An Old Timer's Observations of Life

Some Random Bits

2009-04-29T09:20:00.005-05:00

We open with an appropriate quote from Mark Twain: "I think it is not wise for an emperor, or a king, or a president, to come down into the boxing ring, so to speak, and lower the dignity of his office by meddling in the small affairs of private citizens."
- Mark Twain in Eruption

I wonder how the President put the screws to the FBI?: "Obama praises the FBI, says country is counting on it." Every time he praises a department he has just pulled a stunt to embarrass or demoralize it.

Official who OK'd N.Y. flyby accused of 'felony stupidity', according to headline at CNN. Do they not realize this is a Democrat Party administration? There are no stupid people in the Democrat Party. Or is there?

For President Obama, I have collected a few quotes from Sir Winston Churchill.

"You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life."

"The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter."

"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery."

"The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries."
Winston Churchill

I wonder if he reads the Old Timer's Observations?

The President's Message on Swine Flu

2009-04-27T19:22:00.001-05:00

I admire a President that can use a pandemic outbreak of swine flu to promote acceptance of his outrageous health care plan. Most prudent men would use the air time to assure the public that our health community would meet the challenge of the outbreak and caution against panic. But your President is more innovative than I, so I suppose that is why he is President?

Obama quickly, confidently adapts to presidency

2009-04-24T10:56:00.002-05:00

The title to this blog is the headline of article from Associated Press article in Google News that this quote was found, "I feel surprisingly comfortable in the job," the nation's 44th president said a mere two weeks after taking the helm.

If you have no conscience, then you have no jitters.
If you have no concern for right or wrong, then you have no jitters.
If you have no concern for the suffering of your fellow man, then you have no jitters.
If you have no concern for your country, then you have no jitters.
If you have no concern for the morality of your fellow citizens, then you have no jitters.
If you have no concern for anything other than your own ego, then you have no jitters.

You can add yours to the list.

Just remember this quote from David Axelrod, "You also want a confident president, someone who is willing to make decisions and live with the consequences of those decisions, and that is the kind of president he is."

Decisions like his stubborn insistence that we will not persecute the legal team that wrote the opinions on enhanced interrogation?
Decisions like his executive order not to hire past lobbyists?
Decisions like his campaign promise to secure our southern borders?
Decisions like his executive order not to ..... ???

Another Broken Promise?

2009-04-13T21:41:00.002-05:00

When then President-Elect Obama originally announced that he had promised their daughters they would get a family dog once they were settled into the White House he stated repeatedly they would acquire a 'rescue dog'. One from a shelter, or a mutt as he put it. Has he again broken his word by selecting Bo?

Bo is from the same breeders as President Obama's mentor, Senator Ted Kennedy. Bo was originally adopted by another family and then conveniently returned to the breeders as incompatible. Senator Kennedy also selected a litter mate of Bo.

Bo spent a month with the Kennedy's dog trainer in Virginia. Senator Kennedy arranged the match of Bo and the Obama's.

Bo is a gift to the Obamas' daughters from the Kennedys, said a spokeswoman for Michelle Obama.

Carefully note this will be the first and hopefully last time I agree with this group:

PETA's Ingrid Newkirk, in a letter to the President, writes that she finds it "disquieting that your decision to get a 'purebred' dog from a breeder will inspire others to do the same and that the subtlety of acquiring a dog who had a home but originally came from a breeding kennel may be lost on most people," but she notes that the group is gratified with the First Family's plan to make a donation to the Washington Humane Society.

Is Bo a rescue dog? Did the President again go back on his promise?

You decide.

Overseas Contingency Operations

2009-04-10T14:36:00.003-05:00

When I first heard this term to replace Global War On Terror I was perplexed as to the reasoning for the redefinition of the war. Then today I had an epiphany. Eventually this conflict will end and if it is a war someone will win and someone will lose. This is not politically correct as the "loser" will have it's psyche damaged beyond repair and the "winner" will experience an exaggerated sense of pride that could lead to further aggression on their part. Renaming the conflict will eliminate this possibility of psychological damage to both sides. Don't you see that the Omnipotent Administration is looking out for our psychological well being?

Contingency: The quality of being contingent; unpredictability; A possibility; something which may or may not happen.

I see the term as appropriate to the Global War On Terror. The actions are unpredictable; there are possibilities the terrorist may or may not do something unpredictable with unseen results. However, the actions of the current adminstration is predictable. He talk them into ennui and while in a state of trance he will grant them amnesty and they will become citizens of the United States of America. All will live happily ever after.

Climate Change, or Man's Abuse?

2009-04-06T00:49:00.004-05:00

"One Antarctic ice shelf has quickly vanished, another is disappearing and glaciers are melting faster than anyone thought"

The above from an Reuters article April 5, 2009. Do you wonder, as I do, if this unpredicted rapid increase in Antarctic ice melt more to due the hot air from Washington than from climate change? I have also often wondered if the predictions of ice melt and its causes considered all of the buildings on the ice caps; all of the very deep holes drilled for testing; all the human waste products discarded; all of the gas powered track vehicles there; all the air strips and their constant aircraft landings and takeoffs; the ice breakers keeping hundreds of miles of open water through the ice surrounding the ice caps; the multitude of ships traveling in and out of the ice cap ports; and the many other contributing causes?

I am sure the many tracks of open water maintained by the worlds ice breakers allow warmer currents of sea water to undercut the base of the ice shelves and continuously wash against the shores are major contributors to the deterioration of the environment in the Antarctic. I base this on simple deduction; and the many articles of concern I read long ago. Since Al Gore's infamous lies began, these articles no longer appear in print. Even our scientist are wary of the Politically Correct Police Force. If they make a statement not popular with the bed wetters, they will be forced by their socialist college regents to resign and sacrifice their eldest to the Carbon Cap Guardians.

I am not preaching that our climate is not warming. Even with all the record snow fall, anyone with reasoning power will conclude we are affecting our environment. I am preaching that destruction of the fragile areas of the world is more from the intrusion and abuse of the areas more than natural climate change. We are so selfish we invade these areas with absolutely no thought nor care for the consequences of our endeavors. we are only concerned that we get our sound bites on CNN and Fox News. And of course some of the eclectic bed wetters will appear on MSNBC and HBO's very own Bill Maher. That justifies their destruction of the fragile wonders of our non renewable world.

April 1st stuff

2009-04-03T11:59:00.004-05:00

I intended to scribe this last Wednesday but conditions did not permit.

Did all of you celebrate National Atheist Day Wednesday? You were probably not even aware of the momentous day of celebration. That is the day named with atheists, Sean Penn, Bill Maher, Joy Behar, and others of their ilk. Christians refer to that day as April Fools Day.

"Bill Maher is one of the most politically astute comedians in America today."

I saw this quote and it prompted me to remind all of you of this day of celebration for the atheists and other camp followeres. This is without a doubt one of the dumbest adults I can think of. Even more so than David Letterman and Sean Penn. This man has never, to my knowledge, uttered one comment that did not sound like it came from a person whose mental capacity arrested at 12 years old. A statement on his 'astuteness' is the fact he can only get a job on HBO. We know how desperate HBO is for shows by scanning down their program list. They do not have one show that is written by an adult.

Bill Maher is so retarded in his political and social beliefs that I cannot watch his show. Every time I watch a little I have to change the channel as I become so embarrassed to be of the same animal classification as he.

What really saddens me is that since the election all of the sub specie have oozed out from under the dank spots under the rocks. Even some of our politicians are emboldened to reveal their true infantile mentality. Amazing that so many people could reach such advanced age and still be so dumb. Look at the actions of the White House Administration, House of Representatives and Senate to realize our education system failed long before 'modern math'. Only a Harvard graduate could multiply 1.2 trillion by 6 and come up with 1.6 trillion as the answer.

One final comment and I will close this rant of an unorganized mind. Do you realize that the interest on the Presidents budget alone will be more than the federal budget during the Reagan administration? That does not consider the "STIMULUS" package nor "TARP".

Sleep well.

Some Random Musings

2009-03-31T10:23:00.002-05:00

It has been a while since I published anything here. I have been so overwhelmed with the stupidity of our government that I felt if I put my feelings to print the FBI would be knocking on my door. My senses are now anesthetized so there is no risk of any outrageous thoughts, such as, "Are those idiots out of their ever loving mind?"

I am very excited to learn that President Obama and his tax dodging directors of the Treasury can do a better job running corporate America than the corporate directors educated and trained to do the job. They demonstrated that this week by first firing the CEO of General Motors and then actually made the statement on television that the government was the only ones capable of fixing GM. So you can sleep well tonight because the UAW will not have to worry about giving up any benefits or make any financial sacrifice that the rest of us have.

Some of you are used to my warped sense of humor so you will appreciate this little anecdote. I am writing this blog from the medical center where Dot is have an arteriogram procedure today. Walking down the very long corridor a few minutes ago I noted that every door had a sign indicating what was beyond the doors. As I passed one that had a sign, "Telephone Closet". I was thinking this was unusual nomenclature. At that moment an employee approached. I ask if they had a key to the Telephone Closet? Response was that they did not have a key and ask why I needed a key. I told him I needed to make a phone call and that was the only Telephone Closet I could find. Needless to say, it went over his head. I know this because he gave me explicit directions to the nearest public phone. Do you ever have these questions?

I have to shut down for now as the hospital staff are kicking me out of the room. I am sure I will have more later today as anytime I am out in public I see so much to comment on.

Comment on Society

2009-03-15T01:57:00.003-05:00

Maybe I'm just getting old, but when did the word "issue" replace the word "problem?"
Could it have been when the schools nationwide tried to let each underachiever attain some level of "self-esteem"? They no longer had "problems" learning, but might have "issues" that prevented them from learning.

Two comments found on the Pajamas Media site:
Upon the Obamaniacs comparing The Obama to Jesus - "Obama spends while Jesus saves."
and
"The difference between The Obama and Jesus is that Jesus knew how to build a cabinet."

Forget where I heard this one, "When you blame others for your problems, you give up your ability to solve them."

This is a quote from an article on the People Magazine web site, "Nineteen-year-old Levi Johnston, the former fiancé of Bristol Palin and father to her child, has had to grow up fast, but says in a new interview that he needs to "mature" before considering marriage. "

It is obvious from the description of who Levi Johnston is that the article was written by a woman (Kristin Boehm). This is not a male chauvinistic thing, but a statement of perspective. Would the phrase "and father to her child" have been different from a man's perspective? Would a man have written, "and father to their child"?

We make statements from our own point of view without any intent to be offensive, selective, or ethnically motivated. Which leads me to the point of this rambling which is, why does everyone get their pants in a wad over every perceived slight or slur? If we all realized that every person on earth makes innocent comments based on their own experience in life without intention of malice this society would be better for it.

This point is why I led into this article with the first quote regarding the use of "issues". The reason we have 'issues' is because we raise our children to be competitive but not keep a score book of wins and losses. The word "lose" is not in our school's vocabulary today.

Why Do I Love Congress?

2009-03-12T13:11:00.002-05:00

I just read a Boston Globe news release bragging that Massachusetts will receive a $177,000,000 cut of the $8,000,000,000 state and local weatherization and energy efficiency programs. The article goes on to state this $177,000,000 will create 6,500. I hope the new employees do not plan on this being a life time career. According to my $3 Big Lott's calculator this works out to be $27,230 per new employee. The article asserts the $8,000,000,000 will create 87,000 jobs nationally. You do the math and see if you also arrive at $91,954 per job.

These figures assume all the money goes to the new employees and none to existing administrators. And considering this is a weatherization program this assumes no cost for materials, insurance, forced health care, mandatory union fees, etc.

Does anyone else wonder where the bling is?

While ranting here I received one the ubiquitous forwarded emails that pretty much sums up my attitude today.

HOW TO START EACH DAY WITH A POSITIVE OUTLOOK
1. Open a new file in your computer.

2. Name it 'Barack Obama'.

3. Send it to the Recycle Bin.

4. Your PC will ask you: 'Do you really want to get rid of 'Barack Obama?'

5. Firmly Click 'Yes.'

6. Feel better?

GOOD!

Tomorrow we'll do Nancy Pelosi

This is now History, But.....

2009-03-11T14:25:00.002-05:00

Just to remind you where your grand children's money will be going.
These are some of the things the great job creation program is being financed.

• $2 billion earmark to re-start FutureGen, a near-zero emissions coal power plant in Illinois that the Department of Energy defunded last year because it said the project was inefficient.

• A $246 million tax break for Hollywood movie producers to buy motion picture film.

• $650 million for the digital television converter box coupon program.

• $88 million for the Coast Guard to design a new polar icebreaker (arctic ship).

• $448 million for constructing the Department of Homeland Security headquarters.

• $248 million for furniture at the new Homeland Security headquarters.

• $600 million to buy hybrid vehicles for federal employees.

• $400 million for the Centers for Disease Control to screen and prevent STD's.

• $1.4 billion for rural waste disposal programs.

• $125 million for the Washington sewer system.

• $150 million for Smithsonian museum facilities.

• $1 billion for the 2010 Census, which has a projected cost overrun of $3 billion.

• $75 million for "smoking cessation activities."

• $200 million for public computer centers at community colleges.

• $75 million for salaries of employees at the FBI.

• $25 million for tribal alcohol and substance abuse reduction.

• $500 million for flood reduction projects on the Mississippi River.

• $10 million to inspect canals in urban areas.

• $6 billion to turn federal buildings into "green" buildings.

• $500 million for state and local fire stations.

• $650 million for wildland fire management on forest service lands.

• $1.2 billion for "youth activities," including youth summer job programs.

• $88 million for renovating the headquarters of the Public Health Service.

• $412 million for CDC buildings and property.

• $500 million for building and repairing National Institutes of Health facilities in Bethesda, Maryland.

• $160 million for "paid volunteers" at the Corporation for National and Community Service.

• $5.5 million for "energy efficiency initiatives" at the Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration.

• $850 million for Amtrak.

• $100 million for reducing the hazard of lead-based paint.

• $75 million to construct a "security training" facility for State Department Security officers when they can be trained at existing facilities of other agencies.

• $110 million to the Farm Service Agency to upgrade computer systems.

• $200 million in funding for the lease of alternative energy vehicles for use on military installations.

Just Some Thoughts

2009-03-08T13:06:00.002-05:00

I am absolutely convinced my definition of 'transparency' and this administration's definition are at odds. It seems that their 'transparency' means if caught apologize. Not exactly my interpretation. I would think little things like not paying income tax would be one of the first things revealed to the public if we are truly in a transparent society. As it turns out, the only time the administration practices transparency is when some outside source reveals their digressions from the moral straight line. Otherwise, out of sight, out of mind it seems.

Along that line, I think I have determined the real reason for our current economic woes. Only the middle class have paid their taxes in the last 10 years. I wonder would we have all this chaos if the leaders of our country and our business leaders had paid their taxes? Would we have to then raise the taxes on the rich? Would it matter to them if they don't pay their taxes anyway?

Change of pace here. I am so proud of my Congressional Representative (D) Hank Johnson. He made me stand tall this week when he boldly proclaimed that there are absolutely ( his word) no earmarks in the President's Economic Recovery Act! That was so refreshing to know he passed up the opportunity to actually read the package and relied, as he should, on Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. If you can't believe and trust Nancy, who can you turn to?

Did you note as I did that during the President's message to congress that Nancy had an expression that she was pinching back a gas attack? Every time the President made a point she popped up like a Jack-in-the-Box. Even then she had that look of pain on her face. I finally realized it was really that she was galled to abdicate her throne, even for a few minutes, to someone of lesser importance than herself.

Enough for now or SS will be checking on me.
Next time I will bring the true force behind the so-called health reform.

The Presidents Oratory

2009-02-25T09:20:00.004-05:00

I did not watch the President's oratory to Congress last night. I did read the text version. It doesn't make my skin itch the way his voice does. I wonder if the itching sensation is similar to Chris Matthews leg tingle? Anyway, I noted that our omnicient leader stated that America invented the automobile and solar energy. I hate to pop baloons but the man "mis-stated" these facts.

First the second. Solar energy development has been an evolutionary process dating back to 1767 when Swiss scientist Horace de Saussure is credited with building the world's first solar collector. An American did first use selenium wafers to convert light to electric current, but he did not discover the ability of selenium to generate electric current. In 1873 that was attributed to Willoughby Smith, a British electrical engineer when he discovered the photoconductivity of selenium.

In the 15th century Leonardo da Vinci was creating designs and models for transport vehicles. Like the solar energy invention, the automobile was an evolutionary process. It is generally accepted that Karl Benz from Germany created the first true automobile in 1885/1886.

Do you suppose he used same speech writer as Al Gore?

A quote from his speech:
"Right now, three-quarters of the fastest-growing occupations require more than a high school diploma. And yet, just over half of our citizens have that level of education. We have one of the highest high school dropout rates of any industrialized nation. And half of the students who begin college never finish."

His obvious knee jerk is to throw money at it. Could it be that the text books in our schools are written to pacify the descendants of the flower children? That they are philosophical statements of the liberal far left, rather than presenting true facts of science and history. My grand daughter became distraught when I explained to her that we really did land men on the moon! She had been taught throughout her public school years that the moon landings were propaganda films made by the military-industrial combines. Since only those that are truly educated will read this I need not go into other un-American topics in our text books. The other problem is the teachers were trained in these mythical concepts, therefore they do not even know they are spouting rhetoric instead of facts.

Getting upset so that will conclude this rant.

Stimulus or stiffinus?

2009-02-10T09:22:00.001-05:00

I sent an inquiry to the Obama administration seeking job description for rubber czar. When the "Pelosi payback" is enacted I want to be in charge of Trojan distribution.

I have a nephew that has already applied for the position of "sodding specialist". He wanted to be first in line when they start the Mall resodding program financed by those of us that do not qualify for "Pelosi Payback".

I am sure we will all be richer with Senator Byrd's $4.6 billion "Clean, carbon-neutral coal can be a 'green' energy," program.

"$6.2 billion for home weatherization?"
"Well, let's think about it," the president said, seizing on the weatherization example. "We're going to weatherize homes, that immediately puts people back to work and we're going to train people who are out of work, including young people, to do the weatherization. As a consequence of weatherization, our energy bills go down and we reduce our dependence on foreign oil. What would be a more effective stimulus package than that?"

I am sure Michael Moore's greasy face was somewhere in this one. A $246 million tax break for Hollywood movie producers to buy motion picture film.

$600 million to buy hybrid vehicles for federal employees. Big 3 produced, or rice burners?

$75 million for "smoking cessation activities." Wasn't that accomplished yesterday with the 61 cents federal tax increase? And what is a "smoking cessation activity?"

$160 million for "paid volunteers" at the Corporation for National and Community Service. Would some one explain the definition of a "paid" volunteer? Here is the definition I adhere to.
"One who enters into, or offers for, any service of his own free will, especially when done without pay; One who enters into military service ..."
en.wiktionary.org/wiki/volunteer

Cheney on cannibalism in an interview with Sean Hannity: When asked by Hannity who would be at the top of his menu, Cheney said, "Michael Moore looks pretty juicy." But Cheney backtracked a bit. "If it is true that you are what you eat, I would have to choose more conservatively, and maybe look for someone with a little less gristle, perhaps Sarah Palin."

Random Observations

2009-02-05T10:11:00.010-05:00

Have you ever noticed that when President Obama turns the microphone over to one of his underlings he has the body language and facial expression of one that is struggling to keep from passing gas?

Cheney on cannibalism in an interview with Sean Hannity: When asked by Hannity who would be at the top of his menu, Cheney said, "Michael Moore looks pretty juicy." But Cheney backtracked a bit. "If it is true that you are what you eat, I would have to choose more conservatively, and maybe look for someone with a little less gristle, perhaps Sarah Palin."

Tonight I watched the "Count Down With Keith Olbermann". I am sure you know the one I refer to; the 16 year old mentality in a middle aged body. I was flabbergasted. He ran the segment of the US Airways Flight 1549 and he did not have one snide nor juvenile remark on the episode. In fact, and I am sure this grated his soul, he complimented the Captain and crew. I never in my wildest dreams would expect a positive comment would be allowed past his lips. Of couse he made up for it by gnawing on that old dry bone of Dck Cheney's comments that only MSNBC found worthy of air time.

On alternative power: From all I read wind power will be increasing more than solar power, but the best wind locations are usually in very isolated areas with no power grid. Then where there are good locations for wind power near population areas there are other problems, such as the tendency to kill bats on eastern mountain ridges, not to mention the efforts by some people to block the offshore ones. Wind power will increase, but again, to make it the main power source for electricity these problems will have to be reconciled. I can see PETA and the other tree huggers rubbing their hands in glee, looking for the opportunity to screw the world again. Those people really need a life, don't they?

Next time you hear some one advocating solar power ask them where we will dispose of all the polysilicons when the panels die? We can't even dispose of alkaline batteries safely.

Does anyone remember TASS? I truly believe the Huffingtonpost.com is a direct descendant.

MSNBC Terrorfied of Vice President Cheney!

2009-02-05T07:13:00.007-05:00

I have so many thoughts to expound on that I have put off commenting on all. Somewhat like when you save to buy a new car and then when you get to the dealership there are so many options you can't decide which model you really want, much less the color. Well, that is the democrat administration and congress. They offer so much to upset me I can't set them in proper priority. I will start with MSNBC and Vice President Cheney. I can not for the life of me fathom their fear of this kindly old man.

But first, if you wonder that I refer to him as Vice President Cheney it is because I am not yet convinced we have a new Vice President. I see a Presidential lackey and fall guy in "good old Joe".

Last night MSNBC made my decision for this mornings rant. They were so incensed and paranoid the former Vice President Cheney had the temerity and bad taste to voice his misgivings of the Presidents national defense actions to date. Isn't this the same gang of bushwhackers that vilified him with every evil personification they could find in the thesaurus? I know they had to look up the words because, in my humble opinion, the entire gang at MSNBC collectively are not intelligent enough to originate a phrase. Unless of course it is in adulation of our current President.

Let's see. The most dangerous man ever to hold the office, War Criminal, War Lord, Child Murderer, Genocidal, Mob Boss, Egomaniacal Criminal, Sadist, Torturer, are some titles to give you the sense of people like MSNBC.

As a side thought, I wonder if the "tingle" Chris Matthews felt about Cheney was between his shoulders, rather than up his leg when OBama speaks?

The reason the Hand Wringers and Limp Wrists despise Vice President Cheney is that he is a man of conviction. He believes in his actions and takes full responsibility for them. He does not whimper and look for someone to put in prison if his actions are not the correct ones. He knows he acted in true belief. Unfortunately, today if things don't work we are driven to find someone to debase for it.

When Cheney rather graphically told Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (Vt.), what to do to himself, he later on Fox News Cheney explained his outburst as: "Well, I expressed myself rather forcefully, felt better after I had done it."

I think that sums up the difference in left wing "progressives" and the confident right wing in our society.

First President to Skip Ball Honoring Medal of Honor Recipients in Over 50 Years

2009-01-25T23:05:00.004-05:00

This is a quote from the "The Cleveland Leader" news paper, Submitted by Julie on January 21, 2009.

Begin Quote:
"The newly sworn-in President opted not to appear at what should have been one of the most important Balls on his agenda that evening - The Salute to Heroes Inaugural Ball.

The Salute to Heroes Inaugural Ball was begun in 1953 for President Dwight Eisenhower's inauguration. The event recognized recipients of the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military award. There were 48 Medal of Honor recipients in attendance, who were undoubtedly disappointed by the Commander-in-Chief's failure to show. Over the past 56 years and 14 inaugurations, no President has skipped this event - until now." End Quote

I don't believe any words from me are needed, other than he again breaks from Bush. I think his actions spoke volumes.

President is making it happen?

2009-01-24T15:24:00.002-05:00

I think I now understand what Chris Matthews meant when he said President Obama sent a tingle up his leg (he did not specify which leg!) after reading this quote, referring to our new President.

"It's as if Superman stepped out of a phone booth and became Clark Kent," said Fred Greenstein, a Princeton University professor emeritus of politics.

A definitive description of what has happened so far; signal a sense of motion.

“That is an enormously complicated situation,” Mr. Axelrod said Friday afternoon in an interview in his West Wing office, adding: “Obviously, you can’t solve problems overnight. But what you can do is signal a sense of motion, a sense of ferment and activity and direction. And I think that he is doing that.”

On openness and transparency

A quote from article by By SHERYL GAY STOLBERG Published: January 24, 2009 in the New York Times. (and if we cannot believe everything published in the New York Times, what can we believe?)
[quote]When Mr. Obama wandered into the White House briefing room Thursday afternoon hoping to make small talk with reporters, he was instantly confronted by an unwelcome question: Why was he waiving his tough restrictions on lobbying for a Pentagon nominee? The president brushed it off, saying he would not return “if I’m going to get grilled every time I come.”[endquote]

I suppose all the EXECUTIVE ORDERS he sighed only apply when convenient?

All I can handle in one session.

Subtle signs of aging

2009-01-23T16:15:00.002-05:00

Last weekend we celebrated our mother's 90th birthday. To accommodate all we met at General Coffee State Park in Douglas, Georgia.

We were commenting on our mother's general well being at her advanced age and a couple of events came to mind.

Until very recently I worked events at Atlanta Motor Speedway managing food concessions. One event I had been working 20 hours a day for 5 straight days and was taking advantage of a lull during the race. A young boy about 12 years old walked up to me and said he would like to shake my hand. I wondered why, but of course shook the youngster's hand. While shaking hands he said, "Thank you very much for all you have done."

I was somewhat puzzled so I responded, "I appreciate that, but what are you thanking me for?"

He said his mother had taught him that every time he met a veteran he should shake his hand and thank him.

I had to ask, "How did you know I am a veteran. We have never seen each other before?"

With the sincerity only the innocent can show he said, "Because you look like one!"

Then he went on his way.

I sat there a few minutes reflecting on his comments and sincerity then I realized I must look like a very old man, even though I was only 70 at the time.

I was finishing up a 100 hour work week so I could not really be that old.

Or could I?

As I am sure all NASCAR fans know, during the presentation of colors there is a flyover by the United States Air Force. At Atlanta Motor Speedway this is traditionally a B1 bomber. This particular race day we were closing down the concession stand and I noticed the flight crew of the B1 clustered near that stand. I invited them over for complimentary food and refreshments. Their flight commander came over and when he noticed my Air Force cap he asked where I had served. I went through the obligatory list of assignments and when I mentioned the B58 program he stopped me. He asked what I did on the B58 and when I told him I was on the original Operations and Test Team he was elated. He called his crew over and introduced to them and made sure each knew I had been associated with the B58.

I commented that the program was so long ago no one cared about the obsolete aircraft. He said that was not true. The B58 was why he was an Air Force bomber pilot. He told me that his very first model airplane he constructed was the B58. He said that he would never forget that even though he was only 10 years old at the time. He was 38 at the time of this conversation.

After they went to meet their ride, it hit me. The B58 bomber was already obsolete before he was born!

Made me feel my age.

These anecdotes were not to espouse myself but to make the point that regardless of your chronological age you are still as young as you feel.

Enjoy life while young and celebrate life when you are old.

Word of the day: Transparency

2009-01-10T09:46:00.002-05:00

I am confused by the fascination new administration has with the term "transparency". I haven't determined if they are referring to openness, or do they really mean accountability. There is a tremendous difference in the two terms. Transparency in the context used by the administration implies to me openness in all areas of government. This does not insure, nor imply accountability in the context used. I am sure that they want us to believe they are talking about accountability, but that is not what is said.

One example is the President's nominee for Secretary of the Treasury. Timothy Keithner has been very open and transparent in his forced discussions regarding his years of tax evasion. Has he proven accountability regarding this? No, he hasn't, but he has admitted he was careless and made bad judgments regarding his choice to evade income taxes. That is transparent.

Accountability implies proven and published proof of action, and that action meets all standards of conduct for the given action. Transparency only means they make minutes available. By definition, transparency does not provide proof of ethics or responsibility.

I am not a great fan of forced transparency. There are too many areas where sensitive discussions must take place for a responsible decision or course of action to be resolved. These may include personalities or capabilities of individuals involved. These may, if published to the public, harm that person's career and/or reputation when in fact the comments or determinations do not in any way demean or debase that person's abilities at all. It only relates to a given circumstance. That is only one example, if somewhat obfuscated.

Another question regarding the administrations fascination with transparency. When do we see the details of all meetings? How do we know this is all meetings that will be made transparent? How soon after the meetings do we see the transparencies?

I would rather see accountability of the actions resulting from these meetings and discussions.

Below are definitions from wikipedia and Websters Dictionary for transparency and accountability. I leave it to you to decide what President Obama really means when using the term transparency.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accountability
Accountability is a concept in ethics with several meanings. It is often used synonymously with such concepts as answerability, enforcement, responsibility, blameworthiness, liability and other terms associated with the expectation of account-giving.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accountability
Transparency: The spirit of personal openness and vulnerability. The idea of relating "this is who I really am" to another human being, without expending the mental and emotional energy in hiding, deceiving, or otherwise faking it, creates authentically satisfying human experience.

Websters Dictionary
Transparency: 1: something transparent ; especially : a picture (as on film) viewed by light shining through it or by projection
2: the quality or state of being transparent

Accountability: The quality or state of being accountable ; especially : an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility or to account for one's actions

Senator Harry Reid's Qualities

2009-01-07T19:12:00.003-05:00

I read somewhere today a line that said Harry Reid is "feckless". At the moment I do not recall the source. When and if I find it again I will give credit.

I have heard and have used this word a few times over the past 72 years so I decided to check the true meaning. One thing that I do know now is that the word defines Harry Reid precisely.

Feckless also defines his reason for being. ("feckless means ineffective or having no real worth or purpose;")

The man is incapable of making an independent decision; when he makes a decision it is so asinine that he has to reverse it every time; after the reversed decision he then determines that there was no reason for a decision in the first place. Just seemed like a good idea at the time.

So far as I can determine the only difference in a Harry Reid decision and a Nancy Pelosi decision is that Pelosi will stick to hers regardless of how inane it may be.

Dictionary.com
1. ineffective; incompetent; futile: feckless attempts to repair the plumbing.
2. having no sense of responsibility; indifferent; lazy.

Thesaurus.com

Main Entry: feckless
Part of Speech: adjective

Definition: without purpose

Synonyms: aimless, carefree, careless, feeble, fustian, futile, good-for-nothing*, hopeless, incautious, incompetent, ineffective, ineffectual, irresponsible, meaningless, reckless, shiftless, uncareful, useless, weak, wild, worthless

Notes: feckless means ineffective or having no real worth or purpose; reckless means marked by unthinking boldness or with defiant disregard for danger or consequences

Antonyms: competent, effective, effectual, efficient, purposeful, responsible, strong, useful

Resurection of This Blog

2009-01-06T09:35:00.004-05:00

With the new administration poised to destroy our great nation I feel it necessary that I revive this blog site.

Aside from the impending disaster affectionately referred to by President Elect Obama as the "economic stimulus package" a more disturbing observation is the "arrogance of power" displayed thus far.

This has been gradually formulating in my old and worn out gray cells for some time. Then with the announcement of Leon Panetta as head of the CIA it hit me. Our soon to be President is so omniscient that he does not need to consult with those responsible for the departments he is naming new directors for. I saw a quote this morning by Senator Diane Feinstein, chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, stating that she had not been consulted on this appointment. Senator Feinstein does not seem to be happy with this action by our soon to be Commander-In-Chief.

“My position has consistently been that I believe the agency is best served by having an intelligence professional in charge at this time,” Senator Feinstein said.

The issue here is how far does the new administration go to avoid any association with the outgoing administration? We know the left wing hand wringers, to a person, feel that the outgoing administration is an evil and demonic entity, but it is difficult to imagine that every single person in that administration fits that bill. I find it difficult to believe there are any more evil people here than will be in the incoming administration.

Good gracious, look at Bill Richardson, Al Franken, Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi! The persons mentioned here are either lacking in moral ethics, or lacking in basic decision making skills. Unfortunately, they are symptomatic of our new government.

It is going to be a long and painful four years.

My Rant on Street Protesters

2008-04-09T14:39:00.000-05:00

Let me start this rant by saying that I have no problem with persons who protest injustices.
I do wonder what amazing accomplishments these street protesters would achieve if they devoted as much energy in productive initiatives as they devote to being street thugs.
And do they really accomplish anything other than creating chaos and extra expenses for local governments that have to clean up after them. I firmly believe a more effective method of dealing with street thugs of this ilk and others that disrupt public meetings would be to charge them for the extra expenses dealing with their crap.
Don't put them in jail, just send a bill and if they don't pay put them in paupers prison until they remit total compensation. That would include the costs associated with their incarceration.
It is obvious to me they can afford to pay these expenses as they seem not to have to work for a living as the people they are harassing do.
Just a thought on the subject.

Iraq and our brave Congressional leaders

2007-07-12T18:57:00.000-05:00

How do we tell Iraq we will support them but our days of combat are over?
How do we support them without combat as the nation is a battlefield?
Did our Congress really graduate from American schools?
Did none of them ever study political science?
Did none of them ever salute the American Flag?
Did none of them ever declare their Pledge of Allegiance?

On the last two, I now remember the answer.
They did neither of the last two because their flower children predecessors declared those demonstrations of loyalty as unconstitutional. Therefore they were not allowed to show these demonstrations of loyalty.

I am going to have to drop cable news off my cable. I am in too poor mental condition to understand all this rationale for attempting to run our President out of office.

Which all this rhetoric is about as not one Congressman in office really cares what happens in Iraq or what agony our troops suffer for them so long as they can vent their vitriol with impunity.

Food Contamination and Immunity

2007-02-20T22:02:00.000-05:00

I often wonder why we have become so suscepticle to food contaminations such as salmonella and other such dangers. I know these are real, but I have to wonder why I never heard of these being pandemic for the first 50 years or so of my life. Same with some of the other very real and fatal ailments that we suffer from today.

Why this came to mind is that I just read an article in the Canadian press titled "Of Peanut Butter and Paranoia". The article is about the reaction to recent incidents of salmonella contamination of food products. Then the current recall of peanut butter. The article related that the same day the writer recognized her peanut butter was in the recall lot number sequence, her husband at a peanut butter sandwich and fell prey the dreaded ailments.

The irony of this is that we have eaten 3 jars of the suspect peanut butter with absolutely no symptoms whatsoever. There are 2 jars of regular creamy and 1 jar of creamy with honey. Why would we not have any symptoms when hundreds of people are suffering miserably with it. I am not implying they did not get ill from the peanut butter, simply asking the question of why some do fall ill and others do not.

My own conclusion is that we grew up in a generation that did not pamper themselves. Earning a living and surviving was too time consuming. The facilities and conveniences were not available or did not exist yet. People drank water from springs or open wells, ate food left over and unrefrigerated, ate wild animals, domestic animals, and other foods that today the government would arrest the parents for serving. It probably this that conditioned our digestive and immune systems to ignore these contaminations today that cause such widespread suffering.

I state again that I do know the people that are suffering from these contaminations are indeed afflicted and they have my deepest sympathy.

A disclaimer of content

2007-02-20T20:26:00.000-05:00

I have to state at the outset that I believe that "free speech" means that I can make observations of personal opinions that may be included in the social engineers handbook of blasphemy. I do not intend for any words or phrases to be culturally, ethnically or racially offensive; some comments have to be what today some see as insulting or demeaning. Why that is will most likely be touched on in later ramblings. I just want to be on record that if you one who looks for slights, or confirmation of your insecurity, you are in the correct place.

Entries will be sporadic as the driving force is a need to vent, rant and rave to maintain sanity.