I asked Cathy to marry me; she said, "yes."
Current Mood: 
happy
happy12 comments | Leave a comment
Whither the Wild Winds of Fortune Blow
A study in journalkeeping by a journal-phobe
26 June 2009 @ 08:12 am
The congressional investigation into the Association of Community Organization for Reform Now (ACORN) has been called off by chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. John Conyers (D). ACORN is currently the target of at 14 lawsuits related to voter fraud in the 2008 election and a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act complaint filed by former ACORN members. Allegations include charges of false voter registration (in one case over 85% of registrations turned in by ACORN were found to be fraudulent), voter intimidation, and extortion schemes.
It was shocking when Conyers announced that the committe would hold hearing on ACORN's activities, because of he has defended them in the past and because of the organization's close ties to and support of the Democratic Party and Pres. Obama in particular. Now, however, Conyers has cancelled the investigation.
His only explanation? "The powers that be decided against it?"
Which powers that be? As chairman of the committee, he has complete authority to hold hearings on anything in he wants -- a point he raised continuously when launching investigation after investigation after investigation against the Bush administration. And now the "powers that be" have reined him in? Who is that? Pelosi? The Democratic Party Leadership? Or is it Obama himself that has muzzled Conyers?
First, admittedly planting questions in a press conference; now ordering the stop of hearings that the administration doesn't like -- Wwat's next for Obama's open and transparent administration?
It was shocking when Conyers announced that the committe would hold hearing on ACORN's activities, because of he has defended them in the past and because of the organization's close ties to and support of the Democratic Party and Pres. Obama in particular. Now, however, Conyers has cancelled the investigation.
His only explanation? "The powers that be decided against it?"
Which powers that be? As chairman of the committee, he has complete authority to hold hearings on anything in he wants -- a point he raised continuously when launching investigation after investigation after investigation against the Bush administration. And now the "powers that be" have reined him in? Who is that? Pelosi? The Democratic Party Leadership? Or is it Obama himself that has muzzled Conyers?
First, admittedly planting questions in a press conference; now ordering the stop of hearings that the administration doesn't like -- Wwat's next for Obama's open and transparent administration?
Current Mood: disgusted
28 May 2009 @ 12:12 pm
The evidence is still being studied, but some of the initial indications are very disturbing that Obama's administration pressured Chrysler in choosing dealerships to close to focus mainly on dealers who were heavy donors or with close ties to the Republican party.
http://directorblue.blogspot.com/2009/0
http://directorblue.blogspot.com/2009/0
Current Mood: 
nauseated
nauseated06 May 2009 @ 01:28 pm
History and presidential decisions *aren't* simple.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articl
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articl
01 May 2009 @ 08:02 am
nearly no other President since polls on this started being taken. I read this report today, which is *vastly* different from every other headline:
"According to Gallup's April survey, Americans have a lower approval of Mr. Obama at this point than all but one president since Gallup began tracking this in 1969. The only new president less popular was Bill Clinton, who got off to a notoriously bad start after trying to force homosexuals on the military and a federal raid in Waco, Texas, that killed 86. Mr. Obama's current approval rating of 56 percent is only one tick higher than the 55-percent approval Mr. Clinton had during those crises. ...
Five presidents rated higher than Mr. Obama after 100 days in office. Ronald Reagan topped the charts in April 1981 with 67 percent approval. Following the Gipper, in order of popularity, were: Jimmy Carter with 63 percent in 1977; George W. Bush with 62 percent in 2001; Richard Nixon with 61 percent in 1969; and George H.W. Bush with 58 percent in 1989."
Frankly, I think all the 100-day hoopla is a bunch of hooie. However, if it's to be a major story in the media, maybe the reports should include some context to go along with the hype.
"According to Gallup's April survey, Americans have a lower approval of Mr. Obama at this point than all but one president since Gallup began tracking this in 1969. The only new president less popular was Bill Clinton, who got off to a notoriously bad start after trying to force homosexuals on the military and a federal raid in Waco, Texas, that killed 86. Mr. Obama's current approval rating of 56 percent is only one tick higher than the 55-percent approval Mr. Clinton had during those crises. ...
Five presidents rated higher than Mr. Obama after 100 days in office. Ronald Reagan topped the charts in April 1981 with 67 percent approval. Following the Gipper, in order of popularity, were: Jimmy Carter with 63 percent in 1977; George W. Bush with 62 percent in 2001; Richard Nixon with 61 percent in 1969; and George H.W. Bush with 58 percent in 1989."
Frankly, I think all the 100-day hoopla is a bunch of hooie. However, if it's to be a major story in the media, maybe the reports should include some context to go along with the hype.
Current Mood: skeptical
17 April 2009 @ 03:23 pm
I am split between being amused that according to the new DHS report I am a right-wing extremist/terrorist and being disgusted/dismayed that our political polarity has moved from the stupid (saying that persons who disagree with the president's policies are un-American or unpatriotic) to the insane (actually issuing an official report that states that disagreement with the president's policies are indicative of being an extremist, hate-monger, or terrorist and an actual threat to our national security).
03 April 2009 @ 11:27 am
The states visited meme
visited 34 states (68%)
Create your own visited map of The United States or Like this? try: Triposo Travelhacks
visited 34 states (68%)
Create your own visited map of The United States or Like this? try: Triposo Travelhacks
18 March 2009 @ 10:49 am
Tip o' the hat to ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif)
foolscap001.
This is a clause inserted by Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) into the "stimulus" bill that Pres. Obama insisted had to be passed to stop the crisis from becoming a catastrophe.
From page H1412 of the Final Stimulus Bill, “SEC. 111. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE:
'(iii) The prohibition required under clause (i) shall not be construed to prohibit any bonus payment required to be paid pursuant to a written employment contract executed on or before February 11, 2009, as such valid employment contracts are determined by the Secretary or the designee of the Secretary.”
So not only could the bonuses not have been stopped as a matter of contractual law, Obama's own stimulus bill (oops, sorry, that's stimulus LAW - Obama signed it) forbids any attempt to prohibit the payment of the AIG bonuses.
I guess the president's outrage should be directed at himself and his cohorts in Congress.
Edit: According to opensecrets.org, Sen. Dodd was AIG's largest single recipient of campaign donations during the 2008 election cycle with $103,100. Senate Majority leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) sidestepped the question about Dodd's last minute addition of the clause that protected AIG executive's bonuses, saying, "Hindsight is 20-20.)
Feelings of contempt and disgust you may be experiencing are entirely understandable.
foolscap001.This is a clause inserted by Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) into the "stimulus" bill that Pres. Obama insisted had to be passed to stop the crisis from becoming a catastrophe.
From page H1412 of the Final Stimulus Bill, “SEC. 111. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE:
'(iii) The prohibition required under clause (i) shall not be construed to prohibit any bonus payment required to be paid pursuant to a written employment contract executed on or before February 11, 2009, as such valid employment contracts are determined by the Secretary or the designee of the Secretary.”
So not only could the bonuses not have been stopped as a matter of contractual law, Obama's own stimulus bill (oops, sorry, that's stimulus LAW - Obama signed it) forbids any attempt to prohibit the payment of the AIG bonuses.
I guess the president's outrage should be directed at himself and his cohorts in Congress.
Edit: According to opensecrets.org, Sen. Dodd was AIG's largest single recipient of campaign donations during the 2008 election cycle with $103,100. Senate Majority leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) sidestepped the question about Dodd's last minute addition of the clause that protected AIG executive's bonuses, saying, "Hindsight is 20-20.)
Feelings of contempt and disgust you may be experiencing are entirely understandable.
Current Mood: 
cynical
cynical03 March 2009 @ 12:21 pm
"Despite President Obama’s promise that “If your family earns less than $250,000 a year, you will not see your taxes increase a single dime. I repeat: not one single dime,” his new budget raises 45 percent of its revenue from energy taxes that will be paid by everyone who fills a gas tank, pays an electric bill, or buys anything that was grown, shipped, or manufactured." (Phil Kerpen, Director of Policy, Americans for Prosperity)
This reminds me of Bill Clinton's first budget with it's increased taxes. He also claimed that the increased taxes would only affect the rich: in actuality, everyone making over $35k got socked, including Rachel's childcare provider who was nearly in tears doing her taxes when she found she owed an extra $1000 because of the tax policy of "her President."
This reminds me of Bill Clinton's first budget with it's increased taxes. He also claimed that the increased taxes would only affect the rich: in actuality, everyone making over $35k got socked, including Rachel's childcare provider who was nearly in tears doing her taxes when she found she owed an extra $1000 because of the tax policy of "her President."
Current Mood: 
pessimistic
pessimistic12 February 2009 @ 12:15 pm
If All A = B it does not follow that All B = A, or put another way A always = B does not mean that B always = A. Example: All dogs are animals, therefore all animals are dogs is false.
Likewise, Stimulus always is spending means that spending is always a stimulus is also false.
Likewise, Stimulus always is spending means that spending is always a stimulus is also false.
10 December 2008 @ 10:36 am
10 December 2008 @ 09:13 am
This is a very good quiz. Do you know as much about our system of government and economics as you think?
www.americancivicliteracy.org/resources/q
My results:
You answered 31 out of 33 correctly — 93.94 %
Average score for this quiz during December: 74.9%
Average score: 74.9%
The only two questions I missed were economic ones, one of which was a result of misreading one of the possible answers.
www.americancivicliteracy.org/resources/q
My results:
You answered 31 out of 33 correctly — 93.94 %
Average score for this quiz during December: 74.9%
Average score: 74.9%
The only two questions I missed were economic ones, one of which was a result of misreading one of the possible answers.
Current Location: work
Current Mood: civic-minded
03 December 2008 @ 08:01 am
Your rainbow is shaded indigo and gray.
What is says about you: You are a proud person. You appreciate tradition and wisdom that comes with age. Friends count on you for being honest and insightful. You depend on modern technology and may feel uncomfortable without it.
Find the colors of your rainbow at spacefem.com.
What is says about you: You are a proud person. You appreciate tradition and wisdom that comes with age. Friends count on you for being honest and insightful. You depend on modern technology and may feel uncomfortable without it.
Find the colors of your rainbow at spacefem.com.
24 November 2008 @ 02:37 pm
Sometime before the weekend is over, I will be trimming my friends list. Not only is there the usual drifting away and separation of interests from friends and acquantances that happens in life, but there are a lot of things going on in my life and it is getting hard to keep up with all the reading.
18 November 2008 @ 10:58 am
23 October 2008 @ 11:15 am
Your result for What Your Taste in Art Says About You Test...
Simple, Progressive, and Sensual
18 Ukiyo-e, 4 Islamic, 5 Impressionist, -24 Cubist, -25 Abstract and 11 Renaissance!
Ukiyo-e (浮世絵, Ukiyo-e), "pictures of the floating world", is a genre of Japaneseand paintings produced between the 17th and the 20th centuries. it mostly featured landscapes, historic tales, theatre, and pleasure. Ukiyo is a rather impetuous urban culture that has bloomed in popularity. Although the Japanese were more strict and had many prohibitions it did not affect the rising merchant class and therefore became a floating art form that did not bind itself to the normal ideals of society.
People that chose Ukiyo-e art tend to be more simplistic yet elegant. They don't care much about new style but are comfortable in creating their own. They like the idea of living for the moment and enjoy giving and receiving pleasure. They may be more agreeable than other people and do not like to argue. They do not mind following traditions but are not afraid to move forward to experience other ideas in life. They tend to enjoy nature and the outdoors. They do not mind being more adventurous in their sexual experiences. They enjoy being popular and like being noticed. They have their own unique style of dress and of presenting themselves. They may also tend to be more business oriented or at the very least interested in money making adventures. They might make good entrepreneurs. They are progressive and adaptable.
Take What Your Taste in Art Says About You Test at HelloQuizzy
24 September 2008 @ 09:58 am
It's been a while since I did this, but the results are about the same. I'm a bit more to the center than last time, but only by a smidge.
| You are a Social Moderate (55% permissive) and an... Economic Conservative (63% permissive) You are best described as a:
Link: The Politics Test on OkCupid.com: Free Online Dating Also : The OkCupid Dating Persona Test |
18 August 2008 @ 12:00 pm
Your result for The Perception Personality Image Test...
NBPS - The Idealist
Nature, Background, Big Picture, and Shape
You perceive the world with particular attention to nature. You focus on the hidden treasures of life (the background) and how that fits into the larger picture. You are also particularly drawn towards the shapes around you. Because of the value you place on nature, you tend to find comfort in more subdued settings and find energy in solitude. You like to ponder ideas and imagine the many possibilities of your life without worrying about the details or specifics. You are in tune with all that is around you and understand your life as part of a larger whole. You prefer a structured environment within which to live and you like things to be predictable.
The Perception Personality Types:
18 June 2008 @ 09:27 am
An commentary article from the WSJ on Tim Russert's view on media bias.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1213751
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1213751