Thomas Jefferson said in 1802: "I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies."

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."-- Thomas Jefferson

"When in danger or in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout." .... jbd

"When once a job you have begun, do no stop till it is done. Whether the task be great or small, do it well, or not at all." .... Anon

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. - Albert Einstein

Television is one daylong commercial interrupted periodically by inept attempts to fill the airspace in between them.

If you can't start a fire, perhaps your wood is wet ....

When you elect clowns, expect a circus ..............




Tuesday, July 31, 2012

A COIL OF RAGE - A MUST read


When you've read to the end, come back and read this first paragraph again.
The character of any man is defined by how he treats his mother as the years pass... need I say more about this person below other than there is no character, no integrity but there is a ton of attitude and arrogance that defines his shallow past and hollow future...
I bought and read Obama's book, Audacity of Hope. It was difficult to read considering his attitude toward us and everything American. Let me add a phrase he used to describe his attitude toward whites. He harbors a "COIL OF RAGE". His words not mine.


THIS IS OUR PRESIDENT -- HE'S RUNNING AGAIN, YOU KNOW!

          Everyone of voting age should read these two books by him: Don't buy them, just get them from the library.


          From Dreams From My Father:
          "I ceased to advertise my mother's race at the age of 12 or 13, when I began to suspect that by doing so I was ingratiating myself to whites."

          From Dreams From My Father:
          "I found a solace in nursing a pervasive sense of grievance and animosity against my mother's race."

          From Dreams From My Father:
          "There was something about her that made me wary, a little too sure of herself, maybe and white."


          From Dreams From My Father:
          "It remained necessary to prove which side you were on, to show your loyalty to the black masses, to strike out and name names."

          From Dreams From My Father:
          "I never emulate white men and brown men whose fates didn't speak to my own. It was into my father's image, the black man, son of Africa , that I'd packed all the attributes I sought in myself: the, attributes of Martin and Malcolm, DuBois and Mandela."

          And FINALLY...........and most scary:

          From Audacity of Hope:
          "I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction."

Scary stuff, but it should be read, discussed and digested, insight into the man who is president, has had four disastrous years, and wants to do it for four more. There have been a few men in history who have had the ability to mesmerize their followers, and some, not all, of the masses. Their abilities are frightening, their followers are many, and their dissenters are sometimes unheard.

Why don't we DO what we know is best?

Good example. My wife is just kinda getting back on her feet, so to speak, from her recent attack by her Defibrillator, which went off 40 times in a day. It had to be re-installed.

Yesterday, she had a Doctors appointment, still getting dizzy a lot, water retention, etc. And, we had a friend who was having a serious operation at the same hospital. So, we spent the afternoon at the hospital and her Doctor's Office, which is at the hospital.

Then, we left, I knew my wife was tired, so I decided to take her home, and then I would go to the store. She is on a low sodium diet, so dinner choices are few. We decided on baked cauliflower drizzled in olive oil with a lot of fresh garlic and pasta with  cheese, all items I could get. At the last minute, she added fruit, so, I decided, we both would go to the store and shop. In and out quick, self checkout.

Shopping went well, only two items left to scan, I turn around, Marilyn is lying on the floor. Passed out and dropped to the floor. The Meijer's folks were great. One was an EMT, she knew what to do. She decided to call 911 and have the squad come. They did, concern about her arm, as well as her health, so they took her to the hospital.

Bottom line, broken arm, between the left elbow and her shoulder. Nothing to do but put it in a sling and give her pain pills, probably  only five or six weeks though.We slept on the couch last night, sitting up.

The GOLDEN YEARS, beware of them.


Monday, July 30, 2012

An interesting page, well worth your time to read.



I received this information this morning from a very articulate political resource of mine. It says a lot, and is definitely worth reading for your own personal evaluation. I have put it in as a page on my blog, rather than just a post. Read and evaluate for yourself, and forward it on to as many voters or potential voters as you have on your  list.

If you are a Democrat, you should be concerned, a Republican, optimistic, an Independent, enlightened.

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Barack Obama: A “Record Setting” President

by David L. Goetsch

Once the passions of the moment have settled down and historians have had time to undertake a retrospective view of things, presidents are generally remembered by their records. Some benefit from the more objective perspective of history and some do not. At the moment, President Obama benefits from being telegenic, having the support of the mainstream media, and having a firm grip on the loyalty of Americans who subsist by dipping into the federal treasury. However, Obama is driving America’s train down a one-way track that will take it over a cliff, and what awaits us at the bottom of the cliff is disaster.

In years to come, when historians have had the time to gain a more realistic perspective on Barack Obama’s performance as president, they are going to have to analyze some facts that will be difficult for even the most liberal among them to excuse or ignore. Consider just a few of the records set by President Obama during his time in office, and while doing so also consider that the sources of the information presented herein include his own Office of Management and Budget and Bureau of Labor Statistics:

America’s sovereign debt rating has been downgraded for the first time in our nation’s history.

Federal spending is the highest it has been since World War II (25 percent of GDP).

The budget deficit is the highest it has been since World War II (10 percent of GDP).

Federal debt is the highest it has been since just after World War II (67 percent of GDP).

Employment as a percentage of the population is the lowest it has been since 1983 (just 58.1 percent of the population are working).

Long-term unemployment is the highest it has been since 1939 (45.9 percent of the total unemployed are now long-term unemployed).

Slowest recovery following a severe recession since World War II.

Lowest homeownership rate since 1965 (59.7 percent).

Lowest percentage of taxpayers paying income taxes in the modern era (49 percent).

Highest rate of government dependency in American history (47 percent of Americans receive one or more federal benefit payments).

Obama's Island


How Does One Get Reelected with this Economy?


There’s just no longer any way to spin this. There is no reason why the economy should not be picking up after three and a half years of the Obama presidency. Unless the problem is the Obama presidency.

You can do all the micro-targeting, all the get–out-the-vote efforts, and all the demonization of your opponent that you want. But unless it turns out that Romney spent his weekends during the 1980s robbing banks and loan sharking, I just don’t see how Obama gets reelected.

Perhaps the only thing that can save Obama would be a dramatic external event, like war with Iran or a terrorist attack, which causes the country to rally around the president. It could happen.

The interesting thing about the slowing economy is the cause: Businesses and consumers don’t want to spend. They are uncertain. And that’s Obama’s fault.

I thought everybody did this ..... apparently not

Simply place a fluffy (dry) bath towel into the cloths dryer with each load just before pressing the start button.

The fluffy (dry) towel is the first thing to get hot and as it tumbles between the wet cloths absorbs the moisture onto the surface of the hot towel and saves at least 15 minutes drying time.

The washer and dryer finish about the same time, so no more waiting.  It works so well on every load with a clean lint filter and the dry towel. 

Great suggestion, you learned something new. If you are financially able,  drop me a few dollars, upgrades and some new programs are getting costly. Your donations are greatly appreciated, and thanks to those who have already contributed.



Who was she and What was she doing there?

One woman stood out during India's walk through Olympic Stadium at the opening ceremony. That's because she wasn't supposed to be there.

Friday night's party crasher was not wearing the yellow and white dress that every other Indian woman was wearing in the group, yet still managed to situate herself next to flag bearer Sushil Kumar at the front of the line as they walked around the stadium.

Sebastian Coe, chairman of the London organizers, says he plans to meet with the Indian delegation to discuss what happened.

"She was a cast member who clearly got slightly overexcited," Coe says. "She shouldn't have been there."

Coe also insists she posed no danger to the Indian team or the proceedings because, as a cast member for the opening ceremony program, she had to go through all the security measures to get into the park that everyone else does.

"She shouldn't have been in the opening ceremony," Coe says, "but don't run away with the idea that she walked in off the street."

Amish Population Booms in US


By Megan Gannon, News Editor | LiveScience.com 

Though they travel at the pace of a horse and buggy, the Amish are spreading out across the nation more rapidly than most other religious communities. A new Amish settlement is founded in the United States nearly once a month, according to a new census, which also found that more than 60 percent of all existing Amish communities sprang up after 1990.


"The Amish are one of the fastest-growing religious groups in North America," Ohio State researcher Joseph Donnermeyer, who led the census project, said in a statement. "They're doubling their population about every 21 to 22 years, primarily because they produce large families and the vast majority of daughters and sons remain in the community as adults baptized into the faith, starting their own families and sustaining their religious beliefs and practices."

The census counts 250,784 Amish in the United States and Ontario, Canada, across 456 settlements where members live and worship. That figure is up from 179 communities in 1990.

Ohio has the largest Amish population at 60,233, and Pennsylvania is a close second, with 59,078 Amish residents, while Indiana has 44,831 Amish citizens, according to Ohio State. New York — where 15 new settlements have been established since 2010 ­— has seen the greatest recent growth in Amish population of any state.

Donnermeyer predicts that in 15 years, at least one county in the United States might turn majority Amish. He named Ohio's Holmes County — where 42 percent of the current population is Amish — as a likely candidate, with LaGrange County in Indiana following close behind. By 2050, he forecast that 1 million Amish may live in the United States across 1,000 settlements.

Saturday, July 28, 2012

IT'S SO HOT THIS SUMMER THAT .....


the Birds have to use Potholders to pull the Worms out of the ground ...
the Trees are whistling for the Dogs ...
the best Parking Place is determined by shade instead of distance ...
the was is hot coming from both taps
you can make Sun Tea instantly ...
you learn that a Seat Belt Buckle makes a pretty good Branding Iron...
the Temperature drops below 90 F and you feel a little chilly ...
you discover that in July, it only takes two fingers to steer your car ...
you discover that you can get Sunburned through your Car Window ...
you actually Burn your Hand opening the Car Door ...
you break into a Sweat the instant you step outside at 7:30 A.M.
you realize that Asphalt has a liquid stage ...
the Potatoes cook underground, so all you have to do is pull one out and add Butter...
the Cows are giving Evaporated Milk ...
the Farmers are feeding their Chickens Crushed Ice to keep them from laying Boiled Eeggs.  
Now, that's hot!

Half of Americans Do Not Know the President's Religion



By Amy Bingham

Three and a half years into President Obama's first term as president, half of Americans cannot accurately say what religion he is, according to a poll released this week.

Only 49 percent of respondents said that Obama was Christian while 17 percent inaccurately said he was Muslim. Nearly one-third of respondents said they did not know the president's religion, according to the poll released Thursday by the Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life.

More people - 60 percent - knew that Romney, who has not held elected office in a decade, was Mormon than knew which religion the sitting president subscribes to.

And while only 9 percent of respondents said Romney was a religion that he is not, more than twice that amount said Obama adheres to a religion other than Christianity. The vast majority of those claiming Obama is not a Christian said he was a Muslim.

Nearly one in three Republicans said Obama was Muslim, twice as many as in 2008, the Pew study shows.

Give some thought to this, I think it is a sad that voters do no know the religion of a candidate, worse yet, our President. Our country has degenerated to a nation of uninformed, non-caring, uninterested citi ..... I was going to write "citizens," but many of those same people are actually not citizens. I wonder how many of those polled thought the President was from Mexico?

Olympic Cycling

Watching the Olympics, cycling. Some of the same thoughts as I have during the Tour de France.

  1. How are those guys on the motorcycles able to pass the riders, weave in and out, and not hit anyone..
  2. To me, the guy that deserves an award is the cameraman, STANDING on the motorcycle, weaving in and out, filming all the riders, keeping his balance, and not falling off.
  3. With all the people lining the route, within inches of the bikers, and no "joker" pushes someone out into the path of the riders.
  4. And, I have to admit, I have no idea how they figure who the winner of the race actually is.
  5. One more. How do all those team vans, who also weave in and out of the riders, avoid hitting any of the riders.
  6. And, WHY does anyone want to stand for hours, along the route, to get a perhaps, thirty second or so, look at the riders. Almost like going to a tennis match, watching one volley, and going home.
There are thousands of people along the roadside watching these guys. I just timed it, they see them for about ten seconds. I guess I don't understand it.

Friday, July 27, 2012

Thanks for letting me see another one ......

I have tears in m eyes, admittedly, watching the opening ceremony of the Olympics, all those beautiful, shiny smiling faces, realizing the culmination of a dream, great. I am so glad I have lived long enough to see another one. I am at that age where at the closing ceremony four years ago, I have to wonder if I would still be around in four years. Thank God, I am, and getting to see another one.

I saw in awe four years ago, Japan put on quite a show, will have to see how this one stacks up tonight. Everything else is anticlimactic though, just seeing those athletes come in is reward enough fo me. Each face, started out as a child, with a dream. After many hours of tedious work and dedication, they find themselves marching into an Olympic stadium .How great is that?

Now for some awesome, once in a lifetime entertainment. Again in awe, thanks for letting me see another one.

Powerball Jackpot Currently Sitting At $139 Million


The Powerball Jackpot is currently at $139 million, with the next drawing to happen on Saturday night, 7/28/2012.

Drawings occur every Wednesday and Saturday. Wednesday’s winning numbers were 3, 14, 35, 38, 46 Powerball: 16. There were no jackpot winners. At the time, the pot was at $120.9 million.

There were four tickets that won the $1 Million Match 5 prize on Wednesday. They were from two from Florida, one from Illinois, and one from Louisiana. There were no tickets that added the Power Play to win $2 million. There were, however, 568,737 tickets that won about $7.8 million in cash prizes.

Odds of winning the jackpot, according toMulti-State Lottery Association, are 1 in 175,223,510.

My picks, so don't use them, for information only:

1       7     18     25      52                               3


Here's what to watch for at the London Olympics Today

1. OPENING CEREMONY: A celebration of British culture, with a touch of Shakespeare, pop music, James Bond — and even some farm animals. A huge worldwide audience will tune in for the extravaganza, which starts at 4 p.m. ET.

2. WHO WILL LIGHT THE TORCH? Bookmakers are now convinced it will be Sir Roger Bannister, the first man to break the four-minute mile. But is there another mystery contender?

3. WEATHER: Will the famous English rain blight the opening ceremony? It's been hot and sunny all week in the British capital — but a little wet this morning.

4. REFEREE DIES: A Turkish boxing referee has been found dead in his London hotel room. It appears he suffered a heart attack. Autopsy results expected later Friday.

5. ROMNEY FALLOUT: What will Londoners make of Mitt Romney's implication that the city isn't ready for the games? Will it draw them together?

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Fencer Mariel Zagunis chosen to carry U.S. flag at Opening Ceremony


By Maggie Hendricks


Two-time Olympic gold medal-winning fencer Mariel Zagunis will get the honor of carrying in the United States flag during Friday's Olympic Opening Ceremony. 

She was chosen by her Team USA teammates. 

Previous flag bearers have included runner Lopez Lomong, wrestler Bruce Baumgartner and decathlete Rafer Johnson.

"I'm extremely humbled by this incredible privilege," said Zagunis in a statement. "As an athlete, I can't imagine a higher honor than to lead Team USA into the Olympic Games, which are the pinnacle of sport and a platform for world peace. I am tremendously proud to represent my sport, our team and, most importantly, the United States of America."

Ed and Carolyn .... a true love story


Ed and Carolyn met while on a singles cruise and Ed fell head over heels for her. 

When they discovered they lived in the same city only a few miles apart Ed was ecstatic. He immediately started asking her out when they got home.

Within a couple of weeks, Ed had taken Carolyn to dance clubs, restaurants, concerts, movies, and museums. Ed became convinced that Carolyn was indeed his soul mate and true love.Every date seemed better than the last.

On the one-month anniversary of their first dinner on the cruise ship, Ed took Carolyn to a fine restaurant. While having cocktails and waiting for their salad, Ed said, "I guess you can tell I'm very much in love with you. I'd like a little serious talk before our relationship continues to the next stage. So, before I get a box out of my jacket and ask you a life changing question, it's only fair to warn you, I'm a total golf nut. I play golf, I read about golf, I watch golf on TV. In short, I eat, sleep, and breathe golf. If that's going to be a problem for us, you'd better say so now!"

Carolyn took a deep breath and responded, "Ed, that certainly won't be a problem. I love you as you are and I love golf too; but, since we're being totally honest with each other, you need to know that for the last five years I've been a hooker."

Ed said, "I bet it's because you're not keeping your wrists straight when you hit the ball."

Television Enjoyment Secrets

I am getting a great deal of enjoyment out of all of these political ads on television. Not only Obama and Romney, but all of the other "privately" sponsored ads as well. I almost look forward to them appearing on our TV. How is that possible, you ask?

I keep the controller, in hand, mute button at the ready, and the more proficient I get at hitting that button, the less audio I get. I have my button hitting time down to a mini-second.

Oh, the peace and quiet during those commercials, only an occasional hum of our air conditioner unit, or perhaps a car passing by our apartment.

I'm beginning to find out to, that many of the new "reality" shows on TV are much better with the sound off. Especially  some of the one-hour shows. Sixty minutes of quiet, so refreshing. No talking, no music, no drama, no yelling, no arguing, and that's just what was on the TV.

My biggest problem now, after watching all these political ads, Obama talking about Romney, in a negative way, and vice versa, is it better to hit the MUTE button, or just turn the whole set off? Actually, with the quality of the new shows, all the commercials on and between shows, political ads, might just be best to get rid of the TV. No, I guess I better wait till after football season, yea, the Olympics too. Just gotta keep that MUTE button handy. Whoops, commercial, CLICK.

NY Cab - Naked Lady


An inebriated woman, stark naked, jumped into a taxi in New York City.

The cab driver, an old Jewish gentleman, opened his eyes wide and stared at the woman. He made no attempt to start the cab.

The woman glared back at him and said, "What's wrong with you, honey? Haven't you ever seen a naked woman before?"

The old Jewish driver answered, "Let me tell you sumsing, lady. I vasn't staring at you like you tink; dat vould not be proper vair I come from."

The drunken woman giggled and responded, "Well, if you're not staring at my boobs, sweetie, what are you doing then?"

He paused a moment, then told her. "Vell, M'am, I am looking and I am looking, and I am tinking to myself, 'Vair in da hell is dis lady keeping de money to pay for dis ride?

The Olympic Torch - Some History


LONDON – When the most famous flame in sports winds its way through the streets of London before entering the Olympic Stadium and providing the 2012 Games with one of its most iconic images, it will be seen as a touching gesture of symbolism, grace and a nod to the ancient world.

Yet while the torch relay began once again at the historic site of Olympia on May 10 and is an integral part of any Games, its modern incarnation comes laced with sinister undertones that can be traced back to Adolf Hitler's Nazi Party and the controversial 1936 Olympics in Berlin.

Many of those witnessing the final journey of the flame July 27 will have little idea that its origins do not lie in ancient Greece, and was instead formulated as a major part of the Nazis' plot to shift international opinion in their favor.

"There had been no such torch relays in the ancient Games or, for that matter, in any of the 10 modern Summer Olympics preceding the Berlin Games," wrote renowned author David Clay Large in his outstanding book, "Nazi Games: The Olympics of 1936," which was published in 2007. "The torch relay was one of but many ways in which the Nazi Games helped define the modern Olympic experience as we know it today."

The torch relay would play a major role in the propaganda offensive backed by Hitler and orchestrated by Dr. Joseph Goebbels. In the lead-up to the Games, the Nazi Propaganda Ministry supported a relay of the Olympic flame that would not only provide spectacular footage for Olympia, the 1938 film that was used to promote the Nazi ideal ahead of World War II, but could also be used for significant political and public relations benefit.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Whoooops ... Organizers display South Korea flag instead of North Korea


By FRANK GRIFFITHS 


GLASGOW, Scotland (AP) — London Olympic organizers mistakenly displayed the South Korean flag on a jumbo screen instead of North Korea's before a women's soccer match Wednesday, prompting the North Koreans to refuse to take the field for nearly an hour.

The flag flap began during player introductions when a North Korean player was introduced along with a shot of the South Korean flag.

The match against Colombia was delayed for more than an hour, and organizers apologized for the error.

"If this matter couldn't have been resolved, then I thought going on is nonsense," coach Sin Ui Gun said through an interpreter after North Korea won 2-0. "We were angry because our players were introduced as if they were from South Korea, which may affect us very greatly as you might know."

The coach said the organizers corrected the mix-up, although it took some time. Large images of the North Korea flag were put up on both stadium jumbo screens during the delay and the players finally came out.

GE is Moving from Wisconsin .

I think this may have been out for some time, but I think it is worth repeating ............



Keep your eye  on  Waukesha , Wisconsin ......Their  biggest employer just moved out. General Electric is  planning to move its 115-year-old X-ray division from  Waukesha, Wisconsin to Beijing . In addition to moving the  headquarters, the company will invest $2 billion in China  and train more than 65 engineers and create six research  centers.
 
This is the same  GE that made $5.1 billion in the United States  last year, but paid no  taxes - the same company that employs more  people overseas than it  does in the United States .
 
So let me get this  straight. President Obama appointed GE  Chairman Jeff Immelt to  head his commission on job creation (job czar). Immelt is supposed to  help create jobs. I guess the President forgot to tell him in which  country he was supposed to be creating those jobs. Thanks Jeff,  you're a "real" American....give Barrack our Best! If this  doesn't show you the total lack of leadership of this President, I don't know what  does.

Please pass this information to others  and think about it  before you buy a GE product.

If you look, you can find like products made in the USA at a more competitive price.

Penn St players vow to stick together


Way to go loyal Lions, time to come together................ 

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — More than 30 Penn State football players say they're staying in Happy Valley despite NCAA sanctions that will keep the Nittany Lions out of a bowl game for the rest of their careers.
Flanked by more than two dozen teammates, seniors Michael Mauti and Michael Zordich vowed to restore Penn State to greatness after an unprecedented child sex abuse scandal that shattered the program's image as a place where "success with honor" was the rule.
"We want to let the nation know that we're proud of who we are," Zordich said Wednesday. "We're the true Penn Staters, and we're going to stick together through this. We're going to see this thing through, and we're going to do everything we can for the university. We know it's not going to be easy, but we know what we're made of."
Quarterback Matt McGloin also tweeted that he planned to stay.
Neither Zordich nor Mauti — both sons of former Penn State players — mentioned former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky by name.
"We take this as an opportunity to create our own legacy," Mauti said. "This program was not built by one man and it's sure as hell not going to get torn down by one man. This program was built on every alumni, every single player that came before us, built on their backs."
The Nittany Lions will not be able to play in a bowl game until the 2016 season, and the scholarship reductions they'll receive could make it difficult for new coach Bill O'Brien to field a competitive squad during the next few seasons. That's why support will be needed from fans and alumni more than ever, the players said.
"We're going to do everything in our power to get this place back on track," Zordich said. "I'm personally calling out every member of Nittany Nation — all the students, faculty, fans and family members, alumni, everything that there is. Please, please come support us through this, because we need you just as much as you need us. And together we're going to get through this thing to the end."

Thoughts on Penn State


When does the GOOD outweigh the BAD?
Awards are being renamed, records are being erased, even the name of a sandwich stand is being changed at Penn State. No one seems to be coming forward to extol anything good that Joe Paterno might have done. He coached winning teams, built a football dynasty, was an articulate sports broadcaster for many years, and obviously had a positive impact on many lives. None of whom seem go be coming forward.
There was obviously a gigantic cover up that is actually beyond comprehension to me. I think its echos resounded throughout the state of Pennsylvania, from the top down. We may never know the extent or the depth of the cover up.
I have been somewhat amazed that no one has come forward with any good words for the coach,  maybe he deserves known. It still is beyond my comprehension how a coach, a builder of men, could allow these events to take place and say nothing. Pressure from the top, perhaps? 
More and more I think of the words of OSU President Gordon Gee when confronted with a situation involving the football coach and himself, "He (Coach Tressel) may fire me." If Paterno had such "juice" in the state and on campus, then the blame  does all fall on his shoulders, and what is happening is justified.
Amazing what television can do.

Chad Everett dies at 75

Chad Everett was married to Shelby Grant for 45 years until her death in 2011.

Chad Everett, who starred in the 1970s TV drama "Medical Center," has died. He was 75.

Everett's daughter told the Associated Press that he died Tuesday at his home in Los Angeles after a year-and-a-half-long battle with lung cancer.

Perhaps best known for his role as surgeon Dr. Joe Gannon, the actor was twice nominated for a Golden Globe for his perfomances on "Medical Center." The series ran seven seasons and, at the time, tied with "Marcus Welby, M.D." for longest-running medical drama.

But in an acting career that spanned more than 40 years, Everett guest-starred on a wide range of television series, including "The Love Boat," "Murder, She Wrote," "Melrose Place" and as a closeted gay police officer on "Cold Case." Everett found a new audience in 2009 when he acted in an episode of the CW's "Supernatural" as an aged version of Dean Winchester, usually played by Jensen Ackles. He  recently appeared in the TV series "Castle."

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Foxglove, Other Popular Plants Could Be Toxic



Foxgloves are popular plants, sold at many nurseries and major retailers in our area. The tall perennials are full of white and purple flowers and even have some medicinal properties -- but they're also poisonous.

The foxglove was used in the late 1700s to treat congestive heart failure, according to Michael Balick, the head of the Institute of Economic Botany at New York Botanical Garden. But as is often the case with potent plants, it can also be toxic.

If a person "sees a little bite mark in the leaf, you need to worry," said Balick.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the entire plant is considered poisonous, and eating enough of it can be fatal. In small doses, the plant can cause an upset stomach.

Foxglove isn’t the only plant that's of concern. Daffodils are also toxic, and so are peace lilies and philodendron.

Balick says when those plants “get into the tongue or mucus membranes of the mouth, they can cause it to swell and potentially cut off breathing."

Sherman Hemsley Dies at 74


BY MAGGIE COUGHLAN

Sherman Hemsley, who played George Jefferson on The Jeffersons, has died at 74, according to police. 

The actor, who first played the role of Jefferson in All in the Family, also played Deacon Ernest Frye on TV's Amen. 

Hemsley died at his home in El Paso, Texas, police say. 

Born in South Philadelphia, Hemsley dropped out of high school to join the Air Force. He returned to Philadelphia and worked for the U.S. Postal Service, while taking acting classes at night. 

After performing with local groups in Philadelphia, Hemsley moved to New York to make his Broadway debut as Gitlow in Purlie. 

While touring with the production, television writer and producer Norman Lear contacted Hemsley to play the role of Jefferson on his new sitcom, All in the Family. Hemsley hesitated to accept but Lear held the role open for him and two years later, Hemsley joined the cast. 

Less than two years after Hemsley made his television debut, he and All in the Family costar Isabel Sanford were given their own spin-off in The Jeffersons. The series earned Hemsley Emmy and Golden Globe nominations in 1984 and 1985 respectively. 

Britain deploys 1,200 more troops for Olympics


By DANICA KIRKA | Associated Press
In this Monday July 23, 2012 file …

LONDON (AP) — Britain's government opted Tuesday to deploy 1,200 more troops to protect Olympic venues — a move that reflects a lack of confidence that private security contractor G4S can deliver all it promised for the games.

The fresh troops come only three days before Friday's opening ceremony and mean that some 18,200 U.K. military personnel are now involved in some capacity in securing the London games — dwarfing the 9,500 British troops now in Afghanistan. The decision followed a Cabinet meeting on venue security.

"On the eve of the largest peacetime event ever staged in this country, ministers are clear that we should leave nothing to chance," Olympics Secretary Jeremy Hunt said in a statement. " The Government continues to have every confidence that we will deliver a safe and secure Games."

The government put the troops on standby a few days ago, but suggested that was merely a prudent contingency measure that was unlikely to be used. Tuesday's announcement is yet another embarrassment for security provider G4S, which has consistently failed to deliver on its Olympic contract.

Thousands of British soldiers have been sent in on short notice to fill the gap in guards. Some of the servicemen have seen their leaves cancelled while others have only recently returned from tours in Afghanistan.

Devices that suck


By Claudine Zap
"Electric City"

We live for gadgets. But even the smallest ones can consume an enormous amount of power. See some of the worst offenders:
Game Consoles
It's all fun and games -- until you get your energy bill. If you leave your Xbox or PlayStation on when you're not playing, you are wasting as much energy as leaving a desktop computer running.
Plasma TV
Plasma TVs consume about two times more power than LCD versions. To save even more energy, go for a smaller screen. A 32-inch set uses about half as much power as a 52-inch LCD.
Digital picture frames
These little items pack a power punch. Consider this: If every home in the U.S. had one of these displaying around the clock, it would take five power plants to keep them on, according to the Electric Power Research Institute.
Laptops
If your laptop has a screensaver with images, it consumes more power than an idle laptop.
Battery chargers
Your mobile devices doesn't take up that much power on their own, but if they are left plugged into electric outlets, even when the charger isn't connected, they continue to draw power. Add up that most households use more than one charger, and across the country, they could consume the energy of several power plants.
Power-saving solutions
One way to stop power use when you're not using your devices: Turn them all the way off. Another way to save -- try an energy-saving power strip. The power-savers are designed to cut power to devices that don't need it.

You can also change your new device's default settings: You can Manually change the brightness settings on your TVs and computer screens to suck up less energy.

The green website Treehugger has helpful tips for getting more eco-friendly gadgets, including: checking with Energy Star and Consumer Reports before you buy; and, take advantage of local recycling programs when you do switch out gadgets, or even consider selling your old one instead of throwing it away.

Monday, July 23, 2012

Angel in the clouds


The shape of an angel may have appeared in the clouds above Sunday’s prayer vigil 
for the victims of the “Dark Knight” massacre.

Crystal Fuller says she sees the holy shape in a photo she took 
of the sky above the site after the service was over.

“I noticed it afterwards. I had it posted and said crazy cloud … 
one of my friends, Barbara Masias, said it's an angel and I saw it!"

Fuller said the shape of the angel appeared directly above 
the Century 16 theater complex in Aurora, Colo., 
where crazed gunman James Holmes opened fire Friday night,
 killing 12 and wounding 58.


Sally Ride


CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - Sally Ride, the first U.S. woman to travel into space and an advocate for science education, died on Monday after a 17-month battle with pancreatic cancer, according to her organization, Sally Ride Science. She was 61.
Ride broke new ground for American women in 1983 when at the age of 32 she and four male crewmates blasted off aboard space shuttle Challenger.
"The fact that I was going to be the first American woman to go into space carried huge expectations along with it," Ride recalled in a 2008 interview on the 25th anniversary of her flight.
"I didn't really think about it that much at the time -- but I came to appreciate what an honor it was to be selected," she said.
U.S. President Barack Obama called Ride "a national hero and a powerful role model." In a statement, he said Ride "inspired generations of young girls to reach for the stars."
Ride was not the first woman in space. That distinction fell to the Soviet Union's Valentina Tereshkova, who blasted off aboard a Vostok 6 rocket on June 16, 1963.

Cattle Guards ... revisited per requests from readers


For those of you who have never traveled to the West or Southwest, cattle guards are horizontal steel rails placed at fence openings, in dug-out places in the roads adjacent to highways (sometimes across highways), to prevent cattle from crossing over that area.  For some reason the cattle will not step on the "guards," probably because they fear getting their feet caught between the rails. 

A few months ago, President Obama received a report that there were over 100,000 cattle guards in Colorado .  Because Colorado ranchers had protested his proposed changes in grazing policies, he ordered the Secretary of the Interior to fire half of the cattle guards immediately.

Before the Interior Secretary could respond and presumably straighten him out, Vice-President Joe Biden intervened with a request that before any guards were fired, they be given six months of retraining.

Passed on without further comment.... are we in good hands, or not?

Amazing Story of Respect .... by Elephants


Lawrence Anthony, a legend in South Africa and author of 3 books including the bestseller The Elephant Whisperer, bravely rescued wildlife and rehabilitated elephants all over the globe from human atrocities, including the courageous rescue of Baghdad Zoo animals during  US invasion in 2003. 

On March 7, 2012 Lawrence Anthony died.  He is remembered and missed by his wife, 2 sons, 2 grandsons & numerous elephants. Two days after his passing, the wild elephants showed up at his home led by two large matriarchs. Separate wild herds arrived in droves to say goodbye to their beloved man-friend.  A total of 20 elephants had patiently walked over 12 miles to get to his South African house. 
 
Witnessing this spectacle, humans were obviously in awe, not only because of the supreme intelligence and precise timing that these elephants sensed about Lawrence 's passing, but also because of the profound memory and emotion the beloved  animals evoked in such an organized way:   Walking slowly - for days - making their way in a solemn one-by-one queue from their habitat to his house.

Lawrence's wife, Francoise,  was especially touched, knowing that the elephants had not been to his house prior to that day for well over a year! But yet they knew where they were going. The elephants obviously wanted to pay  their deep respects, honoring  their friend who'd saved their lives so much respect that they stayed for 2 days 2 nights.  

Then one morning, they left, making their long journey back home.

Questions in my mind about Colorado???

A few questions have arisen in my mind since the event in Colorado. I am skeptical of events such as this, and always ask myself, "Why?"

Where did an unemployed student get the 20 or 30 thousand dollars to purchase the guns, ammo and equipment, and where and when did he acquire the expertise to turn his apartment in to an intricately designed booby trap?


Sunday, July 22, 2012

Remembering Massacre, Norway Embraces Inclusivity


by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg (foreground left) and King Harald (foreground right) attend a memorial ceremony near a government building damaged by a bomb attack in Oslo, Norway, Sunday.

Norway on Sunday paused to commemorate the 77 victims of a bomb and gun massacre that shocked the peaceful nation one year ago, a tragedy that the prime minister said had brought Norwegians together in defense of democracy and tolerance.

Anders Behring Breivik, a 33-year-old far-right fanatic, has admitted to the July 22, 2011, attacks: a bombing of the government district in Oslo, killing eight, and a shooting rampage that left 69 dead at the left-wing Labor Party's youth camp on Utoya island.

In a wreath-laying ceremony at the bomb site, Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg said Breivik had failed in his declared goal of destroying Norway's commitment to being an inclusive, multicultural society.

"The bomb and the gun shots were meant to change Norway," Stoltenberg told a somber crowd of a few hundred people at the ceremony. "The Norwegian people answered by embracing our values. The perpetrator lost. The people won."

Super rich hold $32 trillion in offshore havens


LONDON (Reuters) - Rich individuals and their families have as much as $32 trillion of hidden financial assets in offshore tax havens, representing up to $280 billion in lost income tax revenues, according to research published on Sunday.


The study estimating the extent of global private financial wealth held in offshore accounts - excluding non-financial assets such as real estate, gold, yachts and racehorses - puts the sum at between $21 and $32 trillion.

The research was carried out for pressure group Tax Justice Network, which campaigns against tax havens, by James Henry, former chief economist at consultants McKinsey & Co.

He used data from the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, United Nations and central banks.

The report also highlights the impact on the balance sheets of 139 developing countries of money held in tax havens by private elites, putting wealth beyond the reach of local tax authorities.

The research estimates that since the 1970s, the richest citizens of these 139 countries had amassed $7.3 to $9.3 trillion of "unrecorded offshore wealth" by 2010.

Private wealth held offshore represents "a huge black hole in the world economy," Henry said in a statement.

A Collegiate Tragedy ...at Penn State


I must admit I am sick of hearing about this saga, but I think it reflects something about "people"  in that we have let "sports" become so necessary in our lives and our learning institutions. Sports have stepped over academics in importance. A statue was erected in honor of a coach, rather than someone in academics, or other endeavors. That says something right there. All  sports have their "Hall of Fame." There have been many achievements in science, medicine and other fields of greater importance, but they are not recognized. How and why, has athletics become so huge?

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — The famed statue of Joe Paterno was taken down from outside the Penn State football stadium Sunday as the NCAA announced it would be issuing sanctions against the university whose top officials were accused in a scathing report of burying child sex abuse allegations against a now-convicted retired assistant. 

Workers lifted the 7-foot-tall statue off its base and used a forklift to move it into Beaver Stadium as the 100 to 150 students watching chanted, "We are Penn State."

The university announced earlier Sunday that it was taking down the monument in the wake of an investigative report that found the late coach and three other top Penn State administrators concealed sex abuse claims against retired assistant coach Jerry Sandusky.

Meanwhile, the NCAA said that that it would levy "corrective and punitive measures" against Penn State in the wake of the child sex-abuse scandal involving former football assistant coach Jerry Sandusky. The organization announced Sunday that it would spell out the sanctions on Monday but disclosed no details.

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Walk?


Sole security


PITTSBURGH — High-tech security? Forget those irksome digital eye scans. Meet the biometric shoe.

A new lab is working to perfect special shoe insoles that can help monitor access to high-security areas, like nuclear power plants or special military bases.

The concept is based on research that shows each person has unique feet, and ways of walking. Sensors in the bio-soles check the pressure of feet, monitor gait, and use a microcomputer to compare the patterns to a master file for that person. If the patterns match the bio-soles go to sleep. If they don’t, a wireless alarm message can go out.

“It’s part of a shoe that you don’t have to think about,” said Marios Savvides, head of Carnegie Mellon University’s new Pedo-Biometrics Lab, in Pittsburgh.

The lab, which has $1.5 million in startup funding, is a partnership with Autonomous ID, a Canadian company that is relocating to several U.S. cities. Todd Gray, the company president, said he saw the potential when his daughter was in a maternity ward decorated with representations of different baby feet all along a wall.

The picture is Maxwell Smart's shoe phone, not the biometric shoe. Just to show how shoes have progressed.

Cause for concern ...............


I am not exactly sure of the origin f this article, so I am not going to mention any names. I have expressed these same concerns so I am offering this here for your consideration and thought.

Could 2012 be America 's Last Presidential Election?

This questions has been asked to a number of people and most of them respond as if I were crazy. They tell me that this is America , land of the free, and that there will always be elections. I tell them that we are no longer the land of the free and that if Obama gets re-elected in 2012 that this just may be America 's last election.

In the past three years, the Obama administration has been very carefully crafting the nation for a political take over by his Marxist regime and this isn't just my opinion.

Popular radio talk show host (of the Savage Nation on the Talk Radio Network), Michael Savage, is the son of Russian immigrants and is very familiar with Soviet and European history. Savage warned his listeners this week saying, "I have to tell you that if this man, God forbid, is the next president of the United States, we're going to be living in something along the lines of - people say - Europe. I don't believe it's going to be like Europe - I think it will be closer to Chavez's South American dictatorship.

"This is the most corrupt, incompetent, dangerous tyrannical administration in American history. It's not politics as usual. It's not just Democrats versus Republicans. Obama has a long history of being at odds with American values and with America itself and the core principles of this country. They don't want government-sponsored opinions. They only want government-sponsored 'Pravda.' That's exactly what the government-media complex tells you on a daily basis - nothing but the government-media complex party line. Pay attention! Your freedom may be at stake!

Former Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum told a small group of people in an Iowa coffee house that "Barack Obama is not incompetent, ladies and gentleman. He knows exactly what he's doing and why he's doing it. He sees America differently than you see America ."

[Obama] has gone out of his way to divide this country in a way I haven't seen since the Great Depression when Franklin Roosevelt went around to divide his country. That's his hero. What makes America great [in Obama's mind] is that the government takes money from somebody and gives it to somebody else. No, that's what makes America , France .

"With his control over the Executive and Judicial branches of the government, the stage is set for a complete takeover of the government. Think about it! Since taking office, instead of helping the economy, Obama has purposely escalated the economic crisis by plunging the country into unprecedented debt. He has a number of programs that are designed to go into effect in January 2013, just in time for his second term of office. The economic burden and increased taxes on everyone will be enough to cause the final economic collapse of the country. As soon as that happens, Obama declares Martial Law and assumes dictatorial control of the nation.

The Department of Justice has already been subverting federal laws to strip us of a number of freedoms. The Supreme Court and many of the other federal courts have been seeded with socialistic liberal judges that will rule in Obama's favor on virtually anything, thus ending constitutional rule and law.

He's already changing the face of America 's military. Allowing homosexuals to openly serve along with changing the retirement program is causing many conservative military leaders to resign commissions and leave the military. Some Pentagon officials are also noting that an increase in the enlistment of radical Muslims into the US military where they get all the training they need on weapons and defense systems. We have no idea how many of them there are in the armed forces or in what positions they may hold.

Obama has been wielding executive powers this past year as if he were already a dictator. When Congress is not doing his bidding, he simply bypasses them and uses an executive order to accomplish it anyway. This has set the stage for his disbandment of Congress. He would not be the first world leader to take control of a nation and disband the legislative branch of government.

He has been effectively using the media to anesthetize the public to the dangers he poses. Like a patient being prepped for surgery, people are numb to the changes and won't have a clue what took place until they wake up in recovery and realize that free America has been removed and replaced with a regime that may parallel those of Stalin, Lenin, Mussolini, Hitler, Chavez and Castro.

For the sake of our children and grandchildren, I earnestly pray that we are spared from what seems a certain future and that Obama is overwhelmingly defeated in 2012.

If you agree with me and whoever authored this article, or even consider this a possibility, please pass this blog along to those on your list. I personally think it is something that we should all consider with an open mind, Historically, this has happened in other countries, we don't want it to happen here.





Friday, July 20, 2012

What Next?

I must admit I have done very little today, the events of this morning took all the wind out of my sails. I have been walking around all day, not in a state of shock, but similar to that. I think some of that can be attributed too all I have lived through, and each shock seems to be worse than the last.

I vividly remember December 7, 1941, and the shock of that day, it was senseless and cowardly, I was only nine then, but I remember the emotions and the faces of the young college men, who I am sure were aware of the impact that would have on their lives.

The Kennedy and King assassinations. I remember the start of Desert Storm, watching it live on TV, almost to the point where, "the war will start in five minutes." Korea, Viet Nam, 9/11 and all the other events that have entered into our lives. Each a shock.

Those moments cause me to pause and reflect, wonder and speculate, primarily pause, and wonder what is happening in this world, where we have gone wrong, what is causing these incidents, and wondering if there actually is a cause.

What next?

Friday, 20 July, 2012

How irrational is it to attempt to blame the "Tea Party" for the Colorado theater incident. News persons and politicians will grasp any straw, with or without "facts" to mislead the public. To politicize such a horrendous chain of events is  beyond comprehension.

I think those who implied these thoughts should be made to account for their actions.

Perhaps we would be more accurate if we blamed those who perpetrate these incidents rather than wildly blaming others, for whatever reason.

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Hillary Clinton Close to Paying Off 2008 Campaign Debt

By Elizabeth Hartfield 

Hillary Clinton, who has steadily chipped away at the more than $25 million in debt her campaign amassed during her run for president, owes only $100,000, according to Federal Election Commission disclosures for the second quarter of 2012.

Running for president is expensive, and although the subject of campaign debt has usually been synonymous with Newt Gingrich in the past several months, Clinton is among the many former presidential candidates who've departed the trail in debt.

She suspended her campaign in June 2008 owing the $25 million but had paid off enough by the end of that year to owe $5.9 million.

Almost four years later, the campaign owes $100,000 to one entity, the firm of Penn, Schoen & Berland for consulting and polling fees. Penn, Schoen & Berland is a market research firm headed up by a trio of longtime advisers to both Bill and Hillary Clinton: Mark Penn, Doug Schoen and Michael Berland.

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Obama Calls for $12.7 Trillion in New Welfare Spending


Last Thursday, the Obama Administration quietly issued new bureaucratic rules that overturned the popular welfare reform law of 1996. This was an illegal move, and it completely undoes years of progress that helped millions of Americans.

What Welfare Reform Accomplished

The 1996 reform replaced the old Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program with a new program called Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF). At the core of the TANF program were new federal work standards that required able-bodied welfare recipients to work, prepare for work, or at least look for work as a condition for receiving aid. Welfare reform turned “welfare” into “workfare.”

Under the old, pre-reform AFDC program, welfare was a one-way handout: Government mailed checks to recipients who did nothing in return. Reform changed that. The new TANF program was based on fairness and reciprocal responsibility: Taxpayers continued to provide aid, but beneficiaries were required, in exchange, to engage in constructive behavior to increase self-sufficiency and reduce dependence.

Payday Loans?


NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Americans tempted by the promise of fast cash are paying an average of $520 a year in fees for short-term credit lines known as payday loans.

An estimated 12 million Americans take out payday loans each year, according to the Pew Charitable Trusts' Safe Small-Dollar Loans Research Project.

On average, these borrowers take out eight loans per year, averaging $375 each, the survey based on focus groups and telephone interviews found. Over the course of two weeks -- when payday loans typically come due -- fees averaged $15 per $100 borrowed, amounting to a 391% annual percentage rate. Most lenders display costs as fees, but they can also be reflected as interest rates.

Because of the small-dollar amounts extended and the relatively easy access -- no credit check is required -- payday loans are often marketed as "fast cash" to cover emergency expenses that arise before a borrower's next paycheck arrives, which is typically two weeks, Pew said.

But Pew's study reveals that most borrowers actually use payday loans for regular living expenses -- not for emergencies, as many payday lenders advertise. Plus, the average borrower takes out eight loans and is indebted about five months of the year because they continue to renew the original loan.

Physical inactivity causes 1 in 10 deaths worldwide


(CNN) -- Physical inactivity causes 1 in 10 deaths worldwide, according to a series of studies released in British medical journal The Lancet, putting it on par with the dangers of smoking and obesity. The results also suggest that public health officials treat this situation as a pandemic.

Specifically, Harvard researchers say, inactivity caused an increase in deaths from coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, breast and colon cancers and caused more than 5.3 million deaths in 2008 worldwide.

If physical inactivity rates were to go down by even 10% to 20% worldwide, they say, it could save between a half-million and 1.3 million lives each year. This could also raise global life expectancy by almost a year.

Symptoms of Heat Exhaustion:

• Thirst
• Decrease in urine output or dark-colored urine
• Headache
• Dry mouth
• Muscle cramps
• Fatigue
• Lightheadedness or feeling faint
• Low blood pressure when standing
• Heavy sweating or an inability to sweat despite the heat
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Weakness
• Confusion
• Heart palpitations or a rapid but weak pulse
• Pale, clammy skin, sometimes with goose bumps

Christie to give Keynote

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie will give the keynote address at the Republican National Convention in Tampa next month, NBC News confirmed.

The high-profile job is sometimes seen as a launching pad for politicians with ambitions of higher office, but could also suggest that Christie will not be named as presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney’s running mate, according to NBC News.

Vice Presidential nominees and keynote speakers typically speak on separate nights. Theconvention runs from Aug. 27 to 30.

Subject: The problem is us!

Read a few times and give some serious thought to what you are reading. I received this in an email this morning. Thanks Ernie .... 

Some people have the vocabulary to sum up things in a way that you can quickly understand them. This quote came from the Czech Republic . Someone over there has it figured out. It was translated into English from an article in the Prague newspaper Prager Zeitungon:

Perfect Quote
 
"The danger to America is not Barack Obama, but a citizenry capable of entrusting a man like him with the Presidency. It will be far easier to limit and undo the follies of an Obama presidency than to restore the necessary common sense and good judgment to a depraved electorate willing to have such a man for their president. The problem is much deeper and far more serious than Mr. Obama, who is a mere symptom of what ails America . Blaming the prince of the fools should not blind anyone to the vast confederacy of fools that made him their prince. The Republic can survive a Barack Obama, who is, after all, merely a fool. It is less likely to survive a multitude of fools, such as those who made him their president." 

Sepsis: Blood Poisoning Kills Thousands, But No Drugs to Help


By CARRIE GANN and DR. BRUCE GERYK


Rory Staunton's death started with a simple cut on his arm.

Rory, a 12-year-old New Yorker, cut himself when he dove for a basketball at his school gym in late March, according to the New York Times. Two days later, he was vomiting, feverish and had a pain in his leg. A few days later, on April 1, Rory died at NYU-Langone Medical Center of a kind of blood poisoning known as sepsis.

His death, and others, point to a major problem in treating sepsis -- there are currently no drugs approved to fight it. The only drug developed for it, called Xigris, was withdrawn from the market in 2011, when the drug failed rigorous testing required to maintain regulatory approval. The drug's fall from grace highlights just how difficult fighting sepsis is, and leaves doctors wondering whether developing a drug will ever be possible.

Statue in Poland







People look at a new statue of former President Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II that was unveiled in Gdansk, Poland, on Saturday, July 14, 2012. The statue honors the two men whom many Poles credit with helping to topple communism.

Gas, a map, and, Oh Yea, some mashed potatoes


Heading down to the local convenience store on a hot summer day and buying an icy beverage bigger than your head has been an American tradition for many years. But sometimes you just want something a little different — perhaps something warmer, and smothered in meaty gravy. At least that's what 7-Eleven appears to have in mind with these almost too-ridiculous-to-be-real mashed potato dispensers.
Is it the ultimate in convenience, or just another way to be lazy?
The machines were created by Maggi, a food and condiment company that is popular in Europe and parts of Asia. Maggi sells instant mash potato powder that can be purchased in stores and made at home, but that clearly wasn't convenient enough for 7-Eleven customers. When activated, the machine mixes the powder with water, squirts out the steaming-hot mashed potato mix, and even tops it with some creamy gravy.
The hearty treat costs just a dollar or two, and some 7-Eleven stores even pair their potato tubs with soft drinks, ensuring that you can eat an lunch that has been dispensed from a small tube. We of course can't vouch for the flavor of the powdered potato product, but at least it looks like mashed potatoes.

Greenland lost some more land


WASHINGTON (AP) — An iceberg twice the size of Manhattan tore off one of Greenland's largest glaciers, illustrating another dramatic change to the warming island.
For several years, scientists had been watching a long crack near the tip of the northerly Petermann Glacier. On Monday, NASA satellites showed it had broken completely, freeing an iceberg measuring 46 square miles.
A massive ice sheet covers about four-fifths of Greenland. Petermann Glacier is mostly on land, but a segment sticks out over water like a frozen tongue, and that's where the break occurred.
The same glacier spawned an iceberg twice that size two years ago. Together, the breaks made a large change that's got the attention of researchers.
"It's dramatic. It's disturbing," said University of Delaware professor Andreas Muenchow, who was one of the first researchers to notice the break. "We have data for 150 years and we see changes that we have not seen before."
"It's one of the manifestations that Greenland is changing very fast," he said.

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

The Dooley Observed Forum

I just started this, thought we might get a dialogue started on some different topics. Open for suggestions. Started  two, Politics and Gambling. Olympics might be a good one to get started. Check out THIS SITE  and add some topics we can discuss. I look forward to hearing from you.