Video also available on YouTube
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Friday, February 26, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Obama Seeks to Insure the Unsure Along with the Uninsured
Washington, D.C.--Recognizing that the vast majority of Americans like their current health insurance and are worried a government-run health insurance program would throw their coverage and health care choices into uncertainty, President Obama today vowed to press for federal legislation to "cover the unsure as well as the uninsured.""I realize that many are concerned about the unknown consequences of a government takeover of health care," said Obama. "Consequently, I am proposing today that federal taxpayer dollars be committed to insuring the unsure in the event my proposals make them worse off."
Administration officials said that under the President's plan, "No longer will anyone have to worry about the adverse consequences of expansive government, since those risks will be backed by the taxpayer." They also stressed that once Congress passes an unsure insurance program, "it would clear the way for passage of many other economic experiments."
When asked about the huge costs of such an unsure insurance program, Administration officials said the proposal would be costless "because the proposed legislation would make uncertainty illegal."
Obama Seeks to Insure the Unsure Along with the Uninsured
Washington, D.C.--Recognizing that the vast majority of Americans like their current health insurance and are worried a government-run health insurance program would throw their coverage and health care choices into uncertainty, President Obama today vowed to press for federal legislation to "cover the unsure as well as the uninsured.""I realize that many are concerned about the unknown consequences of a government takeover of health care," said Obama. "Consequently, I am proposing today that federal taxpayer dollars be committed to insuring the unsure in the event my proposals make them worse off."
Administration officials said that under the President's plan, "No longer will anyone have to worry about the adverse consequences of expansive government, since those risks will be backed by the taxpayer." They also stressed that once Congress passes an unsure insurance program, "it would clear the way for passage of many other economic experiments."
When asked about the huge costs of such an unsure insurance program, Administration officials said the proposal would be costless "because the proposed legislation would make uncertainty illegal."
Desperate to Advance His Agenda, Obama Adds Bacon to Widely Unpopular Health Care Bill
Washington, D.C.--Desperate to advance his government-run health care agenda, President Obama announced he would add bacon to the widely unpopular Senate health care bill. Obama made the announcement at a "bipartisan summit" with Congressional leaders.""We listened to the President repeat his favorite talking points for several hours, well past lunch time," said one Republican who attended. "Then he sprang his Plan B on us. It was bacon."
Administration officials defended the surprise announcement, saying "People are mixing bacon with everything from ice cream to coffee to cereal. We weren't blindsiding anyone with gimmicks."
Some Republicans said they were annoyed by Obama's tactic of responding to every tough question posed to him at the summit by yelling "Bacon!" But a White House spokesperson said "The summit wasn't about what Republicans or Democrats want. It was about what the American people want."
Associated article: Daily Beast
Desperate to Advance His Agenda, Obama Adds Bacon to Widely Unpopular Health Care Bill
Washington, D.C.--Desperate to advance his government-run health care agenda, President Obama announced he would add bacon to the widely unpopular Senate health care bill. Obama made the announcement at a "bipartisan summit" with Congressional leaders.""We listened to the President repeat his favorite talking points for several hours, well past lunch time," said one Republican who attended. "Then he sprang his Plan B on us. It was bacon."
Administration officials defended the surprise announcement, saying "People are mixing bacon with everything from ice cream to coffee to cereal. We weren't blindsiding anyone with gimmicks."
Some Republicans said they were annoyed by Obama's tactic of responding to every tough question posed to him at the summit by yelling "Bacon!" But a White House spokesperson said "The summit wasn't about what Republicans or Democrats want. It was about what the American people want."
Associated article: Daily Beast
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Scientists Abandon Effort to Find a Grand Unified Theory of Health Care Bill Backroom Deals
Washington, D.C.--Scientists announed they have finally abandoned attempts to discover a unified theory of the federal health care legislation, saying they've concluded "it's impossible to make any coherent sense of it."The scientists pointed to provisions that exempted Nebraskans from additional taxes, gave special protections to union health care plans, exempted Michigan's Blue Cross Blue Shield from taxes on insurers, and granted an extra $300 million to Louisiana for Medicaid, an extra $500 million to Massachusetts, and an extra $600 million to Vermont.
"This legislation appears to follow no principles of consistency or internal logic," said one scientist. "It's probably best analyzed under chaos theory."
Associated article: Politico
Scientists Abandon Effort to Find a Grand Unified Theory of Health Care Bill Backroom Deals
Washington, D.C.--Scientists announed they have finally abandoned attempts to discover a unified theory of the federal health care legislation, saying they've concluded "it's impossible to make any coherent sense of it."The scientists pointed to provisions that exempted Nebraskans from additional taxes, gave special protections to union health care plans, exempted Michigan's Blue Cross Blue Shield from taxes on insurers, and granted an extra $300 million to Louisiana for Medicaid, an extra $500 million to Massachusetts, and an extra $600 million to Vermont.
"This legislation appears to follow no principles of consistency or internal logic," said one scientist. "It's probably best analyzed under chaos theory."
Associated article: Politico
Snow in Texas
It was quite exciting around here yesterday because this guy came for a visit.
In fact, this was the seventh visiting snowman in our yard.
It was all so beautiful.
Kids catching snowflakes on their tongues--giggling and frolicking under the large, fluffy flakes dropping from the sky.
And then...
The snowball fight ensued.
I'm thinking that Mikey may have started it with this close range (ouch) blast to Mary Kate.
The sibling justice team came back in force.
Jimmer got him with this one.
Kathleen's turn.
There. That should settle it.
After everyone had a sufficient number of welts on their bodies, the kids decided to tone it down. Then I said something like, "Hey kids, why don't you build a cute snowman while there's still snow."
And they obliged by building...
...this two-headed snow goon.
Inspired by none other than Calivn & Hobbes.
With her newly-fashioned wagon-siding snow board, Kathleen was lamenting our flat yard.
She got over it quickly, and all the kids started blazing dead-grass trails through the yard as they rolled their own snow boulders.
After grunting and heaving a bit, they ended up with this.
A new frosty friend.
A very stout, frosty friend.
After building 6 more snowmen, 2 snow forts, playing snowball, and changing dripping wet clothes 3 times, the kids called it a day...in the snow.
Goodbye, our frosty, disco-y, winking friend. Sorry our 50 degree weather today didn't agree with you.
We'll remember you for another 6 years if we have to. That's how long we had to wait for you to come back. I dug up a photo from the last time you visited us...in 2004.
The kids want me to ask you to not wait so long next time.
In fact, this was the seventh visiting snowman in our yard.
It was all so beautiful.
Kids catching snowflakes on their tongues--giggling and frolicking under the large, fluffy flakes dropping from the sky.
And then...
The snowball fight ensued.
I'm thinking that Mikey may have started it with this close range (ouch) blast to Mary Kate.
The sibling justice team came back in force.
Jimmer got him with this one.
Kathleen's turn.
There. That should settle it.After everyone had a sufficient number of welts on their bodies, the kids decided to tone it down. Then I said something like, "Hey kids, why don't you build a cute snowman while there's still snow."
And they obliged by building...
...this two-headed snow goon.
Inspired by none other than Calivn & Hobbes.
With her newly-fashioned wagon-siding snow board, Kathleen was lamenting our flat yard.
She got over it quickly, and all the kids started blazing dead-grass trails through the yard as they rolled their own snow boulders.
After grunting and heaving a bit, they ended up with this.
A new frosty friend.
A very stout, frosty friend.
After building 6 more snowmen, 2 snow forts, playing snowball, and changing dripping wet clothes 3 times, the kids called it a day...in the snow.
Goodbye, our frosty, disco-y, winking friend. Sorry our 50 degree weather today didn't agree with you.
We'll remember you for another 6 years if we have to. That's how long we had to wait for you to come back. I dug up a photo from the last time you visited us...in 2004.
The kids want me to ask you to not wait so long next time.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Al-Qaeda Says Five-Year Torture of Innocent Bush Administration Lawyers "Proves America is the Great Satan"
In a newly-released video, members of al-Qaeda say the five-year torture of innocent Bush Administration lawyers "proves America is the Great Satan."The al-Qaeda members refer to a final report by a Justice Department career official who reviewed the Bush Administration lawyers' memoranda concluding that enhanced interrogation techniques used against al-Qaeda members were legal. Following a five-year investigation, the career official concluded the Bush lawyers did not violate any standards of professional conduct, contradicting the conclusions of an earlier Justice Department report the official criticized as shifting its rationales in results-oriented ways, ignoring proper procedure, and twisting legal standards.
Osama bin Laden appears in the video, saying "First the accusers said the Bush lawyers violated the federal anti-torture statute. Then they said the lawyers should be disciplined by their state bar associations. Now it turns out the lawyers didn't commit any professional misconduct or violate any Justice Department policies. The drip, drip, drip of the threats these investigations posed to innocent lawyers over five years were spearheaded by proteges of Attorney General Eric Holder and leaked to the press in vile attempts to smear the lawyers' reputations. Those grave injustices represent the evil that is the American system of politicized prosecution."
Associated article: Wall Street Journal
Al-Qaeda Says Five-Year Torture of Innocent Bush Administration Lawyers "Proves America is the Great Satan"
In a newly-released video, members of al-Qaeda say the five-year torture of innocent Bush Administration lawyers "proves America is the Great Satan."The al-Qaeda members refer to a final report by a Justice Department career official who reviewed the Bush Administration lawyers' memoranda concluding that enhanced interrogation techniques used against al-Qaeda members were legal. Following a five-year investigation, the career official concluded the Bush lawyers did not violate any standards of professional conduct, contradicting the conclusions of an earlier Justice Department report the official criticized as shifting its rationales in results-oriented ways, ignoring proper procedure, and twisting legal standards.
Osama bin Laden appears in the video, saying "First the accusers said the Bush lawyers violated the federal anti-torture statute. Then they said the lawyers should be disciplined by their state bar associations. Now it turns out the lawyers didn't commit any professional misconduct or violate any Justice Department policies. The drip, drip, drip of the threats these investigations posed to innocent lawyers over five years were spearheaded by proteges of Attorney General Eric Holder and leaked to the press in vile attempts to smear the lawyers' reputations. Those grave injustices represent the evil that is the American system of politicized prosecution."
Associated article: Wall Street Journal
Administration Announces 5-Year Speech Production Goals
Washington, D.C.--The Obama Administration announced the launch of a "5-Year speech production plan" designed to regulate discussions according to universal principles of "productive talk."Mark Lloyd, the Federal Communications Commission's associate general counsel and "diversity czar" who wrote in 2007 on the need to close "the gap between conservative and progressive talk radio" and praised the "incredible democratic revolution" of a Venezuelan dictator, said the plan calls for boosting "good speech product" in the U.S.
The plan also calls for the U.S. to conform to a United Nations Human Rights Council resolution -- drafted by countries with stellar free speech records like China, Cuba, and Saudi Arabia -- that calls on nations to criminalize speech certain religious and racial groups deem offensive.
Such prohibitions would trump the Constitution's First Amendment, according to the State Department's top lawyer, Harold Koh, who wrote in 2003 that the American "exceptional free-speech tradition can cause problems abroad," and called on the U.S. Supreme Court to "moderate these conflicts by applying more consistently the transnational approach to judicial interpretation" that he advocates.
Koh said the goal of reaching these speech targets within five years is ambitious, but added "Either we do it, or the forces of robust debate may crush us over the long term."
Associated article: National Journal; associated video: Brietbart
Administration Announces 5-Year Speech Production Goals
Washington, D.C.--The Obama Administration announced the launch of a "5-Year speech production plan" designed to regulate discussions according to universal principles of "productive talk."Mark Lloyd, the Federal Communications Commission's associate general counsel and "diversity czar" who wrote in 2007 on the need to close "the gap between conservative and progressive talk radio" and praised the "incredible democratic revolution" of a Venezuelan dictator, said the plan calls for boosting "good speech product" in the U.S.
The plan also calls for the U.S. to conform to a United Nations Human Rights Council resolution -- drafted by countries with stellar free speech records like China, Cuba, and Saudi Arabia -- that calls on nations to criminalize speech certain religious and racial groups deem offensive.
Such prohibitions would trump the Constitution's First Amendment, according to the State Department's top lawyer, Harold Koh, who wrote in 2003 that the American "exceptional free-speech tradition can cause problems abroad," and called on the U.S. Supreme Court to "moderate these conflicts by applying more consistently the transnational approach to judicial interpretation" that he advocates.
Koh said the goal of reaching these speech targets within five years is ambitious, but added "Either we do it, or the forces of robust debate may crush us over the long term."
Associated article: National Journal; associated video: Brietbart
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Joe's Plumbing Service Finds Loads of Unpleasantness in White House Communications Office
Washington, D.C.--In 2008, candidate Barack Obama promised "Joe the Plumber" that a President Obama would not raise taxes on households making less than $250,ooo a year.But just over a year into the Obama Presidency, Joe's Plumbing service found that the White House communications office is "full of poo poo" after President Obama said he was "agnostic" on whether that promise should be kept.
Joe's Plumbing Service Finds Loads of Unpleasantness in White House Communications Office
Washington, D.C.--In 2008, candidate Barack Obama promised "Joe the Plumber" that a President Obama would not raise taxes on households making less than $250,ooo a year.But just over a year into the Obama Presidency, Joe's Plumbing service found that the White House communications office is "full of poo poo" after President Obama said he was "agnostic" on whether that promise should be kept.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Friday, February 12, 2010
Ruler-hair-scissors :: V-Day giftie from MK
Yesterday, I asked MK what she wanted to do for Valentine's Day.
She said she wanted to cut off her hair...
...and give it away.
It was getting to be a pretty good crop after a couple of years.
When she was 7 years old, this is what she set out to do after all.
Warmer weather is coming soon.
Okay, that sealed it.
We checked out different places to make a donation and decided on either Locks of Love or Beautiful Lengths.
Today, I armed myself with "a" pair of scissors
and started chopping.
MK was so excited!
This is about where my trusty hair scissors broke.
So, Mikey found "b" pair of hair scissors so I could finish the job.
11 inches!
MK liked how the cut end felt--so thick, nice, and very soft.
For a second there, I started wondering how many excellent make up brushes this thatch could make. Oh, never mind. (I think they would be divine though...)
A thoughtful donation from a 9 year old.
A new 'do!
A sweet girl giving away a bit o' love!
She said she wanted to cut off her hair...
...and give it away.
It was getting to be a pretty good crop after a couple of years.
When she was 7 years old, this is what she set out to do after all.
Warmer weather is coming soon.
Okay, that sealed it.
We checked out different places to make a donation and decided on either Locks of Love or Beautiful Lengths.
Today, I armed myself with "a" pair of scissors
and started chopping.
MK was so excited!
This is about where my trusty hair scissors broke.
So, Mikey found "b" pair of hair scissors so I could finish the job.
11 inches!
MK liked how the cut end felt--so thick, nice, and very soft.
For a second there, I started wondering how many excellent make up brushes this thatch could make. Oh, never mind. (I think they would be divine though...)
A thoughtful donation from a 9 year old.
A new 'do!
A sweet girl giving away a bit o' love!
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