I've decided to take up Next Right on their offer to post there. I'll be posting at least 2 times a weeks there; links will be on this blog. I'll give both a try for a while - whichever one gets more traffic, I'll use as the main page.
I haven't found out how to profit from the ads yet; that's a feature that's starting to make me money on this blog. I'll poke around the site, and see what it offers.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Sunday, May 25, 2008
It's Hammerin' Time
Via Babalu Blog, I found this reference to a Charles Krauthammer (appropriate name - he HAMMERS Obama well) column. In it:
I don't particularly like or dislike Obama. I think he's too inexperienced, and too sure of himself (a trait often found in those from Ivy League universities - they substitute a self-aware surety - "do you know who I am? Do you realize what prestigious institutions I have attended?" for the willingness to learn, post-college). He is WAY over-sensitive to slights; he is quite proud.
These traits are not fatal; they will often wear away as the person gains experience and life lessons. But, they are not what I want in a president.
Obama lacks the ability to laugh at himself. He cannot accept that opposition to his ideas can be caused by anything by nefarious forces - which, after all, is a good description of Hillary's people. He is Nixonian - surrounded by enemies. And, for extra fun, he is (sorta) Black. I am one of the many who ask, why Black? Why not Bi-racial, a perfectly good term?
By defining himself as Black, he gains the position of having his enemies portrayed as the forces of evil - for, other than Evil, who can be against the Sainted Black Man?
Obama cites John Kennedy meeting Nikita Khrushchev as another example of what he wants to emulate. Really? That Vienna summit of a young, inexperienced, untested American president was disastrous, emboldening Khrushchev to push Kennedy on Berlin -- and then nearly fatally in Cuba, leading almost directly to the Cuban missile crisis. Is that the precedent Obama aspires to follow?Yeah, it's like that.
I don't particularly like or dislike Obama. I think he's too inexperienced, and too sure of himself (a trait often found in those from Ivy League universities - they substitute a self-aware surety - "do you know who I am? Do you realize what prestigious institutions I have attended?" for the willingness to learn, post-college). He is WAY over-sensitive to slights; he is quite proud.
These traits are not fatal; they will often wear away as the person gains experience and life lessons. But, they are not what I want in a president.
Obama lacks the ability to laugh at himself. He cannot accept that opposition to his ideas can be caused by anything by nefarious forces - which, after all, is a good description of Hillary's people. He is Nixonian - surrounded by enemies. And, for extra fun, he is (sorta) Black. I am one of the many who ask, why Black? Why not Bi-racial, a perfectly good term?
By defining himself as Black, he gains the position of having his enemies portrayed as the forces of evil - for, other than Evil, who can be against the Sainted Black Man?
Oh, Come On - It Was An Offhand Reference
This campaign season, for the Democrats, seems to be heading for a serious blood-letting. Let's not forget, that's one way for parties to become extinct.
What does this prove?
Despite some - ahem - ERRORS with dates and facts in the past, Hillary generally has a good sense of when events in the 20th century happened. She remembers, like most of us do, by associating an event with a time. Unlike me, she doesn't stop to think, "let's see - that's when Danny fell and got 5 stitches" - instead, she remembers by linking to a particular event of significance to her - the Kennedy assassination.
Obama is questioned about the comment. He dismisses it as "a mistake", and says magnanimously, "I'm going to put it behind me".
Oh, thank you, Saint Obama! You're offhandedly suggesting that it was a grave error, but you're prepared to rise above it.
There is NO reason for you, or your campaign, to take it as a veiled threat. It was a minor remark. Get over yourself.
In a side note, watch the video - he has this habit of nodding his head while being questioned. It's like the salesman head bob - signifying agreement with what you're saying. He looks like an Obama Bobblehead.
What does this prove?
Despite some - ahem - ERRORS with dates and facts in the past, Hillary generally has a good sense of when events in the 20th century happened. She remembers, like most of us do, by associating an event with a time. Unlike me, she doesn't stop to think, "let's see - that's when Danny fell and got 5 stitches" - instead, she remembers by linking to a particular event of significance to her - the Kennedy assassination.
Obama is questioned about the comment. He dismisses it as "a mistake", and says magnanimously, "I'm going to put it behind me".
Oh, thank you, Saint Obama! You're offhandedly suggesting that it was a grave error, but you're prepared to rise above it.
There is NO reason for you, or your campaign, to take it as a veiled threat. It was a minor remark. Get over yourself.
In a side note, watch the video - he has this habit of nodding his head while being questioned. It's like the salesman head bob - signifying agreement with what you're saying. He looks like an Obama Bobblehead.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Betsy Gives Obama the Smackdown
On Betsy' Page, Ms. Newmark teaches Obama a little history.
She's right - I was only 12 at the time of the Cuban Missiles Crisis, but I remember it - and, years later, a made-for-television movie that laid out the background maneuverings that followed Khrushchev's decision to place nuclear missiles in Cuba. Far from being an open-handed crawl to the international table, Kennedy was prepared to blockade Cuba, and most of the negotiations were designed to give Khrushchev a face-saving way out.
You can't show up at international negotiations empty-handed, and hope for a good deal. Pre-conditions have a purpose - they set the outside boundaries. Sometimes, these conditions have another purpose - they are pre-conference moves designed to test the opponents' mettle. I'm thinking of the Paris peace talks - the North Vietnamese made ridiculous demands about the shape and size of the table.
Why make such silly pre-conditions? It sets the tone of the conference - it tests just how much the opponent will concede in the actual event. Think of it like that salesmen's trick of getting a potential buyer to start agreeing before the sale - it sets up the eventual "yes" to buying. It also wears down the average person.
She's right - I was only 12 at the time of the Cuban Missiles Crisis, but I remember it - and, years later, a made-for-television movie that laid out the background maneuverings that followed Khrushchev's decision to place nuclear missiles in Cuba. Far from being an open-handed crawl to the international table, Kennedy was prepared to blockade Cuba, and most of the negotiations were designed to give Khrushchev a face-saving way out.
You can't show up at international negotiations empty-handed, and hope for a good deal. Pre-conditions have a purpose - they set the outside boundaries. Sometimes, these conditions have another purpose - they are pre-conference moves designed to test the opponents' mettle. I'm thinking of the Paris peace talks - the North Vietnamese made ridiculous demands about the shape and size of the table.
Why make such silly pre-conditions? It sets the tone of the conference - it tests just how much the opponent will concede in the actual event. Think of it like that salesmen's trick of getting a potential buyer to start agreeing before the sale - it sets up the eventual "yes" to buying. It also wears down the average person.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Update on Yemen Situation
The Yemeni blogger who was to be sentenced yesterday, has had his sentencing postponed. That often indicates that an awareness campaign has had an effect. Keep the pressure up - tell all your friends.
Check out Armies of LIberation for updates. And don't forget to click on the button on the right to send another message to Yemen.
Check out Armies of LIberation for updates. And don't forget to click on the button on the right to send another message to Yemen.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Just a Few Minutes for Freedom's Sake
Help a Yemeni blogger. He is Abdulkarim al-Khaiwani, and he will be sentenced on May 21 for allegedly insulting the Yememi president.
It just takes a few minutes to fill out your information, and send a letter to:
It just takes a few minutes to fill out your information, and send a letter to:
* Abdulwahab Abdulla Al-Hajjri, Yemen's Ambassador to the USHis time is short. You may be the only things that stands between him and death.
* Huda Ali Abdullatef Alban, Yemen's Minister of Human Rights
* Joseph Barghout, Human Rights Officer, US State Department
* Patricia Llombart-Cussac, EU Representative to Yemen
* Tim Torlot, British Ambassador to Yemen
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Obama - Needs Protection?
From reports I've been reading, Obama is focusing on the OR primary. I would expect that he will do well there.
This next bit of news came as a surprise to me. He hadn't seemed overly concerned up to now about security issues. The kids I teach (the Black ones) are convinced that he will be assassinated.
Apparently, it's the earliest that the Secret Service has started protection.
A Temporary Lull
For once, politics isn't the main headline in news. Unless you count Ted Kennedy's seizure as politics (I don't).
The recent disasters top the news:
Personally, I'm re-arranging my schedule to allow me to attend a memorial service for my father's brother next Saturday. So many of the people who knew me when I was young are dying. My DH and I are making plans to shoot some video this summer, and leave our memories for our children and grandchildren.
In politics, Obama is facing up to the fact that he may only get a small sub-set of the White vote. Even though he captures about 85-90% of the Black vote, he will find it difficult to be elected President without the support of those who (as of today) make up a majority of the population.
Hillary is plugging away - it's what she does best. She's like a little Energizer Bunny - she keeps going, and going, and going. I really don't think she'll be satisfied with 2nd place.
The recent disasters top the news:
China's death toll is officially over 30,000 - and is expected to rise over the next few days. With family sizes being so restricted over the last 50 years, few have other relatives to lend emotional support.
The Everglades are already experiencing massive fires - I'm wondering what the remainder of the dry season will bring.
CNN has a site urging people to assist the victims in Myanmar. I'm very sorry for the people who have suffered from the cyclone, but the death toll wouldn't be so high if the government hadn't stopped organizations from assisting, and stolen some of the aid for use by its armed forces.
We can't provide aid that we know will not reach the people for whom it's intended. Soft-hearted people did that before - in Ethiopia. Little of the aid reached the starving people - it was left to rot in warehouses, while people were deliberately starved for political purposes.
Personally, I'm re-arranging my schedule to allow me to attend a memorial service for my father's brother next Saturday. So many of the people who knew me when I was young are dying. My DH and I are making plans to shoot some video this summer, and leave our memories for our children and grandchildren.
In politics, Obama is facing up to the fact that he may only get a small sub-set of the White vote. Even though he captures about 85-90% of the Black vote, he will find it difficult to be elected President without the support of those who (as of today) make up a majority of the population.
Hillary is plugging away - it's what she does best. She's like a little Energizer Bunny - she keeps going, and going, and going. I really don't think she'll be satisfied with 2nd place.
Ted Kennedy Seizure
I can't say that I'm surprised. Kennedy hasn't been looking good for some time. And, although many Baby Boomers tend to think of him as the "Kid" of the Kennedy clan, he's getting up there - as are we.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Power Surges
In my youth, jokes about hot flashes were funny - no, they were hysterically funny.
No more.
I'm currently experiencing about 10-20 power surges a day. It's been going on for a few months, and I see no end in sight.
As I'm living in SC, a relatively warm and humid part of the country, this is becoming a real source of irritability. I get woken up at least 3-4 times a week by the overheating.
Gulping down cool liquids helps to cool me down again. Unfortunately, the secondary effect of loading up on liquids usually kicks in again a few hours later, necessitating a hasty trip to the bathroom.
Did I mention that the lack of sleep is making me VERY CRANKY?
No more.
I'm currently experiencing about 10-20 power surges a day. It's been going on for a few months, and I see no end in sight.
As I'm living in SC, a relatively warm and humid part of the country, this is becoming a real source of irritability. I get woken up at least 3-4 times a week by the overheating.
Gulping down cool liquids helps to cool me down again. Unfortunately, the secondary effect of loading up on liquids usually kicks in again a few hours later, necessitating a hasty trip to the bathroom.
Did I mention that the lack of sleep is making me VERY CRANKY?
Thursday, May 08, 2008
At Any Cost
I'm just now reading At Any Cost, by Bill Sammon, and, based on what I'm reading, go get it TODAY! It's a captivating and revealing look at the disputed 2000 election, written by a journalist with an inside view of the machinations of the MSM.
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
To Quote Hillary, "I'm Ta-ahrd"
So, to keep everyone amused without too much work, I'm putting this video feed in the blog.
Then, I'm going home, wrapping my hands around a scotch & soda, and chillin'.
Friday, May 02, 2008
The Neilsen Ratings
In all the excitement of our car accident, I forgot to mention our latest brush with destiny - we are now a Neilsen Family!
Yes, it's true. The Neilsen Media company contacted us, and have selected us to be one of the families who log (that's LOG, not BLOG) our TV habits. We have 2 logs, one for each TV in the house, and are to enter data every day.
I really hope they're aren't disappointed at the paucity of entries. I seldom watch TV, preferring to be on the computer, reading, or outdoors. My husband, OTOH, is the ideal TV watcher. If he's home, the TV is on. His whole family is like that. Once, when I was dating him, I was in the house by myself. When the TV show was over, I turned off the TV. His mother sought me out, and asked "why did you turn off the TV?" I was dumbfounded, and replied, "because the show I was watching was over". She told me that I should never turn off the TV (apparently, it's a bad thing to turn TVs off and on; but I think she just liked the noise in the house).
Yes, it's true. The Neilsen Media company contacted us, and have selected us to be one of the families who log (that's LOG, not BLOG) our TV habits. We have 2 logs, one for each TV in the house, and are to enter data every day.
I really hope they're aren't disappointed at the paucity of entries. I seldom watch TV, preferring to be on the computer, reading, or outdoors. My husband, OTOH, is the ideal TV watcher. If he's home, the TV is on. His whole family is like that. Once, when I was dating him, I was in the house by myself. When the TV show was over, I turned off the TV. His mother sought me out, and asked "why did you turn off the TV?" I was dumbfounded, and replied, "because the show I was watching was over". She told me that I should never turn off the TV (apparently, it's a bad thing to turn TVs off and on; but I think she just liked the noise in the house).
Blogger Down
I'm down for the count, thanks to an auto accident yesterday. We're basically OK, some bruising and muscle tenderness, but no broken bones. The car sustained some damage - driver's side mirror is GONE, scratching along the side of the car and window.
Right now, I'm on muscle relaxant and pain killer, but still uncomfortable. Can't sit, can't lay down, can't stand for long. Grumble, grumble. I know there are people in this world with REAL misery and pain, but, I really don't care at the moment - my hip hurts.
Right now, I'm on muscle relaxant and pain killer, but still uncomfortable. Can't sit, can't lay down, can't stand for long. Grumble, grumble. I know there are people in this world with REAL misery and pain, but, I really don't care at the moment - my hip hurts.
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