Just a few short seasons ago you would have thought that Big Red was Dead. This year they are picked to win the North division of the Big 12 conference.
I predicted that they would go 8-3 last year before the season kicked off. Now I'm predicting that they will win another National Championship before I die.
I need to add a caveat to that. That's provided that Obama care doesn't get passed. Ig
f it does, then all prediction are off. I could end up with "end of life" instructions before my time.:-)
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Even a broken clock is right twice a day
AP Iran state TV confirms arrest of 3 Americans
"The Iranians said they have arrested them because they entered their land without legal permission,"
Well? Maybe they don't consider it to be a merely a civil offense.
"The Iranians said they have arrested them because they entered their land without legal permission,"
Well? Maybe they don't consider it to be a merely a civil offense.
Friday, July 31, 2009
The Hills 50 most beautiful
The Hill posted the 50 most beautiful people who work on Capitol Hill. I only looked at the top 10 but there was only 1 Republican. I can live with that, maybe Republicans are uglier. But when 70 year old Maxine Waters is #5 I have to think that someone is stuffing the ballot box.
Cash for Clunkers
The administration has already run out of the $1 billion that was set aside for the program. They are voting to free up a couple billion more to use as rebates for the program. As a stimulus program it seems to be working as intended but the response has been greater than anticipated.
Wouldn't this have been a better program if it had been done before the bailout? Instead of pouring all the cash to keep GM afloat and then taking them over couldn't we have spent the money orginally to help purchase cars and stimulate the market? Could consumers have used $4500 in cash rather than $4500 off the car?
On a $30000 vehicle knocking off $4500 would drop a payment approx. $100/month based on a 48 month loan. If someone can afford the loan payments would $4500 all at once do more for their standard of living then saving $100/month? I know I would rather have the cash.
Another point. Are the loan requirements being lowered like the home loans were and we'll have thousands of repossesed cars in a year or two? Also how about unintended consequences? Where will all the clunkers go? Do we have the junkyards or will these cars line our waterways?
My final question is: If the government has underestimated the cost of this program by three times and it gets put on hold 1 week after it starts how can anyone think they can run a healthcare program and that it won't cost trillions more than the estimates?
Wouldn't this have been a better program if it had been done before the bailout? Instead of pouring all the cash to keep GM afloat and then taking them over couldn't we have spent the money orginally to help purchase cars and stimulate the market? Could consumers have used $4500 in cash rather than $4500 off the car?
On a $30000 vehicle knocking off $4500 would drop a payment approx. $100/month based on a 48 month loan. If someone can afford the loan payments would $4500 all at once do more for their standard of living then saving $100/month? I know I would rather have the cash.
Another point. Are the loan requirements being lowered like the home loans were and we'll have thousands of repossesed cars in a year or two? Also how about unintended consequences? Where will all the clunkers go? Do we have the junkyards or will these cars line our waterways?
My final question is: If the government has underestimated the cost of this program by three times and it gets put on hold 1 week after it starts how can anyone think they can run a healthcare program and that it won't cost trillions more than the estimates?
White House charges CEO's for lunch?
At a lunch last month with several CEO's, the White House charged them for their lunches. Reasons given were so Obama did not look like he was favoring anyone and to not look like he was wasting taxpayer money.
If money was the problem then why not have him stay home rather then go on a date with Michelle? How about their upcoming vacation at a home that rents for $50,000 a week? W solved the appearance of favoring anyone by not having this type of lunch.
This brings up a question. If the Pres. invited you to lunch and you would get the standard 15-20 min. with him but you had to pay for your flight, hotel, car, meals etc. would you go?
If money was the problem then why not have him stay home rather then go on a date with Michelle? How about their upcoming vacation at a home that rents for $50,000 a week? W solved the appearance of favoring anyone by not having this type of lunch.
This brings up a question. If the Pres. invited you to lunch and you would get the standard 15-20 min. with him but you had to pay for your flight, hotel, car, meals etc. would you go?
Thursday, July 30, 2009
From the mouth of a doctor.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SD_YOlUBoIk&feature=channel
There is so much to try and digest in such a short amount of time. Rep. Tom Price of Georgia is a doctor and here he states some of the reasons that he is against Obama’s health care program.
Actually it is unfair to call it Obama’s health care program as even he’s admitted that he hasn’t read it and doesn’t know what’s in it.
There is so much to try and digest in such a short amount of time. Rep. Tom Price of Georgia is a doctor and here he states some of the reasons that he is against Obama’s health care program.
Actually it is unfair to call it Obama’s health care program as even he’s admitted that he hasn’t read it and doesn’t know what’s in it.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Are we all equal?
As a follower of Christ I would have to say yes ( even though I have my doubts about the brains of many). As a believer we learn that we all came from one Man and are made in His image. We each have different gifts and abilities but no gift is greater than another.
What I find interesting is those that say yes but don't believe in a Creator. If you believe in evolution how can we be equal? In all species some are more intelligent or advanced. The more physically gifted males dominate the others in the pack. If man evolved from "stuff" wouldn't there be a hierarchy or class system? Wouldn't the strongest rule football or the tallest rule basketball? Wouldn't the smartest lead our country (we know that doesn't happen)? Some would have evolved more than others and thus be superior. And if we were just more advanced animals wouldn't we follow the survival of the fittest theory? Why do we care about the homeless or elderly? Evolution would lead us to get rid of the weak. God tells us to take care of them. It seems those who push the "We are all equal" the hardest are the same ones that deny there is a God. I find those views polar opposites.
What I find interesting is those that say yes but don't believe in a Creator. If you believe in evolution how can we be equal? In all species some are more intelligent or advanced. The more physically gifted males dominate the others in the pack. If man evolved from "stuff" wouldn't there be a hierarchy or class system? Wouldn't the strongest rule football or the tallest rule basketball? Wouldn't the smartest lead our country (we know that doesn't happen)? Some would have evolved more than others and thus be superior. And if we were just more advanced animals wouldn't we follow the survival of the fittest theory? Why do we care about the homeless or elderly? Evolution would lead us to get rid of the weak. God tells us to take care of them. It seems those who push the "We are all equal" the hardest are the same ones that deny there is a God. I find those views polar opposites.
Who is the racist here?
Leonard Pitts is a columnist for the Miama Herald. In his column today he tries to convice you that Officer Crowley is a racist and that is why he arrested professor Gates The following is my email to him.
Good Evening,
I know how Professor Gates feels. I had a similar incident with two white officers. I too am in my late 50’s, bald and face full of age lines. I don’t nearly as fast as I did twenty years ago and I don’t imagine I pose to menacing of a figure.
Two white officers, a male and female, appeared at my front door wanting to know what was going on inside. They had received a 911 call that had been cut short. I told them that no one from my home had made the call but that didn’t satisfy the officers. The name and address appeared on the 911 operator’s screen. They were growing impatient with my denial.
I told them to wait and I would ask the other people in my house if any of them had done it. The door is spring-loaded and it started to close. They told me to keep the door open so that they could see and heard what was going on. I almost told them that there wasn’t any problem and closed the door but common sense prevailed. After convincing them that nothing was wrong, they left. This was my home and who were they to come uninvited and harass me at my front door?
Had I become loud and defensive, they would have thought that I was hiding something. Had I closed and locked the door they would have been sure of it. Instead, clearer heads prevailed.
Do you know anything about the dangers police officers face with every call to go to someone’s home because a crime may be in process? Do you know how many little old men and women have killed? Do you know what the official procedure is when someone is arrested. Do you know what the danger is to the arresting officer is if he or she doesn’t follow those procedures?
You wrote, "By definition, racism denies individuality and preconception leave us blind, making it possible for even a man who leads diversity training to look at a small, graying scholar and see a menace to society". If this is true, then isn’t it possible that Professor Gates is slightly racist? Isn’t is possible in his exhausted state (long trip) and frustration (stuck door and broken window) he saw not a police officer doing his job according to proper procedure but a racist cop. Then seeing a racist cop he opened his mouth and put his foot in it.
I am white. There is no doubt in my mind that had I given the officers a hard time and not assured them that nothing bad was happening inside, I too could have ended up cuffed (not shackled) and taken downtown until cooler heads prevailed.
By the way, I found out later that my granddaughter had been playing with the phone and dialed 911 and then hung up. The officers didn’t know when this bold old man opened the door, if it was a child playing with the phone or if I had just killed Grandma.
Good Evening,
I know how Professor Gates feels. I had a similar incident with two white officers. I too am in my late 50’s, bald and face full of age lines. I don’t nearly as fast as I did twenty years ago and I don’t imagine I pose to menacing of a figure.
Two white officers, a male and female, appeared at my front door wanting to know what was going on inside. They had received a 911 call that had been cut short. I told them that no one from my home had made the call but that didn’t satisfy the officers. The name and address appeared on the 911 operator’s screen. They were growing impatient with my denial.
I told them to wait and I would ask the other people in my house if any of them had done it. The door is spring-loaded and it started to close. They told me to keep the door open so that they could see and heard what was going on. I almost told them that there wasn’t any problem and closed the door but common sense prevailed. After convincing them that nothing was wrong, they left. This was my home and who were they to come uninvited and harass me at my front door?
Had I become loud and defensive, they would have thought that I was hiding something. Had I closed and locked the door they would have been sure of it. Instead, clearer heads prevailed.
Do you know anything about the dangers police officers face with every call to go to someone’s home because a crime may be in process? Do you know how many little old men and women have killed? Do you know what the official procedure is when someone is arrested. Do you know what the danger is to the arresting officer is if he or she doesn’t follow those procedures?
You wrote, "By definition, racism denies individuality and preconception leave us blind, making it possible for even a man who leads diversity training to look at a small, graying scholar and see a menace to society". If this is true, then isn’t it possible that Professor Gates is slightly racist? Isn’t is possible in his exhausted state (long trip) and frustration (stuck door and broken window) he saw not a police officer doing his job according to proper procedure but a racist cop. Then seeing a racist cop he opened his mouth and put his foot in it.
I am white. There is no doubt in my mind that had I given the officers a hard time and not assured them that nothing bad was happening inside, I too could have ended up cuffed (not shackled) and taken downtown until cooler heads prevailed.
By the way, I found out later that my granddaughter had been playing with the phone and dialed 911 and then hung up. The officers didn’t know when this bold old man opened the door, if it was a child playing with the phone or if I had just killed Grandma.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Grouchy you can comment
I uploaded this video per Grouchy's request. But the PC I uploaded from has no sound so I have not idea what this is about. Grouchy....comments?
Is this improvment or control?
These are suppose to be from the pages of the health reform bill. I beleive that this information is available on line if you have the time to look it up.
After you read these, I would be glad to hear from anyone that still supports Obama's program.
• Page 22: Mandates audits of all employers that self-insure!
• Page 29: Admission: your health care will be rationed!
• Page 30: A government committee will decide what treatments and benefits you get (and, unlike an insurer, there will be no appeals process)
• Page 42: The "Health Choices> Commissioner" will decide health benefits for you. You will have no choice. None.
• Page 50: All non-US citizens, illegal or not, will be provided with free healthcare services.
• Page 58: Every person will be issued a National ID> Healthcard.
• Page 59: The federal> government will> have direct, real-time access to all individual bank accounts for electronic funds transfer.
• Page 65: Taxpayers will subsidize all union retiree and community organizer health plans (read: SEIU, UAW and ACORN)
• Page 72: All private healthcare plans must conform> to government rules to participate in a Healthcare Exchange.
• Page 84: All private health care plans must participate in the Healthcare Exchange (i.e., total government control of private plans)
• Page 91: Government mandates linguistic infrastructure for services; translation: illegal aliens
• Page 95: The Government will pay ACORN and Americorps to sign up individuals for Government-run Health Care plan.
• Page 102: Those eligible for Medicaid will be automatically enrolled: you have no choice in the matter.
• Page 124: No company can sue the government for price-fixing. No "judicial review" is permitted against the government monopoly. Put simply, private insurers will be crushed.
• Page 127: The AMA sold doctors out: the government will set wages.
• Page 145: An employer MUST auto-enroll employees> into the government-run public plan. No alternatives.
• Page 126: Employers MUST pay healthcare bills for part-time employees AND their families.
• Page 149: Any employer with a payroll of $400K or more, who does not offer the public option, pays an 8% tax on payroll
• Page 150: Any employer with a payroll of $250K-400K> or more, who does not offer the public option, pays a 2 to 6% tax on=2 0payroll
• Page 167: Any individual who doesnt'> have acceptable healthcare (according to the government) will be taxed 2.5% of income.
• Page 170: Any NON-RESIDENT alien is exempt from individual taxes (Americans will pay for them).
• Page 195: Officers and employees of Government Healthcare Bureaucracy will have access to ALL American financial and personal records.
• Page 203: "The tax imposed> under this section shall> not be treated as tax." Yes, it really says that.
• Page 239: Bill will reduce physician> services for Medicaid.> Seniors and the poor most affected."
• Page 241: Doctors: no matter what speciality you> have, you'll all be> paid the same (thanks, AMA!)
• Page 253: Government sets value of doctors' time, their professional judgment, etc.
• Page 265: Government mandates and controls productivity for private healthcare industries.
• Page 268: Government regulates rental and purchase of power-driven wheelchairs.
• Page 272: Cancer patients: we lcome to the wonderful world of rationing!
• Page 280: Hospitals will be penalized for what the government deems preventable re-admissions.
• Page 298: Doctors: if you treat a patient during an> initial admission that results in a readmission, you will be penalized by the government.
• Page 317: Doctors: you are now prohibited for owning and investing in healthcare companies!
• Page 318: Prohibition on hospital expansion. Hospitals cannot expand without government approval.
• Page 321: Hospital expansion hinges on "community" input: in other words, yet another payoff for ACORN.
• Page 335: Government mandates establishment of outcome-based measures: i.e., rationing.
• Page 341: Government has authority to disqualify Medicare Advantage Plans, HMOs, etc.
• Page 354: Government will restrict enrollment of SPECIAL NEEDS individuals.
• Page 379: More bureaucracy: Telehealth Advisory Committee (healthcare by phone).
• Page 425: More bureaucracy: Advance Care Planning> Consult: Senior> Citizens, assisted suicide, euthanasia? ;
• Page 425: Government will instruct and consult regarding living wills, durable powers of attorney, etc. Mandatory. Appears to lock in estate taxes ahead of time.
• Page 425: Goverment provides approved list of end-of-life resources, guiding you in death.
• Page 427: Government mandates program that orders end-of-life treatment; government dictates how your life ends.
• Page 429: Advance Care Planning Consult will be used to dictate treatment as patient's health deteriorates. This can include an ORDER for end-of-life plans. An ORDER from the GOVERNMENT.
• Page 430: Government will decide what level of treatments you may have at end-of-life.
• Page 469: Community-based Home Medical Services: more payoffs for ACORN.
• Page 472: Payments to Community-based organizations: more payoffs for ACORN.
• Page 489: Government will cover marriage and family therapy. Government intervenes in your marriage.
• Page 494: Government will cover mental health services: defining, creating and rationing those services.
After you read these, I would be glad to hear from anyone that still supports Obama's program.
• Page 22: Mandates audits of all employers that self-insure!
• Page 29: Admission: your health care will be rationed!
• Page 30: A government committee will decide what treatments and benefits you get (and, unlike an insurer, there will be no appeals process)
• Page 42: The "Health Choices> Commissioner" will decide health benefits for you. You will have no choice. None.
• Page 50: All non-US citizens, illegal or not, will be provided with free healthcare services.
• Page 58: Every person will be issued a National ID> Healthcard.
• Page 59: The federal> government will> have direct, real-time access to all individual bank accounts for electronic funds transfer.
• Page 65: Taxpayers will subsidize all union retiree and community organizer health plans (read: SEIU, UAW and ACORN)
• Page 72: All private healthcare plans must conform> to government rules to participate in a Healthcare Exchange.
• Page 84: All private health care plans must participate in the Healthcare Exchange (i.e., total government control of private plans)
• Page 91: Government mandates linguistic infrastructure for services; translation: illegal aliens
• Page 95: The Government will pay ACORN and Americorps to sign up individuals for Government-run Health Care plan.
• Page 102: Those eligible for Medicaid will be automatically enrolled: you have no choice in the matter.
• Page 124: No company can sue the government for price-fixing. No "judicial review" is permitted against the government monopoly. Put simply, private insurers will be crushed.
• Page 127: The AMA sold doctors out: the government will set wages.
• Page 145: An employer MUST auto-enroll employees> into the government-run public plan. No alternatives.
• Page 126: Employers MUST pay healthcare bills for part-time employees AND their families.
• Page 149: Any employer with a payroll of $400K or more, who does not offer the public option, pays an 8% tax on payroll
• Page 150: Any employer with a payroll of $250K-400K> or more, who does not offer the public option, pays a 2 to 6% tax on=2 0payroll
• Page 167: Any individual who doesnt'> have acceptable healthcare (according to the government) will be taxed 2.5% of income.
• Page 170: Any NON-RESIDENT alien is exempt from individual taxes (Americans will pay for them).
• Page 195: Officers and employees of Government Healthcare Bureaucracy will have access to ALL American financial and personal records.
• Page 203: "The tax imposed> under this section shall> not be treated as tax." Yes, it really says that.
• Page 239: Bill will reduce physician> services for Medicaid.> Seniors and the poor most affected."
• Page 241: Doctors: no matter what speciality you> have, you'll all be> paid the same (thanks, AMA!)
• Page 253: Government sets value of doctors' time, their professional judgment, etc.
• Page 265: Government mandates and controls productivity for private healthcare industries.
• Page 268: Government regulates rental and purchase of power-driven wheelchairs.
• Page 272: Cancer patients: we lcome to the wonderful world of rationing!
• Page 280: Hospitals will be penalized for what the government deems preventable re-admissions.
• Page 298: Doctors: if you treat a patient during an> initial admission that results in a readmission, you will be penalized by the government.
• Page 317: Doctors: you are now prohibited for owning and investing in healthcare companies!
• Page 318: Prohibition on hospital expansion. Hospitals cannot expand without government approval.
• Page 321: Hospital expansion hinges on "community" input: in other words, yet another payoff for ACORN.
• Page 335: Government mandates establishment of outcome-based measures: i.e., rationing.
• Page 341: Government has authority to disqualify Medicare Advantage Plans, HMOs, etc.
• Page 354: Government will restrict enrollment of SPECIAL NEEDS individuals.
• Page 379: More bureaucracy: Telehealth Advisory Committee (healthcare by phone).
• Page 425: More bureaucracy: Advance Care Planning> Consult: Senior> Citizens, assisted suicide, euthanasia? ;
• Page 425: Government will instruct and consult regarding living wills, durable powers of attorney, etc. Mandatory. Appears to lock in estate taxes ahead of time.
• Page 425: Goverment provides approved list of end-of-life resources, guiding you in death.
• Page 427: Government mandates program that orders end-of-life treatment; government dictates how your life ends.
• Page 429: Advance Care Planning Consult will be used to dictate treatment as patient's health deteriorates. This can include an ORDER for end-of-life plans. An ORDER from the GOVERNMENT.
• Page 430: Government will decide what level of treatments you may have at end-of-life.
• Page 469: Community-based Home Medical Services: more payoffs for ACORN.
• Page 472: Payments to Community-based organizations: more payoffs for ACORN.
• Page 489: Government will cover marriage and family therapy. Government intervenes in your marriage.
• Page 494: Government will cover mental health services: defining, creating and rationing those services.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Oooops!!!
And you think that you had a bad day!
I’m not 100% sure to all of the facts of this story. Here a link to one of the stories that I found on line.
http://blog.flightstory.net/418/airbus-a340-600-ground-test-accident (cut and paste)
What I do know is that this plane costs $200 million dollars and it’s toast because of an error in testing. I was sent some pictures of the inside of the plane. They have bedroom suites with television for long trips. Each wide-bodied seat is a computer terminal. It is luxury all the way to the bathrooms.
It seems that the flight crew was testing it out for the maiden flight and someone put all four engines on max thrust at the same time. A “safety devise” cut power to the breaks and the jet lunged forward. For some reason, they flight crew didn’t cut the power in time and crash, there was the wall.
Do you notice the two small specks by the tail section? That’s two people wondering what to do now.
I’m not 100% sure to all of the facts of this story. Here a link to one of the stories that I found on line.
http://blog.flightstory.net/418/airbus-a340-600-ground-test-accident (cut and paste)
What I do know is that this plane costs $200 million dollars and it’s toast because of an error in testing. I was sent some pictures of the inside of the plane. They have bedroom suites with television for long trips. Each wide-bodied seat is a computer terminal. It is luxury all the way to the bathrooms.
It seems that the flight crew was testing it out for the maiden flight and someone put all four engines on max thrust at the same time. A “safety devise” cut power to the breaks and the jet lunged forward. For some reason, they flight crew didn’t cut the power in time and crash, there was the wall.
Do you notice the two small specks by the tail section? That’s two people wondering what to do now.
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