and somewhat because of my efforts at anger management on behalf of the rest of him, he asked if there was something small he could bring me. After lengthy discussions regarding the possibly difficulty in transporting small Thai ladies in carry on bags, I opined that a knife would be nice.

The above pictured blade came from half a world away.

The style is from Nepal; the bent, leaf shaped blade with "eating knives" in the sheath. The blade is .333 thick and seven inches long. This design and workmanship are out of history. The tool marks indicate the shape was chiseled from whatever came to hand and then shaped with basic tools to it's present finish. Over all length is 13 inches.

The decoration is carved into the steel with a chisel. Some one spent considerable time drawing what appear to be a dragon and coi into the blade. The brass fixtures are riveted to the tang. The grip is yak bone, hand carved and the grooves filled with ocher and copper rivets. The triangular piece on the grip is copper.

The sheath is wood covered in leather, and decorated with hand carved copper brass and what appears to be nickle silver. The metal is covered in designs from end to end. The decoration is held in place with wire rivets, and tacks. Interestingly there is cardboard under the metal and inside the sheath.

I am ashamed to say I never looked at it closely until I sat down to write this.

Nohussein,,,,,ever

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIdbYjmbFzo

B. Hussein Obama wants to lead this country,,, where?

Doesn't the Bible, which he professes to believe, say "And the King shall answer and say to them, Truly I say to you, Inasmuch as you have done it to one of the least of these my brothers, you have done it to me."

B. Hussein Obama would you have let Jesus die?

B. Hussein Obama would you lead us to hell and open the gate for us to walk through?

I think I have my answer!

Rough time back at the farm...

I just checked the storm tracs from Hanna, fifteen of them. Fourteen of them go through my living room, or near enough by hurricane standards.

Rats!!!

The Radical Skinner....

Before you ask, I didn't skin a radical with it, not that it hasn't crossed my mind occasionally. I really wouldn't want to skunk up a nice knife.

This blade is also full tanged, .221 thick, 64 Rockwell and deeply hollow ground. As I do most of the knives I build, all wood and bolts are epoxied in place. The three inch blade has some really deep serrations for "cutting tendons", or sawing lumber possibly. I've never seen the use for them. The scales are layered bluegreen and black. The sheath is once again ordered from the wholesaler soaked in linseed oil.

This blank came with a defect common to the entire run of blades, a corner that was pulled and too long. This made the width of the curve on the grips too wide for the scales I could buy in standard width. I could buy a wider piece, I could have bought a whole 4X8 sheet, but instead decided to reshape the tang. I removed the sharp corner and rounded it down to a more comfortable shape.

Most jobs done with a knife could be done with a piece of broken glass. It would be, after all, sharp enough. The purpose of all the other stuff is comfort and control. That's why the shaping in this case is mostly organic curves and rounded shapes. The curves give the layered wood nice cats eye ovals and color changes.

One really nice thing about the tool is it's heft. It's thick and heavy in your hand. In conjunction with the round shapes, it feels really good in your hand.

I have actually used this knife, to put down a deer hit by a car near Steamboat Springs in Colorado. This while all my guns were locked in the back of the truck in cases, just too much trouble to get to.

Cowboy up people...

Fish or cut bait: Put your money where your mouth is, or shut up until 2012Posted by: LCBrendan in Distant Voices, Imperial Thoughts, LC Contributions, Pause and reflect, Politics, Words of Wisdom8:40 AM
For months I have seen the concerns and the issues you have raised.

Taxes,
Housing.
Jobs.
Military.
Spending.
Your rights
.Free speech.
Guns.

Well, ladies and gents, in November it’ll be time for you to make your choices. Some of you have said you wont vote..or haven’t decided to yet.

Okay.

I am telling you right now that if you don’t… expect to be called on it for four long years.
I don’t care who you vote for…that’s your business. But if you want to see Obama defeated…if you want to see him and Biden humiliated…then get up off your backsides and VOTE

“But I only have one vote”

You and another, and another, and another, make a few, then ten, then twenty, then a hundred then a thousand..and pretty soon that real conservative that didn’t seem to have a chance is all of a sudden busy planning his next few years in office because a bunch of people decided to exercise their franchise and get what they wanted and deserved..a government for the people, of the people and …by GOD, BY the people…

[Oi...no channeling Lincoln on company time - Ed]

You, your friends, your family, your neighbours, your work colleagues, your schoolmates….get em all involved. Australia has on an average, a 97 percent turnout for all elections.

NINETY SEVEN PERCENT.

Now it’s your turn.

In November, you will have the chance to stop the Obamessiah™ forever, and your weapon of choice???….will be the “silver ballot”.

Battles are won by those that show up.

Vote.

Or be left behind.

These words from the Antiidiotarian Rottweiler, too true! Ignore it at your own risk. I have heard all my life about changing things by working with in the system. Now is the time to put legs on your prayers!

Another home built knife

This is my favorite skinning knife. As a friend of mine said, "You can skin a whale with a four inch blade, it just takes longer." Longer blades cover more area, they are also harder to control.
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This one is also .221 thick 440 stainless. The knife is seven and three quarters inches long. It has epoxy impregnated hard wood grips and nickle silver bolts. It's full tang has finger grooves as well as a gut hook for opening the body cavity of game. The blade is three inches of hollow ground sharpness with a Rockwell hardness of about sixty four. Hard enough to hold a a good edge, but it can be sharpened with about anything.

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The scales are laminated in brown, green and black stained hard wood. They are set with a layer of Super Glue underneath to keep anything from leaking under them and being unsanitary.

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The sheath was bought from the supplier of the blade blank and soaked in a zip lock of linseed oil. That transforms a pinkish tan to a chocolate brown and hopefully will preserve the leather long past my demise. I've never been a fan of drop in sheaths, you never know when a missed step will leave you injured, and if you are alone and lose your knife, nothing good will come of it.

I don't worry about that issue because of the fact that I carry a couple of backups.

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When I shape the grips, I drill the holes to fit the blade and then glue and bolt the scales in place. When all is dry I'll star shaping them with a sanding wheel. This allows me to blend the shapes and remove material with out damaging the steel or it's finish. The final step for this grip is a polish with a cotton wheel and plastic polish.

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Not counting my time or equipment, I probably have fifty or so dollars in a knife that will last several life times.

I know one thing I'm doing today

As a retired person, I have to carefully plan my day. I'm generally running a day or two behind. I'm as busy as a one armed paper hanger most of the time.

Per the weather report today, it's hurricane preps. Not that much to do, actually. We keep it pretty well done up all the time. I will be starting and testing the generator, buying gas for same, perhaps picking up some canned meats, got bread, got noodles, got ammo. Don't expect to need it, but one never knows. I'll need some two cycle oil for the chain saws, have to make sure there is some bar oil around.

We watch storm tracks around here, closely. The projected track for Hanna is already starting to slip North.

Bummer!

When the wind gets up....

When I moved to the coast close to thirty years ago, I had never experienced a hurricane. I have nine under my belt now, that would be nine direct hits, not not near hits or close misses.
The map of where I live, yes all those are storm tracks.
http://dragonwatch-south.blogspot.com/2007/08/now-thats-depressing.html

Needless to say, there have been some interesting quotes from people waiting for those storms.

The redneck from New Jersey-"I hope it hits here, I want to get out in the wind and feel what a hundred miles an hour is like!" This while striking a heroic (or in this case stupid) pose with his fists clenched and chest pushed out.

My reply, "Hey hero, what you gonna' do when you're out in the wind and see a stop sign coming edge on at a hundred miles an hour? Or maybe a pine cone off those Long leaf pines?"

His reply, ????blank stare???

The guys in the back room at work- "Hey, look at the window, it's bulging inward when the wind picks up!"

My reply, "Shit, see ya! I'm getting inside the shield wall!"

The Sheriffs deputy in charge of the shelter- "See that guy, (points at me) he knows what's going on, put him too work!"

Me- "Damn it!"

Me- "Boss, I need to go check my house, my wife has passed out from shock and fear in the service building."

Boss- "You can't leave!"

My reply- "This isn't a bleeding jail, hide and watch me bud!" He turned several shades of white and got me permission. I drove home and back, in a seventy mile an hour cross winds in a Subaru Brat, all was well. Except for the pinch marks in the seat and steering wheel.

Me cutting one of my trees off the neighbors house in the middle of the storm.
TLOML stomping and spitting like a wet cat, while screaming at me to get off the top of the neighbors house. The words and gestures exceed my ability to describe, but I was more afraid of her than the storm.

My neighbor Bill from New Jersey, "How much will you charge me to cut up this tree?"
Me- "Nothing"
Bill- "What do you mean, nothing"
Me- "We're neighbors, I'll do it for nothing."
Bill- "Whats your favorite poison?"
Me- "Excuse me?"
Bill- "Liquor"
Me- "JD Black label"
Bill brought me a gallon.
After that when any of my non chain saw owning friends asked me to work up a blow down, I always told them "I work for Booze", I don't remember much after that.

After several hours of work with one of my big chain saws the neighbor I'm helping asks, "Do you guy's want a beer?"
Me -"Yes, please!"
As the three of us are standing in the rain drinking our beers, "Uh, guy's do you realise how stupid we look standing here in the rain?"
Neighbors- "Yeah, maybe we should come in out of the rain."

All my prayers to those on the Gulf Coast, God knows I hope all you have to remember is the stupid quotes

Building Knives

Making knives is not the same as building knives. A true knife maker will forge or grind his own blades. Someday I will be able to stroll out to the barn and build a fire under the spreading chestnut tree and beat a piece of steel into submission.

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Not soon, I'm afraid.

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Until then I will remain a knife builder. I sometimes peruse the suppliers and when a blank blade strikes my fancy, invest a little money and some time to produce something like the above.

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I built two of these right after the first Gulf War. One I sold to a SF officer who made appropriate slobbering noises and waved money.

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The blade is 440 stainless and measures .221 thick. The length is twelve inches with the lanyard loop (covered with the grips). It has a diamond ground point that I find very pleasing. The Rockwell hardness is in the sixty to sixty four range. Blade length is six and one half inches.

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The grips are Goodyear Neoprene held in place with micarta rods and lots of Superglue. The wrap of the grips is 550 cord with the core removed to make a flat ribbon of OD green nylon. It serves the purpose of survival cord, if you find a sudden need for rope. If you are desperate enough and need string it can be unraveled and tied together. God knows that would be really bad.

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The sheath is nylon with a leg tie and a pocket for a stone. The blade is covered in hard plastic to keep the knife from cutting through the side and your leg.

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The knife feels like you could cut up small cars with out hurting it much.

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This is the one I pick up when I have that tactical urge. All it needs is a black finish.

Peace for now

Looks sweet, but it won't last. The angst is right under the surface. Love her to death.

The Conservative ticket

Write me in for President, here is my platform
(1) Press 1 for English is immediately banned. English is the official language, speak it or wait at the border until you can.
(2) We will immediately go into a two year isolationist posture to straighten out the country's attitude. NO imports, no exports. We will use the 'Walmart' policy 'If we ain't got it, you don't need it.'
(3) When imports are allowed, there will be a 100% import tax on it.
(4) All retired military personnel will be required to man one of our many observation towers on the southern border. (six month tour) They will be under strict orders not to fire on SOUTHBOUND aliens.
(5) Social security will immediately return to its original state. If you didn't put nuttin in, you ain't getting nuttin out. The president nor any other politician will not be able to touch it.
(6) Welfare - Checks will be handed out on Fridays at the end of the 40 hour school week and the successful completion of urinalysis and a passing grade.
(7) Professional Athletes --Steroids - The FIRST time you check positive you're banned for life.(8) Crime - We will adopt the Turkish method, the first time you steal, you lose your right hand. There is no more life sentences, if convicted you will be put to death by the same method you chose for your victim, gun, knife, strangulation, etc.
(9) One export will be allowed, Wheat, The world needs to eat. A bushel of wheat will be the exact price of a barrel of oil.
(10) All foreign aid using American taxpayer money will immediately cease, and the saved money will pay off the national debt and ultimately lower taxes. When disasters occur around the world, we'll ask the American people if they want to donate to a disaster fund, and each citizen can make the decision whether it's a worthy cause.
(11) The Pledge of Allegiance will be said every day at school and every day in Congress.
(12) The National Anthem will be played at all appropriate ceremonies, sporting events, outings, etc.

Sorry if I stepped on any one's toes but a vote for me will get you better than what you have, and better than what you're gonna get. Thanks for listening, and remember to write in my name on the ballot in November.

Over at the Moral Compass (http://amoralcompass.blogspot.com/ ) His platform for running for President.

Too bad he's not a real candidate

Lucky Man

Ok, if you get arrested in Harlan County, Kentucky and come out in the same condition you entered. Praise you lucky stars. If you insult ladies there and get the chance to apologise. You are indeed blessed.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,410422,00.html

Idiot!

Human perversion knows no bounds, local Dragon

I just heard that a man has been arrested for sexual assault on a four year old.

They need to give him to me.

I can promise nightmares for every pedophile in this state.

With an IV and a little numbing, I could keep him alive long enough to gag a raven.

I would toast the offending member on his body and feed it to him, then skin him alive an inch at a time. A bottle torch applied judicially to the raw flesh should keep him lively.

Cruel and unusual, evil, disgusting.

Yep.

Let the punishment fit the crime!

The news just showed him to be one of our hard working neighbors from the south.

So What?

I wouldn't care if he was green with stripes.

An adult male that hurts little children is lower than animals.

So what does he really want?

Did Obama Just Lose The Election?It's lost in the Veep hype for now. Down the stretch that won't be the case. After he is softened up and a growing number of Americans are given reasons for concern over Obama's Leftism - there's this and some pertinent facts on China below.

"Their ports, their train systems, their airports are vastly superior to us now, which means if you are a corporation deciding where to do business you're starting to think, "Beijing looks like a pretty good option. Why aren't we doing the same thing?"Obama is either incredibly naive, terribly misinformed, a communist, just flat out dumb or all of the above to be caught on tape making a statement like that. I can just imagine the voice over now. It wouldn't even require half of this:

"In all this activity it greatly helps to have a secretive planning bureaucracy and a government that brooks little dissent. In Britain it took as long to conduct a public inquiry into the proposed construction of Heathrow's Terminal Five as it took to build Beijing's new airport terminal from scratch. There was no consultation with the public on the terminal. Nor was there any public debate about the construction of Beijing's third runway, notwithstanding the noise pollution already suffered by thousands of nearby residents.

Chinese official Xu Li said, Once a plan is made, it is executed. "Democracy", she says, "sacrifices efficiency."

For Beijing's airport expansion, 15 villages were flattened and 10,000 residents resettled. They were barred from unemployment benefits and other welfare privileges though their farmland had been grabbed. Officials threatened them with violence if they refused to leave.The World Bank says that roads are sometimes built only to convert countryside into revenue-generating urban land. Combined with a lack of adequate public transport, Beijing's polluted air and congested streets, to which 1,000 cars are added daily, are evidence of the problem.

Chinese official Xu Li said, Once a plan is made, it is executed. "Democracy", she says, "sacrifices efficiency."

The government wants to build a new mag Lev train line. Residents along the route are fearful of noise and radiation from the trains.Complaints still abound about the way things work. Highways-both expressways and other intercity roads-are studded with traffic-slowing toll booths. China reportedly has 70% of the world's tolled roads and its tolls are the highest in the world (using exchange rates adjusted according to currencies' purchasing power). To cut costs, lorries routinely overload. This helps to make the roads among the most dangerous in the world (89,000 deaths in 2006 by official reckoning; the actual number may be much higher). And it pushes up the cost of maintaining them.

Chinese official Xu Li said, Once a plan is made, it is executed. "Democracy", she says, "sacrifices efficiency"

Obama is barely 47 and had served 143 days in the U.S. Senate before announcing he was ready to be president.

Could that be why he only looks at the surface of things? The above are excerpts from different columns that shoot large holes in his perspective and his ability to see the truth through his own rhetoric.

That would be "he feels he is ready to be president", he is, perhaps the only one.

Change What????

Plagiarizer In Chief
Way back in 1987, Biden was riding high in the presidential race -- widely regarded as a serious contenders for the Democratic party's nod.
Then Neil Kinnock happened. Biden borrowed passages of a speech given by Kinnock, a leader in Britain's Labour Party, without attribution -- a mistake that led to a detailed examination of Biden's public statements that turned up several more examples of potential plagiarism and resume inflation. The feeding frenzy eventually chased the Delaware senator from the race.

Washington Insider
The central tenet of Obama's campaign message is that if Americans want to change their government, then they have to change the people they send to Washington.
Picking Biden, who has served in the Senate for the better part of the last four decades, seems to run counter to that core message. Biden was elected to the Senate at age 29 and spent only four years after graduating from Syracuse Law School in 1968 working in the private sector before entering public life.
Biden has long been a regular on the Sunday talk show circuit and is one of the pillars of the Democratic party establishment. His accomplishments -- of which there are many -- all were achieved as a senator operating inside the deepest heart of political Washington.

Joe Loves Joe
One of the most overlooked episodes during the 1987 collapse of Biden's campaign was a snippet of footage captured by C-Span in which the Delaware senator, in response to a question about where he went to law school and what sort of grades he received, delivered this classic line: "I think I have a much higher IQ than you do."
While any human being -- especially a candidate for president who is constantly being poked and prodded -- can be forgiven a momentary flash of temper, Biden's detractors point to that incident as evidence that the senator thinks he is the bee's knees and doesn't care who knows it.
Biden, by his own admission, has the capacity to fall in love with his own voice and wander off on tangents about his life that have nothing to do with the topic at hand.

All the above is from the Washington Post. The great purveyor of change has just selected an old school politician as running mate. The greatest change will likely be a tax increase. The proliferation of arrogant, racist, elitist politicians certainly won't be a change.

Red Neck Common Sense

Add this one to your favorites, common sense that comes from a celebrity.

http://www.charliedaniels.com/soapbox.htm

A lot of things have been attributed to Charlie, the kind of savvy that I see on this sight isn't one of them.

Ya'll go have a peep, I got a lot of reading to do.

The Case against Obama... In his own words.

Town Hall Columnist Lorie Byrd does an excellent job of dragging together the positions and changes of Gaffey the Democrat. She uses quotes to give the reader a feel for his actual position, not what his evasions try to offer.

Here's the link.

http://townhall.com/Columnists/LorieByrd/2008/08/22/the_case_against_obama_-_in_his_own_words

There are lots of places for you to click and go look at the source.

Can you imagine the howl if McCain had half this in the closet?

Obamassiah is a racist Arab who wants to be our President.

Scary!

Oh!!! Really?

Oh, and while the Democratic National Committee produced a spot lampooning "Exxon John," ABC reported that Exxon Mobil Corp. execs have donated more money to Obama than McCain.

“Abuses of workers’ true wishes not only are potential, they are guaranteed. There is no ‘free choice’ in this travesty, clearly a payoff to union leaders who contributed so handsomely to the Democrats’ November election victory.” (The San Francisco Examiner, 02/16/07)
“Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has decided to hold a vote this Wednesday on perhaps the most unpopular element of the Democratic agenda… Under the so-called card-check bill, a company would no longer have the right to demand a secret-ballot election to certify a union, thus stripping 140 million American workers of the right to decide in private whether to organize.” (The Wall Street Journal, 6/18/07)

Alas, the abandonment of babies to suffer and die on the modern equivalent of a Spartan cliff did not require confronting evil when Obama saw it. Indeed, Obama turned a blind eye, leading the battle to defeat Illinois' version of the federal Born-Alive Infants Protection Act, which would have treated babies living, albeit briefly, outside the womb as, well, babies. He opposed the bill in 2003 (as he had a similar one in 2001), saying it would undermine Roe v. Wade. But even after Roe-neutral language was included - wording good enough that it won support for the federal version of the bill from abortion-rights stalwart Sen. Barbara Boxer - Obama remained unmoved.

Change? Sounds like more of the same to me. Nuanced, special interest money, pro gay (not that there's anything wrong with that), pro abortion ( makes you wonder where abortion activists would be if their parents had felt the same) shut up and pay your taxes, get to work I'll decide who needs your money more than you!

Dummycrats

To all my friends,,, you know who you are!

His name was Fleming, and he was a poor Scottish farmer.
One day, while trying to make a living for his family, he heard a cry for help coming from a nearby bog. He dropped his tools and ran to the bog. There, mired to his waist in black muck, was a terrified boy, screaming and struggling to free himself. Farmer Fleming saved the lad from what could have been a slow and terrifying death. The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the Scotsman's sparse surroundings. An elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and introduced himself as the father of the boy Farmer Fleming had saved. 'I want to repay you,' said the nobleman. 'You saved my son's life.' 'No, I can't accept payment for what I did,' the Scottish farmer replied waving off the offer. At that moment, the farmer's own son came to the door of the family hovel. 'Is that your son?' the nobleman asked. 'Yes,' the farmer replied proudly. 'I'll make you a deal. Let me provide him with the level of education my own son will enjoy. If the lad is anything like his father, he'll no doubt grow to be a man we both will be proud of.' And that he did.

Farmer Fleming's son attended the very best schools and in time, graduated from St. Mary's Hospital Medical School in London, and went on to become known throughout the world as the noted Sir Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of Penicillin.

Years afterward, the same nobleman's son who was saved from the bog was stricken with pneumonia.

What saved his life this time? Penicillin.

The name of the nobleman?

Lord Randolph Churchill.

His son's name? Sir Winston Churchill.

Someone once said: What goes around comes around.
Work like you don't need the money.
Love like you've never been hurt.
Dance like nobody's watching.
Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like it's Heaven on Earth.
It's National Friendship Week.
Send this to everyone you consider A FRIEND.
Pass this on, and brighten someone's day.

AN IRISH FRIENDSHIP WISH:
May there always be work for your hands to do;May your purse always hold a coin or two;
May the sun always shine on your windowpane;
May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain;
May the hand of a friend always be near you;
May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.
Send this to all of your friends.

I have no idea if this is true, good story any way.

What Indeed???

9. Tennis commentator: One of the reasons Andy is playing so well is that,before the final round, his wife takes out his balls and kisses them... Ohmy God, what have I just said?

I'm glad I read that, if I had heard it, I would have blown snot bubbles in my beer!

Hat tip to Diamond Mair.

Interesting thimgs,,,Oil Profits

The following is an excerpt from an article by Newt Gingrich and Roy Innis. Newt's name I know, Roy I don't. The next time you see an add about oil company's "obscene" profits, do the math and see how many wells the money will provide. Then consider that not all wells produce enough to make money.

In one example, Shell Oil and its partners leased an area in 7800 feet of water 200 miles off the Texas coast. They spent five years exploring and evaluating the area, punched several “dry holes,” and finally drilled a discovery well in 2002. Three appraisal wells (at $100 million apiece) confirmed a major field, and in 2006 the company ordered a huge floating platform and pipeline system that will initiate production in 2010. Total investment: $3+ billion.

I do not own one share of oil stock(I should be so lucky) but I understand, no profits no drilling.

The link; http://townhall.com/Columnists/RoyInnisandNewtGingrich/2008/08/17/idle_leases_-_or_addled_minds

A very long day

Thursday was one of those that I sometimes have to deal with,but always dread. I have wanted to buy TLOML a car, not just any car but one that says what I think of her. We looked for a while, weeks and more for the right model, year, color.

You get the idea, details, details, details.

We finally found the right one, a Saphire Blue Jaguar XK8 with Ivory interior and a blue top.

The milage was low and the body is perfect. I went through my personal list of checks and tests and negotiated some repairs and helped with some others. They were all minor, one was expensive. None were deal breakers, just important.

The killer was the trip.

It was about six hundred miles away.

That means get up at 0230 and drive to a major air hub, fly, and wait in another hub for a transport. Then it's the mechanic thing until 1630 and a long drive back in an untested vehicle.

Untested no longer.

The thing rides like a sofa at 110 mph. I'm glad nothing flew off at that speed, I was so far down in the river swamp that I would never have been found if a tire had blown. Michelin's are speed rated for 130mph, so I had some margin.

I got home at 0130 the following morning.

The look on her face made it worth the trip.

Dawg has a lesson...

Dawg gets a little excited from time to time. She likes to show us how fast she can run around the yard. The Love of My Life chanting "run dawg, run" drives her to a frenzy, ears flying, tounge hanging out, slobber trailing, the short little legs churning, she is a vision of exuberance.
She will get the bit between her teeth if the Grand Babies are in the yard and cut up something fierce.

The GB's were over the other day, and wanted to get in the hot tub. The LOML went out to check the water condition and temp and the girls went along to ensure that all was to the specification of eight year olds. Dawg has been known to jump onto the cover of the hot tub.

As the LOML raised the cover, Dawg comes up the steps, full tilt boogie, doggie happy face in full bloom, ears floppin', and jumps to the top of the hot tub to show how athletic she is.

Except the top is open, and Dawg positively sails, kersploosh, into the tub!

OMG!!!! BATH!!!!

I would have loved to have seen her, she totally freaked!

TLOML and the girls about peed on them selves.

They had to catch their breath before helping Dawg out.

I miss all the good ones!

Sharing...

Subject: Darrell Scott - Columbine High School
Sharing.....
Guess our national leaders didn't expect this, hmm?
On Thursday, May 8, 2008, Darrell Scott, the father of Rachel Scott, a victim of the Columbine High School shootings in Littleton , Colorado , was invited to address the House Judiciary Committee's subcommittee. What he said to our national leaders during this special session of Congress was painfully truthful.
They were not prepared for what he was to say, nor was it received well. It needs to be heard by every parent, every teacher, every politician, every sociologist, every psychologist, and every so-called expert! These courageous words spoken by Darrell Scott are powerful, penetrating, and deeply personal. There is no doubt that God sent this man as a voice crying in the wilderness. The following is a portion of the transcript:

Since the dawn of creation there has been both good & evil in the hearts of men and women. We all contain the seeds of kindness or the seeds of violence. The death of my wonderful daughter, Rachel Joy Scott, and the deaths of that heroic teacher, and the other eleven children who died must not be in vain. Their blood cries out for answers. ! 'The first recorded act of violence was when Cain slew his brother Abel out in the field. The villain was not the club he used. Neither was it the N CA , the National Club Association. The true killer was Cain, and the reason for the murder could only be found in Cain's heart.
'In the days that followed the Columbine tragedy, I was amazed at how quickly fingers began to be pointed at groups such as the NRA. I am not a member of the NRA. I am not a hunter. I do not even own a gun. I am not here to represent or defend the NRA because I don't believe that they are responsible for my daughter's death. Therefore I do not believe that they need to be defended. If I believed they had anything to do with Rachel's murder I would be their strongest opponent. I am here today to declare that Columbine was not just a tragedy, it was a spiritual event that should be forcing us to look at where the real blame lies! Much of the blame lies here in this room. Much of the blame lies behind the pointing fingers of the accusers themselves. I wrote a poem just four nights ago that expresses my feelings best.

Your laws ignore our deepest needs,
Your words are empty air.
You've stripped away our heritage,
You've outlawed simple prayer.
Now gunshots fill our classrooms,
And precious children die.
You seek for answers everywhere,
And ask the question 'Why?'
You regulate restrictive laws,
Through legislative creed.
And yet you fail to understand,
That God is what we need!


'Men and women are three-part beings. We all consist of body, mind, and spirit. When we refuse to acknowledge a third part of our make-up, we create a void that allows evil, prejudice, and hatred to rush in and wreak havoc. Spiritual presences were present within our educational systems for most of our nation's history. Many of our major colleges began as theological seminaries. This is a historical fact. What has happened to us as a nation? We have refused to honor God, and in so doing, we open the doors to hatred and violence. And, when something as terrible as Columbine's tragedy occurs, politicians immediately look for a scapegoat such as the NRA. They immediately seek to pass more restrictive laws that contribute to erode away our personal and private liberties. We do not need more restrictive laws. Eric and Dylan would not have been stopped by metal detectors. No amount of gun laws can stop someone who spends months planning this type of massacre. The real villain lie swithin our own hearts.
'As my son Craig lay under that table in the school library and saw his two friends murdered before his very eyes, he did not hesitate to pray in school. I defy any law or politician to deny him that right! I challenge every young person in America , and around the world, to realize that on April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School , prayer was brought back to our schools. Do not let the many prayers offered by those students be in vain. Dare to move into the new millennium with a sacred disregard for legislation that violates your God-given right to communicate with Him. To those of you who would point your finger at the NRA, I give to you a sincere challenge. Dare to examine your own heart before casting the first stone! My daughter's death will not be in vain! The young people of this country will not allow that to happen!'

Do what the media did not - let the nation hear this man's speech. Please send this out to everyone you can..

GOD BLESS.

Let's hear it for gun free zones and more safety for murderers and lunatics, a few country boys with shot guns in the rack in the back of their trucks would have been more than enough deterrent to keep the goth boys in line.

Lives saved and not a shot fired.