Right As Usual

I went on my annual spring planting frenzy. I scooped up dirt (hence, the need to get rid of excess nails), re-potted, and watered in a whirlwind of activity. I'd had some disappointing personal news, and I decided to move into action, to banish the blues. I planted: herbs - oregano, dill, and thyme bird gourds - we have so many birds, I thought I would try making feeding places for next winter (or maybe the year after - I really don't know how long they have to dry out before being useful) tomatos, so my granddaughter would have something to eat when she visits and, just for something beautiful, marigolds.

I found a post that quotes St. Maximillian Kolbe on equality: "Let us imagine that one day all the inhabitants of the world would assemble to put into effect this sharing of all goods; and that in fact each person, granted that the world is very big, received an exactly equal portion of the wealth existing on earth. "Then what? That very evening one man might say, 'Today I worked hard: now I am going to take rest.' Another might state, 'I understand this sharing of goods well; so let’s drink and celebrate such an extraordinary happening.' On the other hand, another might say, 'Now I am going to set to work with a will so as to reap the greatest benefit I can from what I have received.' And so, starting on the next day, the first man would have only the amount given him; the second would have less, and the third would have increased his. "Then what do we do? Start redistributing the wealth all over again? The site I grabbed this from has more - at ...

Steven Crowder nails Perez - but GOOD! Found on IMAO

I've been thinking about this topic for some time. One by one, our rights under the first 10 Amendments to the Constitution are being eroded, if not outright trashed. Free Speech: The recent mob that silenced former U.S. Representative Tom Tancredo at UNC-Chapel Hill seems unlikely to face any punishment from the university. I hope that the group that invited him, Youth for Western Civilization (YWC) , will file civil right charges at both the state and federal level. I am neither a member of YWC, nor a supporter. However, they paid for Tancredo's speech, they had the right to hear what he said, and no mob has the right to stop them. The Cartoon Controversy Read this summary of the conflict , and ask yourself: have I ever seen those cartoons printed in a news article? Posted on a professor's door (as are anti-Bush cartoons)? Are they any worse than the many cartoons that have been published about other religious leaders? Were they worse than immersing a crucifix in...

I'm linking to a couple of Bill Whittle's old posts - old, but timeless. First Post Second Post

Russia doesn't seem to fall in line with the "every thing is beautiful" (cue song) stuff. In fact, one MIGHT say that reducing our weapons is a REALLY, REALLY STUPID thing to do, right now. Maybe we can try it after the O-dust has a chance to work on the Russian leaders. I've lived through Jimmy Carter, I suppose that I can live through this. At least, I HOPE I can.

Take the example of China - the country's rulers successfully pressured Google to impose a country-wide censorship. The Internet has been prophesied as the next great tool of democracy, that will invariably lead repressive regimes to a new era of freedom. In 1989 Ronald Reagan proclaimed that “The Goliath of totalitarianism will be brought down by the David of the microchip”; later, Bill Clinton compared Internet censorship to “trying to nail Jell–O to the wall”; and in 1999 George W. Bush (not John Lennon) asked us to “imagine if the Internet took hold in China. Imagine how freedom would spread.” Such starry–eyed cyber–optimism suggested a new form of technological determinism according to which the Internet would be the hammer to nail all global problems, from economic development in Africa to threats of transnational terrorism in the Middle East. Even so shrewd an operator as Rupert Murdoch yielded to the digital temptation: “Advances in the technology of telecommunications hav...

Not that the people coming in are to be compared to the pests - but, just as we finally start to relax our vigilance, another problem comes sneaking around the corner. This time, it's the PASS ID act - currently circulating in the Senate - that SOUNDS as though it would improve and upgrade The REAL ID Act. It doesn't; it actually would allow downgrade of current protections in place. Read it all here.

I may have been in the statistics as an "uninsured" American. At no time did I lack coverage - I had switched coverage, due to a job change. During that time between jobs, I picked up the COBRA coverage. However, at both ends, when I first switched to COBRA, and again, when I left COBRA for the new insurance, there was confusion at the providers. Paperwork moved slowly, and, for several weeks, I had difficulty getting prescriptions or doctor's appointments. When I tried, the pharmacy or doctor's office would get "bounced", and told I no longer had coverage. It took multiple phone calls to straighten out the providers. Part of the problem is that money I sent in for coverage was wrongly applied - they put a double payment on my husband's account, and none on mine. As a result, it looked as though I was uninsured. How does this affect my reaction to the multiple stories that make the case for one-payer health care? I'm VERY skeptical - I suspect ...

My legislator's site is easy to find, and transparent, as well. I might question the necessity of some of the funding, but I can't complain that it isn't open to oversight. In contrast, many legislators are putting roadblocks in the way of finding out what earmarks they support. Find out what tricks they are using , then go to the House of Representatives site to see what your Congressperson is up to.

I'm linking to a post about a common problem in the US military - the difficulty of voting when deployed. Given the lengthy overseas assignments many reservists have, it becomes even more important to ensure that every military man/woman who wants to, can vote. If you can, send the link to every person, and ask them to contact their Senators and Congresspersons, and move legislation forward - before the next election. If you don't know who your representatives are, the links are at the bottom of the blogroll. Remember, the sooner, the better.

I downloaded the proposal, (link here) , and it's even worse than I thought. One provision establishes Regional Centers: CREATION AND SUPPORT OF CYBERSECURITY CENTERS. The Secretary of Commerce shall provide assistance for the creation and support of Regional Cybersecurity Centers for the promotion and implementation of cybersecurity standards. Each Center shall be affiliated with a United States-based nonprofit institution or organization, or consortium thereof, that applies for and is awarded financial assistance under this section. (b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the Centers is to enhance the cybersecurity of small and medium sized businesses in United States through (1) the transfer of cybersecurity standards, processes, technology, and techniques developed at the National Institute of Standards and Technology to Centers and, through them, to small- and medium-sized companies throughout the United States; (2) the participation of individuals from industry, universities, State gove...

For the non-techies, you DON'T want the configuration of a threatened network to be standard . The differences serve as protection (kind of like how come MACs don't succumb to PC viruses, worms, and the like - different OS, different vulnerabilities). When the network's backbone is all standardized as to software, you've opened a gigantic hole in the cyber-fencing - and all the bad guys can jump through that hole. Once breached, the entire network is MORE vulnerable, not less. This is a situation that calls for differentiation, a redundant set-up (switchable to in an emergency), and NOT following the same software protocols as the affected network. The experts in security should be talking to Obama's people, and explaining why this isn't a good idea. Two major reasons come to mind: You don't want critical functions of government to come to a halt - and that includes collection of taxes and issuance of checks to retirees. Not to mention air traffic contro...

Just read, on TaxProf Blog, about the CA & NY congressmen who claim primary residence in MD. To make that clear, EITHER they are not valid residents of the state they represent in the Congress, OR they are tax cheats - not "oops, I made a mistake" tax cheats, but deliberate, lying in their teeth tax cheats BTW, did I mention their political party? Guess that kills any chance of their being hounded out of office by the Democrats.

I've long been peeved about this - when a politician is accused of wrong-doing, only the Republicans lose their jobs. The Democrats get a pass. None of this even takes into consideration the non-criminal, but just as politically destructive, double standard of driving Republican Senator Packwood from office for making unwanted sexual advances (i.e. kissing) several females, while giving Bill Clinton a pass for, shall we say, considerably more effort in this same regard. Or that child predator and notorious Homo Republican Mark Foley, who sent suggestive text messages to an over-18-year-old Congressional page. He too was driven from office for the public good, unlike Democrat Congressman Gary Studds, who actually had sex with an underage Congressional page. Rather than be portrayed as a dangerous homosexual predator, Studds was hailed as a role model for Gay Rights, with his and the young boy's "affair" nothing more than a meaningful expression of love between two ...

I can't believe this woman weaseling about going after illegal aliens who are employed. She won't give a direct answer, and she evades the truth. Unbelievable! Thanks to Debbie Schlussel, who alerted me to the videos on her blog - go check her out. And, if you're from KY, give a shout-out to Hal Rogers, who is doing a stellar job of exposing the traitors-from-within at ICE.

Ya' wanna talk "bang for the buck", Nancy, BABIES are a known economic stimulus - they really get EVERYBODY spending - parents, grandparents, friends, and, in a few years, schools, etc. Eventually, they start earning, and - wow! - they generate money! It's all really amazing. I know, I had 3 of the little darlings myself.

DUDE, you are the President - Presidents DON'T Salaam!

I was sent the content below by a friend, Coleen, in an email. If there is a copyright, please let me know, and I'll correct this post. "The  Proposal"     When a company falls on difficult times, one of the things that seems to happen is they reduce their staff and workers.  The remaining workers need to find ways to continue to do a good job or risk that their job would be eliminated as well.  Wall street, and the media normally congratulate the CEO for making this type of "tough decision", and his board of directors gives him a big bonus. Our government should not be immune from similar risks.  Therefore: Reduce the House of Representatives from the current 435 members to 218 members and Senate members from 100 to 50 (one per State). Also reduce remaining staff by 25%.   Accomplish this over the next 8 years. (two steps / two elections) and of course this would require some redistricting. Some Yearly Monetary Gains Include: $44,108,400 for elimination of bas...