stupid internet

Well it appears my net is working kind of ok, first time since last Wednesday. The radio transmitters were messed up in the podunk town they are situated in, that we receive our wireless from. I managed to do a lot of cleaning, and tons of reading. The past few days have been stuck to the Kindle, reading The Count of Monte Cristo. quite interesting, and if you've only seen the movie, I really suggest reading the book!

On a lighter note, paranoia is at a high point in Egypt, where they've had more than usual shark attacks in the Red Sea. From Reuters:

"What is being said about the Mossad throwing the deadly shark (in the sea) to hit tourism in Egypt is not out of the question, but it needs time to confirm," South Sinai Governor Mohamed Abdel Fadil Shousha was quoted as saying by state news site egynews.net

I see.. the Mossad is behind the shark attacks... to drive down tourism in Egypt. If you would really like a laugh, go to Jihadwatch.org's story about it, and read the comments below the story. The poisonous spiny Starofdavidfish has me cracked up this morning!

I woke up before 3:30 this morning, got up because of disturbing dreams, and then stayed up to watch the news, where I saw the above gem on the ticker underneath the commentatator on the show.

I'm heading back to bed, after letting you know about this *important* news item!

The Day After...

I hope your Thanksgiving was good - we had turkey, stuffing, roast parsnips & sweet potatoes. Lots of leftover turkey, and the stuffing is already gone. Actually went to Walmart today to get the difference back on a new camera I purchased, because the price went down. They don't give you the difference...they require you to bring in the product, return it, then buy it again at the lower price. For those of you who overstuffed yourself on turkey & fixings yesterday, here is an appropriate song:

you went to the supermarket got your turkey wrapped in plastic
cooked it in the oven just right should come out fantastic
the whole family’s coming over you put on your evening gown
but creeping up behind you all moist and golden brown
it’s the zombie turkey coming to pay you back
you run up the stairs into the bathroom lock the door
you can hear her boney legs banging on the floor
she’s coming ever closer now, you look out the window to see
an entire neighborhood overrun by zombie turkeys
they are zombie turkeys and they’re coming to pay you back
she’s banging down the door now it looks like there’s no escape
you can’t outrun her because you’re fat and out of shape
if only you exercised more, ate less, you’d be thinner
what a terrible way to die to be eaten by your dinner
by a zombie turkey who has come to pay you back

Zombie Turkey

What does it entail?

What do police do for a pat-down? I've seen pat-downs on TV, but generally, what does a standard police pat-down consist of? And is it a more intense one if you are putting them into jail?

I'd appreciate finding out. I'm leery of going to the local PD and asking them what their procedures are, and then over to the county Sheriff's to find out what their pat-down procedures are for those in striped pajamas. (and yes, in this county, they wear black & white striped PJs)

4th Amendment means nothing anymore

Well, with the Nude-O-Scans in use at the airports, including the 2 I am going to be flying out of in April to head to the Boston Marathon *hubby qualified for it, is registered, we have our flight & hotel already booked*; I am seriously wondering *how many* get the SSSS on their boarding pass...And by refusing the dick measuring device, you get an "enhanced" patdown, which includes inside your waistband, touching the genitals, and not anymore back of the hand across the breasts. I'm wondering how police run their pat-downs before throwing someone in the back of their car. Is it more or less the same?

the 4th amendment reads:

Amendment 4 - Search and Seizure. Ratified 12/15/1791.

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

I don't mind going through that metal detector. It doesn't pick up the 3 staples I have inside me from my gall bladder removal (xrays pick it up though. looks funny!)

I don't mind my soon to be 18 year old daughter going through the metal detector. I do have a thing about her going through the virtual strip search *yes, those pictures are able to be saved, and transferred to another machine*, or being groped by some TSA goon.

The "enhanced" pat-down does not involve the back of the hand. it's fingers & palms, prodding you places only your gynocologist should be, or your doctor as a guy turns his head & coughs.

They've "decided" in their wisdom that 12 and under do not have to go through the Nude-O-Scope. How generous of them. What about those ages 13 up till they're 18? It's still illegal to view naked children, or take pictures of them. Also while going through there, you don't have view of your belongings (all of it, including wallet/purse, Ipad etc) on the belt.

People say "flying isn't a right - take some other transportation". Since when does MY purchasing a good from a company (an airline ticket) give the government the right to do a virtual strip search without any cause?

There is the National Opt-Out Day on November 24th. People will be opting for the patdown vs. the virtual strip-search. If you are flying that day, get there *extra* early, as I suspect the lines will move slower than they usually do on this day.

Oh, by the way, there are 2 different types of machines - magnetic wave, which produces a scan that you can't see the goodies in detail; and the backscatter xray, which *does*. With the backscatter, they can see your surgery scars on you. I suggest writing "f*** you" on yourself with a sharpie, if they can see your scars, they will be able to read your message to them. I am not sure if a black sharpie or a metallic sharpie would be best for this. Or cut out letters from foil and taping them on yourself to spell that out. And consider giving them a rude gesture with both hands while they are strip-searching you.

The TSA has a blog, written by "blogger bob" (such a nice generic name), and many questions are asked - but none are answered. Also lies and damn lies are posted on that site, as in "our machines cannot transmit, save, or print any pictures". The representative for the company that makes these machines says they can. "oh yes, believe everything the government says, they are only here to help you."

Don't think they are Nude-O-Scans? This is the image seen (in high-res) by TSA agents while you stand there with your hands in the air like a criminak being told "keep your hands in the air!" by a cop.



I really don't see why or even *how* people rationalize this. There have been suggestions for males that are Scots, drink Scotch, or even watched the movie Braveheart, wear a kilt.. just as they do back there...going commando. On the TSA blog, one poster asked if they could be taken to a private room, strip naked, and not have to be touched. No way, said TSA. You have to be subject to pat-down.

Again, how is this "reasonable"?

Elections are over now

And Houston voted to get rid of the red light cameras. WOOHHOO! Each time I went under one, I'd wonder how many people flipped the bird to the camera as they went through a yellow light.

Proposition 19 did not pass in Kommiefornia. But the idiots got Jerry Brown in as governor.

Houston, where Bill White was the mayor before Annise Parker, got more of the vote in Dallas, and not much in Houston. Perry carried Houston.

For your viewing pleasure - this is the cat that is in the Fresh Step cat litter commercial, about how 'cats love boxes'.



More news out of Oklahoma about their outlawing of Shari'a law - CAIR (the unindicted co-conspirator of Hamas), is filing suit to have it ruled null and void. If they're "moderate", why should they not mind if shari'a is not the law? and with "moderate muslims", doesn't that imply merely by the word "moderate" that there is something inherently dangerous in Islam?

Tiger Pride Band

These are some photos from the game against Bloomington...we won.. 59 to 12. They did not score until the 4th quarter - and it was their homecoming!



Darn. My internet has been really BAD these past few days.. so one picture is all you get - Louie the Tiger, and the youngest of mine on cymbals. She is in Colorguard, hence the uniform.

Tiger Pride Band

These are some photos from the game against Bloomington...we won.. 59 to 12. They did not score until the 4th quarter - and it was their homecoming!



Darn. My internet has been really BAD these past few days.. so one picture is all you get - Louie the Tiger, and the youngest of mine on cymbals. She is in Colorguard, hence the uniform.

This and that

I was listening to Michael Savage the other week, and he has a new book out "Trickle Up Poverty: Stopping Obama's Attack on our Borders, Economy, and Security"

Ted Nugent did a review of it, said everyone should read it. I just read part of it on Amazon.com, via the "look inside" feature (so handy!) and in the Author's Note, this really struck me:

"America has gone from EISENHOWER to OBAMA in two generations...From JOHN WAYNE to LADY GAGA in two generations...From I LOVE LUCY to I LOVE LOOSELY in two generations...From STARLETS to HARLOTS in two generations..."

And he has other from - to statements in there. How far America has fallen. It's like the amoral-ness of today is so fashionable. And if you object, you are a prude, 'Victorian', et&. How is it prudish to say that such and such is WRONG and not right?

I think it started with the failure of the Depression generation, the WW2 generation, in not making their children work for what they got - i.e., they wanted their children to not have to go through want, deprivation, any hardship - way better than they had growing up in the Depression. Gave them looser boundaries, gave them things without requiring anything in return. And in turn, THAT generation that is known as the Baby-Boomers, only continued in excess, what had been given to them. They were so concerned with *self* that they really did not pay attention to what their children were doing/learning, etc. "Let it all hang out" and "If it feels good, do it" ruled the boomer generation, and they passed these values on down to their children. It takes up a snowball effect, rolling down a hill - you may start off with a small 3-inch diameter snowball, but by the time it hits the middle of the hill on the mountain, it is much larger, and by the time it hits the bottom it is HUGE. Are we only half-way down that mountain with the snowball? Can it be stopped somehow, and possibly reversed?

This subject I've thought on for years. I took an English Comp. class at the Junior College up in the next county when my youngest was small - and my essay was on 'Reaping the Whirlwind'. I was supposed to start off with a few ideas, and an outline. However, it *appears* that I cannot do an outline, I've tried and it always ends up NOT being what I ramble on about, so I just skipped the outline, and wrote out my essay in less than an hour. Kind of the way I rant oh here at times.. although it's been few and far between lately.

I am seriously wondering *why* these parents raised their children as they did. My parents grew up in the Depression (they were born in 25 & 28); and I know my mother worked at her mom's bakery, and they ate alot of french toast - old bread that did not sell, with eggs and milk from her grandmother's small farm. My dad's mother had a job, but as his father died when he was three, she had to take care of 2 small boys by herself. My dad told me that he remembered going to a church to get 'new shoes' one day with his brother and his mom - he said there were huge piles of shoes, and you tried on shoes until you found a pair that fit.

My parents I guess weren't of the type that gave you everything...but under our Christmas tree there were always lots of presents, even though they included such gifts as underwear, socks, pajamas etc. Items that were actually *useful* although I think my favorite was the giant (6 foot tall) dinosaur bone set made of styrofoam that you assembled.

It seems many of my generation were given alot - because our parents wanted us to not have to go through what they had, but it seems also that many of my generation also were not taught to raise kids properly, and it just went on from there, to that parents of today, that have small children, are clueless as to what to do with their kids. I am at the tail end of the boomer generation, the last year of it - so I'm not exactly sure which generation I identify more with. Actually I think the great-grandparents - parents of the Depression generation - as my mom dealt with us the way her mother did, and I raised my kids the same way.

Back to morals and the lack of them today. America is turning degenerate - and I feel like I'm swimming upstream, with the flow going against me. Is it just me, or am I loopy?

A Paragraph Or Two

Ok, so I took the plunge, and bought a Kindle. I'm going through the ebooks classics - THE FREE BOOKS - and snagging the ones that look interesting. I found one this morning that I loaded, I don't remember if I paid 99c for it or not - or if it was free - anyway, if it was, it's definitely worth the 99c. Its an anti-slavery pamphlet, from Britain, written in 1812.

Here is the title: "American Slave Trade; or, An Account off the Manner in which the Slave Dealers take Free People from some of the United States of America, and carry them away, and sell them as Slaves in other of the States; and of the horrible Cruelties practised in the carrying on of this most infamous Traffic: WITH Reflections on the Project for forming a Colony of American Blacks in Africa, and certain Documents respecting that Project" by Jesse Torrey, Jun. Physician

From part of it, where it describes the locations of each state, and then it goes on to talk about the states in their governance:

This territory is divided into States, each of which is independent of all the rest. Each has its Chief Magistrate, its Legislature, its Judiciary, and its own Code of Laws. It raises its own internal taxes; has its own Militia; and is, in fact, an independent State, with the following exceptions; namely, that it has nothing to do, and can have no particular connextion, with any Foreign Nation; can make no laws with regard to external commerce; can make neither peace nor war; and is bound to join the other States in case of war or peace,, These matters are all left to the Congress, which is composed of a President, a Senate, and a House of Representatives. This body manages the affairs of the whole Country as far as relates to peace and war, and as far as relates to external Commerce, and to all connextions with Foreign Nations.

So that the Congress can make no Law touching the internal economy and jurisdiction of any of the States, each of which, may pass what laws it pleases, so that those laws do not contravene the common compact, contained in the document, or, act of Congress, usually denominated the Constitution of the United States.


Look how different it is from 1812 till now. It was something that I had to email to friends, and put on here for you guys to read. How far this country has fallen from its ideals, and a Constitutional government. The Constitution is specific on what Congress can do - and if it's not in there, it's LEFT TO THE INDIVIDUAL STATES. Hence the 10th Amendment. Later on today, or tomorrow (as there is a football game tonight to attend) I'll put some quotations from The Law, by Frederic Bastiat.

HMMM

It appears I am not the only one who gave their kids a lemon when they were babies.



I got a Kindle, and have been busy reading older, out of copyright books on it. I actually went & bought 2 books at 99c each - the main one I REALLY like is The Law, by Frederick Bastiat. It is VERY good.

I was also re-reading Lost Rights, by James Bovard. And thinking that much of what the government does today, is completely unconstitutional. In '37, they came out with the idea of "the living Constitution", which is basically "the constitution can mean anything we want to make it say". Its crap. Its living, in that the ideals, the principles, the PLAIN MEANING is still alive today - it has been co-opted by those who wish to foist their ideals and socialism upon us.

I found this quote that I really like:

"I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents." - James Madison criticizing an attempt to grant public monies for charitable means, 1794

I agree. Go check out The Law by Bastiat. I couldn't put it down.

Vandals get what's coming to them

An older lady whose property has been vandalized by some "youths" finally had enough. They've set her garbage can on fire, her BBQ, and broken her windows before. She was coming home from the grocery store, and all her windows were broken. 2 boys were running away from the scene.

So later, they come back, start throwing bricks at her and shouting obscenities. What does the old lady do? BAM! pulls out a gun & shoots one (good shooting!).

The thugs were 12 and 13. The 12 year old was treated then they were both charged with aggravated assault. The old lady is NOT going to be charged - and she should not be anyway. Police had not responded to her other calls, and so, what do you do when police do nothing? You do what you have to.

Up in Houston, evidently porn killed the guy - "Police are investigating the death of a man whose body was found locked in a video booth at an adult book store on U.S. 59 in northeast Houston the day after he was seen entering the business."

Heh. I won't make comments about *that* one!

Here's stupid - a parking meter maid tickets a hearse - where? Why, because it was parked in the 'no parking' zone right outside a banquet hall. There was supposed to be the man's daughter's 25th anniversary party there, but with the death in the family, that was called off, and they had the funeral service there instead. The idiot parking maid was told quite a few times it was a funeral, including the hearse driver, a retired sheriff's deputy. Good thing they got it cleared up! Did I mention it was Sunday, and the streets were deserted, so it's not like they parked there because the parking spots were filled.

Back to a weapon keeping the criminals at bay: An 83 year old man makes would-be robber flee. He has a concealed carry permit for his .25, and he *will* not let someone take advantage of him, merely because he has a cane and a limp. A transient (since when are they transients? I call them BUMS) tried to rob him, knocked him down & tried to take his wallet. So the old man pulls out his gun and tells the BUM to get away from him. The dood ran away, but was later caught and charged with attempted strong-arm robbery.

I seem to be getting less & less tolerant of crime, criminals, etc. And the death penalty. What about having ONE (1) appeal, and then BAM, they're done for. None of this sitting around for 30 years like some murderer did. Why are we keeping them around? Let's clear out death row within 30 days, and then new ones can take their place - I think that would send a strong message to not step over that line. Also the death penalty for more cases - murder? 1 appeal, then off to the gurney. Or the gas chamber, whatever your state uses. Child molesters - death penalty. You get the idea. And what is prison for? nowadays it's used as "teaching them a new way" however, the idea of prison is *punishment*. Cruel and unusual? no.

been a bit

since I posted. For some reason I've been getting up *early* like 4 am... of course it could be due to going to sleep around 9 pm!

This really pisses me off: Judge orders lesbian Air Force nurse reinstated.

Of course the ACLU is pushing this one. Sorry, you go into the military you cannot do as you like. They own you. You don't have the rights you did as a civlian. And this is against the UCMJ. You can't just pick and choose which laws out of it you will follow. This judge way overstepped his bounds. Judge Ronald Leighton of Tacoma, Washington, made his ruling Friday.
This guy is another Bush appointee. Think he was truly a conservative still? The judged ruled that it violated her due process rights and 5th amendment rights. This woman joined the Air Force in 97 and when her relationship with a woman was discovered, she was suspended in 04. This idiot judge ignores military law & says "there was no good reason for her dismissal". BAH. there are rules against this in the military. I guess next some bunko judge is going to rule for an officer fraternizing with an enlisted person.

They might be "exemplary officers/enlisted" however you cannot do whatever the heck you want and remain in the military. Hmm...5th amendment rights.. perhaps someone on a urinalysis could claim their 5th amendment rights were violated as their urine testified against themselves (i.e. they're druggies). BAH!

Speaking of druggies, there was news from Fox 2 up in Detroit about a gaggle of GM employees boozing it up and smoking pot during their lunch break:



We are having an enchilada dinner fundraiser for AWANA tomorrow at church so I have to make 2 or 3 pots of beans today - and tomorrow is Round-up Sunday...where we 'round up' those who haven't been to church in a while or those who show up faithfully - twice a year, Christmas and Easter.

Oh just remembered - I was reading a Thomas Sowell series of posts over at Human Events - titled "The Money of Fools". Here is the first part, Part II, Part III, Part IV.

I found this part most enlightening:

Among the many other catchwords that shut down thinking are "the rich" and "the poor." When is somebody rich? When they have a lot of wealth. But, when politicians talk about taxing "the rich," they are not even talking about people's wealth, and what they are planning to tax are people's incomes, not their wealth.

If we stop and think, instead of going with the flow of catchwords, it is clear than income and wealth are different things. A billionaire can have zero income. Bill Gates lost $18 billion dollars in 2008 and Warren Buffett lost $25 billion. Their income might have been negative, for all I know. But, no matter how low their income was, they were not poor.

By the same token, people who have worked their way up, to the point where they have a substantial income in their later years, are not rich. In most cases, they never earned high incomes in their younger years and they will not be earning high incomes when they retire. A middle-aged or elderly couple making $125,000 each are not rich, even though politicians will tax away what they have earned at the end of decades of working their way up.

Similarly, most of the people who are called "the poor" are not poor. Their low incomes are as transient as the higher incomes of "the rich." Most of the people in the bottom 20 percent in income end up in the top half of the income distribution in later years. Far more of them reach the top 20 percent than remain in the bottom 20 percent over the years.

The grand fallacy in most discussions of income statistics is the assumption that the various income brackets represent enduring classes of people, rather than transients who start at the bottom in entry-level jobs and move up as they acquire more experience and skills.

How true this is! If you've never enjoyed one of Thomas Sowell's books before, trot on over to Amazon, and get crackin! Have a great Saturday!

Omitted

What is wrong with this quote? Can you figure it out? He did not 'accidentally' forget part of it, as it looks during that silence like he's sucking on a lemon. And we're supposed to believe that he's a Christian and not something else, like a scumbucket?

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Wow!

It's been a while since I posted! Fun stuff has started up now that skool is in for the kiddies. We started AWANA again this year, and we actually might get more helpers for Sparks Club. We have a lady now that is doing our paperwork/bookwork for us (yay! usually I left it for the following Sunday between services and do it then); one of the teenagers is no longer in Youth, she is in the College & Career Sunday School, so she is helping us this year. For a couple years, it was only me and my oldest daughter...then one of the ladies that was helping with the older girls came to work with Sparks (k-2nd grade) and my youngest worked with us - we have another girl that is no longer in the Youth, and she helps too. The kids get hard to work with when there's 20 of them, 3 of you, and you have to try to teach the non-readers their Bible verses, plus listen to others say their verses to get the sections in their handbook completed.

New this year! I am NO LONGER PAYING FOR EVERYONE ELSES KIDS. Hah! It feels so good to type that. I've sent home a letter saying that buying the child their handbook (if they don't already have one that they did not complete from last year) AND their uniform vest, plus dues for Sparks Club is NOT optional. Took a few hours of working on it, with the help of two online friends that tempered my bluntness and stuff. That was last week. This past Wednesdau night, I sent home another letter, and had help again this time - THANK YOU Sean & Savage!

This week's letter is what we do during our time at Sparks (I keep using Sparks Club so they will GET IT THRU THEIR HEADS *parents*) that it is indeed a club, with dues, uniform and a handbook and not just church like on Sunday. Two of the children (brother and sister) did come with their dues, 2 others have dues, and most just look at me blankly. I did talk to a mother later that evening and found out her child was given money for dues.. but she thinks he spent it at the store being he didn't have it later for Club. She was not too happy about that.

I spent 15 minutes last night just trying to get the children to stop screaming and yelling at each other in the van - the older kids are the ones that are so ...dare I say it? Out of control. If this is how these kids act in skools, its no wonder that teachers are sick of it. I find the behavior reprehensible, and when some babymama gets cheesed off that I happened to yell SHUT UP after 15 minutes of yelling sit down, be quiet, stop hitting him, stop screaming at her... I tell ya, if I heard of my kids acting that way for an adult that is in charge of them for a bit, I'd be MAD. Not at the adult...the ones doing the bad behavior. Last night I got back up out of bed, because my brain was just going and going...I now have a letter to parents for each of the kids that ride the van. I can't play cop AND drive the van at the same time.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT VAN RULES

1. Keep your hands and feet to yourself. No hitting, kicking, etc.

2. Use an indoor voice. Do not yell and scream at each other.

3. No swearing or threatening each other.

4. No fighting.

Not following the above rules will result in your suspension for two weeks from riding the van on Wednesday night. Repeat offenses will be permanent suspension from the van on Wednesday night.

I know that a few will get mad about this (kids) when they get ejected from the van, or drop the other kids off at the church except them, turn the van around and bring them right back home. Plus it will be a pain for whoever has to drive the van to their apartment - as I have to get stuff ready for Sparks and don't have the time to mess around when the kids are not behaving.

Is this too much to ask - for people to pay for their own kids' stuff for Club, dues, and for their kids to behave on the van? It really isn't fair to the parents that pay for their kids when the others feel they don't have to - I notice the kids will play football, soccer, baseball, softball, tball... plus money for beer & smokes.. but not have it for this. *facepalm*

Anyway...back to your regularly scheduled program...

There is a pretty big hurricane in the Caribbean, Igor (pronounced eye-gor hah!).. was watching the news - they said it was over 1000 miles across, and tropical storm winds were as far out as 300 miles from the eye. Channel 13 weather said on the news last night that we may get some rain out of it. Makes me wonder how big across Ike was, when it filled the Gulf of Mexico. Check out the tropical stuff (and your local weather & radar) at Wunderground.

A solemn day

Today, in 2001, America was *really* made aware of the enemy. The first plane hit the WTC tower at 8:45 EST. I was dropping off my kids at that time at school at BCBCA, and slogging my way home in the station wagon, and promptly took a nap when I got home. I woke up and logged onto my desktop, and a friend said "turn on the news". 9:03 am. I woke up at 8:20 cst and logged on. I looked at the TV in astonishment "this is like a movie" "is this a movie being played out" "can this be real" "no way this is real". Yes, Virginia, there is a terrorist attack on the US and it just happened.

In in a few hours, in a nutshell - here is the timeline:

7:59 A.M. - American Airlines Flight 11, a Boeing 767 with 92 people on board, departs Boston's Logan International Airport bound for Los Angeles International Airport.

8:14 A.M. - United Airlines Flight 175, a Boeing 767 with 65 people on board, departs from Boston's Logan International Airport bound for Los Angeles International Airport.

8:20 A.M. - American Airlines Flight 77, a Boeing 757 with 64 people on board, departs Washington Dulles International Airport bound for Los Angeles International Airport.

8:40 A.M. - The FAA notifies NORAD's Northeast Air Defense Sector of the suspected hijacking of American Airlines Flight 11.

8:42 A.M. - United Airlines Flight 93, a Boeing 757 with 44 people on board, departs from Newark International Airport bound for San Francisco International Airport.

8:43 A.M. - The FAA notifies NORAD's Northeast Air Defense Sector of the suspected hijacking of United Airlines Flight 175.

8:45 A.M. - American Airlines Flight 11 crashes into the north World Trade Center tower (1 Tower).

8:46 A.M. - Jet fighters are scrambled from Otis Air National Guard Base in Fallmouth, Massachusetts.

9:03 A.M. - United Airlines Flight 175 crashes into the south World Trade Center tower (2 Tower).

9:08 A.M. - The FAA bans all takeoffs of flights going to or through New York airspace.

9:17 A.M. - The FAA shuts down all New York City-area airports.

9:21 A.M. - All bridges and tunnels into Manhattan are closed.

9:24 A.M. - The FAA notifies NORAD's Northeast Air Defense Sector of the suspected hijacking of American Airlines Flight 77.

9:25 A.M. - The FAA orders shutdown of all airports nationwide, banning takeoffs of all civilian aircraft.

9:31 A.M. - President George W. Bush makes a statement from Emma Booker Elementary School in Sarasota, Florida calling the crashes an "apparent terrorist attack."

This is only the capstone on the attacks that have been going on the past 1400 years since the inception of Islam. Call me "intolerant" call me "hateful" I will speak the truth. There is Dar al Islam, and Dar al Harb (house of war). WE are Dar al Harb. WE are the infidel spoken of in the Koran. We are lucky that many muslims today in the US are like the christians of today - LUKEWARM. In Revelation, we read:

Rev 3:15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
Rev 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

by the way, spue is vomit.

ok. Suffice that we are completely under attack, and war with (despite what our dhimmi-in-chief says) Islam.

As for the preacher down in Fla who is planning on burning the Koran. I'd lke to be there with a lighter & a bottle of charcoal lighter. I'll bring my smokey joe kettle, and start the charcoal with it. We cleaned out our bookshelves of algebra books, coming up with 10 redundant books. Off they were consigned to our burnpile. Math teachers did not rage, riot and kill people over it. Stephen King books were on there too, and some poetry books we had more than 1 copy of. I had quite a few fiction paperbacks to go on there.

Burning books? oh heaven forbid.. it was a way to get rid of them without trying to find a place to dump them off as being so many words on paper.

Muslims kill Christians, terrorize them, vandalize churches, tear up Bibles, use Bibles as toilet paper, yet you don't see groups of Christians rioting, burning down buildings, and killing people for ""the thought of touching a Bible".

And what would Jesus or Paul do with a koran? Jesus had no tolerance for false religion (driving out the moneychangers at the temple), or cursing the fig tree for not bearing fruit. Paul would speak against the koran. Can we do any less?

Speaking of WWJD about the koran, here is a good article by Tim Furnish. I agree. You may not agree with my stance on christianity vs islam, however, denying that islam is a totalitarian regime, is to stick your head in the sand like an ostrich. Jihad Watch, Robert Spencer's site, is a great place to get educated. There is Blogging the Quoran there, where they take the authoritative hadiths to elicidate what the Koran says, and the scholars have asserted over the years. Or just google blogging the quoran jihadwatch and see what comes up.

I get alot of *facepalm* from people I know...who feel this doesn't affect them. It does. And it will.

Labor Day 2010

Well today is the Labor Day holiday and there is the 1st annual International Brewmasters Festival up at Moody Gardens in Galveston. Seems to be the only thing in town going on, besides Labor Day sales at stores. We were going to head to the beach today but it is rainy here.

I found a delicious recipe for sea scallops Saturday. The 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup white wine, I just poured in a medium splash of chardonnay. here is the page for Butter Fried Scallops. I didn't brown mine as dark as she had them, I was afraid of overcooking them. At the end, when it says turn off the heat & leave the pan set on the burner, I left it on for 3 minutes (timed it) and took it off. They were just right and really sweet. Wish I had bought more than a pound of scallops for that recipe! My husband is in training right now for a marathon (Wineglass Marathon up in Corning NY) so no bacon-wrapped until he's run it. My youngest has taken up running also.

We had our 22nd anniversary last week... hard to believe that we've been together 22 years! It doesn't seem like that long.. but again, then it seems like it's been forever that we've been together.

I was reading an account of the Bonus Army, at Acostia Flats. Don't know that bit of history? It was comprised of WW1 veterans and their families, who went to Washington DC during the depression to get now the money they had been promised in 1945. There is a button off to the right side about half-way down, that gives you a page that is an eyewitness account of that. Quite interesting.

On another note, a tropical storm has popped up in the Gulf - Hermine. So now I have that to look forward to! bleah!

Enjoy the long weekend.

Fox Business Block

It comes on Fox news channel (360 directTV) at 9 am (CST) on Saturday morning. My husband bemoans the fact that it *used* to be all about business, but no longer - its political, with a bit of business thrown in as a bone at the end of each half-hour show. Me? I love the change! I'm hooked on watching this now - no longer sleep till late on Saturday mornings - I'm up to watch the shows. I think they replay Sunday night? Forbes on Fox, Cashin In, Cavuto, and Bulls & Bears. Half-hour shows, really informative.

Today is the rally "Restoring Honor", the one Glenn Beck is having on the Mall - where MLK stood & gave his "I have a dream" speech. Sharpton says that GB is 'hijacking the civil rights movement'. How? Honor is what MLK was after. Al Sharpton is running a counter-rally, and they will march to the Mall. I wonder WHAT is going to happen there.. being the left is sooo peaceful, and kind, and *never* runs amok.

On another note, as I have my oatmeal cooking on the stove - if you like oatmeal, this stuff will rock your boat, McCann's Steel Cut Oatmeal.

GAH.. I find out more news on these 4 half-hour shows than a full day of watching the regular news - SC is paying for gov't workers to have lapband or gastric bypass - now people are pushing for the government to pay for ALL bypass and gastric operations to cut health-care costs. More of the gimme-gimme-gimme mentality.

Makes me want to puke.

Tomorrows another day

and HOPEFULLY my doctor in Houston will be at the office tomorrow when I drive up there! Been cancelled twice before.. the knee replacement my doc had is kicking his rear.

Watching Psych, and thinking how much of a funny show this is. This is the 4th? season, and I enjoy it as much as I did the first. They have a new kid playing "little sean" on the opening. I guess the kid from previous years shot up and hit teenage years! the same kid plays Gus in the openings. This is a fun show, not serious, and a good cast. Ok i'm off to bed! see ya !

Watching Red Eye

I DVRed Red Eye last night...and he (Greg Gutfield) had a good poll question:

Is Nancy Pelosi:

A. Evil

B. Insane

Check out Pamela Geller's piece here http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/2010/08/pelosi-putsch-thug-politics-and-the-criminalization-of-free-speech.html and what on earth is Nancy Pelosi doing? she's seeing monsters under the bed.

Leave your vote in comments

Ninja Warrior

This episode is on now. So far, no one's made it past the third challenge. This show has been on a marathon on G4, it rocks. Love watching this to see how they can handle the challenges. 4 competitors have bitten the dust on that challenge, and 1 more to go. Darn. the redesigned course was too much for those 5 in stage 3, but no one could make it past the cliffhanger.

On another note, cucumbers & onions marinated in vinegar & water, smell WAY better than they taste!

No toy for you!

Watching Freedom Watch with Judge Napolitano, and he mentioned this lovely little bit out of the land of granola - California. Why is it the land of granola? Because it's populated with fruits, nuts, and flakes. That fine, upstanding Center for the Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) has announced it will sue McDonald's, unless it stops putting kiddy swag in its little cardboard boxes. Why does the kid want to go to McDonald's? To get the loot! When that Beanie Baby thingw as going big, and McD's had the tiny bears, my girls wanted to go all the time to see what animal they could get this time (they didn't end up finishing their chicken nuggets & fries anyway), they were there for the goodies. And this was even from Chicken Nugget Child, who ate chicken nuggets no matter what restaurant we went out to. Now to top those kooks (whose interest are they serving?) - the Kommiefornians are out to take away the fries and put in fruits & vegetables.

Yep, those people who are banning the sale of pets, sodas, and bottled water - are now after the beloved fries of McD's.

"In San Francisco, newly proposed legislation would ban toys from most kids meals sold at McDonald's, Burger King and other chains unless the meals meet more stringent calorie and sodium limits. The legislation also would require fruit or veggies in each meal."

Santa Clara, south of SF, has already enacted this, but the San Francisco ban would hit hundreds of restaurants.

Yep, reduce the small amount of fries, and instead put in fruit, veggies, or a salad. Boy howdy, 6 year olds REALLY get excited over the prospect of a salad! Heh. One commenter here said that "putting veggies in a Happy Meal wont make the kid eat it any more than when I put it on their plates". How true. Gee. Imagine.. letting the parent make the decision, instead of those busybodies at CSPI. Some of their antics can be seen at Overlawyered.com. More can be read at Michael Fumento's excellent site, just put the name of the meddles into the search. This is a site I found 2 days ago, have been reading past articles since then. Great reading. THEN my husband tells me "oh, you found Fumento's site" WHY doesn't he tell me about good websites to read? He then tells me he's been reading that site for years! Blah! Husbands!

Another good site I found while on my websurfing around different topics typed into google search bar, is openmarket.org. HOLY COW how did I miss this site all this time - tons of good reading - so brew a pot of coffee, sit down, and prepare to open lots of rabbit trails in a new tab. I found out that tabs just kind of slide off the edge of the screen on my netbook - I had 20 open this morning at 4 am, while surfing about.

On the lighter, sarcastic, snarky side, someone asked me what was Ahmadinejad's first name...couldn't remember, so I asked google little window up there that is so helpful for finding stuff.. (its Mahmoud), but I found "this site - The People's Cube, with this section "Letters to Ahmadinejad"...

This really got me:

If you really want peace, you must write letters to world leaders - because how would they
otherwise know what's going on in the world?

WWII could surely be avoided if enough people were to sit down and write "Dear Adolf," pouring
their hearts into it. The takeover in Tibet might never have happened if more people would write "Dear Mao!" on their stationeries. Afghanistan might be at peace if in 1979 more people of good will had sent letters to Moscow addressed to "Dear Leonid!"

In today's world, public diplomacy dictates that all of us sit down and write "Dear Mahmoud!"

Now.. does this sound familiar from the "Can't we all get along" crowd? Hah! the letters start off with a letter from him to Bush (the original), and go onto ones to Mahmoud from people such as Kim Jong Il; Howard Dean; Kofi Annan; Lagos, Nigeria; Morpheus (of the Matrix), etc. The comments following the letters are pretty darn good too. Dear Mahmoud is the section.

Here is an article from the American Spectator on America's Ruling Class.

Enjoy the reading, and the giggles at People's Cube.

Entitlement Insanity

Those are not my words - they are the words on the blurb on Judge Napolitano's Freedom Watch, on right now - about the 99'ers. What are the 99'ers, you might ask? Good question! Those are the ones that are up against the 99 weeks of unemployment...i.e. paid to not work, and demanding EXTENSIONS! Not jobs. They went & protested on Wall Street today (Thursday).. not going out and looking for a job - any job. From what I've read, people will not take a lower-paying job, a couple of them. Why? because the pay is "too low". well wah, if you're out of work, get a clue, and TAKE the job. Why turn up your nose at it? Because you can make more on unemployment?

My grandpa walked 10+ miles one day for a job in the Depression, on my mom's side. He did not get the job.. How many people are willing to actually do whatever it takes for a job, that say they cannot get a job? And then blaming "tax cuts for the rich", on their lack of a job, or lack of extension past 99 weeks. That is almost 2 dang years. Take something beneath you, and take a 2nd or 3rd job. Imagine, actually having to earn your money doing something you don't want to do.

I'll be called cold-hearted, blah blah blah, because I don't work - I'm a housewife, as *if that isnt work* and that we're lucky that my husband has a job.

I've lived out of a van, and worked doing whatever the heck I could to make money, *except that*, to earn a living, so I didnt have to suck off the government tit.

I really think the Depression-era people, that would have taken a job, ANY job, are spinning in their graves.

And if you believe ending the Bush tax cuts will affect "only the rich" guess again buddy. It directly affects YOU, no matter how much, or little you will make. The bottom tax rate will jump from 10% to 15%, a !!! 50% !!!!! increase. The top 35% will climb to 39.5%. The most affected, will be middle income and low-income workers. so who are you really 'sticking it to'? The current six rate brackets of 10%, 15%, 25%, 28%, 33% and 35% will be replaced by five new brackets with the higher rates of 15%, 28%, 31%, 36% and 39.6%.

And 'sticking it to the rich' will affect you, because who starts businesses, hires people, launch new products, and hire YOU to manufacture them. So ending the tax cuts are only shooting yourself in the foot.

Feel like investing any of the money you may have hanging around? The tax rate will shoot up by a third on capital gains - from 15% to 20%, while if you own even a few low-priced stocks, and manage to get a few bucks off dividends from them, your tax rate on dividends will skyrocket 264%, from 15% to 39%. The death tax makes a comeback, if your estate (this includes ALL stuff, you house, any property you own, your furnishings, your vehicle, if you happen to own anything, it all adds up quickly, you'd be surprised at how much your stuff is worth, using government figures. And you've *already* paid taxes on that stuff, but it's going to be taxed again, when you leave it to your kids. Have a business? Many are not passed down because of the confiscatory tax rate of death tax (55% starting Jan 1).

And then there's death. That's a certain thing too. Just your nightly nugget of joy :P

anti-discrimination laws

fly in the face of common sense. By classifying more and more people as a protected class, you are making ohwhattheheckistheword... Let's start by defining our terms (a most important thing!)

Discrimination, Websters 11th Dictionary:

3 a : the act, practice, or an instance of discriminating categorically rather than individually b : prejudiced or prejudicial outlook, action, or treatment

Hmm... Prejudiced.Let's look at the definition (same dictionary)

2 a (1) : preconceived judgment or opinion (2) : an adverse opinion or leaning formed without just grounds or before sufficient knowledge b : an instance of such judgment or opinion c : an irrational attitude of hostility directed against an individual, a group, a race, or their supposed characteristics.

No, much of what goes on is NOT discrimination, and people screaming their rights are violated because they can't see their burrito at Chipotle being made, is just CRAP. Here is part of it from the AP: “because the restaurants’ 45-inch counters are too high. The company now faces hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages.”

Because someone can't see their darn burrito being made, it's some kind of violation of their constitutional rights? NO its not. The government has been in the business of finding more and more 'rights' that are about as much of rights, as I am a chipmunk.

Check out the book "You Can't Say That! The growing threat to civil liberties from anti-discrimination laws". At the Amazon site, you can look inside the book - click on "look inside". I bought it, quite a good book.

I'm of a libertarian bent, and this blurb fits my views:

The libertarian concept of freedom of association is often rebuked from a moral/ethical context. Under laws in such a system, business owners could refuse service to anyone for whatever reason. Opponents argue that such practices are regressive and would lead to greater prejudice within society. Right-libertarians sympathetic to freedom of association, such as Richard Epstein, respond that in a case of refusing service (which thus is a case of the freedom of contract) unjustified discrimination incurs a cost and therefore a competitive disadvantage. Left-libertarians argue that such refusal would place those businesses at an economic disadvantage to those that provide services to all, making them less profitable and eventually leading them to close down.The libertarian concept of freedom of association is often rebuked from a moral/ethical context. Under laws in such a system, business owners could refuse service to anyone for whatever reason. Opponents argue that such practices are regressive and would lead to greater prejudice within society. Right-libertarians sympathetic to freedom of association, such as Richard Epstein, respond that in a case of refusing service (which thus is a case of the freedom of contract) unjustified discrimination incurs a cost and therefore a competitive disadvantage. Left-libertarians argue that such refusal would place those businesses at an economic disadvantage to those that provide services to all, making them less profitable and eventually leading them to close down.

Ok. I have to go cut up the cauliflower for tonight's dinner with salmon, so I'm done ranting. :)

What are rights?

Is the ability to use the same streets? The right to prove oneself in the workplace, to succeed on their talent and drive alone; Handicap parking. I don't see police and signs barring people that are disabled from using those streets. According to Steny Hoyer (D-MD), "Bush signed into law 20 years ago one of the most important pieces of civil rights legislation in recent memory."

He's saying its almost as important as the civil rights act of 1965.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Amendment 10 - Powers of the States and People. Ratified 12/15/1791.

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

If anything, the states should have their own regulations, not FEDERAL. Go read what Congress' job is and isn't.

On another note, while I was up still at 2 am last night when Red Eye with the rodent came on, I should have just sucked it up & watched it - He wants to build a gay bar right next door to the mosque proposed in NYC 500 feet from ground zero. My first thought was "time for a BBQ shack that specializes in pork ribs!" with large neon pig, or a Pig Stand. Hm.. I was thinking of the Pig Stands of San Antonio, it appears that they are closing. Bummer. But something with a giant cement pig on top of the building. Maybe facing mecca also. Or a Hooters.

Why do I call Greg Gutfield the rodent? I look at him, and am just reminded of one.

“Qu’ils mangent de la brioche,” Marie-Antoinette. Let them eat cake. Contrast this with Michelle Antoinette. See the sameness?

Overspending...again...and again...and again!

Remember how those stimulus dollars were supposed to create jobs, and foster hard-working people to get jobs? Look at how they're spending your tax dollars.

I was up early this morning, and watching Washington Journal on C-span, I flipped it on just as they were reading from a newspaper (I don't know which one!) about the unemployment rate in Michigan, and the fact that people are not taking jobs for $10 to $25 an hour, preferring to stay on unemployment for almost two years.

I was going through spam email, hoping for an email from the Kia dealer, on an under 9k Kia Soul advertised as a new car deal, and came across Ann Coulter's current column. Now, you may not like her, because she is *plain speaking*, or *in your face nitty gritty*, but in this article, you will find a nugget of joy:

Mr. HOWARD: I now move to take up House joint resolution No. 127.

The motion was agreed to; and the Senate, as in Committee of the Whole, resumed the consideration of the joint resolution (H.R. No. 127) proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

The first amendment is to section one, declaring that all "persons born in the United States and Subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the States wherein they reside. I do not propose to say anything on that subject except that the question of citizenship has been fully discussed in this body as not to need any further elucidation, in my opinion. This amendment which I have offered is simply declaratory of what I regard as the law of the land already, that every person born within the limits of the United States, and subject to their jurisdiction, is by virtue of natural law and national law a citizen of the United States. This will not, of course, include persons born in the United States who are foreigners, aliens, who belong to the families of ambassadors or foreign ministers accredited to the Government of the United States, but will include every other class of persons. It settles the great question of citizenship and removes all doubt as to what persons are or are not citizens of the United States. This has long been a great desideratum in the jurisprudence and legislation of this country.

Anchor babies are NOT thought of in this law, but it was meant for the slaves, who often lived in the US, born in the US. Read for a fuller exposition on this important article.

This will be the linchpin of the coming elections, I think more than the economy. We cannot really do much with the economy, until we FIX and CONTROL our borders. Look at Arizona! I was looking at a Michigan newspaper earlier, they are considering a law resembling Arizona's. Debbie Riddle, TX state senator, will be introducing a similar bill up in Austin in this coming legislative session. Oklahoma and Rhode Island already have laws like this, passed in 2008...The California state law is STRICTER than the Arizona law, yet they ignore it in their own state, at their own peril. Sanctuary cities are a bad idea. The 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act was supposed to 'end' illegal immigration, and made it illegal to knowingly hire illegals. With the E-Verify system in place, it makes it easier to spot the illegals and NOT hire them. However, some states are opposing E-Verify. Why? Because they are basically a sanctuary STATE, and really don't give a damn for the rule of law.

People will say "you're racist" for opposing illegal immigration, but you don't even have to specify a country illegals come from in order to get this epithet thrown at you. In Yahoo chat, let's see.. I'm a racist because I support the rule of law (immigration); a bigot (because I believe Jesus is the only way to heaven); oh yes, let's not forget "did you take your meds" if I ask a Muslim questions about their religion. I tell ya, some people's heads are in the ground so much, that it is scary. And to think people think I get political on Facebook! it's nothing compared to this blog hah!

I've started reading my Bible through for the year, I have some catching up to do as I started in March this year, so I will leave off for the night before I get on another tear and start ranting about the mosque that Bloomberg (the moron!) says should be built. Yep. Another slap in the face for the good ole US of A. More on that tomorrow, a bit of history for you guys probably around 6 pm central time. Until then, I'm off and will BBQ some bison burgers tomorrow early evening :D

Just a quick one

to say that the photos are up at Flickr here, the new photos are in the three latest sets - class reunion, Summer 2010, and Ft Snelling. The videos I tried to upload and for some reason they are not working. Will have to figure that out another time. Am wishing evil things on my PA, who cancelled the prescription for migraine meds (he's a jerk), I managed to find some still left over from before. It is nice to be home!

Home again, home again, jiggety jig

Heh. Well I had a great time Saturday night, got to meet spouses of a few people I had gone to school with. Here are my thoughts while sitting at the airport Monday afternoon:

Well, I'm up at the Minneapolis airport, and so far, no Sumdood. However, they consider a netbook a 'laptop' up in this airport, unlike Houston Hobby - they have NO signs saying take them out etc, unlike Houston Hobby also. Plus my backpack was overstuffed with books, papers, powercords, and so they had to go through it by hand. AND swiped my netbook with a little bomb wetnap and put it under some dumb scanner. WHY don't they profile at airports, I have NO idea, except it's politically correct to not do so, and you get smacked with charges of 'racism' even tho the morons doing the crap come from different countries. And they're not extremely white people with no tan. I think the only one paler than myself is my oldest daughter, and my youngest daughter, one tans, but doesn't go out in the sun, the other starts burning in 20 minutes like me. I'm one of the few that can slather on SPF 50 and still get a sunburn at 5 pm.

Saturday night's get-together at the country club was interesting. I couldn't locate it - I only knew of 2 golf courses in the area, and one was Lakeview where a friend and I used to go gather golf balls and sell them back to the club, and the other is a dinky place, with no 19th hole, where I used to go sledding down the big hills during the winter. Finally found it, after circling around in a large square and going past places several times. Finally found it, and had a great time that evening, seeing one lady I had not seen since HS - she didn't graduate with us (moved away) but came, and I'm glad she did.

You know, it seems like people are alot nicer now than we all used to be in high school. Some people you only knew by name and face, and they would not have deigned to talk to you in HS, and now, everything's leveled out. It's also strange to me, living in the same general area you grew up in. I left MN in 1980, and only moved back for a couple of months in 81, then left again.

It's also neat to see what people are doing now, how they've turned out from school. It was neat to see the people I had gone to school with from 1st grade on also. I was really suprised when one of the guys recognized me (Friday night), as I don't think I look like I did back then at all. Quite a few are living all over MN, from the southern end to way up north. One of the guys that graduated with me, Aaron, is an Elvis impersonator. Here is his Myspace page, with some videos on it. He also has a UFO show on blogtalk radio, found here. He's also an illustrator of children's books. How neat is that! A couple of the guys are PE instructors, coaches, etc. Really cool. One is a lawyer living up in Dallas. He's changed so much, as we all have. He's still recognizable as him, I think I mostly remember him from grade school, and he wasin German with me. Sat out on the patio and had fun talking with friends, found out from one, that in the class after lunch, I used to tap him on the shoulder, say "hide me, I'm gonna sleep' and crash out in Mr. King's class. Hmm.. no wonder I got a D in that class! And it is a subject that I am interested now- Russian history, go figure. Drove someone to his house, because his ride wasn't picking him up, and he had a few too many. Made sure he got in his door, and went back to the hotel and watched TV for an hour. I've been staying up late since I got up here, and waking up around 5. Looking forward to getting home, and relaxing. I have 2:40 before my flight, so I guess I will kick around the airport for a while here.

Well I'm back sitting at home in my comfy chair, and finally got a good nights sleep. I'm in the process of uploading photos to Flickr right now on the laptop, and then will have photos later tomorrow.

Still up in MN

Well, Thursday was pretty good - I went to Fort Snelling, and now they have re-enactors, who portray people from the fort from the 1820s. Pictures will be coming when I return home, and can get my USB cord to download photos. I also got a video of the drill, loading, firing the guns of that time. It was warm, but not *hot*, but there was a good breeze. If you get to Minneapolis, I suggest you go visit Fort Snelling, and nose about there. Growing up, my parents took us there, but now that there are people telling you about life in the stone barracks, and the post commander (or his wife) telling you about the house, and family, makes it much more 'alive'. Dred Scott, his wife Harriet, were slaves of the camp physician there, Dr. Emerson, and lived in the kitchen that was below the quarters. It is a small room, and not a whole lot of space there. The soldiers quarters, each room held 3 bunks - 12 soldiers. They slept two to a bed. So "hotracking" I guess started back then. It still continues today in the military. The family quarters were also small, maybe 15x12, and 2 families would live in this space. Look at the houses of today, and how much room we have compared to then. The officers quarters were rather nice, however, usually the officers quarters are. They were not two to a room.

I also went to Minnehaha Falls, and had a bit of trouble finding it. I kept getting on the 55 highway the wrong direction! and then the signs stopped - for getting to the falls. So I drove around up & down a few roads, and then found Minnehaha Blvd. Went the wrong way for a while, and then turned around & went the other direction. FINALLY I got to where it looked like there were more cars parked (the public parking is metered, quarters and dollar coins only, a quarter is 20 minutes), the parking lots, you need a permit to park in.

There was a lovely alcove area that I walked under, with lots of birds, flowers and bees - evidently a great wedding spot! Took some pictures of flowers and bees on flowers, and then heard the falls, so I started down the stairs. LOTS of stairs. Took shots as I was going down, and got to the bottom, watched people on the side of the falls for a big, and then slogged back UP all those stairs. I was very glad for the bench that was up at the top.

Went back to hotel and took a shower, and then met a friend that I hadn't seen since high school at Mall of America. HOLY MOLY! That place is HUGE! She must have a way better sense of direction than I do, because I was lost. They have Nickelodeon Universe there now instead of Camp Snoopy in the center of the mall. The very center. That's about the only thing that I know where it is, apart from the aquarium in the basement. Yes, there's a nice, large aquarium! I went there in 2000, and it was really nice. 300 foot long tube that you go under, where fish & sharks swim overhead. And a shark (small) and sting ray petting pool. Found out sting rays feel like satin. Very soft and silky. BACK to the center of the mall - in that place is a ferris wheel, rollercoasters, and other rides. Plus a GANGPLANK that is on the 3rd floor level, that you get harnessed up, with a line holding you (in case you lose your balance), and walk out about 10 feet to the end of the gangplank. There is a net underneath in case your rope comes loose I guess. I couldn't watch, I got dizzy just watching people walk out on it!

Went to Bubba Gumps, talked for a good 3 hours, took our pictures with the person in the giant shrimp costume walking about, and then went to to Tigersushi. She hadn't had sushi before, so we had to go. hah! it was delicious. Skip the miso soup however, not very good.

Yesterday around 1, I drove out to where I grew up. the houses! I don't know what happened, but the McMansions have moved in. Housing developments galore. Went to the high school, and now they have an athletic center, the football field has moved, there are fields across the road where it used to be corn fields. At least the steps going up inside were still the same. Also I figured out waving at people is just something Minnesotans don't do. I drove past a walking path on the way back from the HS, and there was an old man walking with a cane. He was watching the car, so I waved at him. He just stared at me open mouthed, and turned to watch me pass. I guess they don't "drive friendly" here.

After that, went over to Lord Fletchers. Went down to the Wharf part, by the boats, and grabbed table, got some ice tea, and a raw veggie plate with ranch. Pretty good, they gave you lots of veggies. Watched boats go by under the bridges through the channel, gaped at the house fronts I could see across the lake (one had a 3-story glass window front), and just hung out. A friend & her husband showed up around 4:30, and we started looking at people to see if they might be classmates of ours. I don't know about you, but when I think of a classmate, I see them in my head the way they looked back in high school. There were like 4 people that I recognized instantly, because they still looked the way they did back in school. The rest it's like .. uhh.. What is your name? People started coming at 5, and then really coming in around 6 to 7. Ended up about 100 people there, from our class. Lots of beer and drinks were consumed (and when I say lots, many people were having people pick them up, or taking a cab). I was kind of surprised how many people smoked - people that never would have thought about smoking in high school, they snubbed the people that hung out in the back doors & smoked between classes or during lunch. And the language! I'm thinking 'geeze, I know I was bad in the navy, but did I used to talk that bad during high school?" One guy I talked to, every other sentence out of his mouth was "you've got to be sh****** me" I was like just :O There were very few that didn't talk like that. There was a bit of time when I sat there & was thinking 'why the heck am I here, these people are just out to get drunk and cuss up a storm". There were a few people I was very glad to see, ones that I had gone to school with from 1st grade on through 12th. Managed to get the slick lawyer's email address finally (he lives up by Dallas), and my oldest daughter lives up in Ft. Worth. Would like to stay in touch with him. Despite being a lawyer, he's a nice guy. Always smiling.

I drank WAY too much tea yesterday, and then when I had a Jagermeister and Red Bull last night the caffeine got to me. Messed with my head and my stomach. I left around 11:45 from Fletchers last night, but couldn't get to sleep until around 3 or 4, was too wired.

Tonight is the get-together at the country club, with a buffet dinner. I have to find out if it's business casual, or what. I'd just as soon go in what I'm wearing, but I did bring a dress. And not as much tea today for me! I drank decaf this morning, with my breakfast at Perkins. The internet is still sucky at the hotel where I'm staying, and I can't connect :|

Have a good evening :)

Up in MN

Well, here I sit at Perkins restaurant, as the net at the hotel where I'm staying SUCKS bigtime. I can connect to their router just fine, just not after that. I can connect just fine here, so I'll sit here & drink coffee & eat breakfast. I forgot Perkins had eggs benedict, I will try that tomorrow :P I haven't had that in YEARS. Heh. Growing up, there was a Perkins in Wayzata, and we'd always refer to it as 'pukins'. But they have always had good food.

Here is a bit from my flight up here:

Well, so far traveling has been interesting. While at the airport, Sumdood sat next to me. WHY? There were plenty of areas that had more seats vacant, and he plops down right next to me. Do I have the nut magnet? Was "sit next to me" stamped on my forehead? The vegetable spring rolls I had for breakfast were tasty, but greasy. And expensive. But the fried rice was like $5, so 2 small rolls for $2.49 wasn't so bad. The Diet Coke was about the same price, but necessary. Like Dr Grumpy, it's a necessity of life. Right up there with air and food and stuff.

Well I just figured out why my flight to MN is 5 hours. Because we head from Houston to Birmingham, AL, then over to St. Louis MO, and *finally* up to Minneapolis. Actually, I'm hoping the very front row ends up empty, and i can snag one of those seats. Lots more leg room. Its not bad, but I swear these seats are getting smaller...Flying on a 747, at least the darn engine noise is not bad now at altitude than when it was when we were climbing. At least I'll get 3 servings of peanuts *grin* rather than just 1.

Sumdood is nefarious, by the way. Usually he is not seen, as you can google 'sumdood' and find out about his previous doings at ambulance driver, and lawdog files. He's usually involved in fights, beating someone up, and slipping away unknown.

The weather up here is great. I ran 'fan only' in the room last night, and had to get up and turn it off, because it was COLD. at 10 pm last night, it was 73 degrees.. This rocks!

Headed out to the lake area where I grew up, going to drive around the old neighborhood, to see how much it's changed again. When I was here in 2000, most of the homes that were there before are torn down, and huge homes built in their place. I remember mom telling me that they paid 50k for the place in 1962, and when they sold, an architect bought it, tore down what they had built, and put a huge house there.

I went to the Mall of America yesterday afternoon, and met a friend I had not seen in 30 years there. It was great fun as we caught up on what we had been doing. It seems like many of the people I went to school with still live in the area, Minneapolis, or surrounding, and it just seems *strange* to me, living where you grew up. I haven't lived in MN since late 1980, and have lived in 9? states since then, for the longest time in Texas.

Headed to Lord Fletchers this afternoon. They have a walleye dinner there. I haven't had walleye since I left MN! Seriously thinking about getting that. It seems they have changed the interior too, I am seriously disappointed about that.

There is a Mill Museum up here, the old Gold Medal factory - the largest flour mill that there used to be. Thinking about going there today before Fletchers. Have a good one!

A Hop, Skip and a Jump

That is a short trip... I'm returning to the homeland (Minnesnowta) for my 30th class reunion. A 5!! hour flight. I'm bringing a Brad Thor book to read. Perhaps I should bring Vols. 1&2 of The Gulag Archipelago, so I don't run out of reading material, and have to resort to in-flight magazines. Hubby & youngest will have to fend for themselves while I'm gone, and I'm hoping those dishes magikally wash themselves while I'm gone (evil I know, leaving them some dishes to wash!)

I have net access while at the hotel (free wifi) and an indoor pool - so the basic comforts are taken care of.

The place we are having the Friday night get-together, used to be fashioned indoors like Ye Olde English Inn. Dark wood timbers, cream colored walls, etc. Heavy furniture. No longer. I looked at the website, and now it's insipid green interior. Bummer. I was looking forward to seeing it again. as my parents would take us there like once a month on Sundays after church, for lunch. I remember delicious steaks there. The Wharf (the outdoor dock area) has increased in size, and boat mooring capability. Now it's football-field sized, with lots of docks for boats. It would be nice, but there is some sort of swimsuit finals competition going on that same evening. Guess the male half of the class will be otherwise occupied.

I recently read a good book, titled "You Can't Say That! The Growing Threat to Civil Liberties by Anti-Discrimination Laws". Very interesting, I recommend it. See if you can get it used, as I read it in a day. Another good book is "Never Enough - America's Limitless Welfare State". That is a good question - when is it enough? When is it large enough? When has it spent enough? I think I'll take this one with me to re-read on the way up to MN. Well hub wants his laptop back, so I'm out till later on this week. Have a good one!

Haiti

Remember the earthquake? A nurse's blog that I have listed to the side, she went down there to help out. She is back now from there, and the past few posts have been about her time down there. HERE is the link to her blog. Go check out her posts. GuitargirlRN is her blog - keep up with what happened to her down there - you can see on the side of my page when she's updated it. She doesn't post daily, but she does post.

Ut oh...forced servitude coming

Slavery rears its ugly head again in the United States - bet you thought slavery was a dead dog, lying in the mire of yesteryear.

A bill, introduced by Charlie Rangel (D-NY), will turn US citizens into slaves for the government. How? By *obligatory* service, either in the military, or civilian service.

We read:

To require all persons in the United States between the ages of 18 and 42 to perform national service, either as a member of the uniformed services or in civilian service in furtherance of the national defense and homeland security, to authorize the induction of persons in the uniformed services during wartime to meet end-strength requirements of the uniformed services, and for other purposes.

This was introduced, and was given to the Committee on Armed Services. Right now I wish I had Cspan-3, as they cover the committees.

further:

(3) The term ‘national service’ means military service or service in a civilian capacity that, as determined by the President, promotes the national defense, including national or community service and service related to homeland security.

And he's bringing back the draft. Fun, ain't it? The civilian service is for 2 years, but that can be extended, for compensating any time lost for training for any cause. Also by the consent of the member, in case of emergency. Lovely, isn't it? What if they give you a year's training time? that is THREE years spent in gov't service.

You would be mentally and physically examined to see if you are fit for service, either military (normal) or civilian service.

You're a conscientious objector? Tuff bunnies. You're out of luck. There is *no* objector status for the civilian slavery. You can in the military, then they will put you in a non-combat job. When I was in the Navy, a guy said he was a conscientious objector, said he would not work for the military. Last I knew, he was picking up trash on base.

The bill says:

SEC. 109. CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION.

(a) Claims as Conscientious Objector- Nothing in this title shall be construed to require a person to be subject to combatant training and service in the uniformed services, if that person, by reason of sincerely held moral, ethical, or religious beliefs, is conscientiously opposed to participation in war in any form.

(b) Alternative Noncombatant or Civilian Service- A person who claims exemption from combatant training and service under subsection (a) and whose claim is sustained by the local board shall--

(1) be assigned to noncombatant service (as defined by the President), if the person is inducted into the uniformed services; or

(2) be ordered by the local board, if found to be conscientiously opposed to participation in such noncombatant service, to perform national civilian service for the period specified in section 104(a) and subject to such regulations as the President may prescribe.

There are no co-sponsors to this crazy bill. Here is a link to the Committee on Armed Services. See if one of your congresscritters are on there, and contact them to get rid of this nutso bill.

Hey, maybe Obama is going to do something about (the real rate) of unemployment, and just make people work for the government. And! how do they propose to PAY these people that are working for the government in civilian service? By higher deficit? 2/3 of all monies going out of the gov't are for entitlements...just what we need. More government, and more spending, and more spending MONEY WE DON'T HAVE.

Funny, I spend money I don't have, and the bank levies a $35 charge on my account. The government overspends, and there is no consequence whatsoever. Flogging! that's the answer. Any deficit spending, the congress/senate/president gets flogged.. publicly. 39 lashes. EACH.

The 13th Amendment proscribes what Rangel is proposing, as far as a civilian force goes:

Amendment 13 - Slavery Abolished. Ratified 12/6/1865.

1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.

2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

a long day...

I've been doing alot of reading since getting up so early. Found lots of good reading on this "tax" that is coming out of the Obamacare - or is it a tax? First, they said it was constitutional under the Commerce Clause - *however*, they are trying a different tack, so they trotted out that it's a 'tax'. But then again, is that Constitutional? I found an interesting abstract about this very subject.

"Willis and Chung demonstrate how I.R.C. § 5000A – the HEALTH CARE ACT penalty – is an unapportioned Capitation Tax, violative of U.S. CONSTITUTION ARTICLE I, Section 9. As they demonstrate, the "penalty" is – at least on its face - a tax. To be a Constitutional tax, it must be an Excise Tax, an Income Tax, or a proportional Capitation Tax. Through the process of elimination, they demonstrate the penalty is none of these.

Others convincingly demonstrate the "penalty" is unconstitutional under the Commerce Clause. They argue the "penalty" is indeed a penalty and not a tax. Willis and Chung pick up where that argument leaves off: if that argument fails and the Court finds this is a tax, it is an unconstitutional unapportioned Direct Tax."

Doesn't that make you smile? I wonder how Obama et al will try to wiggle out of this one.
Its flat-out Fascism - one of those lovely children of collectivism - that things are pubicly owned, and a facade of privately run. That's what the Obama administration is going to turn insurance companies into.

I found an an interesting article at www.bannedbooks.com/, that states:

"Government-business partnerships. A third defining characteristic of economic fascism is that private property and business ownership are permitted, but are in reality controlled by government through a business-government "partnership." As Ayn Rand often noted, however, in such a partnership government is always the senior or dominating "partner."

Darn, this is a good article. It's definately recommended reading! Even though it was penned in 1994, much of this is coming true in today's administration.

On another note, I've been told I'm horrid for merely saying the word "fag". To me, they're mis-using the word, by *only* accounting it as slang. I guess I should "look at her queerly". Not that I would *try* to tweak someone's nose that way, but the misuse of words, and the abuse of them, just drives me loco. But then I'm intolerant that way. I hold people to the meaning of the words they say, and from what I've seen, that is not popular.

Oh yes - yet another ADD minute for you:

Sen. Orrin Hatch, a Utah Republican, proposed yesterday that people seeking unemployment benefits or welfare undergo drug tests before they can receive benefits.

But of course, this would make *way* too much sense, so of course we can't do that. The ACLU is against drug testing for recipients. I think, although our civil liberties are something to be prized, if you're going to take money from the government, you'd better be prepared to give up something to the government (your urine). A bill was started in Lousiana about this, however, it was not gone over, and just died. Liberals probably think "good riddance to bad rubbish", however, I know there are Democrats out there that support drug testing for welfare/unemployment.

And now for something completely different:

(Cut to Inspector Praline.)

Praline: Hello again. I am at present still on film, but in a few seconds I shall be appearing in the studio. Thank you.

(Cut to studio. A door opens. Inspector Praline looks round door. )

Inspector Praline: (to camera) Hello. (he walks in followed by Superintendent Parrot and goes to desk) Mr Milton? You are sole proprietor and owner of the Whizzo Chocolate Company?

Milton: I am.

Praline: Superintendent Parrot and I are from the hygiene squad. We want to have a word with you about your box of chocolates entified The Whizzo Quality Assortment.

Milton: Ah, yes.

Praline: (producing box of chocolates) If I may begin at the beginning. First there is the cherry fondue. This is extremely nasty, but we can't prosecute you for that.

Milton: Agreed.

Praline: Next we have number four, 'crunchy frog'.

Milton: Ah, yes.

Praline: Am I right in thinking there's a real frog in here?

Milton: Yes. A little one.

Praline: What sort of frog?

Milton: A dead frog.

Praline: Is it cooked?

Milton: No.

Praline: What, a raw frog?

(Superintendent Parrot looks increasingly queasy.)

Milton: We use only the finest baby frogs, dew picked and flown from Iraq, cleansed in finest quality spring water, lightly killed, and then sealed in a succulent Swiss quintuple smooth treble cream milk chocolate envelope and lovingly frosted with glucose.

Praline: That's as maybe, it's still a frog.

Milton: What else?

Praline: Well don't you even take the bones out?

Milton: If we took the bones out it wouldn't be crunchy would it?

Praline: Superintendent Parrot ate one of those.

Parrot: Excuse me a moment. (exits hurriedly)

Milton: It says 'crunchy frog' quite clearly.

Praline: Well, the superintendent thought it was an almond whirl. People won't expect there to be a frog in there. They're bound to think it's some form of mock frog.

Milton: (insulted) Mock frog? We use no artificial preservatives or additives of any kind!

Praline: Nevertheless, I must warn you that in future you should delete the words 'crunchy frog', and replace them with the legend 'crunchy raw unboned real dead frog', if you want to avoid prosecution.

Milton: What about our sales?

Praline: I'm not interested in your sales, I have to protect the general public. Now how about this one. (superintendent enters) It was number five, wasn't it? (superintendent nods) Number five, ram's bladder cup. (exit superintendent) What kind of confection is this?

Milton: We use choicest juicy chunks of fresh Cornish ram's bladder, emptied, steamed, flavoured with sesame seeds whipped into a fondue and garnished with lark's vomit.

Praline: Lark's vomit?

Milton: Correct.

Praline: Well it don't say nothing about that here.

Milton: Oh yes it does, on the bottom of the box, after monosodium glutamate.

Praline: (looking) Well I hardly think this is good enough. I think it would be more appropriate if the box bore a large red label warning lark's vomit.

Milton: Our sales would plummet.

Praline: Well why don't you move into more conventional areas of confectionery, like praline or lime cream; a very popular flavour I'm led to understand. (superintendent enters) I mean look at this one, 'cockroach cluster', (superintendent exits) 'anthrax ripple'. What's this one, 'spring surprise'?

Milton: Ah - now, that's our speciality - covered with darkest creamy chocolate. When you pop it in your mouth steel bolts spring out and plunge straight through-both cheeks.

Praline: Well where's the pleasure in that? If people place a nice chocky in their mouth, they don't want their cheeks pierced. In any case this is an inadequate description of the sweetmeat. I shall have to ask you to accompany me to the station.

Milton: (getting up from desk and being led away) It's a fair cop.

Praline: Stop talking to the camera.

Milton: I'm sorry.

(Superintendent Parrot enters the room as Inspector Praline and Milton leave, and addresses the camera.)

Parrot: If only the general public would take more care when buying its sweeties, it would reduce the number of man-hours lost to the nation and they would spend less time having their stomachs pumped and sitting around in public lavatories.

Announcer: The BBC would like to apologize for the extremely poor quality of the next announcement, only he's not at all well.

Parrot: We present 'The Dull Life of a City Stockbroker'.

Washington Journal

This morning, the idiot Rep Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) is on. According to her, Obama has created *more* jobs than were created during the previous 8 years, and he hangs the moon each evening. The *horrible* military contractors are giving incentives to top producers, and so that is eeeeeeeevil, because they are 'being paid with taxpayer dollars'. She is the subcommittee chair in the Intelligence Oversight & Investigations. They are busy looking at contractors, and the US has been safe since 9/11 because of Obama. GAH why do I persist in watching this show? At least she is off now, and the airwaves are safe.

Woke up at 1 am, laid in bed till 2:45, got up, a whole lot of nothing on television. There is a Cspan 3, but we don't get it. Wish we did.

On another note, the world's largest gummy bear. Sure, you need one..get several! "This five-pound beast is the equivalent of 1,400 regular sized gummy bears and packs a whopping 12,600 calories." wow. Imagine the sugar rush.

Ok another ADD minute. Was reading over at Overlawyered about disabled rights. Actually, (and this will not be a popular opinion), is that the ADA, and other acts should not apply to private businesses. Government operations, sure. Does the government have the right to tell you who you should do business with? That's basically what it comes down to.

Check out the book "You Can't Say That! The Growing Threat to Civil Liberties from Antidiscrimination Laws". Very good book, compelling evidence to show that our freedoms are being infringed upon.

Being I have been up since 1 am, I'm headed back to bed & get some sleep :)

Just another day

in south Texas, HOT, muggy, and today, rainy. Well not hard rain, but the sprinkling type of rain that is just annoying. Got soaked yesterday heading back to church from lunch - it was POURING cats & dogs. Of course it let up after I get in the building, but if we had waited at the restaurant till it stopped, we would have been late for afternoon service.

Afternoon service? yes, instead of people driving back to town for an evening service, the preacher just arranged it to be slid up to 2 p.m., being people come from other towns. We live out of town a good 20 minutes, so just avoiding all that driving, either we bring lunch, and eat there, or go out to a restaurant in town & eat. Makes it fun, as we go out to lunch with friends and have a nice time. Preacher yesterday said when he wanted to change it to 2pm, he was being told it was because he wanted to get home & watch the football game. hah!

I'm sitting out on our patio (used to be a carport, but now it's a patio), and it's dribbling bits of rain here and there. I can hear it dripping off our roof, and the fig tree by the shed. The first fig crop is almost all gone - there are a few really ripe figs, and a few overripe figs squashed on the leaves. We have three fig trees, and one is huge - taller than our house. I haven't done anything with the figs this year, and I kept missing the guy that picks up our trash, that his dad could come get all the figs he wants. This fall, when the main crop is in, will let him know. We are too far out for regular trash pickup, but this elderly guy whose kids/grandkids live with him, runs an old sided truck to pick up trash from rural areas. Nice guy, have talked to him about the area when he was young.

My fancy hibiscus is blooming again...here is a picture from earlier this spring:


Its a very sultry evening here, barely a wisp of a breeze. The smoke from the barbecue is curling up straight, with only the occasional flare-up of flame. sultry = TOO DARN HOT AND MUGGY! I'd go sit inside, but then the chicken would be perverse and start on fire.

I'm looking forward to fall.

Self-Esteem/level playing field

From an article at Jihadwatch.org, comes this nugget of gold:

We live in the Age of Ekwilism in this country, in an Age of Levelling that in matters of intellect, and the transmission of knowledge, rivals - though prompted by different reasons - what the Soviet or Chinese Communists at their most malevolent sometimes managed to implement.
And part of the Ekwilism of the Age is the growth of Self-Esteem studies. The Self-Esteem in question does not come from any effort or perceived merit on the part of those who are encouraged simply to believe in their natural wonderfulness.

I didnt know what Ekwilism was, so I had to Google it. The National Review has this about it:
Paduk took possession of this theory, called "Ekwilism," and made it the basis of a national movement which proclaimed that social and economic equality were nothing without an equality of consciousness. That was to be achieved by enforcing spiritual and mental uniformity upon his native land "through the medium of the most standardized section of the inhabitants, namely, the Army, under the supervision of a bloated and dangerously divine state."
Ekwilism was probably the only triumphant fascist movement that comic strip as one of its chief inspirations.
Source
Sooo... being we ARE in an age of Progressivism/Socialism/Communism (all children of Collectivism!), the term Ekwilism fits.

As for the self-esteem that is put as the utmost to be taught to children today in schools, ranging from preK to 12th grade, and beyond, it is pure and total CRAP.

Self-esteem comes from accomplishing things, and doing well. Self-esteem should *not* come from being told you are great, good, whatever. Self-esteem does not come about from who you are, but what you do.

Not scoring kids baseball games, so that one team does not lose, or banning some schoolyard games because someone "might feel bad". We are so worried about kids' self-esteem, that we short them in life experience, and the real world, instead of the fake world created for them - the 'safe' bubble where nothing will ever go wrong, no one ever loses, or fails.

In Ottowa, a soccer league made the rule that if a team gets 5 points more than the other team - THEY automatically lose, the losing team WINS. Is this stupid or what? The full story is HERE.

"According to the league’s new rules, coaches of stronger teams are encouraged to deter runaway games by rotating players out of their usual positions, ensuring players pass the ball around, asking players to kick with the weaker foot, taking players off the field and encouraging players to score from farther away."

I guess soccer players like Pele would have gotten no play at all with these rules. The 'leveling the playing field' theory doesn't work well in sports, and it doesn't work well in life, being no one is equal to another in ability, in brains, in anything like that. We are equal in the sense that human beings are valued equally, but no one is equal in regards to what we can do/think up. I guess MENSA members must let DENSA members in :P as it would be too bad to keep out those of lower IQs. (I have no idea if there is a DENSA, but it would be the opposite of MENSA).

The leveling-the-field effect is going on today, in everything - from schools to money, to the workplace, etc.

From the "Level the Playing Field" organization, on the "about us" tab

"Work hard, get ahead. This is the way it's supposed to happen; it just doesn't happen this way for everyone. That's the part that's unfair. No one should have to work twice as hard to get half as far. "

No one should have to work twice as hard, to not get as far as someone else? The Progressives want equality of outcome - No matter your talents or ability.
I really don't know what to say in reply to this...I'm speechless, that someone can be *so stupid* as to believe in equality of outcomes, and the 'self-esteem must be taught at all costs' stuff. They're not just misguided, they are deliberately flouting common sense, and actual life, to bring about the Utopian view.

Actually, I am glad everyone is not equal in stuff - it makes for interesting blog readings ( like The Lawdog Files - a hoot!), or someone's scribblings online, or innovations in science, the arts, etc. We all can't be Rembrandts, it would be a very dull world if it was, and the awe they inspire in our lives would just *go away*. Life would be rather hum-drum without those bright stars in life, and history.