Lions and Tigers and Bears.... uh... no.

Partly Cloudy - Hi 75 Lo 53 for Baghdad, Iraq
Partly Cloudy - Hi 74 Lo 60 for Qandahar, Afghanistan
Rain - Hi 42 Lo 33 for Northern KY, USA

Song of the week: The Preamble, School House Rock



Podcast of the week: 55KRC Morning Show with Brian Thomas interviews Harald Zieger Go to March 26, 2009

This was one of the best interviews I have ever heard. The fluidity of conversation between Brian and Harald was truly appreciated. I was introduced to Mr. Zieger along with 5000 other Cincinnati Tea Party participants. His story is one of escape from oppression in East Germany. His story is one of cherished freedom and fear of it being lost once again. Mr. Zeiger is just a regular guy. Imagine having a personal file that consisted of 8000 pages... Yes. 8000 pages. Let me offer some context- The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown is 454 pages. William Bennett's America The Last Best Hope Volume I is 572 pages including notes and index. 8000 pages on a regular guy. If you do anything today... please... please listen or download this podcast. Be inspired.

Ramble:

My head is reeling. After the onset of the War on Terror in Iraq, I stayed with it and kept informed and stayed active in my support for our military, in support of our Commander in Chief. About three years ago, I had to tune it all out-- especially when the focus turned to politics and the presidential election. My head was ready to explode and I just needed a vacation. It wasn't until about nine months prior to the November 2008 elections did I tune back in. I now feel the urge to tune back out... but I can not. It is my responsibility to stay informed and to do my part to preserve our incredible nation. There is so much we need to watch. I alone can not remain vigilant and watch everything that is occurring in our country. Yes... it's the economy, stupid. We are being taxed and taxed. Our money has no value. My 401K is a 101K. I know I know... but while we are focused on that... the creepy crawlies are out in force and I am compelled to watch all the different tentacles of of the Legislative, Executive and Judicial Branches of our government instead of zoning out with a trashy romance novel... I now have to keep an eye on what this "mandatory volunteerism" or the prettier more PC "GIVE Act", H.R. 1388 is.... Embryonic Stem cell research,Card Check, anti-gun legislation, the Fairness Doctrine aka Localism has taken a back seat and run the news cycle for the time being,and the United Nations and all their incredible work...

I suppose what concerns me more than anything else is our children. My ears always perk up when I hear a politician say, "we have to think of the children." It turns my blood cold. Although Scooter Trash Husband and I do not have any children of our own, my thoughts and concern goes immediately to our nieces and nephews and children of our friends. I feel horrible a million... make that a trillion different ways. I started perusing Birth to Five Policy I don't know what this means... There is so much. Of course... our children are most important. That is clearly defined. The "HOW" part is what is obscure and unclear... There is no doubt- The Stimulus Plan is all over all the links associated with this program. What are the intentions? Yes... I know... I sound conspiratorial... Please someone enlighten me. I did not realize and forgive my ignorance... but I thought education was fundamental. Reading, writing, math, science and history... Why is money being put towards understanding the development of a brain? Why is the money not going towards rewarding excellent teachers? Where are the vouchers?

What is happening? Why is everything so complicated? Where is my country?

Oh. One other thing. Make no mistake... I'm not afraid. I'm pissed.

Have a great week everyone!

Make It Stop

Mostly Sunny - Hi 63 Lo 51 for Baghdad, Iraq
Cloudy - Hi 68 Lo 51 for Qandahar, Afghanistan
Flurries - Hi 28 Lo 17 for Northern KY, USA

Song of the week: Domino, Van Morrison



Podcast of the Week: Walter Williams - Freedom: Going, Going...

Dr. Walter Williams discusses the legitimate role of government in a free society. This program took place at a National Journalism Center seminar. NJC is a program of Young America’s Foundation.

Good Reads:

Nathan Foster's Top 10 List of Obama Mistakes

From Islamabad to Bradford by Mark Steyn - National Review Online

Morning Report 2/18/2009 by Bill Bennett - Culture 11

Obama and FDR: Rallying the Churches by Mark Tooley - The American Spectator

Ramble:

A week of travel and another week of that pressure on my chest... you know...impending doom... end of the world as we know it... So, we'll try a little Van Morrison and see if that doesn't cut through the funk...

Just an observation from this past week - In my travels, which consisted of 3 separate airports, I did not notice as many servicemen. In fact, I only saw one soldier at CVG - Cincinnati. However, I did notice a lot more dogs--- doing the work of sniffing for drugs and other paraphernalia.

Connecticut loves President Obama... I was part of a 2 day intensive meeting to improve functionality in one of our departments. You wouldn't believe me if I told you. But, I suspect we are broken in basic functionality just like every other manufacturing facility out there. In speaking with the hourly folks, no details were provided, just that President Obama is great and going to give the people back what is rightfully theirs.... mm...kay... Wow... So we are going to borrow $787,000,000,000 from who.. I guess China. That money will then be given to organizations that will supposedly stimulate growth in the way of new jobs. And in the mean time, the Dilbert down the street is still living beyond his means.... and since my husband and I are responsible U.S. citizens... we are afforded the "opportunity" to pay Dilbert's way, plus maintain our own lifestyle... that's great.

The manufacturing facility I visited this past week is having a spring shutdown-- 1 week. This is unprecedented, but will prevent layoffs-- or at least delay layoffs. I work for a good company... We are lean... We are very lean. A few weeks ago, the company got rid of dead weight... those that add nothing... the slackers... the lazy ones... There are a few more that could probably be cut loose... but for now... we are trying to keep manufacturing moving and doing our best to sell...

Oh this sucks.

Now... if you'll be so kind to excuse me... I'm going back to my closet to hold myself in the fetal position and rock myself back to sleep.

Have a great week everyone!

Self Diagnosis: ADHD

Sunny - Hi 70 Lo 47 for Baghdad, Iraq
Mostly Sunny - Hi 67 Lo 47 for Qandahar, Afghanistan
Partly Cloudy - Hi 38 Lo 25 for Northern KY, USA

Song of the week: A Sort of Homecoming, U2



In the darkest days of winter, when I am blue and sun deprived, this song somehow brings me back. It brings me back to the people and places that are most important. It is a simple reminder that winter does indeed come to an end and spring will soon arrive...

Podcast of the Week: Dennis Prager: The American Trinity

Nationally-syndicated talk show host Dennis Prager talks to college students about the American Trinity of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. This speech took place at Young America's Foundation’s West Coast Leadership Conference.
December 15, 2008 - Running time 43:33

This is an excellent speech and gets to the heart of what America is and should always be. Go get a cup of coffee and listen. You will not be disappointed.

Ramble:

What a week. First let me just whine momentarily about the weather... I'm done. Half a foot a snow covered by half an inch of ice covered by another half a foot of snow does not make for a fun commute to work. You see we here in the midwest forget how to drive in it every single time we have a "weather event"... by the way... when did weather become an "event"? ugh. I am sure I would be of a different mindset were I able to telecommute to work... but alas... I can not... Scootertrash Husband and I were fortunate, we only lost power for about 5-6 hours. So not bad at all. There are still folks without power... not a good thing in the winter time. River's Mommy's Mommy was still without power as of Friday. Please report in Marti if you are able. I freely admit it was breathtaking and continues to be quite a spectacle. During the second snow storm I was convinced I was in a Currier and Ives snow globe. The trees look like they are covered in diamonds. The sun was actually out yesterday and made for quite a show.

Scootertrash Husband made the comment that all the fun stuff occurring in Washington D.C. has motivated him to start blogging again. He has posted a couple of interesting ones. Go check him. Nice perspective from a conservative atheist.

Yes... since I am in a new blog home, I thought I would revisit things about my husband and me that new visitors may not know or old timers may have forgotten. I thought about a list... but no one in life walks around with a list... That's not true... I have two separate lists in my handbag this very moment...

See that.. I'm back to the rambling... it's been a while...

OH! DC Roe has contacted me about Project 2996. After last year, I offered to help him in anyway possible because I have found this to be such an important remembrance. Dale wants to get started early. So this is my plea to all my techy friends... DC is looking for a way to automate issuing names for those that want to participate. Please contact me. We need help for this huge annual undertaking.

I have been playing on Twitter and LinkedIn all weekend. Twitter is great. I have become a follower of a bunch of Washington Insiders- have sent off private notes and read what they have to say... I can see now why it is so addictive. Let me know if you sign up for Twitter-- I'll follow you too! DragonLady was my first--- follower. And because of the economic climate- I have been working on my LinkedIn account. Despite my optimism about my current position, nothing is ever guaranteed so... It's also fun to find people I know LinkedIn.

Superbowl... We'll be watching. Who is playing by the way? KIDDIN!! I know! Who do I want to win? Well.. I don't really care... but I don't like the Steelers... but I'm told I shouldn't like the Cardinals either... go figure... All I know is that Scootertrash Husband is making all kinds of food and we have our 3-D glasses... It's going to be a great game...I guess. Do I care if Bruce is doing the halftime show? It depends... if he does something goofy and makes some obnoxious political statement, we'll flip the channel over to Animal Planet and watch the kitten half time show. I want Prince back. His half time show was the best. Ever. Except for this one in 2002. Do you remember?



And lastly... something to warm your heart..and inspire... Purple Fingers...

Iraqis held their most peaceful election since the fall of Saddam Hussein on Saturday, voting for provincial councils without a single major attack in a poll that demonstrated the country's dramatic security gains.

“The purple fingers have returned to build Iraq,” Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said after the polls closed, referring to the indelible ink stains on index fingers that show voters have cast their ballots.

There was something of a holiday atmosphere in many parts of the country. In normally traffic-choked Baghdad, children took advantage of a ban on cars to play soccer in the streets.

“How can we not vote? All of us here have always complained about being oppressed and not having a leader who represented us. Now is our chance,” said Basra voter Abdul Hussein Nuri.

Read the rest here.

Have a great week everyone!

Bad Movies and Showtunes

Partly Cloudy - Hi 54 Lo 36 for Baghdad, Iraq
Sunny - Hi 58 Lo 30 for Qandahar, Afghanistan
Rain - Hi 57 Lo 27 for Northern KY, USA

Song of the week: Pads, Paws and Claws - Elvis Costello with Paul McCartney



Ramble:

This is my first official post at my new place... and it figures... I have nothing to write... I woke up at 3:30 this morning and watched the worst movie ever... Feeling Minnesota starring Keanu Reeves, Cameron Diaz, Dan Akroyd, Courtney Love and oh my gosh Tuesday Weld! The plot was so far fetched and the acting was simply horrific. There was one interesting character - the chocolate labrador... but other than the dog.... not one thing is redeeming about this movie. It was worse than a train wreck I had to keep watching it to see if it would get worse and much to my delight/dismay it did.

I had such aspirations for starting off with a electrically charged post... but on the political front, it is now a wait and see-- hope for the best, expect the worst. I have alreadys sent a couple of e-mail notes to Senator Bunning and Senator McConnell.

Israel is doing what she needs to do... Let me just write this to all my atheist conservative loved ones and friends... If Israel is attacked and is shielded supernaturally from said attacks... Please reconsider your lack of faith.

Friday night we saw Spamalot for a second time. Michael and I had a great time with my sis in law and brother in law. If you are in New York, today is your last day to see Clay Aiken as Sir Robin... It's a fun show and if you get an opportunity to see it, you should...

Same goes for Hairspray. Harvey Fierstein is back on Broadway and tonight is the last performance... We saw the U.S. tour a couple months ago. It is definitely for a girls night out. Michael would have been sucking on the end of a pistol had I dragged him to this one.

Spamalot - Twice in Every Show



Hairspray - Welcome to the Sixties



That's all I have... pitiful. Thanks for visiting.