WHILE WE WERE SLEEPING

While we all enjoyed our Christmases, 200-some-odd passengers of a Detroit-bound plane did not. An Islamo-fascist terrorist from Nigeria boarded the plane in the Netherlands without a valid passport, paying cash for a one-way fare without luggage. When it was apparent that the plane was over U.S. air space, his plan to take the plane out of the sky was set into motion. He stood, and ignited something on his person, setting his clothing ablaze. Then, in a Todd Beehmer-like moment, passengers of the flight extinguished the terrorist, tackled him and held him for authorities upon landing in the (formerly) Motor City.

Upon some investigation (the press had to actually engage in real journalism this time) it was learned that this terrorist was on several international cautionary lists and his own father contacted the U.S. embassy to warn them of his son's views and stated intentions! None of these facts, alone or combined, alerted security to "enhance" its screening of this passenger.

Then, the Secretary of Homeland Security, Janet NAPolitano, actually stated that the system worked (see the TOTUS blog on the right). If the system was to allow a Jihadist onto a U.S.-bound plane and for the passengers to take matters into their own hands or perish, then yeah, I guess the system worked. The President then waited two full days to even comment on the act, and when he did, it was as if he was a prosecuting attorney, not as the President of the country targeted, yet again, by Islamo-fascists.

To top all this off, I heard a report on the radio on my drive home that the sycophantic media is buying a story that BHO is actually a better terror fighter than his predecessor. After I finished laughing out loud while attempting to retain control of my car, I had to think "WWWD" (What Would "W" Do?).

Vote the bums out!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

I know it is technically after Christmas, but we are still to clelebrate with the only small child in the family as they were delayed by an extra dose of climate change in northwestern Iowa, similar to the climate change experienced in Copenhagen.

The U.S. Senate also was in the giving spirited, as we are to hear 60 of them tell it, as they have continued the slippery slide to economic Armageddon in "giving" us all socialized health insurance by forcing us to take it.

Anyway, Christmas is more than any of the above. Even though a portion of our family was separated geographically, in two different directions, Christ's birth was nevertheless celebrated by us all. Worship services were attended, gifts, in honor if the Greatest Gift, were exchanged and opened and revelry and merriment abounded.

I wish all of you the joy and assurances His birth promises us in His word. God bless you and hope the He will provide the new year as better than the last.

A HUGE SLIDE DOWN THE SLIPPERY SLOPE TO GUBMINT CARE

This past weekend the U.S. Senate, well, 60% of it anyway, voted to continue the process of setting up government-run health care. Officially, the Senate's vote sends their bill to a conference committee to combine its 2000+-page bill with the 1000+-page bill of the Congress where representatives form both houses get to take their favorite parts of both bills to make one large s*!t brick.

During the process, several Senators who were vehemently opposed to this bill received billions of dollars of federal (our) tax money for their respective states in exchange for their affirmative votes. Two states got their entire medicaid and medicare bills paid for by the rest of us! This begs two questions:

1. With what were these Senators threatened for their votes and
2. What were my two Senators, Fiengold and Kohl, doing while these other states got all this graft? Where's MY money!?

As for leadership, the President has been quite silent on the hole deal, especially the part where he promised that the negotiations would be in the open, televised in their entirety on CSPAN, and the bill given a week's airing on the internet, when in reality, the whole mess was decided by a small group of Democrat Senators, in private, with only "talking points" released to the public, part of which was released to the rest of the body only thirty-eight hours before the vote, and, most amazingly, the entire bill STILL has yet to be written. Even the request for a hearing as to the constitutionality of the process, let alone the bill itself, will be denied by a simple majority vote, even if only a small minority of the body is present. Our tax dollars at work.

VOTE THE BUMS OUT!!

SCHWIENHA REVISITED

The pandemic that never was, has been extended due to ineffective vaccine doses. That's right, many doses of the SWINE FLU vaccine are not strong enough and now the "Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight" tells all those Kool-Aide drinkers that they need to get themselves exposed a second time to their own scare of a deadly disease because their first dosing wasn't strong enough. And these IDIOTS want us to trust them with our medical care and insurance.

VOTE THE BUMS OUT!!

THE AIR THAT WE BREATHE

Well, now it's official. The One, through his (our) Environmental Protection Agency - not the representative legislative branch - as determined that the most harmful force on earth is anthropological global warming and the gases that produce it. The EPA says the most dangerous of those is...wait for it...carbon dioxide! That's right, the very gas we emit by merely breathing is the greatest danger to the world. I have decided, because of this ruling by those who know far better than me (and 30,000 environmental scientists, meteorologists and climatologists), to petition my employer to shield me from these noxious fumes in my workplace and to provide for my environmental protection on my way to and from work, thereby ensuring my ability to preform my tasks and designated functions at a peak level consistently.

Back to some semblance of reality. The people that made this ruling are also those that already have spent us into hock for for over 3 trillion dollars ($3,000,000,000,000) with their freshly voted-in pork package of $1.3T and also want to take over our medical decisions and continue their spend-thrift ways with cap-and-tax legislation in addition to this latest EPA fiasco.

For those of you who claim there is little if no difference between the parties, guess which political party is in charge of the federal purse strings at the moment and has left a national debt of over $12T to your great-great-great grandchildren? I'll give you a hint, its logo is a jackass!

"I GOT YER CLIMATE CHANGE RIGHT HEER"

Just as 20,000 or so uber wealthy "climate change" alarmists and their sycophantic propagandists, the main stream (worldwide) media begin their summit in Copenhagen, Denmark, we here in Wisconsin got socked with our first heavy snow storm with anywhere from 2 to 18 inches of global warming, er, I mean snow with temperatures expected to fall into the single digits (Fahrenheit) by tonight and blizzard conditions. Now THAT'S climate change I can believe in.

Also, our ego maniacal Governor is considering passing executive orders - in order to circumvent the electorate, i.e. you and me - to attempt to LOWER the temperature in Wisconsin so that we are not accused of being among the global warmers. This after one of the coolest Augusts on record. I'm concerned as to how we keep the temperature lowered only within our borders and deny the warmer temps from invading Wisconsin. Oh, I remember, with higher taxes! I guess, even with one of the premier science universities right up the street from his lavish office at his beck and call to analyze data, he's convinced there is no more need for debate or analysis on "climate change" or "global warming" or "the sky is falling", despite recently discovered emails between leading "climate change" alarmists proving they've been "cooking the books" - just like Enron - for thirty years. The latest email even has a "reporter" asking one of the alarmists how he should handle this email discovery!

Where, oh where has my Algore gone?

THE COMPANY CHRISTMAS PARTY

This past Saturday night was my company's Christmas Party. Realize that I have been employed by six different employers (two of which were sold to other larger companies while I was there) over the last thirty-two years, so I have had the opportunity to attend thirty-one Christmas parties (only thirty-one because one company laid me off before Christmas just to avoid having to feed me for free). I have not attended all parties, but have attended parties at five of the six employers (sorry, for another explanation, but for one company I was employed for only one Christmas season before my second lay-off and I could not imagine how boring that party would have been), so I believe I have a very decent perception as to what these events entail.

Now, I am no sycophant, suck-up or brown nose and do not schmooze well at work and certainly not at corporate functions. Some companies for which I worked actually encouraged this, at least in my mind. These events have been, for the most part, in a word, stuffy. They have included endless repetitive small talk, decent food, not enough free adult beverages and, mostly, the obligatory "great year in review" slide show and eventual "awards". YAWN!

Fast forward to my current employer. This one always has a themed party. I chose not attend last year as I had been employed for only 2-1/4 months and was not keen on the cliques and politics. Besides, it was a dress-up affair and I don't like them much. But this year's theme was Mardi Gras, which I thought was odd as Mardi Gras is a Lenten celebration and this is, after all, a Christmas party.
Anyway, my lovely wife thought Mardi Gras would be fun theme to try. She went on line for Mardi Gras accessories ideas to little avail. Even the party supply stores were of little help as Mardi Gras is out of season. But, we bought some beads, a hat and a mask and decided to have a go.

We arrived at the hotel and upon entering the elevator a woman joined us lugging a large suitcase and some Mardi Gras clothing in tow and I commented on them. She responded excitedly about the party and we admitted it was ours too. She asked us our names and she introduced herself. My sceptical alert sounded and I thought "Oh, boy, here we go, a long-term employee's wife pre-judging us". She was the president's wife. She bid us to have a good time and she would see us later. Another sceptical alert. We dressed, photographed and descend to the ballroom


Upon entering, hostess hired by the party people showered us with more beads and we located the bar. Another "oh boy" moment was on me. No one seemed to notice our presence, or care. Some were dressed in costumes from formal ware to Victorian dress. even two boxes of Zatarain's seafood seasoning. We got our free drinks and headed for the hors d'eorves. I finally was acknowledge by a coworker. We grabbed some food and looked for a table at which to park. Most tables seemed to be filled, so we sat at an empty table. We were still basically alone, so we took a walk to inspect the quite impressive decorations. We went back to the table and the president's wife put her drink at our table. She did remember us.

We next decided to have a fortune told by a teller hired by the party organizers. After suffering through that and a very mediocre juggler, we returned to find the president and his wife, an executive V.P., the co-owner and the head of marketing all at our table. Yes, awkward comes to mind. We were assured repeatedly and profusely that we were not out of place and that all are equal. Still, skeptical alert.

The food was now being served, so the awkward small talk was skipped and dinner talk ensued. The drinks, by the way, were still free and flowing. Dinner went by quite enjoyably with no shop talk or even inside jokes among the higher-ups. This was actually becoming an enjoyable evening. The slide presentation was actually enjoyable as the president showed the lighter sdie of our industry with his sense of humor, it lasted only about fifteen minutes and included a photo of our granddaughter. Cool. A dumb trivia game show mixer was played and then the party really started. A pair of piano players hit the stage and jumped-started the festivities. Dancing and drinking ensued and continued into the night with a DJ. Our table as that of party animals. We were complimented numerous times for our partying. Kudos to us!

We will attend the party next year, God willing. We're hoping our party skills now keep me employed as my hard work hasn't paid off that much to this point.

LET IT SNOW - SOMEWHERE ELSE!

The first snow of the season is always a time of mixed feelings. The first few flakes gently drifting from the sky and lighting on ones eyelids and dark clothing causes reflecting of childhood memories of winter storms, ice skating, sledding, hot chocolate, caroling and snowball fights. Then, as the snow fall intensifies and one realizes that this could accumulate, different memories bombard us - traffic tie-ups, cars in the ditch, fender benders, black ice, shoveling, slipping and near-falls. Today, I had both of these, though the former was very short-lived. My wife's blog (see the "Grandmaville" link below) characterizes this well. My experience his evening was mostly the latter. My normally unenjoyable homeward drive on Madison's Beltline Highway was more than doubled in time as the two inches of snow was treated as nine as it was the first and the temperatures fell quickly.

I HATE MADISON DRIVERS!!! They are normally bad, but in bad weather they're worse! After about a mile of 60 mph, the remainder of my drive was mostly in a low gear, and the fastest at any time was 35mph. While the pavement was slick in spots and snow covered out side of travel lanes, there was little else to cause this crawl except for lack of confidence in their own driving abilities worsened by the inane repeating of "stay off the Beltline" by the traffic reporters. I was yelling at the radio for them to shut up already, there IS no alternate route around Madison! I guess they could not hear me.

Snow- bah, humbug!

WHERE HAVE ALL THE FLOWER CHILDREN GONE?

While taking a walk along one of the usual routes, I came upon a house that, during President W's second term, had a "stop the war" sign perpetually poked into the front lawn. I was curious as to where the sign had disappeared.

Then it struck me, this is a time of peace. There are no more conflicts in which we have daily losses of service personnel. All our people are home and we no longer need recruits for the volunteer military, right? Well, that's the impression we are receiving from the main stream media (MSM). Even Ms. Code Pink, Cindy Sheehan, is no longer protesting "the war". Oh, she's still protesting, it's what she does. However, because "her" president is now surrenderer-in-chief, she has turned her efforts to predator drones. She believes that it is unfair for the nasty U.S. Air Force to utilize its superior technology against the lowly tenth-century-living Taliban (now, officially pronounced "TAH-lee-bon"). She would prefer our human military to risk death, which she protested less than a year ago. Sheesh!. Do these idiots really think about their hypocrisy?

PAYING FOR HEALTH CARE OR THE MILITARY

Our own U.S, Congressman, David Obey (D-Moscow), the Chairman of the congressional Appropriations committee, stated recently something to the effect of ...how can we pay for health care reform and the overseas contingency operation (the administration's title) on Afghanistan without taxing the wealthy some more? His point, I believe, is that, in his screwy socialist mind, health care is a higher fiscal priority than the security of the Republic, the Constitution be damned! Even the founders thought expenditures for things not specified by the constitution were, in a word, unconstitutional.

Obey is pushing a plan to tax all wage earners of $150,000+ an extra 1% and those over $250,000 an extra 5% to help "pay for the war in Afghanistan". Let's see...who is who hire people and run businesses? Is it poor schleps like you an me or is it people "of means"? What will happen to prices of EVERYTHING when extra taxes are imposed on these "special" Americans? I don't suppose prices will go down. I don't even believe they will remain the level. The TRUTH is, simple economics shows us that when governments raise taxes, impose fees or establish unfunded mandates on the private sector or on other governmental agencies over which the first has jurisdiction, the "lower" entity MUST raise its fees, prices or its own taxes, there by continuing this upward-spiraling financial cycle.

Take this stupid stimulus at the federal level. What has Joe Sixpack gotten out of this $878,000,000,000? THE BILL! Now the geniuses in Congress want to spend another $891,000,000,000 on "health care reform - which they claim will NOT raise taxes or the deficit or the debt by 10 cents - and they're contemplating another $890,000,000,000 boondoggle for cap 'n tax to pay off GE, Algore and the Eco-Nazis that got them elected. In round numbers, that's $3,000,000,000,000 for only three new UNCONSTITUTIONAL programs. That doesn't even include all the unfunded mandates these bills produce(d), nor does it include "rescuing" failing 40-year-old programs from financial ruin, fraud and governmental mismanagement or our current debts of over $1,300,000,000,000.

If, by the way, you happen to disagree with me, you're most likely a racist!

THANKSGIVING - 2009

Turkey time again! The usual trimmings will once again be present in our house, though the gathering a little smaller with the VA's absent as well as N. Miles. Even the Slackers are participating with a visit to the (former) Motor City and another possible loss to a much lesser opponent. Let's hope tryptophan does not affect the men from Green Bay before or during the game.

As I age, I find myself appreciating the meaning of this holiday more. Maybe it comes with maturity or from more upon which to reflect, but I am more contemplative. I thank God every day for my blessings which are too numerous to itemize, just suffice to say that God has blessed me, as he is wont to do, way beyond my deserving. A brief general list: I have a healthy (for the most part), loving, intelligent, humorous family. I've been placed on this earth in this place at, this time only by God's grace. I have a job I like, which two years ago I did not have, again by God's grace. But the greatest gift is His love with the gift of a Savior. The Calvinist pilgrims of the first Thanksgiving new this, as did our founding fathers 150-or-so years later. Insisting it was worth future generations to know it, the writings from both of these groups reflect that homage and their devotion. They were especially specific in invoking God's countenance on their forming their respective governments in their official founding documents.

It behooves us as their heirs to respect the insight of these devout people and insist in our current representatives at all levels do the same. Happy Thanksgiving and God bless America!

ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER

Well, it appears that, with significant Democrat bribes to the Senators from Louisiana and Arkansas, quite a feat considering all the Ivy-leagures in the Senate, this U.S. Senate is actually going to attempt a debate on the so-called health care reform bill before it. Pundits on both sides of the political spectrum questioned whether voting in favor of the "debate" resolution was a vote in favor of the entire bill. Well, as I see it, having been in similar situations, though on a much smaller scale, in church politics, it is essential to vote to debate this important legislation. A vote to do so allows the actual facts in the bill to come to light, even if the MSM refuses to bring them to light thus far.

I have voted in the past to allow debate on on a resolution I was 100% against just so the debate could be held. I still voted against the resolution itself, generally as the lone "nay", but at least I was allowed to present an opposing view nonetheless.

As I stated earlier, the main stream media will now be forced to actually report the facts of the health care legislation as it is printed, rather than as it has been presented by the authors and their sycophants. This is how "Robert's Rules of Order work, even in a setting as corrupt as the U.S. Senate.

NIMBY

The U.S. Attorney General, Eric "Steadman" Holder (his resemblance to Oprah's Steadman is remarkable), has made a decision, he claims, to try Khalid Sheikh Muhammed, the 9/11 mastermind, and some of his cohorts in civilian federal court in New York City mere blocks from Khalid's target.

First, Steadman did NOT make this decision. His superior did. He, as is the case with many such minions, was merely the deliverer of the message. This has always been BHO's goal. He has a 9/10 mindset and a post-cold-war worldview that has hampered his ability to "pull the trigger", so-to-speak, in Afghanistan.

Second, Khalid has already admitted guilt and has expressed his desire for execution. There is no need for a show trial. the military could carry out his wishes at any time right now if they so chose. But, as is evident in the Ft. Hood massacre, PC-ism has even infiltrated the military management.

Third, Gitmo is the only prison suitable for such nefarious evildoers. It was built for just this purpose. To give these killers even a chance at being set free due to some unseen technicality is way beyond reprehensible. It, in itself, is criminal. I say for all those politicians, actors and other liberals who insist on closing the so-called torcher chamber on Cuban soil, send these poor souls to them and put them in the neighborhoods in which these liberals reside. Could you imagine the disdain and feather ruffling that would ensue should this actually take place? They, of course, as always, know what's better and insist NIMBY - Not In My Back Yard!

THE WORST BILL EVER

One of our founders, Benjamin Franklin wrote "The ordaining of laws in favor of one part of the nation, to the prejudice and oppression of another, is certainly the most erroneous and mistaken policy. An equal dispensation of protection, rights, privileges, and advantages, is what every part is entitled to, and ought to enjoy".
In other words, everyone should be treated equally, without regard as to their wealth, or lack thereof, their religion, or lack thereof, or their political leanings , or lack thereof.
Not taxing the rich extra because they are, well, rich. (When was the last time one obtained a job from a poor person? The top 1% of the taxpayers pay 40% of all taxes. 40% of all wage earners do not pay federal income taxes.)
Not demeaning an entire segment of the population by its own representatives (though not voted for by said segment) because of its (their) audacity to actually voice its (their) disapproval of the actions taken or about to be taken by said representatives. (Tea Parties, anti-tax rallies, town halls, etc.)
Not treating a segment of the population as a certain voting block because of the pork doled out by the government to that group to ensure its (their) votes. (welfare, medicare-medicaid, social security, government contracts, public employee unions, etc.)

This past weekend, while most of us were sleeping, the United States House of Representatives narrowly approved a health care overhaul bill, termed "the worst bill ever". The first bill I saw this summer, HR 3200, was 1,019 pages and contained hundreds of new mandates, dozens of new federal bureaucracies and spent a trillion dollars. This latest bill, designed to simplify HR 3200, is TWICE as long and spends TWICE the money. All surveys conducted since the first bill was "leaked" to us peons and, thus, properly vetted, have consistently indicated that we do not want this type of health care "reform". Yet, the politicians in with the majority in the House decided they know better what is good for the lowly masses. We are being treated as though we are not intelligent enough to accept this takeover over 1/8th of our economy and the surrender of many of our God-given "inalienable rights".

Not only are we supposed to merely allow the dolts in charge of Medicare, Social Security, the Postal Service, Cash for Clunkers, the scarcity of swine flu vaccine, etc, etc, etc, in charge of our health care, we, according to this new bill passed by an overwhelming majority of five (5!) votes, are REQUIRED to buy health insurance of some type (if our employer is small enough not to be required to offer it to us) or pay a fine and spend five (5[again]) years in federal prison if you choose not to. What happened to freedom of choice? VOTE THE BUMS OUT!!!!

YOU FIRST

On the way home from work this afternoon (by the grace of God I still have a job in this crappy economy) a brief news item from the radio caught my ear. As the elections in Afghanistan have officially ended with the major opponent of the incumbent dropping out of a run-off, Mr. Karzai received a congratulatory telephone call from our President. That was not the "news". What caught my attention was a line stating that The One "warned" Mr. Karzai to clean up the corruption in Afghanistan so peacekeeping can continue.

I laughed out loud! BHO has the most corrupt administrators in his cabinet and at his side as czars of any President in U.S. history - and that includes Clinton - preaching to a foreign President about ethics. I yelled the response to the radio on Mr. Karzai's behalf "You first!" What an ego. What a hypocrite. The gall. Three years is way to long to hope for change. Let's achieve change now! Yes we can!

If you disagree with me you are most likely a racist.

HOORAY FOR HALLOWE'EN...BEING OVER

How I dislike Halloween. I understand the the concept, the "fun", etc., but I'm one of those who doesn't like being told what to like and when and how. I insist on not celebrating sweetest day, Valentine's day (which BTW, used to be preceded by a ST.), grandparents' day, etc. However, Christmas, Easter and Independence Day (U.S.) are big on my list, but only if their original intents are emphasized, not their commercialized, secularized versions. My older daughter made an interesting observation of her neighborhood stating that the same big way celebrants of Halloween allow Christmas to pass with barely a christian decoration (most people do not realize that the tree is a christian symbol).

So, one can imagine my feelings regarding unconstitutionally forced compliance to insurance coverage, auto or health and worse, unconstitutionally forced support of same for people who are able to afford, but refuse to obtain the coverage for their families. Or how about forced increases in utility bills to save Polar Bears multiplying like houseflies just to make former bad vice presidents multi billionaires who are currently mega millionaires.
Or, how about being told what news to watch, what radio to listen to or what newspapers to read after all of these entities have been granted the proper credential's just to listen to the idiot of a press secretary the President has appointed to dole out the "news" of the day.

Be afraid, be very afraid (but mostly, be watchful and speak out!).

THE "SCHWEINHA"

It's getting ridiculous. People waiting in the cold October rain for a chance to get a swab stuffed into their brain nasally or pounded into a vein by an underpaid gubmint health department employee (or worse, a volunteer) to protect them from a virus that would not harm them if they are otherwise healthy. Namely, the swine flu. I even heard a physician admit to this waiting in line. Can't even he get the drug from one of his cronies in the pharmaceutical industry? Thank God I am outside of the age bracket warned to receive this wonder cure.

There is a wider indication here. As the government-run agencies run out of the vaccine rationing is necessary to ensure that all those deemed worthy enough to receive it by the same government entities are, indeed, inoculated or swabbed. Most of these are the young. What is it the government wants to place in the bodies of our youngest and sickest? Sounds absurd? With the speed with which the current administrations in Wisconsin and DC are usurping their constitutions and developing enemies lists one begins to wonder.

Anyway, this could be yet another indication of how the government intends to operate our health care when they take it over. Be afraid, be very afraid.

And if you disagree with me, you are most likely a racist.

THE NOBEL "PEACE" PRIZE

Mikhail Gorbachev, Yasser Arafat, Barack Obama - all "winners" of the Nobel Peace Prize.

Mahatma Gandhi, Indira Gandhi, Winston Churchill, Franklin Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Golda Meir, a Pope - all not winners of the Nobel Peace Prize.

From the Nobel Peace Prize web site (italics are mine): "According to Nobel's will, the Peace Prize is to go to whoever 'shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses'. "

Also, according to their web site, the deadline for nominations is February 1. That's right February 1!! That means that the winner of the prize for 2009 was President for twelve (12) days. I assume by the requirements set forth in Nobel's will the prize was awarded for the winner's entire body of his life's work, from his splendid collegiate leadership in foreign affairs to his legal writings on behalf of his many notable clients around the world to his astounding volume of bills introduced to the U.S. Senate to ensure the future of the United States and the world in peaceful solutions to international conflicts. It couldn't POSSIBLY rely on these mere first twelve days of his Presidency, could it?

It seems that the committee has once and for all jumped the shark (as if the 2003 prize to Jimmy Carter and the 2007 prize to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and Algore weren't foolish enough).

As a side note, if you are not aware, the originator of the Nobel Prize for Peace (and physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, land iterature), Alfred Nobel, made his fortune after inventing dynamite in pre-soviet Russia. I guess, after deliberation, he must have concluded that peace through strength is a viable concept.

By the way, if you disagree with me you are a racist! (This is the manner in wich a blogger, Greg Gutfield, ends his entries on bighollywood.com shown at right)

ANOTHER INSURANCE TRAGEDY

Believe it or not, I found this on the AARP website blog. It addresses the hardship of millions of uninsured Americans unable to afford necessary coverage for themselves and their loved ones. I may be swayed in favor of this program after all. Please follow the link to see why.
http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig8/pike10.1.html

TODDLING TOWN DIDN'T MAKE THE GRADE

Even with the star power of Miss M, Oprah and The One, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) passed on Chicago's bid for the 2016 summer games. Does this make the IOC a bunch of right-wing conspiratorial racists? According to the revisionists definition, I say "yes". Imagine, two separate entourages, Air Force One, and the mayor of one of the most corrupt cities on the planet and the IOC passed. I guess American statist elitism and egos the size of the former Sears Tower (whatever it's called now) don't mean much to international professional statist elitists with egos the size of...Rio de Janeiro.

SOMETHING IS ROTTING IN DENMARK

I know, I know, the quote is "rotten" not "rotting", but, considering that the first couple will be sharing Denmark, I prefer "rotting".

Yes, the BHO's are invading Denmark to shill for the 2016 summer Olympics to be held in the hell hole known as Chicago. Miss M's entourage landed today. The One and his peeps and the sock puppets called the press will arrive on Friday. Let's see - two planes, limousines, entourages, etc, all on us taxpayers. Considering that these dolts want us to all drive solar-powered cars and ride choo-choo trains to nowhere, this is quite a carbon footprint they are producing. I'm certain that the first plane will not be remaining in Denmark, nor, I suppose, will the entourages all return to the U.S. together (they probably wouldn't all fit in an empty Air force C130 cargo plane stacked like cord wood - what a thought). Hypocrisy is the rule with this bunch.

I guess I should be relieved that all of America's current problems have been resolved and our fearful leader is able to relax and act like a mayor in a foreign country. Having done all this hard work, and the fact that he worked all day last Sunday (and sacrificed his golf game while still not finding a local D.C. Church to attend) he deserves a vacation.

UPDATE: I found out that both parties need two planes EACH, so, four (4) planes are required for this visit, though, according to Miss M, it is a "hardship" for her and her husband to visit. The cost estimate, according to the CBO, is about $750,000.00 for this little jaunt. This must be some of the stimulus money, hey?

ONE YEAR DOWN

Today was my one year anniversary at my current employer after having been let go by my former employer after only 1-3/4 years after having been let go by the employer before that after over five years.

I thank The Almighty every day for this latest opportunity to employ the skills he has shown me to have. The people are a diverse and very bright bunch of electrical engineers, designers, technicians and general office types. I like it as well as I have liked any other place of employment. While I have determined it necessary to die at my desk, this is a better place than most in which to achieve that dubious goal.

THE NEW JAY LENO SHOW - REALLY?

Jay Leno was fired from his late night gig after, what, a decade? To prove he was still viable as a product he offered a nightly show on the same old network - NBC - at 9:00pm (central time). Three months later his new show debuted. Trailers promised the best of his usual late-night bits and more of them. Hilarious! Jay at his best!

Well, I tried for a week. Same old, same old. The same tired format. The same tired guests. The same tired bits. Even Bush, Cheney and Palin "jokes". I'm through. Jay is out of my system.

I GUESS I AM A RACIST

I admit it. I disagree with our President. I've disagreed with EVERY President (yes event the great Renaldus Magnus) at one time or another since I've been politically aware. And, according to almost all liberals and even a former President with whom I disagreed vehemently, I am a racist. Now, because we have a President who happens to be 1/2 (and ONLY 1/2) black, to disagree with him is to be a racist. It's not that everything he's put his hands on so far has been a disaster, it's because he has dark skin tone.

What ever happened to the "content of a man's character, not the color of his skin", a quote from a late Republican civil rights leader.

I know, I'll disagree with the President's caucasian 1/2! There, I'm off the hook after all.

ONE YEAR AGO TODAY

One year ago today I became a Grandpa! It is the third "title" in my life that I cherish ("husband" and Dad" are the other two).

I still didn't have a job yet and I (we) were still reeling from a wedding just two weeks before. God does provide us with the proper "distractions". Read my wife's blog (listed at right - "Grandmaville") for additional specifics as she has done a super job on a similar post.

Here is a photo of Tizita her first time meeting us.

Here is a photo of Tizita from this Wednesday (09-09).

What difference a year makes! She has flourished in her parents' care and in this faraway land of Wisconsin. It is as if she's been with us forever, though we all know better and thank God for it.

WHAT "REAL" PRESIDENTS HAVE SAID ABOUT LABOR DAY

Here are two quotes from past presidents regarding Labor Day:

"I want the people of America to be able to work less for the government and more for themselves. I want them to have the rewards of their own industry. This is the chief meaning of freedom. Until we can reestablish a condition under which the earnings of the people can be kept by the people, we are bound to suffer a very severe and distinct curtailment of our liberty." --President Calvin Coolidge (1872-1933)


"It gives me great pleasure to pay tribute to the working men and women of America on Labor Day. This occasion brings deserved attention to those who have toiled to build our nation and to shape a prosperous life out of the dreams of early immigrants. Today we recognize the honor and value of all work and the great distinction that flows from a job well done. From those who first carved a nation out of the wilderness to those who helped cross, settle and build this country, the working people have made immeasurable contributions to the advancement of our way of life. Through their spirit, minds, and muscles, America's workers have created a modern industrial giant. They have sustained the traditional values of family, work, and neighborhood while serving as the bulwark of American democracy and lending support to the fundamental tenets of our free enterprise system." --Ronald Reagan

Compare these to the yelling and campaign rhetoric the current occupant of the White House preached to union toadies on Labor Day.

COSMOPOLITANISM IN WISCONSIN

Who knew Milwaukee, Wisconsin was so cosmopolitan?

Granted, I'm not a great judge of "cosmopolitanism", put I know upscale and forward thinking when I see it. And I saw it Saturday (yesterday). My lovely wife and I took the afternoon to walk the Riverwalk in downtown Milwaukee. For those of you unfamiliar with Milwaukee geography, the Milwaukee River runs through the city from Sheboygan County southward to Lake Michigan under the Dan Hoan Bridge just south of Interstate 94. As it winds its way to the lake, it passes many now famous Milwaukee landmarks, like John Hawk's Pub, the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, The Lakeside Brewery, The Milwaukee Repertory Theatre and the bronze statue of "The Fonz".

The city has, to my amazement and its credit in spite of its socialists (Ziedler) and liberal democrats (Meier, Norquist and Barret) running the place, done a great job by allowing the transformation of this once vital, booming industrial riverfront since collapsed to near ruin into an upscale commercial/residential hub.

The converted factories now house million-dollar condominiums with boat slips for yachts and popular eateries and libation stations. These restaurants and bars are fully accessible by a wooden boardwalk and concrete sidewalks and the stroller is encouraged to stop and partake. There is even a boat tour that stops at three of the places for an hour each while passengers disembark for libations and/or a walk on the Riverwalk.

I Recommend this tour when visiting Milwaukee, but plan it for a day of warm, sunny weather and a Saturday afternoon so activity is apparent bu not crowded, so, not during Summerfest, Harleyfest, Sate Fair week or other popular tourist weekend. We seemed to have chosen the absolute perfect day.

ONE YEAR AGO

I guess I'll weigh in on my thoughts of what was transpiring a year ago.

• A year ago I was out of work, again.
• A year ago my job prospects were nonexistent.
• A year ago was my younger daughter's wedding.
• A year ago we threw a great party.
• A year ago it was much warmer weather-wise.
• A year ago my older daughter and son-in-law were traveling in the little-known far-away country of Ethiopia collecting my granddaughter.

While my personal situation was disconcerting, the rest of my family, to my delight, was happy and enjoying their anticipations and looking forward to their futures. This was truly a time that tested my ability to place my situation in the hands of God. I did and, as He usually does, He blessed me and my family. We remain happy to this day. We have two married daughters, I have a new job with a growing company and, best of all, our precious gift, our delightful granddaughter became the newest member of our family. To this day I will never forget the scene of her slow, deliberate, toddle down the expansive airport corridor holding on to her mama's hand with one of her tiny hands and in the other, a small cloth doll "of color" we purchased long before we knew her age or even gender, let alone her name.

I realize how blessed I am and thank God every day for these events having occurred in my life, all a year ago.

WINNING THE LOTTERY

This morning I saw a report about the latest lottery winner of $250 million. He said the money would not change him. He said he is already retired and has a very good income and he feels blessed. He also said he would use the money to help fund educational programs. I say BULL! Should I ever get even a small pittance of a windfall, say $5 million, I would immediately change. I'd have at least two brand new cars, pay off all of my debts, buy a house on St. George Island for a mill or so, give some to my church and keep the remainder to live on.

But imagine $250 million! Even if the taxes eat up 50%, that still leaves $125 million. That's more than our President "saved" us taxpayers in "cuts" from the federal $2 trillion budget.

Oh, well, I guess I'd actually have to play the lottery to win it.

GOOD USE FOR INSURANCE SALESMEN (NO OFFENSE)

I saw a report on the news this morning that California congressman Henry Waxman and one of flunky cronies wrote official requests for information to fity-two large insurance companies. Some of the information requested was their financial dealings, policy rates and executive pay scales.

My first reaction was astonishment as it took some real "guts" to overstep their authority. Then I was angry that these two numbskulls actually did it with straight faces in order to obtain data for health care reform. My first suggestion for the insurance companies was to write on the companies' letterheads, on their fanciest paper a two-word, six-letter response, beginning with an "f".

Then I thought a little more about it (I do have an hour drive to work and need some distraction on occasion). Why not send the request down the line to the lowest level and answer with a form letter. the letter could thank them for their inquiry of insurance information and that a sales professional will contact them for a personal consultation at their earliest convenience. Then assign the task to the most aggressive sales reps the companies have in the Congressmens' areas. If you have ever made insurance inquiries, you are aware of how this works, and, you have my deepest sympathy.

This may end the inquiry all together, though I believe that , should this scenario take place, the two numbskulls would most likely sig the IRS on the companies. But it was a nice daydream.

WE'RE DOOMED (STILL or AGAIN)!

In a speech before a group of interested parties of the United Nations at its recent (08-11-09) economic summit, its Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that we have four MONTHS, or else http://www.un.org/apps/news/infocus/sgspeeches/statments_full.asp?statID=557). In his remarks Ban stated that "climate change" "is the fundamental threat to humankind" and it "will intensify droughts, floods and other natural disasters" and "[w]ater shortages will affect hundreds of millions of people. Malnutrition will engulf large parts of the developing world. Tensions will worsen. Social unrest – even violence – could follow". Yadda, yadda, yadda. I've heard this on and off for all of my adult life! But the biggest inanity was this: "We have just four months. Four months to secure the future of our planet.".

He goes on to give his stupid, exorbitantly expensive and scientifically and technologically impossible Marxist "solutions" to avoid catastrophe. I say, screw it! Let's just live like there are only four months left. As the great philosopher of our time, Jimmy Buffett, says: "The bad news is the world is ending. The good news is there's a party"!

I'VE REPORTED MYSELF TO THE GOVERNMENT

Last week, our President, of all people, invited us to rat out each other if we heard "fishy" statements about HR3200 aka the health care (Obamacare) reform bill in Congress. In order to save you readers from having to submit your email addresses to the federal government, I've reported myself. I did include a copy of the actual bill for the President to read at his leisure. After all, I'm in that process right now and I wouldn't expect to have him read the bill if I wasn't willing to do it myself. I've read 260 pages of the 1,017 page document. I'm discouraged by the government speak in it, but encouraged by the absolute audacity of the bill that is attempting to supersede IRS, Social Security and labor laws already on the books.

So far, no repercussions from the feds, but, then again, it is the feds and their process is usually v e r y s lo w, unless they are attempting to really pull the wool over the publics' eyes as with the porkulous bill.

It is also amusing that this administration that ran on being THE administration that would be truly open and bipartisan is calling anyone who dares to oppose them everything from extremists to un-American to Nazis. Bring it on!

THE FUTURE OF TREE TRIMMING

If the eco-nuts would have their way, all tree trimming would be like this. One of them over the last weekend was even excited about $20.00 per gallon gas and no air conditioning. He'd be perfectly happy with us living like the Ingalls' again.

Yes, that is I, your humble author, whacking away at a Pussy Willow bush, which, by the way, was neither a bush nor a pussy. It actually gave up quite a fight, but my hops-powered tree whacker defeated the plant. I learned that this mangle of four-inch diameter trunks was grown from a single twig some sixty years ago, planted by my wife's Aunt Pearl. We don't believe we killed the plant, but we certainly did stunt its growth for awhile. Sherri needs its "fruit" for school next spring. There were no other casualties, much to our amazement, except for a few small scratches and an axe handle. Here is what remains of the once huge "bush" - the world's ugliest stump.

NOT IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD

You've left your house for a vacation without your keys or your even your garage door opener. While on vacation, a neighbor, who has agreed to keep an eye on your house, calls you with a heads up regarding a police-aborted break-in. Your relief surprise, shock, and thankfulness are realized, and you complete your vacation.

Upon your return home, you realize your home entry mistake. You and the friend that chauffeured you home have no alternative but to attempt to break into your own home, forgetting the attempt by real criminals a week or so earlier. Just as you make the unorthodox entry, the police are at your front door sternly, but calmly requiring your presence.

Let me stop here. Now, I'm certain most of us would, at this point, run to the front door and accommodate the police officer's instructions to the letter, realizing how this might look, even thanking the officer for his due diligence in protecting your property at his peril.

This, however, is not the case in elitist Boston (Bahsten) where, if you are a Harvard professor doing this exact same thing, your reaction is to demean the officer and accuse him of a counter crime.

Oops, I forgot to mention some tiny details about our Harvard professor: he happens to be black and an acquaintance of the 1/2 black POTUS and accused the officer, who has risked his own actual life TWICE defending the professor's property as a racist for daring to ask for identification of a man breaking into an upper-class home for being broken into the second time in about two weeks.

Then, our new President, who has been showing us more and more as time moves along (as well as his Harvard cronies), what a Harvard education can do for a person, shoots his teleprompter-less mouth off and says that the "police acted stupidly". As the nation's highest ranking law enforcement official, the use of the word "stupidly" is, well, stupid, especially after admitting that he did not know all the facts of the case and merely assumed the officers were at some sort of fault because police officers ALWAYS hassle the black man.

Here's a thought - Why hasn't this Harvard professor slandered the racist neighbor for calling the cops in the first place? Imagine, assuming two men forcably entring a black man's house are there for committing a crime. Or, worse yet, this racist neighbor assumed that the black man could not care for his own property. Why didn't POTUS call the neighbor "stupid" for making these assumptions? The neighborhood crime watch signs should come down immediately as they are racist for these reasons! No snitching!

Three and a half more years of this? God help us all.

According to the U.S. Constitution, I'm still allowed to say (write [type]) this.

COMPARISONS OF AN ECONOMY

Just after "THE" September 11, the U.S. economy naturally took a large dip as we entered two different theatres of war offensives. The unemployment rate was a whopping 5.2%, interest rates rose to a twenty year high of 8%. The press had a field day at Mr. Bush's expense as these were his problems at the time. Keep in mind that even with these statistics the economy was in the midst of its greatest expansion in history (thanks to RWR and his tax-lowering policies a generation earlier).

After this dip passed the U.S. went through a fifty-two consecutive month period of economic growth. Interest rates were low as were gas prices and unemployment rates. Housing boomed, incomes rose, jobs were created, etc. Then, the burst of the housing bubble and speculating in the oil market drove up gas prises and the economy tumbled. Even with this, interest rates were back up to only 7.25% or so and unemployment was a staggering 4.9% or so and the stock market crashed.

Now we have a knew President with his own party in majorities in both houses of Congress. They all exclaimed "watch us get things done now"! "Yes we can". Well, in seven short months, unemployment is over 9.5% (nationally, I just heard that here in Beloit, WI it's over 16%) and losing 450,00 jobs per month, house foreclosures at at an all-time high, bankruptcies are up 30% and the national deficit has reached $3,000,000,000,000.00! That's actual money we, the people of the U.S. are responsible to make up at some time. That's about $7700 for every person in this country - not every adult, not every taxpayer, every person.

With an economy this poor one would assume a journalism corps as technologically advanced as ours is in the U.S. would have every editor clamoring for the heads of the President, the Speaker of the House and the Senate Majority Leader, right? Not in 2009! We have a press corps full of sycophants, apologists and economic law deniers! They didn't even question a statement the administration made to the effect of "a rise in bankruptcies is good, that way more people will be free of their large financial obligations an can buy stuff. After all, this is a consumer-driven economy and buying stuff is good".

And now this same press corps is actually leading the cheers for the government to assume control of 17% more of the economy in the way of health care, without asking many questions at all. Amazing!

IDIOTS!!!

40 YEARS LATER

Today is the fortieth anniversary of Niel Armstrong's walk on the moon. Since then technology has evolved exponentially, though the space program is a shadow of its former self in importance to the lawmakers of this country and, sadly to say, more so to their constituents.

It is believed that the next goal of the space program is to determine if there is evidence of ice on the poles of the moon and/or Mars. I guess we need to determine this because the polar ice caps on this planet are melting at "alarming" rates (according to the Algore acolytes), killing the Polar Bears and raising all of our oceans thereby wreaking their salinity and altering their environments, blah, blah, blah. I wonder if the next space goal will be funded in the same manner as Cap & Tax and Obamacare, by taxing the rich - and their cigarettes.

The space program of the 1960's and 1970's was the last true national, government-sponsored program the majority of Americans supported. What will be the next one? Certainly NOT the ones being championed by our current politicians!

WITHDRAWAL

It now begins. Withdrawal. It has been a whirlwind two weeks of quality "Tizu Time". She and her Mama spent a week with us while Papa was in Vienna, Austria for his academic pursuits. Then, this weekend they visited again for the other son-inlaw's birthday celebration and Tizu spent an extra overnight with Grandma and Grandpa while Mama and Papa took the next day to plant some flower plants they dug up at at Aunt Pearl and Uncle Herb's homestead and to see "Public Enemy" of which portions were filmed in Oshkosh. Now, it appears, we have to do without our precious Tizita for almost three weeks! Ah, the life of grandparents. It will make our next reunion that much sweeter.

OBAMACARE

Not only is the "Quality, Affordable Health Coverage for All Americans, or QAHCAA, the health care bill before congress as I type, expensive, it is, as feared a complete takeover of the entire health care "insurance" industry. According to an investigation by "Investors Business Daily " http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=332548165656854 , it only took until page nineteen of the actual 1,018 -page bill to prove it. The paragraph states: "Except as provided in this paragraph, the individual health insurance issuer offering such coverage does not enroll any individual in such coverage if the first effective date of coverage is on or after the first day" of the year the legislation becomes law."

It appears as though or President has not been entirely truthful with us, AGAIN!

He actually said that under his plan we could retain our current insurer if we chose. That may be true, but we would not be able to change that insurer, EVER. This would cause service to decrease to the sane level as Obamacare, though prices probably would not rise because they would have to "compete" with Obamacare. Again, this administration has totally ignored the U.S. Constitution as nowhere does it allow the Executive Branch to disallow free enterprise for ANY reason. Check out Mark Alexander's essay on the subject http://patriotpost.us/

And how about that acronym "QAHCAA"? Say it out loud and pronounce each letter. This bill could not be more aptly named if the Republicans were allowed to name it. Way to go, dems!

Image source: The Patriot Post, 16 July, 2009

END OF LIFE

It may seem as though I have a recent morbid obsession with death, but the entries are separated by time and I couldn't help myself with this one. According to the New York Times, the "Newspaper of Record", Obamacare, soon to be at a clinic near you, is depending on us old folks to just give up and die (see attached:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/09/health/09sisters.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1).

Hey, at least we won't have to spend a lot of time watching this fiasco try to actually treat anybody!

All you seasoned citizens who voted with AARP for this Marxist power grabber, I hope you see the change you're in for.

OOPS

It turns out that Obama-Biden MAY have under estimated the dismal economic results from their "stimulus" package. Oops! Mr. Onederful actually claimed to have gotten insufficient information. When Dubya said the exact same thing about intel from Iraq, the MSM jumped down his throat and libs everywhere demanded his impeachment and resignation. And now, because BHO has the reigns...crickets. Just a couple of weeks ago this same administration claimed the recession was over, that the stimulus worked, that hundreds of thousands of jobs were created or saved. Wah happened?

The administration says they can't spend the "money" in the stimulus fast enough and because of that, we're going to have to get another stimulus bill shoved down our great-great-great grandchildrens' wallets. As is the case with most big productions, the sequel is almost always not as popular as the original. And in this case, the reviews for the original, as nominal as have been reported, are far from favorable.

LIVING ON BORROWED TIME

Farrah. When I was a young adult, that name denoted THE sex symbol of the time. She was that completely covered. She is no longer with us, taken by cancer at age 62.

Micheal Jackson. Pop music icon turned wacko, died from heart failure at 50.

Billie Mays, famous pitchman, also died of heart failure at 50.

I'm on the downward side of 54. I am not concerned, nor do I put stock in "signs", but incidents like these make one take stock and contemplate ones mortality, even if briefly. It does, however, remind me that I have an eternal soul, that I am saved, that God is still in charge and that when He is finished with me He will call me home.

INDEPENDENCE DAY

With all the store and car dealership sales, the family get-together preparations and the scheduled parades, the actual reason for the "Fourth of July" gets totally lost. I read the Federalist's "Patriot Post" newsletter today - http://patriotpost.us/ where the editor wrote a brief history in his weekly essay regarding the Declaration of Independence. It made me wonder, given the current political climate, if this country could ever have come to pass as our founders had framed it. My vote is nay. These idiots would be far more concerned about whose state would contain the capitol, how much federal aid that state would receive for the capitol, what type of paper on which the Declaration would be printed and from which state the tree forming it would be taken and, again, how much aid for it. They certainly would not not have chosen a general as the President. It probably would have been a lesser representative with very little experience in government and absolutely none in the business or agronomic communities but able to read others words extremely eloquently.

Thomas Jefferson, another wealthy white guy founder, stated that the tree of liberty needs the occasional feeding by the blood of tyrants. Is this one of those occasions?

Before you jump to conclusions and assume you know what's in my head, I am not advocating a bloody coup nor inflicting physical harm on ANYONE. I am, however, advocating voting the bums out. Any politician who voted for any of the cockamamie spending bills forwarded by BHO and his minions in the House and Senate need to be shown the door at the next election. Here in the dairy state there is a movement afoot to recall our governor for his budgetary misdeeds and hyjinx. While this may not be the exact process, it is a start.

A TOUGH STAND ON IRAN

"Iranian Idiot: 'The international capitalist order is retreating... It is absolutely obvious that the age of empires has ended and its revival will not take place. --Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on his own re-election"
Source: The Patriot Post (PatriotPost.US) –Wednesday Chronicle – 06-25-09

And so it begins. A psycho "President" in the middle east, another one on the Korean Peninsula, pirates from, of all places, Somalia, all emboldened because of "hope" and "change". Eight months ago, none of this was happening, but, I'm certain, was being considered, dependent upon the outcome of the election, a true election, here. BHO has become the joke of the world, yet not any major "comedian" in the U.S. is able to find one thing funny about the Community Organizer from Chicago.

Kim from Korea has threatened Hawaii, the second time an Asian country has done so in modern history. Ahmmanutjob from Iran insists on wiping the "Great Satan" from the planet with their nuclear arsenal. BHO's response: cut funding of surface-to-air and all other defense systems so that all important GM union bosses pensions can be "saved" and medical insurance for all can be supplied by the country's "father" (as suggested by the fawning mainstream media). Oh, I forgot, our President did send a strong letter of recommended condemnations to the U.N. to send to them. Our "leader" finally shows his true abilities.

Instead of inquiring "how did you learn to love" maybe Charlie Gibson of ABC (All Barack Channel) should have asked about the threats from Iran and North Korea those to Israel, Afghanistan and Iraq, how Cap and Tax will finally kill the Oconomy and, probably, his second term. On the other hand, I don't know if any of those answers have been input into the hard drive of hid teleprompters.

IT'S ALL OVER

Well, another vacation come and gone.

I chose not to blog on the vacation (no Facebook either). Actually, when I had the ambition, Sherri was hogging the computer (it was hers we brought along, after all). When the computer was free, I had no interest. So, following, in a nutshell, is my take on our vacation.

A little too much sun, even after advice from #2 daughter; not enough beer consumed; just enough cigars smoked (always found time for one each day on the island); fun with Tizu who is always a riot and what a great swimmer; very warm pools; very wet Gulf; only one excursion to sand bar; sun; not quite enough time spent at Blue Parrot; Yo-Yo Smashes, a local rum favorite (need I say more?); eating grilled catch-of-the-day, caught by our group; infrequent shaves; family fun; car worries; sunsets; kite flying; 110 heat indexes; 2 laptops; long drives; The Great Race; lots of sun (but I repeat myself).

All-in-all, this trip to St. George Island, Florida passed way too quickly. As quickly as we assimilated, we were as quickly back on the road, or so it seemed. One sad note, however, this will be the last trip to SGI for our beloved Taurus Wagon, which has faithfully carried us and our crap each time to this little piece of paradise in the northern Gulf of Mexico. This trip did it in and it gave its all for our pleasure and comfort. It will remain a part of our traveling future, just not for long trips. It is time for retirement as a workhorse. Take a well-deserved rest, dear friend.

FINALLY IN FLORIDA!

After two grueling days of driving, we've finally arrived to "The Forgotten Coast"!. Friday's drive was quite uneventful. We met up with the VA's at the Alabama welcome center, then on to our Days Inn in Cullman and a dip in the pool and pizza. There was one minor "incident", I guess it cold be termed. After lugging all the bags from our car into two separate rooms, turning on the AC, etc., it was determined that our room was not cooling off sufficiently - actually, not at all. After several kicks by my lovely but frustrated wife, I emerged from the pool and proceeded o the motel office to request a room change. After that was completed, all was well.

Saturday proved different. We woke up to thunder showers an very cool temperatures, to the chagrin of my lovely wife. We drove through torrential downpours and fog, heavy traffic and interminable traffic lights in two different cities. We were at least two hours behind our usual schedule.

Once Mad-j the pack mule had completed his tasks, a trip down to the shore was in order. After five minutes sitting by the waves, I inquired "were we recently in the car for two days? One bummer did occur. I called my mother who has been caring for my ailing father who recently suffered two mild strokes and PD to let her know we had arrived safely. All she could do was sold me or not calling her before we left, like I am a sixteen-year-old leaving for a month-long trip to Europe with a friend's family. She said my dad could have died and I just left without a call. Oh, that's right, this woman does not all her children; her children call her. The call did not go well.

Anyway, the opening night beers have been consumed and the cigar smoked. Life is good

T MINUS 33 HOURS - AND COUNTING

We leave for SGI in less than thirty-three hours! Whoooo-Ray!!!

FASCISM

According to my 38-year-old Webster's Collegiate dictionary - yes, I look words up because words mean things - fascism is defined as a"system of government characterized by rigid one-party dictatorship, forcible suppression of opposition, private economic enterprise under centralized government control, belligerent nationalism, racism and militarism". Quite some characteristics.

Just to be fair, I also looked up fascism in Merriam-Webster's on-line dictionary. It states: "often capitalized : a political philosophy, movement, or regime (as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition".

My point in this is that our present federal governing bodies have moved far beyond socialism (I'll let you look that one up) to fascism. Consider the Democrat party, in control of the House, the Senate and the Presidency with veto-proof majorities and majority votes (one-party dictatorship). Next, consider the probable reenactment of the "Fairness Doctrine" and the present sycophantic main stream media still fawning over The One, even to the point of calling him god-like.

Next is Government Motors. Even though he claims he doesn't want to run it, in his speech in its takeover, "I" was said thirty-eight times, "Congress" only once and the Constitution was ignored all together by our President. We, the People, also own Citigroup and are pressuring Fiat to "buy" Chrysler. This sounds like "centralized government takeover of a private enterprise" to me.

Belligerent nationalism is a little more difficult to exemplify, but the Teamsters being able to pressure BHO and his serfs in the Congress to restrict Mexican trucks on U.S. highways in direct violation of NAFTA comes to mind. The administration is too busy running its car company, its financial house and planning its takeover of the health insurance industry so hasn't had time to concern itself with nationalism just yet. But, as BHO told his Hollywood buddies "You ain't seen nothin' yet!".

Racism is a big part of this administration's agenda. If one speaks (or types, I guess) against BHO or his Latina justice pick, one is a racist. I, then, plead guilty! I was told I was a racist, or at least a bigot, during the last election because I dared express my opposition to the 1/2 black candidate the Democrats nominated and, GASP, even voted against him.

Militarism with this bunch is the most difficult because they, as a group, at least during the last eight years often disparaged the U.S. military, so one needs to use one's imagination to make this characteristic work, but they have 3-1/2 more years. Give them time.

EARLY FATHER'S DAY

The Hunters (younger daughter & hubby), wanted to celebrate father's day early as the actual date will have me returning from vacation on St. George Island, Florida. :( I took the entire day off as the kids requested we get to Brew City by 5:00pm at the latest and on a typical work day I return home by 5:00.

We began the day with a bike ride. We attempted the north end of the Milwaukee county Oak Leaf Trail. We parked in downtown Wauwatosa and headed north. The trail was detoured several times as reconstruction was being undertaken. We eventually gave up the idea of our goal of the north terminus, Dretzka Park and returned to Tosa. We toured city streets and parkways and admired the homes of character in this village.

The evening began with pizza at yet another quaint place the Hunters have discovered and sampled. The neighborhood is not the best, so al fresco dining was verboten (wow, 3 different languages in one sentence). After dining , it was off the the Bradley Center for Milwaukee Iron football. Arena football is more flash and event than actual football, but, it IS football in June, so it's good, even with only 3,000+ in an 18,000+ arena.

We then continued the night with an Iron win and celebratory imbibement at one of the Hunters' favorite haunts. The night ended with a short walk home to Casa del Hunter, some sweets purchased earlier at the same bakery 'Lissa used for her wedding desserts and bed.

Saturday I stayed in bed until 10:00am, the first time in many years this was allowed. Good-byes were exchanged and then off to Oshkosh to visit the other kids and granddaughter after a brief stop at Sherri's favorite store, the Dollar Tree. If one needs really cheap crap, especially for a single-use, this is your place.

Tizu did not disappoint. We arrived just as her nap was ending and spent the remainder of her day with her. They leave for St. George Island on Tuesday in order to visit two other families on the way down. We meet in our usual first day stop, a Day's Inn in Cullman, Alabama. We take our own beer as we discovered about six years ago, Cullman is in a dry county. Not good for vacationing Wisconsinites. We arrive on st. George Island at around 3:00pm on Saturday. We generally get in the water by 4:30 or so, and cigars are lit by dusk. This will be another unique stay as we rent a house for the second time (Margaritaville) and Tizu will be there with us, though staying in another house with her Mama and Papa. It will be fun to watch Tizu in the pools (we and they each have one) and , especially, in the Gulf of Mexico.

We made these reservations and plans beginning a year ago and since then, I've lost a job, found a new job, married off a daughter (gained a second son-in-law), gained a granddaughter, witnessed the economy tank and a 1/2 black man be elected President. It has been an historic year.

The weekend ended by cleaning gutters and downspouts of maple seed "helicopters", changing out a 60-yer-old light switch (without burning the house down - yet) grilling burgers and a cigar and beer. Simple pleasures are still the best, at least until we're told even these will be taxed to prohibition.

IT'S ALL OVER IN 6 YEARS

I just attempted to watch an ABC network special "news" report "Earth: 2100". From what I saw, about thirty seconds, it must be a comedy. The special showed old shots of floods, hurricanes, etc. attempting to scare us into believing that this will be our daily existence in six short years. These "experts" actually stated that, if the world doesn't change its emissions of "greenhouse gases" right now, we could be at the "point of no return" by 2015. My math makes that only six years (five and a half, actually). Well, if that's the case, let's skip the bailouts, saving the auto companies, raising taxes, lowering taxes, even saving the planet because China, India and most of Africa will night sign onto this, so, it's all but over.

Wait, in six years, The One will be half way through his second glorious, wonderful, Camelot-like term. Shouldn't he have already saved the planet with his Government Motors cars, higher CAFE standards, cap and trade policies, taxing the rich, increasing ethanol use and bloating the size of the deficit, the national debt and the government itself? That would make ABC's INSIPID "news" special moot, wouldn't it?