Archive for the ‘Bits and Pieces’ Category
Just Passing It Along…..(Updated)
February 10th, 2010
We are in the midst of yet another snow event so please forgive me if I seem somewhat muddled in my thinking as I post.
For an interesting take on the reasons behind Michelle Obama’s Let’s Roll program, read to the very end of this post.
Great catch at Sweetness and Light and definitely food for thought, don’t you think?
More on this topic at JammieWearingFool:
It goes on and on and on, basically planning on spending untold billions and under the guise of some noble national goal that will merely create an immense federal bureaucracy that will never accomplish a thing. And if you criticize it you’ll be told you don’t care about the children.
Funny they should mention this.
While watching the Super Bowl Sunday evening, I mentioned the same thing to the better half. I found several of the commercials to be downright demeaning to women in the sense they were depicted as shrews.
Want a terrific definition of the Tea Party movement? Look no further than half way down this post by Ron Futrell.
Did you know that you may take part in purchasing a cotton plantation on the island of St. Croix? Yep, 50 million (hard earned tax dollars) worth!
Enjoy hump day, and if you are once again in the path of a winter storm, stay safe.
*(Update): Michael Barone pens another great read.
Tuesday Tid-Bits
January 5th, 2010
About that stimulated economy:
Overall, personal bankruptcy filings hit 1.41 million last year, up 32% from 2008, according to the National Bankruptcy Research Center, which compiles and analyzes bankruptcy data. It is the highest level of consumer-bankruptcy fillings since 2005. Consumers rushed to file in 2005 before the new bankruptcy laws took effect in October of that year.
Chapter 7 filings were up more than 42% as of November 2009, compared with the same period a year earlier.
Interesting questions to ponder when giving thought to the 2010 mid-term elections.
Important themes are emerging as party leaders move into full “campaign mode” 10 months ahead of the 2010 midterms.
The Hill looks at 10 to keep an eye on as we say goodbye to 2009.
One of those amazing buzzer beater moments in college sports:
Common sense dictates that the word debate has no place in this matter:
The health care debate resumes in earnest on Tuesday after more than a week of quiet following Senate passage of its landmark bill on Christmas Eve.
The four relevant House chairmen will meet with Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her leadership team at 1 o’clock in the speaker’s Capitol office to start setting the parameters for negotiations with the Senate.
Then, Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Nev.) will head to the White House for an early-evening meeting with President Barack Obama to discuss the final bill, according to Democratic officials. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and party Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) will participate in the meeting via conference call because neither has returned to Washington from the holiday break.
emphasis-admin
More like a few who believe they have absolute power in determining for the masses how they should manage their lives. HT: The Page
Will the “We’re Mad As Hell And Not Going To Take It Anymore” mentality lead to the formation of a serious third political party in America?
The United States opens this decade in a sour mood. First, Americans are anxious about the future. Sixty-one percent of Americans believe the country is in decline, according to the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal survey. Only 27 percent feel confident that their children’s generation will be better off than they are.
Friday Fly-By
November 13th, 2009
That pesky Constitution.
There is nothing there which supports the Democrats plan to ram their health care program down our throats, but hey, when it is in our best interest according to our lawmakers, then it must be done:
(CNSNews.com) – Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii) says he is “not aware” of the Constitution giving Congress the authority to make individuals purchase health insurance, as the health care bills in both the House and Senate require.
The above statement would indicate the Senator feels the brakes should be applied to health care legislation which requires individuals to partake of a government program, right?
Read the rest. I think you’ll find this is another lawmaker who believes we need Washington’s help to survive.
Unprecedented deficits mean nothing to those in power who do things just because they can.
I saw this linked at memorandum and it literally brought tears to my eyes. It is true that sometimes we don’t know what we had until it is gone.
Ladies. Be the first in your neighborhood to wear this:
This crazy-looking dress, created by two designers in London for the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, is made of silk chiffon and 24,000 full color LEDs.
Come on, you’d be the life of the party!!
Have a great weekend all!
Very Various
October 6th, 2009
Very true.
Very interesting.
Very informative.
Very predictable.
Very disturbing.
After all that:
Very beautiful.
And, in the end, what it’s all about.
Very Inspirational.
Tuesday Tid-Bits
October 6th, 2009
*Thomas Sowell:
Recent videos of American children in school singing songs of praise for Barack Obama were a little much, especially for those of us old enough to remember pictures of children singing the praises of dictators like Hitler, Stalin and Mao.
But you don’t need a dictator to make you feel queasy about the manipulation of children. The mindset that sees children in school as an opportunity for teachers to impose their own notions, instead of developing the child’s ability to think for himself or herself, is a dangerous distortion of education.
Parents send their children to school to acquire the knowledge that has come down to us as a legacy of our culture– whether it is mathematics, science, or whatever– so that those children can grow up and go out into the world equipped to face life’s challenges.
Read the rest here.
*Canadian Prime Minister Harper (with a little help from his friends) shows off his cultural side:
*Funny the difference a (D) or an (R) makes.
*I wish my cat was this cooperative when it comes to water:
Tuesday Tid-Bits
September 22nd, 2009
If you missed this post by The Anchoress, the story attached to the link she provides is one which drives home what is really important in life.
This AP headline says it all. Members of Congress no longer address the concerns of the people who pay their salaries, rather, they work to appease each other.
Come on now. If Barack Obama has not kept up to speed in relation to the ACORN scandal, how could we possibly expect him to be aware of the latest developments regarding the NEA and their relationship to his White House.
Big Hollywood today reveals the extensive proof that shows the White House used the National Endowment for the Arts to push a political agenda favorable to President Obama. But it gets worse: the Administration lied about it, and tried to cover it up.
Michael Barone. All I can say is read it.
It is an interesting phenomenon that the response of the left half of our political spectrum to criticism and argument is often to try to shut it down. Thus President Obama in his Sept. 9 speech to a joint session of Congress told us to stop “bickering,” as if principled objections to major changes in public policy were just childish obstinacy, and chastised his critics for telling “lies,” employing “scare tactics” and playing “games.” Unlike his predecessor, he sought to use the prestige of his office to shut criticism down.
When it comes to things military, the New York Times nor any other major publication or politician has the ability to address the facts the way those who have had first hand experience can.
Losing is not an option the members of our forces choose, it can only be chosen for them..just a bit of food for thought.
FYI. According to the Cambridge Advanced Learning Dictionary:
tax noun
/tæks/ n [C or U]
(an amount of) money paid to the government, which is based on your income or the cost of goods or services you have bought
But hey, it’s not Merriam-Webster.
Tuesday Tid-Bits
August 11th, 2009
The distinct difference between a peace loving American and a home grown radical is defined here.
Governor Huckabee has posted a petition he would like us to sign.
A father’s touching recollection of his final conversation with his son.
How are the current government entitlement programs working out for you?
A crash course in speed reading. It’s as simple as one, two, three, four.
Tuesday Tid-Bits
July 7th, 2009
You can’t define a government run health care system in any simpler terms than this:
Banana peels to heal warts? Who knew?
Bananas to banish veruccas, ginger to ease muscle pain and tea for mouth ulcers – before you visit the chemist, check out the many proven remedies in your own larder.
Contemplating a move? Do you live in Virginia? Give these guys a call:
One of those feel good stories worthy of sharing:
Posted in Bits and Pieces, Charity, Children, Health, Health Care, Heart Warming, Veterans | 
1 Comment »
Light posting today
June 29th, 2009
There will be light posting today as Jeanette is nursing a bum foot and I am tied up with the usual summer chores.
Until we resume regular blogging, here are a few articles/posts you might want to check out:
One full day around the world captured in pictures.
A Victor Davis Hanson must read:
The Left charged that President Bush was surrounded by wannabe Guardians who, via the work of Leo Strauss, bought into Plato’s argument. Therefore, according to their critics, they played fast and loose with the truth (Saddam’s ties with al-Qaeda, WMD in Iraq, etc.) in order to scare clueless Americans into accepting the invasion of Iraq and waging a war on terror. These “noble lies” were deemed necessary, since the authoritarian threats from the Middle East after 9/11 were, in fact, real, and the public otherwise would never have appreciated the mortal danger to our country.
No accuser, however, was ever able to demonstrate a pattern of sustained, premeditated prevarication on the part of neoconservatives. How, after all, had Platonic Straussians taken over the government from WASP or African-American realists like Bush, Cheney, Powell, Rice, and Rumsfeld? In most cases, “neo-con” ended up simply as an acceptable anti-Semitic slur to describe Jewish intellectuals who supposedly put Israel’s national security on a par with, or above, our own.
The irony is that during the Obama administration’s first six months, we have seen ample evidence of noble lies.
The United States Supreme Court will render several opinions today. The findings of the Court can be found here. Further analysis here.
Tuesday Tid-Bits
June 16th, 2009
We had all better keep a close eye on Congress as it formulates the new health care bill:
The CBO director wrote in his blog that according to CBO’s “preliminary assessment, enacting the proposal would result in a net increase in federal budget deficits of about $1.0 trillion over the 2010-2019 period. When fully implemented, about 39 million individuals would obtain coverage through the new insurance exchanges. At the same time, the number of people who had coverage through an employer would decline by about 15 million (or roughly 10 percent), and coverage from other sources would fall by about 8 million, so the net decrease in the number of people uninsured would be about 16 million or 17 million.”
“Democrats keep saying that if you like the care you have you can keep it, but the facts about their bill don’t support that statement,” Sen. Mike Enzi, the ranking Republican on the Senate HELP Committee. “CBO makes it clear – the Democrats’ plan will force millions of Americans to lose the care they have now. Anyone who says that if you like the care you have, you can keep it under this bill doesn’t have their facts straight.”
If in fact this was an assassination attempt on former President Carter, then all Americans should be pleased it was unsuccessful.
All politics aside, no innocent person should ever suffer or die at the hands of terrorists.
Hyprocisy on display:
In 2002 Vermont Democrat Senator Patrick Leahy, then as now the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, was a vocal opponent of Bush Third Circuit Court nominee D. Brooks Smith because of Smith’s former membership in an all-male fishing club in Pennsylvania.
Today, Leahy is silent on the membership of Obama Supreme Court nominee and sitting Second Appeals Court Judge Sonia Sotomayor in the Belizean Grove, an elite, all-female club. In a recent story, Politico.com described the Belizean Grove “as the female answer to the Bohemian Grove — a secretive all-male club whose members have included former U.S. presidents and top business leaders — the Belizean Grove has about 125 members, including Army generals, Wall Street executives and former ambassadors.”
The Right and Left would better serve themselves [and us] by questioning these nominees based on their judicial record.
What is detailed above and at the link is exactly why personal matters concerning those selected to sit on the bench (unless they are offensive to the Constitution), should be left out of the equation.
We can all pretty much bet that any White House occupant will choose those who favor their political bent to fill a vacancy in the court system, and that is their right. Elections do have consequences. HT:Lucianne
A postman makes a strange discovery while in the course of his daily rounds.
Weekend Links
June 13th, 2009
Getting a feel for the electorate in recent months is difficult, to say the least.
While it might reassure some who read the latest by Dick Morris, others may find it wishful thinking:
At last, there is convincing evidence that Obama’s poll numbers may be descending to earth. While his approval remains high — and his personal favorability is even higher — the underlying numbers suggest that a decline may be in the offing. Even as he stands on his pedestal, the numbers under his feet are crumbling.
While it appears we will extend more and more rights to terrorists, General Petraeus leaves no doubt on one very vital issue:
General Petraeus responded (firmly) that this is not a concern, “this is the FBI doing what the FBI does”. But our forces DO NOT READ MIRANDA RIGHTS to detainees .
Why is it that it seems that those who would do this country great harm [given the opportunity] are being afforded more and more guarantees under our Constitution while Americans are experiencing more and more of their rights being usurped by our own government?
The devil is in the details:
June 12 (Bloomberg) — Health-care overhaul legislation being drafted by House Democrats will include $600 billion in tax increases and $400 billion in cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel said.
At this rate that talk of taxing only the rich will begin to encompass us all.
After all, we must all be rich simply due to the fact that we have a government which is so willing to take such good care of us.
Congratulations to the Pittsburgh Penguin players and fans.
Hockey was done proud by the terrific seven game series the Pens and Red Wings completed Friday evening.
Enjoy the cup Pittsburgh, you earned it!
David Letterman receives a well deserved talkin’ to by none other than Johnny Carson.
[all emphasis in quoted areas-mine]
Tuesday Tid-Bits
June 9th, 2009
If the “saved or created” formula looks brilliant, it’s only because Mr. Obama and his team are not being called on their claims. And don’t expect much to change. So long as the news continues to repeat the administration’s line that the stimulus has already “saved or created” 150,000 jobs over a time period when the U.S. economy suffered an overall job loss 10 times that number, the White House would be insane to give up a formula that allows them to spin job losses into jobs saved.
“You would think that any self-respecting White House press corps would show some of the same skepticism toward President Obama’s jobs claims that they did toward President Bush’s tax cuts,” says Mr. Fratto. “But I’m still waiting.”
Something in the wind?
Voters now trust Republicans more than Democrats on six out of 10 key issues, including the top issue of the economy.
HT:Memorandum
Sarah Palin and her family endured the full wrath of the press last year (a sure bet that she was seen as a threat to their selected candidate).
According to the Washington Times, she now has been cleared of all those ethics charges which conveniently became an issue as her popularity grew:
The accusations made news, but with another dismissal of an ethics charge last week against Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the former Republican vice-presidential nominee has quietly been cleared of every ethics complaint filed since the torrent of allegations began in 2008.
The press is creating an environment which makes the decision to join the political fray difficult for decent, honest individuals.
The intentional hit pieces on the Palin family during the last election cycle are yet another example of a complete lack of journalistic standards.
“Only In America.”
(Well placed images in sync with a song which defines who we have always been, and with blessings from above, who we will continue to be)
In Case You Missed These……
May 28th, 2009
Just a few links to pass along.
If you have a dollar to spare you might want to consider donating it to one of the very worthwhile causes mentioned in this post by LJ Strata.
In honor of America’s troops, we have sponsored two fantastic organizations this month by providing free ads.
A daily stop for me is The Wide Awake Cafe.
If you are an American Idol fan, her latest post is a must read.
….Music is truly good for one’s soul…..
Yep!
The supposed stiffest competition for Susan Boyle in the Britain’s Got Talent competition is Shaheen Jafargholi.
For a twelve year old he has an amazing voice.
Check out this satirical post at Sweetness and Light:
One of the great scandals of our age is the fact that America spends more on food than any other nation. Many political leaders are now calling for urgent reform to bring spending on food under control. While food spending is rapidly increasing and many Americans are overweight, some do not have enough to eat.
Despite this high spending, the United Nations reports that, according to surveys they sent to government officials around the world, the quality of U.S. food is ranked very low. Officials in France report that their food is the best in the world. More insulting is the higher ranking that British experts give their food.
Leaders in Congress now point to what they see as the root of the problem: corporate greed in the form of grocery stores and restaurants operating on a for-profit basis. They promise to replace all private grocery stores with a national system of government commissaries, which purportedly will operate far more efficiently without the administrative overhead required to make a profit. As it will take some time to organize the national network of commissaries, initially groceries will be available only at offices of the Department of Motor Vehicles and U.S. Postal Service, which will provide the models for developing a government commissary system.
Tuesday Tid-Bits
May 12th, 2009
Here’s one way to handle the downturn in the housing market.
It’s not a matter of center-right, moderate, or far-right. It is a matter of beliefs:
The Republican Party will not be revived by compromising core principles. If limited government, free markets, personal freedom, American exceptionalism and traditional values are principles republicans can no longer stand up and fight for there can be no resurgence of the party – no resuscitation. The epitaph has already been written.
This is one man who it appears will not be pushed into any corner by any person at any time when it comes to the security of his nation.
So it was that as Israel got ready to celebrate the Jewish Sabbath on Friday, Netanyahu sent up a smoke signal that the White House should have no trouble deciphering. In a briefing with reporters from Russian-language newspapers, he said that Israel would never withdraw from the Golan Heights, which it took after defeating Syria during the 1967 Six Day War.
“Remaining on the Golan will ensure Israel has a strategic advantage in cases of military conflict with Syria,” Netanyahu said, according to several Russian-oriented Israeli Web sites, which published the comments on Friday.
Howard Kurtz cites a few more reasons for the decline of print media.
The only comment I will offer on this story is that prayers and condolences should be offered to those who lost loved ones as they would be in any circumstance where there was a tragic loss of life.
A Small Slice Of The Web…A Large Dose of Sunshine
April 25th, 2009
We are slated for a beautiful weekend here in Pa. (and if today has been any indication, it is absolutely true) so that means lots of outside work to be done.
I never mind as I love being out of doors and getting a bit dirty but it does cut down on the time left for things like blogging.
There are a few things I have spotted in my travels around the web though, that you might find interesting reads:
It is pathetic when a journalist from a foreign country has to ask if a sitting President hates his own country.
Gerald Warner, writing for the Telegraph,does just that.
It’s about time someone in the know lays it on the line in this whole national security debacle the current administration has created:
Since leaving my post as CIA director almost three years ago, I have remained largely silent on the public stage. I am speaking out now because I feel our government has crossed the red line between properly protecting our national security and trying to gain partisan political advantage. We can’t have a secret intelligence service if we keep giving away all the secrets. Americans have to decide now.
Did Obama teach constitutional law or did he not?
Helen Thomas: Why is the president blocking habeas corpus from prisoners at Bagram? I thought he taught constitutional law. And these prisoners have been there . . .
Robert Gibbs: You’re incorrect that he taught on constitutional law.
Read the rest at Patterico…did Gibbs misspeak or once again were we fleeced?
Enough of that stuff..it’s too nice that this long, cold winter has departed for me to put further energy into politics today.
Have a terrific weekend all and I hope your weather is as pleasant as ours. 
Tuesday Tid-Bits
April 14th, 2009
A thought provoking post on a controversial topic, specifically the death penalty, is offered at American Thinker:
A few days ago, a discussion about the death penalty broke out in the small, civil forum where I usually hang out. The argument quickly devolved into a debate about the validity of the conventional abstractions. Does the death penalty deter or not? How can the State justify taking a life as punishment for taking a life? A few of the anti’s brought up the Illinois experience, both the blanket clemency granted by outgoing Governor Homer Ryan in 2003 and the ‘exonerations’ claimed by the Northwestern project. (The word ‘exonerations’ is in quotes because there is much to wonder about in those claims. But that’s a subject for another day.)
Many an interesting discussion has ensued in my own home both with family and friends on this topic.
Any thoughts?
I don’t know about you but I just could not bear to re-live this.(Via Drudge)
HBO Films has optioned “Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime,” an in-the-works Harper Collins book by political writers Mark Halperin and John Heilemann.
Now for the good news.
And the not so good news for the Obama administration:
Have a terrific Tuesday!
Tuesday Tid-Bits
March 24th, 2009
You might be a bit overwhelmed with the Obama and his teleprompter jokes, but this video is a must see. After all, a little humor to start the day is good medicine. HT:Lorie Byrd
A peaceful community or cause for concern?
Islamberg was founded in 1980 by Sheikh Syed Mubarik Ali Shah Gilani, a Pakistani cleric who purchased a 70-acre plot and invited followers, mostly Muslim converts living in New York City, to settle there.
The town has its own mosque, grocery store and schoolhouse. It also reportedly has a firing range where residents take regular target practice. Gilani established similar rural enclaves across the country — at least six, including the Red House community in southern Virginia — though some believe there are dozens of them, all operating under the umbrella of the “Muslims of the Americas” group founded by Gilani.
Federal authorities say Gilani was also one of the founders of Jamaat al-Fuqra, a terrorist organization believed responsible for dozens of bombings and murders across the U.S. and abroad. The group was linked to the planning of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, and 10 years earlier a member was arrested and later convicted for bombing a hotel in Portland, Ore.
[emphasis-mine]
But, can she cook?
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
A house fire, satire, and a familiar (fictitious) fire chief all in one post.
The other day I was fixing breakfast as a treat for my wife — it was her birthday — when somehow the kitchen towel I was using to wipe some spillage caught fire. Holding on to the edge of the burning towel, I ran over to the sink to douse the flames, but before I got there the towel fell from my hands and landed on a newspaper I had inadvertently left on the floor, setting it ablaze. From there, the flames spread to a pile of newspapers on the kitchen table, and before I knew it, the entire kitchen was on fire.
Sensing something amiss, my wife raced into the kitchen, shoved me aside, and called the fire department. In practically no time at all, Fire Marshal Obamavich was at our doorstep.
Making The Rounds
March 16th, 2009
Strange things have happened to folks while on vacation, butthishas got to be one of the oddest (and perhaps scariest) ever.
Via Instapundit., this little reminder of the important things in life.
Some things never change:
Anyway, back to the matter at hand. The courageous Ban Ki-Moon has called the US a “deadbeat” for its reluctance to automatically pay for the UN’s corruption, cronyism and nepotism.
Is it any wonder then that we reciprocate in this fashion:
If one finds nothing positive or appealing about their host,
then one should search for greener pastures.
The title of this post warms my heart as I firmly believe it is true.
Some view art as only a painting hanging on their wall.
If you really think about it though, art is in so many forms that it brings us joy and spectacular beauty each and every day.
Oh, and congrats to the Donoho family on their newest little addition:
The reason why I was not at school a week ago last Thursday is because my daughter-in-law and son were experiencing the birth of their first daughter, (and my husband and my first granddaughter) Marlee Michelle, who weighed in at 8lbs, 1oz.
It was a joyful and most wonderful day.
Friday Fly-By
March 6th, 2009
Don Surber delights with this picture.
Want to see (in the simplest terms) what that trillion dollar debt looks like? Look no further. HT: Pundit Review
Lisa Fabrizio touches on many bullet points which can and should be addressed by Republicans in the coming months.
I agree with the never give up attitude of the post, but the burning question remains; as divided as we have become, at this point will be preaching only to the choir?
A dose of realism at American Thinker:
We were once a nation that assumed responsibility for the needs of our own family. Never would we expect our food or housing to be provided by anyone other than ourselves and we worked hard as proud providers. Over the last twenty years, we’re become a country that views itself as “entitled” and deserving of governmental provision of shelter, transportation, education and of course health care. We’re sucking our thumb, curled up in the fetal position on the lap of a lactating Nanny state. However, when the government provides what is standard government colostrums we’re shocked, appalled and dissatisfied with the stipulations.
We’ve eagerly elected politicians who are “changing” America into something against the grain of who and what we’ve historically been, yet we’re still expecting what we’ve been used to — just minus a monthly statement of any kind. Sorry comrades it doesn’t work that way. American’s are about to find out that “cold cheese sandwiches” are government cuisine and like it or not we’re going to have to gag down dry sandwiches, warm WIC milk and a mealy, rotten apple if we don’t wake-up in a hurry.
If you haven’t checked out this post at Musing Minds
you are missing out on a link to a terrific site Kimsch has discovered.
Double dare ya not to laugh:
Told ya so!
Have a great weekend all!
Posted in Barack Obama, Bits and Pieces, Blogs, Children, Congressional Pork, Economy, Funny, Health Care, Money, Photographs, Socialized Medicine |
Comments Closed
Tuesday Tid-Bits (Updated)
February 10th, 2009
[Update]: Take a gander at the cover of this weeks edition of Newsweek.
Incorporated in the post linked above is an overview of the growth of the stimulus package and it is not a pretty picture.
One hundred and twelve years ago today:
1897 – “The New York Times” began printing “All the news that’s fit to print” on their front page.
Thomas Sowell on de-programming today’s youth:
Even if we assume, for the sake of argument, that students are being indoctrinated with the correct conclusions on current issues, that would still be irrelevant educationally. Hearing only one side does nothing to equip students with the experience to know how to sort out opposing sides of other issues they will have to confront in the future, after they have left school and need to reach their own conclusions on the issues arising later.
Yet they are the jury that will ultimately decide the fate of this nation.
No waste of paper for this artist. View the intricate work of Jen Stark here.
HT:BoingBoing
John Murtha is in the news again:
Federal investigators have raided the offices of the PMA Group, one of Washington’s biggest lobbying firms, as part of an investigation into potentially improper campaign contributions, a person briefed on the investigators’ questions said Monday night.
The firm specializes in helping its clients obtain multimillion dollar earmarks, the pet items inserted by a single lawmaker into major spending bills that have played a role in several recent Washington scandals.
While the firm lobbies other congressmen, it is best known for its ties to Representative John Murtha, the Pennsylvania Democrat who for decades has dominated the House defense spending subcommittee. The firm’s founder, Paul Magliochetti, previously worked for Mr. Murtha, and PMA’s executives and clients are one of Mr. Murtha’s biggest sources of campaign contributions.
If it’s business as usual we can move along as there will be nothing to see here.
Enjoy your Tuesday!
Bits Of This And That
February 7th, 2009
Free entertainment from Amazon. Kate has the details.
*New Website*. Check out the Conservative Underground.
The Word of the Week award goes to Jules Crittenden:
Bi-Schmartisanmanship
Just try and say that three times fast!
This is when Hollywood cared less for politics and more for country:
Thanks to John Nolte at Big Hollywood for locating and sharing this wonderful video.
Jennifer Rubin captures in the title of this post exactly how I believe many of us are feeling.
Have a terrific weekend all!
Taxes, The View and a Pancake House in Michigan
January 29th, 2009
Just a few things to pass along today:
Iowahawk on taxes. Too funny!
The hero worship continues:
On January 23, Joy Behar, who apparently was once a comedian of some kind and now is in politics–sort of like Al Franken–appeared on the Larry King show on CNN. The Gay Patriot caught it and commented, but didn’t have access to the transcript. It’s up now, here, and it illustrates pretty well what we’re up against in the world of entertainment. (I assume someone out there must think Behar is entertaining.)
KING: OK, is this administration going to be hard for the comics to have fun with?
BEHAR: Yes. And all I can say is thank you for Joe Biden, because he is going to always give us some laughs. He’ll say something crazy and out there, and it will be fun. And Sarah Palin, you know, we can always rely on her to come back and give us some material. But it is really not easy to make fun of the Obamas, because they’re really — they’re kind of really perfect, aren’t they?
Emphasis, mine
Those who voted this administration into power should be proud and happy their man won, however, when one begins to believe that any human is above criticism…well that’s a whole different story.
Generous, giving people are not hard to find (even in rough times):
Tuesday Tid-Bits
January 6th, 2009
A bit of food for thought from Jules Crittenden:
As Jennifer Rubin put it, even the Clintons wouldn’t have tried this. Unless they just did … Clintonista-turned-Obamist/seasoned pol/bureaucrat Leon Panetta to head the CIA. So, what if Hillary, already controlling State, with Congress afraid of her, just triangulated on the Bush Pentagon and the Obama White House? Sorry, I meant the Clinton-Rahm White House. That’d be a clever girl. Diabolical.
Head over to Musing Minds and check out the Monday Morning Musings..be prepared for a refresher course on a topic from which none of us is immune:
Is it just me or are there a whole lot of those infomercials on at all times of the day and night? Not the full 30 or 60 minute ones that are generally on in the middle of the night, but 2 or 3 or 4 minute commercials on the cable channels.
The 2008 Weblog Awards sponsored by Wizbang are in full swing and open for voting.
The Anchoress is nominated in the Best Individual Blogger category and that in and of itself makes it worth the trip.
This picture would surely win the face only a mother could love contest:
Just kidding..they really are kind of cute, don’t ya think?
Have a terrific Tuesday.
This and That
November 15th, 2008
Like Champagne? Go here and caption the picture..you could win a free bottle.
Boston has captured a title which has nothing to do with sports.
Kimsch wonders how you will spend Thanksgiving.
Pages and pages of free Wallpaper available from National Geographic.
Fun from Japan:
Just in case you didn’t know..“How to Keep Your PC Clean and Quick.”
Enjoy your weekend.
Friday Fly-By
August 22nd, 2008
Sneak Peek!
Republican Convention main stage:
and for the Democrats:
Thanks to Mark Halperin for the heads up!
How do Americans view the issue of mixing religion and politics?
The latest Pew Research poll might provide some insight:
HOUSTON (Reuters) – A slim majority of Americans, including more conservatives and Republicans than previously, want to keep religion out of politics, a survey released on Thursday found.
The results come as Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain actively vie for the support of religious voters among others ahead of the November 4 presidential election.
The survey by the Pew Research Center found that 52 percent of Americans thought that churches and other religious institutions should stay out of politics, an increase of eight percentage points since 2004, when the last U.S. presidential election was held.
If the results of this study are correct then Maryland is definitely not the place to be when you reach your golden years:
BALTIMORE, Aug. 21 (UPI) — U.S. researchers say seriously injured people age 65 and older are 52 percent less likely than others of being taken to a trauma center.
The researchers say elderly patients are undertriaged — with only 17.8 percent being taken to a designated trauma center — compared to 49.9 percent of younger patients. The study, published in the Archives of Surgery, also finds the decrease in transports starts at age 50, with another decrease noted at age 70.
The study researchers — led by David C. Chang of Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore — analyzed 10 years of data from the statewide Maryland Ambulance Information System and interviewed 159 emergency medical personnel.
It would be interesting the compare a nationwide survey to the one conducted in Maryland. If the numbers were similar it would denote a serious downfall in our health care system.
Have a wonderful weekend all!
Friday Fly-By
August 15th, 2008
Hmm..I wonder why this Olympic event would generate a large amount of site hits within a twenty four hour period..oh never mind!
If the United Nations left New York and their headquartered elsewhere in the world tomorrow, would the New York city economy be negatively affected?
Pros and cons here.
Here in a Pennsylvania suburb, a former State Legislature member has made a conscious decision to open his home to convicted sex offenders. (AP article, thus no blockquote)
Personally, I would prefer to not have men or women convicted of sex offenses (especially those against children) in my neighborhood or that of my grandchildren.
The daunting question is, what do we do as a society with these offenders?
Other criminals serve their time and are sometimes rehabilitated and fit very well into society. Is it the nature of the crime, fear or something more which leads many to believe these individuals cannot alter their behavior?
Should we allow for a homeless environment for those who have shown in the past they are unable to control their perverted desires?
If this Pastor is found guilty of that with which he is accused, is it not another example of those we should trust the most violating that confidence?
Your thoughts?
Have a great weekend all!
Friday Fly-By
August 1st, 2008
It is so delightful when we have the opportunity to see the personal side of our leaders.
I’m sure Ruth Harris received a birthday gift she will never forget! (If you missed the video, be sure to check it out at the link provided by Don Surber.
TLS Books offers terrific worksheets and craft ideas for those who have school age children home for the summer.
All printable material is offered at no charge, which is an added bonus!
Bigfoto has tons of amateur photos on several topics available for web use with no conditions other than a link to their site.
Here’s just a taste of what you will find:
I wonder if there are any negative side effects:
LA JOLLA, Calif., July 31 (UPI) — Scientists in California said they’ve found a way to offer the benefits of exercise in a pill.
The pill, which targets two signaling pathways that are activated in response to exercise, turned laboratory mice into long-distance runners and conferred many of the health benefits of exercise, the Salk Institute for Biological Studies said Thursday.
Modern medicine has the ability to constantly leave one in amazement.
What a discovery this drug would be if it would assist those who, because of debilitating diseases, cannot afford their bodies of any form of exercise.
Enjoy your weekend all!
Worth A Read
July 29th, 2008
Few can post their “Random Thoughts” and have them all make sense as Dr. Sowell does consistently.
Here is his latest compilation.
In Case You Missed These….
July 21st, 2008
Check out these cars which were once owned by Saddam:
These are various cars found by the Coalition in downtown Baghdad. An accounting office from DoD was sent in to ‘inventory’ these and I was invited along as a resident gear head. They were reported to us by an ‘informant’ who detailed where they were. Several levels under ground, they had been there for some time and not used at all in years. Several of the newer ones were wrecked. We could never figure out why several were even notable enough to keep around. See how many you recognize!
That’s quite an inventory, wouldn’t you say?
Rick Moran never shies away from telling it like it is, no matter the political party. He did not break with his tradition in this post
It was two summers ago that Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki visited Washington and addressed a joint session of Congress.
Except there were quite a few empty seats in the Chamber when the Prime Minister rose to speak. That’s because Democrats were boycotting Maliki’s historic appearance according to some, because he was an American “puppet†and not the head of an independent country.
That was then, this is now.
My choice for artist of the week? This baby elephant:
Add this to the very long list of reasons the United Nations is considered a useless organization by so many.
Tuesday Tid-Bits
July 15th, 2008
Country music performers never seem to mind returning to their “roots.”
Enjoy!
It seems at every turn we hear of another person (well known or family or friend) who has been stricken with, and in many cases, succumbed to cancer. The dreaded disease shows no preference to any race, religion or political persuasion.
Thoughts and prayers are extended to the Gallagher family.
A story of love, devotion, struggle, patience and strength with a very happy ending.
The walk down the aisle yesterday was only a matter of yards. Yet for Martyn Compton it meant everything. Indeed, his determination to make the distance was matched only by that of the beautiful young woman he was about to marry.
And when he falteringly held out his hand for her to slip the gold ring on his finger, they both finally fulfilled the dream they had fought desperately against all the odds to make a reality.
Congrats to the happy couple.
Now, this is what you call a full life.
What an inspiration to others to do what you enjoy right until your last breath.
EW SOUTH WALES, Australia, July 14 (UPI) — Olive Riley, an Australian woman known as the world’s oldest blogger, has died at a nursing home in New South Wales at the age of 108, friends said.
CNN reported the woman who offered her observations on life and shared her recollections of the past on “The Life of Riley” Web site, and through a series of videos posted on YouTube, died Saturday. She had been blogging for about 18 months at the time of her death.
