Happy Birthday, Tim!

Where's Al's Lockbox?

When Obama talked with Joe the plumber about sharing the wealth, I thought he misspoke and was referring to income instead of wealth. However, this little article on Weekly Standard online makes me wonder. Do you want the government to confiscate your 401K and manage it for you? I don't think so. We need the lock box and we need it now.

Remember, if you like babies, freedom, and would not like the government to take over your retirement accounts, vote McCain. I'm MamaD and I approve this message.

House Democrats recently invited Teresa Ghilarducci, a professor at the New School of Social Research, to testify before a subcommittee on her idea to eliminate the preferential tax treatment of the popular retirement plans. In place of 401(k) plans, she would have workers transfer their dough into government-created "guaranteed retirement accounts" for every worker. The government would deposit $600 (inflation indexed) every year into the GRAs. Each worker would also have to save 5 percent of pay into the accounts, to which the government would pay a measly 3 percent return. Rep. Jim McDermott, a Democrat from Washington and chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee's Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support, said that since "the savings rate isn't going up for the investment of $80 billion [in 401(k) tax breaks], we have to start to think about whether or not we want to continue to invest that $80 billion for a policy that's not generating what we now say it should."

Vote Life.

Bar Stool Economics

I found this on Doug Wilson's blog.

Bar Stool Economics

Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to $100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this:

The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.

The fifth would pay $1.

The sixth would pay $3.

The seventh would pay $7.

The eighth would pay $12.

The ninth would pay $18.

The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.

So, that's what they decided to do. The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the owner threw them a curve. 'Since you are all such good customers, he said, 'I'm going to reduce the cost of your daily beer by $20. Drinks for the ten now cost just $80.

The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so the first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free. But what about the other six men - the paying customers? How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his 'fair share?'

They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted that from everybody's share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each end up being paid to drink his beer. So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man's bill by roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay.

And so:

The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings).

The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33%savings).

The seventh now paid $5 instead of $7 (28%savings).

The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings).

The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings).

The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).

Each of the six was better off than before And the first four continued to drink for free. But once outside the restaurant, the men began to compare their savings.

'I only got a dollar out of the $20', declared the sixth man.

He pointed to the tenth man,' but he got $10!'

'Yeah, that's right', exclaimed the fifth man. 'I only saved a dollar, too. It's unfair that he got ten times more than I!'

'That's true!!' shouted the seventh man. 'Why should he get $10 back when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!'

'Wait a minute,' yelled the first four men in unison. 'We didn't get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!'

The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up.

The next night the tenth man didn't show up for drinks, so the nine sat down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. They didn't have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!

And that, boys and girls, journalists and college professors, is how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact, they might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.

David R. Kamerschen, Ph.D.

Professor of Economics, University of Georgia

For those who understand, no explanation is needed.

For those who do not understand, no explanation is possible.

On the Lighter Side

In mid-August, I was at the Bloomington Aquatic Center lounging by the pool and reading an Ikea catalog. I noticed a "text" contest and decided that I needed to learn how to "text". So, I entered the contest. It ended up being a "scavenger hunt" through the catalog where you would answer questions about a couch, or a desk, or a comforter. However, it turned into a never ending deal where they just kept asking me questions and I kept on answering at 20 cents for each item sent or received since we hadn't signed up for unlimited texting yet.
Anyhoo, I gave up at about $2 worth of texting and never thought about it again until last Thursday when I received a message from Ikea that they had to pull some more winners from their entries.
Lo and behold, I won the $1000 makeover. NOT! However, I did win a lovely $20 gift card which arrived on UPS express this afternoon and Mr. D and I will apply to the purchase of the bookshelf lamps that we hadn't gotten around to purchasing yet for our Billy bookshelves.

Wednesday, Mr. D and I got a quick bite to eat at Pei Wei. Here are our fortune cookies. He is about to enter a new and permanent relationship and I am about to have a change of luck. Hmmmmmmmm.

Obama and Abortion II

Obama and Abortion I

Spreading the Wealth Around

I've been thinking about Joe the Plumber and the "spread the wealth around" comment that Obama made and I realized something. I, too, am in favor of spreading the wealth around. In fact, I could argue that it is Biblical to spread the wealth around.

The issue isn't spreading the wealth around. The moral question is, "Whose wealth are you spreading around?"

The Bible tells us we are to spread the wealth around. Widows, orphans, needy people.

However, the Bible also tells us it is wrong to steal. If I take my money and give it to needy people, I have done a good thing. If I take your money and give it to needy people, I have stolen from you. Not so good. You get to decide what you do with your money.

Obama wants to spread Joe's wealth.
McCain wants Joe to spread his wealth.
There's a fundamental difference in the method.
The goal is the same.

Some things Joe can do with his hard earned money:

• Squander it
• Save it
• Buy a really, really big plasma TV
• Save for his kids college education
• Buy health care for his family
• Buy health care for his employees
• Buy a house, car, whatever
• Take a vacation
• Hire an extra employee or two
• Build a little office building for his business

Let's say Joe has a great year and makes $250,000. Under Obama's plan he would be taxed at 65%! What incentive would he have to make $250,000?

• Let's give Joe $50,000 in deductions so his taxable income is now $200,000.
• 65% (I'm told this is Obama's plan) of $200,000 is $130,000.
• Joe gets to keep $70,000 of his money under Obama's plan.
• Joe will have to buy his own health care. That's a minimum of $10,000 per year if he gets a crappy policy for his family.
• Now he has $60,000.
• Of course, being self-employeed he will have to pay his matching tax on the first $102,000 of income and since Joe makes $200,000 a year he will pay the max. About $7,650 extra.
• Now Joe has $52,350 and he hasn't spent a penny on anything for Joe.

This is not only wrong, this is foolish. Joe will probably have to lay off an employee or two. Joe will not be able to hire more employees. Joe will have trouble buying plungers for his business.

Soon Joe will fold his business and go on welfare. This will be good for Joe. The checks will come in regularly. He will get better health coverage.

So, my advice for Joe is to forget the part about buying the business and head straight for the welfare office.

Save yourself the trouble, Joe.

It's an Apple, Barack, not an ACORN!

Mickey Mouse for Obama?

According to this article, Mickey Mouse tried to register to vote. His application had an ACORN stamp. No! Impossible! Officials in Florida turned down his registration. Whew, cuz you never know about those Florida officials!

Obama and Small Businesses

Obama will not stop at the killing of babies. He is moving on to the destruction of the small business. As the wife of the owner of a small business of 25 years, I suggest to you young people out there that whatever you do, you do not start a business of your own. In fact, if you want great health benefits, lots of vacation time, annual cost of living pay raises, might I suggest a government job cuz you won't get that with a small business. If Obama gets in, you will, by force, share your wealth.

Obama: “It’s not that I want to punish your success, I just want to make sure that everybody that is behind you, that they have a chance for success too. I think that when you spread the wealth around, it’s good for everybody.”

Wealth
by luvnews

Two Choices: Life or Death

There are only two viable candidates in this election. One thinks it's okay to kill babies after they are born. A vote for anyone other than McCain is a vote for infanticide. Choose life.

Obama is a wicked, wicked man. People need to understand just how wicked he is. Anyone who thinks it's okay to kill a baby after it is born, is unfit to lead anything.

Here is an excerpt from an article about a debate Obama participated in that took place on the floor of the IL State Senate (as excerpted from a post by Jill Stanek). I have highlighted in blood red what I thought were the most telling aspects of this legislative debate.:

In 2001, he (IL state Sen. Patrick O'Malley) introduced three bills. SB1093 said if a doctor performing an abortion believed there was a likelihood the baby would survive, another physician must be present "to assess the child's viability and provide medical care." SB1094 gave the parents, or a state-appointed guardian, the right to sue to protect the child's rights. SB1095 simply said a baby alive after "complete expulsion or extraction from its mother" would be considered a "'person, 'human being,' 'child' and 'individual.'"

The bills dealt exclusively with born children. "This legislation was about preventing conduct that allowed infanticide to take place in the state of IL," O'Malley told me.

The Judiciary Committee approved the bills with Obama in opposition. On March 31, 2001, they came up on the IL senate floor. Only one member spoke against them: Obama.

"Nobody else said anything," O'Malley recalls. The official transcript validates this.

"Sen. O'Malley," Obama said near the beginning of the discussion, "the testimony during the committee indicated that one of the key concerns was -- is that there was a method of abortion, an induced abortion, where the -- the fetus or child, as -- as some might describe it, is still temporarily alive outside the womb."

Obama made three crucial concessions here: the legislation was about 1) a human being, who was 2) "alive" and 3) "outside the womb."

He also used an odd redundancy: "temporarily alive." Is there another type of human?

"And one of the concerns that came out in the testimony was the fact that they were not being properly cared for during that brief period of time that they were still living," Obama continued.

Here he made another crucial concession: The intention of the legislation was to make sure that 1) a human being, 2) alive and 3) outside the womb was 4) "properly cared for."

"Is that correct?" Obama asked O'Malley.

O'Malley tightened the logical knot. "(T)his bill suggests that appropriate steps be taken to treat that baby as a -- a citizen of the United States and afforded all the rights and protections it deserves under the Constitution of the United States," said O'Malley.

But to these specific temporarily-alive-outside-the-womb-human beings... Obama was not willing to concede any constitutional rights at all.

To explain his position, Obama came up with yet another term to describe the human being who would be protected by O'Malley's bills. The abortion survivor became a "pre-viable fetus."

By definition, however, a born baby cannot be a "fetus." Merriam-Webster Online defines "fetus" as an "unborn or unhatched vertebrate" or "a developing human from usually two months after conception to birth." Obama had already conceded these human beings were "alive outside the womb."

"No. 1," said Obama, "whenever we define a pre-viable fetus as a person that is protected by the equal protection clause or other elements of the Constitution, what we're really saying is, in fact, that they are persons that are entitled to the kinds of protections that would be provided to a -- a child, a nine-month-old -- child that was delivered to term."

Yes. In other words, a baby born alive at 37 weeks is just as much a human "person" as a baby born alive at 22 weeks.

Obama, however, saw a problem with calling abortion survivors "persons." "I mean, it -- it would essentially bar abortions," said Obama, "because the equal protection clause does not allow somebody to kill a child, and if this is a child, then this would be an antiabortion statute."

For Obama, whether or not a temporarily-alive-outside-the-womb little girl is a "person" entitled to constitutional rights is not determined by her humanity, her age or even her place in space relative to her mother's uterus. It is determined by a whether a doctor has been trying to kill her.

Quote of the Day/Month/Year

Alexander Tyler, (in his 1770 book, Cycle of Democracy):

“A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising them the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that a democracy always collapses over a louse fiscal responsibility, always followed by a dictatorship. The average of the world’s great civilizations before they decline has been 200 years. These nations have progressed in this sequence: From bondage to spiritual faith; from spiritual faith to great courage; from courage to liberty; from liberty to abundance; from abundance to selfishness; from selfishness to complacency; from complacency to apathy; from apathy to dependency; from dependency back again to bondage.”

Little Ones by Phil Keaggy

Never Heard Anything So Obviously Heretical

Who Says There's No Such Thing as an Almost Free Lunch?

I came across this blog, but haven't checked it out yet.

According to this guy, if you go to Byerly's or Lund's you can get Progresso soup for $.10 a can. That's right 10 cents.

Here's the link, I'll let you know if it's true when I go there this week.

Cheap soup link.

The Little Buddy

Life Goes On

In spite of the political drama that I keep writing about, we have had some fun this month! Mr. D and I went to the Ikea sale two weeks ago. Remember those bookcases that we had been meaning to buy? Well, they marked them down $30 each for a 3 day sale. Plus, that weekend, they offered a free breakfast! So, we headed over to Ikea for breakfast and bookcases.

Of course, there is no point in putting up the Billy bookcases (we settled on the black-brown) before you paint. So, it was off to Hirshfield's for our favorite Benjamin Moore Paint. We are doing "Panera" colors downstairs and did the bookcase wall green. Watch for the gold and rust wall to appear soon.

Mr. D is the best painter in the world. Here he is doing the taping.Next came the green paint.

Then, the bookcase assembly.

Finally, the finished product, but not properly categorized yet and not all books in place, but you get the idea.

Moving on. Hollywood hit Bloomington this week. Well, actually starting in early September. The Coen brothers (who attended my alma matter St. Louis Park High whilst I was there in the early 70's, but I never knew them) were filming their latest movie and showed up at Normandale College--just 6 blocks north of us. When I went to pick up Tim on Monday, I pulled up to the Student Center and there was the craft services truck with a California address. I couldn't figure out why a catering truck came all the way from California. Then, the next day, Mr. D noticed signs that said "To Set" and "To Base Camp" along with some Universal Studios trucks parked along France Avenue. We soon figured it out. Here is the "Base Camp". Okay, so I wasn't that close, but those are the studio trailers.

Here are the trucks parked alongside France Avenue for the entire week. We also discovered the neighborhood in East Bloomington where they filmed. Perhaps I will take some more photos, after all, it's not every day Hollywood shows up in Bloomington.

From a Blog I Read

Here's what Douglas Wilson had to say about the VP debate. I don't always agree with him, but I'm with him on the Palin thing. And the line about if Obama wins he will be battening down every hatch he can find, sadly, I'm starting to batten down a few hatches already.

On homosexual marriage, I thought Palin deftly turned the tables on Biden. Though it looked like they were saying the same thing, they were not at all. Palin said that marriage was for a man and a woman, period, and everyone believes her. Biden said the same, but nobody does. That is why the homo activists are not yelling for Biden's head right now. They are (all of them) just biding their time. And Palin said that homosexuals should be allowed to leave things in their wills to whomever they please, and to visit whomever they want to in the hospital. Well, look at me. I think that too, and so does Biden. But he wants that in a way that would lead to civil unions that in turn pave the way to homo marriage later. Palin's interest in all that appears to be more libertarian, as mine would be. You don't need to have civil unions or marriages in order to have the civil right to throw fabulous parties for one another. Everybody has that civil right now.

As I have argued before, my driving issue is Roe v. Wade. The only reason I am even thinking about voting for McCain/Palin is that she is "no exceptions" pro-life and she will be the reason McCain wins, if he does. I have said before that I thought that McCain was going to walk away with this election. That was before the Wall Street meltdown, which has certainly altered the game, and has made me significantly less sure of that. At the same, while cheerfully admitting that this could well be wrong, I still think that McCain is going to take it. But if he takes this election, I believe that everyone will know that he owes his victory to Sarah Palin. In that context, I think a double-cross Supreme Court appointment would be unlikely. And if one or two more sane heads make it onto the Court, then Roe would go down, and that would be the basic turnaround I am looking for.

If Obama wins, then that will be what believing Bible students would call a holy cow moment. I for one will be scurring around the top decks, battening every hatch I can find.

Say it ain't so Joe

Just which Katie's restaurant was Home Depot Joe referring to?

New Version of a Video I Posted Earlier

Freddie and Fannie or How Dare Nancy Pelosi Lecture the Republicans

Katie and Joe

Check this one out at about 2 minutes. We've all heard about this Biden blooper, but somehow it didn't click with me that it was our beloved Katie who did the interview. Ms. Couric obviously didn't know who the president was in 1929 or she would have edited this out. And then she has the gall to stupidly grill Palin. Gimme a break.

If You Live in Ohio (or anywhere else for that matter)...

...and prefer McCain to Obama, be sure an VOTE! If you have some extra time and don't mind Democrats swearing at you, offer your services for the "Get out the Vote" calling the days before the election.

This Michelle Malkin post ought to make everyone realize that it's nearly over for this country as we knew it.

The only way to overcome this is for people who care to not sit this election out. Every vote counts.

Update on the Children's Choir Video

Apparently, the Obama children's video has been taken down thanks to Rush, Drudge, and Hannity and Colmes, discussing it. It must have reminded too many of the Young Pioneer children's indoctrinating group in the former Soviet Union.

It started with a sweet little girl with a beautiful voice singing acapalla something like:

"We're gonna have happiness, we're gonna have freedom...and Obama's gonna lead 'em."

Then, they cut to the group of children, all in a light blue t-shirt that said "Hope" and they moved on to the chorus of a "Yes, we can" sort of chant/song.

One conspiracy theory I wasn't buying into is the one that says Obama is the anti-Christ. After watching this, I'm not so sure and started having thoughts like, "You know, this man has no parents..."

Oh, my gotta go, there are black helicopters landing in the yard.

May There Always Be Sunshine

May There Always Be Sunshine! (Russian:Пусть всегда будет солнце!) is a Soviet Russian song, written for children. It was created in 1962, music was composed by Arkady Ostrovsky and the lyrics were written by Lev Oshanin.
Bright blue the sky.
Sun up on high—
That was the little boy's picture
He drew for you
Wrote for you, too
Just to make clear what he drew.
Chorus:
May there always be sunshine,
May there always be blue skies,
May there always be mummy,
May there always be me!
My little friend,
Listen, my friend,
Peace is the dream of the people
Hearts old and young
Never have done
Singing the song you have sung.
Chorus
Soldier lad, stay!
Hear what we say—
War would make all of us losers
Peace is our prize
Millions of eyes
Anxiously gaze at the skies.
Chorus
Down with all war!
We want no more.
People stand up for you children
Sing everyone—
Peace must be won,
Dark clouds must not hide the sun.
Chorus

I'm Scared, I'm Very, Very Scared

Random Thoughts on the Morning After the Sky Fell

Last night, according to all the news channels, the sky fell.

So, I thought I would offer a few random thoughts the morning after.

• Sometimes, I get the feeling that the press and politicians are turning this into more of a crisis than it really is.
• Does anyone else think it is sort of encouraging that the House of Representatives actually represented the people yesterday?
• Which reminds me of some Mark Twain quotes: "No man's life, liberty, or property are safe while Congress is in session", and "The only difference between the taxidermist and the tax man is that the taxidermist leaves the skin."
  
• Mr. D and I went to the bank this morning to move a couple IRAs to a more secure place. I asked the banker about loans, since all we hear on the T and V set is that the money is tightening up and soon all business everywhere will have no cash flow and no houses will be purchased ever again and all retirement accounts will have a 0 balance and no one will have a job. She said they are still closing loans, but they are getting more difficult. For example, they no longer do 80/20 loans. Having no idea what an 80/20 loan was, she explained that people take out two loans. They borrow the down payment of 20%. What in the world? Who knew you could do that? She said loans are still being closed for qualified buyers and businesses.
• I don't get how people think that Obama can help this mess.
• I think that the liberal press is really mean to Sarah Palin and I don't much care for Tina Fey or Katie Couric.
• Frank, Dodd, Pelosi=hubris
• I see that tomorrow night, one of McCain's fellow POWs will be at the Eden Prairie McCain Office working the phone banks and meeting people. I'd go if I didn't already have other plans.
• Fall is beautiful. I love the colorful leaves against the bright blue sky.
• The thief comes to kill and steal and destroy, but God takes care of me and He is always loving and faithful to all who call on His name.

It Was a Dark and Stormy Night...

...the rain was pouring down, his jacket was off, his white dress-shirt was clinging to his body...

"The beginning of a trashy, murder mystery novel", you ask?

"No," say I, "The beginning of an ABC news article describing an Obama campaign stop."

Unbelievable

Someone has to say it. That disgusting Charlie Gibson interview where Sarah Palin tells the world that she can see Russia and everyone is making her out to be an idiot. Take a look at it. It's at about 4:20. Could it be any more obviously edited to make it look like she answered the question with only the, "I can see Alaska from my house," line? Seriously, I'm really sick of the media and their obvious biased editing.

I suppose I will have to break down and watch the Couric interview, but from what I saw, it was obvious that Palin was highly distracted by something. There was something else going on. Don't know if it's the editing or what.

But, Biden tells a disabled vet in a wheelchair to stand, tells us that Roosevelt spoke on the T and V set in 1929 when he wasn't even president and the T and V set wasn't available till the late 30's. Really, he gets a pass.

Now I see that they are attacking McCain because he "lied". It seems Normandy wasn't the greatest invasion in history. Turns out the greatest invasion in history was Operation Barbarossa. Who knew?

Please, I'm begging. DON'T VOTE FOR OBAMA!

A Classic

When I was little, my parents had a book shelf on which sat the entire set of Harvard Classics. There were lots of books that were worth the read, but to a 10 year old, the only one that really stuck out was Volume 17. It was entitled Folklore and Fable: Aesop, Grimm, Anderson. Looking over the list of titles as an adult, I now see that I would be a much more learned person, had I opened the rest up. But I stuck with the Fairy Tales.

One from Aesop seems appropriate for these times. It would be a good story for Congress to take a minute and read. But, I hear from Nancy that things are back on track now that McCain is leaving them alone. Here's a little story for you to enjoy as you wait for Nancy, Barney, and Christopher to tell us how much corn we are going to have to fork over to the grasshopper,

The Ant and the Grasshopper
In a field one summer’s day a Grasshopper was hopping about, chirping and singing to its heart’s content. An Ant passed by, bearing along with great toil an ear of corn he was taking to the nest.
“Why not come and chat with me,” said the Grasshopper, “instead of toiling and moiling in that way?”
“I am helping to lay up food for the winter,” said the Ant, “and recommend you to do the same.”
“Why bother about winter?” said the Grasshopper; “we have got plenty of food at present.” But the Ant went on its way and continued its toil. When the winter came the Grasshopper had no food, and found itself dying of hunger, while it saw the ants distributing every day corn and grain from the stores they had collected in the summer. Then the Grasshopper knew:
“IT IS BEST TO PREPARE FOR THE DAYS OF NECESSITY.”

The Fox is Guarding the Hen House

Jennifer has this on her political blog. It's long, 9 minutes, but it offers some insight that is hard to find on MSNBC. ;-)

Every time I see Dodd or Frank blaming McCain, the Republicans, Bush, the free market system, or whoever, I want to shout to the world, "Hey, world, you've got the fox guarding the hen house."

And, the blame shifting? Well, I guess that goes back to The Garden. You know, it was the woman, no it was the serpent. Whoever it was, we ended up with a problem that had to be fixed by someone who had NOTHING to do with it. And, it cost a lot.

Note to Obama

This is the line that bothered me the most during the debate last night.
Barack said:

“The problem with a spending freeze is you're using a hatchet where you need a scalpel. There are some programs that are very important that are under-funded. I want to increase early childhood education....”

Hey Barack, we need the hatchet. There will be time later for the scalpel.

Hey Barack, we don't need more (or any if you ask me) funding for "early childhood education".

PBS Poll on Palin

Say that fast 10 times.

Anywho, PBS is taking a poll asking the nation if Sarah is qualified. You can go here to vote. When I voted it was almost 50/50, but the person who sent me the link said it was 60/40 against poor Sarah when she voted. So, let's turn this around in a big way.

Happy Autumnal Equinox

Here's your NASA photo of the day in honor of the Autumnal Equinox.

And, here is a great post. Be sure and watch the video first. Then, (don't cheat watch the video first), click on the word "here" that is in the post.

Things the Government Should Do

• Preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States of America.
• Defend me, my family, and my stuff
• Not take my money or my stuff and give it to other people who don't have as much money or stuff
• Not take other people's money and give it to me because I don't have as much money or stuff as they do
• Not waste the tax money they demand from me (under penalty of law)
• Not use my tax money to kill babies (or do research with fetal stem cells)

Things People Should Generally Be Responsible for Without Help from Anyone Except God

• A place to live
• Food
• Clothes
• Medical Care
• Education

Things Individuals and Charities Should Help Provide for People if They Really, Really Need It

• A place to live
  
• Food
• Clothes
  
• Medical Care

Things the Government Shouldn't Take My Money and Provide Me or Anyone Else With

• A House
• Food
• A College Education
• Medical Care

Internet Rumors to Pass Along

I received this forward in my e-mail this morning. I thought I'd pass it on because of my love of conspiracy theories and also because I predicted it (only I said by the end of September). Biden is saying such goofy things that the have to get rid of him, but have to come up with a good reason. Plus, October surprises are not new and often are helpful.

My theory was that his reason would be a "family" emergency. (To mock the idea that Sarah Palin has a Down Syndrome baby and a pregnant teenage daughter, but is so career driven that she wouldn't give up her political ambition to take care of her family.) But, a "health crisis" for Biden would work, also, and give him a last minute out.

So, I invite you to theorize with me. If Biden goes, and Hillary enters, what excuse will Biden give? Let me know what you think.

Here's the forward I received.

On or about October 5th, Biden will excuse himself from the ticket, citing health problems, and he will be replaced by Hillary. This is timed to occur after the VP debate on 10/2.

There have been talks all weekend about how to proceed with this info. Generally, the feeling is that we should all go ahead and get it out there to as many blog sites and personal email lists as is possible. I have already seen a few short blurbs about this - the "health problem" cited in those articles was an aneurysm. Probably many of you have heard the same rumblings. However, at this point, with this inside info from the DNC, it looks like this Obama strategy will be a go. Therefore, it seems that the best strategy is to get out in front of this Obama maneuver, spell it out in detail, and thereby expose it for the grand manipulation that it is.

The First Birthday Party

A small boy. A scary large chocolate cake.

The paparazzi showed up.

The cake was delicious. The end.

I LOVE Conspiracy Theories

Remember my post about Obama and the 57 States?

Well, thanks to a forward I just received from the Pfaus, it is taking on a fun, new conspiracy theory twist.

I love conspiracy theories, except the movie Conspiracy Theory was too intense for me, so I stopped watching at the end and never found out what happened because Mr. D refused to tell me. He also refused to tell me how Air Force One ended, but he said it was a very exciting ending. So, I don't like suspense. It's too suspenseful.

Anyway, back to the 57 states. According to the forward from the Pfaus, Rush Limbaugh mentioned that there are 57 Islamic states. So, I googled. Sure enough, there are.

Although, the Wiki article seems to have been tampered with. In the "cached" stuff it says 57 states. And, on the sidebar it says 57 states, but in the body of the article, it says 51 states. There you have it, another conspiracy.

Just How Low Can it Get?

Someone is selling this.

Poetry Monday

Afternoon With Grandmother
by Barbara A. Huff

I always shout when Grandma comes,
But Mother says, "Now please be still
And good and do what Grandma wants."
And I say, "Yes, I will."

So off we go in Grandma's car,
"There's a brand new movie quite near by,"
She says, "that I'd rather like to see."
And I say, "So would I."

The show has horses and chases and battles;
We gasp and hold hands the whole way through.
She smiles and says, "I liked that lots."
And I say, "I did, too."

"It's made me hungry, though," she says,
"I'd like a malt and tarts with jam.
By any chance are you hungry, too?"
And I say, "Yes, I am."

Later at home my Mother says,
"I hope you were careful to do as bid.
Did you and Grandma have a good time?"
And I say, "YES, WE DID!!!"

For the Record

2007 Income Obama-$4,200,000 with $240,000 charitable contributions (5.7%)

2007 Income McCain-$405,409 with $105,467 charitable contributions (24%)

2007 Income Biden-$320,000 with $993 charitable contributions (0.3%)

Palin's tax records were not yet available.

Joe Biden averaged $369 per year in contributions for the last 10 years. Of course, we know that number is a few billion low. After all, he's given away billions in the last 10 years, it just wasn't all his money.

Also, the salary of members of Congress is around $165,000. Shouldn't someone be asking the question, "How did Obama make $4.2 million last year?"

Will is One Today!

Happy Birthday, Little Buddy!

Charlie, the School Superintendent

I wonder if Charlie Gibson, who sat there with his nose in the air (probably was trying to keep his spectacles in place) as he interviewed Mrs. Palin yesterday, thought twice when asked to do the interview. Did he ponder whether or not he was the man best qualified to do it? Or, did he say yes immediately. Because if he did, I think that type of unwavering confidence borders on hubris.

Mr. D thought Charlie looked like the Superintendent calling in the new Principal to question her qualifications or give her a scolding.

Did anyone else think that the camera angle on Charlie was from a low position, making him look elevated and the camera on Mrs. Palin was from above, making her look small? Maybe it was just me.

I think the McCain campaign should have gone with someone more fair than Charlie Gibson, say, for example, Chris Matthews.

Good thing for Sarah, that she was able to remember all the answers that her handlers told her to say. And, that she remembered how to correctly pronounce Saakashvili.

By the way, if Charlie would Google "Bush Doctrine" he might realize that there is more to the "Bush Doctrine" than preemptive strikes. The phrase came about after 9/11 and originally meant that the United States had the right to treat countries that harbor or aid terrorist groups as terrorists themselves, then it evolved to mean more. So, Mrs. Palin was correct in asking him what he meant by it. Charlie was misinformed or underinformed.

Alessandra Stanley of the NYTimes wrote:

ABC News delivered the first glimpse of Palin without a script or a cheering audience, and it was a strained and illuminating conversation. Palin, who kept inserting Gibson's nickname, "Charlie," into her answers, as if to convey an old hand's conviviality, tried to project self-confidence, poise and even expertise: She let Gibson know that she had personally reassured the Georgian prime minister and correctly pronounced his last name, Saakashvili. At times, her voice hesitated, and she looked like a student trying to bend prepared answers to fit unexpected questions.

Thank you NY Times for informing us that she was able to fake poise and expertise. And that she could pronounce Saakashvili correctly. Can you imagine if they had said that about Biden? No one would have thought twice if he had pronounced a name incorrectly.

Anyone Else Notice This?

Yesterday, I happened to catch Obama and McCain visiting the 9/11 site. I watched as they presented their roses and noted that Obama just tossed his while John and Cindy McCain bent over and somberly placed theirs. Perhaps they were faking, but the McCains showed the respect and dignity the event deserved.



Maybe I'm overreacting here, but if Obama's big problem is that we need to negotiate with people, he certainly has a lot to learn about the small things that can cause difficulties in building relationships. Showing respect and offering words of comfort at somber events is a thing the President does a lot. (And, something I believe George W. Bush did quite well.)

Also, if you are going to pride yourself on your ability to negotiate with foreign leaders, you need to watch your mouth. Obviously, you can't call someone a pig, but even if you didn't mean to call someone a pig and it accidentally sounded like you did, you don't stand up the next day and tell the world that the person it sounded like you called a pig, but didn't mean to call a pig, is just being too picky.

Instead, you say, "Yesterday, while speaking off the cuff, I accidentally used an analogy using the words "lipstick" and "pig". Wait for laugh and then say, "I was referring to some policies that I thought were the same old thing in disguise. I was horrified to learn later that some believed I was referring to the Republican VP candidate. I was not and am so sorry and feel so strongly about keeping this campaign focused on the issues that I wanted to start the day making the clarification."

I'll bet he would have gone up two per cent in the polls if he had said that. Instead, he demonstrated to the world his inability to reach across the aisle and also his ungentlemanliness.

Prediction

I predict that Biden will drop out of the race (for some reason that will make him look good, like his family needs him or something like that) by the end of September and Hillary Clinton will be the new running mate.

You heard it here first.

We Deserve Judgment

Joycelyn Elders (Surgeon General of the US under Clinton) testified before Congress in the spring of 1990. She said:

Abortion has had an important, and positive, public- health effect in that it has reduced the number of children afflicted with severe defects. The number of Down's Syndrome infants in Washington State in 1976 was 64 percent lower than it would have been without legal abortion.

Listen to Michele Bachmann on Planned Parenthood

(Did you know her name is spelled with one "l" and two "n's"? Ya learn something new every day.)

I'm Glad Palin Didn't Say This

I'm sure he meant to say 47 states, but it's still funny. Can you imagine what would have happened if Sarah Palin had said this?

From AP News

Here are two quotes from an AP news article:

Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama acknowledged Sunday that he was probably too flip when he said it was "above my pay grade" to answer a question about when is a baby entitled to human rights.

A Roman Catholic, Biden said he accepts his church's teachings that life begins at conception, but that the issue is personal for him. He said it wouldn't be right to impose his views on others who are just as religious as he is.
"I'm prepared as a matter of faith to accept that life begins at the moment of conception. But that is my judgment," Biden said on NBC's "Meet the Press.""For me to impose that judgment on everyone else who is equally and maybe even more devout than I am seems to me is inappropriate in a pluralistic society."

So, Biden believes that life begins at conception, but wants to let others kill their babies because he doesn't want to impose his beliefs on others.
Reagan had this to say about abortion:

If you don't know whether a body is alive or dead, you would never bury it. I think this consideration itself should be enough for all of us to insist on protecting the unborn.

Poetry Monday and The Traditional Birthday Photo that No One Usually Sees

The Birthday Child
by Rose Fyleman

Everything's been different
All the day long,
Lovely things have happened,
Nothing has gone wrong.

Nobody has scolded me,
Everyone has smiled.
Isn't it delicious
To be a birthday child?

I'm Sure This Makes Sense to Barb J.

Happy Birthday, Mr. D!

Yet More Thoughts on a Female VP

Doug Wilson has some good things to say about Palin and female leaders.

More on the idea of a female VP

Here's a good article from The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood that nicely sums up what I believe.

Thoughts on a Female VP

Dr. Al Mohler offered these thoughts about the Palin nomination. I find myself in agreement with him. Especially this part. "I believe that women as CEOs in the business world and as officials in government are no affront to Scripture."

I will heartily cast my vote for the McCain-Palin ticket because of my view of the role of the President.

We do not have a king, we have a President, who is just one of us. To suggest that Mrs. Palin's election would somehow place American men in subjection to a woman demonstrates a profound misunderstanding of how our country works. In a sense, all of us rule when you think of it. That, is the amazing thing about America. We are all one small piece of the government. A constitutional republic. Really, a document rules us, not a person.

Here's what Mohler wrote:

Do I believe that a woman can serve well in the office of Vice President of the United States? Yes. As a matter of fact, I believe that a woman could serve well as President -- and one day will. Portraits of significant men of history hang on the walls of my library --but so do portraits of Queen Elizabeth I of England and former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

The New Testament clearly speaks to the complementary roles of men and women in the home and in the church, but not in roles of public responsibility. I believe that women as CEOs in the business world and as officials in government are no affront to Scripture. Then again, that presupposes that women -- and men -- have first fulfilled their responsibilities within the little commonwealth of the family.

Is this kind of public role what most women want? Clearly not, and for that I am honestly thankful. The tasks assigned to women within the home are monumental. The maternal role is crucial, and the vast majority of women find their greatest fulfillment in this role -- and for good reason. In the roles of wives and mothers women do what no one else can do so naturally and so well.

As Long as I'm on a Roll

Here is the statement released last Friday by Obama's spokesman.

"Today, John McCain put the former mayor of a town of 9,000 with zero foreign policy experience a heartbeat away from the presidency. Governor Palin shares John McCain's commitment to overturning Roe v. Wade, the agenda of Big Oil and continuing George Bush's failed economic policies -- that's not the change we need, it's just more of the same," said Bill Burton, Obama Campaign Spokesman.

Interesting, isn't it that they mentioned she was the "former mayor" of a town of 9,000, but forgot to mention that SHE IS THE CURRENT GOVERNOR OF THE LARGEST STATE IN THE COUNTRY!

So, why do you think she brought up the "community organizer" thing?

Funny isn't it, how he's babbling and whining about her forgetting to mention his other credentials (in a speech he said he didn't listen to) when he forgot to mention her biggest credential and therein downplayed her experience.

What a hypocrite.

Maureen Dowd: Shrill and Sarcastic Personified

Read this and then tell me Sarah Palin was shrill and sarcastic.

I Want to Say Something...

...but I don't know exactly what I want to say...it's on the topic of the reaction to Sarah Palin's speech last night.

Shrill and sarcastic? The Democrats and the press that supports them must be scrambling if that is all they can come up with to say about the Palin speech. I have to give them credit and say they stay on topic with their talking points. They all came up with "shrill and sarcastic" this morning, just like they came up with "red meat" the night before.

Shrill and sarcastic? Would they say that about Biden...who admitted to plagiarism back in law school and they conveniently forget to pursue that, but tell us all about Todd Palin's DUI 22 years ago before he was married to Sarah and during a period of time that Mr. Obama admitted to being a cocaine user, but I digress...

Shrill and sarcastic? Let's examine the Democrats. Tell me that Al Franken is not shrill and sarcastic? And, nasty. Tell me that Obama and Biden haven't spun the facts and belittled their opponents. It's called politics. I guess the difference is that when Democrats speak they are so convinced that everyone else is wrong they and the reporters who support them can't see the arrogance and meanness.

I thought the speech was given with grace and humor. I also thought it had substance. So, let's get this straight, if a "gal" gives a speech it's sarcastic. If a guy gives a speech, it's hard hitting? Pleeeeease, gimme a break.

But, I guess when people will go after a 17 year old daughter just to elect a pro-abortion socialist, they don't care too much about looking sexist. I will choose the candidate that is "shrill and sarcastic" over the candidate that kills babies anyday.

Frankly, it's all about abortions for the Democrats in my book. All the talk about everything else is a distraction from what they are really about and how low they will go to kill a baby.

So, I'm hitting post now and will soon hit delete, I'm sure.

Have a great day everyone!

Adorable

Maybe it's time...

Meghan McCain

Meghan McCain has a blog. I have enjoyed reading it and looking at the photos and videos. I recommend it over US or People!

A Picture's Worth a Thousand Words

I Couldn't Sleep Last Night

Last night, I couldn't get to sleep. (Anyone know if Red Zinger tea has caffeine? Even if it doesn't, I don't believe I will sip any at 10:00 anymore). Anywho, I had the TV on in our bedroom and made a big mistake. I watched CNN and MSNBC. Their reporters must all be graduates of the National Enquirer School of Journalism. No, maybe not, the National Enquirer gets more facts right.

This whole thing makes me really mad. So, here are my "talking points".

1. Sarah Palin is not a hypocrite. She is pro-life and has acted on that in ways most pro-life people never have to. She has personally given birth to a special needs child AND she has an unmarried teenage daughter faced with an unplanned pregnancy. Two difficult situations. Two pro-life choices. She can never be accused of not understanding what it is like to have a special needs child or a pregnant teenage daughter. She's walked the walk.

2. What does Sarah Palin's husband's 20 year old DUI have to do with anything? She wasn't driving drunk. Plus, Teddy Kennedy himself had a little driving trouble a few years back and he got elected.

3. From what I can piece together, Sarah Palin's father was threatened by her State Trooper brother-in-law and her nephew was tazered and Sarah recommended that he be fired. What is the story? If a law enforcement officer without cause threatened my dad, I would recommend he be fired and arrested.

4. About the Sally Quinn editorial and others like it. Pardon me, but I think your hypocrisy is showing. Here are some choice Sally Quinn quotes:

McCain claims he knew about the pregnancy, and was not at all concerned. Why not? Not only do we have a woman with five children, including an infant with special needs, but a woman whose 17-year-old child will need her even more in the coming months. Not to mention the grandchild. This would inevitably be an enormous distraction for a new vice president (or president) in a time of global turmoil. Not only in terms of her job, but from a media standpoint as well.

Evangelical women also will have to decide if they will vote against their conscience by voting to put the mother of young children in a job outside the home that will demand so much of her time and energy.

Is she prepared for the all-consuming nature of the job? She is the mother of five children, one of them a four-month-old with Down Syndrome. Her first priority has to be her children. When the phone rings at three in the morning and one of her children is really sick what choice will she make?

Enough of my "talking points". Now, the vocabulary lesson. Here are the words of the week.

vetted-A verb meaning to examine something or someone. In the case of a Republican this is done by a team of attorneys and reporters hired by the news media to dig up as much dirt and rumors as they can find about a candidate's husband and children and present it to the public as facts. In the case of Democrats, this is done by the National Enquirer and left unreported by CNN and MSNBC.

red meat-This was the buzz phrase last night on CNN, FOX, and MSNBC. Reporters kept saying it. I just thought it was funny that they all came up with the same buzz phrase.

My favorite new word I heard twice yesterday. It is the word "boffo" and it is what Sarah's speech had better be tonight. It had better be a "boffo" speech. Boffo means extremely successful for those of us who haven't been given the vocabulary memo.

Sarah Palin

Lifenews.com wrote of Sarah Palin.

As many as 80 percent of unborn children diagnosed with Down syndrome become victims of abortion, but Alaska Gov, Sarah Palin didn't let her child become a statistic. Palin, who has deeply-felt pro-life views, gave birth to her fifth child this week and the baby was diagnosed with the condition.

On Tuesday, Palin confirmed her baby, named Trig Paxson, has Down syndrome.

"Trig is beautiful and already adored by us," Palin said in a statement LifeNews.com obtained.

"We knew through early testing he would face special challenges, and we feel privileged that God would entrust us with this gift and allow us unspeakable joy as he entered our lives," she said.

'We have faith that every baby is created for good purpose and has potential to make this world a better place. We are truly blessed," the 44 year-old governor added.

Barack Obama says:

"I am going to teach them first of all about values and morals. But if they make a mistake, I don't want them punished with a baby."

Brian McLaren, Kirbyjon Caldwell, and Greg Boyd, shame on you.

Random thoughts on "THE SPEECH"

For all the hype and production, I thought the speech was rather dull. Maybe you had to be there to experience it.

My favorite part was when it was over and Brit Hume said something like, "The candidates and their good looking families have now left the stage."

The first question that comes to mind is this. "And, where are you going to get the money to fund your programs?" Please, please don't say by raising taxes on the so-called "wealthy".(See yesterday's post).

Next question, "When did it become illegal for gay people to visit their friends in the hospital?"

Also, what is the deal with all the expense of putting together such a big production with a fancy schmancy Hollywood set. What a waste of $$$. He could have just stood on a simple blue wedding cake, rather than a blue wedding cake with a Grecian temple/Oval Office facade behind him and donated the money saved to Bono for Africa. That would have impressed people while helping the plight of the poor and AIDS afflicted. A win-win situation.

One pet peeve is the wives. Where do they get their "outfits". Obviously, they are all very wealthy. I guess you can't be president unless you have a wife that has a different outfit for every event. My two dresses and three Eddie Bauer skirts pretty much assure that my husband will never be president. Sorry, hun.

Another observation. I don't think he mentioned 9-11. Did he mention 9-11? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

And one parting thought. Did anyone else look at that blue sign that encircled the stadium and see the words "OBAMA BIDEN" and upon seeing them read them as "Osama Bin Laden"? I did that twice!

So, now, when I refer to the ticket, I will call it the "Obama Bi(nla)den" ticket, just to be feisty because he didn't mention September 11th.

Refresher Course

In preparation for Obama's big acceptance speech tonight, I wanted to offer this quote.

From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs.
-Karl Marx

Thank you. Enjoy the speech.

Norm

Yesterday was State Fair day for our family.

We always eat in the area by Tejas that used to be the Beer Gardens, but now is just food vendors and nice tables.

Senator Norm Coleman happened to be the guest guacamole maker at Tejas. He arrived just as we were leaving, so I went over to take a photo for my blog. Terry and the rest of the gang were by the door waiting.

I snapped my photo and was approached by a man with a notebook and pencil. He said he was a reporter with the St. Paul Pioneer Press, showed me some ID, said they were doing a piece for the paper and asked me what I thought about seeing candidates stumping at the Fair.

I said, "I think it's interesting and fun." As soon as those words came out of my mouth, I had one of those Chris Farley moments, you know, the thought "STUPID, STUPID" ran through my mind and I said to myself, "Self, you have to be more articulate than that."

Reporter man went on, "Some people think candidates who make appearances at the Fair are pandering. Do you agree?"

My answer? The one he wrote down into his little reporter's notebook. The one he asked me for my name and city in case he wanted to quote me. That answer. I really hope it's not in print, because if it is, you will see this.

On Monday, as she was watching Senator Norm Coleman make guacamole at the Tejas booth at the State Fair, Linda Dugan of Bloomington, MN said, "I enjoy seeing candidates at the State Fair because it's interesting and it's fun." Ms. Dugan went on to say, "It makes you realize that they are just real people and everybody panders."

That's correct. My big moment, and I inform the world that everybody panders. I'd like to think that I was offering a deep spiritual truth on the fallen nature of man, but in reality, I was just babbling. Something I do often. Case in point, this blog and this post.

Duck Dog

It's State Fair time and you know what that means.
Giant turkey legs.

Scary crop art.

And Midway games where you can win wonderful prizes if you play the only winable game which we all know is the "Goblet Toss". You know, the one where you throw large whiffle balls at goblets and if they land in a colored goblet, you win a prize.

DO NOT GET CONFUSED BY THE "THROW THE PING PONG BALLS INTO THE ICE CREAM DISH". THIS IS NOT A WINABLE GAME.

The "Goblet Toss" is a family favorite and we treasure a prize won a while back. The Amazing Duck Dog. Yes, some child, Katie, I think was handed this treasure. It's what happens when you put your stuffed animal factory too close to a nuclear power plant.

Terry was sorting through boxes of stuffed treasures that have been taking over the garage and we came across Duck Dog. Here he is. Enjoy, and head out to the Midway, try your luck at the Goblet Toss and you, too, may end up with a Duck Dog of your very own.

Bouncy

Bouncy from Linda Dugan on Vimeo.

MCHC

Minnehaha Christian Homeschool Co-op now has its very own web page thanks to the iWeb program and the .me (formerly .mac) account one of my brilliant sons sold me. The iWeb program was quite easy to use and aside from a couple of unexplained glitches (like why Mr. Nuckols head covered some type on PC versions of the page) it looks quite fancy, if I do say so myself.

If you know anyone who is looking for the best homeschool co-op meeting at Crosstown Covenant Church, be sure and send them our way. Okay, so we are the ONLY Co-op meeting at CCC...

Oh, and if you don't know what to do with those little "boxtop" things on General Mills and other packages, I will take them off your hands. Our non-profit Co-op gets 10 cents for each one sent in.

Thank you for reading this shameless plug.

Sorry, That's Above My Paygrade

Someone named Stephen (who I don't believe I know) found my recent post on the Obama/McCain/Saddleback event.In the spirit of entrepreneurialism (that's probably not a word), he created this bumper sticker and sent me this link to order one. He also sent a file so I could post it on my blog.

This is a great phrase to keep in mind. It has lots of handy applications. Whatever you don't want to do at work or at home, just follow Obama's lead. A simple, "Sorry, that's above my paygrade," is all you need.

Poetry Monday

The Swing
by Robert Louis Stevenson

How do you like to go up in a swing,
Up in the air so blue?
Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing
Ever a child can do!

Up in the air and over the wall,
Till I can see so wide,
River and trees and cattle and all
Over the countryside—

Till I look down on the garden green,
Down on the roof so brown—
Up in the air I go flying again,
Up in the air and down!

Is this Presidential?

At Saddleback last night, Rick Warren, asked Barack at what point a baby gets “human rights,” Obama said:

“… whether you’re looking at it from a theological perspective or a scientific perspective, answering that question with specificity … is above my pay grade.”

What a stupid answer for someone wanting to be the leader of the free world. I can see it now.

"Mr. President, the Russians have invaded Georgia."

"Sorry, that's above my pay grade."

"Terrorists have just flown a plane into the World Trade Center."

"Sorry, that's above my pay grade."

"A hurricane has wiped out New Orleans."

"Sorry, that's above my pay grade."

I hope he is kicking himself this morning for using that "cutesy" little talking point.

And, I have decided after listening to McCain last night, that I actually might put a McCain bumper sticker on the car (if Mr. D allows it, he hates bumper stickers) and possibly do some phone bank calling. (I HATE phone bank calling, but you gotta get people out to the polls, and they do offer free snacks.)

Todd Bentley and the "Florida Outpouring"

For those of you who have followed "Apostle" Todd Bentley and his Florida meetings, you may be aware that things took a sad turn this week when Mr. Bentley and his wife separated.

John Piper has a sobering article about this "movement" and others like it. It's worth the read.

Why is it so easy to get caught up in movements of men? This one, didn't fool me, but I have been tripped up by other movements of men.

Taxes

The CEO of Exxon Mobile recently told Charlie Gibson,

"I saw someone characterize our profits the other day in terms of $1,400 in profit per second. Well, they also need to understand we paid $4,000 a second in taxes, and we spent $15,000 a second in cost."

$31,536,000,000 in taxes
$11,700,000,000 in profit

Something is wrong with this picture and it's not the profit.

Also, keep in mind, that when you pull up to the pump, 10% of your purchase goes to the government in the form of taxes.

Maybe, Obama needs to propose a rebate to all Americans and fund it through lowering taxes. Oh, yeah, right, like that's gonna happen.

Olympic Memories

It makes me sad to watch people blow their Olympic moments. That happened last night to the USA Women's Olympics team. So, in their honor, I present this video classic. Aw, shucks, it's too wide, oh, well, it's the best I can do for now.

Poetry Monday

Poetry Monday is back after a short vacation.

I had a poem all picked out and a photo to accompany it, but my camera is in the trunk of the Accord and the Accord is out with the family, so that poem will have to wait.

Instead, it's fundraising time on Channel 2 and last night they reran a little bio on John Denver. I think during the 70's, I went to more John Denver concerts than any other artist (except for the New Village Singers).

So, I chose a JD "poem" for you that I think is a beautiful, peaceful song to listen to. Easy listening, that's what I'm all about. Enjoy!

First Avenue

Terry and I, along with Katie and Nikki went to First Avenue last night. Katie heard that She and Him were going to be there. Prior to last evening, my affection for Zooey Deschanel's singing talent was limited to the great job she did singing in one of the best movies of all time...Elf, of course. Just to refresh your memory, here she is.



Anywho, she, Zooey, is the "She" in the band "She and Him". They were at First Avenue.

For those of you who might care, First Avenue is on the corner of 7th Street and First Avenue in Minneapolis. It was the original Greyhound Bus Depot. Then, in the late 60's, the bus depot moved and it became a music club called The Depot. The Depot morphed into Uncle Sam's (remember the blue wall and the entry looking like a top hat?), Uncle Sam's morphed into First Avenue. Throughout the years, Prince showed up, so did U2, and last night She and Him were there singing. Great fun.

Last night was a big night for those closely following the music scene in Minneapolis because The Wiggles were just across the street at the Target Center.

Opening for She and Him was Becky Stark. I love kitsch. And, she is the personification if it. Terry, I'm sure loved the piercing soprano. I loved the polyester green vintage 70's formal, the thrift shop guitar, and the fake red roses in her hair. In honor of the venue, she started with her very own rendition of "Purple Rain". A cappella, mind you. Having never heard of her before, it took a minute to figure her out, but after that, I found her hysterical, in spite of her "Save the planet" banter. Really how can you be offended by comments like, "Ours is the best planet in the whole world."

All in all, it was an enjoyable night out with the girls and hubby. Downtown was hoppin' last night and we ended by having a little snack across the street at the Hard Rock, on the outdoor patio.

So, perhaps that concludes the summer tour of clubs that started with Terry, his sister Diane, and me heading over to Lee's Liquor Lounge on Glenwood to hear nephew Jeremy drummin' away with his band. And, let me tell you, Lee's is a classy place...oh, no wait, it's a kitschy place, that's what I meant to say.

The Roundabout Post

I knew eventually I would need to do a post about "The Roundabout".

Last summer, the girls and I decided on a day trip to the Medford Outlet Mall. As we exited off of I-35, in the tiny town of Medford, MN we encountered our first Minnesota roundabout. My immediate thought was, "Oh, man, everyone wants to be European. What a stupid waste of taxpayer $$$."

Then, as if that were not enough, they tore up 70th Street between France and York last year and put in three, count 'em, three roundabouts between the Galleria and the shops on the Target side.

We laughed (and cowered in fright) every time we entered one and watched confused Scandinavians try to negotiate these strange road circles.

Some would enter without yielding to the traffic already in the roundabout. Others, would go the wrong way (in the US, we go counterclockwise through roundabouts). What foolishness, I thought.

However, to demonstrate my openmindedness, I would now like to go on record as saying that the roundabout is one of the more ingenious traffic improvements ever.

I say this for a few reasons, not the least of which is the number of idiotic, insane drivers I have observed in the last month or so, who seem to think that a yellow light means "speed up." Almost every time I have driven lately, I have seen at least TWO cars SPEED through red lights. And, I mean red lights. I am not counting the enter on yellow as it turns red, I mean the speed up and enter on red cars.

Yesterday was an especially interesting day as I took Beth to the Oxboro Library for her 3:00 book club. We were sitting at the intersection of 90th and Penn in Bloomington headed east on 90th Street. We were stopped (not sure what color the light was actually) and I looked up to see a black SUV zipping, and I mean zipping, through the intersection headed south on Penn.

I said, "Oh, man, look at that guy Beth, he is obviously speeding."

As soon as those words got out of my mouth, I looked up and saw another speeding car head south through that intersection. This one, however, had red flashing lights, and the words POLICE on the side. This speeding car was followed by another one with the red lights, and another, and another. Over a dozen all told speeding through the intersection after said black SUV. Quite the spectacle, I must say.

When all the commotion was over, we cautiously continued our journey East, looking carefully at each intersection in case the black SUV doubled back.

I told Beth that I had never seen anything like that and that I was pretty sure it was all going to end with the guy flipping the car and getting out and running. (As I learned later, it did!)

In addition to speeding bad drivers and speeding criminals at intersections, the roundabout could have proven very effective if you had ever been sitting innocently at the intersection of France and 106th on a mid-April day in 2005 in your less than a year old Honda Accord and suddenly observed a car making a left turn on red being T-boned by an SUV headed south going through the intersection on red and found the T-boned car spinning in a circle hurling itself at your car as I did. There were 2 severely injured little boys in the T-boned car (they ended up okay), but looking back, it made a great case for the roundabout.

Basically the roundabout is designed to make intersections safer as the traffic flows better. What more could you want in an intersection? Reduce the occurrence and/or severity of accidents and injuries, stop or at least slow down criminals being chased by the FBI, and all the while keep traffic flowing.


So, I say, hip, hip, hooray for the roundabout.

Olympic Tribute

In honor of the summer Olympics, I offer you this masterpiece.

Sorry, I have to link this post since it seems to want to play non-stop if I put it directly here. So, here's the link.