Yeah, Right, Whatever

Wednesday's Hero

2010-01-27T09:45:00.001-06:00

This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Pet

Specialist Brandon K. Steffy
23 years old from Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan
178th Military Police Detachment, 89th Military Police Brigade, III Corps
October 29, 2009

He came into to this world a rather large baby, so big the doctor thought that he’d just walk home with his mother. Brandon was well mannered, polite, and tough with a contagious laugh that lit up those around him. In 2005 he graduated from Brimley High School and in 2006 enlisted in the United States Army, following a tradition of family military service.

He served in Iraq as a gunner from May 2007 until July 2008 and was deployed to Afghanistan in June 2009 where he was a canine tracker handler for Forward operating Base Fenty Kennel in the Laghman Province. He and his K-9 dog Maci were inseparable, working on tracking terrorists; Maci specialized in tracking the scents of IED making materials.

Spc. Brandon Steffy was killed when the vehicle he was riding in was attacked. His decorations and awards include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal-Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Service, the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.

Spc. Steffy is survived by his wife, daughter, parents and his sister.

Brandon made people laugh and he made them cry. There was not one dry eye at his funeral, from every day townsfolk, to big construction workers to police officers; they all recalled Brandon, this "Gentle Giant." They want everyone to know that if you never knew Brandon, then you really missed out.

All Information Was Found On And Copied From MilitaryCity.com & Freedom Remembered

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Wednesday's Hero

2010-01-22T09:28:00.000-06:00

This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Toni

Stephen Cochran
2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force

Stephen Cochran had it all in front of him. Collage, a fiancée and an offer for a professional recording contract. But life had other plans for him. The day was September 11, 2001. "It was just so horrific," Cochran said. "It's like I'd been called. I'd never been pulled so hard to do something."

It may have been the audacity of the attacks, but more likely it was his family's long history of military service that drew him to enlist, he said. Both grandfathers served, as did an uncle and several other relatives.

So he dropped out of college, walked away from the record deal and joined the United States Marine Corps. "I've always been raised very, very patriotic. It's just what I had to do."

After serving in Iraq, he and his entire battalion volunteered to go to Afghanistan with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit where Cochran was injured in an ambush. 20 yards inside Kandahar, the vehicle he was riding in hit an anti-tank mine and he was thrown from the vehicle and broke the five vertebrae in his lower back.

Read The Rest Of The Story

stephencochranmusic.com
@stephen_cochran
facebook.com/stephen.cochran1

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Wednesday's Hero

2010-01-13T08:55:00.001-06:00

Culinary Specialist 1st Class Tremayne Brown

Culinary Specialist 1st Class Tremayne Brown, from Tulsa, Okla., receives stores for the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG 56). John S. McCain is one of seven ships assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15 and is permanently forward-deployed to Yokosuka, Japan.

Photo By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Mike Mulcare Courtesy of Navy.mil

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Wednesday's Hero

2010-01-06T07:50:00.001-06:00

Cpl. Carlos E. Gil Orozco
23 years old from San Jose, California
2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force
September 10, 2007

Carlos Gil Orozco wasn’t a great student, but one goal pushed him to hit the books: becoming a Marine.

"He was kind of a troublemaker, you know, he got bad grades and wouldn't do his homework," said his sister, Myriam Johanna Gil Orozco. "But he wanted to be a Marine. So he studied real hard, especially algebra. He'd stay up all night studying.

Cpl. Orozco's parents moved the family from Colombia to the U.S. when he was 8 years old, hoping to give their children a better education. They became frustrated when their son didn't do well in school and thought the Marines would be good for him.

"My dad was actually happy," Myriam said. "He'd rather have him be a Marine than out on the streets being in gangs or doing drugs."

Cpl. Carlos Orozco was killed while conducting combat operations in Ashraf, Iraq when the tank he was riding in encountered an IED. Also killed in the blast was Lance Cpl. Jon T. Hicks Jr. of Atco, New Jersey.

Cpl. Orozco leaves behind his sister, his parents, his wife and two sons.

All Information Was Found On And Copied From MilitaryCity.com

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

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Wednesday's Hero

2009-12-16T10:30:00.000-06:00

This Weeks Post Was Suggested & Written By Greta

This week's Wednesday Hero is both an individual, and a group. The group we honor are the milblogs: the military blogs, spouse blogs, and support blogs who bring you the news and information you can get nowhere else. The information and news that matter to you. The individual we honor today is C. J. Grisham.

Army Master Sgt. C. J. Grisham has always led from the front, from combat that earned him the Bronze Star with V device, to doing right by the men he led. His honesty won him readership and respect, from the White House on down. Yet, when he stood up for his children in school, his command did not stand by him. You can read more at Military Times to get the full story.

Please donate via PayPal; or you can log into PayPal on your own, go to the send money page, and put in his email: dj_chcknhawk@yahoo.com; or, you can send donations directly to:

Grisham Legal Fund
c/o Redstone Federal Credit Union
220 Wynn Drive
Huntsville, AL 35893
Please write "Grisham Legal Fund" in the memo line if you use this option.

Milblogs have been a vital link in getting accurate news and information about the military, and military operations, to you. Today, many milblogs are gone and others are under attack from within and without. Today, you have the chance to imagine a world without milblogs, and to do something about it. Make your voice heard by writing your congressional representatives and others, and by making donations as you see fit.

The battle for freedom of speech and the marketplace of ideas is fought on many fronts and in many ways. Without your help, the battle may well be lost.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Wednesday's Hero

2009-12-02T15:17:00.000-06:00

Spc. Michael P. Garton & Spc. Rolando R. Flores

Spc. Michael P. Garton, a gunner with the Personal Security Detachment, with the 36th Sustainment Brigade out of Temple, Texas, and a Texarkana, Texas, native, relaxes on a Humvee and shares a laugh with Spc. Rolando R. Flores, a gunner with the PSD and a San Antonio native, during a break in preparations for a mission Nov. 23 in the maintenance yard at Contingency Operating Location Adder, Iraq.

Photo Courtesy U.S. Army

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Wednesday's Hero

2009-11-25T06:46:00.001-06:00

Rear Adm. Ned Deets

Rear Adm. Ned Deets speaks with Frank Chebatar, president of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, at the conclusion of the base consolidation ceremony. The two bases consolidated to form Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek, Fort Story.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Wednesday's Hero

2009-11-04T07:30:00.001-06:00

Sailors & Marines Playing Volleyball With Local School Children

Sailors and Marines assigned to the amphibious dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46) play volleyball with students from Sangley Point National High School during a lunch break at a community service project. Tortuga, the amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (31st MEU) are participating in Amphibious Landing Exercise (PHIBLEX) 2009. PHIBLEX is designed to improve interoperability, increase readiness and develop professional relationships between the U.S. military and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Photo Courtesy Navy.mil Taken By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Geronimo Aquino

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Wednesday's Hero

2009-10-07T07:33:00.000-05:00

Sgt. Michael Egan
36 years old from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
104th Cavalry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division, Pennsylvania Army National Guard
September 19, 2005

News of Egan�s death came to Pennsauken shortly after 6 a.m. Tuesday, Krista Egan, Sgt. Egan's sister-in-law, said. His mother, Irene, was on the telephone when an Army sergeant walked up to the door. "My mother-in-law was talking on the telephone to Mike�s wife, Maria, when he came. Maria had just got the news. The Army sergeant told my mother-in-law it was his first time notifying a family."

Sgt. Egan served in the Marine Corps for eight years, was a civilian for a year, then joined the National Guard. As a Marine, he had been previously served in Afghanistan.

"He was well-liked by everyone," Patrick Egan, Sgt. Egan's brother, said.

Sgt. Michael Egan was killed when an IED detonated near his vehicle while on patrol in Ramadi. Also killed in the attack were Spc. William Evans, 22, of Hallstead, PA, Spc. William Fernandez, 37, of Reading, PA and Lt. Mark Dooley of the Vermont National Guard.

Information Was Found On And Copied From MilitaryCity.com & You Can Read Much More About Sgt. Michael Egan Here.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Wednesday's Hero

2009-10-02T14:20:00.000-05:00

This Week's Post Was Suggested By Cindy

1st Sgt. Jose San Nicolas Crisostomo
59 years old from Spanaway, Washington
August 18, 2009

Sorry for the presentation of this post, but haven't been feeling well and don't feel much like typing. You can read Sgt. Crisostomo's story here and here.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Wednesday's Hero

2009-09-23T07:09:00.000-05:00

Lt. John Madea

Lt. John Madea holds his daughter as she is baptized with holy water from the ship's bell of the amphibious dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46). This is the fourth person baptized aboard Tortuga since the ship's christening in 1988, and her name will be inscribed inside the bell as a tradition of the U.S. Navy.

Photo Courtesy U.S. Navy
Taken By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Geronimo Aquino

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Wednesday's Hero

2009-09-16T05:11:00.001-05:00

This Week's Post Is Via Gazing At The Flag

PFC Thomas Lowell Tucker
24 years old from Madras, Oregon
B Company, 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division
June 16, 2006

Flag Gazer has a great post up on the dedication of the PFC Thomas Tucker memorial.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Tuesday's Hero

2009-09-01T06:03:00.000-05:00

Today marks the third anniversary of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. Not the actual Wednesday Hero posts. Those posts were started in 2005. This marks the third year of when these posts went public for anyone to post them. And it's taken off like gangbusters. People have signed up and wanted to take part in honoring those who do what they do in the name of freedom. At one point reaching over 100 participating sites. Thank you all who have signed up and those of you who read and comment on these posts. These people, whether they're actually in the military or are just doing something to aid those in the military, deserve to be remembered.

Christopher Lee
Right-Wing & Rightminded

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Wednesday's Hero

2009-08-26T07:34:00.001-05:00

Sgt. 1st Class Donald Johnson

Sgt. 1st Class Donald Johnson, the electronic warfare officer of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Multi-National Division-Baghdad, talks with local Iraqi kids while on a patrol.

Photo courtesy of United States Army
Taken by Pfc. Evan Loyd

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Wednesday's Hero

2009-08-12T06:20:00.000-05:00

Yeoman 1st Class Timothy Gilbert

Yeoman 1st Class Timothy Gilbert, assigned to Headquarters Company of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB 74), donates blood during a blood drive for his six-year-old daughter at the Naval Construction Battalion Center base chapel. Gilbert's daughter has been diagnosed with atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor and is receiving chemotherapy at Tulane Childrens Hospital.

Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Ryan G. Wilber courtesy of United States Navy.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Wednesday's Hero

2009-08-05T10:09:00.000-05:00

Lance Cpl. Jeremy P. Tamburello
19 years old from Denver, Colorado
1st Light Armor Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force
November 8, 2005

His parents didn't want him to enlist, but it was his passion for helping people that led L/Cpl. Jeremy Tamburello to the military. "He was a very noble, very compassionate, very brave man" said L/Cpl. Tamburello's father, Kevin. "He knew that he was going to have to go to Iraq and he knew that he might die, but he went anyway."

L/Cpl. Tamburello was killed by an IED while conducting combat operations near Rutbah, Iraq.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Wednesday's Hero

2009-07-29T06:12:00.000-05:00

SSgt. Darrell "Shifty" Power
86 years old from Dickerson County, Virginia
E Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division
June 17, 2009

The world lost one of it's true heroes a couple of weeks ago. Darrell "Shifty" Powers passed away on June 17 of cancer. "Shifty" was part of the famed E Co/2/506 of the 101st Airborne Division. Easy Company. The Band Of Brothers.

"I loved everything about my daddy," said Margo Johnson, daughter of SSgt. Powers. "He never bragged about what he did in the war. And for a lot of years, he never even talked much about what he did unless someone asked him about it. But he truly was a hero to me. Just like he'd been to the people who know him as a soldier in a [mini-series]."

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Wednesday's Hero

2009-07-22T06:37:00.000-05:00

Assoluta Tranquillita did a post a few days ago and after last week's Wednesday Hero felt it would be good to profile Sgt. 1st Class Gabe of the 178th Military Police Detachment, 20th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade. Is it wrong to be jealous of a dog? Be sure to read the Defend America article linked to in the post.

These brave men and women, and dogs, sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Wednesday's Hero

2009-07-15T08:11:00.000-05:00

Sgt. 1st Class Gregory A. Rodriguez & Jacko
35 years old from Weidman, Michigan
K-9 unit of the 527th Military Police Company, 709th Military Police Battalion, 18th MP Brigade
September 2, 2008

"I asked Greg if anything ever happened to him where he'd prefer to be buried," Sgt. Rodriguez's wife, Laura, told the Morning Sun of Mount Pleasant, "and he told me Arlington, as he wanted to be among the best and the brave."

"Rod," as he was known to his Army buddies, was a Red Wings fan who loved to hassle fans of other hockey teams he met during his military career, said Laura. "Greg loved to push everyone's buttons and get people going with his rare, unique sense of sarcasm," she said. At the same time, her husband, a military police dog handler whose dog, Jacko, survived the fatal ambush, was "a very committed, loyal individual and could be counted on whenever needed."

Sgt. 1st Class Gregory A. Rodriguez died of wounds suffered in Ana Kalay, Afghanistan, when his mounted patrol came under small-arms fire.

"My brother liked to be the law," said Lisa Dombrowski. "He liked justice. If it wasn't right, he made it right."

He is survived by his sister, wife and three children.

All Information Was Found On And Copied From MilitaryCity.com

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Wednesday's Hero

2009-07-08T08:11:00.000-05:00

Cpl. Reynold Armand
21 years old from Rochester, New York
2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force
August 7, 2007

Reynold Armand didn't want to wait until he turned 18 to join the Marines. He persuaded his adoptive mother to sign papers allowing him to sign up a year early.

"I'm very proud of him," said his father, Carl Armand. "When he was home, he gave no sign of being afraid." Armand didn't speak much about his experiences in Iraq, according to family members, saying only that most Iraqi civilians he encountered were very nice.

"We used to send him a lot of candy," said his mother, Alma Armand. "He would pass it out."

Manny Rodriguez, 21, of Rochester met Armand five years ago at New Day Church in Rochester, where both young men were members of the youth group. "He was such an amazing all-around person. He was so easy and comfortable to be around. He liked people for who they are."

No definitive report could be found on how Cpl. Armand died. Some report that he was killed when shot and others report that he was killed by an IED that exploded near his vehicle in Balad, Iraq.

All Information Was Found On And Copied From MilitaryCity.com with help from Kathi

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Wednesday's Hero

2009-07-01T06:32:00.000-05:00

Force Protection Team

Members of the force protection team at Camp Eggars, Afghanistan, assess damage resulting from an explosion near the gate. A vehicle-born improvised explosive device exploded near the German Embassy and a U.S. base. Eliminating threats such as the VBIED is the focus of Army's 3rd Counter-IED Conference that was scheduled July 28-30.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Wednesday's Hero

2009-06-24T12:02:00.000-05:00

Band Of Brothers

Something a little different this week. Instead of profiling a service member, Wednesday Hero will be profiling a movie. Band Of Brothers. It was a miniseries tha aired on HBO in 2001. It follows Maj. Richard Winters, Cpt. Lewis Nixon and the men of the 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment assigned to the 101st Airborne Division, aka E-Company or Easy Company on their march to Germany. From their training to their battles at Normandy and Bastogne, their liberation of the Kaufering IV concentration camp to their taking of Hitler's Eagle Nest. A great cast and great writing make this one of the best war movies ever made. But it is graphic in visuals and language. And parts of it may be hard to watch, but it is worth it.

What the men of E-Company did will never be forgotten. They are the heroes that helped the cause of freedom.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

The "I'm Still Here" Round-up

2009-06-23T10:02:00.000-05:00

Still not much out there that makes me want to blog (political burnout will do that to a person, I guess), but a few tidbits caught my eye.

As summer heats up, don't forget to check out this site from time to time to arm yourself with more "no, climate change still isn't what it's cracked up to be" goodness.
He only rocked the Blue Note for a year, but... dang, he was an awesome player. Congrats!
Sid the Kid has his ~~day~~ night with the Cup... how cute!!!!
Oh, how the mighty have ~~fallen~~ grown stupid in their dotage.
Speaking of the "mighty" falling, how bad is it when GLAAD tells him to back off.
Maybe Michelle will have better luck with it that Hillary did... I hope not, but...
Aw.... How... 90s... but if they actually went into production with these, they'd sell. You know they would.
Very cool pic of an atmospheric shock wave:

Well, that's all I've got for now... maybe I'll write more... need some inspiration, I guess...

Wednesday's Hero

2009-06-17T09:15:00.001-05:00

Pvt. William Long
23 years old from Conway, Arkansas
D Company, 2nd Battalion, 58th Infantry
June 1, 2009

"My brother taught me valuable lessons and made me the man I am today," said Pfc. Triston Long, brother of Pvt. William Long. "My commander said, 'Make your brother one of us.' I will miss my brother with all that I am, and I serve in honor of him."

Pvt. William Long had just completed basic training and was set to ship out on June 8 to his first duty station in Korea when he and Private Second Class Quinton Ezeagwula were shot outside a Little Rock, Arkansas Army-Navy Recruiting Center by Abdul Hakim Mujahid Muhammad. They were in Little Rock to speak to with potential recruits about their experiences.

Pvt. Long's father, Daris Long, a former Marine, wrote a letter to give to him when he shipped out for South Korea. In that letter he wrote, "Your day only ends when you�ve done your duty. You and your brother � are both heroes for having the moral courage to stand up when your country needs you most. You are in my hopes and my thoughts and my prayers. You are my son, you are my hero. I love you. Semper fidelis."

Along with his father and brother, Pvt. William Long is survived by his mother, Janet, who had served in the Navy herself.

All Information Was Found On And Copied From RedState, Sipsey Street Irregulars & Army Times with help from Kathi

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Wednesday's Hero

2009-06-10T10:11:00.001-05:00

Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class (SEAL) Marc A. Lee
28 years old from Hood River, Oregon
Navy SEAL
August 2, 2006

"Marc was amazing. He was my best friend, my love," his widow, Maya, said.

Petty Officer Marc A. Lee joined the Navy in 2001 and became an AO after completing Naval Air Technical Training. Later that year he attempted to complete the grueling BUD/S program but caught pneumonia and had to drop out. He tried again in 2004 and completed the course.

On August 2, 2006, Marc A. Lee became the first SEAL to be killed in combat in Iraq when he was fatally wounded in a firefight in Ramadi, Iraq. The following is from the award citation:

"During the operation, one element member was wounded by enemy fire. The element completed the casualty evacuation, regrouped and returned onto the battlefield to continue the fight. Petty Officer Lee and his SEAL element maneuvered to assault an unidentified enemy position. He, his teammates, Bradley Fighting Vehicles and Abrams tanks engaged enemy positions with suppressive fire from an adjacent building to the north.

"To protect the lives of his teammates, he fearlessly exposed himself to direct enemy fire by engaging the enemy with his machine gun and was mortally wounded in the engagement. His brave actions in the line of fire saved the lives of many of his teammates"

"It was so like Marc to give up his life to save his friends," his mother, Debbie Lee, told the Hood River News. "I am so proud of him. He is my hero."

Petty Officer Lee was posthumously awarded a Bronze Star with combat "V" for his actions in Iraq during his team's combat tour and the Purple Heart medal.

All Information Was Found On And Copied From MilitaryCity.com

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Wednesday's Hero

2009-06-02T21:47:00.000-05:00

Sgt. Pablo A. Calderon
26 years old from Brooklyn, New York
1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division
November 30, 2004

"He wanted to fight for his country," said his heartbroken younger sister, Lilliana Calderone. "He always wanted to be there."

Pablo Calderon joined the Army in 1997, right out of High School. "He went straight to the army from high school," said his sister. "He wanted to improve himself. He was proud. He loved his country."

Sgt. Calderon was killed when an IED was detonated near his vehicle in Fallujah, Iraq. Also killed in the attack was Sgt. Jose Guereca of Missouri City, Texas.

All Information Was Found On And Copied From MilitaryCity.com & NYDailyNews.com

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Wednesday's Hero

2009-05-27T06:20:00.001-05:00

USS George H.W. Bush

Sailors assigned to the Air Department of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) are silhouetted against the setting sun at the conclusion of flight operations. George H.W. is underway in the Atlantic Ocean conducting flight deck certifications.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Memorial Day

2009-05-25T07:10:00.000-05:00

Memorial Day is a time to remember those who have fallen in service to our country.

Here is the original Memorial Day declaration:

I. The 30th day of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet churchyard in the land. In this observance no form or ceremony is prescribed, but Posts and comrades will, in their own way, arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit.

We are organized, Comrades, as our regulations tell us, for the purpose among other things, "of preserving and strengthening those kind and fraternal feelings which have bound together the soldiers sailors and Marines, who united to suppress the late rebellion." What can aid more to assure this result than by cherishing tenderly the memory of our heroic dead? We should guard their graves with sacred vigilance. All that the consecrated wealth and taste of the nation can add to their adornment and security, is but a fitting tribute to the memory of her slain defenders. Let pleasant paths invite the coming and going of reverent visitors and fond mourners. Let no neglect, no ravages of time, testify to the present or to the coming generations that we have forgotten as a people the cost of a free and undivided republic.

If other eyes grow dull and other hands slack, and other hearts cold in the solemn trust, ours shall keep it well as long as the light and warmth of life remain in us.

Let us, then, at the time appointed, gather around their sacred remains, and garland the passionless mounds above them with choicest flowers of springtime; let us raise above them the dear old flag they saved; let us in this solemn presence renew our pledge to aid and assist those whom they have left among us a sacred charge upon the Nation's gratitude—the soldier's and sailor's widow and orphan.

II. It is the purpose of the Commander in Chief to inaugurate this observance with the hope that it will be kept up from year to year, while a survivor of the war remains to honor the memory of his departed comrades. He earnestly desires the public press to call attention to this Order, and lend its friendly aid in bringing it to the notice of comrades in all parts of the country in time for simultaneous compliance therewith.

III. Department commanders will use every effort to make this Order effective.

It was originally intended to honor Civil War veterans, but, after World War I, it was expanded to include all veterans who have died in military service.

My Sister is So Cool

2009-05-20T11:56:00.002-05:00

My sister works for Pepsi, and part of her job is building the displays you see at the grocery store. One of her stores is the Commissary at Scott Air Force Base. Here is her latest display:

Yes, that is made from Pepsi 12 packs. Yes, that is pretty darn awesome.

Wednesday's Hero

2009-05-20T07:54:00.000-05:00

Sgt. Christian E. Bueno-Galdos
25 years old from Paterson, New Jersey
3rd Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 172nd Infantry Brigade
May 11, 2009

On Mother�s Day, Eugenia Gardos made a tabletop shrine to her recently deceased mother � surrounding her photograph with silk roses, a small white rosary cross, two votive candles and a prayer card of Senor de los Milagros, the patron saint of Peru.

The next day, May 11, she added her son's picture to the shrine for the dead.

Sgt. Gardos was killed along with five fellow servicemen; Army Spc. Jacob D. Barton, Army Maj. Matthew P. Houseal, Navy Cmdr. Charles K. Springle and Army Pfc. Michael E. Yates Jr. in the attack on Camp Liberty.

"The first time he left for Iraq, when they would read the lists of the dead on the news, we used to hold our breath, praying he wasn't on it," his mother said. "I don't understand how he could have died this way. I just don't understand it."

Sgt. Galdos had emigrated with his family from Mollendo, Peru, as a child and had been a U.S. citizen since high school. His mother, two older brothers and older sister recalled how he used to hand out candy to children in Iraq the same way he always did in Paterson � never making a trip to the corner bodega without a group of neighborhood children tailing behind, knowing he would buy them candy or a soda.

"We were all here at home," Carlos Bueno, Sgt. Galdos's father, said. "I was getting ready to go to bed when I heard screaming downstairs. I ran downstairs and everyone had thrown themselves to the floor, thrashing around, screaming."

Bueno said he does not feel bitterness toward the man accused in the shootings, whom he described as "mentally ill."

"We want people to know we're proud of our son's Army, but if my son had died in war we would be able to handle that," he said. "But not to die in this manner."

All Information Was Found On And Copied From MilitaryCity.com

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Wednesday's Hero

2009-05-13T07:08:00.000-05:00

Spc. Robert Hamilton

Spc. Robert Hamilton, from Corpus Christi, Texas, Company C, 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, prepares to bandage the thumb of an Iraqi boy in Ula Market in Sadr City, April 19. The boy cut his thumb while preparing meat at a local butcher shop.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Wednesday's Hero

2009-05-06T10:54:00.000-05:00

1st Lt. Michael A. Cerrone
24 years old from Clarksville, Tennessee
2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division
November 12, 2006

Cerrone's men said in written statements of remembrance that he put their safety and welfare first. He lead from the front and all of the paratroopers would "unquestionably" follow him into battle.

His platoon sergeant, Sgt. 1st Class Ronald H. Berryhill, said Cerrone was more than a leader, but a friend and "little brother."

He remembers the first day Cerrone got to the unit. At the time, he was shy and quiet. But after a few months, he became more outspoken.

"I am truly blessed to have known him and to serve under his leadership," Berryhill wrote. "He will never be forgotten. I will carry him with me always and I will always watch over his platoon. We will make him proud of his boys."

Sgt. Cerrone was killed when a suicide bomber detonated the bomb he had strapped to himself in Samarra, Iraq. Also killed in the attack was Specialist Harry "Buck" Winkler. You can read more at BLACKFIVE.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Wednesday's Hero

2009-04-22T06:44:00.000-05:00

Operations Specialist 3rd Class Leonel Yanez

Operations Specialist 3rd Class Leonel Yanez (Right), from Huntington Park, Calif., monitors a radar screen in the Combat Direction Center aboard the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). John C. Stennis is on a scheduled six-month deployment to the western Pacific Ocean.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Just a Thought...

2009-04-20T13:28:00.002-05:00

If you're telling everyone you're going to cut your budget, it might help to, oh, I don't know... actually make real cuts in the budget.

President Obama plans to convene his Cabinet for the first time today, and he will order its members to identify a combined $100 million in budget cuts over the next 90 days, according to a senior administration official.

Although the budget cuts would amount to a minuscule portion of federal spending, they are intended to signal the president's determination to cut spending and reform government, the official said.

Well, it's nice to know that they do realize it's only a symbolic gesture. But that's ok- Americans are all about meaningless symbolic gestures.

Ace and the gang at NRO have some examples to put this whole $100 million cut into perspective. In a nutshell, I could have water instead of iced tea once this year and cut my budget at the same ratio. Oh, yeah... but I'd have to take out a $3 million dollar mortgage first...

Wednesday's Hero

2009-04-15T12:33:00.001-05:00

Pfc. Alan R. Blohm
21 years old from Kenai, Alaska
425th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Airborne Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division
December 31, 2006

Alan R. Blohm enlisted in the Army in 2004 because "He wanted to serve the country," his brother Jeremy said. "His grandfather had been in the Army, and it's just something he wanted to do."

Blohm graduated in 2004 from Bay City Western High School, where he was a 250-pound defensive player for the football team. Blohm's size prompted coach Jim Eurick to nickname him "Biggins Blohm," his brother recalled. "I know he paid the ultimate sacrifice with his life," Mark Boileau, Blohm's former school Principal, said. "We know Alan will be in a better place because of the sacrifice he made, because of his love for our country."

PFC. Blohm died of wounds suffered when an IED detonated near his unit while on combat patrol in Baghdad Besides his brother, he leaves behind his parents and a younger sister.

Information Was Found On And Copied From MilitaryCity.com & The Iraq Page

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Wednesday's Hero

2009-04-08T06:28:00.000-05:00

Cpl. Aaron L. Seal
23 years old from Elkhart, Indiana
6th Engineer Support Battalion, 4th Marine Logistics Group, Marine Forces Reserve
October 1, 2006

With sleet gushing from gunmetal gray clouds, some 30 Marines standing in three trim lines saluted the U.S. flag that four of their brethren used to christen a new pole.

A large engraved stone set at the base of the 38-foot pole explained the occasion: "In memory of Corporal Aaron L. Seal. Who gave his life for our country. 1982-2006."

The Marines from Engineer Company B joined several dozen community residents and well-wishers at a ceremony Wednesday honoring Seal, the 23-year-old Elkhart reservist who died last fall in Iraq. Seal's family also attended the 20-minute tribute at Elkhart Community Schools' administration building adjacent to Memorial High School -- the fallen Marine's alma mater.

Read the rest of the story here.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

It's Pompa Day!

2009-04-01T07:51:00.000-05:00

Today is my dad's birthday. Yes, the fact that he was born on April Fool's Day is quite fitting, really.

Happy birthday, Dad. Love you!

Wednesday's Hero

2009-04-01T00:50:00.000-05:00

Spc. Jeffrey Scantlin, Sgt. 1st Class Erich Phillips, Sgt. John Hayes, 1st Lt. Aaron Thurman, Sgt. Hector Chavez and Spc. Tyler Hanson
2nd Platoon, Chosen Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment

In the early morning hours of July 13, 2008, Soldiers from Chosen Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment were not thinking about medals as they fought off roughly 200 insurgents attacking their vehicle patrol base in Afghanistan.

No Soldier in combat does.

The Army, however, takes pause afterward to honor those who distinguish themselves in battle and recognizes them before their peers.

Read the rest of the story.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Cool Tech News

2009-03-31T06:23:00.003-05:00

So... we need cheap energy, right? Preferably not carbon-based, right? How about a giant laser that contains a fusion reaction?

After more than a decade of work and $3.5 billion, engineers have completed the world's most powerful laser, capable of simulating the energy force of a hydrogen bomb and the sun itself.

...NIF is expected to ramp up power gradually in a series of experiments over the next year, culminating at a power level in 2010 to achieve what scientists call "fusion ignition": enough heat and pressure to fuse hydrogen atoms in a tiny cylindrical target so that more energy is released than is generated by the laser beams themselves.

I'm trying to figure out how environmentalists are going to turn this into a bad thing. Cheap energy plus lots of research possibilities. I'm sure they'll come up with something.

Bracket Busters

2009-03-27T13:59:00.002-05:00

Everyone get out their NCAA brackets and check them. How many of you had Duke making it to the Final Four? Come on... raise your hands... How about Memphis? Don't be shy...

With the exception of Arizona State, all of the teams that remain are #3 seeds or higher. It's pretty much anyone's game now...

Welcome to the roller coaster. There's a reason they call it March Madness.

Bless Their Pointy Little Heads

2009-03-27T13:39:00.001-05:00

I mentioned the Chicken Empathy Museum the other day. I have to guess that it's people like the person who wrote this that believe a Chicken Museum is a wonderful idea.

No, I'm not going to comment on it. I think it stands on its own.

Wednesday's Hero

2009-03-25T00:08:00.000-05:00

This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Elena

Chief Master Sergeant Paul Wesley Airey

"Chief Airey was an Airman�s Airman and one of the true pioneers for our service," said Gen. Norton Schwartz, Air Force Chief of Staff. "He was a warrior, an innovator� and a leader with vision well ahead of his time. His legacy lives today in the truly professional enlisted force we have serving our nation� and for that we owe him a debt of gratitude."

Chief Airey was born in Quincy, Mass., on December 13, 1923. At age eighteen, shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December, 7, 1941, Airey quit high school to enlist in the Army Air Forces on November 16, 1942. He later earned his high school equivalency certificate through off-duty study. During World War II he flew as a B-24 radio operator and additional duty aerial gunner. On his 28th mission, then-Technical Sergeant Airey and his fellow crewmen were shot down over Vienna, Austria, captured, and held prisoner by the German air force from July 1944 to May 1945. During his time as a prisoner of war he worked tirelessly to meet the basic needs of fellow prisoners, even through a 90-day forced march.

Chief Airey held the top enlisted from April 3, 1967 to July 31, 1969. During his tenure he worked to change loan establishments charging exorbitant rates outside the air base gates and to improve low retention during the Vietnam Conflict. Chief Airey also led a team that laid the foundation for the Weighted Airman Promotion System, a system that has stood the test of time and which is still in use today. He also advocated for an Air Force-level Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy. His vision became reality when the academy opened in 1973, becoming the capstone in the development of Air Force Senior NCOs. Chief Airey retired August 1, 1970. He continued advocating for Airmen�s rights by serving on the boards of numerous Air Force and enlisted professional military organizations throughout the years. He was a member of the Board of Trustees for the Airmen Memorial Museum, a member of the Air Force Memorial Foundation and the Air University Foundation.

On the north wall of the Air Force Memorial in Washington D.C., Chief Airey�s thoughts on Airmen are immortalized, "When I think of the enlisted force, I see dedication, determination, loyalty and valor." The Air Force Association honored Airey with its Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007.

Chief Airey passed away on March 11, 2009 at his home in Panama City, Florida

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Chicken Huggers

2009-03-23T12:56:00.001-05:00

"Chicken huggers." That's a term T2 coined when he heard about a proposed "Chicken Empathy Museum" that PETA wanted to open in a closed Pilgrim's Pride processing plant. Shock of shocks, Governor Jindal politely declined the offer.

John Kelso had a funny piece about the museum in the Statesman. (I'm going to c/p the piece in its entirety, just in case the Statesman decides to archive the piece for no apparant reason).

COMMENTARY: JOHN KELSO
PETA's "Chicken Empathy Museum" doesn't take off in Louisiana - surprise!

By John Kelso
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Sunday, March 22, 2009

Sometimes you've got to figure the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals are just trying to get their name in the paper. And they're darned good at it.

It's looking like the "Chicken Empathy Museum" idea from PETA won't be happening in Louisiana any time soon.

Well, you know what, Sherlock? If you're looking for empathy in Louisiana, "chicken" shouldn't be the first word out of your mouth. This is a state where Popeye isn't a sailor, he's a guy who runs a drive-up chicken window. I mean, this is a part of the country where, when you say Oprah, they think you said "okra." This is a state where the Junior League cookbook has a recipe for possum.

Seriously, when PETA found out the old Pilgrim's Pride chicken processing plant in Farmerville, La., was closing, and Gov. Bobby Jindal wanted to spend $20 million of the state's money to help another company buy the place, PETA proposed the "Chicken Empathy Museum" as an alternative.

The museum would include a chicken cage-like playscape for the children that would show how cramped conditions are for the chickens. Sounds like a party.

Of course, Jindal didn't go for it. Although in Louisiana you could start up a Gumbo Empathy Museum and draw a crowd.

So what would the Chicken Empathy Museum have? A chicken wing?

"I guess the whole thing would be a chicken wing, right?" said Ashley Byrne, campaign coordinator for PETA. "Actually, we did plan to serve faux chickens, vegetarian chickens made from healthy plant protein in the museum restaurant, along with an array of other tasty vegetarian food."

When you can set a trotline for eggplant, tofu will become a hit in Baton Rouge. One thing that drives me crazy is the way vegheads flock — pun intended — to nonmeat products that are balled up to look like meat, such as the Tofurky. If vegetarians are dead set against meat, how come they want to eat vegetables hand-formed to look like critters?

"That's probably just a matter of familiarity," Ashley said. I still don't get it. Hey, you never see a meat eater take a squash and roll it up to look like a patty melt.

Oh well, it sounds like it would have been one heckuva chicken museum. "It would have an educational display highlighting facts about chickens," Ashley said. "They're intelligent animals with mental capabilities that are comparable to cats, dogs and even primates. In nature, mother hens cluck to their unborn chicks who chirp back from their shells."

Wow. The museum's amazing talking omelet display. And that's not all.

"As a gift from PETA, part of our proposal was that each visitor 12 years old and younger would have a plush chicken toy with a tag reading, 'I am not a nugget,' " Ashley said.

Hey, in Louisiana if it's not a cutlet, it's a nugget. Next time, try this stunt in New York City and maybe somebody will bite.

That's funny... "I am not a nugget." If I had chickens, I'd name one Nugget... or maybe all of them...

Hit and Run Posting

2009-03-20T11:01:00.003-05:00

We made it back from the Nationals basketball tournament. How'd we do? hmm... the kids had a good time hanging out together. Does that tell you all you need to know?

It's been a busy week, and I'm only sorta paying attention to the news this week- the NCAA tournament is going on, dontcha know?

I did see something that I want to say something about. It concerns the President. Looks like he's had a great week, being his incompetent self. First, ESPN talks him into doing a bracket for them. Like Coach K said (and I paraphrase), doesn't he have more important things to do? Then, last night, he was on Jay Leno, and he commented that a 129 score in bowling is "like the Special Olympics." No, Mr. President, it's not. It's like... well... you stink at bowling. SO kids who bowl can probably beat you handily at the sport.

Let's add these to the list of "oops." He's got a little more than 1000 days left. He's already embarrassed us in front of the Brits, the Russians, the Brazilians, and the Swiss.

I'll give him one thing... he sure is changing the way the world views America.

Wednesday's Hero

2009-03-18T07:49:00.000-05:00

This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Kathi

Kevin Baker

Kevin George Baker, a disabled Navy veteran, had been riding his hand-propelled bicycle from his hometown through Washington, D.C. and Gettysburg, Pennsylvania to Marseilles, Illinois to support a new flag designed to honor fallen members of the military. His trip began at his home on Saturday, March 7 and sadly ended on March 13 when he passed away in his sleep. Baker, who is unable to use his legs due to a neurological impairment, was flying the Honor and Remember Flag from his bike and encouraged people along the way to sign a petition urging Congress to adopt the flag as a new national symbol by passing HR Bill 1034.

You can read the rest of Baker's story here

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Not As Off As It Looks

2009-03-17T08:03:00.000-05:00

This photo was on the Engrish Funny website. Yes, it's funny, but I think it's every guy's true feelings on the whole craft show concept.

It's St. Paddy's Day!

2009-03-17T07:08:00.001-05:00

One year when I was in grade school, the parish priest gave us St. Patrick's Day off of school because, in his words, everyone is Irish on St. Paddy's Day!

So, to all of you, I wish you 'Beannachtam na Feile Padraig!' (Happy St. Patrick's Day!)

Go have some colcannon or bangers and mash (corned beef and cabbage is an Irish American dish, not necessarily a traditional Irish meal). And I offer up a toast of 'Sláinte!' (Health!)

Quite a Record... Isn't It?

2009-03-17T06:14:00.000-05:00

I guess you have to give President Obama some credit. He's keeping a brisk pace. At this rate, as mentioned in the link, he'll rack up at least 1,461 mistakes by the end of his first (and, God willing, only) term in office. (If you read through the comments, you'll find several more the author overlooked.)

Keep up the good work, Mr. President! I mean, it's not like the country is in your (in)capable hands or anything.

Your Daily Cracked

2009-03-06T07:17:00.000-06:00

I'm wandering through the inter-tube-net-web thingie, looking for stuff to write about. While I haven't found topic goodness, I did find some Cracked.com giggles. language warning, of course. It is cracked, after all.

First up, for all you history buffs, we have the 5 Most Retarded Wars Ever Fought. Are we shocked (Shocked! I tell you) that Great Britain was involved in 4 of them?
Nicholas Cage: A Career in (Baffling) Pictures. The guy has a point. And that new movie would be great... except for who's staring in it... just saying...
5 Comic Book Movies Way Worse Than Batman and Robin.

Blah Blah Snark Blah Blah

2009-03-05T07:42:00.002-06:00

Yeah, I haven't been writing much lately. Sorry 'bout that. Yes, there is a lot going on... just not a lot I feel like talking about. I mean, President Obama is finishing the job of destroying the economy because the Democrats over the past 30 years haven't managed to get it done. He does have a humorous way about him, however- next year, I think I'll just tell the IRS that the code is too complicated and no one can get it right... just like how many of President Obama's appointment selections?

I did find a couple of things worth at least mentioning:

Thanks to the First Lady, I've learned a new word. Solipsistic: extreme preoccupation with and indulgence of one's feelings, desires, etc.; egoistic self-absorption. Now, I'm not sure if I agree with the current meme of referring to the First Lady as a Klingon. I'm of two minds about it. Part of me says, "well, they did it first!" The other part of me says, "but do I really want to be like them?" I suppose conservatives have to be the mature ones, right? (h/t to Ace's place for the link to the story.)
Speaking of First Ladies... former First Lady (and former First Mom) Barbara Bush is resting comfortably after open heart surgery. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
After wandering through Gateway Pundit's place, I can't point you to just one post. He's become a great source of timely info.
I'll admit it. I'm going to defend the President for a moment. Yes, I'm feeling ok. The NYT points out that President Obama has begun to go gray. They do point out that it happens to all Presidents- the stress of the job makes them gray at a faster rate than your average person. Yeah, well... he still has less gray than I do, and I'm 8 years younger than he is. Come on, Times! Find something real to report on... if you have any true reporters left, that is.
*insert eye roll here* Great Britain has fallen one step further into irrelevance- they're giving Uncle Teddy an honorary knighthood. Why? Just... why???
Voters remorse? That didn't take long.
Jay Nordlinger has a good piece up at NRO about Rush.
Content warning for this last link. It's a LOL (with several different captions) of a pic taken at a Madonna concert. Would it be so funny if it wasn't true?

More later.

Way To Go, Cougars!

2009-03-04T07:45:00.001-06:00

Last weekend, the Austin Christian Cougars varsity basketball teams went to the thriving metropolis of Waxahachie, Texas, to Southwestern Assemblies of God University for the Texas Christian Athletic League state tournament.

The girls' team placed a respectable Third in the 2A Division.

The boys' team? Well... here's the photo:

2009 TCAL 2A Champions

Yup! They won the 2A championship!

In case you're interested, here are a couple of pics of my boys:

T1 during warmups

T2 (#35) playing in the 4th quarter

The teams have put a lot of hard work into making it this far. Next week, all three teams (girls, JV boys and Varsity boys) head to Liberty University for the East Coast Homeschool Basketball Tournament.

FYI- the team is trying to get this into the local paper. We're the first homeschool team in Texas to win state. I don't know if the Austin paper isn't interested or just doesn't know. I guess we'll find out.

Wednesday's Hero

2009-02-25T06:15:00.000-06:00

Spc. Ross A. McGinnis
19 years old from Knox, Pennsylvania
1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division
December 4, 2006

His mission was to patrol the streets of Adhamiyah in northeast Baghdad and find a place to put a 250-kilowatt generator that would provide electricity for more than 100 homes. But it's a mission he wasn't able to accomplish.

Shortly after Pfc. McGinnis's convoy left the compound, and less than a mile from FOB Apache, an insurgent standing on a nearby rooftop threw a grenade into the sixth, and last, Humvee. "Grenade!" yelled McGinnis, who was manning the vehicle's M2 .50-caliber machine gun. He tried to deflect the grenade but it fell into the Humvee and lodged between the radios.

"McGinnis turned and looked down and realized no one in the truck knew where the grenade was," said Capt. Michael Baka, his company commander. "He knew everyone had their doors combat-locked and they wouldn't be able to get out."

Instead of jumping out of the truck to save his own life, like he had been trained to do, McGinnis threw his back against the radio mount, smothering the explosive with his body. The grenade exploded just as Pfc. McGinnis covered it. The blast filled the vehicle with black smoke and debris and blew the driver's door and right passenger's door wide open and blew the machine gun off its mount. The explosion hit McGinnis on his sides and his lower back, under his vest. He was killed instantly.

The other four soldiers in the Humvee suffered relatively minor injuries.

On the morning of December 4, 2006, before his convoy had left, Cpt. Baka has signed a waver promoting Pfc. McGinnis to Specialist and he was posthumously promoted to E-4.

For his heroic actions on that day, McGinnis was awarded the Silver Star and was nominated for a Medal of Honor which he received on June 2, 2008.

All Information Was Found On And Copied From MilitaryCity.com

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

But We Can't Deport Them... Right?

2009-02-23T12:05:00.000-06:00

Y'all have heard that we can't deport all of the illegal aliens because our economy will collapse, right? Well... considering the recent unemployment news, maybe those Americans might want the "jobs Americans just won't do." And, believe it or not, there is historical precedent. Yes, all of this did happen. (h't to Dad, who got it from my aunt, who got it from...)

The people that are in Congress in Washington, tell us they can not deport 12 million illegal's?
We probably need to vote all of them out of office and send them back to school to learn history!
We pay more to illegal's in welfare than it would cost to deport them! Our career politicians need
to work for the voters and the good of the United States of America , not the lobbyist and big business.

HOOVER, TRUMAN AND EISENHOWER

Here is something that should be of great interest for you to pass around. I didn't know of this until it was pointed out to me.

Back during The Great Depression, President Herbert Hoover ordered the deportation of ALL illegal aliens in order to make jobs available to American citizens that desperately needed work.

Harry Truman deported over two million Illegal's after WWII to create jobs for returning veterans.

And then again in 1954, President Dwight Eisenhower deported 13 million Mexican nationals!
The program was called 'Operation Wetback' so that American WWII and Korean veterans
had a better chance at jobs. It took 2 Years, but they deported them!

Now, if they could deport the illegal's back then, they can sure do it today!! lf you have doubts about the veracity of this information, enter Operation Wetback into your favorite search engine and confirm it for yourself. (That link is to the wikepedia page. You're welcome. -B)

Trying to Save The World...

2009-02-23T07:51:00.000-06:00

... and failing.

There's been a lot of talk about ways we can "save the world" from the upcoming ecological disaster... or something like that. Cracked has an interesting (and serious, for them) article about some of the more popular things you can do "to help the environment" that don't really work. (Slight language alert... it is Cracked, after all).

In case you don't want to click over, here are the 5 things that really don't help the environment:

buying organically grown food
rejecting vaccines
recycling
using antibacterial soap
buying carbon offsets.

You really should click over if you think they're nuts. They explain the reasons why these things don't help the environment. I just wish more people would figure this out.

Drive By News

2009-02-18T09:29:00.003-06:00

If the media can just phone it in, why can't I? Seriously, I have stuff going on in a little while, so here are a few links that I found interesting.

Are we in serious dog doo if China is warning us about protectionism and Russia is warning us about socialism? (h't to Jim)
Yep... the Pope went there... 'bout time, too...
Illinois' junior Senator isn't getting much love from liberal newspapers these days. I find it unbelievable that anyone thought that a Blago pick wouldn't end up scandalized.
Xran explains why President Obama wants the census to be run from his office.
Now that the spending bill has passed, The One has set up a website where you can track where the money is wasted. And, as per Amateur Hour precident, there are... um... deceptive charts...
Uncle Neal has a list of all the neat changes we've had since The One ascended.

Have fun...

The Opposite of Tough Love

2009-02-18T08:37:00.002-06:00

A local student met the working end of a taser yesterday.

A Westwood High School student was arrested Tuesday after being Tasered when he charged at the school's principal, Williamson County officials said.

Sherman Merritt, 18, got into an argument with his teacher about 10:45 a.m., said Detective John Foster, a sheriff's department spokesman. Foster said the teacher told Merritt to go to the principal's office, where the student got into an argument with the principal. Merritt then left campus. Deputy Deanna Lugo, the school's resource officer, and the principal went to look for Merritt, Foster said.

Foster said they found him near the intersection of Missel Thrush Drive and Millwright Parkway, where Foster said Merritt elbowed Lugo in the face. Foster said Merritt then charged at the principal and Lugo Tasered the student. Merritt was charged with assault on a police officer, a third-degree felony, Foster said.

Nice way to start adulthood, Sherman.

Of course, his father is upset. Evidently, assaulting a cop doesn't justify a jolt. In fact, according to DOD (Dear Old Dad), it's just his way. And I paraphrase... "He rants and raves and rages. It's just his way. He's not a criminal." (I can't find a link to the interview of the dad with this quote... I heard it on the radio this morning. Here's a link to a video with DOD saying that poor Junior is a "12 year old in an 18 year old's body.") When my boys were 12... or 10... maybe even 4... they knew that lashing out at a cop was a big NO NO. Then again, cussing out a teacher (which is how this whole Adventures in Neuromuscular Incapacitaion incident began) wouldn't have been on their radar, either.

This ~~student~~ ~~young man~~ ~~kid~~ punk is responsible for his actions. No doubt about that. That being said, he learned it somewhere. He didn't just decide to cuss out a teacher and bash a cop in the face yesterday morning. At some point, he came to understand that he could get what he wanted by lashing out (verbally or physically) at those in authority around him. I'm guessing here, but I'd put a dollar down that, when he was a little boy, he'd throw a tantrum and his parents gave in. Or one of his parents blew up to get their way, and he absorbed this information. Or he displayed abnormal anger responses, and the parents never taught him to deal with his anger without exploding. Or he showed psychiatric symptoms of some form, and no one thought to get him help. Or any of a number of possible scenarios. Yes, I know that, once in a while, parents do everything right and their child still ends up going bad- they are the exception, not the rule. Like I said, Junior here is responsible for his actions, but his parents are responsible for raising him to be a thug.

DOD says he's taking his son out of Westwood High School. uh... I don't think he has much of a choice... I doubt they'd let him back in... I'm sure he can get his GED in prison.

Wednesday's Hero

2009-02-18T06:34:00.000-06:00

Sgt. Kelly Keck
34 years old from West Liberty, Kentucky

Secretary of the Army Pete Geren congratulates Sgt. Kelly Keck after presenting him the Purple Heart.

On September 13, 2008, Sgt. Kelly Keck, a combat medic serving in Afghanistan, was wounded while trying to aid his fellow soldiers who's truck had just been struck by an IED. "I stepped off the road to try to get to the side of the truck, and the next thing I know I hear a loud boom, and I'm laying on the ground," he said. Sgt. Kelly had stepped on a land mine. He was flown to a field hospital in Jalalabad where he ended up loosing three fingers on his left hand and his right leg below the knee. "It was quite an ordeal," the soft-spoken soldier said.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Hurry, Gang! She Has To Catch a Plane!

2009-02-13T15:32:00.002-06:00

The House just passed the porkulus bill. Once again, not a single Republican voted for it, and seven Democrats voted against it, as well. One Democrat voted "present"... no idea why.

On Wednesday, the House passed (unanimously, btw) a resolution that the bill would be available for public viewing for 48 hours before a vote. The final bill was 1071 pages long, and the final draft was released last night around 11pm last night. And they passed it today... after about 12 hours... but there was a good reason... San Fran's Grand Nan had to hop on a plane to Rome. She's gonna get an award, doncha know?

Rep. Boehner had a good point.

There is no way that any of the Representatives stayed up all night to read that bill.

We didn't get 48 hours to read the bill... but lobbyists had 24...

It looks like the Senate is going to rush to vote on this, as well... and, no, they haven't had time to read it either.

If you're interested in reading the whole nightmare, you can go here. There's also some analysis.

Anyone want to bet that President Obama will forget his "5 day" promise? Since it's so important and all that...

Time For a Greek Lesson

2009-02-13T12:10:00.003-06:00

Today, Class, we're going to learn some Greek. For many of you, it will review, but we all need some review from time to time.

Today's Greek phrase is...

ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

Molon labe is a Greek phrase supposedly dating back to the Battle of Thermopylae (Y'all did see 300, didn't you?) Xerxes I tells the Spartans to lay down their weapons. Leonides yells back "Molon labe," which, loosely translated, means, " Come and get them." Recently, this Greek phrase has become a rally cry for Second Amendment proponents.

Why the Greek lesson? CongressCritter Bobby Rush, ever known for his ~~sanity~~ ~~reason~~ ~~insight~~ stupidity, has introduced a bill that has gun owners alternating between spitting angry and uncontrolled laughter. Let's see... all gun owners must be registered. All guns must be registered. All records will actually be maintained (as opposed to CCL records, which are supposed to be purged once the license is issued).

The Bill is named after Blair Holt, a teenager gunned down during a bus shooting in Chicago in 2007. From all accounts, he was a good kid, caught in the wrong place at the wrong time (on a city bus, right after school, and some other student came onto the bus and started shooting). Some reports say that he was protecting another student from the shooter when he was shot. He should be remembered for being one of the good kids, not for having his name on a flawed House bill.

On the surface, the bill seems ... innocent. What could be wrong with requiring registration to own a firearm? It's nothing that many states don't already require. Under the supposed innocence, we have a problem.

The NRA-ILA site has a good explanation of just some of the things wrong with this bill:

The measure calls for all handgun owners to submit to the federal government an application that shall include, among many other things: a photo; an address; a thumbprint; a completed, written firearm safety test; private mental health records; and a fee. And those are only some of the requirements to be licensed!

The bill would further require the attorney general to establish a database of every handgun sale, transfer, and owner's address in America. Moreover, the bill would make it illegal to own or possess a "qualifying firearm" -- defined as "any handgun; or any semiautomatic firearm that can accept any detachable ammunition feeding device…" [emphasis added] without one of the proposed licenses.

Additionally, the bill would make it illegal to transfer ownership of a "qualifying firearm" to anyone who is not a licensed gun dealer or collector (with very few exceptions), and would require "qualifying firearm" owners to report all transfers to the attorney general's database. It would also be illegal for a licensed gun owner to fail to record a gun loss or theft within 72 hours, or fail to report a change of address within 60 days. Further, if a minor obtains a firearm and injures someone with it, the owner of the firearm may face a multiple-year jail sentence.

Got that? That's just some of the provisions. There are more. The NRA-ILA doesn't even get into the states' rights issues. Or, it clearly violates the Fourth Amendment (warrantless search) and has a harsher sentence for non-compliance (10 years) than many violent crimes. Or, how about the fact that registrations have never led to a reduction of crime. And, as our friends in England and Australia can tell us, the "common sense" gun legislation leads to prohibition and gun grabs. It's a slippery slope, and it only takes a little push.

Did Rep. Rush talk with Rep. Hastings? They should have just combined their bills and saved time.

I guess my response to this is to first quote Patrick Henry:

"Are we at last brought to such an humiliating and debasing degradation that we cannot be trusted with arms for our own defense? Where is the difference between having our arms under our own possession and under our own direction, and having them under the management of Congress? If our defense be the real object of having those arms, in whose hands can they be trusted with more propriety, or equal safety to us, as in our own hands?" - Patrick Henry

Unfortunately, we now defend ourselves against the criminal down the street and not the neighboring nation. But that's another post.

Second, e-mails have been fired off to my CongressCritter and my Senators. They now know my position on this particular legislation.

Third, I'm talking about it.

Anything else I can do?

In case you were wondering, this isn't the first time Rep. Rush has proposed this legislation. The last time he had several co-sponsors... Rahm Emanuel was one. He has no co-sponsors at this time. For now...

It All Makes Sense Now

2009-02-13T08:59:00.000-06:00

Anyone want to guess why so many members (and potential or former potential members) of the Obama Administration have trouble with their taxes? Evidently, they can't add...

A White House estimate of the number of jobs stimulus legislation will create includes some sharp discrepancies between state and local jobs claims.

Those differences -- which the document suggests are large rounding errors -- was spotted by the office of House Minority Whip Eric Cantor, which assembled the chart above. It comes as the White House is seeking to define the stimulus package as a jobs bill, and to focus locally on the jobs it will create.

The White House document (.doc) projects job creation both by state and by congressional district.

"State totals may not sum due to rounding," the chart says at the bottom, though in some cases -- most dramatically, understandably, in small states -- the rounding error represents a large share of the projected jobs. In small states with just one congressional district, which represents the whole state, the difference is particularly striking, presumably a result of different methods of calculating the job figures for the same set of residents.

The differences sometimes give larger jobs figures for the states, sometimes for the districts.

In California, the difference is 25,900 jobs.

The figures illustrate the roughness of economic estimates that are being promoted energetically to local press around the country.

A White House spokesman didn't immediately respond to a question about the differences.

A spokesman for Cantor, Brad Dayspring, emails, "I don't think that the 4600 people in Nevada or 1900 people in Wyoming – not to mention thousands of other Americans – will understand not getting a job due to a 'rounding error.'" He added, Dayspring also asked, “How there could be a rounding error in places like Wyoming, South Dakota, North Dakota, or Washington, D.C., where there is exactly 1 state and 1 congressional district that encompass the exact same area and population?” (copied in its entirety because it's a really good piece by Ben Smith- B)

So... they can't just add? Is there some reason why the Average Joe, who has to add correctly on his taxes and even to balance his checkbook, should just accept this plan? I mean, I'm sure Average Joe has a calculator (I bought mine at Wal Mart for about $4)... President Obama's advisor's can afford one?

Oh, yeah... this stimulus package is our nation's economic salvation... sure, it is...

What Was That Old Saying?

2009-02-13T08:51:00.000-06:00

Oh, yeah... now I remember... Loose Lips Sink Ships. I guess Diane Feinstein didn't get the memo.

A senior U.S. lawmaker said Thursday that unmanned CIA Predator aircraft operating in Pakistan are flown from an air base in that country, a revelation likely to embarrass the Pakistani government and complicate its counter-terrorism collaboration with the United States.

The disclosure by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, marked the first time a U.S. official had publicly commented on where the Predator aircraft patrolling Pakistan take off and land. (emphasis mine- B)

After 9/11, when the invasions of Afghanistan and then Iraq were being discussed, the military and the Three Letter Agencies didn't really want to advise full Congressional committees. They had a good reason, too. Every time they'd have a briefing, some junior Congress Critter would run out and stand in front of a microphone, blabbing every single detail that they'd heard.

As the chair of the Intelligence Committee, you'd think Senator Feinstein would know what is classified information and what is for public consumption. And she should know when her actions could interfere with an ongoing operation. Since someone, somewhere, has told her this, we can only presume that she did it on purpose.

Isn't giving information (by leaking to the media or directly) to the enemy treason? Just saying...

The Stimulus Pan, Explained

2009-02-13T08:17:00.000-06:00

I got this in an e-mail from a couple of people. I think that this has more to do with the $600 we received last year than the current plan, but the extra $13 a week can be viewed the same way.

America's stimulus payment

"This year, taxpayers will receive an Economic Stimulus Payment. This is a very exciting new program that I will explain using the Q and A format:

Q. What is an Economic Stimulus Payment?

A. It is money that the federal government will send to taxpayers.

Q. Where will the government get this money?

A. From taxpayers.

Q. So the government is giving me back my own money?

A. Only a smidgen.

Q. What is the purpose of this payment?

A. The plan is that you will use the money to purchase a high-definition TV set, thus stimulating the economy.

Q. But isn't that stimulating the economy of China ?

A. Shut up.

Below is some helpful advice on how to best help the US economy by spending your stimulus check wisely:

If you spend that money at Wal-Mart, all the money will go to China.

If you spend it on gasoline it will go to the Arabs.

If you purchase a computer it will go to India.

If you purchase fruit and vegetables it will go to Mexico, Honduras,
and
Guatemala (unless you buy organic).

If you buy a car it will go to Japan.

If you purchase useless crap it will go to Taiwan.

And none of it will help the American economy.

We need to keep that money here in America. You can keep the money in America by spending it at yard sales, going to a baseball game, or spend it on prostitutes, beer and wine (domestic ONLY), or tattoos, since those are the only businesses still in the US.

Wednesday's Hero

2009-02-11T07:22:00.000-06:00

This Weeks Post Was Suggested And Written By Brat

Sgt. Patrick Tainsh
33 years old from Oceanside, California
Troop E, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment
February 11, 2004

Five years ago today, Sgt. Patrick Tainsh sacrificed all as the mounted unit he
was part of was hit by an IED in Baghdad. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze and Sliver Stars saving the lives of his commanding officer and other soldiers before succumbing to his own wounds. Also killed in the attack was Pfc. William C. Ramirez from Portland, Oregon.

On Veteran’s Day, 2007, Deborah Tainsh, Sgt. Tainsh's mother, attended a school in Columbia, Georgia, and shared a story she had written called "A Boy Named Patrick."

Here is part of the story :

…a little boy named Patrick who loved football, beaches, surfing, and
skateboarding, and especially reading. Patrick watched his dad be a Marine for
over twenty years. During this time Patrick kept reading not only surfing and
skateboarding magazines, but history books, too. One day when Patrick was a man, he told his dad and best friend, “I want to do something that will make a
difference in the world, I’m going to be a soldier.” And so he did. And in 1999
he went to Fort Knox, Kentucky for boot camp and then went to Fort Polk,
Louisiana where he worked and trained hard to become a United States Army
Cavalry Scout. Then in 2003 Patrick had to say good bye to his mom and dad
because he had to go fight a war in Iraq to protect his country, friends, and
family from terrorists and to help fight for the freedoms of the boys and girls
in that country where they and their families were treated very badly by their
country’s leader. Patrick once wrote a letter to his mom and dad telling them
that he cried for the children because they were hungry and he didn’t have food
to give them. He said he couldn’t understand how a country’s leader could treat
the people so badly and make them live in such dirty conditions with trash and
wild dogs everywhere. And so Patrick's mom and dad keep a photo in their living
room of Patrick surrounded by Iraqi children.

You can read the story in it's entirety here.

Sgt Tainsh came to the military later than some, but rose through the ranks fast. In his last letter to his parents, Sgt Tainsh shared his thoughts about his mission. And in 2006, Sgt. Tainsh's mother wrote a book called Heart Of A Hawk about her son's life and her and her husband's struggles since their son was killed.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

A Global Warming Protest I Can Understand

2009-02-06T13:00:00.003-06:00

I think these... um... men... have a reason to be concerned about global warming... it's a killer...

shamelessly stolen from Denny.

Lunchtime Commentary

2009-02-06T12:42:00.003-06:00

How bad do you have to be to make Scott McClellan look like a brillant orator?

That was from a couple of days ago. FoxNews has today's verbal spasms on live. I don't remember them covering the daily press indoctrination when President Bush was in office. They did from time to time, but not every day. I guess that's their version of "fair and balanced." (Show the Administration's take, and then rip it to shreds... works for me...)

How long will Gibbs last as Press Secretary? The way the MSM is even going after him, I don't give him more than a couple of months...

UPDATE: I just re-read both articles... one said he returned the salute first, the other didn't. If he did return the salute, then it's very informal, but not quite a huge faux pas.

He Must Have Missed The Memo

2009-02-06T12:22:00.000-06:00

I'm pretty sure that prior to his swearing in on January 20th, President Obama had a bunch of briefings on everything Presidential. Important things like how the White House phone system works... who is Secret Service protectors would be... proper military etiquette...

I think he missed the last one...

Departing from the South Lawn, Obama broke from tradition as he boarded Marine One, the presidential helicopter. He seemed to stun the Marine standing at attention by reaching out to shake his hand. The Marine obliged, shaking the president's hand before returning to a steady salute.

As the commenter on the second link mentioned, of course the Marine was "stunned." Proper protocol would have been for the President to return the salute (supposedly, he's learned that one already) and then offer his hand. Not the other way around. The Marine Corps isn't there for him to get all buddy buddy with... they're there to do a job...

I guess this shouldn't be a surprise. He did replace the Marine Corps band with a piano player.

Tidbits

2009-02-06T08:02:00.000-06:00

Yes, there are a lot of headlines today. There are every day. Today, there just isn't much worth mentioning. Here are the few I grabbed:

Me thinks the President would have an easier time getting his ~~stimulus~~ spending bill passed if he could actually get his own party onboard... and maybe if he'd muzzle the CBO... just sayin...
Pranks at the Pro Bowl... (h't to HDD)
Do we really need that 2nd Senator from Minnesota? At the rate they're going, whoever does win will be certified just in time for the next election for that seat.
The baby machine has spoken. I realize that it's really none of my business. She's still a selfish moron.
I'm sure this is above President Obama's pay grade. And I'm sure he's already fired the speech writer who got him into hot water at the prayer breakfast. I doubt this legislation would get past him, though... considering his past votes.
V is coming back... which is causing some high school flash backs... not all of them good...
A Kennedy is going... um... hog wild over... pigs... evidently, the oinkers are subverting the government.
Why is Vlad ashamed to be an Abba fan?

Like I said... just not much there... bleh...

Hoop Dreams

2009-02-05T21:35:00.002-06:00

Do y'all remember Jason McElwain? He's the kid from Rochester, NY who made the news a couple of years ago by shooting 20 points in his one and only high school basketball game. Here's the video, if you don't remember.

Well, we have another young basketball manager/player for you to get to know. His name is Patrick Thibodeau, and, like Jason, he started out as a manager, but his hoop dreams came true.

So... one game 2 for 3 from 3-point range... better than anything I can claim... how about you?

Proving The Obvious

2009-02-04T10:12:00.002-06:00

President Obama wants to save financial institutions, right? Our economy needs those institutions deemed "too big to fail" to... well... not fail, right? This just proves it's a crock.

The Obama administration is tackling the bailout of the battered financial sector on two tracks: overhauling how the government spends the money while devising new executive compensation restrictions for banks that get it.

Administration officials said the pay limits could be announced this week, but said the more complicated task of setting up a new framework for rescuing the nation's ailing banks would have to wait until early next week.

Let me see... you need the best and the brightest working at these companies to get them back on track, right? You need something to encourage them to either seek employment with these companies or to keep them employed by those companies, right? And you answer to this little concern is to restrict how much the best and brightest get paid? How does that work?

Obama is on FoxNews right now, saying that executives should not be rewarded for failure. If the company was going to lose $1 billion and, instead, only lost $500 million, whoever worked that out succeeded at his task, right? It's all how you look at it...

He's going to destroy the economy, finished what Presidents Carter and Clinton and members of Congress put into motion. I hope he's proud...

How Many American Jobs Lost?

2009-02-04T08:58:00.002-06:00

Just watch this video... and mourn the loss of intelligence in our country...

The good news is that all of the students in my classes at the co-op could probably tell exactly what's wrong with that quote. There may be hope for our nation.

UPDATE: A commenter on Hot Air made a good point (well, many commenters did, but this one stuck out...). Once Obama had been in office 12 or 13 days, we were at world-wide unemployment. What's his plan to save the world?

UPDATE 2: I misheard her... she said "a month" not "a day." So... worldwide unemployment in 7 months... my bad...

Humpday Heap of Headlines

2009-02-04T08:05:00.000-06:00

With cedar levels at critical mass, you should be happy that I can even string together a coherent thought, much less come up with a title, ok?

Here are the headlines that caught my eye this morning:

General:

The baby machine isn't getting much love from corporations that usually lend a helping hand to parents of mass-multiples. Her doctors aren't getting any love, either.
Alcee Hastings wants to build some detention centers in the US... just in case...

Politics:

VP Cheney stays on target.
Norm Coleman hasn't lost yet. Today the courts gave him some good news.
You know... when President Bush read stories to kids, the Left made fun of him. When Obama does it... at a charter school, no less, it's no big deal.
Maybe the Democrats should pay for their own retreats instead of the taxpayers. Just a thought. (Yeah... lobbyists paid for the GOP retreat... better than taxpayers, IMO.)
Blago's just "misunderstood." uh... whatever...
This Obama appointment will probably sail right through Congress... scary guy, though...

Economy:

Auto loans are part of the stimulus package now... lovely...
But the GO managed to block more $ for infrastucture backlogs...
Lobbyists are... wait for it... lobbying for more money in the stimulus package... shocking...
Cities are also trying to get some cash from Uncle Sam... neon? frisbee golf?
Subaru and Hyundai made a profit last quarter. How'd that happen?
Oh, yeah... that's just what we need during a recession... more regulations...
I'm sure the fine people of Seattle think this a great use of their money. No, really... I bet they do...
Mixed opinions about borrowing from China? Mixed?????

Sports:

It's nice to know just how generous US taxpayers are. It looks like we gave Santonio Holmes a new Escalade.
The Onion has expanded its empire.
Why is it news that NFL players want to keep the Pro Bowl in Hawaii?
Scott Boras is slime, but I can't help but ~~wonder~~ hope that Manny is just holding out for an offer to play with his buddy Albert. A girl can dream, right?
In not-news, Clemens' DNA was in MacNamee's syringes. Didn't we know that? Did those syringes also contain performance-enhancing drugs? They don't know that yet... that would be news...

Science:

That's one big snake!
If they're going to "follow the science," quit calling it "man-made global warming!" It's getting colder, Senator!
Speaking of "global climate change"... how'd that tropical turtle fossil end up in the Arctic? Those evil cavemen with their SUVs, I'm sure...
Well... I guess it's getting colder everywhere except California. Or maybe they're just using bad science.
The Mars rover Spirit had a bit of amnesia the other day. It just... forgot a bunch of stuff... NASA is saying "cosmic ray! cosmic ray!" and others are saying "age-related issues." Someone on CTC (either Richard Hoagland or Whitley Streiber... I was half asleep, and I can't find a link) thinks someone in the Obama administration wanted to take it for a virtual joy ride to see just what NASA's little toy has found...

Other:

Did anyone else find it humorous when NYC's Mayor Bloomberg was bit by Charles G. Hogg?

Wednesday's Hero

2009-02-04T07:57:00.000-06:00

Gunnery Sgt. Nick Popaditch

In 2003, Sgt. Popaditch, along with 1st Tank Battalion, rolled into Baghdad from Kuwait at the start of the Iraq War. They had just taken the city and the tank that Sgt. Popaditch was in had rolled up to a 40-ft statue of Saddam. I think we all remember that statue. Popaditch was given a cigar by a fellow Marine and as he smoked it an AP photographer snapped a picture of him.

Fast forward to April 7, 2004. Sgt. Popaditch's wife was vacationing with their son when she received a phone call informing her that her husband had been injured in an attack. The turret of his tank, that he was situated in, had taken two direct hits from RPG's. He fell through the hatch to the floor of the tank. As he struggled to his feet, he began to shout orders to his men but go no response. He then realized that the attack had caused him to go deaf in both ears. But that was only temporary. He then reached up and felt that his head was wet and knew it wasn't good.

In the aftermath of the attack, Gunnery Sgt. Nick Popaditch had lost his right eye. And because of that he now proudly wears a prosthetic eye with the Marine Corps. logo embossed on it. On November 10, 2005 Gunnery Sgt. Nick Popaditch was awarded the Silver Star, the nation's third-highest award for heroism in combat. He also has a book out titled Once A Marine.

You can read more about Gunnery Sgt. Nick Popaditch here and here.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

The Stimulus Package For Dummies

2009-02-04T07:37:00.001-06:00

So... from Senator Coburn via Michelle Malkin via Ken Emmanuelson, we have the bulk of the stimulus plan, as it stands right now, broken down for your ~~viewing pleasure~~ nausea inducing.

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

* A $246 million tax break for Hollywood movie producers to buy motion picture film (An amendment proposed by Senator Coburn passed yesterday which removed this item. Woohoo!)

* $650 million for the digital television (DTV) converter box coupon program

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

* $448 million for constructing the Dept. of Homeland Security headquarters

* $248 million for furniture at the new Dept. of Homeland Security headquarters

* $600 million to buy hybrid vehicles for federal employees

* $400 million for the CDC to screen and prevent STD’s

* $1.4 billion for a rural waste disposal programs

* $125 million for the Washington, D.C. 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

* $150 million for Smithsonian museum facilities

* $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 NIH facilities in Bethesda, MD

* $160 million for “paid volunteers” at the Corporation for National and Community Service

* $5.5 million for “energy efficiency initiatives” at the VA “National Cemetery Administration”

* $850 million for Amtrak

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

* $75M to construct a new “security training” facility for State Dept 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.

* IDEA, Part B State Grants: Formula grants to assist the States in meeting the excess costs of providing special education and related services to children with disabilities.

* IDEA Infants and Families: Formula grants to the States to assist them in making early intervention services available to children with disabilities aged birth through 2 and their families.

* State Medicaid Bailout: $87.7 billion Through 3 different mechanisms, the bill would provide additional federal funds to state Medicaid programs over the next 3 years. This is nearly $70 billion more than the governors asked President Obama for in December, and should be a loan to be repaid by the states.

Bad Policy

* Eliminates fees on loans from the Small Business Administration, thus pushing private capital toward unproductive businesses and away from productive businesses.

* Increases the definition of “youth” for certain summer job programs from age 21 to age 24.

* $160 million to the Job Corps program at the Dept. of Labor, but not for job programs - rather, to construct, alter or repair buildings.

* Requires a government study on the impact of minimum wage laws on the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa.

* $79 billion State Fiscal Stabilization (slush) Fund to bailout the States by providing billions of dollars for “education” costs of any kind.

* $47.843 billion is appropriated for a variety of energy programs that are primarily focused on renewable energy development and energy conservation/efficiency. Not one dollar is appropriated to make fossil fuels more affordable in the near future. More than $6 billion of these funds go to environmental clean ups.

* Increases eligibility for “weatherization” assistance to households 200 percent above the poverty level.

* The “Making Work Pay” credit of $500 to every individual making less than $75,000 (or $1000 to couples making $150,000 or less) would pay people whether they are productive or not - akin to welfare.

* The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP - food stamps) would temporarily suspend the 3-month limit for non-working adults to receive SNAP benefits, thus giving incentives not to find a job.

* Installs government as the creator of broadband deployment regardless of whether the specific local/regional market can sustain it.

* Funds new “green jobs” job-training program without eliminating inefficient job-training programs or consolidating duplicative job-training programs.

* $890 million to the Social Security Administration without any provisions to reduce improper payments, or any plan to increase solvency of the trust fund.

* Nothing requires the products that are purchased with these funds be here in America. Lithium ion batteries, for instance, are primarily made in Asia.

What does any of this have to do with stimulating the economy? Oh, right... it's not about stimulating the economy... it's about shoring up President Obama's base for his re-election.

UPDATE: Here's a video of San Fran's Grand Nan promising that there'd be NO pork in the stimulus bill that passes the House.

Keep talking, Nancy... keep talking...

More Blago Fun

2009-02-03T07:44:00.000-06:00

The ECHL had a Rod Blagojevich Night. How exactly did they accomplish this? Like this:

Here's a video of the night's events. The soundtrack is... odd..

Blago, you are quite the little laughing stock, aren't you? (h't to HDD)

eh... it's Monday...

2009-02-02T07:46:00.000-06:00

It's Monday... the Cardinals lost the Super Bowl (thanks, in part, to ~~superb~~ craptastic officiating)... there isn't much in the news today (except that Daschle is "sorry", but I don't think his version of "sorry" and my view of him as "sorry" are the same thing)... I have a bunch of stuff to get done today...

Since there isn't much to blog about, I thought I'd give you a couple of "Blago the impeached governor" funnies...

#1-

and #2-

You can find more Blago funnies here. Click on some of the "see all captions" if you need some more laughs.

OK... off to read some Civics and World History lessons for tomorrow... Have a good one, everyone!

Wednesday's Hero

2009-01-28T08:31:00.000-06:00

This Weeks Post Was Suggested And Written By Cynthia

Sgt James E. Craig
27 years old from Hollywood, South Carolina
1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division
January 28, 2008

James, 27, was killed on January 28, 2008, in Mosul, Iraq, along with four other soldiers when the unit encountered an IED, followed by an ambush from a nearby Mosque. It has been a year since James was killed. I miss him each day.

James was on his third deployment to Iraq. There are so many things about James that I admired. He was 'loud' and funny and articulate and sweet - even calling himself 'Sweet Soldier' - and brave and tough. He was a devout Christian and more comfortable with telling people he was than anyone I ever knew - he had a enviable, easy comfort with this faith. It would be so easy to write and write about James, but let me share some portions of his letters - his long and articulate letters.

"...I am very much looking forward to this war being over. However, I fully support everything that is going on over here ever since I saw first hand what the real situation was. Our media doesn't portray the truth of this operation or the necessity to the people here. They need freedom and desperately cry out for someone to help them. ... I know one thing, God wants me here."

"The war here is stating to come to an end. It will be a slow transition period where the responsibility of the battle space is handed over to the growing Iraqi Army. It all depends on the Iraqis if we are able to leave them with it safely."

"...it is a tale of my wonderful journey where I made memories I will never forget and stood up for something that I believe in...that sweet taste of freedom when the day is done and the knowledge that I have done something to ensure the positive future of my loved ones. And, you should know that it comforts me the most that what I do protects wonderful people like you."

To read more about Sgt James Craig, go here.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

A Somber Anniversary

2009-01-28T07:52:00.002-06:00

Twenty-three years ago today, the Challenger exploded over the Atlantic Ocean. I've written about it before.

Here is the video from that morning:

Here is a longer report from ABC News:

Here is the video of President Reagan's national address from that evening:

I can't think of anything else to add today.

Presidential Report Card

2009-01-27T09:20:00.002-06:00

President Obama has been in office for one week. Let's see how he's done so far...

Several of his Cabinet appointments are clouded in scandal.
His first phone call to a world leader was to "Palestinian" President Mahmoud Abbas. (Sorry... there is no such place as "Palestine"... )
One of his first acts was to approve funding for abortions around the world (even though we're in the middle of a world-wide financial crisis). It was especially tacky how he signed that particular Executive Order on the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. No symbolism there or anything.
His first television interview was with an Arab-speaking news agency based in Dubai.
His environmental agenda might well destroy what's left of the auto industry in the United States.
His economic agenda doesn't look much better. Where did he come up with his economic advisors, anyway?
He's now an action figure.

So... how would you rate him?

Who Didn't See This Coming?

2009-01-27T07:11:00.002-06:00

There is this interesting weather phenomenon called the Gore Effect. In a nutshell, many times when The Goracle has scheduled a talk about the impending doom of Global ~~Warming~~ Climate Change, the temperature tanks. Two examples come to mind immediately- his visit to NYC when there was record low temps, and the trip to Harvard (at least, I think it was Harvard) where the school had to provide hot soup and cider to keep the students warm while The Goracle ~~preached~~ spoke.

Today, there is supposed to be a hearing on Capitol Hill to discuss the evils of Global ~~Warming~~ Climate Change. Cue winter storm in 3... 2... 1... (here's the text of the Drudge link, just in case it changes):

Al Gore is scheduled before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday morning to once again testify on the 'urgent need' to combat global warming.

But Mother Nature seems ready to freeze the proceedings.

A 'Winter Storm Watch' has been posted for the nation's capitol and there is a potential for significant snow... sleet... or ice accumulations.

"I can't imagine the Democrats would want to showcase Mr. Gore and his new findings on global warming as a winter storm rages outside," a Republican lawmaker emailed the DRUDGE REPORT. "And if the ice really piles up, it will not be safe to travel."

A spokesman for Sen. John Kerry, who chairs the committee, was not immediately available to comment on contingency plans.

Global warming advocates have suggested this year's wild winter spells are proof of climate change.

Developing...

It's not nice to fool Mother Nature (to quote the old commercial). "She" is so upset by all of this Global ~~Warming~~ Climate Change nonsense that her little temper tantrum will stretch all across the Fruited Plain. Here, in the land of the 2 week winter, we'll have a winter storm warning posted for tonight and tomorrow morning. Granted, it is supposed to be 54 tomorrow afternoon, but it's supposed to sleet and snow tonight.

Thanks, Al. Thanks a bunch.

A Message From an Obamabot

2009-01-23T10:46:00.004-06:00

I hope "Carlos" doesn't mind, but I received this in my email box, and I just had to share. I'm going to post it in its entirety, then I'll go through it line by line (more or less). Go and grab some popcorn first.

Subject: <> Elizabeth Buffy in Belleview: Let's welcome an accountable Executiv e Branch! <>

"They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety"

~ Benjamin Franklin ~ February 17, 1775 ~

Greetings, Elizabeth.

I was disappointed to notice the misrepresentations of your website: http://www.yeahrightwhatever.blogspot.com/ I believe the Republican Party had an opportunity to mismanage our United States of America - domestically & overseas - for the past eight years. Elizabeth, it's time to wake up and instead of complaining so much why not use your time, talent & goodwill to rebuild our country. I/we will not allow so-called Negative Conservatives spoil the Presidency of Barack Obama. Just like I will respect your Freedom of Expression --- I will kindly request that you respect ours. As a public school teacher, it's time for intelligent/educated individuals like you to cease & desist promoting division & hatred. We are the United States of America! Haven't you realized the bruises caused to our Bill of Rights and Constitution by Ultra-Patriotic Republicans like Alberto Gonzalez, Rumsfeld & V.P. Cheney? As a proud member of a military family, I am disappointed that the lies of the past administration have caused much pain to my USMC nephew repeated tours of duty in Iraq. As well as - my niece in the army. Since the Korean War we have been a military family, who will follow directions from our Commander in Chief. Nevertheless, rest assured that I/we will use the power of the ballot to keep doomsayers & doubters like you from ruining the agenda of our 44th President. Please leave President Barack Obama alone! Don't rain on his parade! Thank you very much for your kind consideration.
Respectfully yours,
Carlos

OK. Now, go take some Advil to help with your headache. Let's take this apart, shall we?

Subject: <> Elizabeth Buffy in Belleview: Let's welcome an accountable Executiv e Branch! <>
Carlos, you don't know me well enough to call me by that nickname, and I'm not from Belleview, Nebraska. You misspelled Executive, btw.
"They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety"

~ Benjamin Franklin ~ February 17, 1775 ~
You almost got the quote right. It's "Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." And I understand where you were going with that quote... how... sneaky of you.
I was disappointed to notice the misrepresentations of your website: http://www.yeahrightwhatever.blogspot.com/
Where has my website been misrepresented? I'd love to know where.
I believe the Republican Party had an opportunity to mismanage our United States of America - domestically & overseas - for the past eight years.
First of all, what you believe and what the facts are don't seem to match up. Second, based on what you typed (rather than what I think you meant), every administration has the opportunity to mismanage the United States of America (although, technically, it would be foreign policy and not the actual country, abroad). I'm just happy to know the fact that President Bush's administration did not take advantage of the opportunity to mismanage our country.
Elizabeth, it's time to wake up and instead of complaining so much why not use your time, talent & goodwill to rebuild our country.
Oh? You mean like the way the Left has done the past 8 years? After 8 years of Bush Derangement Syndrome, you think those of us who are conservative (notice, I didn't say "Republican"... there is a difference) will just forget how you've treated our President and our country and play nice?
I/we will not allow so-called Negative Conservatives spoil the Presidency of Barack Obama.
First, multiple personality problems, Carlos? Second, I'm not a "Negative Conservative." Third, as an English teacher, I feel the need to tell you that you're missing a "to" somewhere in there.
Just like I will respect your Freedom of Expression --- I will kindly request that you respect ours.
This is golden. Where did you get the idea that I have ever disrespected someone's freedom of expression? I have never tried to squash anyone's freedom of expression... unlike liberals, who routinely interrupt conservative speakers by yelling and throwing things (pies, etc.).
As a public school teacher, it's time for intelligent/educated individuals like you to cease & desist promoting division & hatred.
Where did you ever get the idea that I am a public school teacher? As a homeschooler, I promote Christ's love, mercy, and grace. Division and hatred belong to another curriculum, not mine. (And what's up with the intelligent/educated thing? Couldn't pick which one to choose on the form letter?)
We are the United States of America!
Who is this "we"? Are you the official representative of one of the States? I am a proud citizen of the United States of America. This "we are" trend is... boring...
Haven't you realized the bruises caused to our Bill of Rights and Constitution by Ultra-Patriotic Republicans like Alberto Gonzalez, Rumsfeld & V.P. Cheney?
Realized what about the supposed bruises? "Ultra-Patriotic"? I'd like to think that I'm "ultra-patriotic"- did I bruise the Bill of Rights and the Constitution? No, those bruises were inflicted decades ago, not by President Bush.
As a proud member of a military family, I am disappointed that the lies of the past administration have caused much pain to my USMC nephew repeated tours of duty in Iraq. As well as - my niece in the army. Since the Korean War we have been a military family, who will follow directions from our Commander in Chief.
As a former Navy wife and friend of a Gold Star family, I can tell you about pain from war. Separation from family for a while stinks- been there, done that. That's the pain your niece and nephew have probably experienced. Gold Star families, however, have lost their loved one for the rest of this life, and most of those families supported President Bush and the War on Terror. As for the lies, there was conflicting information, and the President went with what was there at the time.
Nevertheless, rest assured that I/we will use the power of the ballot to keep doomsayers & doubters like you from ruining the agenda of our 44th President.
And just what exactly will you vote for between now and the midterm election? Not a darn thing. I will try to derail President Obama's agenda, not because I'm a doomsayer and doubter, but because I believe that socialism isn't the best path for our country.
Please leave President Barack Obama alone! Don't rain on his parade!
He's a big boy. Between him and his Chicago political machine, he can take care of himself.
Thank you very much for your kind consideration.
Respectfully yours,
Carlos
No, Carlos, thank you for this nice intro to a post I have wanted to write for a few days now. (edited to correct grammar- thanks, Dyan! - B)

Like I said, I've been contemplating this post for a couple of days before Carlos sent me this. What should the conservative response be, now that the Democrats have control of two branches of government? Should we resort to the same tactics that the Left embraced during Bush 43's administration (BDS, name-calling, telling lies, all that)? Should we take the high ground (like Bush 43 did)?

Here is Andy Levy's "Dos and Don'ts" list. See what you think:

DON’T question the motives - question the policy. When you disagree with Obama’s policies, say so, and make it clear why. But remember that President Obama is doing what he thinks is best for the country, as President Bush did. Both men love America and want what’s best for her. End of story.

DON’T make it personal. We don’t need another Derangement Syndrome. We don’t need people doing things like emphasizing Obama’s middle name in a derogatory fashion. How anyone would think that’s beneficial to their cause, or to the country as a whole, is beyond me. Also, it’s not even clever. Neither are smushwords like BusHitler, or sillywords like Rethuglicans and Dhimmicrats.

DON’T cozy up to and champion foreign dictators and despots. Sean Penn is an ass. No reason to be like him. ‘Nuff said. (Corollary: Don’t cozy up to and champion foreign dictators and despots and then act outraged when people question your patriotism.)

DON’T pretend you’re being brave when you criticize your government. Not while people in other countries actually, y’know, DIE, when they do that.

DON’T use the word “divisive.” At this point, all that word means is “You disagree with me,” and the English language gets mangled enough these days.

DON’T use the phrase “speaking truth to power.” EVER.

DON’T move to Canada.

DON’T say you’re going to move to Canada and then stay here. (I know it’s too late for Stephen Baldwin, but not for the rest of you.)

DON’T apologize to foreigners and say things to them like, “I didn’t vote for Obama,” or “He’s not MY president.”

DON’T say or do everything in your power to drive this country apart and then claim you want unity when it’s your guy in power. This is like the convicted felon who conveniently finds God when he’s up for parole.

DON’T call people un-American one week, and then talk about how “We are not blue states or red states, we are the United States” the next. (This rule may only apply to Tom Hanks, but I put it in just to be safe.)

DON’T automatically think people who disagree with you are stupid or evil. Some of them are, of course. But most of them aren’t, and you might actually learn something if you listen to them.

And finally, DON’T use the fact that many on the left behaved abominably for the past eight years as an excuse to behave the same way. America needs adults. And if it bothered you when they did it, it’s a good sign that you shouldn’t do it.

So... I agree with Andy on most of those points... America needs adults.If the Left thought it was a good idea, I have to question it.

Carlos, maybe you haven't been paying attention the past decade. It's been the Left who has slung the mud and called names and blamed the wrong person for every single thing that happened. President Bush wasn't responsible for every ill (if you had money trouble or lost your job or broke up with your girlfriend, President Bush isn't the one to blame). Conservatives didn't blame President Clinton for all the bad stuff that happened during his administration, and we won't blame President Obama if we get sick or have a bad day. That's not who we are.

Conservatives will hold President Obama accountable for the things that he does and says. (For example, when he signs an Executive Order and makes an exception to it within 24 hours). When he proposes a plan that will take us down the road even farther from where the Founders had planned for us, we will hold President Obama accountable. When he promotes policies that can only be objectively as socialist (or worse) in nature, we will hold President Obama accountable. There will be one huge difference, however- hopefully, it will be with the respect due the Office, unlike the way the BDS folks have treated President Bush.

A Photo Essay of Our 43rd President

2009-01-21T12:06:00.000-06:00

Two Time photographers put together a (surprisingly nice) photo essay of President Bush's time in office. You can check it out here.

Wednesday's Hero

2009-01-21T08:55:00.000-06:00

This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Cindy

Petty Officer 2nd Class Mike A. Monsoor
29 years old from Garden Grove, California
September 29, 2006

In April 2008, Michael Monsoor (who had already been posthumously awarded the Silver Star for his actions in a May 9, 2006 incident, when he and another SEAL pulled a wounded team member to safety amidst gunfire) was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. His funeral, attended, in the words of President Bush, by "nearly every SEAL on the West Coast," was held on October 12, 2006 at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego. During Monsoor's funeral service, as the casket was taken from the hearse to the gravesite, fellow SEALs lined up in two columns to slap and embed the gold Tridents (a pin awarded for successful completion of SEAL Qualification Training) from their uniforms onto the top of Monsoor's coffin.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Mike A. Monsoor's Summary Of Action.

"The procession went on nearly half an hour, and when it was all over, the simple wooden coffin had become a gold-plated memorial to a hero who will never be forgotten." - President George W. Bush

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Such Maturity

2009-01-20T12:30:00.003-06:00

I'm sitting in my US History class, checking my e-mail and doing a little surfing while the kids watch a movie. I am SO glad I'm not able to watch the inauguration coverage today. I'd probably be more sick than I already am.

First, here's the text of President Obama's speech. I agree with Ramesh Ponnuru that parts were quite petty and there's no way he can get even half of that accomplished.

Ace points out that Obama's supporters are as classy as ever. From his post:

"He must behold the crowds with wonder and dismay," Matthews says.
The crowd is chanting "na na na na, na na na na, hey-ey-ey, goodbye." Matthews, Maddow, and Olbermann refuse to note this. They simply pretend they didn't hear the loud, raucous taunting. Because they're too classy to point this out.
Updates: Crowd taunts Bush with catcalls at Andrews Air Force base, to board a plane formerly designated Air Force One. Maddow, Matthews, and Olbermann once again fail to note the behavior of Obama's supporters, preferring instead to find Bush's rebuke in the size and jubilation of the crowd.

Slubama writes:

Heh. I'm watching cnn.com. When Bush got into the airplane [I think he meant "helicopter"], someone in the background at CNN clapped and I heard "Yeah."

Awesome. I'm glad the CONSERVATIVE News Network is finally adding some balance.

I'm really not sure what is going to be worse: watching this President do his darnedest to lead the United States down the path to socialism, if not communism; or watching his willing accomplices in the MSM ignore his every misstep.

Some days, I love spending time in a vacuum.

UPDATE: Since Danny has accused me of sour grapes in the comments, I'll go ahead and have a moment of bitterness. I'm sick and tired of everyone on the Left act like President Obama is some kind of messiah. There's only one, his name is Jesus Christ, and... to paraphrase, I know Jesus, and President Obama is no Jesus Christ.

It's not just the Obamabots. His own team is in on it. Check out the new White House web site. You'd think he just saved the world from nuclear war, cured cancer and AIDS, and secured world peace for the rest of eternity.

And... if President Obama's election was supposed to signify the end of racism in our country, I guess someone forget to tell this guy.

So much for all that hope and change and unity and healing he keeps talking about.

Welcome To The Job, Mr. President

2009-01-20T12:20:00.000-06:00

Today, our nation welcomes its 44th President to the Office. Congratulations, President Obama.

I cannot say that I will support your policies. In fact, I hope that, somehow, government is gridlocked for the next 4 years and a true Conservative takes your place on Jan 20, 2013.

I can say, however, that I wish you good health, and I will be praying for you daily.

Good Luck, Mr. President. I think you're going to need it.

Thank You, Mr. President

2009-01-20T09:18:00.001-06:00

Today, we bid farewell to President George W. Bush. No, I didn't always agree with him, but he did his job to the best of his ability, and history will show him to be a far better President than the MSM views him today.

According to the Constitution (remember that little document?), this is the President's job:

Section 2 - Civilian Power over Military, Cabinet, Pardon Power, Appointments

The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to Grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.

He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.

The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session.

Section 3 - State of the Union, Convening Congress

He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he may adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper; he shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers; he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission all the Officers of the United States.

Let's see... Commander in Chief of the military (check). Grant pardons and reprieves (check, but not enough). Make treaties (check). Appoint Ambassadors, judges, Cabinet members, etc. (check). Receive Ambassadors (check). Inform Congress of the State of the Union (check). Take care that Laws are faithfully executed (check). Commission Officers (check).

President Bush (43) has fulfilled the obligations of his Office admirably.

Like I said, I don't agree with many of his decisions. He ended up being a tad less conservative than many of us hoped he would be. His fiscal policy... well... stank. His military policy, at times, wasn't aggressive enough. Crisis management was not always his strong suit (although the Katrina aftermath was as much a local and state failure as much as a federal problem, if not more so).

On the other hand, he did other things right. We have not been attacked on our soil for over 7 years, thanks in part to his policies. He defended Life while enabling research (although I'm not happy with federal money going for anything other than the Common Defense and a few other necessary items). Tax breaks put money back in the hands of all Americans, not just a select few. He nominated some great men to the Supreme Court. I could go on.

Here are a few golden moments:

At Ground Zero:

At the World Series:

The Purple Fingers:

Goodbye, Mr. President. We will miss you.

Why Didn't They Say This 8 Years Ago?

2009-01-19T20:54:00.002-06:00

A bunch of ~~actors~~ people who think we care about how they feel put together this cute little video telling us about all the cool things they're going to accomplish now that the Obamessiah has asked everyone to "do something."

MySpace Celebrity and Katalyst present The Presidential Pledge

In case you didn't sit through the 4 minutes of mindless drivel, I'll give you the highlights. In a nutshell, the Hollywood elite wanted to let everyone know just how wonderfully wonder they are, and they wanted to talk about all the stuff they're going to do:

help end hunger in America
smile
volunteer
be a great parent
work with Unicef (why???)
consider themselves an American, not an African American (I'm shocked he said that)
to represent America with pride, dignity and respect (does he actually know what those words mean????)
go to usaservice.org to find a service project (you can't just call the local church or homeless shelter or school or... or... or... ?)
to not give people the Finger when he's driving (uh-huh... sure...)
to find humor in everything (like your "acting ability"?)
find cures and bring awareness about a bunch of different diseases
to meet their neighbors
to be a mentor
bunch of promises concerning going green (paging Kermit the Frog)
to "sell" a "culture of intelligence" instead of a "culture of ignorance" (won't that put him out of work?)
to fulfill the 200 year old promise to end slavery (oh, yeah... and to end 21st century slavery and free 1 million people from slavery in the next 5 years) (I'm fairly certain that I have no idea what the first one is about, but, if they want to try to end slavery in foreign countries... more power to them, as long as they don't want to involve the government)
to be a better person and "be the change"

Why did they suddenly decide that this was necessary? Were they incapable of doing any of those things before Obama told them to "be the change"??? I had no idea, as Breitbart pointed out, that President George W. Bush (or any other person on this planet, for that matter) somehow prevented them from accomplishing all these herculian tasks.

You know, I actually agree with many of the tasks they're pledging to accomplish. Conservatives have been doing most of things for quite a while before the Obamessiah sent his message from on high. Quite a few of them are simply the acts of a good person. Many are paraphrases of Biblical commands. Funny, that. Would they still want to do it if they knew?

Andrew Brietbart, in his post, called the celebrities "serfs". Here is the quote:

This video illustrates that the current celebrity class are not citizens but serfs. They need a leader to put their minds in the right place to do the right thing. They are not heroic individualists seeking to extend America’s promise but conformists who chose to sit out and complain during the tough years in order to ensure their guy got in the next go-around.

Does that make them serfs or sheep? Or maybe even lemmings. Or maybe even pre-schoolers playing a game of "Follow the Leader." They're obviously not individualists- there wasn't a single individual thought in that entire video.

They asked what my pledge will be. Here goes. I pledge to continue to do those things that I do to help others without comment or complaint, not seeking glory, praise, or even recognition. In addition, I, as Andrew Breitbart pledged, pledge to ridicule celebrities for their stupidity. I also pledge to support President Obama when he does something with which I agree, and to be the loud voice of the loyal opposition when he does something that violates the Constitution and the basic principles on which this nation was founded.

(h't to Andrew Breitbart)

Caption This

2009-01-16T09:09:00.001-06:00

Wizbang is having a weekend caption contest using this photo.My favorites so far?

Now, you're free to swim about the country. #15
No wonder it couldn't fly. It's got all those people standing on the wings! #18
If you are landing "on a wing and prayer" and you end up "on a wing and a prayer", then consider your first prayer answered. Amen. #26
What does a one term Senator becoming President and a 28 year veteran pilot have in common?
They both scare the hell out of you when the say "watch this" . #43
They say "any landing you can walk away from is a good landing". What about a landing you can swim away from? #53
Pilot on the intercom in his best Maxwell Smart voice "Missed the landing strip by thaaaaaat much" #74
Flight attendant: All right, now do you care about the "in the event of a water landing" speech? #83

"Miracle on the Hudson." That's what they're saying. Hard to argue, considering how rare successful water landings are. And considering that the pilot not only landed the plane safely, but without serious injury to passengers or crew (the worst injury appears to be broken legs). And considering that rescue boats (official and volunteer) were able to arrive within three minutes. And considering that no boats happened to be on that particular stretch of river at that moment. Truly a miracle? Technically, no. Hand of God involved? I think that's likely.

Many people are calling Captain Sullenberger a hero. That's hard to argue, too. After completing a maneuver that you can only practice in a simulator, he walked the aisle of the plane twice from tail to nose (in 40° water up to his chin), ensuring that no passengers were left behind. I'd bet, however, that he'd tell you he was just doing his job. According to reports, after he was taken to shore, he sat in the holding area, cap in place, sipping a cup of coffee, cool as a cucumber.

Yep... just doing his job.

Marketing Change

2009-01-16T08:14:00.001-06:00

The other day, I mentioned Ben & Jerry's new ice cream. I also mentioned the President-elect's cameo in a Spiderman comic. Now it looks like Pepsi is cashing in on the Obamessiah's fame.

From what I could tell, Pepsi seems to believe that Mr. Obama will "refresh America." Huh? How does that work? Do I even want to know?

The website has need statements like "I've never felt more optimistic!", " Time to hit Refresh" , "New Energy Solutions Now!" and "Everything will be different." That last person has no idea how right they are.

I'm sure other companies will jump on the Obama bandwagon. Seriously. Millions of Obamabots are just waiting to spend their money on hopey changey goodness.

As for me? No, no puedo. I'm still a Coke drinker.

Wednesday's Hero

2009-01-14T08:06:00.000-06:00

This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Deb

Capt. Ed Freeman
Company A, 229th Assault Helicopter Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile)

While reading the info on Cpt. Freeman, I found that I couldn't have put it better than this.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Funny, That

2009-01-09T12:59:00.000-06:00

Earlier today, I talked about how boycotts (large, organized boycotts) don't usually work. That being said, I don't buy Ben & Jerry's ice cream or go to their scoop shops because I don't care for the causes they support.

Case in point. They have a new flavor, "Yes, Pecan." (The anchor I saw on tv today reporting on it mispronounced it. It's "Yes, pea-can," not, "yes, pea-cahn." She obviously didn't get the joke.) A portion of the proceeds go to "Common Cause."

Honestly, I don't know a whole lot about Common Cause, but I do know (from their web site) that they want more public broadcasting and more campaign finance reform. They're against "voter identification" laws. They also want to get rid of the Electoral College. Granted, I like accountability in government, and the idea of ethics in government is wonderful, if only a dream. All in all... not an organization I can stand behind.

So... my personal boycott continues. No, no puedo.

Targeting Causes

2009-01-09T09:39:00.000-06:00

The American Family Association promotes tradition family values and exposes companies and organizations that support... other agendas. Recently, AFA brought to light Pepsi's support of homosexual causes while the company refused to donate to any company that objects to homosexuality.

(For full disclosure, my sister currently works for Pepsi, and I'm a die-hard Coke drinker. )

Do I think that Pepsi should give money to LGBT causes? No. Do I think they should support pro-family causes? Not necessarily. There are so many charities out there. I really don't think that either of those qualify. On the other hand, it's their money (well, their shareholders' money), and they can do whatever they want with it.

Sure, the AFA should spread the word about which companies support agenda which are against traditional family values- it lets the individual decide if they want to patronize a particular company. No problem. Will it do anything? Maybe... maybe not.

Small scale (personal) boycotting works simply because it's simply a personal choice based on their belief system (if they choose to tell Company X of their personal boycott, that's their call). Large scale boycotting doesn't usually work because there is usually an equally large bloc who bouy the boycotted company until the boycott ends (Disney has been boycotted for years, and they still have a 100% score from the HRC). (There are arguments that boycotts can work, but it depends on how much change you really want. From what I see... sure, they cause some change, but not meaningful change.)

I guess I'm quite the pragmatist when it comes to protesting companies that support the homosexual lifestyle. I don't like that fact, but it's where I am right now. Putting more pressure on a company because they are caving to pressure isn't going to accomplish much. The problem isn't the companies. They're simply spending their advertising dollars where they will work, and they're providing benefits to partners, etc., to avoid getting sued. They may or may not actually care one whit about gay rights or any other agenda. They know who will sue and who won't.

What to do? If people really want to change things in our country and move it back toward tradition family values, what should they do? Honestly, I have no idea. Something has to be done. I just don't think boycotting Campbell's soup or Pepsi will get it done.

Take a look at this list of companies who scored 100% on the Human Right's Campaign 2009 Corporate Equality Index. You practically can't stay in a major hotel chain, buy an American-made car, run a web search, take a commercial flight, or drink a soda without using one of the companies on the list.

Here's the entire HRC report. From that, if you want to support companies that least support the LGT agenda, go out to eat at Cracker Barrel, drink Miller beer (which still scored a 90%), fly Northwest (and get your tickets from Expedia)to your Royal Caribbean cruise, buy a Nissan, do your grocery shopping at H.E.B., use Aegon or Travellers insurance, get your car parts from Autozone, and get your gas at Exxon/Mobile stations (the only company to score 0).

How many pro-family advocates are going to do that? Not many, I'm afraid.

The Other Side of Hollywood

2009-01-09T08:16:00.000-06:00

A few days ago, I saw that Andrew Breitbart launched Big Hollywood. It's "modest objective", according to Breitbart, is to change Hollywood. To that end, he's enlisted Hollywood conservatives, closet and open, to post at his new humble abode.

One of the first to take ~~pen to paper~~ fingertips to keyboard was Gary Graham. Don't know the name? That's ok. You know him. If you've watched sci-fi tv or detective/ investigative dramas in the past 30 years, you know him.

It's an awesome piece (language alert). Y'all should read it. The comments are funny, too... that is, if you find liberal insanity humorous.

(h't to Boortz via HDD)

Round and Round

2009-01-09T08:13:00.000-06:00

Some news nibblets for your Friday.

General:

Reason #594857298723947 why we homeschool.
The media didn't properly cover the financial "meltdown"??? Say it isn't so.

Politics:

Former ACORN members ask for a federal investigation. Maybe they can do what conservatives couldn't... get the feds to act. Then again, it's too late now.
Obama is using focus groups again? Are you sure he's not Bill's little brother or something?
Milt Patterson cast the lone "no" vote in the Illinois House's vote to impeach Blago.
Why in the world would Michael Moore involve himself in the debate over one of The Obamassiah's appointments? Maybe because Dr. Gupta's not his biggest fan.
(This could be cross-listed in "Oddities.") Obama will be in a "special edition" of Marvel Comics' Amazing Spider Man. How... cute...
If you're interested in the "is Obama really a naturalized US citizen?" controversy, here's the latest ad. I hadn't heard all of the arguments before. Interesting. But not interesting enough for the Supreme Court to take it up until after the inauguration.

Sports:

I didn't actually hear any of this, but it wouldn't surprise me if the media fawned over Tebow like this. I mean, ESPN does it all the time. (There are more.)
Oklahoma ends the season ranked #5. Way to go, Bob. (Congrats to Utah for getting a little love.)

Science:

Quantum mechanics is cool.

Glo-bull Climate Change:

People are still whining about the deforestation of the Amazon. Wasn't that supposed to destroy the planet 20 years ago or something?
The Goracle's carbon permit and offset concept is making some serious cash for the folks lucky enough to get in on the ground floor.
A dog-sled race was canceled... too much snow.
Colorado is cooling.

Oddities and Other Stuff:

At least they didn't arrest the clerk.
Let's see... we have hot dogs... hush puppies... catfish... why would we be turned off by sea kittens?

A Brief Note on Last Night's Game

2009-01-09T07:41:00.001-06:00

Stoops can't coach his way out of a BCS paper bag.

You know, Bob... there are any number of NFL coaching positions available... take one of them...

That is all...

Quotes from 2008

2009-01-07T09:53:00.002-06:00

Here are some of the most obnoxious quotes from 2008. RWN has several "2008" posts, including "Worst Quotes from HuffPo", "Best story on Conservative Grapevine", and "Most Annoying Liberals."

Odd Facts

2009-01-07T09:51:00.002-06:00

Here are some odd facts from The People's Cube that slightly less than half of America's citizens already knew. Too bad "slightly more" didn't know it sooner... like before the primaries...

Wednesday's Hero

2009-01-07T07:23:00.000-06:00

Airman Melissa Pyle

Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Equipment) Airman Melissa Pyle mans a jet blast deflector station on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) in the Gulf Of Oman. Theodore Roosevelt and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8 are deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Have Every Right To Dream Heroic Dreams. Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

A Time Waster

2009-01-06T09:06:00.002-06:00

I'm going to ease myself back into blogging. Let's start with Launchball. It's a nice little waste of time, thanks to the nice people at the British Science Museum.

The Year In Review

2009-01-06T07:42:00.001-06:00

(This was originally supposed to post last week. For obvious reasons, it didn't.)

As 2008 draws to a close, here are several "year in review" pieces.

Here is a three part photo essay of the year. Amazing photos. Ignore some of the commentary. (h't to Ace's place)
George Will wasn't thrilled with the year.
Here's Live Science's 2008 history makers.
Deadspin has several "year in" posts. Be warned if you go to this one- serious cringe factor at the end. This one's just goofy.

Hold on a Sec...

2009-01-06T06:59:00.000-06:00

(This was supposed to post on the 31st of last month. It didn't.)

Wait for it... wait for it... just a few more seconds, and... There! 2008 is officially one second longer than 2007.

Like the more well-known time adjustment, the leap year, a "leap second" is tacked on to clocks every so often to keep them correct.

Earth's trip around the sun — our year with all its seasons — is about 365.2422 days long, which we round to 365 to keep things simpler. But every four years, we add 0.2422 x 4 days (that's about one day) at the end of the month of February (extending it from 28 to 29 days) to fix the calendar.

Likewise, a "leap second" is added on to our clocks every so often to keep them in synch with the somewhat unpredictable nature of our planet's rotation, the roughly 24-hour whirl that brings the sun into the sky each morning.

...The new extra second will be added on the last day of this year at 23 hours, 59 minutes and 59 seconds Coordinated Universal Time — 6:59:59 pm Eastern Standard Time.

Mechanisms such as the Internet-based Network Time Protocol and the satellite-based Global Positioning System (GPS) depend on the accurate time kept by atomic clocks.

You didn't even notice it, did you?