HAPPY NEW YEAR! or "oh boo" moment 2006.9

the above is a las vegas kind of fireworks show - this is where my parents, two of my sisters and their families reside. we won't be with them for the grand event, but we'll be together with our own fireworks!

i'd like to take this opportunity to say "HAPPY ANNIVERSARY" to nancpop - thank you for pursuing me relentlessly for a year or so before i let you catch me!

funny thing - today when i called him on his cell phone, i could all of a sudden hear his and others' voices in the background while i was saying, "hello - hello - hello - anybody there? can you hear me now? ahem! answer the dayamed phone - stop talking about me behind my back! yoo-hoo? i can hear you, but you cannot hear me!"

their side of the conversation went something like this:

nancpop: "soooooooo, you found someone to cuddle with and now what?"

the other guy (i'll call him nathan because that's his name): "two weeks in a row - and i just don't understand why they're not calling me back!"

nancpop: "well, you know i've been cuddling with ___________ (meaning nanc) for about eighteen years now..."

the other guy (nathan): "yeah, but.....undiscernible..."

nancpop: "...or it could be thirty five...undiscernible..."

dear Lord - that would have made him seven at the time...oh boo!

sidenote: if i'm not back by monday evening, please send the st. bernards with plenty of medicine - as we'll be snowed in! and that would be us working on "oh boo" moment 2007...

A Christmas Visitor

(Written two years ago.)

4:00 am 12/24/04

There was a knock on my front door which startled me awake. My dogs were barking which required dire threats to quieten as I answered the door.

Maybe you have heard of our weather and the unusually cold temperatures (16 F) and large amount of snow that has fallen, (18"), in the last 24 hours. I live just south of Interstate 64 in Southern Indiana and you may have seen the news about the closed Interstate and stranded motorists on the national news.

A man, about my own age, (early 50s), stood at the door. He was wearing tennis shoes, jeans, a field jacket and sock hat. His glasses were frosted and he wore no gloves.

He told me he was lost and asked where St.James Blvd was. I told him it was about a mile and a half to the West and asked him where his car was. He said he was walking.

I asked him in and sat a chair for him by the furnace vent. He was shivering uncontrollably, a faint whiff of alcohol was on his breath. I asked if I could fix him something to eat and he refused but he accepted a cup of coffee.

My wife talked to him as he warmed himself and I made some coffee, I could hear him speak as I made his coffee ready.

My son heard him and came into the living room to sit and listen, to keep an eye out just in case.

He was homeless, he had been sleeping under a bridge on the Ohio River about seven miles away to the West. He decided that it was too cold and he might freeze to death if he didn't find a safe place to stay. About midnight, he left his meager possessions, just a few clothes, and headed for his sisters house on St James but he had walked past the street in the dark. He was lost and confused, probably somewhat drunk, and hypothermia can add confusion to even the sober mind.

As he talked, I realized that he had mental problems, as do many of the homeless. There are places that take in the indignant, I'm sure he knew it too. But they won't accept anyone who is intoxicated, which I'm also sure he was aware of.

He drank his coffee then asked me if I would drive him to his sisters house and he offered me two dollars. Of course I refused the money but offered to take him where he wanted to go.

I intended to take measures to see after him anyway. He seemed anxious to leave.

As I drove, he told me that his sister was out of town but he had permission to use her house in an emergency. I was worried that he was just lying to me for reasons of his own but I was determined to see the thing through, even if I had to call the police to ensure his wellbeing through this cold weather.

We drove up to the house and there was a porch light on and smoke coming from the chimney vent, even though it was apparent that there was no one home as the snow was undisturbed. I asked him if he was sure he could get in, he said, "Yes, she told me where the key is." He reached out his hand, as if for a hand shake, and when I offered mine, pulled it to his lips and kissed it saying, "God bless you".

I was profoundly embarrassed but stayed long enough to see him dig around in the snow and find a key, unlock the door and wave goodbye.

I drove home, my thoughts disturbed, by the events that had taken place.

My wife was relieved as I came in and I started preparing food (very early) for this Christmas Eve. As I cut up fruit for salad and prepared the turkey for baking, my son came up behind me and hugged me, kissing my head, and said, "Dad, you did a good thing."

Again, I was embarrassed, not by my son's hug and kiss but by his praise.

I did it because it was the right thing to do.

Then he told me that he tries to help the homeless ones that hang around his place of employment. We spoke of how little we can actually do for them and I was proud of my son for doing the right thing He is a good man.

As I continued to prepare, my thoughts drifted to a couple seeking shelter in Bethlehem and the birth of the Lamb of the New Covenant, and I felt God's Peace.

May God's Peace be with you all!
Merry Christmas.


Warren

Christmas With TMW, Warren & Nanc

we've decided to have a festive fireside chat as our gift to you, our friends.

nanc: the year has flown by - do you two feel as though you're chasing your tails? i, for one, think i'll meet up with myself somewhere along the way!


tmw: When I'm doing it on my own strength, I find I've run over myself! Rude little snip! But when I do it G*D's Way, I may go fast or slow, but the only time I see my tail is when it's wagging!


warren: I think that passed myself going in the other direction. I waved and honked but I just ignored myself and pretended not to see who it was.
(stuck up sob!)


i don't know who said this:

I understand, but what's worse is getting your tail stuck in the door, ouch!



tmw: Who's bringing the green bean casserole? And what do you do with it?


i don't know who said this:

I prefer fresh asparagus or Southern style fresh green beans with diced bacon!


warren: No green bean casserole, please! My sister-in-law makes it and everyone spits in the napkin or feeds it to the dog under the table.

It's like that horrible macaroni salad that my nutty aunt used to make. Macaroni, salad dressing and on top she put sliced green bell peppers and cinnamon imperials for Christmas colors.


tmw: Oh, Warren, ugh! The green peppers belong in the salad with Hellman's mayo, onions, hard boiled eggs, salt and pepper! Leave the cinnamon imperials in a ziploc bag for me to take home later! Use sliced olives for the top!


warren But my aunt said that only cinnamon imperials make good holly berries for the green bell pepper wreaths!


tmw: She's teched! You don't eat holly berries! Except on cookies, cupcakes or cakes, all others are poisonous! She can buy regular pimentos and cut them into berries, and why berries with conifer wreaths? She's a little confused...


nanc: i'm bringing the green bean casserole! red hots make the best berries on EVERYTHING - you people...


warren: Speaking of wreaths, what kind of things do you hang in and on your house?

I don't put up anything outside but I always put the Christmas cards we receive on the wall. We have a small tree in the corner with a string of lights.

My goofy neighbors yard looks like a junk yard for Macy's Thanksgiving day parade! They have four or five large inflatable whatcamacallits clumped together gracing their front yard.


nanc: clear lights! we forgot to bring the blue ones from the mountain - i wanted to put a star of david on the roof with them and can now find NONE for that project.

our cards are mostly on nancson's piano, to which he complained...so we just let him.

i relented - AGAIN - and allowed a live set of star pines and we put clear lights and candy canes on it - nancpop says, "NO angels on top PLEASE!" they're nearly four feet tall and will be absolutely beautiful for the years to come.


tmw: I know what you mean! A friend of mine lives in a gated community, and the vast majority of houses have those silly inflatables from Wal-Mart! A few are a little classier, but passing streets full of the blow up Santas, snowglobes and other strange things makes you twitchy!

We have a 2" artificial tree, covered in candy canes, with our presents around it. Not much else, I'm trying to sort and pack! I will be putting up the Nativity that my Mother's Father made for my parents after they got married. He built a stable and a church, The figures for the nativity are from Italy, the church has small lead figures(townspeople) from Germany, a real international flavor, and older than me!


nanc: tmw and i recently had a discussion about tinsel and all it means to us...when my mom wasn't looking i'd sling the entire box of tinsel at the tree! i've NEVER purchased a box of tinsel in all my years - in rebellion you'd say.

do you two have any strange traditions you've let go of or continue to this day?


tmw: I have tinsel in with the ornaments and things I inherited, they are sealed tight, and will remain that way! As historic curiosities only!
Traditions-NO MORE TINSEL!


warren: When I was younger there were a lot of traditions, putting up the tree, making cookies, a rotating family gathering and so forth, but the older family members have passed, I'm down to one elderly aunt and my mother, there isn't any family left on my wife's side so we usually visit my mother on Christmas Eve then return home and vegetate for a day or two.


tmw: Who would you like to spend this Christmas with?

I have to say, since Jesus is in residence, WE would love to spend Christmas with all the blogger community that has built up over this last year! I'd love to sit down with everyone and talk heart-to-heart about hopes, dreams, frustrations, failures and life as it stands! Everyone bring a dish, then settle before a fireplace with spiced cider, etc. and just enjoy each others company!

My family on all sides has ignored us since my parents died, and my late's family don't like Christians, but in the spirit of Yeshua, who said that those who give up family for HIS sake will receive 100-fold in this life! My church and brothers and sisters in the blogger community ARE my family now! They are precious to me and the idea of spending time with them makes my heart full!


nanc: yes, may the Spirit of Yeshua be in all our hearts. it's probably warren's turn to talk, but most people know how difficult it is to get between two women! (no wisecracks, elbro!)

as most of you know, our family is miles and miles away and we've made our family our friends along the way. although, i would love to see our families - i've built relationships here in the www that sustain me at times.

your idea is a most excellent one, tmw - a blogger convention is definitely in order. what would be really fun is to meet up for the first time and not know who's who and try to put avatars and names to actual faces! btw - i'm the one who doesn't look exactly like sophia loren...

you bring the cider and i'll bring the beer!


warren: I would love to do that but I'd have to leave my headsman's axe at home and wear sun glasses so my red glowing eyes wouldn't give me away. Of course my name tag would have to show an assumed name...

I'd love to meet all of our friends face to face, be it Christmas or any other time. I'll bring the guns!


tmw: I have some too, so those without or disinclined to carry onboard a plane may borrow! Traveling across state lines can be a pain too! Check first, and I'm sure Nancpop knows the best places to get refills.
Aviators glasses are a cool and classic statement, Warren!
And if there are any illegals hiding out, we may scare them off the property!


nanc: we, at longrange, want to wish all our loyal friends a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS and may your new year be a shining event! you're all in our thoughts and prayers each and every day. all the best to you and your families.

we also hope you've had a good time at this party - remember to travel safely to your next destination and have a designated driver...the management is not responsible for any accidents you have along the way!


tmw: And I'm not serving "hard" cider, just mulled, I might mull some wine too! Bring your own finger food, plus enough to share. Have a Very Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!

Let's get together in a "year"!

warren Its passing strange how you can form relationships with people you have never met face to face. You can learn their hopes and fears and share yours, you develop attachments and feel genuine love for them, share their sorrows and lift them up with prayer and an encouraging word.

Christmas is a family time as well as a religious celebration and I consider almost everyone that posts here as part of my extended family, certainly closer than many of my blood relatives.

I wish you, my family, a very heart felt Merry Christmas and the very best in the coming year.

May your burdens be light!

Note: I'll have a post from Christmas past on Christmas Eve morn.
Warren

The Jewish Conspiracy to Call Carter Anti-Semitic

Comment from:
JAMES TARANTO
WSJs Opinion Journal
Best of the Web Today - December 18, 2006 (free subscription, sign up is required)

Jimmy Carter, has a book out with the inflammatory title "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid," and a self-pitying op-ed in the Los Angeles Times:

Book reviews in the mainstream media have been written mostly by representatives of Jewish organizations who would be unlikely to visit the occupied territories, and their primary criticism is that the book is anti-Israel. Two members of Congress have been publicly critical. Incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for instance, issued a statement (before the book was published) saying that "he does not speak for the Democratic Party on Israel." Some reviews posted on Amazon.com call me "anti-Semitic," and others accuse the book of "lies" and "distortions." A former Carter Center fellow has taken issue with it, and Alan Dershowitz called the book's title "indecent."

Out in the real world, however, the response has been overwhelmingly positive. I've signed books in five stores, with more than 1,000 buyers at each site. I've had one negative remark--that I should be tried for treason--and one caller on C-SPAN said that I was an anti-Semite. My most troubling experience has been the rejection of my offers to speak, for free, about the book on university campuses with high Jewish enrollment and to answer questions from students and professors. : LA Times

So you see, Carter isn't anti-Semitic, regardless of what the Jews who control the media and the universities want you to believe. Meanwhile, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iran's president, held a Holocaust-denial conference in Tehran, which drew at least one American, Reuters reports:

As the Instapundit would say (OUCH!)

the greatest non-event of all time

aren't you all relieved the aforeposted photographs were probably staged? yeah, the holocaust didn't really happen according to imamadmandinejad. the starvation, the experiments on innocent children, the gas chambers, the cruelty, etc.

dayam! where'd they get all those actors?

i believe we are approaching a time in history where if we DON'T pay attention - this and much worse is at hand. we MUST teach our children well, or their educators WON'T.

"and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. (2 Thessalonians 2:10)

For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, (2 Thessalonians 2:11)"

"And you, son of man, prophesy against Gog and say, `Thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I am against you, O Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal; (Ezekiel 39:1)

and I will turn you around, drive you on, take you up from the remotest parts of the north and bring you against the mountains of Israel. (Ezekiel 39:2)

"I will strike your bow from your left hand and dash down your arrows from your right hand. (Ezekiel 39:3)

"You will fall on the mountains of Israel, you and all your troops and the peoples who are with you; I will give you as food to every kind of predatory bird and beast of the field. (Ezekiel 39:4)

"You will fall on the open field; for it is I who have spoken," declares the Lord GOD. (Ezekiel 39:5)

"And I will send fire upon Magog and those who inhabit the coastlands in safety; and they will know that I am the LORD. (Ezekiel 39:6)"

a continuing study of ezekiel 38 and 39 is warranted in order to fully understand what is truly happening in the middle east. fall for the truth or fall for a lie - that's what it all boils down to. i prefer to take the G-d of israel seriously. He is incapable of lying.

"oh boo" moments 1501, 1502, and 1503

while they're fresh in my mind.

yesterday, after church, i told nancpop to put his wallet in his truck - he grabbed it and threw it back in the console, stating, "i'll get it before i go to work tomorrow."

apparently, "telling" was the key word - i should have begged and pleaded, perhaps shedding a tear or four - because this morning while taking the children to the busstop - what should be STILL sitting in the console? yup.

i just called him and asked, "what's in your wallet?"

oh boo...

evan had "all region" band tryouts this weekend and didn't make it, but not to worry - there were 204 middle through high school kids vying for the coveted seats. three of those who made it were from our school district.

while performing for the judges, evan asked another bandie to keep an eye on her purse - no problem, but when she returned, this bandie was text messaging who knows who on HER cellphone! she was a little angry to say the least.

upon hearing this, nancson said, "that'll teach you, evan - i only allow people i trust to keep an eye on MY purse!" (i hope he meant cellphone...)

oh boo...

when i got back to the house and went to get the key to unlock the door - it was not in its designated spot. there was NO key in the second designated spot!

i was forced to remove a screen and tumble into an unlocked window - it was a gymnastics move that would have made olga korbutz proud! i'm not as spry as back in the day - as evan so handily points out to me daily...

oh boo...

don't worry your purty selves over me...i...i...i'll be okay...it's only eight hours before someone comes home and finds me...

please see warren's most excellent article regarding cyber stalkers and general moonbattery tackytics below this.

Cyber Stalking and the Abusive Personality

From bullyonline.org

The Internet provides the perfect forum for cyberbullies, individuals whose aim is to gain gratification from the distress caused by provoking and tormenting others. The anonymity, ease of provocation, and almost infinite source of targets means the Internet is full of predators from pedophiles targeting children to serial bullies targeting ... anybody.

Many serial bullies are also serial attention-seekers. More than anything else they want attention. It doesn't matter what type of attention they get, positive or negative, as long as they can provoke someone into paying them attention. It's like a 2-year-old child throwing a tantrum to get attention from a parent. The best way to treat bullies is to refuse to respond and to refuse to engage them - which they really hate. In other words, do not reply to their postings, and on forums carry on posting without reference to their postings as if they didn't exist. In other words, treat nobodies as nobodies.

The objectives of bullies are Power, Control, Domination, Subjugation. They get a kick out of seeing you react. It doesn't matter how you react, the fact they've successful provoked a reaction is, to the bully, a sign that their attempt at control have been successful. After that, it's a question of wearing you down. The more your try to explain, negotiate, conciliate, etc the more gratification they obtain from your increasingly desperate attempts to communicate with them. Understand that it is not possible to communicate in a mature adult manner with a disordered individual who's emotionally retarded.

The anger of a serial bully is especially apparent when they come across someone who can see through them to the weak, inadequate, immature, dysfunctional aggressive individual behind the mask.

The first rule for dealing with this type of behavior is: don't respond, don't interact and don't engage. This is not as easy to do as it sounds. It's a natural response to want to defend yourself, and to put the person right. However, never argue with a serial bully; it's not a mature adult discussion, but like dealing with a child or immature teenager; whilst the serial bully may be an adult on the outside, on the inside they are like a child who's never grown up - and probably never will. Serial bullies and harassers often have disordered thinking patterns and do not share the same thoughts or values as you.

Second, keep all abusive emails. Create a new folder, perhaps called "Abuse", and move hate mail and flame mail into this folder. You don't have to read it. When the time comes to take action, this folder of hate mail and flame mail is your evidence. Bullies, especially cyberbullies, are obsessive people and if their account is closed down you may start receiving mail from another address. This can later be compared to the abusive emails you've already received to identify the perpetrator. You'll find the same words, phrases and strategies occurring. If you receive abusive emails or flame mails or hate mail, you can forward it to abuse@isp where "isp" is the service provider the abuser is using, eg "aol.com" or "yahoo.com". Although Internet service providers may not act on every complaint, the more complaints they receive about a particular individual (with examples of abusive email) the more likely they are to close down the person's account.

Third, become alert to provocation. It could be called "The Baiting Game". A provocative comment is made and those who respond spontaneously in irritation are then targeted for further "attention".

Fourth, become an observer. Although you may be the target of the cyberbully's anger, you can train yourself to act as an observer. This takes you out of the firing line and enables you to study the perpetrator and collect evidence. When people use bullying behaviors they project their own weaknesses, failings and shortcomings on to others. In other words, they are telling you about themselves by fabricating an accusation based on something they themselves have done wrong. Whenever you receive a flame mail or hate mail, train yourself to instinctively ask the question, "What is this person revealing about themselves this time?"

Fifth, decide if you want to take action, and if so, prepare carefully and strike hard. Sometimes refusing to respond and engage will result in the cyberbully losing interest and going off to find someone easier to torment. Sometimes though, especially if there has been interaction in the past, the cyberbully is so obsessed that s/he cannot and will not let go. You will have to make that person let go, but only through swift, hard, legal action, and only when the time is right. Don't deal with the abuser yourself (this encourages bullies and stalkers), use a third party such as a Lawyer.

Internet stalker profile:



lives in a 1-room apartment which hasn't been cleaned for months - if ever


has stacks of pornographic magazines in his bedroom area


has poor personal hygiene


has poor table manners


has poor social etiquette


hasn't changed the sheets on his bed for months, which are now best described as crusty


has a bathroom, the state of which doesn't bear thinking about


lives on pizza and beer/coke, the remnants of which litter his apartment


may have an unusual pet (eg ferret) which has free run of the apartment


is either significantly over- or under-weight


has a small moustache or other facial hair


has not held down any job for more than a couple of years, probably less


has no friends


has no life outside the Internet

The Internet stalker probably has other unpleasant characteristics that sexual harassers possess, and the usual sexual inadequacy including lack of intimacy, controlling behavior, no concept of the partner's needs, premature ejaculation, and an abnormal belief bordering on obsession in his smallness.

what do these creatures have in common?

they're all just babies in their wombs, right? beware - it gets graphic.






more importantly, i should have asked, "which is expendable?" or, "which could we do without?" better yet, "who, on the left, would shed a tear if the one in the middle became extinct?"

national pornographic is doing a special on animal babies "from conception to birth" in the next week - i just have to wonder what their stance on abortion is?

where are these people:



when this happens?:



when i read that it doesn't matter whether or not a political candidate is pro-life or pro-abortion - i makes me want to vomit.

TODAY THE BRIS - TOMORROW THE WORLD!

first, i must apologize to madze for my tardiness in getting this post up - many extenuating circumcis...er...uh, circumstances...

our madze baby had his a coming out party ! he had the snip of a lifetime. i've asked madzionist to please present the winners of the baby shower party. here are his picks (he picked himself in a couple of categories!).

madzionist favorite table beer:

As Elbro said: Genessee Cream Ale

funniest delivery room story:

Gramma Z sent us a plant that had a "Feel Better" message and band-aids on the design. When we stopped laughing and told her about it she died of embarassment and had a new bouquet sent.

funniest labor room story:

Not a place where funny things happen.

the name game:

Baby Elbro

mama z's waistline:

whatever elbro said.

gift registry information:

Gift Registry

last but not least, a madze delivery story:

Not a delivery story, but the story of the week has been nonstop frenzy. Birth on Thursday, Shalom Zachor party Friday night, Bris on Thursday, family all in from out of town, Shabbos, etc...it's been overwhelming. No time to blog or to do anything but entertain and take care of the house and family.

a note from nanc:

i leave it to madze to disclose any personal information to those he wishes and those who inquire.

i'm off to shop for baby z-2!

p.s. it is perfectly clear that elbro has won this contest!

I have much to be thankful for!

Its 9 PM, I just finished preparing the turkey that I'll put on about 3 AM.

I've had a long-short week. I was supposed to work 3 - 10 1/2 hour days and be off tomorrow and Friday. Unfortunately I'll have to work 3 or 4 hours Friday and a full day Saturday.

Some of you, my friends, have sent me Email that I haven't had a chance to answer. I'm sorry, I'm going to get after that.

If you have replied to me in a post, again, I'm sorry for not answering you, I just haven't had the time.

I am thankful to have the opportunity to work. I am thankful for my family and the joy they have brought me, I thank my Creator who knew me in my mothers womb and who has carried me when I was too weak to move forward and for bringing us together.

I am thankful for you that pray for me and come to visit me.

May the peace of God be with you all.

Warren

"oh boo" moment #1,462.33

i had to share while this is fresh in my mind instead of here awhile back. my apologies to those of you this would offend, but if you watch network t.v. - i'm sure you've seen and heard worse.

last night, nancpop was on the phone with his "pa" in californistan. apparently "pa" had been having an illness he was being treated for with "nexium" (the little purple pill), and amoxycillin. now, we don't know exactly why these two things were prescribed, but after about a week, "pa" became lethargic and ill.

you'd think the pharmicist would have warned "pa" about the contraindications regarding taking these two together - THEY SHOULD NEVER BE TAKEN TOGETHER!

anyway, to make a short story longer, "pa" told nancpop that once he found out about the ill side effects, he quit taking them and has never felt better. praise G-d!

they got started talking about various pharmaceuticals and the one that got them going was one of the male sexual enhancement products (cialis or viagra). "pa" said he thought about the one that says, "if you have an erection lasting over FOUR hours, call your physician IMMEDIATELY!" "pa" said, "son, if i EVER have an erection lasting over four hours, i'm callin' the doctor; i'm callin' all my old girlfriends; i'm callin' anyone who'll listen!" i guess "ma" was in the background eyes rolling. apparently, "pa" had just had his cabernet meds.

nancpop responded to his father, "pa, if i have one lasting over four minutes, i'm doing the same thing!" they spent the rest of their conversation - approximately a half hour - ltao! men...always bragging...

oh boo...

illegal immigration or cheap tomatoes

definition of immigration: To enter and settle in a country or region to which one is not native.

excuse me, but this country was entered and settled here a few years back, thank you.

courtesy and hat tip to zinla:

"From a California school teacher - - -"As you listen to the news about the student protests over illegal immigration there are some things that you should be aware of:

I am in charge of the English-as-a-second-language department at a large southern California high school which is designated a Title 1 school, meaning that its students average lower social economic and income levels.

Most of the schools you are hearing about South Gate High, Bell Gardens , Huntington Park , etc.where these students are protesting, are also Title 1 schools.

One hundred percent of the students in this school and other Title 1 schools are on the free breakfast and free lunch program. When I say free breakfast I'm not talking a glass of milk and roll -- but a full breakfast and cereal bar with fruits and juices that would make a Marriott proud. The waste of this food is monumental, with trays and trays of it being dumped in the trash uneaten. (OUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK)

I estimate that well over 50% of these students are obese or at least moderately overweight. About 75% or more DO have cell phones.

The school also provides day care centers for the unwed teenage pregnant girls (some as young as 13) so they can attend class without the inconvenience of having to arrange for babysitters or having family watch their kids. (OUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK)

I was ordered to spend $700,000 on my department or risk losing funding for the upcoming year even though there was little need for anything; my budget was already substantial. I ended up buying new computers for the computer learning center; half of which, one month later, have been carved with graffiti by the appreciative students who obviously feel humbled and grateful to have a free education in America . (OUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK)

I have had to intervene several times for young and substitute teachers whose classes consist of many illegal immigrant students here in the country less then 3 months who raised so much hell with the female teachers, calling them Putas (whores) and throwing things that the teachers were in tears.

Free medical, free education, free food, day care etc., etc., etc. Is it any wonder they feel entitled to not only be in this country but to demand rights, privileges and entitlements?

I support president Bush, but on this issue, he and everyone else voting things this way is a certain way to disaster.

To my bleeding-heart liberal friends who want to point out how much these illegal immigrants contribute to our society because they LIKE their gardener and housekeeper and they like to spend less for tomatoes spend some time in the real world of illegal immigration and see the TRUE costs.

Higher insurance, Medical facilities closing, higher medical costs, more crime, lower standards of education in our schools, overcrowding, new diseases etc., etc, etc. For me, I'll pay more for tomatoes.
We need to wake up. The guest worker program will be a disaster because we won't have the guts to enforce it.

Does anyone in their right mind really think they will voluntarily leave and return?

There are many hardworking Hispanic/American citizens that contribute to our country and many that I consider my true friends. We should encourage and accept those Hispanics who have done it the right and legal way.

It does, however, have everything to do with culture: A third-world culture that does not value education, that accepts children getting pregnant and dropping out of school by 15 and that refuses to assimilate, and an American culture that has become so weak and worried about " politically correct" that we don't have the will to do anything about it."

"If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under". ~Ronald Reagan"

thank you socialist freaks.

all emphasis mine throughout.

Murtha's "ringing endorsement"

Rollcall Online

Murtha Calls Ethics Bill "Total Crap"
By John Bresnahan
Roll Call Staff
Wednesday, Nov. 15; 1:18 pm

Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) told a group of Democratic moderates on Tuesday that an ethics and lobbying reform bill being pushed by party leaders was "total crap," but said that he would work to enact the legislation because Speaker-to-be Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) supports it.

But we already knew that!

oprah winfrey AND sydney simpson

just testing a theory that russet shadows and cube have.

otherwise - this is an open thread.

i see my friend and partner, warren, is pist and he's not going to take it anymore!

his most excellent posts are below this one.

thank you for attending.

Nancy Pelosi's Sour Grapes

A note first, Nostradumbass, "Ducky", has once again shown that he doesn't know beans. San Fran Nan, is catching flack from her "fellow travelers", about her backing John Murtha, (with his ethics problems), For the #2 position in the House.

INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILY

Posted 10/31/2006

Leaders: Rep. Nancy Pelosi has her own "grapes of wrath" scenario going on. Is her opposition to enhanced border security due to the fact that the House Democratic leader personally profits from a steady supply of cheap foreign labor?

If Democrats regain control of the House of Representatives, the San Francisco Democrat will not only be the first female speaker, but also the richest. The liberal Center for Responsive Politics puts her net worth as high as $55 million.

There is no record of Pelosi's ever returning her portion of those "tax cuts for the rich" to the U.S. Treasury. Or any record, for that matter, of using her (dare we use the word?) windfall to give the workers at her Napa Valley vineyards a raise.

As Peter Schweizer notes in his best-selling expose of liberal hypocrisy, "Do As I Say (Not As I Do)," part of the fortune of this defender of the working man is a Napa Valley vineyard worth $25 million that she owns with her husband. The vineyard produces expensive grapes for high-end wines. Napa grapes bring up to $4,000 a ton compared with $300 a ton for, say, San Joaquin grapes.

But Pelosi, winner of the 2003 Cesar Chavez award from the United Farm Workers, hires only nonunion workers and sells these grapes to nonunion wineries. Schweizer places Pelosi in a chapter titled "Workers of the World Unite Somewhere Else." UFW members need not apply at the Pelosi family vineyards.

Which makes Pelosi's steadfast opposition to any attempts to enhance border security and stem the flow of illegal immigration into the U.S. all the more interesting since she seems to be among those rich employers who financially benefit from a steady supply of cheap foreign labor.

She led the opposition and voted against the Secure Fence Act of 2006 recently signed into law by President Bush to build a 700-mile fence along the U.S.-Mexican border.

She opposed the Real ID Act of 2005, a valuable anti-terror tool, while bragging that Democrats under her leadership "defeated Republican attempts to restrict the easily forged Matricula Consular card" issued by the Mexican government.

She voted against a bill to make employers such as herself financially liable for hospital costs if undocumented employees seek medical attention, preferring that either taxpayers foot the bill or that hospitals close under the burden, as many are doing throughout the Southwest.

In 2005 she voted against barring the issuance of driver's licenses to illegal aliens and against a requirement that businesses use an electronic system to verify whether new hires have the legal right to work in the U.S.

Nor has Pelosi been a fan of employer sanctions against the hiring of illegal aliens. In 2003, she accused immigration officers of conducting "terrorizing raids" on Wal-Mart stores that led to the arrest of more than 300 illegal aliens.

Loraine Stewart, a farmworker advocate with Napa Valley Community Housing, in a 2004 San Francisco Chronicle article estimated that half of the migrant labor force in the valley consisted of undocumented workers, without whom "not one bottle of wine would get made here."

The people coming across our southern border aren't just seeking better lives. They're joined by drug smugglers and an assortment of people with criminal records. There are also what Immigration and Customs Enforcement calls OTMs (Other Than Mexicans) among whom potential terrorists could sneak in undetected.

Pelosi apparently puts her financial interests above the security of this nation and the safety of its citizens, exploiting undocumented workers in the process. If the people at Immigration and Customs are looking for an employer to check out, we know this little vineyard in the Napa Valley.

You might want to check out this too: (Nancy Pelosi: One of Mikhail Gorbachev's most useful idiots)

Don't get me wrong, I want Pelosi to appoint the Murthas, Alcee Hastings, Charlie Wrangles and John Conyers of the Democrat party to leadership positions.

I want to see the in-fighting and recriminations as the Frankenstein Party struggles to keep its dead pieces acting as if it were a viable whole.

More on Murtha

From, .beyonddelay.org a Liberal leaning watchdog group.

REP. JOHN MURTHA
Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) is a 17th-term member of Congress, representing Pennsylvania’s 12th congressional district. Rep. Murtha’s ethics violations stem from abuse of his position as Ranking Member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee to benefit the lobbying firm of a former long-term staffer and clients of his brother, Robert “Kit” Murtha, a registered lobbyist.

PMA Group

Paul Magliocchetti worked with Rep. Murtha as a senior staffer on the Defense appropriations subcommittee for 10 years.1 After leaving the committee, Mr. Magliocchetti founded the PMA Group, which has become one of the prominent Washington, D.C. defense lobbying firms. In the current campaign cycle, the PMA Group and 11 of the firm’s clients rank in the top 20 contributors to Rep. Murtha, having made campaign contributions totaling $274,649.2 In the 2004 and 2002 cycles, PMA and nine of the firm’s clients ranked in the top 20 contributors having made $236,7993 in contributions and $279,074, respectively.4

In turn, many of PMA’s clients have benefited significantly from Rep. Murtha’s earmarks. In the 2006 Defense appropriations bill, PMA clients received at least 60 earmarks at a total of $95.1 million.5

Robert “Kit” Murtha
KSA Consulting is a lobbying firm hired by defense contractors in the hopes of securing funding from the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.6
The firm was retained by most of its clients after Rep. Murtha’s brother, Kit Murtha, joined the firm in 2002.7
Mr. Murtha joined the firm at the invitation of top KSA official Carmen Scialabba, who had worked for Rep. Murtha on the House Appropriations Committee for 27 years.8
Mr. Murtha’s first client at KSA was AEPTEC Miscrosystems, Inc., a wireless networking company based in Maryland that was seeking a grant from the State of Pennsylvania to fund construction of a new business complex in Rep. Murtha’s district.9
Notably, AEPTEC donated more than $12,000 to Rep. Murtha’s reelection campaign in 2002.10
Mr. Murtha successfully lobbied the state for a $1.5 million grant to build the complex.11
Although Mr. Murtha has claimed that his brother played no role in helping secure that funding, in an April 2004 press release, Rep. Murtha claimed credit for “introducing AEPTEC to the opportunities” in Pennsylvania and several of the Congressman’s staff attended groundbreaking
ceremonies for construction of the complex.12
Two months later, as part of a defense appropriations bill, Rep. Murtha’s subcommittee
approved a $4.2 million appropriation for an AEPTEC wireless network that supported the Aegis cruiser program. KSA founder, chief executive and lead lobbyist Ken Stalder lobbied Rep. Murtha to obtain the earmark.13
In 2004, Congress passed a $417 billion defense appropriations bill that went through Rep. Murtha’s subcommittee.14
The bill benefited at least 10 companies represented by KSA and KSA lobbied Rep. Murtha’s office directly on behalf of seven of those companies, which received a total $20.8 million in earmarks.15
For example, Arkansas based Cal-Zark won $1.7 million -- more than tripling the firm’s 2004 sales -- after KSA’s founder and head lobbyist, Ken Stalder, joined Cal-Zark officials on a trip to lobby Rep. Murtha’s office.16
KDH Defense Systems was awarded $2.6 million and soon thereafter, opened a body armor plant and moved its headquarters into Rep. Murtha’s district.17
Mobilvox Inc, which received $1.7 million,18
held a press conference with Rep. Murtha to announce the opening of a new Pennsylvania office shortly before the bill passed.19
Mr. Murtha and one of his staff, Jack Frank, attended Mobilvox’s new office open house in 2005.20

Other KSA clients that received earmarks include Applied Ordnance Technnology Inc., which received $3.4 million; ChemImage Corp., which received $3.5 million;21
and Mountaintop Technologies Inc., which received $1 million.22


5 U.S.C. §7353 and House Rules
A provision of the Ethics Reform Act of 1989, 5 U.S.C. §7353, prohibits members of the House, officers, and employees from asking for anything of value from a broad range of people,
including “anyone who seeks official action from the House, does business with the House, or has interests which may be substantially affected by the performance of official duties.
*****************
1
See
2
PMA Lobbying Disclosure Report for 2006 cycle; www.opensecrets.com. (Exhibit 1)
3
PMA Lobbying Disclosure Report for 2004 cycle; www.opensecrets.com. (Exhibit 2)
4
PMA Lobbying Disclosure Report for 2002 cycle; www.opensecrets.com. (Exhibit 3)
5
Roxana Tiron, Hill Ties Reap Rewards for Top Defense Firms, The Hill, June 15, 2006.
(Exhibit 4)
6
Ken Silverstein and Richard Simon, Lobbyist Brother Guided House Bill, The Los
Angeles Times, June 13, 2005. (Exhibit 5)
7
Id.; Kit Murtha is no longer with KSA. See www.ksaconsulting.net/profiles.htm.
8
Id.
9
Id.
10
Silverstein and Simon, Los Angeles Times, June 13, 2005.
11
Id.
12
Id.
13
Id.
14
Silverstein and Simon, Los Angeles Times, June 13, 2005.
15
Id.
16
Id.
17
Id.
18
Silverstein and Simon, Los Angeles Times, June 13, 2005.
19
Id.
20
Id.
21
Id.
22
Silverstein and Simon, Los Angeles Times, June 13, 2005.

Murtha and the FBI: The Director's Cut

From, The American Spectator:

Video as well as a transcript of FBI sting operation involving Congressman Jack Murtha in the Abscam investigation are linked to the American Spectator article.

In recent years, only a 13-second video of Murtha's videotaped meeting with the FBI agents was publicly available. TAS has obtained a copy of the full, original video from a source close to the Abscam investigation on the condition of anonymity. The court transcript is publicly available at the National Archives.[...]

[...]On the video, Murtha does not appear to be a man uninterested in money. He appears to be uninterested at that point. Interpretation of the nuances of this conversation may be subjective, but Murtha appears essentially to say, You don't need Thompson and Murphy. I'm the guy who makes it happen.

THANK YOU VETERANS!

one and all!

warren

morgan

elbro

american crusader

steve harkonnen

farmer

my father (army, korean war)(deceased)

my stepfather (u.s.a.f., active during the fifties)(alive and kickin')

and of course to all those i've failed to remember and never knew, who stood the test in order that the free world is indeed free and remains so! G-d bless you and keep you all!

feel free to pay tribute to the vet of your choice here today or anyday.

the pleasure of mississippi

you heard me correctly.

nancpop had the great pleasure of working in mississippi a few years ago on a power plant. he was warned by outsiders to stay away from the black parts of town - and if there's one thing you do not do it's warn nancpop!

he decided to rent from a fine woman of color in an all black neighborhood with a black club directly across the street (pool, billiards and BEER!) - the rental also came with fishing privileges in the two on-site ponds so all was well in his world.

we had occasion to go visit him a couple of times and the landlady and her husband were a couple of the most genuinely great people we have encountered as a family. she took our children to the local swimming pool where they were the least tanned kids in the water!

now, to my rant:

charlie rangel, the dhimmi congressworm from nyc, had this to say about mississippi in the sun/herald yesterday:

" JACKSON, Miss. - A Democratic congressman from New York says he wasn't trying to insult Mississippi in published remarks Thursday, but a Republican colleague from Mississippi says Rep. Charles Rangel should apologize to the state.

Rangel, D-N.Y., was quoted in a Thursday article in The New York Times, saying: "Mississippi gets more than their fair share back in federal money, but who the hell wants to live in Mississippi?"

Rep. Chip Pickering, R-Miss., issued a news release criticizing Rangel's words.

"I hope his remarks are not the kind of insults, slander, and defamation that Mississippians will come to expect from the Democrat leadership in Washington, D.C.," Pickering said.

Elbert Garcia, Rangel's press secretary in New York, said Rangel had received calls Thursday about the Mississippi quote.

Garcia e-mailed The Associated Press a response from Rangel: "I certainly don't mean to offend anyone, I just love New York so much that I can't understand why everyone wouldn't want to live here."

In midterm elections this week, Democrats captured control of the U.S. House and Senate for the first time in a dozen years.

Rangel is the ranking Democrat on Ways and Means, and is in line to become chairman of the powerful tax-writing committee. The New York Times article was about how the New York congressional delegation gained political clout in the midterm elections. Rangel said, among other things, that he wants to direct more federal money to his state.

U.S. Rep. Gene Taylor, D-Miss., said he believes Mississippi will be treated fairly by Rangel and other Democratic leaders. As for Pickering's question of whether Democrats could hurt the state, Taylor said: "That's Chip."

Pickering was elected to the House in 1996 and for the first time will be a member of the minority party in Congress.

Mississippi is one of the poorest states in the nation and gets back more from the federal government than it pays for many programs. For example, Mississippi has one of the highest federal matching rates for Medicaid, getting back nearly $3 in federal money for every $1 of state money in the program that helps pay for health care for the needy, aged, blind and disabled, and for low-income families with children.

Mississippi also has received billions of dollars in federal relief since Hurricane Katrina struck on Aug. 29, 2005, destroying tens of thousands of homes and businesses and causing damage more than 150 miles inland.

Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss., has been chairman of the Appropriations Committee, but will lose that position as Democrats take over the Senate majority.

Taylor, whose Bay St. Louis home was washed away by Katrina, said Rangel "was particularly helpful in the post-Katrina time" in securing money for Mississippi's recovery.

Taylor laughed as he responded to Rangel's comments about Mississippi. Taylor was stationed in New York when he was a young man in the Coast Guard. He said some New Yorkers "are stuck up about their home."

"You can tell him I want to live in Mississippi and wild elephants and tigers and bears couldn't keep me from living in Mississippi," Taylor said. "Hurricane Katrina couldn't keep me from building back here.""

in case mr. rangel didn't know, mississippi is one of the poorest states, but the MOST giving as far as being charitable - here's a list from 2003 for you charlie (and plucky too if you're looking)(previous year's ranking in parentheses after state):

1. Mississippi $34,720; $4,770; (1).

2. Arkansas $36,882; $4,890; (2).

3. South Dakota $37,698; $4,318; (7).

4. Oklahoma $38,344; $4,350; (3).

5. Tennessee $41,140; $5,564; (6).

6. Alabama $39,730; $4,555; (5).

7. Louisiana $37,701; $4,180 (4).

8. Utah $42,291; $6,124; (8).

9. South Carolina $39,301; $4,121; (9).

10. West Virginia $35,771; $3,614; (13).

11. Idaho $38,507; $3,709; (10).

12. Texas $44,699; $4,953; (12).

13. Nebraska $41,165; $3,805; (14).

14. North Dakota $37,314; $3,546; (15).

15. Wyoming $46,027; $7,888; (11).

16. North Carolina $42,763; $3,874 (16).

17: Kansas $43,086; $3,959; (17).

18. Florida $44,673; $4,115; (18).

19. Georgia $45,524; $4,194; (19).

20. Missouri $42,120; $3,590; (22).

21. Kentucky $39,220; $3,350; (20).

22. New Mexico $36,817; $3,095; (23).

23. Montana $35,057; 2,889; (21).

24. Indiana $42,522; $3,500; (25).

25. Alaska $43,240; $3,550; (24).

26. New York $54,193; $4,204; (26).

27. Iowa $40,840; $2,993; (27).

28. Nevada $50,101; $3,668; (40).

29. Ohio $41,835; $2,965; (28).

30. Maine $40,201; $2,526; (32).

31. California $52,961; $3,764; (29).

32. Maryland $55,879; 3,783; (30).

33. Washington $50,357; $3,586; (34).

34. Vermont $41,445; $2,634; (35).

35. Oregon $43,233; $3,083; (36).

36. Pennsylvania $45,367; $3,270; (41).

37. Virginia $52,637; $3,593; (38).

38. Arizona $45,003; $3,164; (39).

39. Delaware $49,665; $3,520; (33).

40. Illinois $50,749; $3,584; (31).

41. Michigan $46,113; $3,244; (42).

42. Hawaii $43,510; $2,984; (37).

43. Colorado $50,516; $3,480; (43).

44. Minnesota $50,310; $3,214; (45).

45. Connecticut $67,136; $3,565; (44).

46. Wisconsin $45,188; $2,659; (46).

47. Rhode Island $47,585; 2,399; (48).

48. New Jersey $60,527; $3,143; (47).

49. Massachusetts $58,408; $3,122; (49).

50. New Hampshire $50,952; $2,607; (50).

the first amount is for the average adjusted gross income followed by the average amount of giving.

it always pists me off when i hear people slamming the south - there are no better people in the world. if you're broke down by the side of the road, there will be sixteen people pulling over to give you a hand. if you stop to help someone, they hunt you down and try to pay you back.

HEY, CHARLIE? do you know why people want to live in mississippi? because your wannabe white arse is in new york city!

okay, i feel much better now. thank you for hearing me out.

Some Cognizant Thoughts

From Bill Wittle

We have to accept the fact that the conservatives we sent to Congress in 1994 became the bloated, earmarking, tone-deaf toads of 2006. They thought they could do whatever they wanted, regardless of what their constituents think, and now they have been reminded of just who is working for whom. Remedying that sense of isolation and disconnect and unchecked power is why we have elections in the first place, and as to the consequences of it, we have no one to blame but ourselves. That imperial attitude is not unique to Republicans or Democrats. That is human nature, and correcting the excesses of human nature only becomes more costly and painful the longer it is allowed to go on. Democracy is error-correcting. Ask John Kerry.



Please read the whole thing and while you're at it, grab a cup of coffee and Read This