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Okay, here's a little something to prove just how slow some in DC really are. And how they just aren't listening to We, the people. Let's take a look at Dingy Harry (do we actully have to go any further?), who recently had the revelation that the TEA party was driving the newly elected Congress, and other Republicans, to act a certain way. His exact words were when Bob Scheiffer on "Face the Nation" queried Reid about if he felt House Speaker John Boehner's Republican leadership was intimidated by the Tea Party, to which Reid answered, "That's a pretty good choice of words. The answer is yes. The Tea Party is dictating a lot that goes on in the Republican leadership in the House." Ya think, Harry?
Amazingly, just before that bit of wisdom, he also stated that "the Republican leadership in the House has to make a decision: whether they are going to do the right thing for the country or do the right thing for the Tea Party." I had to do a double take on that one! Does he really believe the TEA Parties of this country want to do something besides save the nation? Or that what he and his cronies HAVE done the right thing for us all these years in DC?
Now let's bring in Chuckie Schumer, another real braintrust. On ABC's This Week, Schumer said that he felt the Tea Party was "extreme." "The Tea Party is the group standing in the way. They are extreme," he blubbered. He was talking about the failure to pass a budget to take us to the end of the fiscal year, so let's take a closer look at the problem. Last year the Democrats had a majority in both houses of Congress and controlled the White House, yewt they couldn't pass a budget for Fiscal Year 2011? And the TEA Parties are to blame??
Yes, indeed, we are applying pressure to the Republicans in Congress to do the right thing, but it isn't just members of the various TEA Parties any more than it is strictly Republicans we're targeting to get it done. The American voting public as a majority, at least the majority who pay the bills, wants change in Washingtoon. And not the false promise of "Hope and Change", but real change. A return to fiscal responsibility and common sense as well as changes to the tax code which will allow us to keep more of what we earn is also on that slate. Add to it term limits and a balanced budget amendment in addition to an amendment that all laws passed apply to both members of Congress and the public. So, Chuckie, let me tell you this. I'm not extreme, YOU ARE!! We conservatives, many of whom don't belong to any TEA Party, are not extreme, YOU ARE!! We aren't standing in the way, WE'RE PAYING THE BILLS!!
WE ARE THE 51% OF AMERICANS WHO ARE BEING TAXED TO DEATH TO SUPPORT THE OTHER 49% PLUS ALL THE DAMNED ILLEGALS YOU AND YOUR PARTY DECIDED NEEDED TO BE TAKEN CARE OF!! AND WE AREN'T GOING TO STAND FOR IT ANY LONGER!!
And don't think I'm letting the GOP off the hook either. Rep. Paul Ryan has presented a decent budget that will purportedly slach $6.2 trillion over the next 10 years. That's a good start, but let's really look at it. If we don't get Husseincare rescinded, it won't really matter anyway. Returning to 2008 levels means we would still roughly have a $460 billion annual deficit, and with China raising their lending rates from .25% to 6.3% we will still be paying more out in interest. Consider this, so far this fiscal year (2011), we've already paid out over $88 billion, and will most likely hit $120 billion by FY end. $6 trillion over 10 years comes to $600 billion a year average, so if we continue at approximately $460 billion deficit we're only reducing the deficit, not the debt, because the reduction will be eaten up by the interest. And with more money borrowed we will pay more in interest costs as the years tick by. So thank you Mr. Ryan for getting the ball rolling, now let's see if it gets passed so we can go to work on a balanced budget amendment to curtail Congress and its audacious spending once and for all!
I finally finished negotiations with my publisher and am pleased to announce a special deal for ALL Boomers! For those of you who enjoy my writings, or if you simply enjoy a good Western, be sure to check out the link provided to the SynergEbooks SALE page for
Hard Ride to Cora.
Hard Ride to Cora
This IS a limited time offer, and you MUST order from the above link to receive your discounted price.
Tags: books, western fiction, Hard Ride to Cora
I've observed a great many discussions on nuclear energy and its related problems since the last Japanese earthquake and the ensuing tsunami, most without a real clue about what is going on, or what the future brings. So I've decided to bring my own conclusions to bear, and see what you boomers have to say about it.
Up until 26 Feb., 1993, I believed that nuclear energy was a viable source of energy for years to come in this nation. But that all changed with the first bombing of the WTC, and the obvious lack of security on our own shores. That security has improved, sort of, but mostly in the wrong direction, and as responsive rather than pre-emptive. Idiocy like the Patriot Act, and TSA screenings void of profiling. In fact, most of our security measures completely avoid those who we should be looking at with extreme scrutiny, but in this "PC" world that is taboo.
Let me ask you, do you trust the security at nuclear facilities? Can they really stop an attack on a reactor? I don't think so, and, if asked, I'm sure many of you don't either. Especially with the hiring practices of those security companies today, let alone those which are Federal security programs. But that isn't what I set out to present today, so let me get to the real problems I see other than the obvious security scenarios.
That would be the natural ones; earthquakes and other natural phenomenon. While some are concerned with the fact that the members of the Congressional committees on nuclear are receiving campaign donations from nuclear related industries in higher amounts than those not on said committees, I'm not. Sure, it is a problem rampant in Congress, lobbyists paying to get special favors, but its been going on for decades now, and isn't going to change anytime soon. What concerns me is those who issue the permits for nuclear facilities, as they are appointed, and where those permits have been issued.
For example, take a look at where these facilities are located. The following links will provide an idea of the locales of all 104 reactors in the US.
http://www.nrc.gov/info-finder/reactor/
http://www.animatedsoftware.com/environm/no_nukes/nukelist1.htm
Okay, now for the areas where earthquakes have occurred. This is an interactive map, so have some fun with it. I've found that by checking earthquakes 1568-2009 and unchecking seismic hazard, I get a good picture of potential problems with nuclear reactors and earthquakes. Then reverse that process to get a visual of where the reactors are located in relation to potential future earthquakes by comparing the location maps to the seismic hazard map.
http://nationalatlas.gov/mapmaker?AppCmd=CUSTOM&LayerList=Seihaz&visC...
Now that you've completed that exercise (or at least I hope you did), do you see the same problems I do? Yes, many of those reactors are built in areas where seismic hazards exist, and where earthquakes have already occurred. Worse, many are very close to the oceans, which undoubtedly increases the potential for tsunami damage.
Add all that to the danger of terrorist activity and I have to ask, is nuclear really the best way to go? I no longer believe that to be the case, especially in view of where the permits are issued, and by whom. I also can't help but believe that politics played a big part in where they were located, something that should be removed completely from the process if more are to be built. Greatly increased security should also come into play, not just on any new permits, but at all existing facilities. Something like a one mile circumference no entry zone, with intense certification and background checks on all who enter. Why do I say that? Because I remember standing on top of the Ft. St. Vrain facility (before it was converted to natural gas) after being issued a visitor's pass on no more than my request for one.
Now, what say you? What is your opinion, and why?
Tags: nuclear, earthquakes, security, energy
EXTRA!! EXTRA!!
READ ALL ABOUT IT!!
Ayatollah Hussein to brew beer in White House!!
Yes, that's right, Obama wants the WH chefs (from Free Republic) to brew beer in the WH. Now, besides the obvious complaint many will have about this high paid elected government official circumventing revenue taxes, there are other concerns, not the least of which is the quality of a government made beer.
Let's take the bottles alone. If they are made according to government standards, they will cost about $10 each to produce and will require a $45 deposit, only $1 of that refundable. The labels, of course, will have to be printed in both English and Spanish. And, like all union made and government bailout supported products, the beer itself will be overpriced.
You can bet it will also be much like our economy, flat. And I'm sure Waxman or Jackson, Jr. or Jackson-Lee will offer legislation for it to be given to all under the Federal poverty level at no cost, and in quantities that would embarrass the most ardent drinker among us. After all, we need "to pass the wealth around". It will also have to be a clear beer, completely void of any color so as not to offend any race, creed or color. In typical liberal fashion this brew will also have to be tasteless, but will have an unmistakeable odor about it, kind of like Husseincare.
And just in case you THINKyou like a domestically produced beer like Bud, Miller or Coors and want to keep drinking it, they will force the price of any competitors to triple the cost of "Gub'ment Beer". Of course this will force all of the domestic competition to leave for other countries so they can be imported at a third of what they cost now. Not to mention all the employees of all the domestic brands losing their jobs and going on unemployment. But rest assured, Barry gonna have his beer!
Tags: Ayatollah Hussein, beer, White House Brewery
I thought a few of you might enjoy reading about Texas' birthday, along with a few other facts about our wonderful state. If so, just follow the link to Texas, Our Texas!
Tags: Texas anniversary birthday
I talked to my dentist yesterday, and will be seeing him later today. No big news there, except for, as Paul Harvey used to say, "...the rest of the story."
A few months back Gordy, a Paiute friend of mine who now lives in Alaska, came down for a Winter visit. Like many in Alaska, he is a true outdoorsman. He fishes, hunts and traps in every season. I knew something was wrong the moment he stepped off the plane, but, as usual, he never complained. It took me 2 days to get it out of him, he had a bad tooth.
I called Victor, my dentist, to see if he could work him in, and he said no problem. So the next day I handed my truck keys to Gordy along with some driving directions. He came back a few hours later, not saying a word about the dentist visit. I prodded and prodded, and finally got him to say he liked Victor, who happens to be Russian and once lived just across the straits from Alaska. (Yes, he could see Alaska from his back porch.) But that was the extent of it.
You have to understand that Gordy was raised to never show pain, and he doesn't. That was evidenced once again in my conversation with Vic yesterday. He asked me how long I'd know Gordy, and if he was always such a tough guy. I said some 45 years now, and yes, he was a really tough guy. I asked why he wanted to know.
Vic said he started to give Gordy a shot of Novacain to dull the pain for an extraction, but Gordy refused it telling Vic to just pull the tooth and wake him up when he was done. And sure enough, Gordy went to sleep! Vic woke him up after spending nearly a half hour pulling on that tooth until it finally came out.
Vic told him he'd NEVER seen anyone who could take that kind of pain, and asked him what it took to hurt him. Gordy told him that when he first got to Alaska, he was kind of a novice at trapping, but decided to set out some bear traps. He was careful to attach the chains to large trees and boulders so any bear caught wouldn't carry off the trap and die elsewhere. It snowed really heavy before he got a chance to check out the traps again, and when he went back he couldn't remember where they all were. He hunted and hunted, finally finding all but one. But he wasn't about to quit, not by any stretch. He kept looking, until mother nature finally called. He slipped up under a big tree, lowered his britches and longjohns and went about his business. It was then and there he found that missing trap.
He told Vic those jaws slammed shut, right on his privates. Vic said, "Man, that must have really hurt!"
"Naw," answered Gordy, "that wasn't so bad, it just smarted some."
Vic exclaimed, "What the hell does it take to hurt you?!"
Gordy answered in his typical, slow talking manner, "Well, Vic, when I hit the end of that chain....."
The old man sat in a rusty folding chair gazing over his garden, slowly stroking his scarred, twisted hands as though trying to rub them back to youth. He slowly reached up to his aching shoulder, softly massaging the area where his rotator cuff was torn. After a few minutes he moved his hand down to rub the ears of his trusty companion, his best friend of many years. All this without moving his fixed gaze, and with as little effort as possible.
The wind tousled his once blonde hair, now a more silver color that glistened in the sun like a new dime. His features were grizzled from years of hard life, his always youthful look now gone along with his once chiseled body. His look was stern, firm, unrelenting as it had been for decades, until he felt the soft squeeze on his arm. He knew without looking that the boy was there, and was more than a little embarrassed that the child was able to slip up on him so easily.
The hard lines seemingly etched on his face just moments before were instantly turned to smile wrinkles, and the harshness melted away just as quickly. He ruffled the boy’s hair, then lifted his arm up and around behind the slight figure beside him. With a slight hug he lifted the gangly boy onto his lap, totally ignoring the pain in his hands and from his shoulder. The child would never understand his groaning, and might take it as a form of rejection, so he stifled it, holding it down deep inside. This wasn’t anything new for him, having learned to bury his pain many years past simply to stay alive.
The youngster jabbered this and that, the old man catching a word here and there, words from his world mixed with those of the child’s world. Yet he knew pretty much what the boy was saying and nodded and uh-huhed in the appropriate places. The kid reached up, wrapping his arm around the aging head above him, and then pulled it down while tilting his own head so that both orbs were pressed hard against each other. He next slid his tiny hand down to a weathered cheek, stroking up and down against the emerging whiskers.
The love these two shared would be obvious to any onlooker, yet the story of their coming to live together was simply unlikely. A young, autistic, Hispanic boy and a worldly, hard, no nonsense, Irish/Native American cowboy long on action and short on patience would not make a pair that any CPS office or court would approve, yet what they had was definitely special, in many ways.
The boy had come to the old man’s world via an unexpected turn of events, and a sad few weeks to be sure. He was just a baby fat five years old, still in diapers and with a vocabulary less of than ten words the day he came. Now he was a gangly and growing boy with a vocabulary of well over seven hundred words, able to put thoughts together, follow simple instructions, ask questions and give answers. He was almost always happy now, very few things bothered him, and his self-confidence was unequaled. Yes, he still had trouble with some words; a speech impediment affected his ability to pronounce certain sounds. And he still spoke his own autistic language at times, often while talking to the old man, more so than when speaking to others.
The child seemed to respond to the old man unlike any other individual in his life, even the old woman he adored and loved. It was nothing more or less than a God given gift for both of them. And he seemed to know that the second chance he and his sister had been given was also a second chance for the old couple. He was thriving on their consistency, their regimen, their strict way of life, the diet they provided. He also fed on their love. And they on his.
Yes, the two seem to go hand in hand these days. And I suppose they have for years now. So why talk about this now? I just listened to some crackpot lady (and I use the term loosely) rant about how the oil companies are already ripping our heads off by raising oil prices in the middle of a fake crisis in the MidEast.
First, the "crisis" in the MidEast isn't a "crisis" except to the dictators they are deposing. What the future brings in respect to us remains to be seen, though I really don't expect it to work out so well for us in the long term. But rest assured, what's happening certainly isn't "fake".
Second, the oil companies are getting a bad rap all around. They operate on a 4-5% triple net profit margin. Walmart operates on a 9.5% net net net, and State Farm operates on a 17.5% triple net. NO ONE in business operates on a smaller triple net than the oil companies. The reason everyone goes after them is because of the large dollar amoounts they make, but those same people NEVER talk about the size of investment those companies have, or the size of their payrolls. And trust me, the oil companies are shaking in their boots about the prospects of loosing the sweet crude from the MidEast. Not because they make a ton on it, but because they will be forced to use a less pure oil and face higher refining costs.
Third, what is driving oil prices up is Wall Street speculators snatching up "oil futures", thus driving those prices up. They see future oil shortages, and want to take advantage of the profits to be made from the increased cost of oil. This does two things. It drives the price at the pump up prematurely. I say prematurely because we don't use the gas being pumped in the MidEast right now for at least 18 months, allowing for oceanic shipping time, refining and distribution. The second thing it does is keep the prices up long after the oil starts flowing consistently again. After all, they are buying "futures", and would lose their shirts if the future sales took a dump below where their purchase price is.
So, if you want to blast somebody for the current and future expense at the pump, make sure you aim at the right target. Me, I firmly believe that "oil futures" should be regulated. That may come as a surprise to many of you who know that I hate government regulations, and government interference in almost everything, but when it comes to products we all need, like oil, I make an exception. And trust me, we all need oil. Every piece of plastic is made from oil, so are roads, tires, fertilizers, household and commercial chemicals (including those dish soaps and other cleaners), and even women's makeup. To paraphrase that insurance commercial, if you don't use something every 5 minutes that is made from oil, "You'd have to live under a rock."
Tags: oil prices common sense
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