June 12, 2009
My friend, Jack Walkey, is very concerned and frustrated with what Obama is doing with our country. A friend of his, Dick Austin shares this concern and recently sent the following to Jack."Most news organizations did not even report on the 17 Chinese muslim radicals that are to be sent to the tiny island nation of Palau (pop. 20,000) who will then receive $200 million of the tax payers' money in the form of foreign aid over the next ten years. This works out to a cost of $11,764,705 per inmate. This leaves about 220 inmates at Gitmo, and if we can work out similar bargains with other countries for these folks, we can cure the problem of the remaining "detainees" for just about $2.6 TRILLION. The native population of Palau is delighted with this deal, as it will result in about $10,000 for every man, woman and child there.
"I have been saying that we have been on a high speed train to total insanity. Guess what? We have arrived."
May 19, 2009
I read an interesting article in the May 16th Wall Street Journal this week titled, “Expensing It, the U.S. Way.” It was a companion article to one on the scandal in the UK about their Parliament using public funds for personal expenses. It stated, “In the U.S. Lawmakers can't claim expenses for keeping a second home but they do get some allowances. Members of the House of Representatives do get allowances of between $1.3 million and $1.9million a year to cover other official costs, mostly staff salaries, office expenses and business travel. Senators get between $2.3 million and $3.7 million.” (Should be enough.)“Limited details are published about these expenses claims. Unlike Parliament, Congress isn't subject to freedom-of-information requiements, and receipts are only available for inspection if the member consents.
“Other taxpayer-funded perks on Capital Hill include gyms for members and their staffers, and an extensive collection of furniture for their use. Senators are also allowed to spend up to $40,000 from their expense accounts to furnish their state offices.
“One way members of Congress can avail themselves of lavish taxpayer expenses is for trips overseaas that ostensively have educational or diplomatic purpose. Family members can accompany senators and representatives on the aircraft as long as they pay for their own meals and lodging.
“Last year, a dozen lawmakers went to New Zealand and the Galapagos Islands on a luxury jet provided by the military. The trip was organized by Rep. Brian Baird, a Democrat from Washington. Mr. Baird said in a press release that the jaunt was an educational trip for lawmakers to study global warming.” (wink, wink, nudge, nudge)
“The cost to the taxpayer according to figures in the Congressional Record: $140,000, excluding the cost of the military plane, which wasn't disclod\sed.”
Can you imagine private industry getting away with that?
March 17, 2009
Can you imagine me trying to teach HTML?January 22, 2009
I've taken a few pages off the menu because they are out-of-date and are no longer of interest (if they ever were). I'm hoping to add a couple of journeys this year. Other than that I'll just continue to update books and movies (exciting, huh?)September 7, 2008
Today is Julie's birthday and we (the family) had a surprise party for her at BHGC with about 50 friends from NH and Duxbury and she was completely surprised. This is what I had to say:Time for a few words. In order for you to understand my remarks I have not had a drink. No man has greater love than this.
A couple weeks ago Jules and I were at a 70th birthday party.
Julie turned to me and said,
"You don?t have to do this for me."
I laughed heartily and said, "That's a relief."
Actually I do this regularly, about every thirty years. (display banner) The folks from Duxbury were there.
While navigating here, I was trying to think of things to say.
It should be easy, I?ve been with her for 48 out of her 70 years.
Actually , Julie says we met earlier at my fraternity bar after a football game.
Julie remembers clearly, my memory is less clear.
Actually it was less clear the next day.
The problem I have with thinking up things to say is with each new thought I forget the preceding one.
Probably lucky for you.
Julie?s memory is good, well?
Let me explain.
She won?t let me drive. Let me amend that. She?ll let me drive as long as she?s not in the car.
I don?t want to think about that too long.
My job in the car is to navigate.
A heavy responsibility when on a trip. I have a full complement of AAA maps, a GPS and I stay awake, mostly.
This is reasonable on a long trip but I also find I have to do it around town.
One or two of you may have had the experience of entering a room and then trying to figure out why.
Julie gets in the car, leaves the driveway and then has to figure out why.
We fill in each other?s blanks in memory.
Another responsibility I have as passenger is to keep my eye on the road.
Julie likes to look about and not miss anything.
Often she?ll remark to me, ?did you see that??
Uh, no, I was watching the road. This was kind of exciting while driving through Wyoming.
The other day Julie was looking through the window, not the windshield, the side window.
You know how you tend to veer in the direction you?re looking?
She sensed a bit of panic in my voice when I said, ?Jules.?
She faced forward and looked at the grill of an approaching Mack truck. She recovered quickly.
Julie?s energy amazes me.
Of course you have to consider my point of view, I have to have a burst of energy and an adrenalin rush just to
go downstairs.
It?s only relatively recently that she uses the pull cart instead of carrying her bag. She?ll carry if she?s
laying less than nine.
The other day we were convinced to go see Mamma Mia with our good friends Dick an Nan Reycroft.
After the movie during which Julie was dancing in her seat, Dick gave us a CD of the sound-tract. (play music)
My navigational skills were tested as Julie sang and danced all the way home. While driving.
At home she puts it on, turns up the volume and dances from room to room trying to figure out why she was in the room.
She?s my Dancing Queen.
The responses to my email invitation were unanimous, "I wouldn?t miss it!"
Thanks for coming, particularly the gang from Duxbury, it's great to see you.
Raise your glass to toast the birthday girl. Now for the rebuttal.