Duplicity? I'd say so. How about you?

Insights into potential Democrat candidate for USofA Presidency, Baraka ("Blessed" from Koran) Hussein (From Muhammad's son, Hussein Ibn Ali) Obama (Muslim father from Kenya). In Arab culture and under Islamic law, if your father is a Muslim, so are you. And once a Muslim, always a Muslim.

Obama speaks regularly and without hesitation of the UTILITY of religious values "for America" (odd cultural constructionist line?)

Journalism's Lost Ethics

In 1922, editors of all of the major newspapers in the country met in Washington D.C. to establish a universal code of ethics. These executives owed their livelihood to the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America which prohibits Congress from making any law that would abridge the freedom of speech or of the press. Even so, they didn’t see freedom of the press — the freedom of their own industry — as an absolute right. At the time, people still had the common sense to know individual rights, of people and organizations, are relative to the rights of others, have limits, and come with obligations. They also were convinced that the responsibility for regulation of their industry (the limiting of their freedom, so to speak) was their own responsibility, and not primarily of the government. They wanted self-regulation, not government interference, to be the standard bearer for journalistic ethics. With this common goal, they established the “Canons of Journalism” — rules for sincerity, truthfulness, accuracy, impartiality, fair play and decency.

Fifty years later, with the genesis of new media, including tabloid journalism, members of the American Association of Newspaper Editors revised the Canons of Journalism written by their predecessors and renamed it a “Statement of Principles.” Much of the content in the new document reflects the original canons of 1922, but there are three glaring changes which, I believe, reflect the beginning of the environment of moral anarchy in which the media now swim:

1) The 1922 canon on “Fair Play” declared, “A newspaper should not invade private rights or feelings without sure warrant of public right as distinguished from public curiosity.”
• In the revised 1975 standards this entire sentence is removed (Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan?)

2) The 1922 canon on “Sincerity, Truthfulness, & Accuracy” stated, “Headlines should be fully warranted by the contents of the articles which they surmount.”
• No standard for headlines is given in the 1975 version, and the standard of “sincerity” is omitted completely.

3) The 1922 canon on “Decency” said, “A newspaper cannot escape conviction of insincerity if while professing high moral purpose it supplies incentives to base conduct, such as are to be found in details of crime and vice, publication of which is not demonstrably for the general good...” • In the 1975 articles, there is no mention of a standard for “decency.”

With the collapse of philosophical foundations, these changes of 1975 should not surprise us. Nor should the changes we see today and the ones we may see in the near future, to the point of a complete abolition of journalistic and media ethics. If as a society we reject our natural sense of right and wrong, we end up all speaking different languages and abandoning the possibility of saying anything is objectively better than anything else.

But we can alter this negative trend. I believe a look back at the long tradition of Western ethics, in particular, the respect for the dignity of the human person and the responsibility of government, industry, and the individual to seek the “common good” of society are the pillars for reestablishing a universal ethical code for the media, and in particular for the world of news.

Thanks to "Mike" for the above information which he found on FoxNews dot com.

Democracy is followed by . . .

"A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largess of the public treasury. From that time on the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury, with the results that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship."

--Sir Alex Fraser Tytler

Appalachian Trail Shake Down Hike

I'm in Damascus, VA, where the Library lets hikers get online for an hour at a time and for free. I've learned a lot about lightening the load on my back. I've also purchased some new, lighter equipment.

But that's not all. I also know what exercises I need to work on to get into shape for a Thru Hike next year and how many "personal" pounds I hope to lose between now and then.

I'm toying with starting somewhere North of Georgia, hiking to Katahdin and then hiking South from where ever I start. Traditionally it's a No-Bo (NorthBound from Springer Mountain, Georgia to Katahdin in Baxter State Park in Maine) or a So-Bo (just the opposite). Never, since I've been retired, have I been one for "tradition." I was rarely one for traditions when I was employed. Truth be told.

Suggestions of where I should start my Thru Hike?

More on the shake down hike later. My hour at the Damascus Library is nearly up.

Not Guest Worker! What about Tourist Visa?

The latest letter sent to Sen. Saxby Chambliss of Georgia. Up for re-election in 2008, too.


Senator:

Here's another thought, since I'm full of them (laughter okay).

The "skilled worker" immigrant issue is a smoke screen -- I think you reduced that to 200,000?

What about having everyone who wants to enter the USofA, unless as described below, be able to obtain a 3-month TOURIST VISA in exchange for a mouth swab for DNA, finger-prints, eye-print, and photo? (All placed in the FBI and CIA data base to be compared with criminals arrested for anything from misdemeanor to murder to working illegally as a tourist.

The 3-month VISA must be renewed and the person and his/her family can VISIT the USofA as Tourists only. No employment, No Medicaid, No Anchor Babies.

The SECOND set of Tourist Visas will be a "Tourist to Guest Worker Visa," also a 3-month Visa. What this is entails is the same swabbing, fingerprinting (of all household members), photographing, but allows the Tourist to Guest Worker to locate employment and an employer who will vouch for him. The employer MUST provide a) wages equal to or greater than minimum wage; b) access to health insurance for the entire family; and c) $500 for the Guest to Worker adult(s), $250 for a spouse who will not be employed during the Guest to Worker stay in the USofA, and $250 for each child in the household. The Head of Household MUST VERIFY legal marriage with a certified copy of a marriage certificate (translated into English). The income from the employer will be placed in a Federal Account and rationed to the 50 States at the end of each fiscal year based on the number of Guest to Worker Visa holders employed. The States will be mandated to use it to provide Medicaid and CHIPs in their State.

This SECOND group will be eligible for Medicaid for pregnant spouse and Medicaid for children who qualify or for the Children's HealthCare Initiative (WHICH NEEDS FULL FUNDING! Yes, I'm yelling.)

So we've got a huge data base of DNA, fingerprints, photos. Background checks can be completed on all Tourist Visa and Tourist to Guest Worker Visa.

What does the "Immigrant" have to do? He must report where and who he stays with while he's here on his 3 month Tourist Visa, every 30 days. (Computers can be set up in Libraries and various State and Federal Agencies for this "self reporting."

Penalities? Failure to provide information (even "no change") every 30 days will result in immediate deportation and subsequent barring from entry back into the USofA. A Tourist who is discovered employed in the USofA or a woman who has a baby while in the USofA will forfeit their Tourist Visa and the baby will NOT become an Anchor Baby, but will have the same citizenship as the Mother.

How to check? At first, it may be difficult as programmers enter data into the data base. But once the DNA and fingerprints AND TOURIST ID NUMBER are in the Data Base, anyone from Traffic Policeman to Potential Employer (through employment service) can access the Data Base to verify status. A Tourist will be reported immediately with current address, etc. A Tourist to Worker can be verified as employable.

Yes, the idea needs some work. But what about hashing it out with other Senators?

Thanks for reading my email.

Retired
http://auntiecoosa.blogspot.com

Another open letter to the Senate of the USofA

Senator:

1. I understand that Senate leaders are working on a back-room deal that will bring the Amnesty bill back for a vote in exchange for consideration on certain amendments.

2. I oppose this "Amendments for Amnesty" deal.

3. If you support this deal, then you will forever be listed as a supporter of amnesty.

4. The American people have spoken in opposition to this amnesty bill. I urge you to oppose this deal and the bill.

5. Build the Fence now! Start on it today and without delay. Fund it completely and include video monitoring.

6. Show that you are serious about representing the American Public by building the fence, supporting the Immigration Bill of 1986 and funding it, and obtaining a pardon for Border Agents Ramos and Compean!

7. We the People of the United States of America want unlawful "breaking, entering and looting" by illegal alien-immigrants stopped immediately. Send unlawful, undocumented immigrants back to their homeland. Send those who have overstayed their VISAs back to their homeland. Stop the looting of USofA resources by non-US Citizens and non-"green card" lawful immigrants.

8. Crime will decrease once the 12 to 21 Million undocuemted, unlawful immigrants are returned to where they came from. Drug smuggling into the USofA will decrease once the 12 to 21 Million unlawful, illegal, undocumented immigrants are returned to where they came from.

9. We the People of the United States of America have forebears who stayed on Ellis Island for 3 or more months before they were allowed to enter the USofA. Those who have unlawfully entered the USofA have not been screened for diseases or had a background check. They have broken into Casa USofA and are slowing stealing her resources (30% of HUD housing goes to undocumented alien-immigrants, illegals deplete the Hill-Burton Funds at hospitals to the detriment of US Citizens) and siphoning off her money (the #! import to Mexico is US Dollars).

10. The USofA is a sovereign nation. We the People of the United States of America do not want to be part of a "North American Union." We wish to remain free and independent. My forebears did not fight againts the British Crown in 1776 to be handed over to Mexico in 2007. No super-highway through the USofA.

11. You want a "plan?" Then give ALL undocumented unlawful immigrants "Tourist Visas" at the Borders in exchange for swabs for DNA, fingerprints, and photos, all of which will go into a Nationwide Data Base. Pass an amendment which states that babies born in the USofA to tourists (Tourist Visa current or expired) are not USofA Citizens but are citizens of the Country listed on their mother's Visa. And no person in the USofA on a Tourist Visa can legally work in the USofA. They'll have to submit paperwork for a "green card" if they wish to seek employment in the USofA. Spot checks on employers can be conducted randomly and across the USofA. Set up penalties for both "Tourist" and employer.

12. Think about the plan above. Think long and hard.

Thank you for reading my email, even if it upsets you.

Retired
http://auntiecoosa.blogspot.com

Moochers

What or who makes your hair on the back of your neck rise like a dog ready for battle? What or who makes your eyes narrow, as if ready for conflict?

Hostility: Who, What, When, Where?

Been thinking of this due to a few situations familiar to me. And the situations have a lot in common.

FIRST: Unlawful immigration moochers from Mexico and other parts of the earth. They are looters who have unlawfully broken into Casa USofA and set up a squatter's rights sub-culture. They are defended by leftist-Marxists everywhere on earth. Right now, this includes support coming from the White House! They want to split Casa USofA; their motto "divide and conquer." And there are some people who would accommodate them, giving them Mexifornia, Mexizonia, New Meximexico and Mexas.

The Bush-Kennedy immigration amnesty bill is failing in the Senate. Now, "We the People" need to come up with a workable proposal. Many have been aired on talk-radio and on various television news shows. They all start with "ENFORCE THE EXISTING IMMIGRATION LAWS" and "BUILD THE FENCE FIRST." Why are Bush, Kennedy and a lot of Senators and Representatives playing footsie with unlawful immigrants? It's not for a few "grape and lettuce picker migrant workers" or "landscape migrants." Bush and Kennedy and a number of Congresspeople who were elected by USofAmerica Citizens have a "North American Union Agenda" to open up all borders to anyone who wants to enter the USofA. Terrorists included. Illegal Drug Runners included.

Did you hear or read how many USofA resources are being siphoned away from USofA Citizens to UNLAWFUL alien-immigrants? It's unconscionable. It's a travesty of justice. It is totally UN-American -- UN-USofA-American!

Congress must mandate that law enforcement in any USofA State arrest all unlawful, undocumented alien-immigrants in their area and turn them over to Homeland Security who will remove from the USofA the unlawful, undocumented alien-immigrant and return them, along with all family members here unlawfully and all children, whether "anchor-baby" or not, up to age 21, to their home Country within 10 days of being turned over to Homeland Security. The unlawful alien-immigrants will be swabbed, photographed, finger-printed and given a "you (list everyone in household, gender, date of birth) may apply for US Citizenship through your Country of origin when your youngest anchor baby is age 21 (with future date listed)." This lamminated card will spead up the legal immigration process when presented for Legal Immigration as the aforesaid fingerprints and DNA from the swabs can be run through NCIS and other governmental systems to determine if the person or persons applying for US Citizenship have committed any crimes which would deny them entrance to the USofA.

Congress must mandate that Homeland Security work with Border Agents to remove all Southern Border Agents who are family members or close friends with known drug-runners or coyotes who cross the Southern USofA border (with drugs or with persons who have no valid passport). The Border Agents removed for familiarity with drug-lords or coyotes can be offered positions at our Northern Border or an Airport or Port at least 500 miles from our Southern border. Border Agents Compean and Ramos must be pardoned by Congress, reinstated to their jobs, paid lost wages and all Court costs through the Texas District Attorney's office. And Johnny Sutton must be mandated to write appologies to both Border Agents.

Congress must mandate that Homeland Security conduct huge sweeps of areas known to harbor unlawful/illegal alien-immigrants, not just Mexicans. These unlawful immigrants must be swabbed, photographed, finger-printed, and returned to their Country of origin. Their identifying information will be kept on file indefinitely and used by law-enforcement from any State on an as needed basis. For instance, there are areas near Atlanta, GA, where Asian gangs rule. There are other known areas of the USofA where Asian, South American, and other gangs have overpowered the local law enforcement agency and rule.

Congress must mandate that every USofA Citizen obtain a Valid PassPort by the year 2010.

SECOND: Moochers and looters of other people's kindness and generosity. Most of this type personality are Leftist-Marxists. (So far no one who fits this description is serving in the White House. But there's a one in three chance that one will be running in the 2008 Presidential election. Democrats have a choice among a Saul Alinski trained Marxist, a black-separatist, and an ambulance chaser.)

Being generous can be a curse at times.

Moochers take many forms, but I have noticed a trend:

• 1-Moochers play the "victim card" and turn on the tears if body language or verbal responses are not to their liking.


• 2- Moochers play on the generousity of others but never repay that generousity in-kind.


• 3- Moochers have a sad tale which always ends with their hands out waiting for a reward. What they fail to tell is how your financial help will further their ultimate agenda.


• 4- Moochers mooch off of other people's popularity by becoming "sudden friends" with them.


• 5- Moochers posture for a position at the top of the heap, even if it means elaborating and spreading gossip so that they can appear to be "the first to know and spread the (false) news."


• 6- Moochers feed off the lime-light. They are always "on stage" acting their part as "victim (moocher)." And if the lime-light drifts away from them, they'll act out however they have to, pulling no stops, to bring that lime-light back to them.


• 7-Moochers refuse to allow persons with greater talents dominate any discussion. Typical tactic of moochers is suddenly to bring up an unrelated topic in order to focus attention on themselves and their physical and/or mental disabilities.


• 8- Moochers are negative personalities.


• 9- Moochers drain energy from others, which is why they have no close friends, only distant acquaintances.


• 10- The most anoying trait: Moochers don't know when to shut up and go home.

THIRD: Stalkers annoy me no end. I am not afraid of them because the law is on my side. Let me quote from an email I received the other day:

Beware Dooms Days are coming,June,10,thru the 16th of June, roflomao

Needless to say, I'm reporting this to my local Sheriff's Office so that they can watch my house for any activity by this stalker. And, yes, I'll be taking other precautions available to me.

So, there you go. Three situations which raise the hair on the back of my neck.

Another Letter to a few Senators

Senator:

As I have written previously, I am very concerned about the current Immigration Bill being rushed through the approval process and the pressure placed on Republican and Democrat Senators to agree to it "in principle."

This current attempt at an Immigration Bill is not the answer to the unlawful immigrant problems of the USofA. And the Bill's supporters know this very well, which is why they have worked so hard to obtain your support of said bill.

First of all, the B-1 US Visa is for educated persons who will contribute to the general welfare of the USofA. This Visa would rarely if ever be used by the 12 to 21 Million unlawful immigrants currently in the USofA with pouring through our "open" borders every day. We can accept educated legal immigrants if we screen them to be sure they don't have a hidden agenda, such as plans to fly planes into tall buildings, bombing US Military facilities, bombing underwater train tunnels, or igniting airplane fuel in airport storage tanks. This "change" in the Immigration Bill was nothing but a smoke screen.

Secondly, how is Congress planning to fund the Immigration Bill presented to the Senate? Where will the money for more border patrol agents come from? Have you asked why the current USofA border laws, regulations and rules are not being rigorously enforced and why suddenly the supporters of the newest Immigration Bill are claiming that the new laws will be? How can we trust our own Government when current laws already on the books are ignored by the very people who are supposed to be enforcing them? Terrorists fly into our airports and whiz through Customs as if they were VIPs. Transfer trucks are driven across our border with Mexico and waved on by without checking the manifesto or the cargo.

IF the Federal Government is going to be enforcing any border regulations at all, why are Ramos and Compean still in jail? They were enforcing the law, but politics between Pres. George W Bush and former Pres. Vincente Fox were more important than enforcing the laws of this land!!!

Thirdly, if you want the USofA to exist as a sovereign nation, then anything which hinders that must be addressed and terminated immediately. Immigration reform must enhance national security, promote economic growth, and protect freedom and liberty. The Kennedy sponsored Immigration Bill falls short of those requirements. The downfall of Europe has been the European Union. There is declining patriotism in Europe. There is declining pride in nationality. The USofA does not and should not belong in a "Union of the Americas." The superhighway from Mexico through the USofA to Canada is a huge step in destroying the USofA. Democracy and individualism made this Country great and lawful immigration is a part of that greatness.

The style of unlawful immigration we currently have is not at all like the immigration into the USofA up to the closing of Ellis Island. The unlawful immigrants today are not screened at the border, their health is not checked, and for the most part, they have no jobs to go to in the USofA. The claim is that unlawful immigrants sneak into the USofA to enjoy the freedoms and liberties and "free" health care and education for their children which are offered here. This is dishonest at worst and misunderstood agenda at best. Why does Congress call it a "USofA freedom" to cause cities and towns to spend more of their legally obtained revenues to support a "sub-nation" of unlawful persons within the USofA? Why is over one-third of HUD housing allotments going to unlawful immigrants instead of 100% of HUD allotments going to US Citizens? Why are colleges giving grants and scholarships to unlawful immigrants and denying same to qualified US Citizen-students?

Something is vitally, dreadfully wrong in the USofA today: it is the parasitic draining of USofA resources, finances, and goodwill by a huge host of unlawful immigrants. This has to stop and it must stop now. The "good life" is being drained from the USofA by the very persons who say they enter unlawfully in order to obtain it.

Every year 1.4 million immigrants enter the USofA legally. There has been no talk of terminating legal immigration while the 12 to 21 million unlawful immigrants are "assimilated" into USofA culture over the next 12 to 21 years.

The farmers claim they need the migrants. They could pay better wages and include a benefits package and hire US Citizens who might know not to contaminate the fruit or vegetable they're picking with e. coli. Construction companies claim they need immigrant workers. Why don't they pay "an honest day's wage" and include a benefits package and hire US Citizens? Unlawful immigrants are hired to keep costs down and profits up. The bottom line is "money."

And, Senator, the bottom line in the current Immigrantion Bill is also Money. Who's getting it? Who's paying it? Who's benefiting the most from it?

Senator, Follow The Money! This Bill is being pushed on Congress and on the American Public too fast. And that, sir, causes me to wonder why.

As a Senator representing your District and the entire USofA Citizenry, it behooves you to find out why so that you do not continue the Federal Governments policy of chipping away at USofAmerica's freedoms.

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity....

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. [So help me God.]

When you were elected, you took that oath of office to protect and defend the Constitution. This is what you are ordained to guard and champion with your very life, if necessary. And if you cannot offer your life, it's time to step down from office and allow someone willing to sacrifice all to replace you.

Thank you,
s/s
Retired

Open Letter to the Senate of the USofA

CSPAN 2 had some Senators discussing Crimes Against Unlawful Immigrants. Here is my response:

Senator:

No crimes against unlawfully entered persons in the USofA would occur in the USofA if they were not living in the USofA illegally. Law breakers rights include swift judicial decisions and anyone without a passport, green-card or proof of birth in the USofA (or Territories) who is currently in the USofA is a lawbreaker!

The first crime is breaking into Casa USofA in the first place. If a person has no passport or legal proof that he should be in the USofA, then he's a burglar and a thief. He should be prosecuted AT THE BORDER of breaking (the laws of the USofA) and entering (unlawfully and illegally) and stealing resources belonging to citizens of the USofA.

You want to solve the ENTIRE situation? Pass legislation that EVERYONE in the USofA, including US Citizens, procure a PASSPORT from their Country of Birth by the end of 2008.

That way, when a person goes to the hospital or clinic, all she has to do is show her Passport and her child's passport. PROBLEM SOLVED.

Traffic stops would include proof of current Passport which could be double checked by a computer scan.

Congress would not be muddled in this amnesty-of-burglars-and-theives if they had done their jobs correctly after the Amnesty of August 26, 1996.

Senator, I don't care what your last name is or if you can speak American-English correctly or if you 'look' like a Middle Easterner or a mestizo, but if you are in the USofA unlawfully, you have broken the first Law of the Land, and you are guilty and should be sent back to where ever you came from and told to apply for entry into the USofA legally and lawfully.

No Amnesty. No "quickie" US Citizenship. Unlawfuls are criminals by their own choice of breaking into Casa USofA.

Senator, "We the People of the United States of America" say: The Casa USofA is CLOSED to amnesty as of August 26, 1996!!!

signed by me
Retired

Political comments and losing our Free Speech Rights

One and All:

No computer yet, so I'm not able to be as active in politics (NO AMNESTY) as I'd like, although I have sent a few emails to Senators involved in the "let's push this immigration bill through before people realize the cost bill."

FACT: 49% of the 12 to 21 Million UNLAWFULS do not have a high school diploma.
FACT: 14% of all LAWFULS do not have a high school diploma.
FACT: 9% of United States Citizens do not have a high school diploma.

You can look at that number and assess that 6 to 10.5 MILLION people who have broken into "Casa USofA" (aka ILLEGALS) will cost the USofA and the States into the hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars, in Welfare Costs alone during their lifetimes.

UNLAWFULS are depleting Hill-Burton Funds at Public Hospitals faster than any other low-income group. (Check it out.) In some States, UNLAWFULS have pre-empted low cost housing and college scholarships because of "diversity" -- which I do not protest if it is a GREEN-CARD IMMIGRANT who is getting the benefits. However, when UNLAWFULS take benefits away from US Citizens, it's time to say "NO AMNESTY" and "UNLAWFUL: GO HOME and Apply like an Honest Person!"

Crime has increased all across the USofA. In my County in Georgia, DUIs and Drug Arrests involve a disproportionate number of UNLAWFULS.

This "immigration bill" is a SHAM and should be protested. Congress wants it passed WHILE THEY ARE STILL WRITING IT! Once passed, Congress can re-write and add to it however they want. And that is a VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION! THIS MUST NOT BE TOLERATED! Congress serves the Citizens of the USofA, not Mexico or Canada or any other Country!

ADDITIONALLY: Congresswoman Pelosi wants to redefine the term "lobbyist" so that your and my free speech rights are constricted. She wants to legislate the death of the First Ammendment. And if she's successful, you can bet she'll go after our Second Amendment rights, too.

Go check it out if you doubt me.

Ampersand

1- Still no computer access. I've got other things to keep me busy, so I'm not sitting at the Library (or here at a friend's) all day long. I don't really have any "computer withdrawal symptoms" and find it refreshingly freeing not to be sitting in front of the computer most of the day.

2- Being free of the computer, I read a novel this week. (I prefer historical novels as this one was and it's not here, so I don't recall title or author.)

3- No sign of the lost purse.

4- Have been doing a lot of sorting and have a few items to take to a local Thrift Store.

5- Am nearly ready to pack my backpack for my "AT shakedown hike" next month.

6- The only "problem" of not having the computer is that I can't be actively involved in politics as I was. But I'll make up for it as soon as my brother "fixes" the malware problem.

7- The dogs and cat like my constant availability since I'm computer-free. I took the dogs to the dog-walk (we're one of the few small counties with a dog trail) and will take them again later this week.

Life is good. Hope you're enjoying yours.

Wal-Mart

Maybe with this information you'll understand why I am so adamantly anti-Wal-Mart.

• 1. At Wal-Mart, Americans spend $36,000,000 every hour of every day.


• 2. This works out to $20,928 profit every minute!


• 3. Wal-Mart will sell more from January 1 to St. Patrick's Day (March 17th) than Target sells all year.


• 4. Wal-Mart is bigger than Home Depot + Kroger + Target + Sears + Costco + K-Mart combined.


• 5. Wal-Mart employs 1.6 million people and is the largest private employer.


• 6. Wal-Mart is the largest company in the history of the World.


• 7. Wal-Mart now sells more food than Kroger & Safeway combined, and keep in mind they did this in only 15 years.


• 8. During this same period, 31 Supermarket chains sought bankruptcy (including Winn-Dixie).


• 9. Wal-Mart now sells more food than any other store in the world.


• 10. Wal-Mart has approximately 3,900 stores in the USA of which 1,906 are SuperCenters; -- 1,000 more than it had 5 years ago.


• 11. This year, 7.2 billion different purchasing experiences will occur at a Wal-Mart store. (Earth's population was approximately 6.5 billion shortly after noon today).


• 12. 90% of Americans live within 15 miles of a Wal-Mart.

Do you see something wrong with this picture? This is a monopoly. The Congress split up AT&T which was one of the dumbest things in a list of dumb things Congress has done in over 200 years, yet they turn their heads when it comes to Wal-Mart. Considering the overall income for Wal-Mart, they reportedly give a paltry sum to political parties. Even the Walton sons give a small percentage politically.

So my question is: Where does all of Wal-Mart's money go?

No word about the fannypack/purse

So far no one's contacted me or mailed back my fannypack that I lost in Bristol, VA. I'm still hoping as some items, including the fannypack, are irreplaceable.

Got my charge cards, driver's license, health insurance card and some of my store-id cards. Still have a more agencies to call to obtain their cards.

My Fox 40 whistle was in the purse. As were my two Rosaries. I really want them back as they're hard to replace. And photos, business cards and the like, in my wallet.

Dang. It probably won't ever happen to me again, though!

Lesson learned.

My hard drive has malware and my brother is working on it. I don't have computer access but a few times a week and then, usually, for a short time, like half hour. Today longer.

I'm watching AMC and the Bruce Lee Story. I'm a big fan of Jeet Kun Do and Bruce Lee, if you've not read much of my blog.

LOST - Oh, yeah, LOST - PURSE!

Driving home from my parents' I got gas in Bristol, VA, Exit 5. I got a drink and candy (don't tell my Mom), got in the car and took off. As I turned into the entrance to I-81 South, I heard a clunk and wondered what I ran over. Then someone yelled at me that I dropped something. I stopped the car, walked around it and then it hit me.

I had put my fannypack-purse on top of the car. By the time I got back to the intersection it was gone.

I called 911 - Of course, when you're in Bristol -- you call 911 and you get Bristol, VA, Bristol, TN, and Washington County and who knows what. So an hour later, I flag down a city policeman and give him my particulars.

I had already called my charge card and bank. Now, I must replace insurance cards, all those 'store member upc' cards. And my driver license. What an inconvenience.

One thing I did not do was melt into victimhood and cry, expecting someone to 'save' my arse. I totally detest worthless weak wimpy weeping women who manipulate with tears, expecting someone with a generous heart to come to their rescue. Women who manipulate give the rest of us a bad name. Especially if they're blondes.

Was it stupid? NAH -- blonde and carefree? Nope, blonde and careLESS. I've 'known' I was going to do this some time, but I never expected it to be NOW. I know stuff happens for a reason, so I'm waiting for my reason and hoping an honest person has found my fanny pack and will mail it back to me. Even if they keep the $50 my Dad gave me for gasoline.

Then I go to put an AD in the local Bristol Paper and it's going to cost me nearly $200 for ten days -- oops, I've cancelled that one. Will retry with a four day or weekend only ad tomorrow.

Yes, I'm blonde, retired, and need to pay more attention to detail.

Lesson Learned!

Tokyo Rose "act alikes"

The Democrat Party has turned into Tokyo Rose -- the sultry voiced radio announcer based in Japan who tried to convince our WWII soldiers that Japan had won the war and the USofA should just give up. Well, sounds like Harry "Tokyo" Reid and Nancy "Tokyo" Pelosi are doing a fine rendition of the "Tokyo Rose" two-step. (Two steps back and no steps forward.)

"Congressmen who willfully take actions during wartime that damage morale and undermine the military should be arrested, exiled, or hanged."

President Abraham Lincoln

March 4, 1837 - Andrew Jackson Quote

"You have no longer any cause to fear danger from abroad . . .. It is from within, among yourselves -- from cupidity, from corruption, from disappointed ambition and inordinant thirst for power -- that factions will be formed and liberty endangered. It is against such designs, whatever disguise the actors may assume, that you have especially to guard yourselves."

Andrew Jackson, Farewell Address, March 4, 1837

Why we do not want socialized medicine!

Staff at publicly funded Mater Hospital in Dublin, Ireland, certified the death of a disabled man in his 30s. Morgue officials found him awake and alert in his bed when they arrived hours later to collect the body.

Last year publicly funded Beaumont Hospital in Dublin, Ireland, shipped the body of a dead English tourist back to England and stitched up a bag of somebody elses organs inside his body cavity.

This is what happens when a country has "socialized medicine." Do you think citizens in the USofA are willing to call this type of regularly occurring incident as "collateral damage?"

No matter how lovely a candidate for office tries to sugar coat 'government funded health care' there will be preventable deaths, misdiagnoses, lack of medical supplies, strikes by medical employees, and the like which they will not discuss. The government will run health care with the same 'expertise' as they've run the Postal Service. Anything the Federal Government has touched has turned into complete and total over-priced chaos.

I raised my children with Mr Robitussin(r) and Mr Triaminic(r). Others can too. A person without medical coverage is a lot more careful than a person with a 'Medicaid Card' who can run to the Emergency Room every time her child's nose drips.

If you wish to make a suggestion to your favorite candidate and your Congressperson, suggest "Partially-Government Funded Neighborhood Clinics" where local USofA citizen-residents, adults as well as children, can go for acute medical care. They'll pay a fee based on last year's Federal Income Tax adjusted gross income. Citizenship will be established by Passport or certified birth certificate. Unlawful immigrants would be referred to HS/INS who will have an expedited plan to return them to their native country.

Remember: The USofA is not the hospital or doctor's office of the world!

10 Easy Steps to Destroy America

From The Guardian:

From Hitler to Pinochet and beyond, history shows there are certain steps that any would-be dictator must take to destroy constitutional freedoms.
1. Invoke a terrifying internal and external enemy
2. Create a gulag
3. Develop a thug caste
4. Set up an internal surveillance system
5. Harass citizens' groups
6. Engage in arbitrary detention and release
7. Target key individuals
8. Control the press
9. Dissent equals treason
10. Suspend the rule of law

This article was written from a leftist or liberal point of view and is quite revealing. #1 - The liberals would say one name for both: "Bush." #2 - North Vietnam after Jane Fonda's visit or Taliban & Al Qaida after Harry Reid's "lost war" remark. #3 - Isn't that what "Code Pink" and "P.E.T.A." and Cindy Shehan and Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton and John Kerry and Al Gore are? #4 - Every liberal Congressperson qualifies here. #5 - The ACLU, Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Al Gore. #6 - Liberal Judges creating law instead of upholding it. #7 - And just how many Republicans have Liberals sacrificed at their altar of socialism? #8 - I laugh! Everyone, including the press, knows that the press is controlled by left leaning liberals. #9 - For Liberals, dissent of their agenda equals euthanasia, if they had the power to use it. And for one Senator in particular, strange death reports seem to follow her around. #10 - If the Leftists could suspend the rule of law, they would place socialism or communism in its place faster than you can say Karl Marx.

Anyone else have some comments to share?

The Benedict Arnold of 2007

Harry Reid is akin to Benedict Arnold. He gives comfort and aid to the Terrorists. He emboldens the Taliban and al Qaida to stand strong until the Democrats remove the USofA presence from Iraq and the Middle East. When the USofA leaves, the Terrorists will take over and slaughter Iraqis who were helped by the USofA. Duncan Hunter thinks it's time for Harry Reid to recuse himself from the Senate and give up his seat to a Patriot. Even Benedict Arnold knew when to move to Canada.

There's language and then there's Bad language

Okay, time to speak out. If the two reverend's, Jackson and Sharpton, are going to pounce on Imus for his bad language, as described by them, then they better look to their own 'house' and to the 'rap' and 'angry' words that disguise themselves as 'music' in the Black Afro-African-American genre.

Someone who claims to speak for the public and decry Imus' use of language is hypocritical if he makes some kind of 'ethnic' excuse for the use of the same and more descriptive language coming from the Black Afro-African-American community in the guise as 'music' (and I use the term very loosely).

The body-part-words, body-action-words, slang-words, curse-words, incorrect grammar in the Black Afro-African-American music genre need to be placed under the same scrutiny as Imus' casual remark, ugly as it was, or no one should give credence to anything the two reverend's, Jackson and Sharpton, say from this day forward.

If you can locate a snail mail or an email address for either reverend, please pass it on to me in the comments. Thank you.