What? Why?

Charges brought against three members of the New Black Panther Party for Self-Defense under the Bush administration have been dropped by the Obama Justice Department.

I remember watching the news channels on election day, and they had video of these .. yes, jackbooted thugs, dressed in black uniforms, one with a baton of the type the police carry. I was wondering if he was actually going to use it on the guy that was carrying the camera recording them. They did not seem pleased to be seen there.

news story continues...
The three black panthers, Minister King Samir Shabazz, Malik Zulu Shabazz and Jerry Jackson were charged in a civil complaint in the final days of the Bush administration with violating the voter rights act by using coercion, threats and intimidation. Shabazz allegedly held a nightstick or baton that prosecutors said he pointed at people and menacingly tapped it. Prosecutors also say he "supports racially motivated violence against non-blacks and Jews."

"allegedly"? I saw it with my own two eyes. Definitely had a baton. The old Black Panther Party has distanced themselves and rejected the New Black Panther Party as a bunch of racists and hatemongers. I remember watching a documentary on them, and the hate they were spewing was vile stuff. And I thought David Duke was bad. These guys are just as bad, or worse.

The "Justice" Department says this about their decision:

"The Justice Department was successful in obtaining an injunction that prohibits the defendant who brandished a weapon outside a Philadelphia polling place from doing so again. Claims were dismissed against the other defendants based on a careful assessment of the facts and the law. The department is committed to the vigorous prosecution of those who intimidate, threaten or coerce anyone exercising his or her sacred right to vote."

Actually, he is prohibited from brandishing his weapon within 100 feet of a polling place. Outside of that 100 feet, he can intimidate and threaten people all he wants, getting out of their cars.

Here's a video of the NBPP with the "alleged" baton

Had this happen to you ever?

Over at New Jovian Thunderbolt blog, he has a post up about the Brass Dance. Included is a video for your viewing pleasure. It's probably something that has happened to everyone at some time or another.

The Somalia pirate stand-off

I was reading through blogland, and came across this post about how the pirates managed to stave off the US Navy for 4.. FOUR! days. Because of jugear's unwillingness to use force on them. This is shameful.

What's next

What I want next for my yard is honeysuckle. In varying colors. I just recieved my Dave's Garden email, and one of the higlights was about honeysuckle". Turns out the one I want, the red and yellow one, is not scented, but I love the look of it, so I'll get one or two of those, and then some other. We have some yellow growing wild by a rosebush in the front of the house. Guess I'll stick a trellis out there, and get it OUT of my rosebush.

The University of Houston just called, about SAT/ACT scores of my youngest. They want to talk us about her going there when she graduates high school. She just finished (today) 10th grade. She's been getting quite a few envelopes from universities and colleges all over the country in the past few months.

huh.

A couple of things

I'm reading a list of flipflops, lies and other assorted scandals from teh One, hereafter known as "Jugears". I don't recall how I found it last night, I went surfing from blog to blog, I started off on Yidwithlid's blog and went rambling from there around. here is the start of it. I'm half-way through it. Alot of reading there. Looks like he's just gathered news over time, and added to it as the days go by.

While I was there, I found an entry about his "internet czar" making everyone's security standard - guess to whose standard? The government's standard. Knowing how well the government does stuff, that's a hoot. Here's the bill introduced. Also, it includes power to take down YOUR internet.

On another note, tonight is the last night of AWANA at church. Am I glad! No more K-2nd graders that don't listen and throw temper fits because they are disciplined, unlike at home with momma. They can't throw a fit and get their way, they get to not do the fun stuff.. and I stick with it. Some start off that way, but you hang in there, and they end up respecting you, and behaving for you better than for their moms.

Oh yeah. Another thing - No Refusal Weekends, in a county a bit over from us. They did it I think on Memorial Day weekend just past. I can see the point getting the idiots off the road, getting those drinking and driving off the roads, but where do you draw the line? I was coming home from church one Wednesday night, and my light had burned out on my plate in the back. I was TIRED from 9 screaming kids, and it was almost 10, and the rookie cop that stopped me (I assume he was a rookie, he was in the truck, and he had a car following him get out with him) got an attitude when I asked "what light? there's a light where?" My mind was fried. The older cop put his hand on his gun WTH?? and asked the rookie is she giving you any trouble. WHAT? This is an extremely rural area, and to me, its really late, and I'm tired as heck. Last thing I want to do is deal with someone with an attitude, I'd just as soon yell STFU at them and smack em. (being despite the dire need of it, I'm not allowed to spank the little angels at church). Turned out to be a 93c part.

I guess the cop figured because he was a young cop he would get attitude or what? He looked all of maybe 20 years old. Either that or I'm getting old.

By the way, they caught the kid that lit off the fireworks at school. When he returns next year, he's got ISS to start off his year with a bang. YAH!

mm nothing else on my mind.. until next time.

my sick sense of humor

I found this on my meanderings through blogland.. prepping for a colonoscopy. Hah! And MD Anderson says you should ideally have it done every ten years, starting at age 50.

Two more blogs added

I just added two more blogs to the blogroll. One I had found a while ago, started reading, then lost it - I don't recall how I came to find it, but I re-found it thanks to Texas Ghostrider's blog - Cigars Donuts and Coffee, its quite interesting to see what police get to deal with in their day to day work. It also looks like they have to take a lot of crap from people. I wouldn't be able to do that job. I'd get too mad.

This blog belongs to a guy that posted comments over on Crass Pollenation (another good blog!) and I wandered over on to his, and got hooked. It's Dr Grumpy in the House, and his musings.

What happened today

At my daughter's high school - Just before I went in to pick her up, some idiot decided firecrackers hitched together in a small bundle in a container would make a great last couple days of school prank. So he lit it and scooted off. The teacher that picked it up thought it was a smoke bomb, and was starting towards the door to take it outside, when it exploded in his hand. Luckily he was not injured. The front hallway reeked of fireworks when I walked in, and the doors were wide open to get fresh air in. They were calling the suspect in, but he was in the middle of an exam, so they were waiting for him to finish his test before they got him into the principal's office. Some prank. I can't say here what I'd like to do to the perpetrator of this prank. It wouldn't be pretty, but it wouldn't be torture, according to the lawyers :P I'm sweet that way.

Supreme Court pick

Obama is on the news right now, with his teleprompter allowing him to give a smooth speech without ah, and uh every few words (unlike the speeches I've seen him give without the teleprompter), and the talking heads on the news were discussing his pick for the spot, and brought up one of Sotomayor's speeches at UC Berkely in 2001. This lady believes a Latina lady has more to bring to the table than a white guy. To my mind, this is racist. This is putting the color of your skin above your ability. African-american, Latina, whatever. If you're an American, just say THAT. You're not a hyphenated anything. Sure, we can see your skin might be light or dark. Big fat hairy deal. Get over it. Suck it up, and get on with life. Plow ahead, and make the most of your life, and get ahead. Get the best education you can, study hard, and make it. Don't slack off and blame others for what you failed to do. That's the suckers way out. HERE is the link to an article talking about the Supreme Court pick of Obama's, Sotomayor.

He listens to yard gnomes!

Ok.. I was reading over at Wall Street Journal this evening.. almost tomorrow! and I found myself reading this article and I find myself - this is scary! Obama is taking advice from gnomes! From a cartoon no less, not even going out into his garden for a face to face talk with these gnomes! What is the world coming to, when a gnome can't even speak his mind, a cartoon gnome has to do the talking? Freedom of speech for all gnomes! heh. aside from that. It just goes to show, that one needs a PLAN when you announce you have new projects. Sure, it sounds nice and good, and the newspapers write it up really nice,, but will it ever happen? or is it just a nice pipe dream? What is the actual cost of this pipe dream? I doubt he or his gnomes have thought of that. All of this goes to show you, the same level of thought goes into Obama's plans as goes into the writing of cartoons.

Baba Ghanoush *tasty*

We went up to Houston today to do some shopping, and tried a new buffet - DiMassi's Mediterranean Buffet in Sugarland. Apart from the Arab MTV on the wall, the food was pretty good. This was on the buffet, and as much as I love hummus, this was much tastier.

Baba Ghanoush - also known as Baba Ghanouj and Baba Ganoush - is a dip or spread made of roasted eggplant and tahini. Simply roast the eggplant, scoop out the softened pulp, and then puree with tahini and seasonings. The seasonings used in this recipe for Baba Ghanoush are garlic, lemon juice, parsley and salt. Dip fresh pita bread or cut vegetables into the Baba Ghanoush for a healthy snack.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients:

* 1 large eggplant
* 2 cloves garlic, minced
* 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
* 2 Tbsp. lemon juice
* 2 Tbsp. Tahini
* 1 Tbsp. fresh parsley
* 1/2 tsp. salt

Preparation:
1. Preheat oven to 400° Fahrenheit (200° Celcius).
2. Prick the eggplant with a fork. Then place on a cookie sheet and put into the hot oven.
3. Roast the eggplant for about 40 minutes or until very soft inside.
4. Cool completely.
5. Scoop out the eggplant's pulp and place in a food processor. Add remaining ingredients into the food processor. Pulse until pureed, but still has some texture.
6. Refrigerate. Serve chilled with fresh pita bread.

Something everyone should read

I have 2 posts people should read. One is over at JB on the Rocks Memorial Day entry. The other is at The Sniper's blog. They say it all. Please go read. And remember. Its not a sale day, or a party day.

GEEZE!

Via AD - What will they think of next? The 10 craziest products inspired by Bacon! and they forgot 'bacon salt' which is now sold at HEB! check HERE.

Rand Paul on sound economics

Rand Paul is the son of Ron Paul (R-TX) who used to be a Libertarian, but changed to a Republican, who also is one of the very few (if anyone else is), voting constitutionally on bills and amendments - does this bill pass the constitution test? Rand Paul is running for Kentucky Senate. Let's hope he wins, and we get another naysayer to high spending in Washington. Here's a video of him speaking at a rally in Frankfort, KY.

Oops I forgot...

to give Texas Ghostrider's blog a bump - its a great cop blog - its an interesting one - go take a read!

Also a couple of blogs that you should stop by, are THE DHIVEHISTAN REPORT. Its a blog from the Maldives, which has been taken over by Islam. You think this is OK? The Maldives doesn't allow Bibles to even be brought through their airport. Go take a vacation to the Maldives and you're not a Muslim? Tough luck on bringing anything that is of value to your of your religion, you cannot bring it. The Maldivian locals are being trampled upon now. Go read and learn.

Another blog that keeps track of goings on around the world is Jihad Watch. Think it's just 'radical Islam'? Think the Koran is just like the Bible? Go, read and learn. Fitna is also linked here, go watch it. Just a rumor will start Muslim riots, that end up with people dead. Don't swallow the lie, there are NO moderate Muslims.

A Semper Fidelis Wedding!

My brother-in-law's kids are great - 2 are in the military, both are in the Marines. A higher calling than serving in the military, I could not think of. Maybe I'm biased, but I think a stint in the military grows up children into adults. It certainly grew me up from a child into an adult.. although it took a while! It grew my husband up from a youth into a man. He joined when he was 17. (Dad had to sign the paper so he could join, being under 18). I joined as a way to get out of a bad situation at first, but then I found I really liked the life. Got out of the Army, and a bit later, joined the Navy. Really did not like the girls that sucked up to the guys to do their work for them. Why were they there then? To find husbands? To sleep around? WTH were they doing sucky jobs for if they just batted their eyes and stuck out their butts and didn't want to carry two 24-packs of soda up the gangway or a 60 lb sack of rice onto the mess deck? Or climb over the potable water trailer and hook up big hoses and get dirty and break a nail? Big deal. I had no use for those type of women. I had little respect for the men that those women used also. After the Anita Hill debacle, we had to go to the mess deck, and fill out a survey on sexual harassment. I filled out mine that the sexual harassment was done by the women towards the men! That the women would use the men to do their work for them, and that the 'sexual harassment' was a bunch of BS. And I did not use an acronym or an abbreviation in my survey, I spelled it out. Those surveys went off to Washington I guess. Never knew what came of it.

OHHHH BACK TO MY SUBJECT! My niece got married this weekend!! Out in Folsom CA, a big Marine wedding - HERE is the link to read about her wedding, and see her wedding party. Enjoy.

Satan's Donut Shop

Ok so its not SATANS donut shop, but it's got a pentagram on it, so we just call it satans donut shop every time we drive by it. Its in a town by us, a small junior college town about 45 minutes away from us. The donuts here are not as good as the donuts in our town, not Shipley Donuts, but the little local donut shop run by a Cambodian family, they make the best apple fritters in town. A dozen is only $5, and their pigs are large, and their breakfast tacos are great.

A sight to see

I was driving home from the grocery store one day about 2 weeks ago, when I passed a grass farm on the way home, and this was what a section of it looked like. So I pulled a Uturn on the road, and went back, pulled off the road, and took a picture of it. Thought it was a really nice scene. Very peaceful. We have a lot of grass farms in our area, and pieces of sod are constantly on the road. Many times I've stopped to get a big square of sod off the road, put it in my trunk, and brought it home to put it in a bare spot at home, so that I'll have grass again. At least until the clover and I am not sure WHAT weed it is, takes over. Although once high summer comes, we will have to water each day, so the lawn is not crunchy.

CHL on campus bill

It's a good idea. Look at these nutcases going on shooting sprees on college campuses - they could be stopped by someone on campus, instead of being sheep to the slaughter. here is the bill. It only makes sense.

Princess Pelosi

Ok, so she's on Version 5.0 of what she knew (or didn't know). She's flipflopped more than a fish out of water on the dock. HOWEVER, while I was reading a blog, I ran across this link to these cartoons - Pelosi and the CIA cartoons. I didn't look at the rest of the blog, but the cartoons are hilarious! I especially liked the kool-aid one :P

Bill introduced into Texas legislature

Dan Patrick introduced SB 2584, making sanctuary cities a no-no in Texas (way to go!) and of course, Dems were against it. I'm not surprised, however, I'm rather amused that they don't listen to their constituents, who are often preyed upon by the criminal element that is illegal, and no one wants the criminals around. HERE is the bill. It only makes sense, and I guess being a Democrat, or a liberal, just lets all common sense fly out of your head, they don't have a lick of common sense. They must appear "sensitive".. to who? criminals? bah - don't give me that - the criminals don't care = they will take advantage of anyone they can - I was married to one once years ago. They are users. And the liberals are being used by them. And willing to be used by them.

Dan Patrick had a radio show on AM radio out of Houston, am 700, in the afternoons. He got so tired of the political show going on in Austin, that he ran for State senator - and won with 70% of the vote. He's one of the few that is going about trying to do right. He's on Facebook, and Twitter. He keeps people updated on what is going on in the legislature if you're interested in what is going on in Texas politics. Go check it out :)

Acorn Follies

ok,, a visitor provided a link to Acorn's monies chart that Barney Frank was probably using (thanks a ton!) and I looked up on Google streetview the different addresses. These are little storefront operations - one is a FUNERAL HOME! And the current administration is fixing to give Acorn around 8 billion dollars?? Bush gave millions to Acorn during his administration, which doesn't make it right, however, upping the ante and giving MORE to a company that is indited in 12 states for voter registration fraud and election fraud - well, that's just Chicago politics as usual! The link for the money chart is here, and you can google streetmap the addresses. The one in New Orleans is a funeral home.

Fort Worth soldier makes the news

Why? because when a firefight started, he jumped out of bed, and got his gear on, and went & fought.. in his "I love NY" boxers! He plans to go to Texas Tech University, but decided to go enlist and fight as an enlisted man before heading there, and becoming an officer. Great going I say. He says he wants to be an officer that others can respect, and getting to know the military from the ground up. Go man, go!

Barney Frank makes me mad!

I was just watching Lou Dobbs on HLN, and he had Michelle Bachmann on there also, discussing a bill she had introduced, about companies/businesses/charities that are found to be guilty on election results would be barred from getting any government funds. Barney first said that was ok. then he went back and looked at it, and drew a line through it - striking it out. His excuse? "well George Bush had given ACORN money for their counseling services and other services that ACORN provided in low-income housing. And no one complained then".. WELL THEY WEREN'T being indited in 12 states for election fraud either then. They are slated to recieve 8 billion (!!) from the government with the stimulus bill, and the budget bill. That's quite a bit of money going to a shady organization. What really ticked me off, he never answered the questions, but kept interrupting Michelle Bachmann, and then when she'd try to interject a point again (during her time) he'd say "excuse me, don't interrupt". He is a mysogynist in addition to being a liberal toady.

Because they do such a great job...

we should have the government to run health care too! After all, look at what they've done for social security, medicare, medicare, Fanny Mae and Freddy Mac, why, let's just let them have almost 20% of the economy to run! Sorry, no long rant today, migraines are chasing me lately, however, I do have a link to how well the government has done in the past with mortgages, et&. Being they did so well in the 30s, they felt they had to keep repeating it and adding onto it. Go read!

Some great roast chicken

I found this recipe at Epicurious.com and it's just great! Especially if you love the flavor of rosemary, and garlic. I used a jar of minced garlic, and put 3 heaping forkfuls in the mixture. Can you tell I love garlic? Also the taste and scent of rosemary!

Garlic-Rosemary Roast Chicken

Olive or vegetable oil cooking spray
3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh rosemary, plus sprigs for garnish
8 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1 roasting chicken (6-7 pounds) *I used a regular fryer*
Kitchen twine
1 lemon, sliced (optional)

Heat oven to 400°F. Lightly coat a roasting pan and rack with cooking spray. Combine rosemary, garlic and salt in a bowl. Remove giblets and neck from chicken and trim off all visible fat. Starting at the neck cavity, gently loosen skin from breasts and drumsticks; spread rosemary mixture evenly under skin. Tuck wing tips under back of chicken; tie ends of drumsticks together with twine. Season with additional salt and black pepper to taste; place breast side up in pan. Roast, basting twice with pan juices, until a meat thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh (and not touching bone) reads 175°F, about 1 3/4 hours. Let stand 10 minutes before carving. Garnish with rosemary sprigs and lemon slices, if desired, and serve.

If you are using a chicken that is a fryer, 3-5 lbs, roast the chicken for 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 hrs.

Have a happy dinner!

Say what??

The total cost of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid is projected to leap from 8.4% of GDP in 2005 to 18.9% of GDP by 2050.

· Federal program spending is projected to reach 27.6% of GDP by 2050, while net interest spending will consume an additional 9% to 46% of GDP (depending on whether massive deficit spending increases interest rates).

· Unless Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid are reformed, lawmakers face three options:

A) Raise taxes every year until taxes are 60 percent ($11,000 per household) higher than today;

B) Eliminate every federal program except Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid by 2045; or

C) Do nothing and watch the federal debt expand so much that even a minor interest rate response would induce a spiral of rising debt and interest rates, threatening the entire economy.

Source.

Entitlements are out of hand. All of these should be unnecessary. People expect the government to take care of them, and their families - instead of providing for themselves, or let private charities take them up in hand. Where in the Constitution do we find provisions for giving people other people's money? General welfare does not mean payments from the government! Sorry, but entitlements should go. Give em the heave-ho. When Social Security was started, it was Social Security INSURANCE. It doesn't mean a guaranteed paycheck for 11, 12 or more years. Insurance means you don't rely on it for your sole support - you SAVE money while you are working. Too many people don't do this, and then they wail and bemoan the fact that their SSI check is "too small". What about their families providing for them? That's fallen into disfavor, however, it would be the best system around.

Are we marching towards fascism?

I think its inching along - look at the government takeover of the auto companies - and then Wall St. and its bankers/investment companies. Now Geithner and the administration is saying that they want to be able to take over companies that have never taken TARP funds, or bailout money from the government, on the way they pay their employees and executives.

From the WSJ article, 'During a recent congressional hearing, Chairman Ben Bernanke said the Fed was working on rules that will "ask or tell banks to structure their compensation, not just at the very top level but down much further, in a way that is consistent with safety and soundness -- which means that payments, bonuses and so on should be tied to performance and should not induce excessive risk."'

So much for this being the land of the free, being able to create a business, and run it, without micromanagement from the government - which has to date, not run anything well. Or even remotely well. Look at Social Security and Medicare - they are running out of money - the administration is talking about 'taxing the rich' for more money - How long before people get so fed up with this stuff that they stop looking for good positions, and starting a business, because they're going to get taxed to death? How will that help the economy? It won't, because there will be no new start-up businesses, for people to work at. Maybe more people will switch to a barter system, which the government cannot tax. Or maybe they will try to tax it. New York state is taxing everything imaginable, in order to make up for their shortcomings in the money coming in. New York City, around 40,000 people pay over half the taxes. What if 10,000 people got tired of paying all those taxes, and left? What would be left for their tax base?

Raising taxes, and taking over businesses is NOT the answer. The outrageous spending by Congress and the Senate and the administrations are the problems to the solution. When you're in debt, you don't spend more, you spend less, however our elected representatives seem to think they are on a great gravy train that will never end, let's just spend, spend, spend. And spending us into a hole, and (hopefully not) inflation and hyperinflation. China wants the IMF to sell its gold to them.. what are they going to use for that gold? You guessed it, the money we've sold them - what are we going to do with a trillion dollars back in circulation? Prices will shoot up, the dollar will be worth even less than it is now. And remember, the borrower is slave to the lender. I find it suspicious that Barney Frank is for the IMF selling its gold to China. Actually I find pretty much everything he does, is NOT for the good of the country, but for what political gain and whatever other recognition he can achieve.

Does this make sense to you??

"Americans are looking for more government in their life, not less," Powell said last week. That's Colin Powell, a member of the GOP.. still? I thought he had left because he voted for Obama.. but that couldn't be, because he was just voting skin color like quite a few other people. McCain wouldn't have been much better than Obama, however, as he was for larger government, and socialism lite. The GOP has swung so far to the left, they've become just a different name than the Democrats. There's quite a few people that the D/R's have left behind, that are center, and to the right of center, not to mention the constitutionalists, who are starting to grow in numbers. 10th Amendment anyone? Politics has always been slimy though, and it seems the scum-suckers rise to the top of the heap in Congress/Senate.. and those men and women that go there to actually make a difference, listen to the people, and put things right.. just aren't heard, or they are belittled and mocked. I'm not looking for much on the Supreme Court, as they are all to the left of me, and Clarence Thomas, although they tried to malign him, and still do - he is the best one of the bunch. The Constitution *is* a living document, but we have strayed far from it.

As for the spending in Congress/Senate/White House - I'd like to know.. when you are running negative numbers, why *increase* spending? There are many Federal programs that can be cut out, reduced, or whole departments done away with (i.e. Dept. of Education), and if we could bring in a flat tax, then the IRS can pretty much go away. Nowadays the only sector of the economy that is growing lots of jobs is the government - this should not be. Its time for some good.. nay great.. men and women, who are willing to put shoulder to the load, and take on the established powers that be - and get this country to how it should be. Become aware of the bills that are put forth, and the amendments. Watch Cspan and Cspan2. Dull at times, I admit, but you find out what is going on. See if your local congressman/senator twitters or has a Facebook page. I know of one Texas Senator that does, and he keeps his followers updated daily on what he is doing in the TX Senate. By the way, he was a talk radio host, who got tired of the government and the idiocy that went on in Austin, and ran - and garnered 70% of the vote.

A New Blog added - a great one!

I just found his blog the other day, but already I can tell this one is gonna be a favorite one to go read. HERE. This post I love - why? Because prisoners *should* work for their keep. Why are we paying tens of thousands of dollars each year to house these hoo-haws? Give them all kinds of stuff, cable television, workout equipment, pretty much whatever their little hearts desire. Except freedom, of course. The prison farm at Clemens unit here in Texas used to have the prisoners out there with hoes, and sometimes a tractor, growing their own crops and they had some cattle out there, for a dairy, to be pretty much self-sustaining. Now its a juvie place, and I see the fields lying fallow. I say get those prisoners out there - in striped PJs.. with hoes and guards on horses with shotguns and rifles. Bring back balogna sandwiches, and oatmeal in the morning for breakfast. What are we feeding them? Wait! I know.. it's shown up at my grocery store as "value meat". Heavy beef, is what they are feeding them. Probably better quality hamburger than we used to get in the Navy.

Anyway.. enough on my rambles, go over and read Bob's blog, I think you will enjoy it as much as I do.

Words mean things

I'm tired of people hijacking and co-opting words that mean one thing, into another. Or by a grand show of words, make something that is easy to understand, obfuscated. The current administration is doing such a thing. Taking "the war on terror" (which is a misnomer, but I'll get to that later), to Overseas Contingency Operation. This is nothing more than doublespeak, and trying to 'put a right spin on things'. We can call the Navy Base in Diego Garcia (if its still there) an 'Overseas Continency something or other. just not what it is. Things like honesty, truth, and doing what you said you were going to do, doesn't seem to mean a hill of beans to politicians these days. Take Arlen Spector for example.. he changes parties because his re-election chances are slim as a Republican? He's been in there 29 years. Time for him to go home.

Raymond Ibrahim has a great article on words, and how they actually mean things, HERE.

Before I go, this "global war on terror" is like saying during WW2 we were having a "global warn on blitzkrieg". Get the drift?

When the Lamp is Shattered

When the lamp is shattered
The light in the dust lies dead -
When the cloud is scattered,
The rainbow's glory is shed.
When the lute is broken,
Sweet tones are remembered not;
When the lips have spoken,
Loved accents are soon forgot.

As music and splendour
Survive not the lamp and the lute,
The heart's echoes render
No song when the spirit is mute -
No song but sad dirges,
Like the wind through a ruined cell,
Or the mournful surges
That ring the dead seaman's knell.

When hearts have once mingled,
Love first leaves the well-built nest;
The weak one is singled
To endure what it once possessed.
O Love! who bewailest
The frailty of all things here,
Why choose you the frailest
For your cradle, your home, and your bier?

Its passions will rock thee,
As the storms rock the ravens on high;
Bright reason will mock thee,
Like the sun from a wintry sky.
From thy nest every rafter
Will rot, and thine eagle home
Leave thee naked to laughter,
When leaves fall and cold winds come.

Percy Bysshe Shelley

What are they thinking?

Who HASN'T been bullied on the net, especially if they go into chat? You get trolls, and all kinds in there, and people on forums, they pick and slam at each other, and these are just the normal run of the mill types. Sometimes they will email you if they don't like your webpage, and continue to email you, big deal! just hit the 'delete' key. But THIS is going too far. It smacks of Big Brother, shades of 1984, and on its face is completely unconstitutional. Where does this leave the parent in all this? Shouldn't it be up to the parents to make decisions for their children, as to where they go online and what they do? Why limit it to merely online? Let's criminalize bullying in school - there is plenty of that happening! Where does it all end?

A few thoughts on patriotism

A friend showed me this picture, and it got me thinking.. what today is patriotism? Has it just degraded to a bit of flag-waving, maybe hanging out a flag on the 4th of July, perhaps buying a memorial poppy from the VFW on Memorial Day? Or is it doing what you can for your country, like joining the military - not for 'what it can do for you' as is advertised nowadays, "build a college account".. but to actually prepare to fight for the honor and safety of your country. I've started reading the Federalist Papers, quite interesting reading. Hard to get back into deep reading, after a hiatus of thoughtful reading, and only reading fluff for a while.

When I joined the military, I took this oath:

I, (NAME), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.

But I'm starting to think about this congress, and senators. What if they are doing what is not for the best of the country? I'm not talking armed revolution, I'm talking its time for the good men and women of this country to stand up, to NOT sit around on their rear ends, and just shake their heads, thinking nothing can be done. Look at the tea parties that happened April 15th. CNN, MSNBC, covered them as "people outraged with the democrats". That isn't correct. It was people outraged with Republicans and Democrats, and the hard swing to the left that both parties have taken. Neither party is center. Democrats may say "right wing extremists" in derision, however, they are to the left of center, as are the Republicans, who are only a little to the right of Dems. McCain was only a little bit LESS Obamaish than Obama himself.

I believe the founding fathers are spinning in their graves at the state of the country today, and the state of the inactivity of the people as far as politics go. Most are more interested in their television and American Idol than they are on what's going on in their government.

New flowers added!

I just got myself a NEW brugmansia! To those who don't know what a brugmansia is, it's an Angels Trumpet, Devils Tree, also known as a datura tree.

I have a peach colored one, a yellow one, and I just acquired a purple one, that the blooms poke UP instead of the usual hanging down. There is a house on Avenue H that has one, and I loved it the minute I saw it, and I had been looking for a source for them for quite a while, locally..and I have since found one, one town over - they grow their own from seeds! And they're not expensive.

When I was up in Medford, Oregon, in an 8b zone, I was calling around nurseries attempting to find a brugmansia for the yard.. found one, yet the nursery owner was *very* suspicious as to why I was wanting one - they are evidently hallucinogenic. Also TOXIC. I just think they're drop-dead gorgeous!

On another note, I purchased an Althea (rose of sharon) tree - in the hibiscus family - a double white - when I get my film developed, I will have pictures. I have not decided where I will plant this one - I have read that it seeds freely, and those little seedlings grow like crazy, so I think I will plant it along the driveway, and make a hedge of them ! keep those cars straight on the driveway, so we don't back into the ditch like hubby and I *both* did one year! The first time our neighbor had to pull us out, the second time, the truck backed in, and I used my V8 station wagon (with the tail-gunner seats) to pull out the truck.

A new blog added

I just added a new blog to the sidebar - you should really go by and read her scribblies. Letters from an a broad is her blog's name. She's an old (well she ain't really THAT old) *muffled laughter* school friend of mine, from I think 7th? 8th? grade? As I recall, one day we got into a fight, NEVER NEVER punch someone bigger than you in the boob! she'll kick you with her pointy toe shoe right in the crotch and ZOMG does that HURT you will fall over or faint or get stars shooting before your eyes like I did. But we ended up staying friends over the years despite that! I wonder if she even remembers that? I don't even recall what we were arguing about.. not that *I* am a hothead! *MOI* would *I* ever shoot off my mouth? nah...not meeeeeeee!

2nd Bearchase Marathon

A few weeks ago I said we were going to Groveton TX for the Bearchase Marathon, and I did snap a picture on my cell phone (the digital cam batteries died!) so here is Paul running past us at the 13.1 mile mark. He ran the marathon in his best time yet, 3.32.and some seconds. He wants to BQ this year, and head off to Boston next year. That will be a fun mini vacation for us!