Ah, yes, good old bureaucracy...

Quietly we go like sheep to slaughter.

Does anybody out there have any memory of the reason given for the establishment of the DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, established during the Carter Administration?

We've spent several hundred billions of dollars in support of an agency ...the reason for which few people who read this can remember.

The 'Department of Energy' was instituted on 8-04-1977 TO LESSEN OUR DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN OIL.

Now 32 years later it has a budget of 26.4 billion dollars a year, 16 thousand federal employees and approximately 100,000 contract employees. And we’re still dependent on foreign oil.

Does anybody else out there see the main reason for this as being powerful lobbyists greasing the palms of career politicians?

We’ve currently turned over our entire banking system and a large segment of our automobile industry to our government and now we’re considering doing the same with health care.

What??

- Larry

Ganster Government, Stupid Americans, USAF Flyover Denied and the Duke...

Build your own custom video playlist at embedr.com

Use the slider at the bottom of the window to change videos.

- Larry. Thanks to Gus for the flyover video.

George's Bottom Line

The real story here is not what Stephanopoulos says but his readers reactions in the comment section that follows.

- Larry

JW; An American’s View of Excellence

I don’t know if anyone else refers to John Wavell as JW but I do. And I’m not sure what stirred up my memories of him. I think it was the death of Ted Kennedy (see my tribute below) and the fact that I am currently unemployed and dreaming about past jobs. Now, make no mistake, John isn’t dead, I just don’t work for him anymore. Maybe one of the biggest mistakes I ever made in my life. Jeeze…even wide eyed Bubba had enough sense to stick around and as far as I know still works for the man.

John is a man who is not afraid to stand up and speak his mind; tell it like it is. When I worked for him, more than once, he gathered up all of us who worked for him and told us (each individual one of us) if we didn’t do a better job he was going to shut the business down.

Against his doctor’s orders he opened up his sandwich and put more salt on it, every time, to his tasting.

I asked him for a raise once and before he granted it to me he went into a rant about how he was thinking about firing me and later actually went through the motion of printing out a Christmas bonus check written out for exactly $0.00 (canceling out a loan I had with him).

JW is an entrepreneur and thrives in our capitalistic society, a man who knows how to make a buck and provided me and 20+ other people with a good paying job.

I sat in on meetings, as a middle manager, making decisions on health care issues as I had done before with other employers. The difference between John and my other experiences was that John wasn’t interested in screwing his employees and making more money for himself. He was seeking the best deal for all; trying to save a buck for all.

I subscribe to John’s view of excellence; his demand for excellence. Excellence costs what excellence delivers. Believe me, it’s well worth the cost.

I choose to live in JW’s America. When it comes to saving my life with quality health care, I’ll turn over my entire pot of gold.

I learned a lot from JW. I haven't spoken to him in years and wish him well.

- Larry

P.S. – Wavell-Huber Wood Products provides you with the highest quality level of wood products available on the planet, from your kitchen table to your entire corporate environment.

A (soon to be) Famous Quote

"As long as you make your bed in the morning, life will go on."

- My Mother

Exercise your mind, stay informed...

After reading these articles I believe CIA personnel should be investigated for breaking the rules. I'm not a fan of 'international law' but after seeing dash cam videos of police abuse we need to keep an eye on all of the people who 'monitor' our personal actions.

What I object to, even in the case of the dashboard video cams, is doing it in public. It creates a negative perception to most all viewers and readers. As if the entire organization was corrupt. Ask yourself, how many times have you seen a video of a 'nice' police cam traffic stop or read about when CIA interrogators offered sympathy, compassion and rewards to detainees? People like this actually exist and in fact are in the majority.

The scientific nature of the ordinary man is to go out on and do the best he can (turn up the volume).

If you are short on time, at least read the last article, 'The Real CIA News' posted by the Wall Street Journal. It sums up the first two articles.

Investigating the CIA Helps Preserve National Security:
Predictably as always, the Republicans in Congress and in the conservative media are berating Attorney General Eric Holder for deciding to investigate the CIA's use of abusive interrogation methods on terror suspects.

Investigating the CIA is a Huge Mistake:

The Obama administration's decision to release a previously classified 2004 CIA interrogation report and appoint a special prosecutor to look into possible misdeeds by personnel involved in questioning high-value terrorists is a huge mistake.

The Real CIA News:

Whoever advised people to be skeptical of what they read in the papers must have had in mind this week's coverage of the documents about CIA interrogations. Decide for yourself.

- Larry (music by John Prine, the 'other' Bob Dylan).

In Tribute To a Great Man

 

Jeeze... I say something derogatory about the man (scroll down to the NPR thing) in somewhat of a public forum one time and one time only in my life and he up and dies the next day.

Seriously, I didn't agree with his politics most of the time and that Mary Jo thing could of happened to anyone of us, and we'd all like to be born with a silver spoon in our mouths. Regardless, he was a great man. For standing up and speaking out for what he believed in, for trying to make a difference, for serving his country and serving it well.

It sounds like he was prepared to meet his maker; was at peace with himself when passing into his next life and I think that says a lot about a man's character. God bless him and those he left behind.

- Larry

Photo is from public domain.

Is it too late to vote for the white guy?

- Thanks, Andy.

From “For the Grandchildren.com”

As Obama’s Presidency sinks, and his healthcare plan continues to fall apart, mention of dropping the ‘public option’ has enraged his far-left base. As a diversion, and as a sop to them, Obama has backed away from previous promises and has thrown the CIA to the wolves. He has named a special prosecutor to investigate, harass and possibly prosecute CIA interrogators who saved us from a dreaded second attack – thus ensuring that no-one will want to serve our country in this role again – to the detriment of all of us and to the deaths of some of us.

This is a huge mistake, because Americans overwhelmingly support the actions taken to protect us, and because of the damage it does to the CIA and to our military – who have already been instructed to extend Constitutional rights to Al Qaeda soldiers captured on the battlefield. We must wonder, is this administration crazy?

- Russell Wilcox, a college professor with an MBA from Harvard. To read the rest of this excellent post; A Disgraceful Ploy But Bound to Fail, click here.

Hurricane Katrina, New Mexico and the love of my life.

Shortly after Cathy and I discovered we were in love we took a two week break and went on an exploratory trip through Utah, Nevada, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico. We wanted to relocate, get away from our current surroundings and start a new life together.

We were both bold explorers; double Leos to boot. The only navigation tool we had was a $1.50 fold up paper map that laid out interstate highways and paved state roads. We didn’t have a credit card between us or a cell phone (they hadn’t been invented yet) and we were traveling in a 10 year old van on questionable tires.

Using only the sun and the stars and our common sense we fearlessly ventured down roads less traveled, many of them unpaved and unmarked. Sometimes we even made our own roads. We were in love, nothing else mattered. There was no targeted destination.

There was a small lake at the end of a dirt road, as high as you can get in the mountains of New Mexico. It was hours off of our map. It was a mirror, reflecting its own frame; shimmering aspens and tall pines bathed in the light of a dramatic and blazing sunset. It was one of the most beautiful sights I’ve ever seen in my life; an engram on my mind.

We couldn’t figure out why there was no one else there. In Utah there would have been so many people wanting to camp there the Forest Service or the National Park System would have long before claimed the property in the interest of the public and be charging a fee just to look at it.

About an hour later our question was answered. Misquotes, the size of Volkswagens descended upon us in unrelenting swarms and began sucking our dreams away. One of them even got away with a lawn chair.

It wasn’t funny. They left swollen, quarter sized lumps on our skin that itched insanely and eventually scabbed over and bled.

We successfully neutralized the calamity in Durango, Colorado with copious amounts of tequila and victoriously made it home.

A few months later we moved to Colorado Springs, got married and gave birth to two beautiful daughters, Amy & Lindsey.

Such memories, so long ago.

Twenty-three years later I was watching reports and conclusive opinions about the devastating effects of hurricane Katrina on a TV in a motel room in Big Spring, Texas and realized that what happened to Cathy and I in New Mexico so long ago was not only the fault of my government but could have been entirely preventable.

For God’s sake, the forest service or the NPS, the state the county or the closest city government should have posted warnings about the dangers of hanging around a lake infested with mutant mosquitoes. Better yet, someone, the mayor, the town crier, the governor or Ronald Reagan should have fumigated the entire area to prevent such an event. And then I had to ask myself, why was the lake there in the first place?

Freakin’ stupid, incompetent Army Corps of Engineers would be my best guess.

And why wasn’t there someone at the bottom of the hill with a suave to sooth our pain? What’s this country coming to?

It gets worse than you can even imagine. Later on I realized the mosquitoes were intentionally planted in the lake by our government to help the world rid itself of ignorant men and women, unnecessarily destroying our environment by driving on dirt roads created by mindless men and women unnecessarily creating their own roads.

I'm guilty as can be.

- Larry

Even NPR sees through the veil...

In my mind this article exposes a lot more than just "politics as usual." It exposes the tired old worn out suit worn by the Democratic party's Emperor.

- Larry

'Angry White Man'

I've been avoiding this 'Angry White Man' issue for some time now and will continue to do so for a little while longer, so don't hold your breath.

In the mean time, here's the definition of an 'Angry White Man' through the eyes of an 'Angry Black Man':

"Someone from a demographic that has the majority of Senators, Law Enforcement officials, Congressman, State Governors, Judges, the top richest people in society, the majority of management positions, yet still thinks he's oppressed because you won't let him call you nigger."

"Usually ends up sending letter bombs or killing and eating the women who won't sleep with his bitter, self-righteous ass."

Example:

Angry White Man: "How come I have to pay you slave reparations?"

Average black person: "You've never paid slave reparations."

Angry White Man: "How come I have to pay this illegal immigrant?"

Average black person: "Because you hired him."

Humm... this doesn't help me at all.

- Larry

For You Men Out There

Everyone knows the Saxophone is sexy. In fact the inventor actually named it the Sexophone but misspelled it on his patent application.

 After watching this video I think the Sax may be playing 'second fiddle' behind these ladies. Watch it in full screen mode and crank up the volume. You women out there will love it too. It's just a great stage act.

- Larry

Two of my favorite quotes.

"I'm not afraid of dying, I just don't want to be there when it happens."
-Woody Allen

"I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they get up in the morning, that's the best they're going to feel all day."
- Dean Martin

Perhaps Dylan Thomas said it best...

...on death and dying.

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

I'll just add one verse here -

And you Obama, with your lofty sight,

Curse you, and your freedom sucking Czars,

Your single payer scam, your foolish cash for cars,

Rage, rage against our dying rights.

- Larry (couldn't help myself).

NEWS FLASH! Death panels already exist...

This is a long and serious post involving the death of my father. I’m posting it because it dovetails with today’s debate about Obamacare. If you are not in the mood for such or don’t have the time, scroll on down for some more light hearted stuff.

Death panels? They already exist. They’ve existed ever since people started dying.

I know for certain as I was a member on one of them.

The other members were my sister, a heart surgeon, an attending head physician (specialized in the specific calamities affecting the patient), the head administrator of the ICU, a hospital administrator, a mediator (employed by the hospital) and my father’s brother. NOT present were any government officials or health insurance representatives or any professional patient advocates.

We had about a half dozen meetings. Not everyone was always present and they were always called at the brink of potentially explosive emotional outbursts.

Years prior, my father had been diagnosed as having sarcoidosis of the lungs. He survived a bout with prostate cancer and now at 76 years of age his heart was failing. At this stage in his life his condition was at best, fragile. His doctors were at a loss. Treating one condition aggravated the other. As such my father knew for certain death was just around the corner. So much so, he posted instructions as to what to do if his death should occur suddenly, taped to the wall in his kitchen. As a detailed, oriented taskmaster it was only obvious that he also had a living will. In it he expressed his desire to not be put on life support of any kind should he end up in the hospital.

His living will stated that in the event he could not communicate his daughter and I were to have the legal power to speak for him. I believe that the very day I drove him to the ER he knew it was the beginning of the end of his life and that he was not going to be returning to his earthly home ever again. I could see it in his eyes. It didn’t help that the head doctor on duty practically yelled out across the room after checking him out the equivalent of “dead man dying.” I could hardly believe my ears. I’ll never forget that day.

From my perspective, and I believe from the perspective of both my sister and my father’s brother, all of us who watched him suffer from that day on only wanted to do what was spelled out in his living will, written specifically to avoid the pain and suffering of all involved. Aware of his fate he told me he wanted to go gently into the night and die with dignity.

Yes… at first when he could no longer communicate, and serious life ending considerations were left up to us we sometimes questioned his desires and even our own decisions.

From the perspective of the health care workers, from top to bottom, they wanted to keep him alive as long as possible and their reasoning was at times quite convincing.

But there came a time when the inevitable was obvious and my father’s wishes and ours as his spokesmen were blatantly ignored. He had DNR (do not resuscitate) written in red on the white board next to his name at the nurse’s station. They resuscitated him twice, once after he tore off the life support systems attached to his body throwing the apparatus across his room in frustration and/or anger. When he got to the state when he could barely be understood he would whisper in my ear “tell them to let me go.” When he could no longer speak and hardly control the shaking of his hand he would manage to scratch out the same message on a piece of paper.

After each request, “important” health care workers would be summoned to his room and they would in short order, demand we leave his room. They would emerge reporting at first that he didn’t know what he was talking about because his mind was clouded with the drugs that they were dripping into his veins to suppress his pain. Later they resorted by just explaining that he “changed his mind.” His heart surgeon, at one of our “death panel” meetings actually accused my sister and I of wanting our father dead so we could profit from his estate. A desperate and baseless accusation as the man had nothing left in his financial accounts beyond a few thousand dollars. And no one in our family was interested in such.

It got to the point towards the end where I would go home and shed tears in part thinking about his suffering and in part from the frustration of not being able to figure out what was going on. Why wasn’t he dead? Why was there such a massive effort to keep him alive when it was so obvious his vital organs were no longer working? I was his only son for Christ’s sake. I asked him to be clear, I prayed about my decisions.

This was a real “head crank” for me and I believe also for all who were involved. I could go on for another few pages but I won’t. It was a very complex situation and my father only made it worse at the very end by revealing that he didn’t really want to die because he was afraid to face a harsh judgment in the afterlife that he so fervently believed in for the sins he committed in his past. That’s some pretty heavy stuff. Something I guess we’ll all have to face at our own transition.

In the end, and to this day I do not believe there was any profit motive or any other diabolical plan by either the hospital or insurance companies or even the government to keep my father alive. My father shunned Medicaid and I witnessed the “worker bees” of health care fervently doing what they were trained to do; keeping people alive. My God, the ICU was so full they hardly had the time to meet and formulate a grand plan to “fleece” my father and his family. I saw people who were just trying to make a living, same as you and I, who had chosen their profession because they cared about people. They were special people and we should be grateful for all of them.

My father’s heart surgeon? She was a brilliant, skilled and wonderful woman. No doubt she’s saved the life of many people and was paid a handsome sum for doing such. Kudos for her, she worked long and hard to be able to do what she does and she deserved it. However, I believe in my father’s case, her ego trumped all reason. For some reason she just couldn’t let go.

NOW HERE”S THE POINT OF THIS POST. Sickness and dying is a very personal and complex, dramatic and emotional event; whether it be slow or sudden. The only thing that equates to such in gravity is conception and birth. There is nothing more personal in our lives than these events.

I’ll pay my taxes to help pay for a system that will preserve my freedom by repelling socialism, fascism, communism and anarchy. I’ll even put up with a certain amount of corruption and greed as I understand those traits are inherent to the human condition, as well as even a bit of an abuse of power, also caused by the human condition accurately identified by psychologists as “ego.”

But I’ll be damned if I’ll support or tolerate a government that wants to unnecessarily meddle
in the birth and death of humanity just for the sake of governing. That's what Obamacare feels like to me. He’s got the same ego as my father’s heart surgeon had. It’s pretty obvious to me the number of the uninsured in this country would be dramatically lower if government wasn’t already taking so much of their money to line the pockets of themselves and their cronies and spending it on so much useless, wasteful projects and programs.

As I’ve illustrated above, dying is already complex enough. My decisions concerning such will be dictated by my own conscience and those decisions will be evaluated and judged by the God of my choice. Not some self righteous stuffed suit, wig wearing buffoon sitting in a paid-for-by-tax-payers leather seat, sipping a gin and tonic in a Gulfstream Jet heading for Aruba on a trip to gather facts about global warming.

If Jesus were on that jet, I believe he might, in the interest of saving his children “storm the temple” and open the emergency door at say, 35,000 feet above sea level. Thereby sucking the breath and lives out of the greedy, self centered people who have made themselves the ruling class rather than acting as our humble servants.

Or not. I’ve got a feeling he may just leave it all up to us.

Can you say, “freedom of choice?” God help us all.

- Larry

Lest we forget what really counts...

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height

My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight

For the ends of being and ideal grace.

I love thee to the level of every day's

Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.

I love thee freely, as men strive for right.

I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.

I love thee with the passion put to use

In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.

I love thee with a love I seemed to lose

With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,

Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,

I shall but love thee better after death.

- Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Have a wonderful day. Hug the one you love.

Always funny

I'm rushing out the door to get mine now!

Big enough to fail...

...and that's exactly what I mean when I say that anyone who exceeds the maximum body weight mandated by the Fat Panels will be left to die like a beached whale by the Obamacare Health Plan. As opposed to the taxpayer financed bailouts for the banks, a lot of these so-called obese Americans will be deemed big enough to fail.

Now, while we're on the topic of too big to fail; as I am typing the text for this post my second computer monitor is streaming the signal from a local TV broadcast and I am concurrently watching a commercial, so now I'd like to say a few words about ExtenZe, the all natural male enhancement. For months now I've been watching these commercials for ExtenZe, a simple pill that can actually make men larger and increase pleasure and performance regardless of age.

ExtenZe promises to increase the size of what doctors call 'that certain part of the male body'. Please note the use of the word 'male'.

Yes, friends, we're talking about the male ego. At least I think that's what we're talking about, although my wife is standing behind me right now trying to hide what appears to be an enormous guffaw. Perhaps she's laughing because she doesn't believe that a simple pill taken twice a day could increase the size of my already more than adequate ego. This is the same woman who laughed when I said I could put together a blog that someone might actually read. Who's laughing now?

Normally, my blogging performance suffers somewhat when I let someone watch over my shoulder. Of course that's no longer a problem now that I'm taking the revolutionary all natural male enhancer ExtenZe, which guarantees that my performance is going to become even more exciting and satisfying. Although, I suppose that just applies to my perception of it. To understand what I'm feeling and to get the full measure of pleasure from that 'certain part of your own body', you guys are going to want to try ExtenZe for yourself. Sorry ladies, maybe they'll invent something for your pleasure later on.

Listen up guys, I've only been taking ExtenZe for three days, and my ego has already swollen by at least twenty-five percent. Now I really don't care about being larger, that's something I really don't need. But performing better? Now that could really be fun!

Photo and caption credit: Unknown. 51% of the text: plagiarized from Fried Green al-Qaedas. I just couldn't stop myself. Way too funny not to pass on.

The gathering storm...

I'm right-brained. Visuals and music connect with me more so than do words or speech. So when my sister sent me this picture I decided to pass it along and post it here.

Make no mistake, it's not about Democrats. It's about a government out of control, it's about BIG government. The real war is not between the left and the right. It is between the average American and the ruling class. If we come together on this single issue, everything else will resolve itself. It's time we took back our government from those who would make us their slaves.

The approaching cloud will:

• Steal your money
• Confiscate your guns
• Neutralize your personal choice

Bookmark this. Spend some time educating yourself reading Thomas Paine's book titled 'Common Sense' witten in 1776. Buy some cheap printer paper at Wal-Mart and print it out. Or just go and buy the book. Whatever you do, read it.

Picture credit: Unknown (nice job), post inspired by Laurie.

For all of you Hawks out there...

A USMC FA-18 Hornet; after burners full on taking off from a carrier.

Here's an actual conversation between a Hornet pilot and an Iranian Air Defense System (IADS) radar operator:

IADS:"Unknown aircraft you are in Iranian airspace. Identify yourself."

Hornet pilot: "United States aircraft F-18. I am in Iraqi airspace."

IADS: "Negative, you are in Iranian airspace. If you do not depart our airspace we will launch interceptor aircraft!"

Hornet pilot: "Repeat, this is a United States Marine Corps FA-18 fighter... send 'em up. I'll wait!'

IADS: (no response ... )

- From my friend Gus. Photo credit: Unknown

An old tool reintroduced to congress...

Honest to God. This strange old tool was used in the late 1700’s to blow tobacco smoke up one’s rectum. It was used primarily on coal miners, tuberculosis patients and even drowning victims. The premise being that the warmth of the smoke would promote increased respiration, thus bringing them around to their proper senses.

Can you feel it's effect yet? Are you coming around?

Photo credit: Unknown. Thanks again to Gus who obviously had some time on his hands today.

- Larry

This is the stranger your Mother warned you about!

"Never take candy from a stranger."

This guys offering came to fruition in part through a grant from another unnecessary, useless government agency.






















Photo credit: unknown. Thanks to my friend Gus for this post.

The Philosophy of Liberty

Here's a nice animation illustrating freedom.

Ponder what socialism does: In essence, in redistributes wealth, by force. Even if that force has a friendly American face, under the color of law, with a neat and orderly system of taxation, it is nonetheless still force. The bottom line is that under the socialist model, without my consent, some of my earnings are forcibly extracted from me and eventually put into the hands of another citizen that did not earn them. If I refuse to pay my taxes, then I pay huge fines and/or I will be sent to prison. Period.

- Larry

Click RIGHT HERE for a very resourceful blog about survival, and I do mean survival

We're talking beans, bullets and band-aids. And prayer.

- Larry

Three Layers of Pure Stupidy

1. Lead study author, William Ruddman
2. The University of Virginia & the University of Maryland
3. CNN, for even posting the story.

I'm not even going to provide a link to the published study because it's premise is so ridiculous. I will however, share with you the first paragraph:

"Ancient man may have started global warming through massive deforestation and burning that could have permanently altered the Earth's climate, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Virginia and the University of Maryland-Baltimore County."

- Larry

Photos I took in New Mexico...

For all of you know it alls...

From the people at Time magazine. A nice glossary of terms and an explanation of why some of them have become such issues in the health care debate.

I found it quite useful.

- Larry

Gross Negligence at the Fed

I know some of you may have already seen this. Here is a HQ post of it. This is not only down right unbelievable but scary as hell.

The drama unfolds slowly at first, so be patient and please watch it in its entirety. It needs to be watched over and over and passed on to your friends to understand the gravity of the situation. We must educate ourselves.

First-term (anti-bailout candidate) Democrat Alan Grayson questions Elizabeth Coleman, Inspector General of the Federal Reserve. The issue is oversight of the Fed's ever-expanding balance sheet, and the potential multi-trillion dollar loss that will ultimately be borne by you and I our children and theirs.

There are many other videos of interest posted on this site which are also well worth watching.

- Larry

"Teat in a wringer"

If you've ever seen an old wringer washing machine at work you know all too well what this old saying means; not a very comfortable situation to get yourself into. For all you guys out there it's akin to getting your wiener caught in your zipper.

Looks like today Obama's got his "teat caught in a wringer." The right doesn't like him, especially right now for his pushing of the public option he wants to include in his health care reform plan. And, if he acquiesces and removes it, or even lessens the importance so many democrats associate with it (as he did this this past week-end) they'll be upset with him.

The man just seems to be at a loss of what to do. I remember very well when I first became a project manager some 20 plus years ago. I sucked at it because I tried to do too much all at once and didn't listen to those around me and even worse, my customers.

But lets think of lesser things right now. We'll get back to the serious stuff later.

Check this guy out. I've never seen this done before.

Getting Your Rocks Off...

It seems to me that “environmentalists” lack the basic understanding of the difference between changing your surroundings and changing the environment.

If my eyes are burning and I’m choking on smoke maybe it's time to open the vent at the top of my teepee.

The environment is a term that encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth or some region thereof. If you happen to be a “living thing” in the environment, or some region thereof, the only way to survive is to consume the environment. The environment is one of many of God’s gift to man.

Here’s the way it works. You burn the trees around you to keep from freezing to death or you cut off their branches to build a hut on the beach to prevent yourself from being burnt to death on the sand.

As a “living thing,” to think that you have the power to change the environment is to take on the intelligence of say… a rock; a “non-living thing.”

Humm…? Maybe that’s the way to go. After all, most rocks were on Earth long before “living things” were ever considered and will remain on earth long after they die.

The downside of course is that it’s a scientific fact that no rock has ever experienced an orgasm. Which begs the question; where did the phrase “getting your rocks off” come from?

- Larry

Nostalgia for old farts...

God help us all...

Complaining that most of my posts are old news, my good friend Billy Bob wants to see something out of the mainstream-pass-it-along reporting; some new thoughts. I must admit I yearn for such myself.

My initial reaction to this video was at first not to pass it on.

However; the fact that Barack "Mack Daddy" Obama could cause such passion, coupled with the fact that the mainstream media is reporting that the election of Obama is causing a rise in militant, radical, political and racial organizations leads me to believe that this rant may be newsworthy.

You be the judge... keeping in mind of course, that you yourself may also be a nut job.

- Credit to my friend Andy

What a disaster this healthcare debate is...

...It strains, stresses and pierces, it unnecessarily agitates and is doomed to be the cause of further agitation. Who doubts the final bill will be something between a pig in a poke and three-card Monte?

Which is too bad, because our health-care system actually needs to be made better.

- Credit WSJ

This is disturbing...

ABC, CNN, USA Today and even NPR all had in their headlines today that Michael Phelps was cited by police (after being involved in an auto accident which was not his fault) for driving with an expired driver's license.

The fact that almost everyone in the entire world could give a rat's ass about such a trivial and unimportant event exposes the fact that all these networks must be sharing an automated, common source news feed.

- Larry

Forgotten Memories...

I'm sorry but Nancy, at least to me, although a pleasant looking, smart and articulate woman is just another shameless political opportunist, at best. Actually, I think she's one of the worst.


Yes, the video has been edited but not mid-sentence. She gets her point across.

- From Drudge

Can you say, Ad Hominem?

This guy seems to think the facts presented in this well written article concerning Obamacare are all void and null simply because the article was "supposedly" written by a person he believes to be a "staggering dipshit" (or her ghost writer, speech writer, advisers, an eight year old child or all of them put together).

Make of it what you will but it's quite obvious to me who the "staggering dipshit" is.

- Note: the photo above is NOT the "staggering dipshit." I grabbed it off the web after doing a Google image search for screaming faces.

Science vs. Religion...

Here's my thought:

When scientists have finally completed their work they will be shocked to discover they dedicated their entire life to the reverse engineering of God.

Here's proof they are on the right track.

- Larry

The Happy Idiot I Was - The Duties of American Citizenship...

I've spent most of my life not giving a hoot about our government, politics, politicians, lobbyists, foreign policy, big business, etc., etc... what's going on around me and how it affects my life.

What a difference a single generation makes. My father and his friends were pressed into the service of their country and sent off to war upon graduating from high school. Many never returned, some were never found. Countless others were scarred for life. None of them ever forgot.

Somewhere along the way into the autumn of my life (sometime during say, the past 6 years) I started paying attention to such things. I attribute it partially to today's relentless 24 hour news cycle being broadcast in every form of media imaginable but mostly to the fact that I have children and grandchildren and I am genuinely concerned about their future. I think about them more than ever because I guess I've reached that stage in my life where I'm sick and tired of being taxed and I'm fed up with our governments intrusion into so many aspects of my life. I finally stopped to look at the writing on the wall and don't want my children to experience what I see coming.

To be honest I'd rather worry and talk about other things but I can't escape the fact that it now seems, at least to me, like a responsibility of people my age, of our generation, us baby boomers who have enjoyed the great freedoms this country has offered us to take a stand and ensure the same freedoms for future generations. Especially for us who were so lucky to escape the responsibility of war and the extreme sacrifices associated with such. To me, what's happening around me today is no longer just idle bullshit, though I wish it were.

Theodore Roosevelt said, "A man of means who shirks his duty to the State in time of peace is to be regarded as being only one degree worse than the man who thus shirks it in time of war."

I'm taking that statement to heart, will never again take my freedom for granted and thus proudly stand with others who understand how fortunate we are in this country to have a voice.

Exercise your freedom or lose it!

- Larry - This post is dedicated to Frank Kelly, the only living WWII veteran I personally know and my dear departed father, Lew Jordan.

Internet Connection Speed Test

Here's a widget to test the speed of your internet connection. Are you getting what you were promised by your provider? Click on the graphic below.

WOW!

From NASA

For all of you flag waving patriots...

This high school kid deserves some encouragement for his creativity if nothing else. As explained to me, he whipped this out in an hour or two as a favor for his mom and her upcoming tea party. Crank up your volume.

Both major political parties have become a rats' nest of hypocrisy and incompetence.

That's my answer to my BFF Billy Bob, who accuses me of always staying on the same side of the fence.

Oddly, his blind accusation hurt my feelings. I jump over the fence once in awhile and he knows it. I visit. I've been a good friend. I've listened.

I must admit however that I jump over very seldom anymore. Maybe he feels slighted because he's beginning to feel a tad lonely over on his side?

I tend to gravitate towards artists and people of intellect (Billy Bob included) and since the replacement of the lenses in both my right and left eye (literally, because of cataracts) I've seen very few of them on Billy Bob's side of the fence.

I've searched and searched for someone who can justify the policies and actions of our government officials for years. I'm dying to jump the fence. I'd welcome a new environment, I really would. I'm sick of dodging the same old cow pies on my side and I swear, sometimes Billy Bobs's grass looks greener; cooler and softer.

Problem is... I keep running into barbed wire like Camille Paglia. Here's a woman who is famed for her well thought out and intelligent articulations. She's not only a die hard registered Democrat but a Feminist to boot. You want the skinny on what's going on in Obamaland and 'cloud cuckoo land' in general? Ask Camille.

This is for serious people; a ten minute read at least but mandatory for those who give a rats' ass. Just looking up some of the words she uses is an education in itself.

Treat yourself.

- Larry - Credit: salon.com

This is just cool...

The International Space Station. After it loads, click on the component list to the right and spin the parts around.

- From USA Today

Jimmy Durante Marshmellow Head

That's what my sister called me in a fit of unrestrained, insulting, frothing rage, 50 years ago. Her intent was to cripple me for life. She may have partially succeeded. The marshmellow head part I always understood. The Jimmy Durante part? To this day, I'm still struggling with it.

Beating a dead horse?

Not! Health care is too important not to examine ad nauseam. You must educate yourself and act in some manner to help turn back, or at the very least dramatically alter, the impending and sweeping changes being pushed upon us by Congress. The following will help educate you.

There are two terms or phrases you must know: "public option" (government supplied health care available to the public), which is best debunked here and "single payer" which I will define and also attempt to debunk here.

As defined by proponents, "single-payer" is a term used to describe a type of financing system. It refers to one entity acting as administrator, or “payer.” In the case of health care, a single-payer system would be setup such that one entity—a government run organization—would collect all health care fees, and pay out all health care costs. In the current US system, there are literally tens of thousands of different health care organizations—HMOs, billing agencies, etc. By having so many different payers of health care fees, there is an enormous amount of administrative waste generated in the system. (Just imagine how complex billing must be in a doctor’s office, when each insurance company requires a different form to be completed, has a different billing system, different billing contacts and phone numbers—it’s very confusing.) In a single-payer system, all hospitals, doctors, and other health care providers would bill one entity for their services. This alone reduces administrative waste greatly, and saves money, which can be used to provide care and insurance to those who currently don’t have it.

Now shift gears here and think about Wal-Mart. They did the same thing by consolidating all of the smaller hardware stores, clothing stores and grocery stores in your town into a single point-of-purchase system. Are you following me here?

The retail purchasing experience in your life was simplified and prices dropped on almost everything you purchase on a weekly basis. But it only works for them and for you because Wal-Mart is driven by profit (it's very important to remember here that governments are not driven by profit).

Now before you misunderstand me, remember, there is a big argument over whether Wal-Mart is a good thing or an evil thing.

Sure, prices came down but a lot of small business owners (actual people) were squashed and lost their economic livelihood in the process and as a result a lot of other people lost their jobs. In addition, I can no longer find that specialized little hardware widget I need to repair my old bathroom faucet and I can't find a good cut of tri-tip steak anymore.

As a result, I now have to replace my faucet with one that was made in China and be satisfied with a cut of sirloin. That is, after I stand in line for 30 minutes. And there have been times when Wal-Mart has been completely out of my particular brand of coffee and there's no other place in town to purchase it anymore.

So... you be the judge. As for me? I'm not sure single anything is good for anyone.

Beyond that, designating an entity such as the US government as being the "single payer" is a ludicrous concept. The US government already has so many heads and arms it is teetering on near chaos (causing a great amount of angst among it's citizens) and is without doubt, very inefficient.

I don't want my health care Wal-Martized. Standing in line for the acquisition of inexpensive daily staples is one thing; standing in line for inferior and rationed medical products and services as defined by a single provider is quite another.

- Larry

Duhh...

WASHINGTON — As supporters and opponents of overhauling the health care system try to shape public opinion at congressional town-hall-style meetings, both sides face a big complication: Public opinion on the issue is complex in ways that defy an easy Republican-Democratic divide.

Analysis (how much do these idiots get paid?) of a recent USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds views on what priority to emphasize, how fast to act and what's important to protect, vary and sometimes conflict depending on a person's age and region of the country, whether he or she has insurance, and is healthy or ailing. - From USA TODAY, today.

That is precisely the key indicator that Obama's effort to push this bill into legislation NOW is more about his personal power than anything else. I fear the man is not only a dolt but a hard core narcissist.

- Larry

The Two Faces of Obama

It’s amazing that with his approval rating slipping and anger getting hotter every day, he’d still feel confident enough to contradict himself this blatantly in the same speech. It’s practically a taunt.

- Worth repeating; from hotair.com

Video of the world's worst TV news interviewer...

This is annoying and hard to watch. So if you have something else to do I would skip this and go and do it.

Lawrence O’Donnell filled in for Ed Schultz on The Ed Show and channeled his inner Wally George. O’Donnell interviewed Peter Schiff, the man who tried to warn everyone that the housing bubble would burst and create a catastrophe, only in the sense that Schiff was allowed to remain on camera during an almost-uninterrupted diatribe by O’Donnell.

Why did O’Donnell act like a middle-school bully instead of a news interviewer? Apart from the fact that O’Donnell is a middle-school bully on air, Schiff wants to run against Chris Dodd for his Senate seat, and Schiff opposes ObamaCare. Instead of allowing Schiff to actually explain why, O’Donnell simply shouts over him and issues ridiculous time demands, and does just about everything short of sticking his fingers in his ears and yelling “NA-NA-NA-I-CAN’T-HEAR-YOU” when Schiff tries to explain his positions.

You know, if MS-NBC was an actual news organization, someone there would be embarrassed.

- Worth repeating; from hotair.com

One Smart Democrat

Rather than focusing on volatile mainstream issues that cause tempers to flair finally someone is pushing to curb erectile dysfunction (ED) ads on TV. Congressman Jim Moran (D-VA, H.R. 2175 for those who want to google) is pushing for restrictions based on decency. I'd like to see a broader stroke based on pharmaceutical companies pushing drugs for made up calamities such as restless leg syndrome and a host of others. ED being the biggest and most profitable.

God was smart enough to suppress erections at a certain age so children wouldn't be born to someone too weak and old to raise them. And as far as young men go... when I was there, there were times when it was inappropriate for me to stand (thank God for heavy weight Levis) because as I remember... I had an erection far too often for no reason at all.

If you are young and genuinely have an ED problem keep it to yourself and go see a doctor. I don't want to know. If you're an old fart and need an erection go buy some KY jelly (and keep it to yourself) or marry someone half your age who is interested in your money and will do anything to get to it.

After we get rid of ED ads on TV we need to start working on getting rid of ads for butt cream and the many calamities that affect the female genitalia. Then I can finally relax when I'm watching TV.

- Larry

Remember Biorhythms?

Today is my birthday. I've seen, or perceived, 21550 sunrises and/or sunsets. Here is how I'm told I'm feeling today (it's actually surprising quite accurate).

My general well being is momentarily (notice how they give me hope) mediocre. I am not full of vim and vigor and I am nervous and unsure and feeling an inner emptiness (I've been unemployed for 8 months now). The good news is that I am at the bottom of a low (or close to it) and my intelligence level is, as always, high (more hope). Whew! At least I'm probably going to be able to outwit everyone calling me an old fart at my birthday party. By the way, an old fart is just as good as a new fart.

Check out your own biorhythm by clicking on the title of this post or clicking here.

- Larry

Tiger's Roar

Claiming copyright infringement, the PGA insisted that YouTube remove what may end up being the most popular video ever.

'You Are Terrifying Us'

This is a must read.
Nobody puts it better than Peggy.
I love this woman.

The Road To Hell (click here for audio)

- Chris Rea

Kudos...

... to Rosie The Riveter for being a timeless source of motivation.
- Larry

Another brilliant helping hand from Uncle Sam...

... giving everyone the chance to purchase a new car they can't afford! Why didn't dear old Uncle Sam just offer a $3,500 - $4,500 tax credit to everyone who purchased a qualified vehicle (with a specified minimum mpg rating as per government researchers) from ANYONE? New car, used car, American car, foreign car, truck, SUV, whatever. The buyer would only need show proof they donated or sold it to a salvage yard who would guarantee the destruction of it's engine block and EVERYONE would of benefited, not just automobile dealerships, Japanese car manufactures and the financial institutions that finance the second largest purchase most people make in their lives. You, being a person who can afford a new car could of sold your 5 year old car to someone who was driving a 15 year old car, who normally wouldn't of paid your asking price without the tax incentive. Hell, the government could of offered you a nominal tax credit for your own upgrade.

Maybe I should just look at the positive side. In a few years there will be a rash of 'fire sales' on a boat load of slightly used cars. If I'm lucky maybe my uncle will be offering all of his nephews another great incentive.

- Larry

What's the big deal?

Could it be that someone has tagged Obama as a socialist? Must be the language. Visually, Bush was villainized far worse than Obama and far more often.

- Larry

YOU make the call...

I'm just sayin'...

- Larry

Pfizer Announcement

Pfizer Corp. announced today that Viagra will soon be available in liquid form, and will be marketed by Pepsi Cola as a power beverage suitable for use as a mixer. It will now be possible for a man to literally pour himself a stiff one. Obviously we can no longer call this a soft drink, and it gives new meaning to the names of 'cocktails', 'highballs' and just a good old-fashioned 'stiff drink'. Pepsi will market the new concoction by the name of: MOUNT & DO. Thought for the day: There is more money being spent on breast implants and Viagra today than on Alzheimer's research. This means that by 2040, there should be a large elderly population with perky boobs and huge erections and absolutely no recollection of what to do with them.

- credit to my friend DSG

Playing For Change

If you haven't seen this you've missed something good. The most excellent feel good ever that I've encountered on the web. I can watch and listen forever. The dad clutching his child at the end does it for me...

Video Test - Indy Car / NASCAR

This was my first attempt at editing video
on my computer. Unfortunately when I
upgraded to a new computer the software was
not compatible with the new OS, Windows XP.

I'm broke. If anyone knows of a decent editor
I can download for free please let me know
via a comment.

- Larry