Believe It or Not

As of now, there was not a new one for today, believe it or not~

Nelson Mandella

I learn more about him each day. I have heard of him on many occasions, throughout my life, knew he was in prison, and oddly enough, when he was released from prison, there were crowds of people, who were being policed by the same people who had imprisoned him. His character was such that he apparently had the ability to forgive those who imprisoned him for all those years.

He must have been unique. Perhaps he exhibited qualities that are rare to find anymore, and he is admired for that. It is ironic that a pilgrimage will be taken to his funeral by Obama and Clinton ......

Lest we forget ................ December 7, 1941

The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941 (December 8 in Japan). The attack led to the United States' entry into World War II.

The attack was intended as a preventive action in order to keep the U.S. Pacific Fleet from interfering with military actions the Empire of Japan was planning in Southeast Asia against overseas territories of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and the United States. There were simultaneous Japanese attacks on the U.S.held Philippines and on the British Empire in Malaya, Singapore, and Hong Kong.

From the standpoint of the defenders, the attack commenced at 7:48 a.m. Hawaiian Time. The base was attacked by 353 Japanese fighters, bombers and torpedo planes in two waves, launched from six aircraft carriers. All eight U.S. Navy battleships were damaged, with four being sunk. All but one were later raised, and six of the eight battleships returned to service and fought in the war. The Japanese also sank or damaged three cruisers, three destroyers, an anti-aircraft training ship, and one minelayer. 188 U.S. aircraft were destroyed; 2,402 Americans were killed and 1,282 wounded. Important base installations such as the power station, shipyard, maintenance, and fuel and torpedo storage facilities, as well as the submarine piers and headquarters building (also home of the intelligence section) were not attacked. Japanese losses were light: 29 aircraft and five midget submarines lost, and 65 servicemen killed or wounded. One Japanese sailor was captured.

The attack came as a profound shock to the American people and led directly to the American entry into World War II in both the Pacific and European theaters. The following day (December 8), the United States declared war on Japan. Domestic support for non-interventionism, which had been strong, disappeared. Clandestine support of Britain (for example the Neutrality Patrol) was replaced by active alliance. Subsequent operations by the U.S. prompted Germany and Italy to declare war on the U.S. on December 11, which was reciprocated by the U.S. the same day.

Photograph taken from a Japanese plane during the torpedo attack on ships moored on both sides of Ford Island shortly after the beginning of the Pearl Harbor attack. View looks about east, with the supply depot, submarine base and fuel tank farm in the right center distance.

A torpedo has just hit USS West Virginia on the far side of Ford Island (center). Other battleships moored nearby are (from left): Nevada, Arizona, Tennessee(inboard of West Virginia), Oklahoma (torpedoed and listing) alongside Maryland, and California.

On the near side of Ford Island, to the left, are light cruisers Detroit and Raleigh, target and training ship Utah and seaplane tender Tangier. Raleigh and Utah have been torpedoed, and Utah is listing sharply to port.

Japanese planes are visible in the right center (over Ford Island) and over the Navy Yard at right. U.S. Navy planes on the seaplane ramp are on fire.

You'll get a charge out of this one .

This article kind of makes light of it, but this is a real problem. People seem to think they are entitled to plug their cars in wherever they are. Check it out:

A nickel might not have much purchasing power these days, but, in Chamblee, Georgia, charging your Nissan Leaf with five cents’ worth of electricity can land you in jail.

After driving to Chamblee Middle School, where his 11-year-old son was playing tennis, Kaveh Kamooneh took the opportunity to charge his vehicle at one of the school’s exterior outlets. He claims that he charged his battery for 20 minutes—enough for an estimated five cents’ worth of electricity. But then he was spotted by a police officer, who gravely informed him that he was committing a crime. “He said that he was going to charge me with theft by taking because I was taking power, electricity from the school,” Kamooneh said.

Kamooneh wasn’t arrested on the spot. Instead, the officer filed a police report. Eleven days passed before deputies knocked on Kamooneh’s door with a warrant for his arrest. Kamooneh spent 15 hours in jail. It remains to be seen whether he’ll be prosecuted for theft.

After Denying They Met, White House Admits Obama Lived with Uncle

If you think candy's sweet

There's a president guy you oughta meet

Sugar drips from his lips when he sighs

But the reality that lies

Within his baby eyes

How he lies, how he lies, how he lies

Is there anything Obama doesn't lie about?

In yet another example of White House dissembling and our subservient media rolling over, the White House admitted Thursday that President Obama not only knows a Kenyan uncle who faced deportation, but that the president lived with this uncle in the eighties. 

When asked in 2011, the White House said there was no record of the two ever meeting. 

Apparently, our crackerjack media accepted that false information without ever following up or even asking if the president had been asked.

The Boston Globe reports that at a recent deportation hearing, the president’s uncle, Onyango Obama, testified that “his famous nephew had stayed at his Cambridge apartment for about three weeks. At the time, Onyango Obama was here illegally and fighting deportation.”

Obviously, this testimony directly contradicted the 2011 statement from the White House. Faced with the contradiction, the White house offered the following explanation:

T]he press office had not fully researched the relationship between the president and his uncle before telling the Globe that they had no record of the two meeting. This time, the press office asked the president directly, which they had not done in 2011.

Friday Morning in Nerk Ahia

It looks ominous outside. Scraped ice off the van and made it to Walmart, the roads, at this time, are pretty good, but, the forecast is a bit frightening. For us, I am seeing anywhere from 2" to 10" of snow for us. Anticipation is a wonderful thing, Walmart thrives on "anticipation." Regardless of what happens, their shelves are somewhat depleted. Meat shelves were pretty empty, as fast as they were filling them, the food was heading out the door.

The cashier,mentioned that he heard a possible ten inches of snow today, I told him that Steve, the Walmart manager spread that rumor to jack up sales. Anticipation, a great selling tool. It worked for Alfred Hitchcock, "There is no terror in the bang, only in the anticipation of it."

I don't know if you read my Ripley this morning, Janet Leigh was so traumatized by that "shower scene" in "Psyco," she couldn't shower for years.

Till the storm passes by ...................

Fairfield Co. Clerk Of Courts Resigns Amid Theft Allegations

LANCASTER, Ohio -

The Fairfield County Clerk of Courts resigned Thursday amid allegations of theft.

Deborah Smalley submitted her resignation after being accused of making her employees work on her campaign in return for time off.

Smalley was charged with one count of theft in office, a third-degree felony.

Smalley said her resignation is not an admission of guilt.

Her husband, David Smalley, was charged with one count of complicity to unlawful interest in a public contract, a fourth-degree felony.

At ANY level, it just keeps going on and on and on and on and on and on ................. and, just think of ALL of those politicians who have not gotten caught yet. SLUSH FUNDS and campaigning for the "boss" is probably prevalent at every level of government, and always has been a way of life. I have known some "slush fund collectors" for politicians at ALL levels.

"Call me anything you want, but please, never call me a politician. Politicians and "Cameleons" have much in common .... they change "colors" to fit their surroundings.

December 7, 1941

In two days, it will be December 7, 2013, seventy two years ago, on December 7, 1941, the bombing of Pearl Harbor, by the Japanese. As FDR  said, "A day that will live, in infamy," I remember hearing that so vividly. The world was never the same after that day, a time of quiet innocence in this country, ended on that day, we were at war.

I have related on many occasions where I was on that day, and my reaction, but more importantly, the reaction of those I was with. A moment frozen in time, still so vivid in my mind, I can close my eyes and relive that moment, and many events of the day, the looks on the faces, in our case, a happy weekend visit at my brothers college and fraternity house, a glorious weekend, ended on that radio broadcast.

I doubt that much will happen on that day, to remember, I think it has become politically impolite to mention the day and the occasion. That day was the first turn of a wheel, that has continued spinning since that day, and has only gained momentum each day. It may now, even be spinning out of control.

Think for a minute, all that has happened in the world since that day, it is staggering. So many things are reality now that were not even imagined in those days. Think of all the lives that have been lost, just in wars, since then. We have almost continually been in a war of some sort, since then. We learned nothing from that experience, only, that when pressed to do it, our nation can mobilize to unimaginable heights. Our technology can produce technological advances as needed. We have the capabilities, the manpower  and the leadership to win wars, when forced in to them.

THE FDR SPEECH

Is this the most tasteless selfie ever?

A tourist in New York City snapped a picture of herself in front of the famous Brooklyn Bridge as police tried to talk down a suicidal man who was threatening to jump Tuesday afternoon.

A witness who watched the woman's heartless moment says she knew exactly what was going on behind her.

The tourist had been watching the drama unfold for up to 25 minutes before she pulled out her phone and took the shot.

Police eventually saved the man's life - talking him down from the bridge.

The woman, who had long blonde locks and was wearing a matching scarf and headband, held out her camera phone and appeared to make sure that she captured the bridge jumper in the background of her shot.

During that time, police boats roared through the water and a police helicopter buzzed overhead as officers inched out toward the desperate man.

 

‘Everyone knew what was going on, there were boats, helicopters.

‘As she took her picture, about 10 seconds later the jumper walked down. She was a tourist, I’m sure of that.’

When a reporter for the New York Post asked the woman for her name, she suddenly became camera shy and refused to talk.

• 
  

Ohio’s Top Cop Backs Away From Efforts To Rid Ohio Of Illegal Slot Machines

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine is a master at getting positive news coverage for doing his job. Among the best, consistent coverage centers on his efforts to rid the state of illegal slot machines used first in internet cafes, then in veteran and fraternal halls.

Well, looks like Ohio’s top cop is suddenly backing away . What’s changed?
Former Ohio Republican Party Chairman Bob Bennett, a consultant to the company that makes that machines, has been urging legislators to help his client.
Bennett has scheduled a Dec. 16th high-dollar fundraiser for DeWine at his home. A $500 donation will get you in the door. A $12,500 donation lets you co-chair the event.

Coincidence?

The Ohio Associated Press disclosed the Bennett/DeWine connection and reported that the Ohio Lottery Commission has delayed action to finalize a plan to allow veteran and fraternal halls to install, legal lottery machines.

If the Lottery installs Lottery machines, Ohio could tell exactly how much was wagered, how much was won and how much is available for charities. If the illegal machines are allowed to remain, there would be no accountability. This lack of accountability has consistenly been raised by law enforcement officials who said the internet cafes invite money laundering and other criminal misconduct.

The AP story liberally quotes Bill Seagraves, identified as the head of a coalition of veterans and fraternal groups.

This is the same Seagraves to whom AG DeWine wrote an Oct. 16 letter stating:…we have had several discussions with the Coalition with respect to these machines. From the outset, this Office’s position has been clear—the devices are illegal slot machines under Ohio law.

However, despite our concerns, we agreed to postpone enforcement action against licensees that operate ‘raffle’ machines to provide the General Assembly the opportunity to address the issue through the legislative process.’’

Lawmakers debated—then passed—a law banning the machines. But the illegal machines remained in both internet cafes and the veteran and fraternal halls that installed them as well.

Some thoughts

It's difficult to enter that "world" I lived in so many years ago. It would be nice to, just for a moment, re-live that instant at Rikes department store, when I entered their "fairyland" and got my first glimpse of that electric train display they had. I would stand there as long as I could watching those Lionels go through the paces. OMG that one "smokes," smoke actually coming out of the stack on the train, and that Blue Lionel actually has lights in all the cars, WOW. Oh, the wonder of it all, toyland, and being a kid. "Backward turn backward, oh time in thy flight, make me a boy again, just for tonight."

You have to admire the "retailers" though, they "pull" all the right strings. "Child" "Christmas" "Toy" ... these three words, combined with the right photographs, generates billions in sales. One toy drive will only take "new, unwrapped" toys. It would be interesting to know, and tough to figure out, the percentage of sales that are donated to the "fireman," Marines," and other groups who distribute those toys. My guess would be that half of the toys sold this time of year are donated and given away. "Every child deserves a toy, at Christmas."

That is about the only time you see the word Christmas, used. Other than that, no mention. Black Friday gets them out of the "Red" and "Holiday" shopping gets them in to, well, "happy land."

Mathis is still at it, has a new Christmas album out, in his late 70's, He has been my "favorite" for many years.

Looks like we need some help this week

Saw the weather report this morning.

This song came to mind.

Sung by Vestal Goodman

There are a number of these available, this one, at the time, was not preceded by commercials.

LISTEN TO VESTAL HERE

Thursday

Arizona probe places blame in firefighter deaths

PHOENIX (AP) — An Arizona commission that oversees workplace safety blamed the state's Forestry Division on Wednesday for the June deaths of 19 firefighters, saying state fire officials knowingly put protection of property ahead of safety and should have pulled crews out earlier.

The ruling by the state Industrial Commission came after its investigative agency, the Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health, released its findings and recommended citations and financial penalties. The commission levied a $559,000 fine.

The ADOSH report was a stinging rebuke of an earlier investigation commissioned by the Forestry Division, which found that state fire officials communicated poorly but followed proper procedures when 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots were killed in a blaze near the small community of Yarnell northwest of Phoenix.

All but one member of the crew died June 30. The Hotshots were trapped as the flames they were battling changed direction in a fierce thunderstorm. The Arizona State Forestry Division oversaw the fight against the blaze that sparked on state land.

The ADOSH investigation found that state fire officials lacked key personnel to battle the Yarnell Hill Fire at critical times. Marshall Krotenberg, the safety agency's lead investigator, told the commission there should have been officers to ensure firefighters' safety, a planning section chief and a division supervisor, who wasn't replaced after he abandoned his post.

UPDATES

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The game between the San Antonio Spurs and Minnesota Timberwolves was postponed Wednesday night because of smoky conditions inside the Mexico City arena.The arena was evacuated about 45 minutes before the scheduled 9:30 p.m. EST tipoff when a generator malfunction outside the arena sent smoke pouring into the building, according to NBA spokeswoman Sharon Lima.The matchup will be made up in Minnesota at a later date. Mexico City Police said in a statement there was a fire in the generator room on the fourth floor of the modern glass-clad arena that opened in 2012. "What happened was provoked by a short circuit in the room of generators," the statement said in Spanish.

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — North Carolina flashed its potential again, earning another impressive victory after a second shaky setback. North Carolina (5-2) has been talented enough to knock off the top-ranked Spartans and then-No. 3 Louisville this season, but the Tar Heels have also lost to Belmont and UAB.J.P. Tokoto had 12 points and a career-high 10 rebounds to help the Tar Heels beat No. 1 Michigan State 79-65 Wednesday night. "I truly believe after the Louisville win, our mentality after that was, 'Birmingham is just going to be an automatic win. Just because we're North Carolina,'" Tokoto said. "We can't have that mentality — and kind of learned that Sunday night. "We came here, were ready to play, intensity level was up, and we got results."

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Here's another adjective Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin can call his ill-timed two-step onto the field last Thursday night against Baltimore. The NFL fined Tomlin $100,000 on Wednesday for interfering with Baltimore's Jacoby Jones on a kickoff return in the third quarter of a 22-20 loss to the Ravens on Thanksgiving night.Expensive. The fine is the second-highest ever levied by the league on a head coach, behind only the $500,000 the NFL docked New England's Bill Belichick in 2007 for spying on an opponent's defensive signals. There is also the chance the Steelers have a draft pick taken away "because the conduct affected a play on the field." Though he was not penalized, the league said the Steelers should have been flagged 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct. All that from what Tomlin called an "embarrassing, inexcusable" case of being "mesmerized" while standing in a restricted area that separates the sideline from the playing field and staring at the video board during Jones' 73-yard return.

Lee Iacocca article

A great read by Lee Iaccoca, find it HERE.

Subject: Don't leave valuables in your car, to say the least ......

This is a photograph of my brand new, 2014 Cadillac that I just picked up this morning from the dealer. I parked it here between these two station wagons. I am so proud of it, OMG, I just turned around for a minute, what happened, where is it, how  could they steal it so fast, OMG, what will I tell Marilyn, somebody call he police, my car has been stolen. I just turned around for a minute ...............

New electronic hacking device can open car doors.

Don't leave valuables in your car.

See how car thieves are getting in

Click on link below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=l7OadDz3Ums

Anyone Know?

When I walk Caleb, each day, I walk by these meters. I have always wondered the purpose of the washer that is wired on to the unit. Each one has one, and they seem to be wired pretty securely. Just wondering their purpose. If there are any misspelled words or bad grammar, I had my eyes examined this morning and vision is still not back. Cataract surgery on January 4, don't have to worry about that till next year.

Dig a little deeper in the well, boys ...

Before this the link between Toni Townes-Whitley and Michelle Obama was only casual. Toni Townes-Whitley had become a top executive at a company with a poor track record that began receiving huge contracts under Obama.

Was Toni Townes-Whitley still a good friend of Michelle Obama? Was her role in receiving all those government contracts only coincidental?

Michelle Obama’s relationship with Princeton classmate Toni McCall Townes-Whitley, whose company earned the no-bid contract to design the disastrous Healthcare.Gov Obamacare website, has continued to socialize with the First Lady since the Obamas have been in the White House.

Townes-Whitley and her husband even enjoyed “Christmas with the Obamas” at the White House in December 2010, according to a Facebook album created by Townes-Whitley.

Although neither Michelle Obama nor Townes-Whitley has discussed their relationship, the Christmas event took place just seven months after Townes-Whitley joined CGI Federal as a senior vice president.

A 600 million dollar website that doesn’t work made by a company with a lousy track record and a top executive who’s a pal of the First Lady.