Mar 23, 2010
Mobile phone circa 1940
The US Army Signal Corps communicate via radio in the field during simulated wartime maneuvers.
Texas hacker remotely disables more than 100 cars
More than 100 drivers in Austin, Texas found their cars disabled or the horns honking out of control, after an intruder ran amok in a web-based vehicle-immobilization system normally used to get the attention of consumers delinquent in their auto payments.
Police with Austin’s High Tech Crime Unit on Wednesday arrested 20-year-old Omar Ramos-Lopez, a former Texas Auto Center employee who was laid off last month, and allegedly sought revenge by bricking the cars sold from the dealership’s four Austin-area lots
More here.
Police with Austin’s High Tech Crime Unit on Wednesday arrested 20-year-old Omar Ramos-Lopez, a former Texas Auto Center employee who was laid off last month, and allegedly sought revenge by bricking the cars sold from the dealership’s four Austin-area lotsMore here.
The Stupak cave-in
The Stupak amendment to the ObamaCare bill restricted federal funding for abortions. It passed in November, marking the only bipartisan vote in this whole health-care fiasco.
When Bart Stupak (pictured) announced Sunday he was now a "yes" on the health-care bill, six Democrats stood with him. Even that handful would have been enough to defeat the bill. Instead, they accepted the fig leaf of an executive order—and threw away all the hard-won gains they had made.
Now Mr. Stupak has thrown it away. By caving at the last hour, he discredited all who stood with him.
The executive order issued by Obama to restrict government funding for abortions isn’t worth the paper it was written on. An executive order can’t change a law but Stupak fell for it.
Will the Stupak amendment of November, 2009 be referred to as the “stupid amendment” from now on?
Link
Royal inspection
Please don’t sneeze!
Britain's Prince Charles takes a closer look at one of the traditional Tatarian dishes served in a restaurant during his visit to eastern Poland.
Hmm...maybe we should all chip in to buy the Prince a toupée so he can keep the back of his head warm.
Time Magazine photo
Britain's Prince Charles takes a closer look at one of the traditional Tatarian dishes served in a restaurant during his visit to eastern Poland.
Hmm...maybe we should all chip in to buy the Prince a toupée so he can keep the back of his head warm.
Time Magazine photo
Billboard: Obama worse than Carter
A billboard in Grand Junction, Colorado takes a swipe at Barack Obama. The sign shows a picture of Jimmy Carter and says, “They can’t call me the worst president anymore!”
(click on photo to enlarge)
The statement on the billboard may be hard to deny. The sigh was commissioned by businessmen who obviously agree with those who say Barack Obama is becoming Jimmy Carter even faster that Jimmy Carter became Jimmy Carter.
The billboard was paid for by local businesses who want to remain anonymous.
Link
The statement on the billboard may be hard to deny. The sigh was commissioned by businessmen who obviously agree with those who say Barack Obama is becoming Jimmy Carter even faster that Jimmy Carter became Jimmy Carter.
The billboard was paid for by local businesses who want to remain anonymous.
Link
Federal employees owe $1Billion in back taxes!
A CBS News report says around 100,000 federal employees owe the U.S. roughly $1 billion in back taxes and one Republican lawmaker thinks they should pay up or lose their jobs.
Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, has introduced a bill that would seek out and terminate federal workers with "seriously delinquent tax debt" while also preventing the hire of any new employees who owe money to the IRS.
"If you get to the point where the government is putting a lien on their property and they've exhausted their appeals ... the right thing to do is fire them as a federal worker," he told ABC. "If you're going to take federal tax dollars, you should be paying your federal taxes."
More here.
Mar 22, 2010
Guinness Record longest running TV ad
A delightful commercial showing a little old lady throwing a tire through a tire store window is the longest running TV commercial according to Guinness World Records.
Joining the ranks of Charmin's Mr. Whipple, Wendy's affable founder Dave Thomas and the Lonely Maytag Repairman, is the little old lady from the Discount Tire ad.
Not only is the Discount Tire ad a winner - it’s funny and it’s also short - only a few seconds long!
CNN weekend poll: bad news for Obama
While the Obama and the Democrats were cramming ObamaCare through the House, CNN's Opinion Research surveyors were hard at work over the weekend during the final hours of the successful push to win House approval of the Senate version of ObamaCare.
The results of the CNN/OR survey are out and they point to the most vivid reality of the ObamaCare victory - 219 House Democrats were willing to flout the clear majority of Americans on this issue.
Following are the major initial points of interest in the CNN/OR results:
* 59% oppose the Democrats’ health care bill, while only 39% favor it.
* 70% say the federal budget deficit will go up under the Democrats’ health care bill; only 12% believe it will go down.
* 56% say the bill creates “too much government involvement in the nation's health care system,” 28% say about the right amount, while 16% say not enough.
* 62% say they'll pay more for medical care under the Democrats’ health care bill.
* 47% say they and their families will be worse off under the Democrats’ health care bill; 33% say things will be about the same, and only 19% think they’ll be better off.
* 45% say seniors on Medicare will be worse off; 34% say things will be about the same, and only 20% think they’ll be better off.
China sandstorm turns Beijing sky orange
Beijing is shrouded in orange dust from a sandstorm originating from drought-struck northern China hundreds of miles away.The authorities have issued a level-five pollution warning and urged people to stay indoors.
In Tiananmen Square, clouds of dust obscured monuments and visitors wore masks to avoid the dust and soil.
The storm has already caused havoc in Xinjiang, Shanxi, Shaanxi and Hebei regions and is heading to South Korea.
Link
List: what ObamaCare will do to you
The link below has a list of 20 ways ObamaCare will take away our freedoms.
The bill is supposed to provide us with security. Instead, it will result in skyrocketing insurance costs and many of the better physicians will leave the field, making it harder to afford and find medical care.
As the report at the link below says:
The bill is supposed to provide us with security. Instead, it will result in skyrocketing insurance costs and many of the better physicians will leave the field, making it harder to afford and find medical care.
As the report at the link below says:
We may be about to live Benjamin Franklin’s adage, “People willing to trade their freedom for temporary security deserve neither and will lose both.”
Bill Clinton in rare form at annual Gridiron Dinner
Former President Bill Clinton made a return to Washington’s public life, if only temporarily.
He spoke to the annual Gridiron Dinner as a stand-in for Barack Obama and poked fun at nearly everyone in sight - including himself.
He spoke to the annual Gridiron Dinner as a stand-in for Barack Obama and poked fun at nearly everyone in sight - including himself.
Mr. Clinton, known to friend and foe alike as a gifted political orator, showed he hasn’t lost much in that category in the nine years since he left the White House.
Presidential speeches to the Gridiron—an organization of Washington journalists—are supposed to be humorous, and Mr. Clinton knew the drill well from his time as a regular dinner guest during his term.
So he got loosened up at Saturday night’s white-tie dinner with a joke at his own expense: “I have been waiting to stand in for President Obama for a long time,” he said, “ and since they turned me down for Dancing with the Stars, I had nothing better to do.”
Besides himself, Clinton had fun with others:
Barack Obama
Clinton said Obama couldn’t make the dinner because he was too busy polishing up his Nobel Peace Prize.
Journalists
Mr. Clinton said he suggested to Obama that he at least come and appear before the journalists assembled at the dinner anyway, to pitch his health bill again, but then added, in a reference to the senior status of journalists in the Gridiron Club, that he realized “they’re so old they won’t be helped by what’s in there.”
Al Gore
Bill Clinton said he was speaking on the night before the start of spring, “otherwise known to Al Gore as proof of global warming.”
Joe Biden
God bless his mouth.
Senator Orrin Hatch
Clinton praised a speech given earlier in the dinner by the night’s Republican speaker, Orrin Hatch: “Orrin, he’s the wittiest of all the Republicans. That’s sort of like saying he’s the tallest of the Seven Dwarfs.”
Link
blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2010/03/21/clinton-returns-to-washington-needling-himself-obama-and-the-press/
Stupak helps pass ObamaCare 219 to 212
From a report at the first link below:
At 10:48 PM Eastern Daylight Savings Time, the United States House of Representatives passed the Senate ObamaCare bill with 219 yay votes and 212 nays.
The Stupak cave-in turned out to be critical. Nancy Pelosi got her “historic” victory, as did President Obama. House Democrats began chanting, “Yes we can.”
What brought about the Stupak cave-in?
Barack Obama signed an executive order intended to prevent government funding for abortion.
In the past an executive order could not change a law. Will rules be changed to make it happen now?
Was Congressman Stupak (pictured) so naïve as to think that the executive order would really hold up?
Hard to say, but one thing is for sure, he is thankful that Barack Obama gave him an alibi, to give his constituents for his “yes” vote on ObamaCare, abortion language and all.
Link here and here.
Mar 21, 2010
House Rules Committee still debating
The photo below shows the House Rules Committee debating Sunday morning before the vote on ObamaCare.
Among issues that the House Rules Committee will have to contend with is how the bill addresses insurance coverage of abortions.
But then, as Congressman Alcee Hastings says in the video below, “There are no rules here ... we make them up as we go along..."
By the way...
Congressman Alcee Hastings, previous to his election to the U.S. House of Representatives, was a lawyer and judge in Florida.
As a judge, he was impeached and removed from office for corruption and perjury. He was the sixth federal judge in American history to be impeached and removed from office.
The impeachment, however, did not prevent him from serving in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The Alcee Hastings impeachment story is here.
Among issues that the House Rules Committee will have to contend with is how the bill addresses insurance coverage of abortions.
But then, as Congressman Alcee Hastings says in the video below, “There are no rules here ... we make them up as we go along..."
Congressman Alcee Hastings, previous to his election to the U.S. House of Representatives, was a lawyer and judge in Florida.
As a judge, he was impeached and removed from office for corruption and perjury. He was the sixth federal judge in American history to be impeached and removed from office.
The impeachment, however, did not prevent him from serving in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The Alcee Hastings impeachment story is here.
Dan Rather on ObamaCare
An article linked to below reports on Dan Rather’s appearance on MSNBC Friday:
Dan Rather (pictured) was on Rachel Maddow’s MSNBC borefest last night when he said, ‘I think it — not seems to be, I think it will be. It will be the signature achievement of this first term, perhaps the only term, but a signature achievement of President Obama`s this term.’
He followed that up with his belief that if health care reform passes, ‘ I expect it will be in the first paragraph of President Obama`s obituary.’ And then goes on to point out that it could very well be a one-term presidency.
It is interesting to note that the report calls Rachel Maddow’s MSNBC program a “borefest.” At least she manages to stay ahead of Anderson “cold oatmeal” Cooper (second link below).
The Dan Rather comment is here. Cable News program recent ranking list is here.
She wants to be world’s fattest woman
Donna Simpson, of Old Bridge, New Jersey, loves to show off her body in front of the cameras.
What makes Donna different from other online pin up girls, Donna is a 43-stone (603 lbs) mother of two.
Photo shows Donna Simpson eating at a McDonald’s in Old Bridge, New Jersey.
Donna, who wears size XXXXXXXL clothes, is on her way to becoming the world's fattest woman.
She is already in the Guinness Book of Records as the biggest woman in the world to give birth.
Donna's goal is to reach 72 stone (900 lbs) but she thinks this may not be practical.
Ohio Congressman complicates count for Democrats
A Cleveland, Ohio newspaper reports:
After hearing out everyone from President Obama to tea party activists, Dover Democrat Zack Space (pictured) announced today that he'll oppose the health care reform bill that's up for a vote on Sunday in the House of Representatives.
Space, who represents a sprawling southeast Ohio congressional district with a high concentration of Republicans, said he doesn't like the bill, and his constituents don't like it, either.
How many other Democrat Congressmen from moderate or conservative districts will decide last minute to vote no rather than face election defeat in November?
His reasons for changing his vote can be found here.
Mar 20, 2010
Hatch: House vote won’t end health issue
Republican Senator Orrin Hatch (pictured) was quoted as saying:
Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives are “nuts” to think tomorrow’s vote on health-care legislation will resolve the issue.
If the measure passes, Senate Republicans have enough votes on at least two points of order to alter the measure and send it back to the House for a second round of votes.
More here.
Will the Clausen Spring Dam save Kathryn, North Dakota?
One year ago authorities went door to door warning the 55 residents of the town of Kathryn to evacuate as water carved through a nearby dam.
This year this tiny North Dakota town is facing the possibility of having to evacuate again because of flooding.
Fueled by runoff from a winter of heavy snow, water is swiftly rising behind the Clausen Springs Dam.
Kathryn's main street is shown above.
Kathryn's 55 citizens are frustrated that nothing has been done to repair or replace the damaged dam that threatens to break and inundate this blink-and-you-miss-it community, about 60 miles southwest of the state's biggest city of Fargo.
Kathryn's residents have good reason to be frustrated.
Last year $3 million was scraped together to replace the battered dam. Maybe the funding came too late but for whatever the reason, it hasn't been done and now there is a 50-50 chance the town could be flooded.
Link
This year this tiny North Dakota town is facing the possibility of having to evacuate again because of flooding.
Fueled by runoff from a winter of heavy snow, water is swiftly rising behind the Clausen Springs Dam.
Kathryn's main street is shown above.
Kathryn's 55 citizens are frustrated that nothing has been done to repair or replace the damaged dam that threatens to break and inundate this blink-and-you-miss-it community, about 60 miles southwest of the state's biggest city of Fargo.
Kathryn's residents have good reason to be frustrated.
Last year $3 million was scraped together to replace the battered dam. Maybe the funding came too late but for whatever the reason, it hasn't been done and now there is a 50-50 chance the town could be flooded.
Link
Danny Gaither sings Forever With Jesus
Danny Gaither was the silky tenor voice in the Bill Gaither Trio for several years. He began singing with the group at the age of 18.
He was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1999.
Danny Gaither lost his battle with cancer in 2001 at the age of 62.
Listening to this Hymn by Danny Gaither is helping me through a challenging bout with Sciatica.
Mar 19, 2010
Can 250,000 sandbags save Fargo?
The Red River near Fargo, North Dakota is expected to crest on Sunday at 20 feet above the flood stage threatening low-lying homes and streets.
The weather has also been getting colder and windier.
The weather has also been getting colder and windier.
Fargo officials said Friday that homeowners should keep their sump pumps from freezing and watch the sandbag dikes in their yards to make sure water doesn't seep through them.
The photo was taken during a previous Fargo flood.
Fargo Mayor Dennis Walaker says the city has a quarter of a million sandbags in storage that are ready for use if needed.
Obama wants Democrats to commit political suicide for ObamaCare
Obama tells Democrats, our fates are tied to health bill!
In seeking enough votes to overhaul the nation's health care system, President Barack Obama is telling nervous Democratic lawmakers that their political fates are linked to the bill's passage, discouraging the notion that they can save themselves by opposing it, House members say.
The reality is that nearly every House Democrat from a conservative district will fall on their political swords if they vote for ObamaCare.
It seems rather obvious that Obama is pinning his own political survival on the passage of his healthcare package.
White House press secretary Robert Gibbs (upper photo) said Mr. Obama has spoken with more than three dozen Democrat lawmakers this week, repeatedly sidestepped questions of whether Obama has told them his presidency's fate depends on the legislation's passage.
Such suggestions could be ticklish because all 435 House seats are up for grabs in November, whereas Obama won't face voters until 2012.
Although Senior administration adviser David Axelrod (center photo) has said, "There's not been one minute of talk around the White House about what this means for Barack Obama's presidency," other evidence shows that the passage of ObamaCare will define Obama’s presidency.
Axelrod said Obama is well aware that a president's success often builds more success and that rejection of the health proposals could make it difficult to enact other major initiatives.
Congressman Henry Waxman (lower photo) of California, a member of the House Democratic leadership has said, "Members who think they have a tough race are not going to find security in voting 'no.'" Waxman said. "Because if this bill doesn't pass, they are going to be wiped out" in November.
Waxman is referring to Democrats in the House from heavily Democrat districts.
It’s Democrats from conservative districts voting for the bill who will be, as Waxman says, be “wiped out,” changing the complexion of the House in November to a Republican majority with Nancy Pelosi removed from her position as Speaker.
Link
The 80-20 rule alive and well on Facebook
Pareto's Principle, sometimes called the vital few and trivial many rule, observes that most things in life are not distributed evenly. A simple example is that 20% of a person's effort generates 80% of that person's results.
Another simple example: 80% of the work is done by 20% of the people.
This is more commonly known as the “80-20 rule” and is evident on Facebook where generally 80% of the entries are posted by about 20% of the members.
Another simple example: 80% of the work is done by 20% of the people.
This is more commonly known as the “80-20 rule” and is evident on Facebook where generally 80% of the entries are posted by about 20% of the members.
Parts of Detroit may go back to farmland
A Washington Examiner report asks: is deconstruction the fate of urban America? - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Mayor David Bing is the same Dave Bing who thrilled basketball fans with his brilliance on the basketball court during the era of Jerry West, Oscar Robertson, and Walt Frazier.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Michael Barone, writer of the Washington Examiner report at the link below says:
(click on picture to enlarge)
Twelve years ago, British urban historian Sir Peter Hall wrote in “Cities in Civilization” that Detroit “has become an astonishing case of industrial dereliction; perhaps, before long, the first major industrial city in history to revert to farmland.”
Will Detroit become the first organized and orderly deconstruction of a major American city?
The “Neighborhood Revitalization Strategic Framework” plan by Detroit Mayor David Bing (pictured) envisions replacing entire neighborhoods with “Naturescapes” (meadows), “Green Thoroughfares” and “Village Hubs” that require fewer city services.
Mayor David Bing is the same Dave Bing who thrilled basketball fans with his brilliance on the basketball court during the era of Jerry West, Oscar Robertson, and Walt Frazier.
Michael Barone, writer of the Washington Examiner report at the link below says:
Houses in Detroit are now selling for an average of $13,000, and Detroit is moving back to farmland. When people ask me why I switched from liberalism to conservatism, my one-word answer is “Detroit.”
Congressman Tom Perriello: “we will keep stealing” - Video
A freshman Democrat politician says, “if you don't tie our hands, we'll keep stealing” in this one minute video.
Tom Perriello, a first term Democrat congressman, was filmed at a Tea Party near Jefferson in northeast Virginia.
Tom Perriello, a first term Democrat congressman, was filmed at a Tea Party near Jefferson in northeast Virginia.
Mar 18, 2010
Funny and unusual police sketches
This sketch isn’t much more useful than the old Unabomber sketches circulated in the 1980’s and 1990’s.
This sketch shows the suspect in a Portuguese kidnapping. This person is going to be difficult to find.
On second thought, the sketch may make him easier to find - just look for a person with no face.
This “graph paper killer” should be easy to find. Not too many people running around without ears.
This suspect should be easy to find. Look for a person with sparse hair plugs and a nose wider than his mouth.
ObamaCare: don’t ask, don’t tell, don’t debate - just vote yes
A Democratic staffer says House leaders tentatively plan to ignore or blur the 72-hour rule.
Democrats will to anything get ObamaCare passed even though they realize that the majority of Americans are against the bloated pork-laden bill.
Democrats will to anything get ObamaCare passed even though they realize that the majority of Americans are against the bloated pork-laden bill.
The Rules Committee will meet on Saturday to set the rules for debate. Following the letter of the 72-hour rule would mean no vote before late Sunday, but Democrats have allowed themselves an out.
"The Democratic leadership has declared martial law," Poltico.com reports, "allowing leaders to bring legislation straight to the floor on the same legislative day." That could mean a vote as early as Saturday, with a floor debate of just four hours. The public and members of Congress would have only 48 hours or even less to examine the bill.
Nancy Pelosi said recently, “you can read the bill after it’s passed.”
The report at the link below says Democrats are in a rush for two reasons.
One, the longer they wait, the iffier their chances of assembling a majority of 216 House members.
Two, they're also in a hurry because the Senate needs a minimum of a week of floor debate to pass the expected reconciliation bill full of legislative "fixes."
With Congress set to begin its two-week Easter recess on March 26, Democratic leaders don't want members leaving town before the issue is settled, fearing a pummeling by angry constituents back home that will weaken their resolve.
Look for Democrats to abandon a promise to allow lawmakers 72 hours to read and evaluate the heath-care bill before a vote.
Can you imagine the media outcry if Republicans had tried to cram a monstrous bill like this through congress the way Democrats are doing with ObamaCare?
Instead, 90% of the media are soft-pedaling or remaining silent on the issue.
More here.
Drive a mile in his shoe - really!
Looking for the perfect way to accessorize an outfit? How about this Red Stiletto?
David Crow designed the shoe, using parts of a Honda motorcycle.
This unique vehicle took nearly four years to build. It has a fiberglass body with hand rubbed paint.
What would Imelda Marcos think?
Link
David Crow designed the shoe, using parts of a Honda motorcycle.
This unique vehicle took nearly four years to build. It has a fiberglass body with hand rubbed paint.
What would Imelda Marcos think?
Link
You can still hunt polar bears and bluefin tuna per U.N.
Bans on hunting Atlantic bluefin tuna and polar bears were defeated by the U.N. Both were significant failures for environmentalists.
A U.S.-backed proposal to ban the international trade of polar bear skins, teeth and claws was defeated Thursday at a U.N. wildlife meeting over concerns it would hurt indigenous economies and arguments the practice didn't pose a significant threat to the animals.
The tuna defeat came hours after delegates rejected a U.S. proposal to ban the international sale of polar bear skins and parts, showing that economic interest at this meeting appeared to be trumping conservation. It also raised the prospect that a CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) meeting that was packed with several dozen promising proposals could end next week in failure for environmentalists.
The Americans argued that the sale of polar bears skins is compounding the loss of the animals' sea ice habitat due to climate change.
But Canada, Greenland and several indigenous communities argued the trade had little impact on the white bears population and would adversely effect their economies.
The photo above shows a polar bear on “disappearing” arctic ice and is often used by climate alarmists. Only problem is the photo was not taken in the arctic but was taken near the west central coast of Hudson Bay in the summer.
Link
Turning Torso building in Malmö, Sweden
This unique ‘twisted’ skyscraper was designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava and completed in August 2005.
The building has nine segments of five-story pentagons that twist as it rises. The top segment is twisted ninety degrees clockwise compared to the ground floor.
The lower three segments contain offices. The upper six segments contain 147 luxury apartments.
The building has five elevators. Three for residents of the building and two are for those working in the building.
Link
The building has nine segments of five-story pentagons that twist as it rises. The top segment is twisted ninety degrees clockwise compared to the ground floor.
The lower three segments contain offices. The upper six segments contain 147 luxury apartments.
The building has five elevators. Three for residents of the building and two are for those working in the building.
Link
Ho-hum ... Biden misspeaks again
From an AP report at the link below:
Vice President Joe Biden asked for God's blessing for the late mother of Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen during a White House celebration of St. Patrick's Day — except the elderly lady is very much alive.
"God rest her soul," Biden said Wednesday night as he introduced Cowen and President Barack Obama. He quickly caught himself and noted that it's Cowen's father who is no longer living. Of the prime minister's mother, Biden said, "God bless her soul."
Sometimes Biden only opens his mouth to change feet.
Link
Mar 17, 2010
Driver hits pile of boulders - video
In case you missed this on your TV News...
(click on picture to see video)
About those kids in the control tower at JFK...
We think the button he is about to push will allow the big silver plane with the blue stripe and the pointy nose to take off next.
Accuracy and professionalism in the control tower is of utmost importance.
Leprechaun Museum dedicated to Irish mythology
The new National Leprechaun Museum is a national cultural entertainment center in Dublin, Ireland.
Photo shows a child trying to climb an armchair in the museum. The oversize chair makes visitors feel very small - the size of a leprechaun.
The center takes visitors deeper into Irish and Celtic culture to discover what really lies behind the well-known tales of Irish cultural iconography - leprechauns, rainbows and pots of gold and promises to open up a fun and magical world full of fascinating folklore and enchanting stories.
Link
Photo shows a child trying to climb an armchair in the museum. The oversize chair makes visitors feel very small - the size of a leprechaun.The center takes visitors deeper into Irish and Celtic culture to discover what really lies behind the well-known tales of Irish cultural iconography - leprechauns, rainbows and pots of gold and promises to open up a fun and magical world full of fascinating folklore and enchanting stories.
Link
Determined to get the Kucinich vote
Is the vote of Democrat Congressman Dennis Kucinich (pictured) worth an Air Force One visit to Ohio? You bet!
A report at the link below is titled, “Kucinich in Obama's crosshairs.” U P D A T E
Kucinich caves in on ObamaCare and will vote yes as reported here.
A report at the link below is titled, “Kucinich in Obama's crosshairs.”Air Force One took off from suburban Maryland today at 11:13 a.m. and landed 48 minutes later in Cleveland.
For Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) -- who says he plans to vote no on the president's health-care bill -- it must have felt like a much longer flight.
Obama invited Kucinich and undecided Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio) to the ultimate pressure cooker as he tries to nail down a majority for his top domestic priority.
Obama had a pre-arranged rally of pro-Obama supporters in Strongsville, Kucinich’s suburban Cleveland district.
When Obama introduced Kucinich at the Strongsville rally, someone in the audience (an Obama plant?) called out, "Vote yes."
Obama, right on que, turned to Kucinich and asked, "Did you hear that, Dennis?”
Will it take more strong-arming? Will it take a bribe? One way or another Obama is determined to get the Kucinich vote and any others he needs to pass ObamaCare!
Link
Kucinich caves in on ObamaCare and will vote yes as reported here.
Mar 16, 2010
MA Treasurer: ObamaCare will bankrupt country in four years
The Boston Herald reports a critical assessment of ObamaCare by Massachusetts Treasurer Tim Cahill:
Link“If President Obama and the Democrats repeat the mistakes of the health insurance mandate on a national level, they will bankrupt this country within four years.
It is time for the President and the Democratic leadership to go back to the drawing board and come up with a new plan that does not threaten to wipe out the American economy.”
NY Times cut 100 jobs yet paid CEO $4.9 million in 2009
Last October the New York Times announced it would cut 100 newsroom jobs -- about 8 percent of the total -- by year’s end, offering buyouts to union and non-union employees. They said they would resort to layoffs if it could not get enough people to leave voluntarily as reported in the second link below.
Today it was reported that:
Today it was reported that:
An analysis by The Associated Press shows that New York Times Co. CEO Janet Robinson got roughly $4.9 million in compensation in 2009.
Robinson's base salary fell 4 percent to $962,500. But she got a bonus of about $2.3 million, four times the size of her 2008 bonus.
That’s not counting stock options. Of course stock options would not amount to much. The current price of New York Times stock is less than $12 - with a 52 week low of $4.05.
At $4.05 per share, the stock is worth less than the newsstand price of the Sunday edition, which is $5.00.
Janet Robinson’s compensation is pretty hefty for a financially floundering newspaper.
Link here and here.
Plane kills beach jogger during emergency landing
From a report at the link below:
A 38-year-old father of two was jogging and listening to his iPod when he was hit from behind and killed by a small plane making an emergency landing on the beach in Hilton Head, South Carolina.
The man died instantly when he was hit by the single-engine plane, which had lost its propeller. The pilot's vision was blocked by oil on the windshield.
Apparently the jogger did not see or hear the plane, which was basically gliding without a propeller.
The plane started leaking oil at about 13,000 feet and the pilot tried originally to make it to Hilton Head Airport.
Link
Art car inspired by Dutch painter Piet Mondrian
Artist and fashion designer Emily Duffy of El Cerrito, California painted this 1984 Nissan Sentra. The artwork on the car was inspired by Dutch painter Piet Mondrian using simple use of lines and colors.
Duffy even made a hat, dress and purse to match the car.
- - - - - - - U P D A T E - - - - - - -
The garments, purse, etc. designed by Ms. Duffy are displayed on a mannequin in front of her “Mondrian Mobile.”
Link
Duffy even made a hat, dress and purse to match the car.The garments, purse, etc. designed by Ms. Duffy are displayed on a mannequin in front of her “Mondrian Mobile.”
Link
More harm from green fuels than fossil fuels
From a London times report:
In this country Congress has blocked nearly all new oil exploration in the Gulf of Mexico as well as oil shale drilling in the Rocky Mountain states.
There was a big push to promote E85 fuel (85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline) a couple of years ago. It must have “bombed.” When was the last time you saw ads promoting E85?
Link to the story London Times story here.
Using fossil fuel in vehicles is better for the environment than so-called green fuels made from crops, according to a government study.
The findings show that the Department for Transport’s target for raising the level of biofuel in all fuel sold in Britain will result in millions of acres of forest being logged or burnt down and converted to plantations.
The study, likely to force a review of the target, concludes that some of the most commonly-used biofuel crops fail to meet the minimum sustainability standard set by the European Commission.
In this country Congress has blocked nearly all new oil exploration in the Gulf of Mexico as well as oil shale drilling in the Rocky Mountain states.
There was a big push to promote E85 fuel (85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline) a couple of years ago. It must have “bombed.” When was the last time you saw ads promoting E85?
Link to the story London Times story here.
Mar 15, 2010
Twitter now has ability to track your location
A short report at the link below says:
Twitter already reveals to the rest of the world what you're doing and what you're thinking, and now the microblogging site can let everyone know where you are as well.
This new feature was made available last week and gives Twitter users the option of including their location when they tweet by way of a tracking tool they can turn on or off.
When the tool is activated, tweets will link to a Google map showing the location of the user.
The growing trend for web services to broadcast people's whereabouts – already picked up by Foursquare, Gowalla and Loopt – is expected to be followed by Facebook as well.
Avid Twitter users have been warned to be careful about how and when they harness the power of the new technology, which works by shadowing people through their web browsers.
This is not good news for anyone on the run from the law, creditors, an estranged spouse, etc.
Link
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