One Dose of Sarin Can Ruin Your Day

How safe will we be under an Obama administration? The majority of the press coverage of the war and the standing opinion seems to be that the liberation of Iraq has put us in greater danger than had we left Saddam in power. What should be remembered, is one dose of sarin gas can ruin your whole day.

When you live your life in denial that you have made any mistakes, then you fail to accept them, fail to learn from them, and fail to improve your judgment in future matters. This can be said of both the Bush administration and the policy to be set in Obama Nation. GW neglected to administer the war in the early stages as he did in the latter, relying on Rumsfield's bad strategy, and to top it off, mishandled the media and the information that mattered to the public. Why we went to war, and what the results were, the insurance that no chemical weapons get into the hands of terrorists.

We all buy insurance, even though none of us plan to burn our homes down, or crash our cars. We all have airbags, not because we scheduled a head on collision, but because even the remote possibly exists and the safety measure may one day save our lives. For this logical reason alone, the invasion and destruction of the military capability of Iraq was good insurance for the safety of our future.

Since Obama was opposed to the war, opposed to the surge that proved to bring a successful end to the war, how can we be assured he will continue to pay the premiums of the insurance policy that has kept our nation safe for the last 8 years?

Obama's national security policy is akin to keeping your hands on the wheel, and looking both ways before crossing an intersection. Trusting that the other drivers are as safe and courteous as we are. He plans to release or prosecute terrorists as if they are simply criminals in our legal system, he wishes to withdraw completely from Iraq, when it would be in our best interest to keep a close eye on the region, and his policy of diplomacy with rouge dictators is naive and dangerous.

It will take just one munition smuggled into our country and detonated in a public place to show the world how weak the US has become under new leadership, and this is the test that Joe Biden was likely speaking of. Even Joe the senator knows what we may be facing.

For the first time I am NOT proud of my country.

Don't Play On This Play Horse

If I am a kid and see a carousel horse in the middle of a city park with soft padding below, won't I automatically assume this was placed here for me to play upon? If not, why the nice cushy safety mat paced at it's base? I can only assume one of 3 possible explanations for the sign above:

A) Salem city park department enjoys teasing kids.
B) A child has fallen off resulting in injury that they determined can be prevented by both a sign and a mat. OR
C) A soft mat was cheaper than a railing or barrier around it.

Regardless this is another example of our tax dollars hard at work.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Will Obama Continue The "LIE"?

A recent reminder I received about the movement of Iraq's uranium stockpile to Canada made me think harder about the future of our foreign policy now with Hillary Clinton soon to be running the State Department. The big BUSH LIED-PEOPLE DIED story about WMD has been a lost due in part the success we now have in Iraq, and with the Economy taking front page. While it was a major platform for the anti-war movement that put Obama in the political spotlight, the war and why we went in to Iraq will be debated for years to come. Will Obama continue the fiction, or will he, now that he is privy to the truth, also protect the former administrations from public scrutiny? This is the problem with the new Clinton administration sequel. The truth that we supplied Saddam, a vicious dictator with the means to mass murder his own people with weapons we provided, and the fact that it took a war to insure those same weapons would not come back to our soil and kill us, becomes a public relations hot potato for any president. Even Bill Clinton knew the truth. Don't let history get overwritten, take 10 minutes and watch the video I have posted below. In his own words Bill Clinton, husband to our future Secretary of State, and former celebrity president tells us all how serious the threat Saddam was, now multiply that times 911.

Sunburst Through The Clouds

Cleaning up my photos I noticed a set of shots taken just west of Silverton, where the sun was peeking through the clouds and the field rolled into the distance. None of them had the right exposure but his one was close enough to post. You can barely make out the irrigation in the shot.

Folding Display

Samsung demonstrates a folding display for portable electronics, I hope Apple considers such an idea, my iPod touch would be twice as awesome with twice the screen, I could flip it open into a mini multi-touch net-book! Ok, yeah I'm dreaming again.

Tip Courtesy of Mike Elgan

Daddies Still Swinging

This weekend I took my kids to see the Daddies play in Eugene at the WOW hall. This was the first time Karmann & Isaiah had been to see them. I have taken Nathan before, I think as young as 8 years old if the venue was accommodating to kids. As is normal in Eugene there were several abnormal encounters that made the trip memorable. First there was a drunk guy who was very friendly and talkative while we were waiting in line at the door, and was eager to share the story of how he found some sh*t at the door and it smelled like diesel fuel. He proceeded to inform us that he saved the place my removing the potentially flaming poo, and it was a good thing because it could have exploded. Once we were allowed entry we enjoyed the opening acts The Bad Mitten Orchestre & Vagabond Opera both were extremely entertaining, and loadded with talent. During the show we were frequently distracted by harmonica woman, who was fevereshly blowing on two harmonicas alternately during every performance. She would forcably push here way to the front of the stage and attempt to sit on stage as if she were part of the band. A few times she even stood on stage or sat near the the edge of the stage until being asked to get down. Vagabond Opera even gave her props for adding to the experience, but I found her rude unsolicitated addtion to be annoying. Regardless as always the Daddies delivered a energy filled performance and I am looking forward to there next appearance in Feburary.

We Are A Republic!

Begin Deprogramming

Wind Turbine Syndrome

It has for years been the oil industry out to get us, and then fears of nuclear melt down, the clean hydroelectric power has now been exempt from 'green' status because it impacts salmon, now wh have Wind Turbine Syndrome to put a stop to the evil wind farm corporations looking to turn a profit while delivering a deadly dose of vertigo to unsuspecting rural residents. When will the suffering and the horror subside.

For every thing that appears to benefit society, some whack job group forms to jeopardize our progress in the name of some minority's self interest. www.wind-watch.org is one of these groups, and you can expect that they will do what they can to drive up the cost of developing this new resource in the name of there lopsided agenda.

Salute Our Veterans

Surplus Electricity Good, WRONG

So here it begins... All those wind farms are now starting to make a noticeable difference in our electrical supply in the Pacific Northwest. It seems that unexpected surges in wind production mean other forms of power production must slow down or the green energy is all for not.

Here's the rub, see normally in a free market, higher supply than demand means we the consumer realize lower prices. Right? Wrong! Here in the socialist republic of Oregon it seems the solution is cut hydro production by dumping dam water or subsidizing carbon producing power generatoin so the coal and natural gas power plants don't go out of business.

Nice, So all these customers who invested in higher rates to help build a wind farm now get to subsidize the coal plants.

This is another reason why Nuclear is the key. No carbon, no salmon impact, minimal landscape impact. But not with this adminstration. No way.

Obama Win Not Paying Off Already

ACORN in ACTION

Projection to Prediction to Prosperity

While I am vehemently opposed to Barack Obama's politics, the projected results of the election will deliver at minimum one positive change worth noting for America. For Obama to become the first African American President, no longer with our young black youth have the burden of doubt that they are capable of great things. My hope for our country is that this will elevate that message in every minority community.

History will show this moment as pivotal, in both the issue of race, and the direction of our economy. God willing let the latter be a as positive as the former.

Now Be Patriotic And Pay Your Taxes!

Capitalist vs Socialist LIVE Transformational Map

Getting Raked Over The Coal

49% of US Electrical Production relies on COAL, Do they support any use of Coal?









How will you afford your electricity in these economic times?

Obama IS a Voter Fraud

I am not a closed minded conservative, I watch more than just Fox News, I read more than just the National Review, and I have friends (or at least I hope they will remain my friends through this) that are supporting Barack Obama.

Today, while trying to stomach another one of his deceitful speeches. While I could go on about the spin in today's rally speech, but what shocked me the most was his continued push for early voting.

We have had for the most part, elections in this great nation, every 2 years, without fail, with little issue, and with everyone's vote getting counted. Democratic operatives are out talking about voter disenfranchising, and yet Obama, at his speech today, in front of THOUSANDS, recommends they go down the street, and vote early.

Not only is this impractical, it is irresponsible. He said "They are open until 5pm" and went on to say "If your in line before 5, they have to let you vote"

So the volenteers, who love our country enough to come in on a Sunday, to help folks who have to work on Tuesday vote early, will be innodated by a bunch of Obama ralley attendees down the road, that are pumped up by Obama's speech, and want to vote early, not because they have a need to vote early, but because Obama, in his arrogant, self centered quest for power, knows, he will acomplish two goals. Insure votes, while disenfranshising voters who may have already planned on voting Sunday for McCain, but since the lines will be hours long thanks to Obama, they may not get the chance.

This is the kind of leadership, America does NOT need.

Diddy Don't Know Duck

Hip Hop Republican gives Diddy the smack down regarding this clip.


Now Click to jump down to my Ugly Duckling Post, Ditty Don't Know Duck

You can't take it with you.

Let's take a break from politics for a minute because another opinion I love to rant about is all the subscription services that are being pushed our way. I can remember when we would go out and sell magazine subscriptions for fundraisers, and I can recall when I got my first cell phone bill. Paying for a land line phone, cable TV, and then adding a cell phone at the time was a big deal. Then we add on internet access, and some people subscribing for XM radio, OnStar, and more recently the popularity of mobile broadband. All these subscription services pile on top of one another and can begin to overtake even your monthly transportation budget. There is a term for this being discussed by other bloggers "Subscription Overload"

One way I cut back, after realizing every member of the family had a cell phone, was like many, we eliminated the land line phone. While this is an option for some, depending on who you call your mobile plan may not keep up with all the peak minutes.

With the economy slowing and energy costs rising, families are trying to find ways to trim budgets and yet keep connected. One recent story posted by Mike Elgan suggests that even laptops will come down in price to as low as $99! This would be attractive but theres a catch, like your fancy new cell phone, your laptop would be subsidized by the data carrier you would be obligated to 'subscribe' to get online. This built in mobile broadband, while convienient, could cost you a 2 year obligation, and who knows what the monthly rate will be. I looked into mobile broadband, but could not justify the cost, at around $60 per month, it was another monthly expense that I can as of yet, live without.

Where devices and providers need to converge is a way to take your connection with you, without having to pay for an additional monthly contract. Avis recently began offering a mobile WiFi solution with rental cars, that you have a portable 'HotSpot' so you can connect all your WiFi enabled devices while you travel. Your kids can stay connected wile driving, you GPS may be able to get traffic updates, and you can grab your stock quotes or weather data on your iPod touch, and the whole family can share it, just like at home.

My suggestion, is handset makers and mobile carriers should add WiFi access points as a feature for our cell phones. This way we can take our data connection with us and share it! While Verizon offers a tethering option for the blackberry, who wants to have to string your laptop and phone together. We always have our phone with us, and what good is an unlimited data plan on the phone if you have to go and upgrade your laptop to an unlimited data plan as well, are you honestly using both connections at the same time? One side effect if only one parent's phone is the hot spot, the kids would want to spend more time around dad, right?

A friend has AT&T and she claims they offer a radio option to stream XM radio on her blackberry. If radio programs, internet, and phone service can be delivered on one device, wouldn't that expand the market for AT&T or Verizon if they offered packages that bundle one device and one bill to feed all your other devices data and media. You could then finally 'Take it with you!'