Elk County Forum

...that for many American historians, the Civil War is the climax in the story of how the United States came to be what it is today.  But you knew that.  It's also a source of some bizarre and surprisingly cool trivia.  Check this out as it is all true:

1.  Lincoln's first solution to slavery was a fiasco

Early in his presidency, Abe was convinced that white Americans would never accept black Americans. "You and we are different races," the president told a committee of "colored" leaders in August 1862. "...But for your race among us there could not be war...It is better for us both, therefore, to be separated." Lincoln proposed voluntary emigration to Central America, seeing it as a more convenient destination than Liberia.  This idea didn't sit well with leaders like Frederick Douglass, who considered colonization to be "a safety valve...for white racism."

Luckily for Douglass (and the country), colonization failed spectacularly. One of the first attempts was on Île à Vache, a.k.a. Cow Island, a small isle off the coast of Haiti. The island was owned by land developer Bernard Kock, who claimed he had approved a black American colony with the Haitian government. No one bothered to call him on that claim. Following a smallpox outbreak on the boat ride down, hundreds of black colonizers were abandoned on the island with no housing prepared for them, as Kock had promised.

To make matters worse, the soil on Cow Island was too poor for any serious agriculture. In January 1864, the Navy rescued the survivors from the ripoff colony. Once Île à Vache fell through, Lincoln never spoke of colonization again.


2.  Hungry ladies effectively mugged Jefferson Davis

The Confederacy's image hinged on the notion that the rebellious states made up a unified, stable nation. However, the hard times of war exposed just how much disunity there was in Dixieland. Civilians in both the North and South had to cope with scarcity and increased food prices, but the food situation was especially bad in the South because outcomes on the battlefield were directly linked to the CSA's currency - rising food prices were hard enough to deal with without wild fluctuations in what the money in your pocket could buy.

Invading northern troops, of course, poured salt on the wounds of scarcity, burning crops and killing livestock. But in Richmond, Virginia, those who couldn't afford the increasingly pricey food blamed the Confederate government. Hungry protesters, most of whom were women, led a march "to see the governor" in April 1863 that quickly turned violent. They overturned carts, smashed windows, and drew out Governor John Letcher and President Jefferson Davis. Davis threw money at the protesters, trying to get them to clear out, but the violence continued. So, he threatened to order the militia to open fire, which settled things down pretty quickly.


3.  The Union used hot air balloons and submarines

The balloons, directed by aeronaut Thaddeus Lowe, were used to spot enemy soldiers and coordinate Federal troop movements. During his first battlefield flight, at First Bull Run, Lowe landed behind Confederate lines, but he was rescued.

The Union Army Balloon Corps got no respect from military officials, and Lowe resigned when he was assigned to serve, at a lower pay grade, under the director of the Army Corps of Engineers. In all, the balloonists were active for a little under two years.

In contrast, the paddle-powered Alligator submarine saw exactly zero days of combat (which is why it can't officially be called the U.S.S. Alligator). It suffered from some early testing setbacks, but after some speed-boosting tweaks, it was dispatched for Port Royal, South Carolina, with an eye towards aiding in the sack of Charleston. It was to be towed south by the U.S.S. Sumpter, but it had to be cut loose off of North Carolina on April 2, 1863, when bad weather struck. Divers and historians are still looking for the Alligator today.

But the undersea capers don't end there. A few months after the loss of the Alligator, the CSA launched their own submarine, the H.L. Hunley, named after its inventor. The Hunley attacked and sank the U.S.S. Housatonic off the coast of Charleston, making it the first submarine ever to sink an enemy ship. The only problem is that it also sank soon afterwards, and all eight crewmen drowned.


4.  "Dixie" was only a northern song

The precise details of when composer Dan Emmett wrote "Dixie" seemed to change every time he told the story (and some even dispute that Emmett was the author in the first place). But he first performed it in New York City in 1859, with the title "I Wish I Was in Dixie's Land."

Emmett was a member of a blackface troupe known as the Bryant's Minstrels, but he was indignant when he found out that his song had become an unofficial anthem of the Confederacy. He went on to write a musicians' marching manual for the Northern army.

Before and during the war, the song was a huge hit in New York and across the country, and quickly became one of Abraham Lincoln's favorite tunes. The day after the Surrender at Appomattox, Lincoln told a crowd of Northern revelers, "I have always thought 'Dixie' was one of the best tunes I have ever heard. Our adversaries over the way attempted to appropriate it, but I insisted yesterday that we fairly captured it." He then asked a nearby band to play it in celebration.


5.  Paul Revere was at Gettysburg

Paul Joseph Revere, that is... the famous Paul Revere's grandson. Unfortunately for fans of the first Revere and his partly mythical Ride, PJR was in the infantry, not the cavalry, with the 20th Massachusetts. He and his brother Edward were captured at the Battle of Ball's Bluff in October 1861. After being released in a prisoner exchange, the Reveres rejoined the fight.

Paul was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in September, 1862, shortly before he was wounded in the brutal Battle of Antietam (a.k.a. the Battle of Sharpsburg). Edward, however, wasn't so lucky – he was one of more than 2,000 Union soldiers who didn't
make it out of Sharpsburg, Maryland, alive.

By the following year, Paul was promoted again to Colonel, leading the 20th Massachusetts at Chancellorsville and, in his final days, at Gettysburg. On July 3, 1863, he was mortally wounded by a shell fragment that pierced his lung, and he died the next day. He was posthumously promoted again to Brigadier General, and is buried in Cambridge, Massachusetts.


6.  Mark Twain fired one shot and then left

At least, that's what he claimed in "The Private History of a Campaign that Failed," a semi-fictional short story published in 1885, after The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, but before A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court. In it, he recounts a whopping two weeks spent in 1861 with a Confederate militia in Marion County, Missouri. But he introduces the tale by saying that even the people who enlisted at the start of the war, and then left permanently, "ought at least be allowed to state why they didn't do anything and also to explain the process by which they didn't do anything. Surely this kind of light must have some sort of value."

Twain writes that there were fifteen men in the rebel militia, the "Marion Rangers," and he was the second lieutenant, even though they had no first lieutenant. After Twain's character shoots and kills a Northern horseback rider, he is overwhelmed by the sensation of being a murderer, "that I had killed a man, a man who had never done me any harm. That was the coldest sensation that ever went through my marrow." However, his grief is slightly eased by the realization that six men had fired their guns, and only one had been able to hit the moving target


7.  The armies weren't all-male

Hundreds of women on both sides pulled a Mulan, assuming male identities and appearances so that they might fight for their respective nations. Some of them did it for adventure, but many did it for monetary reasons: the pay for a male soldier was about $13 month, which was close to double what a woman could make in any profession at the time.

Also, being a man gave someone a lot more freedoms than just being able to wear pants. Remember, this was still more than half a century away from women's suffrage and being a man meant that you could manage your monthly $13 wages independently. So it should come as no surprise that many of these women kept up their aliases long after the war had ended, some even to the grave.
Their presence in soldiers' ranks wasn't the best-kept secret. Some servicewomen kept up correspondence with the home front after they changed their identities, and for decades after the war newspapers ran article after article chronicling the stories of woman soldiers, and speculating on why they might break from the accepted gender norms. Perhaps not surprisingly, in 1909 the U.S. Army denied that "any woman was ever enlisted in the military service of the United States as a member of any organization of the Regular or Volunteer Army at any time during the period of the civil war."

Why do we vote for bad, ineffectual men?  Why do we keep them in office?

Is it because it allows for official license to do wrong? It provides for a crowd with which to run to do wrong.  It is easier to sin in a crowd than all alone.  If the leaders are immoral, wrong headed, stupid, we have more excuse for ourselves.

We bailed out failed business in order to give a veneer of success when we should have allowed them to reap what they sowed.  "Too big to fail" became the standard.  Nothing, no one is too big to fail.  Bad things come to a bad end and all you can do is forestall it a bit.

                               (http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zsCK0TdGnPA/TCypswxXx4I/AAAAAAAAGCs/82SHQU0G8Xo/s400/bailout.png)

We sanction abortion officially in order to take the sting of sin away from murderous action.  Most abortions are done for convenience not medical necessity of any sort.  Abortion has become the new birth control.  So we fight huge battles over it to make it acceptable and mainstream in order to sooth our consciences.  We call it a "right."  Women fight for it tooth and nail . 

Congress ignores the presidents credentials because their own are not impeccable either.  Over looking problems makes them go away in the modern world, so we believe.  And we dare not judge because our own problems are too large, we feel. We are in so deep that we allow others a lot of leeway.

We elect leaders who are adulterers, sex perverts, thieves, liars because we feel we are no better and their success means our own in spite of what they may have done.

If these sinners can succeed, maybe we can as well! Certainly television, radio, movies and novels make these things mainstream and normal , don't they?

We demand sensationalism in books, movies, games because we are no longer interested in the moral and the social and we are more interested in being entertained and excited than educated and improved.


Conversation and friendship have been replaced by twitter and facebook and texting because no one wants to spend time or put effort into real people anymore.  A quick smart mouthed quip is now the norm.  Discussion is gone, the one liner is in.  People have "relationships" not love or friendship, and endlessly discuss them in abstract terms rather than living them.  They are in a "relationship" not in love.

We are connected by cell phones and all kind of electronic life lines but we are more alone and solitary than ever before.

We cannot judge anymore because we feel that when we point our finger it points back at us too, and we cannot tolerate seeing ourselves too clearly as that might mean change and change is too hard today.

So deep in wrong are we that we elect leaders who reflect our worst sides.  We think that covers us in event of full disclosure.  We would rather hide the filth under the rug than to come clean and begin anew in the light of day, clean and refreshed.

Every aspect of life is fraught with iffy stuff. Even religions cover over sex perversion and in that way sanction the perversion and the disrespect for it's victims who just become nuisances to be gotten rid of quickly.

The pope, leader of millions busies himself with sweeping sin under the carpet rather than with real clean up and reform. He pays off victims to shut them up while the criminals stay in office.  But he is no different than our politicians today.  He is no different than many, many religious leaders today who do the same things.  They just are not in the same bright spot light that the Pope is.

                                   (http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zsCK0TdGnPA/TCyvceppeEI/AAAAAAAAGDE/FVn56-kZCMg/s200/Pope2.jpg)

Commercials are base and crass.  Private things are paraded in full view, discussed as if there is no self respect.  Indeed, there is none allowed anymore.  We even institute full nude body scans to further remove human dignity.

One such nasty commerical calls men who exercise 'muscle heads'.  To sell it's product, they are willing to denigrate others.  We laugh, we giggle, we condemn ourselves as idiots when we do.

Another asked 'does your marketing suck?'.  Base, crass, low words, mockery and abusive tactics are used to sell and few say much about it.  It is now how the common man talks in America where you can hear filth coming from the mouths of youngsters who can only guess at the meaning of some of the words they use.

When Bill Clinton sullied and profaned the office of President and spat upon the nation by using the Oval Office, a symbol of the highest office in America as a sex retreat, the majority of Americans defended him .

                                    (http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zsCK0TdGnPA/TCy5ogYhAuI/AAAAAAAAGDU/COC-Foi2RlQ/s400/clinton_lewinsky%2BBday.jpg)

The base and filthy aspect of what the man had done was lost on them.  The use of that room and how it made his actions especially gross went over their heads because people have not only been dumbed down, they have lost moral certitude and direction.  Anything goes.  Anything is alright.  Anyone is okay to put in office as long as the people keep receiving their bread and circuses along the way.  We can overlook any and all sin if we are getting.

Getting and receiving have become the standard for judgment in the USA.  Bribes are the order of the day.  Though we are still the world's largest givers, thank G-d, we are fast becoming a nation of takers and, if the socialists have their way, taking will become the basis of the nation.  What's in it for me, is what many decisions are based upon rather than how will it help the nation, what good will come from this.

People have gone from warriors to whimps.  Grocery prices have gone sky high since the 1970s when you could buy a weeks worth for a family for $25.oo a week, now $200 is considered average.

A simple tub of ricotta cheese has doubled in price over the past year and not many seem to care.  It is as if they have money to burn.

In 1973 when, under liberal government, ground meat went from .25 cents a pound to $1.00 a pound in one swift jump, there was a hue and cry from housewives all over.  The government, whose sanctions and demands on farmers had made the price hike necessary, spit on the people and told them to use protein extenders in the meat to make it go farther.  They refused to leave farmers alone and imposed regulation after regulation that made farming a losing proposition.  This allowed their pals , the great agribusinesses with their horrific animal abuse and chemical farming to take the lead and push the family farmer out of business.
They no longer heard what Americans had to say.  Americans had now come under the jackboot of government who would now lord their power over the people.

Power had gone from the people to the central government who were going to rule the roost and make a buck off the masses. 
Today, this is accepted as a matter of fact and no one winces or says much because in return they get paltry perks from the government.  The ever popular hand outs, bail outs and bones tossed their way.  All this in exchange for government of the people, for the people, by the people.  All this.. this not so much.. in exchange for liberty.

And the people LOVE IT.  This is how debased we have become.

Even in the 1950s a family could set aside money for a home and buy it outright.  But there isn't much money to be made that way by bankers, so 30 year mortgages were introduced and pushed on the public.  Because of them builders could push prices higher and higher.

Banks make millions on loans for housing and your national and local governments make millions taxing your property and seizing it easily if you cannot pay.  You never really own anything under that system.  The borrower is always slave to the lender.

No one cries out about these things because everyone gets a perk from things.  We must not lose our perks no matter who gets kicked.

Our leaders in politics and religion today reflect us and how we have lowered ourselves for greed . We live in a society of "Get" and "Self" where things are tolerated that a couple of generations ago would not have seen the light of day.

Oh they went on, but they were in the dark because they would not be tolerated by decent people.  But today, almost everyone tolerates evil.

We reap what we sow.  You cannot plant potatoes and expect to reap lettuce and if you plant ugliness your harvest will be even uglier in full bloom.

We need to set our standards higher and expect more from our leaders and from ourselves.

Nuclear Bomb vs. Dirty Nuclear Bomb  


The Dilemma:

What Just Happened?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!


People You Can Impress:

Fellow Survivors


The Quick Trick:

If you're standing in an absolute wasteland amid thousands of corpses, it was a nuclear bomb. If you're standing in a normal city street amid a moderate amount of inconvenience, it was a dirty nuclear bomb.


The Explanation:

Here is the primary difference: Nuclear bombs have, in the past 50 years, killed hundreds of thousands of people. Dirty nuclear bombs have, in all of human history, killed exactly no one—partly because they aren't terribly dangerous and partly because not one has ever been detonated.

Conventional nuclear weapons get their explosive power from either nuclear fission or fusion. The bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki—the only nuclear weapons that have been used in warfare—were both fission bombs. Fusion bombs, sometimes called hydrogen bombs, are even more powerful—the U.S. once detonated a 15-megaton fusion bomb in a test. That's approximately 100 times more powerful than "Little Boy," the nuclear weapon dropped on Hiroshima that instantly killed 100,000 people. Most modern bombs combine fission and fusion: a small fission bomb s used to create heat adequate to fuel the
fusion.

Even with the physics know-how, the bombs require exceedingly rare isotopes of either plutonium or uranium. The process of getting the elements to the necessary isotope is known as enrichment, and enrichment is generally the stumbling block for nations looking to join the nuclear club. It was even a challenge for the U.S.: Almost 90 percent of the Manhattan Project's budget was spent enriching uranium.

In short, nuclear weapons are extremely difficult to make—and we hope they always will be. A dirty nuclear bomb, on the other hand, could be made by a reasonably smart 14-year-old with access to hospital equipment. Dirty bombs combine conventional explosives (say, dynamite) with radioactive materials (say, cesium, which is used in radiation treatment for cancer patients). Almost all scientists believe that even in the case of a well-designed dirty bomb, the explosive would cause much more damage than the radiation. The fact is there just aren't any acquirable materials radioactive enough to cause much fallout. And while it could be very expensive and inconvenient to clean up an urban area after a dirty bomb attack—that's about it. In short, the difference between the two is that conventional nuclear weapons are infinitely more worrisome.


"Dirty" Little Secrets:

The only recorded attempt to detonate a dirty bomb came in 1995, when Chechen rebels—who had been on the forefront of terrorism techniques since the Soviet Union's breakup—called reporters to say they'd planted a bomb in a Moscow park. Made of dynamite and cesium taken from a cancer treatment center, the dynamite might have killed people, but its cesium would have been just the equivalent of a few X rays for those walking past the park. Regardless, the bomb was defused before it exploded.

When I was a kid, the Cobalt Bomb was intended to be the dirty atomic bomb doomsday machine.

None were built, though.

Is The U.S. Too Big To Fail?????


The Roman Empire did not fall in a battle of war.  There was no single big clash of arms that drove it to its knees.  It was corroded from the inside.  At one stage, the wealthy held so much gold coins that there was not enough currency to keep services to the public going.  By keeping the money to themselves the wealthy had simply run the nation into the ground.

History is strewn with such examples.  Has this now happened to the United States?  Or is the US too big to fail?  

On a similar but different topic it's interesting to read about how infection and disease affected wars. Bringing people together from all over and keeping them in close quarters back when vaccines were more uncommon led to a lot of non battle related deaths.

....that Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg thinks the South African Constitution and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms are preferable to the United States Constitution?  You think I'm kidding?  It's right there on the front page of yesterday's New York Times.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/07/us/we-the-people-loses-appeal-with-people-around-the-world.html?_r=2&partner=MYWAY&ei=5065

In a profoundly stupid and uninformed story entitled, "Around the World, 'We the People' Loses Followers," Times analyst Adam Liptak informs us that the United States Constitution is "terse and old" and "guarantees relatively few rights."  Recent founding documents from other countries, on the other hand, are "newer [and] sexier" and offer "a more powerful operating system in the constitutional marketplace."

In a television interview during a visit to Egypt last week, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg seemed to agree. "I would not look to the United States Constitution if I were drafting a constitution in the year 2012." She recommended, instead, "the South African Constitution, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms or the European Convention on Human Rights."

If Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg can no longer support and defend the Constitution, as she is sworn to do, she should leave, RESIGN.... and take the New York Times with her.

....that If you were to time-travel to San Francisco in the 1800s, you might run into a strange man making an inspection of the city streets. He would be dressed in a military uniform, a beaver hat with a peacock feather protruding from it, and he would be carrying an umbrella as if it were a royal scepter.
                                         
               Norton I, Emperor of the United States
                                 (http://cogitz.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/empnort2-gif-tm.jpg)

Lucky you. You just met the Emperor of the United States and the Protector of Mexico. Born Joshua Adam Norton (1819-1880), the man had a few bats in his belfry, but the Californian who dubbed himself the Emperor became a beloved character in 19th century San Francisco, a city that has never much minded if your screws were a tiny bit too loose. When returning to San Francisco after a failed business venture in 1859, Norton issued an announcement in the local newspapers that he was now the Emperor of the United States of America " at the peremptory request and desire of a large majority of the citizens of these United States." He then called for a meeting at the local music hall so he could make "alterations in the existing laws of the Union ...."

                             (http://cogitz.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/nortproc.jpg)

Norton I was just as well-known for his proclamations as he was for his presence, and he issued them frequently. He called for the dissolution of the United States Congress, a gesture which was naturally ignored by the government, so the Emperor turned to more local matters. He once issued a royal proclamation banning the use of the word "Frisco," saying guilty parties "shall pay into the Imperial Treasury as penalty the sum of twenty-five dollars."

As Emperor, he always ate free in restaurants. On occasion, he even issued his own currency, and local shops usually treated it as real money. The census record of 1879 actually lists Joshua Norton's occupation as "Emperor." The uniform he wore was given to him by the United States Army.

So the question is: who was the idiot? Certainly not Norton. In this case of the Emperor having no clothes, the town chose not to see his shortcomings. If one person makes fake money, and another person takes it, who is the silly one?

Norton I, The United States' first Emperor proved that anyone –but anyone– can lead a village of idiots. In his own way, he was a genius.

Founding Fathers' dirty campaign

.... that negative campaigning in America was sired by two lifelong friends, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. Back in 1776, the dynamic duo combined powers to help claim America's independence, and they had nothing but love and respect for one another. But by 1800, party politics had so distanced the pair that, for the first and last time in U.S. history, a president found himself running against his vice president.

Things got ugly fast. Jefferson's camp accused President Adams of having a "hideous hermaphroditical character, which has neither the force and firmness of a man, nor the gentleness and sensibility of a woman."

In return, Adams' men called Vice President Jefferson "a mean-spirited, low-lived fellow, the son of a half-breed Indian squaw, sired by a Virginia mulatto father."

As the slurs piled on, Adams was labeled a fool, a hypocrite, a criminal, and a tyrant, while Jefferson was branded a weakling, an atheist, a libertine, and a coward.

Even Martha Washington succumbed to the propaganda, telling a clergyman that Jefferson was "one of the most detestable of mankind."

Jefferson hires a hatchet man

Back then, presidential candidates didn't actively campaign. In fact, Adams and Jefferson spent much of the election season at their respective homes in Massachusetts and Virginia.

But the key difference between the two politicians was that Jefferson hired a hatchet man named James Callendar to do his smearing for him. Adams, on the other hand, considered himself above such tactics. To Jefferson's credit, Callendar proved incredibly effective, convincing many Americans that Adams desperately wanted to attack France. Although the claim was completely untrue, voters bought it, and Jefferson stole the election.

Jefferson paid a price for his dirty campaign tactics, though. Callendar served jail time for the slander he wrote about Adams, and when he emerged from prison in 1801, he felt Jefferson still owed him.

After Jefferson did little to appease him, Callendar broke a story in 1802 that had only been a rumor until then -- that the President was having an affair with one of his slaves, Sally Hemings. In a series of articles, Callendar claimed that Jefferson had lived with Hemings in France and that she had given birth to five of his children.

(http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/08/22/mf.campaign.slurs.slogans/t1port.jefferson.adams.gi.jpg)

Despite their bruising campaign, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams became friends again.

....that it is my honor to present Robert's eulogy today.  He was my best friend.

At 66, Robert was taken way too young, but, like so many baby boomers, he lived life to the fullest... and we will celebrate his funeral to the fullest.

I'm still in shock over the freak accident that claimed Robert's life.  He'd been living at a Buddhist monastery for only one month when it happened.

Instead of meditating and practicing yoga like the others, Robert, always the debater, peppered the monks on points of philosophy.

One morning he was found dead in an alley with sandal-scuff marks on his robe and a small statue of the Buddha stuffed down his throat.

Apparently, he'd fallen out a window.

But that was Robert.  Like so many in our generation, he always did things his way.

I still laugh about the stunts he pulled in college.  To protest man's massacre of the Earth, he kidnapped the dean's toupee and threatened not to return it until a local coal mine was shut down.

I remember his first wedding.  He and his bride-to-be got married at the top of Niagara Falls, then went over the falls in a barrel.

When Robert had a son and daughter with his second wife... his first wife had died in a tragic accident at Niagara Falls.... he shunned traditional names.

He named his son Top Soil, because the rich dirt is vital to survival, and his daughter Oxygen, because he wanted others to "breathe in her beauty."

Well, now that Robert has passed on, it is only fitting that his funeral would also be unique.  So many aging boomers are planning unusual funerals, in fact, that several media outlets have been reporting on the trend.

Some boomers are having poems and inscriptions painted on their caskets.  Some are being buried with their pets.  Others plan to put on big presentations and broadcast them over the Internet for others to see.

Now that boomers are nearing 70 and beginning to pass on in sizable numbers, the funeral industry is one of the few to thrive in our struggling economy.

Smart Money says: "After five years of losses, the funeral industry is expected to see revenue rise almost 3 percent this year, and is projecting small but steady growth over the next five years as well."

Lucky for us, Robert was happy to oblige!  He carefully planned this, his last public event, well before his unexpected demise.

First, you may notice that Robert's casket is unusual.  It is actually a custom-made cryogenic freezer in which Robert will be preserved until advances in technology can bring him back.

Second, Robert had planned a massive party after this funeral service that he referred to as his "Earth wake!"  A Bob Dylan impersonator will perform and an open bar and buffet will be provided.  There will be a $10 cover.

Third, Robert has purchased a complimentary monk's robe and sandals for everyone in attendance, to help each of you begin your own spiritual journey.  Robert hopes you will one day become as enlightened as

Last, by dying so young, Robert figured he would save our country hundreds of thousands of dollars in Medicare and Social Security costs.

He figured it was OK to raid his children's college fund to pay for this funeral.... sorry, Top Soil and Oxygen.  He figured the government ought to pick up their college tab as a sort of trade-off.

That concludes this portion of Robert's funeral service.

Could someone please help me move Robert's cryogenic casket to the concert area?

...that once upon a time, a young lad was born without a bellybutton.
In its place was a silver screw. All the doctors told his
mother there was nothing they could do.

Like it or not, he was stuck with it.... He was totally screwed.

All the years of growing up were real tough on him,
as all who saw the screw made fun of him.
He avoided leaving his house... thus, never
made any friends.

One day, a mysterious stranger saw his belly and
told him of a monk in Tibet who could get rid of
the screw for him. He was thrilled. The next day,
he took all of his life's savings and bought a ticket to Nepal.

After several days of climbing up steep cliffs,
he came upon a giant monastery. The monk knew exactly
why he had come.

The screwy guy was told to sleep in the highest tower
of the monastery and the following day when he awoke,
the screw would have been removed. The man immediately
went to the room and fell asleep.

During the night while he slept, a purple fog floated
in an open window. In the mist floated a solid silver
screwdriver. In just moments, the screwdriver removed
the screw and disappeared out the window.

The next morning when the man awoke, he saw the silver
screw laying on the pillow next to him. Reaching down,
he felt his navel, and there was no screw there!

Jubilant, he leaped out of bed..... And his butt
fell off.

The moral to this is:






'Don't screw around with things you don't understand.
You could lose your ass.'


.....President Obuma is noted for screwing around with
things he doesn't understand - like the economy. That's why
we are all losing our asses!

(Check your navel)

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wx5fLur1RrE/T1F6HvhyPTI/AAAAAAAAT0M/rjbz2QlH7pk/s400/Obama%2BBows%2Bin%2BJapan.bmp)

....that Obuma IS the...

First President to preside over a cut to the credit rating of the United States Government.

First President to violate the War Powers Act.

First President to orchestrate the sale of murder weapons to Mexican Drug Cartels.

First President to issue an unlawful "recess-appointment" while the U.S. Senate remained in session (against the advice of his own Justice Department).

First President to be held in contempt of court for illegally obstructing oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.

First President to defy a Federal Judge's court order to cease implementing the 'Health Care Reform' law.

First President to halt deportations of illegal aliens and grant them work permits, a form of stealth amnesty roughly equivalent to "The DREAM Act", which could not pass Congress.

First President to require all Americans to purchase a product from a third party.

First President to spend a trillion dollars on 'Shovel-Ready' Jobs -- and later admit there was no such thing as Shovel-Ready Jobs.

First President to sue states for requiring valid IDs to vote, even though the same administration requires valid IDs to travel by air, purchase alcohol, cash a check, etc.

First President to abrogate bankruptcy law to turn over control of companies to his union supporters.•

First President to sign into law a bill that permits the government to "hold anyone suspected of being associated with terrorism indefinitely, without any form of due process. No indictment. No judge or jury. No evidence. No trial. Just an indefinite jail sentence."

First President to bypass Congress and implement the DREAM Act through executive fiat.

First President to threaten insurance companies after they publicly spoke out on how Obamacare helped cause their rate to increases.

First President to threaten an auto company (Ford) after it publicly mocked bailouts of GM and Chrysler.

First President to "order a secret amnesty program that stopped the deportations of illegal immigrants across the U.S., including those with criminal convictions".

First President to demand a company hand over $20 billion to one of his political appointees.

First President to terminate America's ability to put a man into space.

First President to encourage racial discrimination and intimidation at polling places.

First President to have a law signed By an 'Auto-pen' without being "present."

First President to arbitrarily declare an existing law unconstitutional and refuse to enforce It.

First President to tell a major manufacturing company in which state they are allowed to locate a factory.

First President to refuse to comply with a House Oversight Committee subpoena.

First President to file lawsuits against the states he swore an oath to protect (AZ, WI, OH, IN, etc.)

First President to withdraw an existing coal permit that had been properly issued years ago.

First President to fire an inspector general of Americorps for catching one of his friends in a corruption case.

First President to propose an Executive Order demanding companies disclose their political contributions to bid on government contracts.

First President to allow Mexican police to conduct law enforcement activities on American soil.

First President to golf 90 or more times in his first three years in office.

But remember: the presidental clown will not rest until all Americans have jobs, affordable homes, green-energy vehicles, and the environment is repaired, etc.  ...what a guy!

Well, geez, somebody has to be first!

LOLOL  ;D ::)  Well, let's hope he's also a one term POTUS.

....that there have been 40+ million abortions done in the United States since they became legal in 1973.  That is over 1.3 million a year, 4,000 a day.  There are 46 million abortions done each year worldwide, which are about 126,000 a day. 78% of abortions are obtained in developing countries while 22% occur in developed countries.


Legality of abortion - about 26 million obtain legal abortions each year, while an additional 20 million abortions are obtained in countries where it is restricted or prohibited by law.

Abortion is legal in the United States at any time throughout the entire 9 months of pregnancy... FOR ANY REASON.



Why are abortions performed?

The overwhelming majority of all abortions (95%) are done as a means of birth control.
Only 1% are performed because of rape or incest.
1% because of fetal abnormalities.
3% due to mother's health problems


Reasons Women Choose Abortion in the U.S.

25.5% - wants to postpone childbearing.
21.3% - cannot afford to have a baby.
14.1% - has a relationship problem or partner doesn't want pregnancy.
12.2% - too young - parents or others object to pregnancy.
7.9% - wants no more children.
3.3% - risk to fetal health.
2.8% - risk to maternal health.
2.1% - other.

(Source: Planned Parenthood - AGI - Alan Guttmacher Institute).


Does a Fetus Qualify as a Human Being?  Is Abortion Murder?
Scientific Facts...

• 18 days after conception the baby's heart begins to beat.
• By the beginning of the second month after conception, the unborn child, small as it is, has begun to look distinctly human.
• At six weeks brain waves can be measured – the baby's mind is working.
• At eight weeks the baby's vital organs are functioning and fingerprints have formed.
• At nine weeks, the unborn baby is able to feel pain.
(Over 700,000 abortions each year are performed after this point in the pregnancy)
• By the time the baby is eleven weeks old, he or she breathes (fluid), swallows, digests, sleeps, dreams, wakes, tastes, hears, and feels pain.
• Babies born prematurely can survive outside the womb as young as 20-25 weeks old. Yet, all that is necessary to make the baby a grown human being is already there from the moment of conception – all it needs is time to mature.

"A society that ravages its own unborn is a decadent society that is destined to fall." --Diane Morgan


Spiritual View.

"God said to the prophet Jeremiah. Before I formed you in the womb I knew you. Before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet of nations." - Jeremiah 1:5.

"The Lord hath called me from the womb: from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name." - Isaiah 49:1

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made." - Psalm 139: 13-14.

"Did not he who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same one form us within our mothers?" - Job 31:15.

It goes on and on..... in closing.....

"The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world and ALL who live in it." - Psalm 24:1

"Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say 'But we knew nothing of this,' does not He who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?" - Proverbs 24:11

 Wouldn't it be nice of all those kids could be guaranteed a good life without severe poverty, violence, drugs, abuse or worse. I'd love to know how many kids, that were were almost aborted but the mother was talked out of it, eventually were murdered by someone. I hope it's a tiny number.

Quote from: Diane Amberg on March 09, 2012, 04:17:10 PM
Wouldn't it be nice of all those kids could be guaranteed a good life without severe poverty, violence, drugs, abuse or worse. I'd love to know how many kids, that were were almost aborted but the mother was talked out of it, eventually were murdered by someone. I hope it's a tiny number.

It wasn't that the mom was talked out of it - she missed. She so didn't want him that she shot herself in the abdomen trying to abort. He was told the first 10 years of his life how unwanted he was. We got him at age 11, told him he was perfect for our family. He's now nearly 30 - and still wishes he was dead.

Aw, now that's really sad.

....that it is Daylight Savings Time:

(http://www.freakingnews.com/pictures/27500/Biological-Clock--27605.jpg)

(http://pective.com/m/american-10-dollar-bill)


Hamilton-Burr duel and the 10-dollar note


....that the guy on the US ten-dollar bill is, of course, Alexander Hamilton and he was killed in a duel by Vice President Aaron Burr.

Hamilton was a revolutionary war hero and leading architect of the new American government. He co-authored the Federalist Papers, considered one of the most important contributions to American political thought. As Washington's right-hand man and the first US Secretary of the Treasury, he formulated an economic policy that got the then-new nation on its feet.

Aaron Burr was a colonel in the Continental Army and briefly served – as Hamilton did – with Washington at Valley Forge. In the election of 1800, he was in a deadlock with Thomas Jefferson for the presidency, with 73 votes each. The election went to the House of Representatives to be decided. There Federalist votes kept the election deadlocked until the 36th ballot, when Hamilton's influence gave the presidency to Jefferson. Burr, a Republican, became vice president.

Many at the time thought that the political mudslinging of Burr by Hamilton may have cost him the election. The animosity between the two men would continue until July 1804 when Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel, and as was customary, was accepted.

The fateful day came on July 11, 1804 at Weehawken, New Jersey. Vice President Aaron Burr and former Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton faced off, and Hamilton was mortally wounded. He was dragged from the dueling area and died the next day. While the nation mourned, Burr returned to complete his term as vice president but his success in the duel proved to be to his detriment. There was some talk of murder charges being brought against him, but as the rules of the duel were followed, no indictment was carried forward. He would later go on to be charged for treason for his ill-fated attempt to establish his own empire in the South.

Aaron Burr (1756-1836) served as US Vice President from 1801-05. He disliked Hamilton, accusing him of competing for political positions and the favors of married women in New York's high society.

Alexander Hamilton (1755-1804) was mortally wounded in a duel with Aaron Burr. Hamilton disliked Burr because the orphan Burr came from a relatively privileged background while he was the unacknowledged illegitimate son of a Jamaican planter.

Bonus:

Check out: http://www.zerohedge.com/sites/default/files/images/SeanMaloneRiseFallDollarLarge.jpg

...that it's time to vet Obuma's biggest hypocritial backers in Hollywood.  Take rapper Cee Lo Green flipping off a crowd and dropping F-bombs at an Obuma fundraiser wasn't about, well, a famous American songwriter carpet bombing an audience with R-rated material at a presidential rally recently.

Neither was the story of Hollywood legend Robert De Niro blathering about America not ready to go back to the days of a "white" first lady really about the sheer stupidity and insensitivity of such a remark.

And nor was Elle Macpherson's proud proclamation that she's an Obuma supporter and socialist about the obliviousness of a super model worth an estimated $60 million trashing the very type of economic system that bolstered her into fortune and fame.

The real story is that Hollywood is once again looking to market Obuma to us like an iPad 2, just like they successfully did in 2008 when they launched a little-known senator from Chicago into stardom'

"It's not going to be as sexy" as 2008, Obuma warned the glitterati recently. "If things are just smooth the whole way through, not only is it a pretty dull movie, but it doesn't reflect our experience," the Clown added as he motivated his Tinseltown army to get excited about him one last time.

And they will.  The same Hollywood loons who got Obuma elected will do so again.

That is, unless we muzzle them.

How?  Not the way the Left tries to do, by silencing dissent.  But by putting their political stances and public statements under the microscope of scrutiny to analyze whether they live by the same policy prescriptions they seek to inflict on America.

They don't.

Here's a sampling of some of Hollywood's HYPOCRITES:

Harrison Ford cut a commercial on YouTube where he got his chest waxed to bring awareness to global warming.  Forget for a moment that nobody wants to see an aging Indiana Jones get his hair follicles ripped out by a beauty parlor babe, it turns out that Ford owns seven aircraft and has stated on the record that he "often flies up the coast for a cheeseburger."
http://www.aceshowbiz.com/news/view/w0001347.html


Barbra Streisand insists that we all have the power to curb global warming by "making simple, conscious decisions in [our] everyday lives."  This talk stands in sharp contrast to Streisand's own behavior when she's out on tour.  In her contract, for example, she demands that she be supplied with "120 bath-sized towels immediately upon arrival" at production offices.  Perhaps she needs all these towels to handwash the army of vehicles she requires for her tour.  Among the fleet are thirteen fifty-three-foot semi-trailers, four rental vans, fourteen crew and band buses, and, of course, the requisite limo befitting any limousine liberal.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-467594/Revealed-Barbra-Streisands-diva-demands.html


Matt Damon says he remains committed to the code of nonviolence and peace-loving progressivism his college professor mother indoctrinated him with.  "Now I always look at the violence [in a script].  I don't want it to be gratuitous.  Because I do believe that that has an effect on people's behavior.  I really do believe that.  And I have turned down movies because of that."   But apparently Damon's disdain for violence ends where his lust for dirty lucre begins.  The Bourne Trilogy, for instance, are orgies of violence.  According to Forbes, Damon hauled in $26 million for The Bourne Supremacy alone.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/matt-damon-i-have-turned-down-scripts-if-the-violence-is-gratuitous-i-do-believe-it-has-an-effect-on-peoples-behaviour-1803189.html


Bruce Springsteen lashes out against tax cuts for the wealthy, arguing that such cuts "will eat away at the country's heart and soul and spirit."  There's one small problem with Springsteen's anti-tax-cut posturing: the man is a first-rate tax evader.  Because he has a part-time farmer come and grow a few tomatoes (organic, of course) and has horses, he's able to write off 98 percent of his property taxes in the state of New Jersey.  Do the math, by being a fake farmer, the working-class zero Springsteen is making a mint by robbing New Jersey of the antipoverty program funds he says they desperately need.
http://open-all-night.xooit.fr/t1554-I-m-just-a-regular-multi-millionaire.htm

http://www.myfoxny.com/dpp/news/investigative/farm-tax-breaks-for-nj-celebrities-20110209


Michael Moore in 2008 decried Hollywood welfare in the form of so called state tax credit programs.  "These are large multinational corporations—Viacom, GE, Rupert Murdoch—that own these studios," said Moore.  "Why do they need our money from Michigan, from our taxpayers? We're already broke here?"  Agreed. Flash forward to 2010. Following the release of Moore's pro-socialism, anti-capitalism "documentary" film, "Capitalism: A Love Story," a film that has grossed $17,436,509 in worldwide sales, Moore asked his cash-strapped home state of Michigan to fork over $1 million from the State of Michigan Film Office so he could get himself some of that same taxpayer "free cash."
http://cnsnews.com/node/60743

And on it on it goes.  But what makes these hypocrisies particularly egregious is not what they say about human failings, but rather what they say about the illogic of Obuma's radical agenda against America.  Not even his staunchest allies in Hollywood live by the same standard they want us all to abide by.

 Interesting. So what needs to be fixed? The tax loop holes that these states seem to have created?   Smack the hands of the people who are able to take advantage of them or what? Only poor ''real farmers" can take advantage of them? How small can a farm be and be a "farm?" Mushroom growing is a big deal but takes hardly any land to do it. Same with greenhouses and chicken and egg farms. If I raise and sell guppies or parakeets am I farming? How about catfish? It can get complicated and some depends on the profit made. It sure keeps the tax folks in business.
 As far as the Hollywood types go...I don't know why anybody would think their opinions are any more or less important than anybody else's. At least they are employed and create paid employment for many other people. Same as election campaigning. The money spent and the ripple effect is huge.

It's the money, Diane. Big name stars have lots of it and can support candidates with it.  If a big name star says I like so-and-so's political policies, their fans are going to follow along, just because the favorite idol says it is so.  The politicos butter up the stars with lavish galas and maybe a few tax breaks, probably under the table, and collect some generous campaign donations, as well as the votes of the stars fans.  I used to love Linda Ronstadt and would go to her concerts whenever I could.  Then she got political and started espousing Michael Moore as the next best thing.  She was asked to leave a casino in Vegas where she was performing because she spent some concert time talking politics.  Not long after that, she came to L.A. and I went to the concert where she did the same thing.  Lots of people, including us, got up and left the building.  We were there to hear her sing, not to hear her political opinions. 

Larryj

It's shame that fans are that susceptible to political propaganda. They should think for themselves. But I guess that's just the way it is, isn't it? At least the politicians do spend the money, which gives income to somebody....hopefully locally.

...that the Social Security website offers an explanation of how your benefits are calculated, but it's a little hard to follow. You can find a simpler explanation at myretirementpaycheck.org, a website sponsored by the National Endowment for Financial Education.

Your Social Security payment is figured using a complex calculation based on a 35-year average of your covered wages. Each year's wages are adjusted for inflation before being averaged. If you worked longer than 35 years, the government will use the highest 35 years. If you worked for less than 35 years, they'll average in zeros for the years you are lacking. You don't have to be a math genius to figure out the impact of that -- it drags down your average. If you can avoid zeros by working a couple of years longer, you'll increase your Social Security payment.

Read more: 7 Little-Known Social Security Benefits | Bankrate.com http://www.bankrate.com/finance/retirement/7-social-security-benefits.aspx#ixzz1qihUbetT

(http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/imagenes_tesla/tesla_fondo2.jpg)

A look at his hundreds of patents shows a glimpse of the scope he intended to offer.

(http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/tesla/patents/images/list.gif)

One of Tesla's accomplishments mentioned above is the "wireless transmission of electrical energy."

Back in 1900 and about 80 miles from my place here in Centennial, Tesla conducted experiments to send electricity via radio waves to power electrical devices. He was successful in powering a series of light bulbs and some other small devices without having to wire them. But the effort took a huge amount of generating power and was not efficient.

Some folks have "wireless" printer connectivity to their computer but they still have to plug that printer in to the wall for power.

Had he been successful in finding a less costly electrical transmission method, today we might not have all the wires associated with computer hookups.

After 2000 years in heaven, Jesus returns to Earth and encounters an electronics engineer. 

"Hey" Jesus said, "How's it going?"

"Not good. I'm trying to figure out how to make wireless electricity work"

"No problem" says Jesus.  "Here, let me show you" 

After a few hours, the electronics engineer looks at Jesus and goes "I've been working on this for years!  How did you figure this out"

"Oh, that's easy.  I am your Lord and Savior returned to Earth to right the wrongs of the past. "

The engineer's eyes widen, he falls to the floor and starts kissing Jesus' feet.  Jesus, a little embarrassed, picks him up and goes "Easy, big fella.  You weren't supposed to know." 

The engineer, tears in his eyes, sniffles and says "Thank you, Lord Tesla.  Truly, you are the greatest among kings".

Kansas Statute 21-3211: Use of force in defense of a person; no duty to retreat. (a) A person is justified in the use of force against another when and to the extent it appears to such person and such person reasonably believes that such force is necessary to defend such person or a third person against such other's imminent use of unlawful force.
      (b)   A person is justified in the use of deadly force under circumstances described in subsection (a) if such person reasonably believes deadly force is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to such person or a third person.

      (c)   Nothing in this section shall require a person to retreat if such person is using force to protect such person or a third person.

      History:   L. 1969, ch. 180, § 21-3211; L. 2006, ch. 194, § 3; May 25.
======================================================

...that 24 US States have Sweeping Self-Defense Laws just like Florida's.

"Stand Your Ground," "Shoot First," "Make My Day" – state laws asserting an expansive right to self-defense – have come into focus after the February 2012 killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.

In 2005, Florida became the first state to explicitly expand a person's right to use deadly force for self-defense. Deadly force is justified if a person is gravely threatened, in the home or "any other place where he or she has a right to be."
Most states have long allowed the use of reasonable force, sometimes including deadly force, to protect oneself inside one's home — the so-called Castle Doctrine. Outside the home, people generally still have a "duty to retreat" from an attacker, if possible, to avoid confrontation. In other words, if you can get away and you shoot anyway, you can be prosecuted. In Florida, there is no duty to retreat. You can "stand your ground" outside your home, too.

If self-defense is invoked in Florida, the person is immune from criminal or civil prosecution.

In the Martin case, the local police chief has said that they did not arrest the shooter, George Zimmerman, because their initial investigation supported his self-defense claim, and that they were therefore prohibited from making an arrest or prosecution. (The police report on the shooting refers to it as an "unnecessary killing to prevent unlawful act.")

The police chief has since temporarily stepped down, after a vote of no-confidence from the city. The case is being investigated by the Department of Justice and a Florida state attorney. A grand jury will convene on April 10 to decide whether charges can be brought against Zimmerman.

Zimmerman's lawyer said in an interview with ABC News that Zimmerman will be protected under Florida's self-defense law.

In Florida, a homicide case can be thrown out by a judge before trial because the defendant successfully invokes self-defense. The burden is on the prosecution to disprove the claim in order to bring charges, rather than do so in the trial. The Florida state attorney leading the prosecution told ABC news that the self-defense law means it is "more difficult than a normal criminal case" to bring charges.

Florida is not alone in its expansive definition of self-defense. Twenty-four other states now allow people to stand their ground. Most of these laws were passed after Florida's. (Some states never had a duty to retreat to begin with.)

Here's a rundown of the states with laws mirroring the one in Florida, where there's no duty to retreat in public places and where, in most cases, self-defense claims have some degree of immunity in court. (The specifics of what kind of immunity, and when the burden of proof lies on the prosecution, vary from state to state.)

Many of the laws were originally advocated as a way to address domestic abuse cases 2014 how could a battered wife retreat if she was attacked in her own home? Such legislation also has been recently pushed by the National Rifle Association and other gun-rights groups.

....that it is damn hard being a conservative.  I realize that every conservative has plenty to complain about.  Everything from media bias to popular culture to the Marxist in the White House springs to mind.  But I, personally, have my own particular complaints.  I refer to the fact that even though those on the Left have taken to heart the Saul Alinsky dictum that in the unending war between liberals and conservatives no weapon is quite as effective as ridicule, we conservatives ignore the pronouncement at our peril.

Every time you turn around, professional clowns like Bill Maher, David Letterman, Jon Stewart, Chris Matthews, Ed Schultz, Maureen Dowd, Rachel Maddow, Joy Behar, Oprah, Whoopi Goldberg, Billy Crystal, Lawrence O'Donnell, Joe Biden, Henry Waxman, Michael Moore and Debbie Wasserman-Schultzy Babe, are happily mocking those of us on the Right.  In rebuttal, we roll out Ann Coulter, Dennis Miller and Greg Gutfeld, and while it's true that one conservative wit is easily the equal of a dozen liberal nitwits, these three shouldn't be forced to do all the heavy lifting on our behalf.

Although I readily acknowledge that every time a liberal opens his mouth, he or she pretty much makes our case, and while I'd never want to discount the role that such serious-minded individuals as Charles Krauthammer, Dennis Prager, Bernie Goldberg, Mark Steyn, Steve Hayes, Laura Ingraham, Hugh Hewitt, Bret Baier, David Limbaugh, Mike Gallagher, Lou Dobbs, Neil Cavuto, Mark Levin, Michael Medved, Andrew Napolitano, Glenn Beck, Bill Kristol, Brit Hume and Sean Hannity play, when it comes to ridicule, it couldn't hurt to go on the offensive a little more often.

Moving on to lesser matters, I keep hearing Obuma describing his energy policy as "all of the above," while neglecting to mention that by "all," he means everything but coal, oil and nuclear power.  However, I can see where he gets the idea that an industrial nation can get by with those alternative sources of energy he keeps subsidizing with our tax dollars.  After all, in search of campaign donations, he gets to fly all over the country on Air Force One, and so far as he can tell, it's entirely fueled by his own considerable wind power.

Both Obuma and Secretary of Energy Steven Choo-Choo agree that Americans are addicted to oil, apparently seeing it as akin to heroin or crack cocaine.  It is the reason that both of them have done everything in their power to make gas prices rise, at least until they risked having those soaring prices jeopardize Obuma's re-election.  But it occurs to me that when fuel costs skyrocket, it raises the price of everything we buy because retailers have to adjust their prices upward to cover their own overhead.  That leads me to wonder if along the way, Obuma will take us to task for our shameful addiction to food and clothing.

Something else we keep hearing from the soon-to-be ex-president is that we must be respectful of Islam, even when allegedly trusted Muslim allies shoot our soldiers in the back of the head; when people we've squandered blood and treasure protecting have the gall to insult us; and when in 2011, in Pakistan alone, 943 women and girls were murdered for offending their family honor.  Odd, isn't it, that it's never Muslim males who are guilty of these alleged transgressions?  Pakistan, by the way, is a nation in which there is no law against domestic violence, and so-called honor killings are casually dismissed by the police as family matters.  One is tempted to wish that these people would be bombed back into the Dark Ages, but it would be a meaningless threat because, for all intents and purposes, they've never left.

Finally, Joe "the Mouth" Biden, the Clown who took the vice-presidency, which has traditionally been a non-speaking part, and turned it into a feature role as the Court Jester, once famously described ObumaCare as "one *%$#@% big deal."  But that was two years ago and people have short memories, so Biden recently reminded us of his well-deserved reputation by describing Obuma's role in signing off on the Osama bin Laden raid as the most audacious plan in the past 500 years.  While some of the more historically-minded among us have suggested that Napoleon's invasion of Russia, the Boston Tea Party and the D-Day invasion, have all dwarfed Obuma's providing the thumbs-up to our Navy Seals... I wouldn't want anyone to think I was being dismissive of Obuma's audacity for strictly partisan reasons.  Instead, having actually looked up "audacious" in the dictionary and discovering that among its various definitions are "unrestrained," "in defiance of convention and propriety," "impudent," and "reckless," I would say that one of the most audacious things Barack Hussein Obuma has ever done was to select a clucking clown like Joe Biden to be a mere heartbeat away from the presidency.

In a related matter, it has been determined by a panel of experts that the single most audacious thing the American people have ever done was to elect Barack Hussein Obuma the 44th president of the United States.

Good post Warph

(http://dlewis.net/nik-archives/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/JFK_Motorcade.png)

....that in November of 1960, John Fitzgerald Kennedy was elected President of the United States. Three years later, he was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald, shot while in a motorcade going through Dallas, Texas.

Had Richard Paul Pavlick gotten his way, Oswald would have never gotten to pull the trigger. Because Pavlick wanted to kill JFK first.

On December 11, 1960, JFK was the President-Elect and Richard Paul Pavlick was a 73 year old retired postal worker. Both were in Palm Beach, Florida. JFK was there on a vacation of sorts, taking a trip to warmer climates as he prepared to assume the office of the President. Pavlick had followed Kennedy down there with the intention of blowing himself up and taking JFK with him. His plan was simple. He lined his car with dynamite — "enough to blow up a small mountain" per CNN – and outfitted it with a detonation switch. Then, he parked outside the Kennedy's Palm Beach compound and waited for Kennedy to leave his house to go to Sunday Mass. Pavlick's aim was to ram his car into JFK's limo as the President-to-be left his home, blowing both assassin and politician to smithereens.

But JFK did not leave his house alone that morning. He made his way to his limo with his wife, Jacqueline, and children, Caroline and John, Jr., with him. While Pavlick was willing to kill their husband and father, he did not want to kill them, so he resigned himself to trying again another day. He would not get a second chance at murderous infamy. On December 15th, he was arrested by a Palm Beach police officer working off a tip from the Secret Service.

Pavlick's undoing was the result of deranged postcards he sent to Thomas Murphy, then the Postmaster of Pavlick's home town of Belmont, New Hampshire. Murphy was put off by the strange tone of the postcards and his curiosity led him to do what Postmasters do — look at the postmarks. He noticed a pattern: Pavlick happened to be in the same general area as JFK, dotting the landscape as Kennedy travelled. Murphy called the local police department who in turn called the Secret Service, and from there, Pavlick's plan unraveled.

The would-be assassin was committed to a mental institution on January 27th of the following year, a week after Kennedy was inaugurated as the 35th President of the United States, pending charges. These charges were eventually dropped as it became increasingly clear that Pavlick acted out of an inability to distinguish between right and wrong (i.e. he was legally insane), but nevertheless, Pavlick remained in institutions until December 13, 1966, nearly six years after being apprehended. He died in 1975.

http://articles.cnn.com/2010-10-24/opinion/greene.jfk.arrest_1_kennedy-family-mansion-election-lee-harvey-oswald?_s=PM:OPINION
http://www.theblackvault.com/wiki/index.php/Richard_Paul_Pavlick

Bonus fact: If Pavlick seems old for a would-be Presidential assassin, your instincts are correct. Lee Harvey Oswald was just 24 years old, making him the youngest of all four of the men who assassinated Presidents. John Wilkes Booth was 26 when he killed Abraham Lincoln; Leon Czolgosz was 28 when he assassinated William McKinley, and Charles Guiteau was 39 when he murdered James A. Garfield.

EXCLUSIVE: Obama's $500,000 book bonanza
by Washington Times  March 19, 2009


.....that as he empathized with recession-weary Americans, President Obama arranged in the days just before he took office to secure a $500,000 advance for a children's book project, a disclosure report shows.

The terms of the book deal were disclosed in a Senate financial disclosure report filed Tuesday.

Analysts say there don't appear to be any rules that would bar such transactions after a president takes office, but it's unclear whether an incoming or sitting president has ever signed a book deal upon entering the White House.

"I don't recall any sitting president entering into a book deal," said campaign finance lawyer Jan Baran, former general counsel to the Republican National Committee. "They all have historically done that after they leave office.

"I recall the only ones who did sign book deals while living there were first ladies, and my recollection is they gave it to charity."

Mr. Obama approved the $500,000 advance on Jan. 15. The advance is against royalties under a deal with Crown Publishing, a division of Random House. The project calls for an abridged version of his book "Dreams From My Father" for middle-school-aged children, according to the disclosure.

A White House aide said that the deal had been in the works for weeks and that the publisher will abridge the book. The aide, speaking on a condition of anonymity, said the publisher will get half of the money while Mr. Obama will sign off on the final version.

In addition, the financial disclosure showed Mr. Obama brokered an amendment to an existing book deal with Crown Publishing to put off writing a nonfiction book until after he leaves office.

The book deal came on top of nearly $2.5 million in book royalties paid to Mr. Obama last year for "Dreams From My Father" and "The Audacity of Hope," according to the Senate report, which was filed by Robert F. Bauer, who served general counsel to Mr. Obama's presidential campaign.

The disclosure also cites income, listed as more than $1,000, paid to first lady Michelle Obama from the University of Chicago, where she had worked as vice president for community and external affairs.

Just as in 2007, public interest in Barack Obama the presidential candidate helped Barack Obama the author earn lots of money from book royalties, according to his latest financial disclosure report.

Last year, Mr. Obama reported earning $949,910 in royalties from "Dreams From My Father" and $1.5 million from "The Audacity of Hope." In 2007, he reported $3.2 million in book royalties from Random House.

Mr. Obama's books have helped boost the Obamas' income considerably in recent years, from about $1 million in 2006 to more than $4 million in 2007.

After getting permission from the Senate ethics committee in January 2005, Mr. Obama agreed to a $1.9 million advance for two nonfiction books and a children's book, of which $200,000 was to be donated to charity, according to his 2007 financial disclosure.

....that this can be verified True by Snopes:
http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/ping.asp

I think this is something of which all Americans should be aware.

Thank you Ping

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VMtoq6XRep0/T6K69osfShI/AAAAAAAAWGk/TnuG-x0pKHY/s400/Ping%2BGolf%2BDriver.bmp)

This isn't a joke or cartoon; just something interesting to know ... you may want to forward this on to others. This was related to me by Mike, a friend of mine

He said that on Monday, "I played the Disney, Lake Buena Vista course. As usual the starters matched me with three other players. After a few holes we began to get to know each other a bit. One fellow was rather young and had his wife riding along in the golf cart with him. I noticed that his golf bag had his name on it and after closer inspection, it also said "wounded war veterans". When I had my first chance to chat with him I asked him about the bag. His response was simply that it was a gift. I then asked if he was wounded and he said yes. When I asked more about his injury, his response was "I'd rather not talk about it, sir".

Over a few holes, I learned that he had spent the last 15 months in an army rehabilitation hospital in San Antonio, Texas. His wife moved there to be with him and he was released from the hospital in September. He was a rather quiet fellow; however, he did say that he wanted to get good at golf. We had a nice round and as we became a bit more familiar I asked him about the brand new set of Ping woods and irons he was playing. Some looked like they had never been hit. His response was simple. He said that this round was the first full round he had played with these clubs.

Later in the round he told me the following. As part of the discharge process from the rehabilitation hospital, Ping comes in and provides three days of golf instruction, followed by club fitting. Upon discharge from the hospital, Ping gives each of the discharged veterans, generally about 40 soldiers, a brand new set of custom fitted clubs along with the impressive golf bags.

The fellow I met was named Ben Woods and he looked me in the eye and said that being fitted for those clubs was one of the best things that ever happened to him and he was determined to learn to play golf well enough to deserve the gift Ping had given him. Ben is now out of the service, medically discharged just a month ago. He is as fine a young man as you would ever want to meet.

Ping, whose products are made with pride here in America (Arizona), has the good judgment not to advertise this program. God Bless America and the game of golf.

Thank you "PING"!!!
May God Bless our Military!!!

                                         The International Space Station (ISS)

      (http://www.universetoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/issfinalconfigend2006.jpg)

...that serving as an outpost for astronauts to conduct research, the International Space Station (ISS) is a marvel of a man-made structure. Having completed 10 years of orbiting the earth, the ISS is a one-of-its-kind laboratory cum observatory. It is equipped with solar arrays and skywalks, which make it a perfect platform for astronauts working in space; besides, it serves as a dock for space shuttles or expedition vehicles as they are called. The ISS sums up as a workstation, and more importantly, as a 'home among the stars' for the astronauts and space researchers.

Here's all you want to know about the International Space Station.

      (http://visual.merriam-webster.com/images/astronomy/astronautics/international-space-station.jpg)

The International Space Station is, by far, the largest spacecraft to be ever built and assembled in space. As per statistics of August 2011, a total of 135 launches to the space station have been conducted. The first component of the space station was propelled with the aid of Zarya control module in November 1998.

The facts outlined below will give you an idea behind the working and structure of the ISS:


✈The total mass of the ISS is 417,298 kg or 919, 964 lb. On completion, it is expected to weigh about 419,600 kg or 925,000 lb.
✈The Canadarm2, attached to the ISS is capable of operating a maximum of 116,000 kilograms of payloads.
✈Once complete, the ISS is scheduled to have 262,400 solar cells on its 2500 square meters of solar panels.
✈Astronauts working at the ISS have taken more than 200,000 photographs of the earth.
✈The ISS has more than 100,000 people functioning jointly around the world.
✈The space station has a pressurized volume of 916 cubic meters, i.e, 32,333 cubic feet.
✈Currently, it has 13,696 cubic feet of habitable volume and on completion, it will provide the crew members with 935 cubic meters of habitable volume.
✈The ISS covers 17,500 miles per hour or takes about 90 minutes to complete one orbit.
✈The amount of research equipment taken to the ISS sums up to more than 17,000 lb.
✈With the clock still ticking, it has completed 4919* days in orbit.
✈The cumulative time spent by the crew on the ISS amounts to a whopping 4206* days.
✈Approximately 3,630 kilograms (7986lbs.) of food is required to feed the astronauts during every expedition.
✈The ISS is located 386 kilometers or 240 miles above the planet where it orbits the planet.
✈The ISS has a 360 degree bay window which serves as an amazing viewing platform/observatory.
✈The total length of the ISS is approximately 171 feet, which once completed, will measure a total of 110.03 meters.
✈As per the records, the astronauts have completed more than 161 spacewalks so far.
✈About 110 kW of electrical power will be generated by the solar arrays.
✈It is made up of 70 major components that are assembled in space.
✈It is controlled by 52 onboard computers.
✈It will require a minimum of 45 launches to fully assemble the space station.
✈A total of 37 states are participating.
✈In all, 31 expeditions to the ISS have been conducted so far.
✈There are 16 countries of the world, that are involved in the mission.
✈The ISS completes a total number of 15 orbits per day.
✈Present number of rooms on the ISS is 13.
✈A wire length of 8 miles will go into linking the electrical power system in the ISS.
✈Each expedition lasts for 6 months.
✈There are 6 crew members present aboard the ISS currently.
✈Astronauts aboard the ISS have to dedicate two hours of rigorous exercise daily.
Please note: *Statistics change on a daily basis.

....that Bolivia holds the highest turnover of governments. Since their independence from Spain in 1825, Bolivia has had almost 200 governments. Since 1945, Italy saw more than 50 governments and more than 20 Prime Ministers.

India is the world's largest democracy with more than 700 million registered voters.

The system of democracy was introduced 2 500 years ago in Athens, Greece.

The youngest active system of governance is communism, which was introduced in 1848 by Friedrich Engels and Karl
Marx.

The oldest existing governing body operates in Althing in Iceland. It was established in 930 AD.

David "Screaming Lord Sutch", as leader of the Monster Raving Loony Party, was Britain's longest serving party leader until he hung himself in June 1999.

Although the United States of America was established in 1776 the first American president ever to visited Europe while in office was Woodrow Wilson in 1918.

Victoria Woodhull (1838-1927) was the first woman to run for office of US President. She and her sister were the first
women to run a Wall Street brokerage (1870).

The United Nations organization (UN) was founded in 1945.

The Organization of American States (OAS) was founded in 1948 to promote peace, security and the economical development of the western hemisphere.

The European Union was founded in 1957 as the European Economic Community. It then became the EC (European Community) and in 1993 the EU (European Union).

The shortest war on record took place in 1896 when Zanzibar surrendered to Britain after 38 minutes.

The longest was the so-called 100-years war between Britain and France. It actually lasted 116 years, ending in 1453.

It was during the 100-years war that direct taxation on income was introduced, a British invention designed to finance the war with France.

Since 1495, no 25-year period has been without war.

Since 1815 there has been more than 210 interstate wars.

During the Battle of Waterloo, Lord Uxbridge had his horse shot from under him 9 times.

Chevy Chase was a battle that took place on the English-Scottish border in 1388.

The doors that cover US nuclear silos weigh 748 tons and opens in 19 seconds.

The first recorded revolution took place at around 2800 BC when people from the Sumerian city of Lagash overthrew bureaucrats who were lining their own pockets but kept raising taxes.

The NATO attack on Serbia in 1999 during the Kosovo war killed more animals than people.

The very first bomb that the Allies dropped on Berlin in World War II killed the only elephant in the Berlin Zoo.

There are 92 known cases of nuclear bombs lost at sea.

The first reference to a handgun was made in an order for iron bullets in 1326.

Approximately 1,100 U boats were sunk or lost during World War II.

When killed in battle, Japanese officers were promoted to the next highest rank.

During the 1991 Gulf War, the Allies dropped more than 17,000 smart bombs and 210,000 dumb (unguided) bombs on Iraqi troops.

Land mines cause 24,000 deaths a year.

In 1997, the US maintained 13,750 nuclear warheads, 5,546 of them on ballistic missiles. See today's figures.

About 50% of arms exports go to non-democratic regimes.

Annual global spending on military is more than $1.3 trillion (45% by USA).

Iceland has no military and no military expenditure.

Although the two-finger V for Victory sign is synonymous with Winston Churchill, it actually was the idea of a Belgian refugee in London, Victor De Laveleye.

Chemical and biological warfare have been used long before World War 1. During the Peloponnesian War in the 5th century BC, Spartans used sulfur and pitch to overcome the enemy.

One out of every two casualties of war is a civilian caught in the crossfire

Thank you, Warph, for posting all this cool stuff...Keep up the good work!  :laugh:

                                  The Death Of Bonnie and Clyde 78 years ago today

...that Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow were the most famous gangster couple in history.  From 1932 to 1934, during the height of the Great Depression, their gang evolved from petty theives to nationally-known bank robbers (the most taken out of all banks robbed, $4,000) and murderers.  Though a burgeoning yellow press romanticized their exploits, the gang was believed responsible for at least 13 murders, including two policemen, as well as several robberies and kidnappings.  The spree ended when they were betrayed by a friend and shot dead at a police roadblock in Louisiana on May 23, 1934.

                         


                         

(http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/rtlincoln-as-secy-of-war-photo-01.jpg)  (http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/lincoln-family.jpg)

...that Robert Todd Lincoln (August 1, 1843-June 26, 1926), was the sole child of President Abraham Lincoln to live to maturity.

He served on U.S. Grant's staff during the Civil War, following his graduation from Harvard. While still a youth he was rescued from falling from a moving train by Edwin Booth, elder brother of John Wilkes Booth (the assassin of his father).

He was connected with the assassinations of three American Presidents. He was present at his father's bedside when he died; was in the crowd at the Washington, DC, railroad station when President James Garfield was shot; and was at the Buffalo (NY) Pan-American Exposition when President William McKinley was shot. He later refused to attend Presidential functions, believing that he somehow brought bad luck to them.

He served the United States as the last Minister to Great Britain (before the title was changed to Ambassador) and as Secretary of War under President Garfield. His only son, Abraham Lincoln II, died in France while Robert was serving as Minister in London (see separate information on the younger Lincoln). http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=robert+todd+lincoln&view=detail&id=8F2553DDB5A840837BE396EFC11803819643BFD4&first=31&FORM=IDFRIR

He later became President of the Pullman Company in Chicago. He was also present at the dedication of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC.

He died at his summer retreat, "Hildene," in Manchester, Vermont, where he had become a virtual recluse in the later years. He was described in contemporary reports as "A full-fleshed man, bearded and bespectacled who was impeccable in his social relations and personal grooming." He spent much of his time protecting his family against sensation seekers and speculators and was put into the position of having his mother (Mary Todd Lincoln) committed to a mental institution when her irrational behavior became worse. He is the only member of his father's immediate family not to be buried in the Lincoln family plot in Springfield, Illinois.

All in the Family
By John R. Coyne, Jr.

....that Jason Emerson's new biography of Robert Todd Lincoln captures a man of impressive achievement in his own right.

Giant in the Shadows: The Life of Robert T. Lincoln
By Jason Emerson
(Southern Illinois University Press, 752 pages, $39.95)

Robert Todd Lincoln (he never used the Todd, Jason Emerson tells us), the oldest of Abraham Lincoln's four sons and the only one to live to adulthood, was one of those Midwestern men of business who made Chicago the post-Civil War center of American commerce and industry—a city, wrote Andrew Ferguson in his splendid Land of Lincoln, that "grew with the Lincoln legend and was, in part, a creature of it," a city leveled by fire and rebuilt, epitomizing the "entrepreneurial capitalism that came roaring out of the Civil War period and Lincoln came to symbolize."

The Chicago connection is central to Emerson's study, and interestingly enough, this magazine has strong Chicago ties as well. Andrew Ferguson, who made his bones as a journalist at The American Spectator, writes that his father worked as a lawyer in Chicago at the firm founded by Robert Todd Lincoln.

And hanging in the home library of Bob Tyrrell, the founder and editor of TAS, and himself a Chicago product, is a large picture of Abraham Lincoln, with a bronze plaque that reads: "Presented To P. D. Tyrrell, U.S.S.S. By Robert T. Lincoln April 14, 1887 For Loyalty And Service to his Father Abraham Lincoln."

Captain P.D. Tyrrell of the U.S. Secret Service, head of its regional office in Chicago, was Bob Tyrrell's great-great-grandfather; and his service to Robert Lincoln's father, performed twelve years after the assassination of the president, was to prevent the theft of Abraham Lincoln's body by a Chicago gang of body snatchers (they were also counterfeiters) from its burial place in Springfield, Illinois.

Grave robbing, Emerson tells us, a somewhat macabre form of kidnapping, was not uncommon at the time. In 1830, for instance, one sensational case occurred when "a fired gardener at George Washington's home in Mount Vernon tried to steal the first president's skull, but ended up with the bones of a distant relative."

In the end, the plot to snatch Lincoln's body, discussed in some detail in one of the most readable sections of this highly readable book, was foiled by Captain Tyrrell. Tyrrell, Emerson tells us, was an immigrant, born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1835, who moved to America at age three. He grew up in Buffalo, New York, and after a variety of jobs in law enforcement, made his way to Chicago, where he was named a police detective and "established himself as one of the department's best men," solving several of the department's most difficult cases.

When the Chicago chief of police was appointed chief of the U.S. Secret Service in 1874, "he brought Tyrrell with him and made the Irishman head of the Chicago regional office. There, Tyrrell again distinguished himself as a top operative by shutting down and arresting numerous counterfeiters and gangs, operations large and small."

P. D. Tyrrell, Emerson writes, "was one of the Service's most outstanding operatives, and later in his career would be considered one of the most distinguished law enforcement officers in the country."

The attempt to steal Lincoln's body is worth a book in itself, and at least one has already been written. But for Emerson's purpose, the whole episode also helps define the great responsibility to preserve and protect his father's memory and legacy that Robert Lincoln charged himself with bearing throughout his life and career:

In September 1901, the final re-burial of Abraham Lincoln took place....This was the seventeenth time the body was moved, and the sixth time it was exposed and viewed since 1865.... After thirty-six years of dealing with events concerning his father's tomb—the history of which one newspaper called "a sort of burlesque"—Robert never again had to worry about it, Abraham Lincoln was finally and permanently at rest. The entire affair, however, was only one small piece of the Lincoln legacy—a legacy that would occupy, satisfy, and very often aggravate Robert his entire life.

His self-appointed role as guardian of the Lincoln legacy also involved making judgments on the various works about the president and his family increasingly pouring out of the printing presses. He especially despised the life of Lincoln written by William Herndon, who as a boy had known the future president and later became his law partner. Some students of Abraham Lincoln find Herndon indispensable for his depiction of the fast-disappearing world of the frontier that helped shape and define Lincoln. (Interestingly, Robert Lincoln was enthusiastic about the two-volume life of his father written by Ida Tarbell, the noted muckraker.)

Part of Robert Lincoln's distaste for Herndon apparently grew out of what he considered "the negative depiction of Mary Lincoln." According to Emerson, a significant amount of his time was spent discrediting books and articles published about his mother, as well as trying "to collect and destroy all of his mother's letters written during what [he] called her 'period of mental derangement,' and also to attempt to block the publication of letters he could not destroy."

Perhaps the heaviest part of Robert Lincoln's burden as guardian of the family legacy was the continuous care and oversight of his mother, as she sank from instability into something very much like insanity, at one point requiring a formal commitment, which proved temporary, to an asylum. The extended scenes in which the relationship between mother and son are described are among the most painful in the book.

BUT MR. EMERSON'S biography is by no means an extended chronicle of heartbreak and suffering. True, it might seem there's a string of bad luck running through the Robert Lincoln story—especially where presidents are involved. Although not at Ford Theater when his father was shot, he was nearby at the White House and one of the first to arrive at the theater.

In 1881, he was with President James A. Garfield, whom he served as Secretary of War, when Garfield was shot by Charles J. Guiteau; and in 1901, he was at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York, when Leon F. Czolgosz shot President William McKinley. Apparently this led Lincoln to a number of refusals to attend events where a sitting president might be present.

At times Mr. Emerson, who shows that in later life Robert Lincoln adhered to "a Victorian values system," assumes a distinctly Victorian style himself. As a young man, he tells us, Robert Lincoln wasn't above a certain amount of hell-raising: "As dutiful and affectionate [a son] as Robert was, it is not incorrect to reveal his great desire and ability for smoking cigars, drinking, and carousing, which only increased during his college years."

During those years at Harvard, he was also eager to enlist, like so many of his fellow students, but was prevented from doing so by his mother, who was growing increasingly unstable. Finally, with the help of his father, he was able to join the personal staff of General Grant as a captain in time for the last few battles of the war, and was at Appomattox to witness General Lee's surrender.

With the end of the war and the assassination, Lincoln brought his mother and younger brother to live in Chicago, where he finished his law degree and eventually helped to establish the prestigious firm where Andrew Ferguson's father went to work a half-century later. It was in Chicago where he made his mark as a man of accomplishment in his own right, and where he became president of the Pullman Palace Car Company in 1897.

During those years he also served in prestigious posts in Republican administrations, among them Secretary of War under Presidents Garfield and Chester A. Arthur. As his reputation grew—and of course because of the family name—Lincoln became increasingly talked of as a presidential or vice presidential possibility. But he'd have none of it. In 1884, he explicitly forbade his name to be placed in nomination as vice president at the Republican convention.

Four years later, he again had strong support at the Republican convention and, despite not attending, took a significant number of votes for the top job. "It seemed as certain then as it does now," writes Emerson, "that had Robert Lincoln actively sought the Republican presidential nomination in 1888, he would have won it." In the end, the nomination went to former Senator Benjamin Harrison, who, upon defeating Grover Cleveland and taking office, nominated Lincoln as America's Minister to Great Britain.

In all, a distinguished career. As Emerson, very much his subject's champion, puts it: "Robert T. Lincoln was an accomplished man, one of the exemplars of his generation, who, beyond being the son of Abraham Lincoln, should and must be recognized for his independent achievement. On top of all that, Robert's life, from 1843 to 1926, spanned the most innovative, impressive, and dynamic era in American history." With much of it, one might add, played out in Chicago, the most dynamic city of the era.

"Robert's life is a fantastic journey through a rich period of American history," writes Justin Emerson. And it is to his great credit as a biographer and historian that he so successfully brings Robert T. Lincoln out of history's shadows and the times in which he lived back to vivid life.

....that according to a new Rasmussen poll of likely voters, 56 percent of those surveyed favor legalizing marijuana and regulating it like alcohol. That might turn into something of a problem for the current president of the United States, who according to a new biography was a serious stoner in his high school days.

The Choom Gang

(http://www.americanthinker.com/cartoons/assets_c/2012/05/Choom-thumb-600xauto-1381.png)

Indeed, if the biography, Barack Obama: The Story by Pulitzer Prizewinning Washington Post writer David Maraniss, is accurate, calling Obama a serious stoner is an understatement. Smoking pot seems to have been at the center of his high school social life.

Obama's circle of high school buddies dubbed themselves The Choom Gang, "Choom" being a Hawaiian slang term for smoking marijuana.  One Choom Gang member had a Volkswagen microbus that they called the Choom Wagon, which functioned as a purple haze-filled clubhouse. At Obama's instigation, the gang would smoke in the van with the windows rolled up so they wouldn't waste any pot. And when the joint was finished "they tilted their heads back and sucked the last bit of smoke from the ceiling."  According to Maraniss, Obama insisted that the Choom chums practice "TA," or "total absorption," meaning that they didn't exhale their tokes prematurely. If they did they were penalized by missing a turn the next time the joint came around.

In the section of Obama's high school yearbook where students could thank those who helped them along the way, Obama thanked "Tut [his grandmother], Gramps, Choom Gang, and Ray [the older guy who hung around with the gang and sold them pot] for all the good times."

In other words, the Choom Gang was Obama's own little 4/20 club.

Now then. The fact that Obama smoked pot is not new information. He acknowledged it in his 1995 book Dreams of My Father, in which he wrote that he had smoked "weed" and done "maybe a little blow."

So why should anyone care now? Well for openers, since Obama took office 40 months ago, approximately 2 million Americans have been arrested, and in many cases jailed, on his watch for doing the same thing Obama did — buying, possessing and using marijuana.

Americans busted for pot tend to be disproportionately young and disproportionately black — like Obama voters in the 2008 election.

I've never seen a poll of the political preferences of pot-smoking voters in 2008, but I'd be willing to bet you, uh, $420, that Obama won that demographic in a landslide. But whenever voters raise the subject of marijuana legalization with Obama, the First Choomster consistently spits in their faces, refusing even to entertain questions on marijuana reform, let alone show any interest or sympathy for the cause.

Which is contemptible. Just how contemptible was neatly summarized by radio talk show host Penn Jillette in an on-air rant a couple weeks ago that's worth quoting at length:

"... Do we believe, even for a second, that if Obama had been busted for marijuana — under the laws that he condones — would his life have been better? If Obama had been caught with the marijuana that he says he used, and 'maybe a little blow' ... if he had been busted under his laws, he would have done hard time. And if he had done time in prison, time in federal prison, time for his 'weed' and 'a little blow,' he would not be president of the United States of America. He would not have gone to his fancy-ass college, he would not have sold books that sold millions and millions of copies and made millions and millions of dollars, he would not have a beautiful, smart wife, he would not have a great job. He would have been in freaking prison, and it's not a damn joke. People who smoke marijuana must be set free. It is insane to lock people up."

The reason politicians like Obama have been able to skate on the marijuana issue is that pot smokers have rarely judged candidates on the basis of their stands on marijuana legalization. However, that may be changing. Most recently, a candidate for Oregon attorney general got blown out when he promised to gut the state's voter-approved medical marijuana law if elected. Two years ago, another anti-marijuana showboat lost a race for California attorney general.

Obama isn't going to lose very many votes to Mitt Romney over pot. But Romney isn't the only candidate running against Obama. Former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson, who has advocated marijuana legalization for years, has secured the Libertarian Party nomination for president, and will appear on the ballot in all 50 states.

A recent poll showed Johnson getting 7 percent of the vote.

If the election turns out to be as close as many observers think it's going to be, the shift of a few percentage points of the vote from Obama to Johnson in one or two battleground states might be enough to decide the outcome — much like Ralph Nader winning more than 70,000 votes in Florida in 2000, most of which would have otherwise gone to Gore, put Bush in the White House.

Obama's brazen hypocrisy on marijuana, together with his consistently cavalier treatment of those favoring legalization, is the sort of thing that could move the needle enough to cost him the election.

                    "The Amateur"

          (http://funnypages.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/funny-pics-all-bushs-fault1.jpg)

...that Bill Clinton thought so little of President Obama — mocking him as an "amateur" — that he pressed his wife last summer to quit her job as secretary of state and challenge him in the primaries, a new book claims,

"The country needs you!" the former president told Hillary Clinton, urging her to run this year, according to accounts of the conversation included in Edward Klein's new biography of Obama.

The title of Klein's explosive, unauthorized bio of Obama, "The Amateur" (Regnery Publishing), was taken directly from Bill Clinton's bombshell criticism of the president, the author said.

"Barack Obama," Bill Clinton said, according to book excerpts, "is an amateur."

          (http://funnyfree.net/images/sample/funny_pictures_brokeback-obama.jpg)

The withering criticism is incredible, given the fact that Bill Clinton is actively campaigning for Obama's re-election.

But according to the book, Bill Clinton unloaded on Obama and pressed Hillary to run against her boss during a gathering in the ex-president's home office in Chappaqua last August that included longtime friends, Klein said.

"The economy's a mess, it's dead flat. America has lost its Triple-A rating . . . You know better than Obama does," Bill said.

Bill Clinton insisted he had "no relationship" with Obama and had been consulted more frequently by his presidential successor, George W. Bush.

Obama, Bill Clinton said, "doesn't know how to be president" and is "incompetent."

          (http://www.webmastertalkforums.com/attachments/lounge/2316d1317563162-funny-barack-obama-pics-obama-lyin.jpg)

But Hillary resisted the entreaties, according to two of the guests interviewed for the book.

"Why risk everything now?" a skeptical Hillary told her husband, emphasizing that she wanted to leave a legacy as secretary of state.

"Because," Bill replied, his voice rising, "the country needs you!"

"The country needs us!" added Bill.

          Unwashed Hippies:
          (http://i931.photobucket.com/albums/ad158/FrankRob/0bill-hillary-clinton.jpg)

He later even joked about the prospect of having two Clinton presidential libraries — about the only time that Hillary cracked a smile.

          (http://www.pubdef.net/uploaded_images/bill-and-hillary-clinton-736696.jpg)

"I want my term [at the State Department] to be an important one, and running away from it now would leave it as a footnote," Hillary argued.

She said she had the option of running again in 2016.

          (http://www.funnypicturesfree.com/images/september/obama2.jpg)

But Bill wouldn't let go.

"I know you're young enough!" Bill said, his voice booming. "That's not what I'm worried about. I'm worried that I'm not young enough."

"I'm the highest-ranking member in Obama's Cabinet. I eat breakfast with the guy every Thursday morning. What about loyalty, Bill? What about loyalty?" she responded.

"Loyalty is a joke,'' Bill shot back. "Loyalty doesn't exist in politics."

Bill's verbal battle with Hillary over the presidency, if anything, intensified when daughter Chelsea showed up with her husband, Marc Mezvinsky.

"You deserve to be president," Chelsea said.

Bill was clearly pleased that Chelsea was on his side and vowed to have allies commission polls on a Hillary-Obama matchup.

"What are you trying to do — force my hand?" Hillary said.

(http://tubegator.com/content/uploads/hillary_killbill.jpg)

"I want everyone to know how strong you poll," Bill said.

Hillary said, "Go ahead and knock yourself out."

(http://punditkitchen.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/political-pictures-bill-hillary-clinton-call-monica.jpg?)

Phillipe Reines, a spokesman for the secretary of state, noted that Hillary Clinton challenged the veracity of an earlier book Klein wrote about her, "Truth About Hillary."

White House spokesman Eric Schultz accused Klein of making up facts to sell books.

"Nobody in their right mind would believe the nonsense in this one, especially since both Secretary Clinton and President Clinton have been loyal and supportive of the president at every turn." (What a crock of shit, Schultz!)

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a6/Barack_Obama%2C_Hillary_Clinton_and_Bill_Burns_in_the_White_House_Situation_Room.jpg/800px-Barack_Obama%2C_Hillary_Clinton_and_Bill_Burns_in_the_White_House_Situation_Room.jpg)

(http://images.sodahead.com/polls/000147140/polls_CaptionChallenge_BarackObama_HillaryClinton_embrace_1517_151562_answer_1_xlarge.jpeg)

Klein, a former editor of The New York Times Magazine and Newsweek, defended the book and his earlier one as factually sound.

Meanwhile, today's daily presidential Rasmussen Poll shows Mitt Romney ahead of the president with 50 percent to Obama's 43 percent. It is the highest level of support the presumptive Republican nominee has received in his matchup with Obama as well as his largest lead.

...that this article may be long, but it is worth it because if we won't learn from history, we are doomed to repeat it.  Praise God for those who are willing to teach us from their experiences.  This is a story by Kitty Werthmann, a woman from Austria who believes America is truly the greatest country in the world, and does not want us to lose our freedoms the way other people lost theirs.

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America Truly is the Greatest Country in the World.
Don't Let Freedom Slip Away

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By: Kitty Werthmann
http://message.snopes.com/showthread.php?t=57737

What I am about to tell you is something you've probably never heard or will ever read in history books.

I believe that I am an eyewitness to history. I cannot tell you that Hitler took Austria by tanks and guns; it would distort history. We elected him by a landslide – 98% of the vote. I've never read that in any American publications. Everyone thinks that Hitler just rolled in with his tanks and took Austria by force.

In 1938, Austria was in deep Depression. Nearly one-third of our workforce was unemployed. We had 25% inflation and 25% bank loan interest rates. Farmers and business people were declaring bankruptcy daily. Young people were going from house to house begging for food. Not that they didn't want to work; there simply weren't any jobs. My mother was a Christian woman and believed in helping people in need. Every day we cooked a big kettle of soup and baked bread to feed those poor, hungry people – about 30 daily.

The Communist Party and the National Socialist Party were fighting each other. Blocks and blocks of cities like Vienna , Linz , and Graz were destroyed. The people became desperate and petitioned the government to let them decide what kind of government they wanted.

We looked to our neighbor on the north, Germany, where Hitler had been in power since 1933. We had been told that they didn't have unemployment or crime, and they had a high standard of living. Nothing was ever said about persecution of any group — Jewish or otherwise. We were led to believe that everyone was happy. We wanted the same way of life in Austria . We were promised that a vote for Hitler would mean the end of unemployment and help for the family. Hitler also said that businesses would be assisted, and farmers would get their farms back. Ninety-eight percent of the population voted to annex Austria to Germany and have Hitler for our ruler.

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We were overjoyed, and for three days we danced in the streets and had candlelight parades. The new government opened up big field kitchens and everyone was fed.

After the election, German officials were appointed, and like a miracle, we suddenly had law and order. Three or four weeks later, everyone was employed. The government made sure that a lot of work was created through the Public Work Service.

Hitler decided we should have equal rights for women. Before this, it was a custom that married Austrian women did not work outside the home. An able-bodied husband would be looked down on if he couldn't support his family. Many women in the teaching profession were elated that they could retain the jobs they previously had been required to give up for marriage.

Hitler Targets Education - Eliminates Religious Instruction for Children:

Our education was nationalized.. I attended a very good public school.. The population was predominantly Catholic, so we had religion in our schools. The day we elected Hitler (March 13, 1938), I walked into my schoolroom to find the crucifix replaced by Hitler's picture hanging next to a Nazi flag. Our teacher, a very devout woman, stood up and told the class we wouldn't pray or have religion anymore. Instead, we sang "Deutschland, Deutschland, Uber Alles," and had physical education.

Sunday became National Youth Day with compulsory attendance. Parents were not pleased about the sudden change in curriculum. They were told that if they did not send us, they would receive a stiff letter of warning the first time. The second time they would be fined the equivalent of $300, and the third time they would be subject to jail. The first two hours consisted of political indoctrination. The rest of the day we had sports. As time went along, we loved it.. Oh, we had so much fun and got our sports equipment free. We would go home and gleefully tell our parents about the wonderful time we had.

My mother was very unhappy. When the next term started, she took me out of public school and put me in a convent. I told her she couldn't do that and she told me that someday when I grew up, I would be grateful. There was a very good curriculum, but hardly any fun - no sports, and no political indoctrination. I hated it at first but felt I could tolerate it. Every once in a while, on holidays, I went home. I would go back to my old friends and ask what was going on and what they were doing. Their loose lifestyle was very alarming to me. They lived without religion. By that time unwed mothers were glorified for having a baby for Hitler. It seemed strange to me that our society changed so suddenly. As time went along, I realized what a great deed my mother did so that I wasn't exposed to that kind of humanistic philosophy.

Equal Rights Hits Home:

In 1939, the war started and a food bank was established. All food was rationed and could only be purchased using food stamps. At the same time, a full-employment law was passed which meant if you didn't work, you didn't get a ration card, and if you didn't have a card, you starved to death. Women who stayed home to raise their families didn't have any marketable skills and often had to take jobs more suited for men.

Soon after this, the draft was implemented. It was compulsory for young people, male and female, to give one year to the labor corps. During the day, the girls worked on the farms, and at night they returned to their barracks for military training just like the boys. They were trained to be anti-aircraft gunners and participated in the signal corps. After the labor corps, they were not discharged but were used in the front lines. When I go back to Austria to visit my family and friends, most of these women are emotional cripples because they just were not equipped to handle the horrors of combat.

Three months before I turned 18, I was severely injured in an air raid attack. I nearly had a leg amputated, so I was spared having to go into the labor corps and into military service.

Hitler Restructured the Family Through Daycare:

When the mothers had to go out into the work force, the government immediately established child care centers. You could take your children ages 4 weeks to school age and leave them there around-the-clock, 7 days a week, under the total care of the government. The state raised a whole generation of children.. There were no motherly women to take care of the children, just people highly trained in child psychology. By this time, no one talked about equal rights. We knew we had been had.

Health Care and Small Business Suffer Under Government Controls:

Before Hitler, we had very good medical care. Many American doctors trained at the University of Vienna . After Hitler, health care was socialized, free for everyone. Doctors were salaried by the government. The problem was, since it was free, the people were going to the doctors for everything. When the good doctor arrived at his office at 8 a.m., 40 people were already waiting and, at the same time, the hospitals were full. If you needed elective surgery, you had to wait a year or two for your turn. There was no money for research as it was poured into socialized medicine. Research at the medical schools literally stopped, so the best doctors left Austria and emigrated to other countries.

As for healthcare, our tax rates went up to 80% of our income. Newlyweds immediately received a $1,000 loan from the government to establish a household. We had big programs for families. All day care and education were free. High schools were taken over by the government and college tuition was subsidized. Everyone was entitled to free handouts, such as food stamps, clothing, and housing.

We had another agency designed to monitor business. My brother-in-law owned a restaurant that had square tables. Government officials told him he had to replace them with round tables because people might bump themselves on the corners. Then they said he had to have additional bathroom facilities. It was just a small dairy business with a snack bar. He couldn't meet all the demands. Soon, he went out of business. If the government owned the large businesses and not many small ones existed, it could be in control.

We had consumer protection. We were told how to shop and what to buy. Free enterprise was essentially abolished. We had a planning agency specially designed for farmers. The agents would go to the farms, count the live-stock, then tell the farmers what to produce, and how to produce it.

"Mercy Killing" Redefined:

In 1944, I was a student teacher in a small village in the Alps . The villagers were surrounded by mountain passes which, in the winter, were closed off with snow, causing people to be isolated. So people intermarried and offspring were sometimes retarded. When I arrived, I was told there were 15 mentally retarded adults, but they were all useful and did good manual work. I knew one, named Vincent, very well. He was a janitor of the school. One day I looked out the window and saw Vincent and others getting into a van. I asked my superior where they were going. She said to an institution where the State Health Department would teach them a trade, and to read and write. The families were required to sign papers with a little clause that they could not visit for 6 months. They were told visits would interfere with the program and might cause homesickness.

As time passed, letters started to dribble back saying these people died a natural, merciful death. The villagers were not fooled. We suspected what was happening. Those people left in excellent physical health and all died within 6 months. We called this euthanasia.

The Final Steps - Gun Laws:

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Next came gun registration.. People were getting injured by guns. Hitler said that the real way to catch criminals (we still had a few) was by matching serial numbers on guns. Most citizens were law abiding and dutifully marched to the police station to register their firearms. Not long after-wards, the police said that it was best for everyone to turn in their guns. The authorities already knew who had them, so it was futile not to comply voluntarily.

No more freedom of speech. Anyone who said something against the government was taken away. We knew many people who were arrested, not only Jews, but also priests and ministers who spoke up.

Totalitarianism didn't come quickly, it took 5 years from 1938 until 1943, to realize full dictatorship in Austria . Had it happened overnight, my countrymen would have fought to the last breath. Instead, we had creeping gradualism.

Now, our only weapons were broom handles. The whole idea sounds almost unbelievable that the state, little by little eroded our freedom.

After World War II, Russian troops occupied Austria . Women were raped, preteen to elderly. The press never wrote about this either. When the Soviets left in 1955, they took everything that they could, dismantling whole factories in the process. They sawed down whole orchards of fruit, and what they couldn't destroy, they burned. We called it The Burned Earth. Most of the population barricaded themselves in their houses. Women hid in their cellars for 6 weeks as the troops mobilized. Those who couldn't, paid the price. There is a monument in Vienna today, dedicated to those women who were massacred by the Russians. This is my eye witness account."


"It's true..those of us who sailed past the Statue of Liberty came to a country of unbelievable freedom and opportunity. America Truly is the Greatest Country in the World. Don't Let Freedom Slip Away, After America , There is No Place to Go."

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...that if you consider it rude to reduce human suffering to cold statistics, you don't have to. Turn away now.

On the other hand, if you believe that numbers matter, then you'll probably want to know the correct numbers. On these pages, I have collected a variety of body counts for all the major atrocities of the 20th Century and set them out for you to examine. I have tried to keep commentary to a minimum, although I would have to be a robot to avoid passing occasional judgement on the accuracy of some of these estimates.

To be honest, though, I'm sometimes embarrassed by where I have been forced to find my statistics, but beggars can't be choosers. Very few historians have the cold, calculating, body-count mentality that I do. They prefer describing the quality of suffering rather than the quantity of it. Often, the only place to find numbers is in a newspaper article, almanac, chronicle or encyclopedia which needs to summarize major events into a few short sentences or into one scary number, and occasionally I get the feeling that some writers use numbers as pure rhetorical flourishes. To them, "over a million" does not mean ">106"; it's just synonymous with "a lot."
... Matthew White, author


This chart contains best estimate for national death tolls during the Second World War.  (Click the links for sources and details.)

National Death Tolls for the Second World War Chart:  http://necrometrics.com/ww2stats.htm


Other links:
http://www.bookofhorriblethings.com/ax01.html
http://www.bookofhorriblethings.com/ax02.html
http://necrometrics.com/index.htm

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....that it figures.  Health Savings Accounts, or HSAs, have been so successful at reducing the cost of health care, the ObumaCare people are out to get them.  The HSA concept: Rather than buy a health insurance policy that has a low or no deductible, you purchase one that has a high deductible.  Since the insurance company doesn't have to pay anything until you exceed your high deductible, it's happy to give you a much lower premium. You save on the premium.... and by shopping around, since most of your initial health care costs are on your own dime.

Rather than use a name-brand medication, you choose the much cheaper generic.  You ask doctors and other providers what particular services and treatments cost.  Of course, they hardly ever know.

When I blew out my Achilles tendon playing pickleball five years ago, I asked the doctor what the surgery to reattach it would cost.  I asked the nurse what the crutches she gave me cost.  I asked what the MRI to get a good look at my leg cost.  Each person I asked looked puzzled and said the same thing: "I don't know.  Nobody ever asked that before."

That, in a nutshell, is what is wrong with our health insurance and health care systems: Consumers are completely divorced from costs. Massive inflation has been the result.

To help put consumers back in control, HSAs became law in 2003.  They offer all kinds of flexibility to individuals and families.  Say your employer is paying $10,000 a year for your family's "Cadillac" health insurance that covers almost everything.  Well, why not give that $10,000 credit directly to you, so you can buy a policy with a $5,000 deductible that costs, say, $5,000 a year?  You take the $5,000 you save on your premium and invest it in an HSA tax-free.

If you have medical needs, you can use your HSA money to pay for them until your deductible is met and your insurer takes over.  And by shopping around, you help drive down the cost of health care for everyone.  If you are lucky and stay healthy, you can grow a tidy little HSA nest egg.  When you turn 65, you can use that money for anything you want.

But ObumaCare, says Forbes, is going to make HSAs more costly.  This is because HSAs are driven by consumers, whereas ObumaCare is driven by command-and-control bureaucrats.  See, the ObumaCare people have published guidelines that require all health insurance plans to have an actuarial value of 60 percent... which means at least 60 percent of any care is paid for by the insurer and no more than 40 percent is paid for directly by the insured.

HSAs don't meet the 60-percent threshold.  This is because ObumaCare counts only the $5,000 paid for your family's insurance policy, not the $5,000 your family sinks into its HSA.   Under ObumaCare's confused bureaucratic standards, that means 50 percent of care your family receives is paid for by your insurer, 50 percent by you.  The only way for your HSA to meet the 60-percent threshold, then, is for you to purchase a more expensive policy, significantly limit the amount you put into your HSA or abandon it altogether.

Which is precisely what the ObumaCare folks want.  Bastards!

Your ability to choose goes down, your costs go up... as happens every time government's powers expand and individual freedoms are taken away.

Media is Mad Because Mitt Told the Truth?
By Wayne Allyn Root
7/31/2012  

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....that Americans constantly complain because politicians lie? Barack Obama lies so much, his nose should be longer than Pinnochio. He says "the private sector is doing fine." He says to business owners, "You didn't build that." He tells the middle class that "none of the tax increases are aimed at you." And he tells rich people who pay almost all of the taxes, "You're not paying your fair share." It's all lies and distortions.

Yet Mitt Romney tells the truth and he gets panned by the national media? All he said a few days ago is that Israel is a remarkable country...the Israeli people are remarkable people...and then compared the GDP of the average Israeli (about $32,000) to the average Palestinian (about $2000). Now this may be politically incorrect, but it's certainly the truth. Forget the Palestinians. Israel is remarkable compared to any country, and the Jewish people are remarkable compared to any other tribe. Is Mitt wrong? Let's look at the facts.

First, a disclosure. I am a member of the Jewish tribe. My grandparents were Jewish immigrants from Russia and Germany. I'm bursting with pride at the remarkable success of my tribe. And with America in decline...and the U.S. economy in shambles...the Jewish people are a role model we should be studying and emulating.

Jews are the most successful group to ever step foot on U.S. soil. They make up outsized proportions of every important and respected group in this country- attorneys, doctors, accountants, architects, bankers, stockbrokers, CEO's, small business owners, the media, and of course the movers and shakers in the glamorous entertainment world.

But, don't take my word for it. Ask one of the most liberal and intellectual colleges in America- Columbia University, a bastion of socialism and Marxism. I attended Columbia with many of the most famous symbols of liberalism in America today- including my classmate President Obama. Yet it was at Columbia that I took the course, "Ethnicity in America." Here I learned the most successful group in U.S. history is...drumroll please...the Jewish people.

But the biggest miracle of all is the success of the state of Israel. Mitt Romney is simply the first politician to ever state the truth out loud.

Israel is one of the smallest nations on earth. Yet it has the highest venture capital investment (per capita) in the world. 30-times higher than the entire Europe.

In pure dollars, Israel places third in the world for venture capital- behind only the USA and China.

Israel has more high-tech startups (per capita) than any nation in the world.

Israel has more bio-tech startups (per capita) than any nation in the world.

Israel leads the world (per capita) in business startups. In pure numbers, Israel has the most business startups of any country in the world, other than the United States.

Israel is second in the world in the number of companies listed on NASDAQ. More than Europe, India, China and Japan combined.

Israel has the 3rd highest rate of female entrepreneurship in the world.

Israel leads the world in patents for medical equipment.

Israel's citizens have the highest ratio of computers in the world.

Israel's citizens have the highest ratio of university degrees in the world.

Israel has the highest number of Nobel Prizes (per capita) in the world.

With only 7 million citizens, the Israeli economy is bigger than all her Arab neighbors combined.

Israel is the Hong Kong of the Middle East with a booming economy, even in the middle of a global economic collapse.

Mitt was right. So how can this remarkable success of the Jewish people, one of the tiniest tribes to ever walk the face of the earth, be explained?

Many experts attribute it to a stress on education. Certainly that is partially true. I am a S.O.B. (son of a butcher) who attended Columbia University. My daughter currently attends Harvard, and only days ago was accepted at Oxford. But it's much more than that.

Other experts cite the closeness of Jewish families. Also true. I've been married for 21 years, with 4 children ranging in age from 20 to 4. This is an all-time Las Vegas record.

But the main reason for the out-sized success of the Jewish tribe is our belief in the power of the individual and our willingness to take financial risk. When your entire history is being persecuted, enslaved, tortured, and murdered by governments and tyrants, you learn pretty quickly to do things on your own, to never depend on others to help you.

Jews invented "If it's to be, it's up to me." We became our own bosses, our own doctors, our own bankers. We learned to never trust or depend on government. We learned to never ask for a job- we created our own. We learned to believe in ourselves, and not worry about acceptance or permission from others.

With that kind of a history of persecution, you become pretty darn comfortable with risk. Taking financial risks seems insignificant compared to risking your life to escape corrupt governments, murderous tyrants, and violent mobs. Compared to my grandparents emigrating from Russia and Germany to a strange land called America, without a penny in their pockets, my making an investment in a business startup pales by comparison.

That's the secret to the amazing success of Israel and Jews around the world. Instead of being politically incorrect and denying the truth, others should be emulating the successful habits and traits of the Jewish people.

Stress education, stay loyal to your family, be your own boss, build your own business, and take risks with your money. And never depend on government for anything. Follow this model, and you too can build a fantastic life.

Mitt Romney told the truth. Instead of getting mad at a politician for being politically incorrect and telling the truth, we should be celebrating him.

Not that American Jews had much choice. They took care of themselves and opened their own businesses and borrowed money from other family members because they wouldn't be hired by any of the big industries up and down the east coast, or there was a "quota." Even banks wouldn't loan to them or demanded a much higher interest rate.They couldn't join the local country clubs or many of the professional clubs or societies.Thank goodness that is almost gone now.The "Bringing Over Societies" would sponsor individuals or families so when they immigrated here, a place to live and a job was already arranged. not always of course but it was generally true.

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                                                  Abuses of Diplomatic Immunity


....that Diplomatic Immunity may be intended to keep diplomats from running afoul of local authorities while serving abroad, but some workers take it as a license to act like jerks. While the Vienna Conventions on International Relations of 1961 outline a series of safeguards that protect diplomats from being unfairly punished should tempers flare between their country and their host nations, more than a few diplomats have taken advantage of their privileges in an irritating way. Here are just a few annoying little liberties diplomats have taken.



1. Park Wherever You Want

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The most common manifestation of this inconsiderate behavior involves diplomats' parking. Just ask New Yorkers; diplomats at the United Nations apparently view Manhattan as their private parking lot. Back in 1996, diplomats racked up 143,508 parking summons, which would have cost them $15.8 million if not for diplomatic immunity. Russia alone was responsible for 32,000 of those fines.


2. Or Clear a Spot for Yourself

A few hundred thousand unpaid tickets look like downright responsible behavior when compared to former Afghan diplomat Shah Mohammad Dost's antics behind the wheel. In 1987, Dost was accused of intentionally running a woman over in order to get a parking spot during a trip to an air conditioner store in Queens. According to the victim, her boyfriend was backing into the spot when Dost rolled up and demanded they cede the space to him because he was an Afghan diplomat. When they refused, Dost threw his Lincoln into gear and ran the woman over, sending her to the hospital.


3. Become a Doggie Diplomat

Here's a case where diplomatic immunity didn't work out quite as well as a diplomat had hoped. In 1975, a U.N. delegate from Barbados claimed that diplomatic immunity extended to his pooch, who had bitten several people. The delegate warned police officers of "possible international consequences" if they tried to contain the aggressive German shepherd. Nice try, but Fido's not exactly negotiating trade treaties.

A Mexican diplomat got the same rude awakening in 1984. Military attaché Enrique Flores was keeping a pack of 10 basset hounds at his Virginia home in violation of local zoning laws. Even though the laws stated Flores could only have four hounds at once, he appealed to the State Department for diplomatic immunity. The State Department turned him down. Guess they're cat people


4. Lose Your Immunity in the Divorce

In 1989, Mozambique's representative to the United Nations wanted to divorce his American wife, so he waived his diplomatic immunity in order to take the matter to court. Unfortunately for the diplomat, Antonio Fernandez, he didn't fare well in the case; he ended up losing the couple's $5 million estate in the decision. Whoops.

Fernandez didn't suffer from any shortage of gall, though. After losing the decision he attempted to invoke his diplomatic immunity privileges to keep from paying his ex-wife. Fernandez took his case all the way to the Supreme Court, but in the end his former love got the couple's Greenwich, Connecticut, estate.


5. Light Up on a Plane

Just two weeks ago, a Qatari diplomat ran into trouble on a Washington-to-Denver flight when he decided to have a smoke in the plane's lavatory. To make things worse, Mohammed Al-Madadi also made a joke that some passengers and flight personnel perceived to be a terrorist threat. Air marshals sounded various alarms, and in the end two F-16 fighter jets escorted the flight to its final destination. While diplomatic immunity kept Al-Madadi from being charged with any crimes, the Qatari government sent him home to help smooth things over.


6. Stop Cutting Your Lawn

In 2008, the residents of New Rochelle, New York, found themselves with a common problem: one house in the community had become a real eyesore. It had sat vacant for years as weeds had overgrown the yard, the paint had gone bad, and the property found itself in an ugly state of decay. New Rochelle had a problem, though: the dilapidated house had a sort of diplomatic immunity that enabled it to be that run-down. Somalia owned the house, which it occasionally used to house United Nations diplomats. Since the vacant house was exempt from taxes, the town couldn't use liens or other penalties to force the Somalians to do a little landscaping. The lesson here: if you want to stop mowing your lawn, join the Foreign Service.


7. Stop Paying Your Rent

A word of advice to landlords out there: if diplomats want to rent one of your properties, you might want to get a hefty security deposit. Just ask some of Manhattan's biggest landlords. A 1996 New York Times story illustrated the difficulty of renting to diplomats; landlords really don't have any legal mechanism through which they can collect delinquent rent or evict diplomatic tenants. At the time the article was written, one West African country was over $20,000 behind in its rent checks for a pair of luxury apartments in midtown Manhattan.

If you or I pulled a stunt like that, we'd be out on the streets. Fortunately for diplomats, though, they also enjoy a special kind of immunity known as "inviolability," which states that the private residences of diplomats can't be entered by the host country's agents without the visiting country's consent. In short, the only way you can evict foreign diplomats is if their own country gives you the thumbs-up first.


8. Slaughter a Sheep

Nobody ever said all diplomats were gentlemen. In 1984, six Iranian diplomats caused a stink in London by taking a sheep from a house and cutting its throat in the street. The ritual public slaughter of an animal is generally frowned upon, but since the men had diplomatic immunity the British authorities were powerless to charge them with violating animal cruelty laws.

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                    Constitutional Amendments That Just Missed the Cut



...that since 1789, Congress has approved 33 constitutional amendments. Twenty-seven of those amendments were eventually ratified and became part of the Constitution. Six failed after being sent to the states. Here's the scoop on those six that didn't make the grade.


1. House Size

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"Article the First" may sound a bit Yoda-esque, but it was actually the first provision in the original proposal for the Bill of Rights. The amendment, which the first Congress approved in September 1789, basically provided a way to regulate the expansion of the House of Representatives as the country grew. Among other provisions, the amendment stated that after the House grew beyond 200 members, there would be no more than one Representative for every 50,000 citizens.

Eleven states ratified the amendment between 1789 and 1792, but it never got the three-quarters majority of state support needed for ratification. Although the amendment is still technically eligible for ratification, it seems unnecessary now. Given the current U.S. population, if we went with the maximum ratio of one Representative for every 50,000 people, the House would balloon to over 5,000 Congressmen, which would make finding airtime for campaign commercials nearly impossible.


2. Gifts From Abroad

The Titles of Nobility amendment got the thumbs-up from the 11th Congress in 1810 but failed to gain the requisite traction with the states. The amendment was pretty straightforward; it stated that any U.S. citizen who accepted a title of nobility or honor from a foreign power would cease to be an American citizen and would no longer be eligible to hold an American office. Accepting a gift from a foreign power without Congress' permission would also cost the recipient his citizenship.

Congress overwhelmingly approved this amendment, which seemed aimed at divorcing the U.S. from the allure of the European aristocracy, and twelve states ratified the amendment. However, five states weren't so keen on it, so the amendment never became part of the Constitution. Because there was no clause in the amendment that set a deadline for ratification, it's still technically fair game to add to the Constitution if three-quarters of the states ratify it.


3. "Persons Held to Labor or Service"

The Corwin Amendment made it through Congress in 1861, so you can probably guess what hot-button issue it tackled. The amendment, which was proposed by Ohio Representative Thomas Corwin, read, "No amendment shall be made to the Constitution which will authorize or give to Congress the power to abolish or interfere, within any State, with the domestic institutions thereof, including that of persons held to labor or service by the laws of said State."

While the language never mentions slavery directly, it's pretty clear who the "persons held to labor or service by the laws of said State" are. When Congress approved the amendment in March 1861, it was basically the legislature's last-gasp attempt at avoiding the Civil War. Abraham Lincoln even contacted states' governors in an attempt to get their support for the amendment.

Obviously, it didn't work. The Civil War broke out just a month after Congress approved the amendment, and in the end only three states ratified the measure. Like the Title of Nobility amendment, though, it's technically still fair game for ratification.


4. Child Labor

The Child Labor Amendment got Congressional approval in 1924. Proposed by Ohio Representative Israel Moore Foster, the amendment sought to curb some of the era's horrifying child labor practices by giving Congress the exclusive power to "limit, regulate, and prohibit the labor of persons under eighteen years of age."

As the time, there seemed to be a real need for better child labor regulation. The workforce of 10-to-16-year-olds had ballooned to over two million kids, and many of them weren't doing light work like mowing lawns and delivering newspapers. Twenty-eight states ratified the amendment during the 1920s and 1930s, but it never got the necessary three-quarters vote.

You might have noticed, though, that your 12-year-old didn't traipse off to a shift at the steel mill this morning. Thank FDR. In 1938 he signed the Fair Labor Standards Act, which nixed labor by children under 16 or hazardous work by those under 18. In 1941 the Supreme Court upheld these provisions, which effectively meant that the Child Labor Amendment wasn't necessary anymore. Like the others, it's still technically pending ratification, though.


5. Equality Now

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The Equal Rights Amendment is another pretty straightforward measure. Its key section read, "Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex." The idea for a similar amendment had been kicking around for decades, but it didn't gain real traction until the early 1970s, when NOW ramped up its picketing efforts and the national Women's Strike for Equality in August 1970 drew greater attention to the need for women's rights.

The debate around the amendment was particularly thorny. Some critics worried that the amendment would make women eligible for the draft and to serve in combat duty, while many working class women's groups were concerned that the amendment would nullify any of the protective labor laws that had been helping women in industrial fields.

Congress approved the amendment in 1972, but unlike the previous failed amendments, this one had a time limit for its ratification. The original deadline for ratification was in 1979, and even after Congress pushed back the cutoff date to June 1982, only 35 of the required 38 states ratified the amendment. The amendment isn't totally dead, though; a Congressman has reintroduced it every year since the original 1982 deadline, most recently New York Representative Carolyn B. Maloney last July.


6. D.C. Statehood

(http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/taxation-representation.jpg)

The District of Columbia Voting Rights Amendment would have made all those D.C. "Taxation without Representation" license plates a thing of the past. In 1978 the 96th Congress approved an amendment that would have repealed the 23rd Amendment – which gives D.C. its Electoral College votes – and instead given the citizens of the District full congressional representation and the same ability to vote in national elections.

To an impartial observer, giving D.C.'s 600,000 citizens congressional representation may sound like a fair idea. The states weren't so crazy about the notion, though. Some argued that a single city shouldn't be given two seats in the Senate, while others claimed that giving D.C. representation was tantamount to presenting the Democratic Party with a gift of two free Senate seats. Proponents counter that the District's population is actually larger than Wyoming's, and nobody's trying to swipe the Cowboy State's senators.

When the amendment expired in 1985, only 16 states had ratified it, leaving it well short of the 38 ratifications it needed. Congress frequently hears suggestions for new D.C. voting amendments, though, including ones that would give the District a seat in the House while withholding Senate representation.

*********************************************************************************
If you're a huge fan of one of these amendments that floundered, don't despair; these things can take some time. The 27th Amendment, which states that changes to congressional pay can't take effect until the next term starts, got congressional approval in 1789 along with the rest of the Bill of Rights. It was over 202 years later when the states finally ratified it in 1992.

                     (http://lnimage.fridaymoviez.com/2/322/57649/The-Madness-of-King-George.jpg)


....that England's King James I gave us Jamestown and the King James Bible. But historians have long suspected he also gave his descendant King George III an inherited case of madness.

Best known from the 1994 movie, The Madness of King George, the bouts of insanity afflicting George III, the bad guy in the American Revolution, have long been blamed on his predecessor, James. James was a bit odd, and porphyria, an inherited affliction of the nervous system and skin linked to unusual behavior in some cases, has long been suspected as the culprit.

But historians and porphyria experts who have looked through the medical letters surrounding King James have run the monarch's symptoms through diagnostic software and suggest another syndrome better explains the oddness of King James I.

"He certainly was an unusual chap," says archaeologist-physician Timothy Peters of the United Kingdom's University of Birmingham. He's the lead author on the History of Psychiatry journal report that takes a closer look at the "recurrent disputes" surrounding the afflictions, possibly inherited, of an "interesting but enigmatic king."

James I ascended the Scottish throne in 1567 and the English one in 1603, the age of Shakespeare, Galileo and Sir Walter Raleigh. Interesting times, and King James survived the execution of his mother, Mary, Queen of Scots, the murder or execution of at least three of the aristocrats appointed to raise him as a child, and a thwarted plot to blow him up along with Parliament, still celebrated with fireworks in England. He inveighed against tobacco ("this vile custom"), wrote poetry and in 1606 chartered England's first permanent North American colony, Jamestown.

What finally ended his reign was a stroke in 1625. "It is generally agreed that the last five years of his life were accompanied by intellectual deterioration," says the History of Psychiatrystudy. Born prematurely, James rarely impressed his contemporaries as a physical specimen, who saw him as feeble, "clumsy in riding and hunting," according to one historian, suffering from itchy skin, gout and abdominal pain. English psychiatrist Ida Macalpine,concluded in 1968 that all those symptoms added up to a mild case of porphyria — a rare family of inherited afflictions that affects about 200,000 people in the U.S. today caused by a buildup of compounds called "porphyrins" in the bloodstream.

Macalpine's diagnosis of James I, and a similar one she made for Mary, Queen of Scots, along with her determination of a severe case affecting King George III, inspired the 1994 movie. She also swayed popular thinking about "Porphyria — A Royal Malady," as she titled one of her books.

The only problem is that royal diagnosis seems a bit odd itself. "To our surprise, the more we look the less we see any signs of porphyria," says Peters, who regularly treated porphyria patients in his career as a physician. Looking at James I, the "very outstanding medical notes" of the royal physician written in 1623 detail a series of kidney problems, and his autopsy ("they suspected he was poisoned," Peters says) reports kidney stones in his shriveled left kidney, the site of recurrent abdominal pain that had been key to the porphyria diagnosis.

Kidney stones aren't a porphyria symptom. Popping James I's symptoms into a diagnostic computer program called SimulConsult, Peters and his colleagues report no mention of porphyria. Instead, it yields a diagnosis of an even rarer disorder called mild Lesch-Nyhan syndrome, inherited from a maternal genetic defect.

The diagnosis seems reasonable, says physician Hyder Jinnah of the Emory University School of Medicine, an expert on the rare disorder, who was not part of the study. "Problems related to gout and kidney stones may emerge later in life, because they take time to develop," he says by e-mail, in mild cases of the syndrome.

More likely, mild Lesch-Nyhan syndrome along with more mundane problems of a man who was separated from his mother at 11 months and drank too much besides, could better explain the odd behavior of James I in his declining years. (His problems were nothing like George III's, who at some points ran around his palace naked attempting outrages against the ladies of the court, according to a physician's notes.)

If true, and only genetic testing of some sort of remains would confirm mild Lesch-Nyhan syndrome, a genetic ailment passed down by maternal genes would rule James I out as the source, six generations removed, of the celebrated madness of his distant descendant, King George III. "Most people in medicine now accept that porphyria wasn't likely the culprit for King George's troubles," Peters says. "But it has become a popular view, where King James' diagnosis just further argues against it."

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/columnist/vergano/story/2012-08-18/king-james-madness-medical-mystery/57122438/1

Well worth watching both:

Did You Know: 2010






Did You Know 3.0 (Officially updated for 2012) HD [/font] [/size]

         (http://www.slate.com/content/dam/slate/blogs/future_tense/2012/09/19/how_to_choose_a_pin_code_avoid_birth_date_1234_or_8068/148238888.jpg.CROP.rectangle3-large.jpg)

....that:

"...how easy would it be for a thief to guess your four-digit PIN? If he were forced to guess randomly, his odds of getting the correct number would be one in 10,000—or, if he has three tries, one in 3,333. But if you were careless enough to choose your birth date, a year in the 1900s, or an obvious numerical sequence, his chances go up. Way up.

Researchers at the data analysis firm Data Genetics have found that the three most popular combinations—"1234," "1111," and "0000"—account for close to 20 percent of all four-digit passwords. Meanwhile, every four-digit combination that starts with "19" ranks above the 80th percentile in popularity, with those in the late—er, upper—1900s coming in the highest. Also quite common are MM/DD combinations—those in which the first two digits are between "01" and "12" and the last two are between "01" and "31." So choosing your birthday, your birth year, or a number that might be a lot of other people's birthday or birth year makes your password significantly easier to guess.

On the other end of the scale, the least popular combination—8068—appears less than 0.001 percent of the time. (Although, as Data Genetics acknowledges, you probably shouldn't go out and choose "8068" now that this is public information.) Rounding out the bottom five are "8093," "9629," "6835," and "7637," which all nearly as rare.

Data Genetics came up with the numbers by analyzing a database of 3.4 million stolen passwords that have been made public over the years. Most of these are passwords for websites. But by looking specifically at those that comprise exactly four characters, all of which are numerals, the researchers figured they could get a decent proxy for ATM PINs as well.

One would hope, of course, that fewer people choose "1234" to protect their checking accounts than to log in to random websites. But Data Genetics found some circumstantial evidence to support its hypothesis that there are some strong correlations between the two. For instance, the combination "2580" was the 22nd-most popular in their data set. Why so high? Probably because those four numbers appear in a single column from top to bottom on a phone or ATM keypad. On most computer keyboards, they do not.

Some other interesting anedcotes from the data:

Half of all passwords are among the 426 most popular (out of 10,000 total).

People prefer even numbers to odd, so "2468" ranks higher than "1357."
Far more passwords start with "1" than any other number. In a distant second and third are "0" and "2."
Among seven-digit passwords, the fourth-most popular is "8675309," which should ring familiar to fans of '80s music.

The 17th-most popular 10-digit password is "3141592654."

Two-digit sequences with large numerical gaps, such as "29" and "37," are found often among the least popular passwords.
For those who get a kick out of these sorts of things, Data Genetics' blog post is worth perusing in full. Just keep in mind that guessing isn't the only way thieves can swipe your PIN or password. So "8068" alone—or whatever the equivalent is now that people know about "8068"—won't protect you from ATM skimmers or hackers who breach the databases of sites that don't encrypt users' passwords."


You better hurry up before 8068 becomes more popular.  Fortunately, I use numbers I have made up in my mind, like λ~σ>.

"But goofball Warph," you say, "if you made them up in your mind, they won't be reflected on the keypads at an ATM."

Thought of that, smart aleck.  I translate my numbers into what I call quotidian digits.  I then reverse them, add them all up, then take that single number, multiply it by 757, lop off the last digit of that figure, and voilá!  I  have my ATM pin number.

Which is 1234.  Can't figure out how that happens for the life of me... Warph

....that legendary CIA operative, Edwin P. Wilson, who had lived the high life as a spy and was wrongly branded a traitor for selling weapons to Libya dies at the age of 84.

                   (http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/09/22/article-0-15268664000005DC-590_634x286.jpg)
          Traitor: Ex-CIA agent Edwin Wilson (center, leaving federal court on Jan. 22, 1983) was branded a traitor
           and convicted of shipping arms to Libya but the conviction was later overturned

...Wilson worked under non-official cover for the CIA

...The U.S. Government claimed he enjoyed a jet-setting lifestyle and profited from selling weapons to Libya, all off tax payer money

...He was convicted of shipping arms to Libya in 1983 and served 22 years in prison before his conviction was overturned
Wilson was released from prison in 2004

...The disgraced agent died in Seattle on September 10 from complications from a heart valve replacement surgery


Wilson, A sophisticated spy who was accused of living the high life off the U.S. Government's dime with a bevy of mistresses, luxurious real estate holdings and a high profile social life has died at the age of 84.

Wilson spent his career at the agency setting up front companies abroad for the CIA and posing as a rich American businessman - which allowed him to socialize among the glitterati in addition to amassing real estate holdings across the U.S. and Europe in addition to a villa in Tripoli, Libya and houses in Lebanon and Mexico.

The intelligence officer, who was married, flaunted his jet setting lifestyle and even entertained a mistress, who he dubbed his 'Wonder Woman,' gifting her with posh cadeaux like mink coats and fine jewelry.

His lifestyle came under scrutiny but he allegedly was able to stave off inquiries from the IRS by couching his earnings as a matter of national security

But the good life came to an end when he was convicted in 1983 for shipping 20 tons of C-4 plastic explosives to Libya in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and for other crimes, including attempted murder and criminal solicitation.

At trial, he said he did it to ingratiate himself with the Libyan government at the CIA's request.
Wilson was sentenced to 52 years in prison for the crimes.

A federal judge threw out his conviction in 2003, saying the government failed to correct information about Wilson's service to the CIA that it admitted internally was false.

He served 22 years in prison until he was released in 2004. He then moved to Edmonds, Washington, north of Seattle, to live with his brother.

While in prison, he sought to prove his innocence by using the Freedom of Information Act to request government documents.
Even after he was released, the man once described as a 'death merchant' and 'terrorist' worked to clear his name.
'I can't think of one thing I did that I have any guilt about,' Wilson told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer in a 2006 interview.

'I didn't hurt anybody. I didn't get anyone killed.'

Wilson filed a civil lawsuit against seven former federal prosecutors and a former executive director of the CIA, but a judge in Houston dismissed the case in 2007.

Wilson was born May 3, 1928, to a farming family in Nampa, Idaho. He worked as a merchant seaman, and earned a psychology degree from the University of Portland in 1953.

He joined the Marines and fought in the last days of the Korean War, according to his death notice. He went to work for the Central Intelligence Agency in 1955 after being discharged from the Marines.

After leaving the CIA in 1971, he made millions in the arms trade and bought a sprawling farm in a tony county of Northern Virginia, where he entertained generals, CIA officials and congressmen, according to a 2004 Washington Post article.

'I had a couple of villas that were very, very nice,' he told the Washington Post at the time. 'I had Pakistani houseboys and I had Libyans working for me, typing up proposals in Arabic.'

In 1982, he was lured out of hiding in Libya and brought to New York for arrest. A federal court in Virginia convicted him of exporting firearms to Libya without permission and sentenced him to 10 years.

He was convicted in Texas in 1983, receiving a 17-year sentence for similar crimes. A New York court sentenced him to 25 years, to run consecutively with the Texas and Virginia sentences, for attempted murder, criminal solicitation and other charges involving claims that Wilson conspired behind bars to have witnesses and prosecutors killed.

.....that, maybe, just maybe, the body of now-legendary Teamsters leader Jimmy Hoffa, whose final resting place has long been a mystery, may finally have been found... in a Detroit driveway.

"Hoffa was last seen on July 30, 1975, outside a suburban Detroit restaurant where he was supposed to meet with a New Jersey Teamsters boss and a Detroit Mafia captain. His body has not been found despite a number of searches over the years."

http://www.wrcbtv.com/story/19650276/police-checking-out-hoffa-tip-in-detroit-suburb

"Innumerable theories about the demise of the union boss have surfaced over time. Among them: He was entombed in concrete at Giants Stadium in New Jersey, ground up and thrown in a Florida swamp or obliterated in a mob-owned fat-rendering plant. The search has continued under a backyard pool north of Detroit in 2003, under the floor of a Detroit home in 2004 and at a horse farm northwest of Detroit in 2006."

Note to self: Never meet with a Detroit Mafia "captain."  Stick with commissioned AF officers.

Oh, and stay out of Detroit:

...that the Roman Empire and China's Han Dynasty are responsible for global warming.  

MSNBC and Al Gore investigating and Obuma WH plans to sue.  Just kidding.  Those clowns in the media and WH wouldn't know the difference between a hot street walker and global warming... especially Gore.

It seems like every time you click a link, someone or something new is being blamed for what's supposed to be my fault.  (And yes, I take everything extremely personally.  Don't think I've forgotten that snub wednesday night at the debate... not one mention of my letter to the WH).

Now it turns out that the industrious (read: evil) Romans and Chinese were emitting noxious methane gases into the atmosphere long before anyone had been subjected to Earth Day!

"Centuries before the Industrial Revolution or the recognition of global warming, the ancient Roman and Chinese empires were already producing powerful greenhouse gases through their daily toil, according to a new study.
http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-humans-climate-change-20121004,0,2962982.story

"The burning of plant matter to cook food, clear cropland and process metals released millions of tons of methane gas into the atmosphere each year during several periods of pre-industrial history, according to the study, published Thursday in the journal Nature.  

"Although the quantity of methane produced back then pales in comparison with the emissions released today-- the total amount is roughly 70 times greater now-- the findings suggest that man's footprint on the climate is larger than previously realized. Until now, it was assumed by scientists that human activity began increasing greenhouse gas levels only after the year 1750."

"The quantities are much smaller, because there were fewer people on Earth," said study leader Celia Sapart, an atmospheric chemist at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. "But the amount of methane emitted per person was significant."

Did you read that?  Significant.  As is not insignificant.

Well, don't think Rome and Beijing won't hear about this.  If only they had remained sleepy do-nothings like those tree-kissing Phoenicians, and had the decency to disappear from the face of the earth altogether, we wouldn't be in half the mess we're in.  But noooooo.  They had to live on to make sports cars no one can afford and those damn iPads no one really needs.

Let's be frank: when all is said and done, and when all the latest new data is collated, the problem is always going to be people. Global warming is people.

So what are we going to do about them?

....that Michelle Dresbold knows more about the presidential candidates than most people.

A handwriting expert... she was among 19 Americans to be accepted into the U.S. Secret Service Advanced Document Training Program.... Dresbold has helped resolve some of America's highest-profile crimes, as told in her book "Sex, Lies, and Handwriting" (michelledresbold.com).



Handwriting expert provides candidates' signature moment

http://www.dailyworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012209190304


I asked her to analyze the signatures of President Obama and Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney.

                  (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5d/Obama_healthcare_signature.jpg/640px-Obama_healthcare_signature.jpg)

                               (http://www.mittromney.com/sites/default/files/Signature_2.jpg)

"Obama's overly large signature shows he likes attention and is a bit of an egotist, which is common among public figures," she said. "He does something unusual with the 'O' and 'b' in his last name."

"Whether Obama does it consciously or subconsciously, by intersecting his 'O' and his 'b,' he forms the Greek letter 'phi.'"

"Since ancient times, this symbol has represented the golden ratio, the ideal proportion. Obama is determined that things be balanced."

With the exception of the federal budget.

Dresbold shared another interesting observation: The style Obama uses for his signature is entirely different from his other handwriting.

"Whereas the rest of his handwriting is simple and direct, his signature is very flowery and hard to read. His signature reveals him to be a showman in public, but also shows him to be someone who conceals what he is really thinking."

Obama may be good at concealing what he is really thinking, but not nearly as good at that as his pals in the media are.

"Obama's regular handwriting also shows him to be very strategic and pragmatic — a tough cookie. He rules his life by what he thinks and believes, not by emotion."

Which is interesting. Many people think Romney is more pragmatic and aloof than Obama, but Romney's handwriting shows that he is driven by his feelings and desires.

"Romney's signature leans heavily to the right. This reveals a person who is more emotional and works more out of passion and from the heart."

Though Romney is also very analytical.

"His 'M' is very pointed and angular. This suggests he is very analytical and likes to investigate and analyze to know the answers. Angular people can be very tough, too."

And he's goal-oriented.

"His 't's' are flying off the stems. This shows that he is always looking for that high, unattainable goal."

Such as not only becoming president of the United States but fixing the mess we are in?

"In his signature, he makes a cross between his 't' and his 'R.' This means religion and the meaning of life are very important to him. His squashed 'e' suggests he doesn't always listen to others."

That is interesting. Romney is perceived to be a good listener, but his handwriting suggests he is not. Dresbold told me Obama's handwriting suggests he is a good listener, but his policies, which remain left of center despite the 2010 elections, show that he is not.

Like Obama's signature, Romney's shows he likes to conceal what he is thinking.

"The way his 'e' and 'y' run together shows that he likes to skip over things and be ambiguous. He likes to give himself some wiggle room, so he doesn't make things as clear as they could be."

Such as his plan to rein in runaway spending, fix the deficit and grow the economy in a manner that placates both the left and right in our highly divided country?

I'm not running for president and even I am wise enough to keep such thoughts to myself.

Unlike Obama, whose handwriting shows that he excels at language and communication, Romney's handwriting shows he is much better at math.

Though that doesn't appear to be a skill used much in Washington anymore.

In any event, the handwriting of both fellows reveals them to be interesting, intelligent people. Maybe handwriting analysis isn't the best way to judge a candidate.

But it reveals one thing worth noting: Of the two candidates, Romney is more hopeful than Obama.

"Before Obama was president, his handwriting traveled sharply uphill," says Dresbold. "This means he was upbeat and optimistic. Now, however, his signature has flattened. His optimism is not so great as it once was."

=======================================================================================

You can also check her handwriting analysis on "Casey Anthony" at: 
http://en.paperblog.com/guest-blogger-handwriting-analyst-michelle-dresbold-38648/

....that the melody for the Star Spangled Banner was taken from a song in homage to drinking.

The melody that would be borrowed for the Star Spangled Banner was extremely popular and well known at the time the future U.S. national anthem was penned.  Around the time the Star Spangled Banner's lyrics were written, this melody was being used for at least 84 popular songs in the United States alone, including Adams and Liberty – The Boston Patriotic Song and the subsequent tune Jefferson and Liberty, written after Jefferson was elected President.

The original song that used the melody was To Anacreon in Heaven, written sometime between 1760 and the late 1770s, expounding on the virtues of wine.  The song itself was first publicly published in The Vocal Magazine in 1778 in London.  The music was composed by John Stafford Smith and the lyrics are thought to have been written by Ralph Tomlinson, president of the Anacreon Society, which was a popular gentleman's club in London whose membership were dedicated to "wit, harmony, and the god of wine".  The society chose the famed Greek poet Anacreon as their "patron saint" as he was particularly known for composing odes to merrymaking, women, and wine, among the Anacreon Society's favorite things.

The full lyrics to To Anacreon in Heaven are:
To Anacreon in Heav'n, where he sat in full glee,
A few Sons of Harmony sent a petition;
That he their Inspirer and Patron wou'd be;
When this answer arrived from the Jolly Old Grecian;
"Voice, Fiddle, and Flute,
No longer be mute,
I'll lend you my name and inspire you to boot,
And besides I'll instruct you like me, to intwine,
The Myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's Vine."

The news through Olympus immediately flew;
When Old Thunder pretended to give himself airs.
If these Mortals are suffered their scheme to pursue,
The Devil, a Goddess, will stay above stairs.
"Hark," already they cry,
"In transports of joy,
Away to the Sons of Anacreon we'll fly.
And besides I'll instruct you like me, to intwine,
The Myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's Vine.

The Yellow-Haired God and his nine lusty Maids,
From Helion's banks will incontinent flee,
Idalia will boast but of tenantless Shades,
And the bi-forked hill a mere desert will be.
My Thunder no fear on't,
Shall soon do it's errand,
And damme I'll swing the Ringleaders I warrant,
I'll trim the young dogs, for thus daring to twine,
The Myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's Vine."

Apollo rose up and said, "Pry'thee ne'er quarrel,
Good sing of the Gods with my Vot'ries below:
Your Thunder is useless" — then showing his laurel,
Cry'd "Sic evitable fulmen" you know!
"Then over each head
My laurels I'll spread
So my sons from your Crackers no mischief shall dread,
While snug in their clubroom, they jovially twine,
The Myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's Vine.'

Next Momus got up with his risible Phiz
And swore with Apollo he'd cheerfully join —
'The full tide of Harmony still shall be his,
But the Song, and the Catch, and the Laugh,
shall be mine.
Then Jove be not jealous
Of these honest fellows,"
Cry'd Jove, "We relent since the truth you now tell us;
And swear by Old Styx, that they long shall intwine,
The Myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's Vine."

Ye Sons of Anacreon then join hand in hand;
Preserve Unanimity, Friendship, and Love!
'Tis yours to support what's so happily plann'd;
You've the sanction of Gods, and the Fiat of Jove.
While thus we agree,
Our toast let it be:
"May our Club flourish Happy, United, and Free!
And long may the Sons of Anacreon intwine,
The Myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's Vine.

The tune to this little ditty became wildly popular and was adapted to a variety of other lyrics, as was the practice at the time before the RIAA became involved with music.  The lyrics that ultimately became the most historic to use the tune were those written by attorney Francis Scott Key while he sat on a British ship at a distance from the Battle of Fort McHenry during the War of 1812 (specifically the battle took place from September 13-14, 1814).

(http://www.todayifoundout.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/star-spangled-banner-flag.jpg)
"This is the actual Flag that flew over Fort McHenry on the morning of
Sept. 14, 1814, helping to inspire the Star Spangle Banner"

Key was a temporary prisoner aboard a British ship, along with his companion Colonel John Stuart Skinner, as they'd been sent there to try to secure the release of a few Americans, including an American doctor being held by the British, Dr. William Beanes. During dinner with Vice Admiral Alexander Cochrane, Rear Admiral Sir George Cockburn, and Major General Robert Ross, Key and Skinner plead the case for the release of the prisoners, which they eventually got the British to do in the case of the elderly Dr. Beanes.  However, Key and Skinner were held for the duration of the battle due to the fact that they'd had occasion to observe the strength and apparent strategy of the British forces.  So they were not to be released until after the battle was over and were held on a ship about four miles from the battle front.

Key wrote some of the lyrics during his stay on the British prisoner ship, after seeing the "flag was still there".  The rest he finished up at the Indian Queen Hotel when he was released in Baltimore two days after the battle.  The lyrics were first published in the Baltimore Patriot and The American newspapers on September 20, 1814 under the title Defence of Fort McHenry. It was quickly picked up by fifteen other newspapers in the United States and its popularity grew from there.  It was first published under the name "Star Spangled Banner" when Thomas Carr started selling the lyrics and sheet music together at his music shop in Baltimore under that title.

It wouldn't be until March 3, 1931, though, that President Herbert Hoover would officially sign a Congressional resolution into law making the Star Spangled Banner the United States' national anthem.  Before this, Hail, Columbia ("Columbia" being an alternate name for America common in the 18th century particularly) and My Country, 'Tis of Thee were often more popularly used in that role.


Facts:

--The Star Spangled Banner wasn't the first time Key had used the To Anacreon in Heaven melody for a poem of his. He also used it in When the Warrior Returns written in 1805, which the Star Spangled Banner lyrics borrowed heavily from.

--Putting new lyrics to an already existing melody or piece of music is known as a contrafactum.  Another popular contrafactum that has survived to today is the ever popular Alphabet Song, which borrowed its melody from Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.

--Among other things, the Anacreon Society was well known for putting on concerts where the members would perform. These were well attended events; Joseph Haydn himself is known to have attended one of their performances in 1791.

--Francis Scott Key was the prosecuting attorney at the trial of Richard Lawrence after he attempted to assassinate President Andrew Jackson.  Read more about this assassination attempt here: President Andrew Jackson Beats Richard Lawrence with a Cane After Lawrence Attempts to Murder Him.  http://frogstorm.com/?p=184

--Key's son, Philip Barton Key II, was murdered by U.S. Congressman Daniel Sickles, who got off Scot Free. Sickles had discovered that Philip Key was having an affair with Sickles' wife.

--My Country, 'Tis of Thee's melody is from God Save the Queen/King.  The lyrics for My Country, 'Tis of Thee were by Samuel Francis Smith who wrote them in about half an hour when a friend at Andover Theological Seminary asked him to translate some German songs' lyrics to English.  One such composition, Muzio Clementi's Symphony No. 3, included the theme to God Save the Queen/King. When looking over it, Smith was inspired to write his own lyrics to the melody.

--My Country, 'Tis of Thee was first performed by children on July 4, 1831 at an Independence Day celebration in Boston.

--The music for Hail, Columbia was composed in 1789 by Philip Phile for the inauguration of George Washington.  Lyrics were later added in 1798 by Joseph Hopkinson.

--Today Hail, Columbia is commonly used as the walk-up music for the Vice-President of the United States.  Hail to the Chief is used for the President.

--The first known instance of the Star Spangled Banner being played at a Major League Baseball game is somewhat up for debate.  It is conjectured by some that it was during the opening day ceremonies in a game in Philadelphia in 1897 and then again in 1898 at the Polo Grounds.  Whether this is true or not, the first unequivocally true instance of the Star Spangled Banner being played at a Major League Baseball game was during the 1918 World Series between the Boston Red Sox and the Chicago Cubs during the 7th inning stretch. This song was played due to the United States' involvement in WWI and the "Work or Fight" edict that had shortened the baseball season, resulting in the World Series being played in September.  Despite this early performance, it wouldn't become common for the Star Spangled Banner to be played at Major League Baseball games until the U.S. became involved in WWII.

--Boston won the 1918 World Series 4 games to 2, despite only scoring 9 runs the whole series.  That is still a record for the fewest runs scored by a team that won the World Series.  It would be 86 years until the Red Sox would win another.  The Cubs are still amidst their World Series drought, with their last such championship being in 1908.  The two teams wouldn't play again until June 10, 2005 during an interleague series in Chicago.

--Believe it or not, a major push for the United States to adopt an official national anthem was partially spurred by Ripley's Believe It or Not!  On November 3, 1929 Ripley included in a cartoon the text, "Believe It or Not, America has no national anthem."  Momentum for an official anthem grew and, as stated above, on March 3, 1931 President Herbert Hoover officially signed a Congressional resolution into law making the Star Spangled Banner the United States' national anthem.

--The Star Spangled Banner had previously been promoted by President Woodrow Wilson when in 1916 he ordered it should be played at various military ceremonies.

--In the original version of the Star Spangled Banner, the third line is different than what is sung today.  Today it's "Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight..."  Originally it was, "Whose bright stars and broad stripes, through the clouds of the fight..."

--The actual flag flown over Fort McHenry on the morning of September 14, 1814 is on display in the National Museum of American History.  It has 15 stars and 15 stripes.

--While today only the first stanza of the Star Spangled Banner is sung, it actually has three more, including one suggesting the "In God We Trust" motto (fourth stanza) for the United States, something that didn't become official until 1956.  

The full four stanza's are as follows:
O say can you see by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave,
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner, O! long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country, should leave us no more?
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave,
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

O thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation.
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the Heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

....that:

(http://www.todayifoundout.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/10-Interesting-4th-Of-July-Facts-copy.jpg)

....that Color insertion and correction makes a lot of difference in making these Black and White images look current and more expressive.

The video is a collection of works from more than 10 Photoshop artists.

It features photos of people that made a difference in history, such as Lincoln, Einstein, Darwin, or Armstrong. Some of the pictures are 30-40 years old, and it is quite unexpected to see them in this new light, making those great men caught on camera seem more approachable.

Other well-known photographs are included in this compilation, V-J Day in Times Square being just one of them.

                   

                       (https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BEy9rL_CQAAS9HH.jpg)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BEykpcACUAA_WYp.jpg)

(http://www.frugal-cafe.com/public_html/frugal-blog/frugal-cafe-blogzone/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/sen-john-mccain-right-lane-must-turn-right.jpg)
                      "Doesn't know his left from his right!"

Hey, Mayor Bloomberg, instead of micro-focusing on and banning big sodas and Styrofoam containers and loud ear buds and food donations to the homeless, how about banning illiteracy in New York City, you Clown?


NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — It's an education bombshell.

Nearly 80 percent of New York City high school graduates need to relearn basic skills before they can enter the City University's community college system.

The number of kids behind the 8-ball is the highest in years, CBS 2′s Marcia Kramer reported Thursday.

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2013/03/07/officials-most-nyc-high-school-grads-need-remedial-help-before-entering-cuny-community-colleges/

...that a record 89,304,000 Americans 'Not in Labor Force' -- 296,000 Fewer Employed Since January

89,304,000 People 'Out Of WORK' Under Obuma!

The number of Americans designated as "not in the labor force" in February was 89,304,000, a record high, up from 89,008,000 in January, according to the Department of Labor. This means that the number of Americans not in the labor force increased 296,000 between January and February.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) labels people who are unemployed and no longer looking for work as "not in the labor force," including people who have retired on schedule, taken early retirement, or simply given up looking for work.
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm

The increase marks the second month in a row, after rising in January from 88.8 million in December.  Those not in the labor force had declined in December from 88.9 million in November.

Can you say, "Lenin, Stalin, Mao, Castro, Chevas, Kim Il-sung, Kim Jong-il, Kim Jong un" ???

Warph,
I guess all those people out of work must be taking up hunting to feed their families. I guess that's the reason ammo is almost non existent if you want to buy any and if you do find it you have to mortgage the home to buy it.
My buddy from Sweetwater, Tx went to the gun show today at their annual rattle snake round-up. A brick of 500 rounds of Wildcat .22 LR ammo was selling for $85. Wildcat used to be known as cheaper ammo. .223 ammo was a dollar per bullet unless you buy that dirty shooting, steel cased, Russian made, Wolf brand---then it's only 80 cents a pop. Who would have ever guessed that lead would become a precious metal to invest in.

Quote from: jarhead on March 08, 2013, 04:00:23 PM

Who would have ever guessed that lead would become a precious metal to invest in.

I told you that a long time ago, but you wouldn't listen to me. You never listen to me even though you have found out time after time that I am always right in what I tell you.

Yea Sarge---but you always got the goofy look'n smile on your face and I never know if you're just joshing me or being a straight shooter.

Nuclear Weapons

....that WAR is not healthy for children and other living beings! Yet there are some 20,000 active nuclear weapons that can be fired within a moment's notice. Although about 45,000 nuclear weapons have been decommissioned they have only been partly dismantled and still pose a serious threat. This is a list of countries with the most weapons of mass destruction:
Rank Country   Weapons
1       Russia      13,000
2       U. S.          9,400
3       France          300
4       China            240
5       U. K.            185
6       Israel            100
7       India              70
8       Pakistan          65
9       North Korea     ??

The very first bomb that the Allies dropped on Berlin in World War II killed the only elephant in the Berlin Zoo, it is said. The NATO attack on Serbia in 1999 (the Kosovo war) killed more animals than people. "Smart" weapons, such the Tomahawk missile is supposed to hit a postage stamp at 300km or more (200 miles or more). But only two out of thirteen actually hit the target. One skimmed over the house of a small farmer a few miles off target, straight up a track, through bushes, and exploded in the farmer's field, killing seven sheep, one cow and a goat. The farmer kept the missile nosecone as a souvenir.

To err is human.  To really mess things up you need a computer:

On 5 October 1960 an early-warning system warned the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) of a massive Soviet nuclear missile strike approaching the United States. What happened is that a fault in a computer system had removed two zeros from the radar's ranging components, detecting the missile attack at 4 000km (2,500 miles) away. The radar was actually detecting a reflection from the moon, located 400 000km (250,000 miles) away.
On 3 June 1980 a massive Soviet missile attack was again registered by computers. 100 nuclear-armed B-52s were immediately put on alert. A computer fault was detected in time, but three days later the same error occurred and again the bombers were put on alert. The problem was later traced to the failure of an integrated circuit in a computer, which was producing random digits representing the number of missiles detected.

On 10 January 1984, Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming, recorded a message that one of its Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles was about to launch from its silo due to a computer malfunction. To prevent the possible launch, an armoured car was parked on top of the silo.

The history of nuclear weapon accidents is as old as their introduction:

The US Department of Defence (DoD) first published a list of nuclear weapon accidents in 1968 which detailed 13 serious nuclear weapon accidents between 1950-1968. An updated list released in 1980 catalogued 32 accidents. At the same time, documents released by the Navy under the Freedom of Information Act cited 381 nuclear weapon incidents between 1965 and 1977.

A number of nuclear cases involve ships or submarines colliding at sea or, in some cases, submarine nuclear power units becoming unstable and the subs having to be abandoned. According to Greenpeace No Nukes there have been more than 120 submarine accidents since 1956. The most recent incident, in August 2000, was the loss of the Russian nuclear submarine Kursk in the Barents Sea. The Kursk is the seventh nuclear submarine lost, five of them Russian, two American. There are 92 known cases of nuclear bombs lost at sea.

The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty was established in 1968, yet there are more than 23,000 nuclear weapons ready for firing.

Nuclear terms:[/b]
Nuceflash: any accidental or unauthorised incident involving a possible detonation of a nuclear weapon.

Broken Arrow: the seizure, theft, loss or accidental detonation of a nuclear weapon or component other than war risk.

Bent Spear: any significant nuclear weapon incidents other than accidents or war risk detonations.

Dull Sword: a nuclear weapon incident other than "significant" incidents.

Faded Giant: any nuclear reactor or radiological accidents involving equipment used or in custody of the Navy.

When bombs started falling in Belgrade in 1999, most of the pregnant animals in the zoo aborted their young or delivered prematurely. The bombs hit out power and water supplies, leaving the sea lions and polar bears to suffer from exposure.
Prince, a 300kg (660 lb) Bengal tiger was so disturbed that he began chewing off his own paws.

...that Sen. Rand Paul won the annual CPAC straw poll,
backed by a youthful, libertarian-leaning group
of activists. Sen. Marco Rubio came in a very close
second.

Paul got 25 percent of the vote to Rubio's 23 percent,
which pollster Tony Fabrizio said was a "virtual tie."


Paul later tweeted:

(https://si0.twimg.com/profile_images/1207848284/480px-Rand_Paul_by_Gage_Skidmore_10-11-10_normal.jpg)        
Senator Rand Paul        ✔ @SenRandPaul  
It's humbling to win the #CPAC2013 straw poll, an honor bestowed on Reagan.
I will continue to stand up for conservative values as he did.
10:42 PM - 16 Mar 13

Senators -- We Pay For Their Haircuts And Shoe Shines To The Tune Of Five Million Dollars

Public servants?  Free shoe shines and hair cuts on our dime.

(http://ts1.mm.bing.net/th?id=H.4609553145267600&pid=1.7)

Senator Dodd
(http://americanvisionnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/dodd-hair-cut.jpg)

....that the barbershop of the U.S. Senate has run deficits of approximately $350,000 a year for each of the last 15 years. So Senate sergeant at arms Terry Gainer has decided to try out a new model, one that has looked rather unfashionable during the Obama era: privatization.

Gainer has tried to trim Senate Hair Care Services for the past few years. Now the political climate troubling everyone else on Capitol Hill is allowing him to move faster than he anticipated towards privatizing it completely.

"I've accelerated my goal to get there through leveraging sequestration," Gainer explains. "The only real way we're going to change this thing around without pricing ourselves out of the market is by reducing the number of fulltime employees."

The sequestration's required spending cuts provide convenient cover. Gainer is offering early retirement to all eligible employees, hoping to replace them with independent contractors. Four employees have already accepted the offer, and they plan to retire in the next 60 days. Gainer likens these "buyouts" to those that corporations often make. He has no timeline for complete privatization, but is determined to see it through.

If previous efforts to end taxpayer funding of the Senate barbershop are any guide, it will take much longer than one might expect. According to a report from the Office of the Sergeant at Arms, Senator Paul Douglas (D-Ill.) spoke out against the federally funded barbershop back in 1951, suggesting that taxpayers need not pick up the tab for their legislators' haircuts. Arizona senator Carl Hayden quickly rejected Douglas's efforts, gaining support by arguing that the barbershop was an important institution passed down from the great statesmen who came before them.

http://www.weeklystandard.com/articles/supercuts_707691.html

....that the federal government's ongoing looting spree of Americans' hard-earned wealth is picking up speed in the retirement savings department, as new reports have emerged outlining a plan by the Obama Administration to regulate the amount of money Americans can receive from their own retirement savings accounts.  As reported by The Dollar Vigilante, the first step towards eventually seizing people's retirement accounts altogether appears to involve putting a cap on retirement annuities, with the federal government determining how much money individuals actually "need" from their own savings accounts.


A socialist slap in the face to millions of Americans who have spent their whole lives working hard and saving for retirement, the flagrantly unconstitutional plan comes from the mouth of a senior Obama Administration official who recently made it very clear how the federal government views the "wealthy."  If you make "too much" money, as determined by the federal government, Big Brother will simply siphon some of it off and redistribute it, or perhaps keep it for itself.

"Under current rules, some wealthy individuals are able to accumulate many millions of dollars in these accounts, substantially more than is needed to fund reasonable levels of retirement saving," explains a recent statement from the White House about the planned socialist takeover of Americans' retirement accounts.  "The budget would limit an individual's total balance across tax-preferred accounts to an amount sufficient to finance an annuity of not more than $205,000 per year in retirement, or about $3 million in 2013."


Take control of your retirement savings to protect it from Obuma seizure

So not only will American taxpayers have to deal with the current theft of their hard-earned wealth via the illicit federal income tax scam, the endless inflation-inducing printing of fiat currency by the private Federal Reserve, excessive property taxes, capital gains taxes, and death taxes, but they could also soon have to surrender to the corporate cabal their retirement accounts, should such accounts be determined to be in "excess." 

This is all, of course, a product of the Obama administration's openly socialistic policies, which are now bordering on full-fledged communism.

"If you manage to survive all the taxes and inflation, whatever remaining money you have left will be mostly gutted by the death tax," writes Jeff Berwick, Editor-in-Chief of The Dollar Vigilante, about the scam.  "This, of course, is the warm up for big confiscation of retirement account money later on ... a topic that has already been discussed openly in Congress."

Many are now recommending self-directed IRA accounts, including those dealing in precious metal investments, as a viable and more secure alternative to traditional retirement accounts like automated 401(k)s.  Another option is to purchase real estate with existing IRA accounts, including overseas real estate in countries that are far less prone to being plundered by the unscrupulous thieves running the American federal government.

Sources include:

http://dollarvigilante.com

http://www.usnews.com

http://www.wnd.com/2012/11/now-obama-wants-your-401k/