Hot Damn! Why didn't I think of that....

I am not a big-time Heloise fan, but as a fellow Texan, I read one today that is so straight-forward that it is mind boggling! Especially in this rain-making, ark building world that little Albert Gore, the "Chicken Little" is creating. How simple is this: from "Peg M" in Houston:

"Take your important documents, IRS Returns, mortgages, deeds, birth certificates, marriage licenses, and all that there stuff and --- like you know --what ever -- wills, and stuff!

And do what: Why- just seal those little devils up in your FOOD VACUUM SEALER, (Yes, that same machine you seal your old hamburgers and leftover foods in). They get skinny, take up less space and..:

Then, come hurricane, tornado, flood, or just a bad Saturday night... those documents are gonna take less space, stay dry, and save your Butt!

I am not being facetious here folks.. I think Heloise and Peg have provided a thought for us all --- even those of us who put everything in a safe-deposit box. Sealed is good! Hey - do what you think is best!

But thanks for the heads up!

Heloise and Peg!

Secrets of Your Hard Drive...

C'mon now - confess! You have been using that PC for years now and you can talk the talk, you might even be able to walk the walk, but you are hoping nobody ever asks you how a hard drive finds and reads a file..... admit it! Two minutes with this video and you are going to be so hi-tech oriented that you'll feel like debating Bill Gates and offering him advice! Not! But almost... this is so well done even I understood it: http://my.break.com/media/view.aspx?ContentID=300852

It's only a rumor.."The War is Lost!

Many of us are old enough to remember when Speaker of the House, Jim Wright (D-Texas) had to resign as Speaker of the House as a result of the scandal over the sales of his vanity book, "Reflections of a Public Man", after only two years as Speaker back in 1989.

Well now, I have been told from the highest sources that the rumors that Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid (D-Nevada) is about to publish his vanity book, "How Toastmasters International Made Me a Dynamic Speaker!" is totally untrue. Further, I have been advised that Toastmasters International did not threaten a law suit for libel and slander if he should publish such a book.

You heard it here first!

Love him or hate him....

No matter what your opinion of Newt Gingrich is, you have to appreciate his clarity as a speaker. You never walk away wondering what he really said or how he really feels about a subject. Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on your point of view - he'll never be President, but he surely will continue to get lazy minds to thinking.
I'd pay serious money to see him debate one-on-one with any of the current presidential wannabe's from either party. And I don't mean one of these phony sound bite, talking point, dog and pony shows... I'm speaking of a debate in it's truest sense.
Anyway - for more on Newt --- check out this little discourse;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15D3ElV1Jzw&mode=user&search=

He should have looked deeper!

When President Bush looked into Vladimer Putin's heart and saw a "good man", he should have looked a little deeper. He might have spotted a few of Adolf Hitler's genes floating around through those ventricles. Youth camps designed for procreating.... book gathering and burning by youth groups... organized youth movement groups transported from site to site for the purpose of harassing and shouting down opposition... where does it lead - one wonders?

Today's article in the London Daily Mail is a little lengthy, but a good read, albeit a little disturbing when taken in context with other recent happenings.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=471324&in_page_id=1770&ICO=NEWS&ICL=TOPART

On Smoking......

He stood there facing the firing squad

His hands were tied behind

Refused the benefit of blindfold

To keep a focus in his mind

His eyes glued on the red telephone

Next to the Warden's post

Still hoping for the Governor's call

A reprieve to save his toast

He asked for a final cigarette

But coughed and spat it in the weeds

Stared straight out at the shooters

Forgiving them their deeds

"READY" ordered the squad captain

Five rifles raised and locked

"AIM" became his next command

All five rifles aimed and cocked

Then at last the phone rang out

Sounding like an Angel's choir

But some idiot spotted the smoldering butt

Then panicked and shouted ... "FIRE!"--

* * *

(You've heard that smoking can be dangerous to your health!)

[© 2004 Pecozbill]

Just when you thought you could relax ...

About illegal immigration, amnesty and all those ugly topics.... here it rises it's ugly head again.
Not only is Senator (Senior Rino) Spector proposing new immigration policies in the dead of night, as is Senator (Mr Excitement) Harry Reid, but now we hear that the shamnesty folks have decided to bring in Red, White & Blue Chamber of Commerce folks arguing for 'open borders". A Pox on all their houses!!!!!

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=070726140104.dhsxetdd&show_article=1

As 'Ol Pecozbill recalls -- one of the prime functions of the federal government is to protect our borders ---- not decide which soda pop should be in our schools or what the speed limit should be!

Hey Brothers and Sisters -- have you called your Senators and Congressperson lately? This might be the time----

Edwards: "They want to shut me up"!

The Breck Girl is pitching a hissy fit. He thinks that the press is not granting him appropriate 'gravitas". Excuse me, but back in my Air Force days, I used to get two haircuts a week, and didn't spend $400 per year, much less per hair cut! Admittedly - each hair was only a half inch long --.

Now on a 'poverty tour' from his mansion, he releases this "youtube" candid shot -- note the microphone boom held by one assistant and note that the Youtube release was by one of his assistants.... Gee what a surprise!

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0707/Edwards_They_want_to_shut_me_up.html

Maybe it was just a bad hair day.... dont'cha know? BTW - if you were a very rich trial lawyer, who happened to strike lightning and get one term in the US Senate - looked re-election defeat in the face and decided that a legacy of "almost Vice President" was better than 'failed one term US Senator', what would you do?

Should Washington cut off sending our Federal Tax dollars to New Haven, Conn.?

You just read the question, let me pose the reason for it. After you link to today's local New Haven TV Stations news report, come on back and share some comments on what you think? Hopefully (read as a week or two) I'll be able to place a live poll right here... but not just yet. So old Sparky and me are counting on you coming back and sharing your thoughts by clicking on that little "comments" button right underneath this entry!
OK, here's the link - but y'all come back now, hear?: http://www.wtnh.com/global/story.asp?s=6849900

A Brain Surgeon He Ain't!!

Picture the scene, you arrive late at the departure gate just minutes after they have closed the boarding ramp door. What do you do? Why -- call 911 and report a bomb aboard the plane! Then they'll have to return the plane to the gate... right? WRONG CALL!

I just hope this M.D. is not thinking of specializing in "brain surgery"!

http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070727/NEWS01/707270418/1001

A Texas Blessing!

Our 80th Legislative session just ended here in Texas, that's right, 80 Sessions in 151 years of Statehood. The citizens of Texas are the beneficiaries of the foresight of some wise, conservative Texas politicians in the year of our Statehood - 1846. When they wrote our constitution, they made the two house State Legislature the strongest of the three branches of Texas government. Then they limited it by establishing that it shall only meet once every two years (odd numbered) and then only for 140 days!

Makes for some frantic legislative sessions, but lets them do the budgeting and minimal law creation necessary and then sends them home for a year and a half to live with the results of their work. The Governor can call them back for a special session (and has on several occasions) when the need arises, but they can't call themselves back into session. Further, during their special session, they can only act on that specific purpose identified by the Governor when the Special Session is called.

Lest some of you get to thinking that the Governor, unhampered by a sitting state legislature might get into serious mischief between sessions, let me point out that those same wise men of 1846, seriously limited the powers of the Office of Governor.

During a recent six year stay in New York, I had the opportunity to observe a full time state legislature operate..... Plumb Scary!! If it's a full time job, a representative feels that he must justify his pay and expenses by creating more and more and more legislation! Come to think of it, that's a problem we have in Washington D.C. as well. Just muse for a minute -- how much less scary would this country be if our Congress only met 140 days every other year - or even every year.
Just think, you could take your hand off your billfold and let your daughters out of the house all the rest of the year!!


Serious students that doubt such a government system could work for a State with 24 Million citizens and with a GSP (gross state product) in excess of One Trillion dollars per year (if ranked as a country this would make Texas the 8th largest GNP in the world) might want to go to:

http://tarlton.law.utexas.edu/constitutions/text/1876index.html for further study.

John Doe Lives!

I am absolutely delighted to report that my eulogy over the death of the "John Doe" amendment to the Homeland Security Bill was premature and exaggerated! The Bill passed the
Senate by a 57 - 39 vote.

For details and to see how your Senator voted go to: http://michellemalkin.com/2007/07/25/john-doe-wins/

If you missed my original comments and wonder what I am talking about - look below to "R.I.P. John Doe" of July 20th

Woulda? Coulda? Shoulda?

With the evil perpetrated on the unfortunate doctor and his beautiful family in Connecticut this week, I don't want to sensationalize the event in here, nor second guess the victims, but I feel that some comment is warranted. When I first read the headlines, I once again thanked the powers that be that here in the Great State of Texas, personal handguns for home protection are available and legal, The police can't protect all of us all the time!

Thus, I assumed that Connecticut was one of those liberal Yankee states that prohibit the ownership of such weapons. Imagine my amazement when I found that they are not only legal, but are allowed in multiples in that state. If the good doctor (husband and father) had purchased a couple of handguns, trained himself, wife and daughters in the safe use of such weapons -- and hid them strategically around the house... might these two evil doers armed only with their prison bulked strength and an air rifle, have been thwarted and driven off. We'll never know.
It has happened in Connecticut in the recent past:


Homeowner fends off armed home invaders
(Originally ran here as:"Armed homeowner scares off invaders"June 30, 2001, The Republican-American)

NEW FAIRFIELD, CONNECTICUT - Two suspects were being sought Friday in an armed home invasion attempt that failed when a victim fired a gun.
The incident took place about 10:30 p.m. Thursday when a couple returned to their home after an evening out, state police said.
Two men armed with a rifle rushed the couple arriving at home and forced their way inside. A struggle followed and the homeowner fired a gun several times, causing the suspects to flee.
The two men fled the home in a Chevy Blazer that later was involved in an accident. The suspects fled on foot.
A search of the area by state troopers and police dogs failed to turn up any trace of the suspects.
No one was injured, state police said.

Where is Everett Dirkson, when we need him?

This little gem crossed my desk today friends, and because it actually sources it's statements, I thought I would post it in here. Now before any of you get your knickers in a twist - remember, nothing in here discusses LEGAL IMMIGRANTS of any ethnic persuasion. Just ILLEGAL immigrants!

14 Reasons to Deport Illegal Aliens...

1. $11 Billion to $22 billion is spent on welfare to illegal aliens each year. http://tinyurl.com/zob77
2. $2.2 Billion dollars a year is spent on food assistance programs such as food stamps, WIC, and free school lunches for illegal aliens. http://www.cis.org/articles/2004/fiscalexec.html
3. $2.5 Billion dollars a year is spent on Medicaid for illegal aliens. http://www.cis.org/articles/2004/fiscalexec.html
4. $12 Billion dollars a year is spent on primary and secondary school education for children here illegally and they cannot speak a word of English! http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/01/ldt.0.html
5. $17 Billion dollars a year is spent for education for the American-born children of illegal aliens, known as anchor babies. http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/01/ldt.01.html
6. $3 Million Dollars a DAY is spent to incarcerate illegal aliens. http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/01/ldt.01.html
7. 30% percent of all Federal Prison inmates are illegal aliens. http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/01/ldt.01.html
8. $90 Billion Dollars a year is spent on illegal aliens for Welfare & social services by the American taxpayers. http://premium.cnn.com/TRANSCIPTS/0610/29/ldt.01.html
9. $200 Billion Dollars a year in suppressed American wages are caused by the illegal aliens. http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/01/ldt.01.html
10. The illegal aliens in the United States have a crime rate that's two and a half times that of white non-illegal aliens. In particular, their children, are going to make a huge additional crime problem in the United States . http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0606/12/ldt.01.html
11. During the year of 2005 there were 4 to 10 MILLION illegal aliens that crossed our Southern Border also, as many as 19,500 illegal aliens from Terrorist Countries. Millions of pounds of drugs, cocaine, meth, heroine and marijuana, crossed into the U. S. from the Southern border. Homeland Security Report: http://tinyurl.com/t9sht
12. The National Policy Institute, "estimated that the total cost of mass deportation would be between $206 and $230 billion or an average cost of between $41 and $46 billion annually over a five year period." http://www.nationalpolicyinstitute.org/pdf/deportation.pdf
13. In 2006 illegal aliens sent home $45 BILLION in remittances back to their countries of origin. http://www.rense.com/general75/niht.htm
14. "The Dark Side of Illegal Immigration: Nearly One Million Sex Crimes Committed by Illegal Immigrants In The United States ". http://www.drdsk.com/articleshtml

So using the LOWEST estimates, the annual cost OF ILLEGAL ALIENS is $338.3 BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR! So if deporting them costs between $206 and $230 BILLION DOLLARS, we would still be ahead after the 1st year!!!

And with all this, the threat of terrorism isn't even put on the list... Would that be a big #15 or what?

The Oscar Winner this year should be...

For originality, artwork, and MESSAGE, this video should run Moore's documentaries right out of town! It's seven minutes long, but well worth the investment in time--- so click on, sit back and breathe the air of the "Greatest Generation" ! But don't blame me if you throw things at your TV the next time Dingy Harry or Hellary comes on... Y'all come back soon, you hear?


http://townhall.com/blog/g/4175eff3-91f3-4639-b7a6-fe982e8f4355

Two Big Questions of 2007!

Well, breaking news friends! One of the two big questions of the year has been answered. The biggest questions being of course; who will replace Rosie O'Donald on the View and who will replace Bob Barker on The Price is Right?

The answer to the second question was answered on Monday when it was announced that TV veteran Drew Carrey will be the new host of thirty-five year old The Price is Right! Now we can go back to worrying about question one..... Fortunately, we have all the Miss America contestants to worry about the little questions - you know, like World Peace, hunger and starvation.....

I'm Not a Pessimist but...

Color me in pessimist colors on this one. Prisoner Pink?

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/93611

How long before some liberal Federal Judge, like 87 year old William Wayne Justice of Texas (appointed by LBJ), or the infamous, ultra liberal 9th District Court of Appeals out in California (the most overturned court in the history of free man) jumps in here and shuts down the All American Sheriff?

Great Finish to British Open!

Those of you who missed watching the last nine holes of the British Open on Sunday missed a truly fantastic finish! The lead changed on almost every hole. Young Argentinean Romero didn't have a single par on the back nine -- he had 6 birdies, 2 double bogie's and a bogie for a net one under for the nine!

Congrats to Paddy Harrington on his first win at a Major, most deserving! I had to ask myself, if Tiger, Stricter, or Cink had won and then paraded around draped in "Old Glory" the way Paddy did with the Irish flag, what would the Euro tabloids be saying today?

But what the hey! It was a great tournament with no run-away winner that was suspenseful thru the four play off holes. And everybody agrees four playoff holes is better than one hole "sudden death" playoffs for Majors and certainly better than coming back the next day for 18 holes.

It's been 40+ years since I lived in Scotland, I'd forgotten that it stays daylight 'til 10 p.m. during July!

What Is The Value of "It"?

How many times have we heard some vapid field reporter, some anchor with great hair, or well coiffed anchorette ask THE BIG QUESTION: Is it worth it? That has always troubled me. They never define what the "it" is.

You will recall that we recently had a President who went to great lengths to question what the meaning of "is" is:

"It depends on what the meaning of the word 'is' is. If the--if he--if 'is' means is and never has been, that is not--that is one thing. If it means there is none, that was a completely true statement....Now, if someone had asked me on that day, are you having any kind of sexual relations with Ms. Lewinsky, that is, asked me a question in the present tense, I would have said no. And it would have been completely true."

Now I pose the question: What is the "it" that something must be worth in that question up in the first paragraph? If the question is put to President Bush or Secretary Rice: "Considering how the war in Iraq is moving, do you think it was worth it"? I repeat, what is the "it"?

If the question is fully phrased, it would conclude ".....do you think that it was worth protecting our homeland from more attacks and preventing the rapid spread of Al-Qaeda throughout the Middle East?

Sure would be nice to see the President, a Governor, a Senator or Mayor insist the reporter define the "it" before answering one of these inarticulate, dodge ball questions! Just a thought!

Kind of makes you wonder if watching the evening news is "worth it"!

Infrastructure? Where is the glory?

How might we turn around the neglect and lack of attention to the infrastructure in our cities and towns? We all just watched the streets of New York blow up because of 100 year old steam pipes and roadways.

I remember when we drove from Texas to Long Island in 1988 to begin a new career, I passed through the lower level of the George Washington Bridge. A beautiful bridge in pictures, I unconsciously ducked under hanging strips of paint, beams, and rusted sections glowing in sunset orange over my head.

How could this state of disrepair be? I passed through the pot holed streets of New York, and asked: "How could this be?"

I know that Senator Robert C Byrd (D-WV) has more than forty buildings, bridges, and highways named after him, criss crossing his home state of West Virginia. Pork dollars brought home that are five times the national average. How does a government, local, county, state, or Fed, create such engineering marvels and then let them disintegrate? The answer I think is "The Brass Plaque'!

(psst - you gotta click on this one and grin) but be sure to hit the back arrow to return!)

That's it --if one builds a new building, builds a bridge, a Brass Plaque is placed in a prominent place to recognise your largesse in the expenditures of the taxpayer's money!! On the other hand, if you spend the taxpayer's money on a sanding and paint job, or a retrofit of a public property, new pipes -- nobody cares or recognises your effort.

Let's create a new program wherein 1% of all infrastructure repair moneys are dedicated to Brass Plaques to the city councils and officers approving such work. Think of a Brass Plaque signifying that "The potholes on this main thoroughfare were filled by Mayor----- etc." on such and such a date. The Plaque being prominently displayed.

Imagine the George Washington Bridge being sanded, primed, and painted and then --- a Brass plaque being mounted signifying the event - with the names of the city officials and staff members that made it happen!

Hollywood Stars? Let's place one near every repaired street, re-painted bridge, upgraded tunnel, replaced sewer system! Placing a star with the department manager's name on or near the site of the repairs

Now let's watch the increase in infrastructure repairs being made across the country! Hot Damnnnnn!

Weekend Musings....

Because we have been cooped up inside so long here in Texas surrounded by all these unfamiliar rainstorms, I've had the opportunity to ruminate a couple of topics that have niggled at my left brain for some years now. I am going to release them and let them fly free here this weekend!
Tomorrow -- How to bring the infrastructure of our cities into the 21st Century! And on Sunday--- What is the value of "IT"? Stay tuned.....(but drink lots of coffee)

Man's Best Friend!

Ladies - looking for a gift for that man who has everything (almost)? Look no further!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=80WIiRM_uEE

"John Doe Bill" - R.I.P

Last evening, the Democrats in Congress quietly assassinated and buried the "John Doe" Amendment to the Homeland Security Bill. This is the law that would have protected individual citizens from civil lawsuit liability if (when) they report suspicious behavior in airports, subways and other public places. The good folks that have been suing anybody that does report such suspicions, the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), spent a lot of money buying these votes. Seems like I've discussed prostitution in DC somewhere else in here? For the rest of the story click on:
http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2007/07/dnc-kill-john-doe-poster-campaign.html
or:
http://michellemalkin.com/

Our Bad?

In this week's column, Ann Coulter tosses out a larger portion of her red meat rhetoric than usual, but the final six paragraphs are good reading! Like her or not, she does take one's brain out of cruise control and make you downshift and think! And as another well known blonde says, 'That's a good thing.....'
http://www.anncoulter.com/cgi-local/welcome.cgi

Dodged That Bullet!

I don't know how many of you were aware of OSHA's latest adventure, one which would have extended their nose and rules into the gun laws of this country - but we dodged that bullet! With their proposed rules, even Barney Fife would have had to turn in his bullet -- and the Lone Ranger would have been banned from handing those silver bullets out!
Gun owners and hobbyists have to keep our eyes peeled 'cause between the UN, the Feds, Washington and the bureaucracy in general... they're going to go around the Second Amendment and get our guns yet.
For the full story - go to: http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Read.aspx?ID=3162

Seeing Stars!

Good news for tired eyes... Just when I was going to throw out my brand new breakfast room LCD TV because it was so blurry in the morning, I saw a split-screen interview between Dianne Sawyer (61) and Bill Clinton (61) this morning. She was her usual diaphanous, filmy and youthful self, but Bubba looked bright, crisp and maturely wrinkled on the other side of the same screen. Egads! You don't suppose that hard news ABC's GMA uses some magic lens filter while focusing on Kentucky's American Junior Miss of 1963 do you?
Don't throw out those TVs folks, or rush off to your Opticians... it's only a temporary vision problem from 7-9 a.m. on weekdays !

Cause for Optimism!

- I note in recent polls, that the President's approval rating is at a dismal 34% and Congress's has dropped to an abysmal 23%. These numbers only reinforce my faith in the acuity of the American public!!

- Speaking of the American public, I am surprised by the number of columns, as well as letters to the editors descrying Senator Vitter's experience with the DC Madam. Most of them exclaim that "Prostitution is illegal in Washington DC!" Obviously these columnists and letter writers fail to note the many round heeled 'Hookers' who office on both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue and all the 'Johns' who office on K Street!

After several years of drought, Texas has enjoyed some serious precipitation - can you say flooding? - this year. Always on the lookout for business, better shoes stores are now offering unique high heels described as "Chic for Chicks" for those gals that are determined to drive through those infamous Texas low water crossings! Rumors abound that some of those Dallas Trust Fund Blondes are flocking to the stores!

(click on pic to enlarge - hit back arrow to return)

Gun Free Zones !

Fox News has discovered the answer to gun violence in our society. Click on this link and you'll see how you'll never have to be worried about guns and bad guys again! Gee, they really are "Fair and Balanced"!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeo05uPMmn4&eurl=

Senate Pajama Party Over !

With feathers flying figuratively, if not literally, the Senate Pajama party & Pillow Fight, aka "Silver Haired Bloviators Micro-Managers Sleep in", died with a whimper this morning. The alarm clock went off, folks voted just like they said they would vote yesterday... the vote for cloture failed, and everybody left for their milk and cookies and a nap These are the mental giants that say the the Iraqi Congress needs to pull up it's collective socks! Hah!
http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/bw-cong/2007/jul/18/071807359.html

Limousine Liberal Faux Pas Runs Amok!

Poor ole Al Gore. He can't catch a break! He no more than hosts the "Live Earth" concerts that nobody watched while celebrities piled on 225,000 noxious fume producing, carbon footed air miles to participate, but now bless his liberal, tree hugging heart --- it seems that this weekend at the Wedding Dinner he hosted for his daughter's marriage in Beverly Hills, the entree was Chilean Sea Bass ---- Numero Uno on the World's "Humane Society Internationale" endangered species list. We of the great unwashed might call these Patagonian Toothfish, but the HSI knows better!
http://www.net.org/marine/csb/flash/seabass.html
Shame Shame -- they could've eaten (corn deprived for ethanol purposes) all American Beef and caused less consternation among their fellow Greenies! The guy just can't catch a break! Next thing you know, his SUV or Limo, driven by his lead footed son (III'rd) will run over a spotted owl as it's being eaten by a bald eagle in the middle of the road!
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,22090734-5001031,00.html

THE DEADLIEST WEAPON

The jawbone of an ass killed a thousand men

In mighty Sampson's hands.

The same weapon kills ten million sales a day

By salesmen across our lands.

Indeed wars have been started - millions killed

And worse has come to pass.

Caused by politicians, czars and mullahs,

And their jawbones of an ass!!

( pecozbill -2005)

Play can you spot the Democrat?

Couldn't resist posting this picture.... sorry about that!

Will Justice Prevail?

I am told that tomorrow morning (July 17. 2007) the Senate Judiciary Committee will question John Sutton (US Attorney - West Texas) regarding his prosecution of Border Guards Compean and Ramos. Senator Cornyn has expressed concern regarding these RIDICULOUS convictions. Stay tuned and hopefully CSPAN will broadcast the hearing.
Johnny, I hope that they ask you about some of your other prosecutions of Border Guards. I'll come back to name names when and if necessary!
http://www.canadafreepress.com/2007/judi011807.htm

Yo "W", you let Scooter off the hook, how about these guys trying to do their job at a much lower paygrade?

(July 18) By way of an update, the hearings were held, Senators Cornyn (R-TX) and Boxer (D-CA) asked some pretty pointed questions. (The rest of the committee were taking naps in prep for the Pajama Party I guess) The sum results are that the two Senators will write a letter to the President asking for commutation of sentences. Ho Hummmm...
We were amazed to hear that licensed, trained, Federal Border Guards ARE NOT ALLOWED TO SHOOT AT FLEEING DRUG SMUGGLERS OR FELONS! Guess this will be posted in the drug smugglers handbook issued at the Mexican drug shipping points. What a country! Now, about those newly discovered entrepreneur coyotes smuggling only Iraqis across the border for $25K..... ?
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/07/17/Dobbs.July18/index.html?section=cnn_latest

Slugs and Body Snatchers?

I must be the last guy on the planet to have heard of the latest craze in the use of these names. No not slimy little creatures that leave a gooey trail or horror movie creatures that snatch bodies... No No!
Today these are the proper names for individuals trying to live within the crowded, congested, roadway system in our largest cities. Slugs are commuters who, instead of climbing behind the wheels of their gas guzzlers and heading to work, drive to the nearest Park & Ride where they offer their bodies in exchange for a ride into work. Not literally of course, but what they do offer Body Snatching commuter drivers is a second warm body in the car and thus enable the driver to enjoy the pleasure of using the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes in their travel to work.
Who'da thunk it! Car pools, those archaic things of the past when every family didn't have two or three autos, are being reinvented by events.
For a lengthier and very cleverly done article on these Slugs and Body Snatchers... go to:
http://www.ajc.com/opinion/content/printedition/2007/07/04/edhov0704.html
Kind of takes you back to happier times when hitch hiking was not a dangerous adventure, but rather, a way to travel and meet people....

Texas Lost a Real Lady

Texas lost a real lady this week! Lady Bird Johnson that is.... There will be eulogies to spare published across the Internet, most of them written much better than I could. But every time I drive down a Texas Highway or Interstate and see the wild flowers growing along the right of way in the Spring -- or NOT see the ugly automobile junk yards that used to pollute the view -- or NOT see the thousands of commercial billboards that used to litter the roadsides... I think of Lady Bird and her legacy. I suggest that no matter what state you live in ---- you do the same!
I won't belabor my opinion of her husband's legacy.... I'll just slow down and admire hers!
Thank you Ma'am.........

Tattoo's or "Tramp Stamps" ?

Many, many years ago I woke up one Sunday morning in my barracks at Keesler AFB with a tremendous headache and a tattoo on my right upper arm. The occasion of my first Saturday night town pass into Biloxi, Mississippi wrought the same two symptoms that thousands of young trainees suffered after their first night in town; one temporary -- but the other one permanent and life long!
I was the lucky one - my tattoo, comprised of a flying American Eagle and the initials, U.S.A.F, was not attention getting, obscene, nor personalized. Of the two barracks mates that accompanied me on my foray, one sported a cobra twisting down his forearm and the other had his hometown girlfriends name emblazoned forever inside a heart on his forearm as well. At least mine is covered by a short sleeve shirt. I lost track of these two fellow radio operator trainees, but sure hope the one went home and married the gal whose name he sported. I often thought that his future girl friends wouldn't be impressed with the previous girl friends name lined out and their names added underneath.
I am told now that a similar rite of passage is popular with young ladies. A flowery, feminine tattoo engraved forever on their young bodies in some private place. The most popular location I am told, is immediately over the coccyx - where their alternate cleavage begins. While I can understand their desire to strike a blow for independence, I have to question the wisdom of forever placing that which is now being called a "Tramp Stamp" on their still young and cute butts. As those diminuative derrieres become 'wide loads' with age and good living, those flowers and little angels blowing trumpets will remain, faded and rather silly looking, but still in view on occasion --- picture Plumber's Cleavage in middle age.

Mixed Emotions

Like many of you I suppose, I was feeling sorry for young Reserve Sgt Erik Botta. He is suing to keep from returning to Iraq because "he has been deployed four times already". Then today I saw a printout of his deployment history:

Erik Botta's Deployments:
2002: Seven months in Afghanistan
2003: One month in Iraq
2004: Three months in Iraq
Later in 2004: 15 days in Iraq

That would be eleven and one half months in 5 years. Not even one full year compared to the lengthier deployments of thousands of others. It's not for me to judge Sgt Botta, but in my head his four "deployments" look like some of John Kerry's Purple Heart wounds. In my day they called these 'TDY's', not deployments.

What do you think..........?

Anyone See That Elephant?

There is a large elephant in the room in all of the blog discussions regarding the war in Iraq that nobody seems to be addressing. There is a question beyond whether we should "stay the course" or "cut and run". To be politically correct I guess I should say the choices are "continue the surge" or "redeploy over the horizon"! In any event, the elephant to which I am referring is the unintended results if we pull up our skirts and flee the scene. Anybody here remember what happened when the last helicopter left the embassy in Vietnam?They were followed by hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese refugees (boat people) who were granted asylum in the U.S. simply because they would have been instant targets of the North Vietnamese as a result of their relationship with the U.S. military forces and/or government. Are we ready to grant instant asylum to hundreds of thousands of Iraqis if we bail out of their country. No background checks, instant ethic ghetto's (and I used that word in Dictionary, kindest sense) in our cities, and the imposition of even more demands of independent, theocratic rule in their neighborhoods. It's a question we as a country must address before making the big go - no go decision. You might want to read this article before commenting: http://www.ailf.org/ipc/refugeestoamericans.asp
If you have heard this question publicly addressed and answered, please share your findings.
July 14, 2007 6:14 AM
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Created on July 14, 2007, for the purpose of sharing thoughts on current events, politics, business hints, humor, and any other topic that seems appropriate to discuss in this forum. Comments are welcome but your host retains the right to edit or delete any comments found to be totally "over the top" or "beneath the decor of civil dialogue".