|
News Items 2006
, workers get a tiny real annual rate of return of 1% to 1.5% on average, according to a Cato Institute analysis. Even a risk-free government bond pays 3% to 4% and bank CDs are presently paying over 5%.
CHILD OFFENDED BY SANTA HAT Kenneth Mott is a bus driver. For the past five years he has been wearing a Santa Hat during the Christmas season. Apparently, this practice has offended a child who doesn't believe in Santa. The child’s parent complained to the bus company and Mr. Mott was ordered to cease wearing his red Santa Hat. Fortunately, when other parents found out about this ridiculous incident, they contacted the bus company and the Santa Hat is, once again, part of Mr. Mott’s wardrobe. By the way, stupid kids who are offended by people wearing red hats offend me.
School accuses 5-year-old of sex harassment The five-year-old pinched a girl's buttocks while playing. Principal Darlene Teach said any student, regardless of grade level, could be cited for sexual harassment. Washington County Public Schools spokeswoman Carol Mowen said, "It's important to understand a child may not realize that what he or she is doing may be considered sexual harassment, but if it fits under the definition, then it is, under the state's guidelines." School officials in Washington County Maryland apparently do not possess the ability to think in a rational or logical manner. Zero tolerance equals zero thought. This particular five-year-old will now have this incident on his record. More government school idiocy.
What Will They Ban Next? Why do the health police get to take away our choices? Adults should be expected to take responsibility for their own health. The health police say they must "protect the children." But children should be the responsibility of their parents, not government. John Stossel questions the New York City ban on trans fats.
At 64, the oldest sailor in the Navy prepares to walk offstage Master Chief Petty Officer Doug Forziati, musician, assistant director of the Allied Forces Band Naples, and long time friend, is scheduled to retire in January. Among his many accolades, he has the distinction of being "the oldest sailor in all the Navy, in all of the world." Congratulations Doug!
Obese should have health warnings on their clothes Oversize clothes should have obesity help line numbers sewn on them to try and reduce Britain's fat crisis. I see it now. You call the number and listen to a recording, which says, "Stop eating and get some exercise." Yes, a warning label solves everything.
Vienna to get gender-equal traffic and exit signs Coming soon to the US. You can count on it. After all, we can't be too politically correct.
HAVE DINNER WITH THE GOVERNOR OF LOUISIANA FOR $1 A fundraising auction was held by a group of business leaders. One of the items up for bid was dinner with Governor Kathleen Blanco. The high bid from bank executive Malcolm Maddox, a regional chairman for Capital One, was a whopping $1. This is, indeed, a cheap dinnerdate.
MORE EMINENT DOMAIN ABUSE, THIS TIME IN STOCKBRIDGE, GEORGIA The city wants to build a new city hall along with a town center project, which will feature commercial, retail and residential construction. The problem is that the city doesn't own the land, which is occupied by Mark and Regina Meeks' flower shop. "The town center is going to be built," said Stockbridge City Manager Ted Strickland. "We've gone too far and it's too important to the future of the city." A mighty bold statement as I submit that if Mr. Strickland were not the city manager, he would be charged with trespassing and theft for forcing someone to give up their property for the gain of another private business or entity.
ILLEGAL ALIENS APPREHENDED IN MEATPACKING PLANT RAIDS Federal agents raided six Swift & Co. processing plants in six states in search of illegal aliens who stole the identities of lawful U.S. residents and used their Social Security numbers to get jobs. The key word here is "illegal."
Atheists demand removal of church bells owned by municipality William Russell, a member of the Connecticut chapter of American Atheists Inc. said, "If you read your Constitution, government is not supposed to promote any religion." Apparently, Mr. Russell is in need of a basic reading comprehension course. Amendment 1: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof... Congress has made no law establishing a religion.
U. S. HAS MOST PRISONERS IN WORLD DUE TO INSANE "WAR ON DRUGS" Our incarceration rate is higher than China or Russia. One in every 32 Americans is confined. And, the admissions of new inmates have been rising faster than the numbers of prisoners who have been released. Drug offenders account for about 2 million of the 7 million in prison, on probation or parole, while other countries often stress treatment instead of incarceration, which is far less expensive. Julie Stewart, president of the group Families Against Mandatory Minimums, cited the Justice Department report and said non-violent drug offenders are clogging the U.S. justice system. We don't appear to be winning our "war on drugs."
Cow 'emissions' more damaging to planet than CO2 from cars A United Nations report has identified the world's rapidly growing herds of cattle as the greatest threat to the climate, forests and wildlife. And they are blamed for a host of other environmental crimes, from acid rain to the introduction of alien species, from producing deserts to creating dead zones in the oceans, from poisoning rivers and drinking water to destroying coral reefs. And all this time people like Hitlary Clinton and John Kerry have been claiming the main problem to be SUVs.
Elderly Man Takes Down Armed Robbers In Orlando Former Marine Emmitt Helmly, 69, took a quick trip to a local Walgreens. He soon found himself behind two thugs who pulled a gun and were demanding money from the cashier. The former Marine recognized that the gun was fake, and decided to take action. The criminals escaped, but not before getting a good beating from Helmly.
CHEROKEE COUNTY GEORGIA APPROVES ILLEGAL ALIEN ORDINANCE The Cherokee County Commission in Georgia has approved new sanctions against any landlords who rent apartments or homes to illegal aliens. However, some people believe it is mean to tell landlords not to harbor criminals by renting apartments and homes to people who are in this country illegally. Tenants aren't happy. "If they don't rent to us, where are we going to live?" said Miguel Rodríguez, who came to Cherokee from Zacatecas, Mexico, and was trying to find work Tuesday on a street corner as a day laborer. Rodríguez, who admits to being here illegally, rents a trailer in Cherokee County with five other men, who split the $170 weekly rent. "For those who are illegal like me, taking away housing is like taking away our jobs," Rodríguez said. "If there is no place to live, then we can't work either. Where are we going to go, to the woods?" The solution is simple, if you are here illegally, go back where you came from and return through legal channels. The key word here is “legal.” Tisha Tallman, regional counsel with the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, said her organization would fight the ordinance. Apparently, Tisha supports illegal activities.
Pelosi: Fast-Track Minimum Wage Bill Nancy Pelosi’s first order of business is to raise the minimum wage to a whopping $7.25 an hour. Now, who can raise a family on that paltry amount? I thought that she wanted to help the “working poor.” Wouldn't $10 or $15 an hour provide better help? The meaningless, political hack type of legislation continues. Government needs to stay out of the private business world.
BORDER PATROL AGENTS TO SERVE PRISON SENTENCES FOR DOING THEIR JOBS Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean were sentenced October 19th to 11 and 12 years, respectively, in federal prison after being convicted earlier this year in the non-fatal shooting of Osbaldo Aldrete-Davila. Aldrete-Davila was shot as he ran away from the agents near the Rio Grande in February 2005. So much for supporting the people who are protecting and defending our borders.
THE KORAN IN CONGRESS Keith Ellison is going to take the oath of office in congress. He's going to stand up in the House chambers, raise his right hand, and take the oath along with the other 434 members. There is no placing of hands on Bibles, Korans, Torahs or anything else. You raise your right hand, do the repeat after me bit, and you're sworn in. Later, there are opportunities for a ceremonial swearing in, if you desire one. Ellison has said that he is going to place his left hand on the Koran when this ceremonial swearing in takes place. People are demanding that this not occur. Some people believe that under no circumstances whatsoever should this Muslim be allowed to place his hand on the Koran for his ceremonial swearing in. They're demanding he be forced to place his hand on the Bible. It is his ceremony so he may place his hand on whatever he wants. Keep in mind that while all terrorists may have been Muslims, not all Muslims are terrorists. No wonder our liberties are disappearing. Besides, we have far more important issues to be concerned with these days, like protecting our borders.
HOW TO HANDLE A TELEMARKETER What is the name of the company you are calling for? Make sure you are getting the name of the company they are calling on behalf of, not the name of the telemarketing company they work for. Is this a telephone solicitation? Telemarketers will almost always say 'no' to this question the first time. When they do, say "Well, according to Federal Law a solicitation is a telephone call intended to 'encourage the purchase or rental of, or investment in, property, goods, or services,' is that what this is?" Often at this point, they'll start to realize that they may not be in control of the conversation. Sometimes they'll admit that, yes indeed, this is a telephone solicitation, but just as often they won't. Don't worry about it. Mark down their answer and move on. Could you please tell me your full name? They may have been suspicious after question number two, but now there's no doubt: you are not just going to say 'no thanks' and let them move on. Telemarketers seem to get very privacy-conscious when confronted with this question. They'll try to get away with just giving their first name; don't let them, the law says you're entitled to know their full name. And your phone number? Telemarketers are required to give you a phone number where you may contact the business they are calling for. What is your company's mailing address? This one usually doesn't get answered. Again, we're looking for the address of the company on whose behalf they are calling. Unfortunately, few telemarketers seem to know what the company's address is, even though they are supposed to. Don't be surprised if they transfer you to a supervisor here. Another response is for them to hang up on you! Does the company you are calling for keep a list of numbers it's been asked not to call? It's a violation of federal law if they don't. Does the company you are calling for have a written policy concerning their don't call list? They are required by federal law to have a written policy. Could you mail me a copy of that written policy? Upon request, telemarketers are required to provide you with a written copy of their Do Not Call List policy. Or, you can use this more creative approach:
FEDS RATE TRAVELERS FOR TERRORISM WITH A TERROR SCORE Without notifying the public, federal agents for the past four years have assigned millions of international travelers, including Americans, computer-generated scores rating the risk they pose of being terrorists or criminals. The travelers are not allowed to see or directly challenge these risk assessments, which the government intends to keep on file for 40 years. Criteria analyzed includes where they are from, how they paid for tickets, their motor vehicle records, past one-way travel, seating preference and what kind of meal they ordered. Score extra points by ordering the boiled camel special. Privacy and civil liberties lawyers, congressional aides and even law enforcement officers said they thought this system had been applied only to cargo. The Homeland Security Department said the nation's ability to spot criminals and other security threats "would be critically impaired without access to this data." David Sobel, a lawyer at the Electronic Frontier Foundation said this also raises the possibility that faulty risk assessments could cost innocent people jobs in shipping or travel, government contracts, licenses or other benefits. In some cases, the data may be shared with courts, Congress and even private contractors. ATS is exempted from many provisions of the Privacy Act designed to protect people from secret, possibly inaccurate government dossiers. As a result, travelers cannot learn whether the system has assessed them. Nor can they see the records "for the purpose of contesting the content." Jim Malmberg, executive director of American Consumer Credit Education Support Services noted how hard it has been for citizens, including members of Congress and even infants, to stop being misidentified as terrorists because their names match those on anti-terrorism watch lists.
POLITICAL HYPOCRISY DEMONIZING WAL-MART AGAIN Former Sen. John Edwards recently promoted his new book at the Manchester, N.H., Barnes & Noble, in front of the local Wal-Mart. Edwards campaigns against Wal-Mart, saying it pays its workers too little. The Barnes & Noble where Edwards will hawk his book pays $7 an hour to start. The Wal-Mart next door pays $7.50 an hour.
Is Santa a religious icon? St. Nick's appearance at a Sanfordville PTA, Warwick, NY fundraiser offended a parent. Therefore, "Breakfast with Santa" has been changed to a "Winter Wonderland Breakfast." Frosty the Snowman will share the bill with Santa. The parent, who did not wish her name to be used (go figure), said she and others in the community ("others" who also do not wish their names to be know) were offended (I'm offended by people continually being offended) by the PTA sponsoring an event geared toward one religion. She said that Santa is a religious figure, a figure that represents Christmas, a Christian holiday, and that a public school, by law, is not allowed to do that. "This is a matter of following the law of our country," she said. Could this mysterious and nameless woman present the article and section of the "law" that was violated? Her obtuse response could prove to be most entertaining. Rumor has it that Jack Frost and the Abominable Snowman are demanding equal time and will be picketing the event.
PRETTY FASCIST COMMUNISM Just look at all the new and pretty homeowner association communities. Nice walkways, landscaping, uniform paint, brick, and stone jobs, and all the rules to keep things "nice" from the propensity of the human being to individualize his living quarters. We need not concern ourselves with yards, exterior maintenance, or controlling our behaviors and choices. "They" know far better how to manage our lives, and they provide us with beautifully printed rules books (not booklets, mind you, but books) on how to be proper "community" dwellers. And they also maintain our "common" areas and even plant and maintain our flowers and bushes - the one's they select to beautify our "community." All very pretty and nice - and all across America we see that uniformity is best for "the people," and this uniformity must be maintained. "Security" records the comings and goings of "the homeowners," all visitors to "the community," and they steadfastly ensure that all rules in the rulebook are uniformly enforced, so that all dwellers are uniformly happy and safe. As such, there is no tolerance for "individuals" who may choose to live outside of the rulebook box. These "nice community villages" are called "human settlements" by the United Nations' (Agenda 21), which is where, how, and why our "homeowner's association" communities were developed and brought to American soil. Our "private and gated communities" were developed to eliminate private property rights in the United States - according to Agenda 21 - just in case you wanted to know. This sounds like the Villages type of development in Florida to me. As uniformity is key, consensus learning, consensus social groupings, and consensus behaviors are now mandated in every classroom in America. Children are table-grouped not according to intellectual abilities, but according to group behaviors. Children who act outside of the behavior/belief box are removed from the classrooms and are placed in IEP (Individual Education Plan) groups, which are special education groups to correct social grouping behaviors. Fascism/Communism has become a highly creative and educational enterprise. It has transformed our nation, our Constitution, and our intellects. It is also after our 2nd Amendment. See the U.N. and "international laws" for details.
TODAY’S AMERICANS LOVE GOVERNMENT You or I would be put in jail for stealing other people's money and giving it away. Yet, the government has been doing this for years and continues to escape prosecution for this crime. At least two-thirds of the federal budget represents forcing one American to serve the purposes of another. Younger workers are forced to pay for the prescriptions of older Americans; people who are not farmers are forced to serve those who are; non-poor people are forced to serve poor people; and the general public is forced to serve corporations, college students and other special interests that have the ear of Congress. Today, it seems to be perfectly rational for every American to seek to live at the expense of another American. Reaching into one's own pockets to help his fellow man is both laudable and praiseworthy. Reaching into another's pockets to help his fellow man is despicable and worthy of condemnation. If I saw a person in need, and I took your money to help him, I'd be arrested and convicted of theft. If I get Congress to do the same thing, I am seen as compassionate. The politicians’ commandment: Thou shalt not steal unless you have a majority vote in Congress.
Walmart $4 Prescription Drug Plan Available Retailing rivals such as Target and BJ's Wholesale Clubs have launched similar programs and are working to expand those offerings. If we can isolate this from government interference, the free market, as always, will prevail with lower healthcare and medication costs.
Boys learn better from male teachers and girls from female teachers Thomas Dee, an associate economics professor at Swarthmore College, recently completed a study that showed that the gender of a teacher affects the way students learn. His findings claims boys learn better from male teachers and girls from female teachers. Unfortunately, state and federal standards often take away from letting kids learn in different ways.
Democrats to Keep Pork Over the past 12 years, the number of earmarks tripled to 16,000 accounting for $64 billion a year in spending. Now that the Democrats have won control of Congress, it appears doubtful that lawmakers will seriously clamp down on the practice. Robert Byrd of West Virginia, who will chair the Senate Appropriations Committee, "may be the foremost master of the art.” Among other projects, Byrd has succeeded in getting three major Coast Guard facilities placed in his landlocked state. What better way to buy votes? The plunder continues!
Study says women talk three times as much as men Insert your own joke here. Women talk almost three times as much as men, with the average woman chalking up 20,000 words in a day - 13,000 more than the average man.
Katrina couple sells house they got for free A church that wanted to do something special for Hurricane Katrina victims gave a $75,000 house, free and clear, to a couple who said they were left homeless by the storm. But the couple turned around and sold the place without ever moving in, and went back to New Orleans. ''Take it up with God,'' an unrepentant Joshua Thompson told a TV reporter after it was learned that he and the woman he identified as his wife had flipped the home for $88,000.
Pit bull owners more likely to be criminals People who own vicious dogs such as pit bulls have significantly more criminal convictions - including crimes against children - than owners of licensed, gentler dogs such as beagles. A study of 355 dog owners in Ohio showed that every owner of a high-risk breed known for aggression had at least one brush with the law, from traffic citations to serious criminal convictions. And 30 per cent of people who owned an aggressive breed of dog and who also had been cited at least once for failure to register it had at least five criminal convictions or traffic citations. "Owners of vicious dogs who have been cited for failing to register a dog (or) failing to keep a dog confined on the premises ... are more than nine times more likely to have been convicted for a crime involving children, three times more likely to have been convicted of domestic violence ... and nearly eight times more likely to be charged with drug (crimes) than owners of low-risk licensed dogs," said Jaclyn Barnes of Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Centre. Aggressive breeds identified by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and some insurance companies include pit bulls, rottweilers, akitas and chows. The most frequent low-risk breeds seen in the study included terriers, beagles, collies and poodles.
U.S. to Require Passports for Nearly All The requirement marks a change for Americans, Canadians, Bermudans and some Mexicans. Of course, these requirements do not apply if you are sneaking across the borders illegally.
Should we really copy Europe? A comparison between European countries and the United States. Government spending exceeds 50 percent of the GDP in France and Sweden and more than 45 percent in Germany and Italy, compared to U.S. federal, state and local spending of just under 36 percent. Government spending encourages people to rely on handouts rather than individual initiative, and the higher taxes to finance the handouts reduce incentives to work, save and invest. U.S. per capita output in 2003 was $39,700, almost 40 percent higher than the average of $28,700 for European nations. Over the last decade, the U.S. economy has grown twice as fast as European economies. European countries rank with the poorest U.S. states in terms of living standards, roughly equal to Arkansas and Montana. Average living space in Europe is less than 1,000 square feet for the average household, while U.S. households enjoy an average of 1,875 square feet.
PLANET U-MASS Professor Mike Adams recalls his experience addressing the open-minded students at The University of Massachusetts-Amherst.
GAY PENGUINS? Two penguins at the Central Park Zoo in New York City adopted an abandoned fertilized penguin egg. They sat on the egg until it successfully hatched and raised the baby penguin as their own. So far, this sounds like an episode from the old Wild Kingdom TV show about penguins doing what penguins do. Then, someone wrote a children's book about these two penguins. But wait, the two penguins at the zoo both happened to be male penguins. Why, this is apparently a book about gay penguins. Hysteria ensues, as parents demand that the penguin book be banned. I'm glad that people are finally learning to focus on the truly significant issues in their lives. In a busy world, people can somehow find the time to be obsessed with penguins. Amazing!
NEW BEDFORD CALLS FOR STATEWIDE BAN ON BB AND PELLET GUNS Massachusetts residents would be given a grace period to turn in such weapons. State lawmakers could establish a buyback program.
HOMEOWNERS' ASSOCIATION BANS SMOKING The smoking police may be coming soon to your neighborhood. Jefferson County Colorado District Judge Lily Oeffler ruled the association could keep the couple from smoking in their own home. "I don't understand. If I was here and I was doing a lawful act in my home when they got here, why can they say, 'OK, now you have to change,'" said Colleen Suave. "We're not arguing the right to smoke as much as we're arguing the right to privacy in our home." The Suaves said they would like to appeal the judge's ruling but are unsure if they have the money to continue fighting. They said what goes on behind their closed doors shouldn't be other people's business. Other homeowners believe that the rights of a community trump the rights of individual residents. The Nicotine Nazis strike again. The question is, what legal activity in your own home will be banned next?
Democrats join to raise minimum wage Teddy Kennedy of Massachusetts said Thursday that increasing the federal minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 would be his top priority as chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. “If there is one message from this election that emerged loud and clear, it’s that no one who works for a living should have to live in poverty,” Kennedy said. So, in the infinite wisdom of the esteemed, and sometimes-intoxicated senator, $7.25 per hour is apparently plenty to live on. If Teddy’s philosophy were to mandate a “living wage”, wouldn't $20 per hour be a more realistic figure? After all, you cannot expect to raise a family on $7.25 per hour. I doubt that you could afford to support a goldfish on that amount.
CHRISTMAS AGAIN AT WAL-MART Wal-Mart has learned a valuable lesson and Christmas is once again part of the vocabulary at the Wal-Mart empire. Best Buy, conversely, shall continue to use the term "holiday" and omit "any reference to Christmas" for the foreseeable future.
Birdwatching, Government Style The federal government pays thousands of people to stare at dead chickens. Apparently, if more people stared at the birds, they'd be better at seeing invisible germs. John Stossel shows your tax dollars at work.
Getting Medical Insurance from Your Boss is a Bad Idea The waste, fraud and abuse in the current system is due to the fact that most people believe that somebody else pays for it. Do our employers pay for our food, clothing, or shelter? If they did, why would that be good? Having my health care tied to my boss invites him to snoop into my private health issues, and if I change jobs, I lose coverage. Employer-paid health insurance isn't free. It just means we get insurance instead of higher salaries. I'd rather have the cash and buy my own insurance as I have done on the past. Insurance is expensive and wasteful. Years ago, an insurance CEO said that it costs $35-$50 to process a $25 claim. It is all too common that the first question most people ask a doctor who recommends a test is not "Do I really need that?" but "Does my insurance cover it?" Insurance raises costs by insulating consumers from medicine's real prices. People have gotten so used to having "other people" pay for most of their heath care that they routinely demand insurance coverage with low or no deductibles. Suppose car insurance worked that way. Every time you got a little dent or the paint faded, or every time you bought gas or changed the oil, you'd fill out endless forms and wait for reimbursement from your insurance company. Gas and maintenance prices would quickly rise because service stations would know that you no longer cared about the price. Plus, the insurance premiums would be outrageously high. Insurance should protect us against financial catastrophes that could result from unexpected events such as a stroke or heart attack. That's why Health Savings Accounts, which cover smaller out-of-pocket health expenditures, are paired with high-deductible catastrophic insurance policies. John Stossel accurately analyses the healthcare marketplace.
ENVIRONMENTAL HYPOCRISY Celebrities Who Claim They're Green but Guzzle Gas Julia Roberts drives a Prius. She also flew Chicago to LA, 1,749 miles in a private jet, while shooting "My Best Friend's Wedding" which guzzled 2100 gallons of jet fuel. Jennifer Lopez drives her 60 miles-per-gallon Prius. She also flew LA to New York, 2,475 miles in a private jet guzzling 2,750 gallons of jet fuel. Lopez was actually sued by a private jet company for allegedly skipping out on the bill, though she says it's all a misunderstanding and she was not supposed to be billed. George Clooney favors an electrically powered Tango. He also flew Los Angeles to Tokyo, 5500 miles in a private jet, which guzzled 7,000 gallons of jet fuel. Brad Pitt is another Prius-lover, and he reportedly has several hybrids in his stable. He also flew Los Angeles to Namibia, 9,400 miles in a private jet, which guzzled 11,000 gallons of jet fuel.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH An excellent editorial by Phil Boyer, the president of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), addressing the hysteria concerning small aircraft. Mayor
Daley's latest rants have sent me over the edge. He used the accident in New York to once
again demand a no-fly zone over downtown Chicago for general aviation aircraft. It was
expected, of course. He has an irrational hatred for piston-engine aircraft, as evidenced
by his illogical tirade this week. "They should not jeopardize, through intentionally
or by accident, a single- or two-engine plane flying over our city [sic]," the Meigs
Field destroyer exploded at a press conference. (I don't think he was including Boeing
737s, 757s, and 767s in his list of twin-engine aircraft.) "Remember: a single- or
two-engine plane can kill as many people as possible if they want to." And if it
were just Daley, I'd ignore his ravings, just as the folks in the federal government in
charge of security and airspace do. But it's
not just him. Other politicians (with the spectacular and notable exception of New York
City Mayor Michael Bloomberg) and self-appointed "experts" are jumping on the
tragic accident — repeat, accident — in New York to sound off again about the
"danger" of light aircraft, and how they must be regulated, restricted, banned. OK, for all
of those ranting about "threats" from GA aircraft, we'll believe that you're
really serious about controlling "threats" when you call for:
Number of
people killed by a terrorist attack using a GA aircraft? Zero. Number of
people injured by a terrorist attack using a GA aircraft? Zero. Property
damage from a terrorist attack using a GA aircraft? None. So Mr.
Mayor (and Mr. Governor, Ms. Senator, Mr. Congressman, and Mr. "Expert"), if
you're truly serious about "protecting" the public, advocate all of the bans
I've listed above. Using the "logic" you apply to general aviation aircraft,
newspapers, winter coats, cell phones, backpacks, trucks, and boats all pose much greater
risks to the public. So be
consistent in your logic. If you are dead set on restricting a personal transportation
system that carries more passengers than any single airline, reaches more American cities
than all the airlines combined, provides employment for 1.3 million American citizens and
$160 billion in business "to protect the public," then restrict or control every
other transportation system that the terrorists have demonstrated they can use to kill. If you're not willing to be consistent, then we might think that you're pandering to uninformed public fears, posturing from the soapbox of demagoguery, screaming security for your own political ends.
McDonald's Didn't Make Them Fat John Stossel takes on the two girls who are suing McDonald's claiming that the restaurant chain "tricked" them into eating all of that fast food. Who knows what a jury will do when the lawyers play on its sympathy for the overweight girls. Whether McDonald's wins after a lengthy legal battle or loses and gets hit with a big damage award, you and I will pay through higher prices. Whatever happened to self-responsibility? McDonald's commercials may put the best spin on its products. However, individuals should exercise caution, and parents should teach their kids a little skepticism. It's not as if information about nutrition is hard to come by. Fast food doesn't have to make you fat. Soso Whaley of New Hampshire once ate only at McDonald's for a month. The result? Unlike the guy who did the "Super Size Me" documentary, Soso lost 10 pounds, and her cholesterol dropped 40 points. How? She didn't pig out. Low-carb dieters, like myself, have lost weight at McDonald's and other similar restaurants by eating the burgers without the buns and skipping the fries and other junk foods. This shows that anyone whose health was harmed by eating at McDonald's only has himself or herself to blame. To bloat himself up an individual has to choose to enter the restaurant on a regular basis, overeat an unbalanced diet, and completely fail to exercise.
George and his Low Carb Burger
CORPUS CHRISTI TEEN KILLS BURGLAR IN HOME Perpetrator forces himself into a home and ties up a mother and her son. Son escapes from the bindings and gets his father's revolver from a security box. Perpetrator attempts to break into the room and threatens to kill them both. Teen fires a shot through the door killing the perpetrator. Teenager: 1 Perpetrator: 0 I love happy endings!
Mexico threatening to take U.S. to the U.N. over border fence Apparently, we have no right to protect our borders and to keep people from entering this country ILLEGALLY. Additionally, has anyone bothered to note that the proposed fence to be built on U. S. Territory is approximately 1400 miles too short anyway?
BIASED POLITICAL POLLS This evening, Tuesday, October 10, 2006, I received a call from a political polling agency. This was incredible as I rarely, and I mean RARELY, receive these types of calls. Their first question asked if I was in any way connected with The Media or any political candidate. Whereas, I am the International Multi-Media Mega-Star, I, of course, told them the truth of "yes." At that point the survey was concluded. My opinion didn't count due to my media affiliations. I questioned and challenged the polltaker, although it was not much of a mental challenge, as I was obviously dealing with someone who was making six bucks an hour along with free cheese. When I mentioned that their poll was obviously biased, she told me that they did not want my opinion as I was "overqualified" and would bias the poll. The moral of the story: beware of poll results you may read as many are obviously targeting people for certain, predictable responses and are not interested in a true cross-section of opinions.
FEMA IN FLORIDA Sally Kestin of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel conducted an investigation of a huge FEMA grant to the State of Florida. The money was spent through an agency called Project H.O.P.E. (Helping Our People in Emergencies). Here are a few items that taxpayer funds were spent on: Puppet shows The program, funded by FEMA but run by Florida's Department of Children & Families, is supposed to identify victims and help them recover from the "psychological aftermath" of the storms by providing emotional support and referrals for food, clothes and services. Since 2004, Florida has received $46.8 million for crisis counseling for six hurricanes. The grant for Hurricane Charley, which ravaged the west coast in August 2004, paid for almost 700 performances of a puppet show called "Heroes of the Storm," a DCF report says. I certainly feel more prepared and protected from hurricanes knowing that if I am ever impacted by a hurricane, someone will show up in a puppet costume to sing me a happy windy song. This is another fine use of our tax dollars.
North American Union The CFR (Council on Foreign Relations) is key in implementing this program. This plan would remove borders between the three countries (United States, Canada and Mexico) and allow unimpeded flow of goods and people. It would also create a regional superstate government that would overrule our laws and constitution with International Law. A program such as this is irresponsible as well as Unconstitutional. While several members of Congress have denied any knowledge of efforts to build "NAFTA superhighways" or move America closer to a union with Mexico and Canada, four members of the House have stepped up to sponsor a resolution opposing both initiatives. H.Con.Res.487 has been referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and to the Committee on Internal Relations for consideration prior to any debate that may be scheduled on the floor of the House of Representatives. "Now that Congress is preparing to take up the issues of the North American Union and NAFTA superhighways, we are moving out of the realm where critics can attempt to disparage the discussion as 'Internet conspiracy theory,'" explained Jerome Corsi, author and WND columnist who has written extensively on the Security and Prosperity Partnership - the semisecret plan many suspect is behind the efforts to create a European Union-style North American confederation and link Mexico and Canada with more transcontinental highways and rail lines. The Bush administration is trying to create the North American Union incrementally, under the radarscope of public attention.
Cell Phone use, other driving distractions are high risk Americans spent 857 billion minutes on their cell phones in the first six months of this year. It's rude, inconsiderate, arrogant, risky and unsafe. Yet it is not against the law in Florida to use a hand-held cell phone while driving. Moreover, if Florida cities want to ban hand-held cell phones while driving, they can't. Florida state law prohibits any such legislation. Similar laws exist in Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Utah. About 220 million Americans use cell phones now. Perhaps it's time for another look at the law.
HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS ON THE RISE AGAIN There are a few reasons that health insurance is so expensive. Year after year state governments across the nation add mandates to health insurance coverage. Health insurance companies are mandated to provide certain coverage to the insured, no matter what the consumer wants. A prime example here would be maternity benefits. Have you ever tried to purchase a health insurance policy that doesn't include maternity benefits? In many states you can't as state laws forbid it. These are not health insurance policies. They are medical payment plans. The purpose of insurance is to cover you for an unexpected expense. Unexpected expense means an expense that you didn't plan on. When you make the decision to have a baby you know that decision carries certain financial consequences. You know that you're going to have to pay for pre-natal care plus the cost of delivering the baby. Whatever that fee is, why should this be paid by insurance? This was not unexpected as it was planned. However, if you were to go to the hospital to deliver a baby, and something goes awry, there may be a few additional and unexpected expenses. The key word here is “unexpected!” In this case, there would be a valid reason for a payment from your health insurance company! Why is there a mandate for maternity coverage? Politics, plain and simple. Politicians earn points with voters by giving them what is essentially a free pass on having a baby by forcing your insurance company to cover the expense. The bottom line is if you can't afford the costs of childbirth, then you certainly can't afford to raise a child. There are various estimates out there for the cost of raising a child to the age of 18, and none are less than $200,000. If you can't shell out a small percentage of that figure to have the child, what chance do you have of covering the rest to correctly raise the child? Next we have the mandate for drug and alcohol rehab. Many states have enacted such a mandate. Do you use drugs? Are you a drunk? If the answer is no, why do you need this coverage? But that doesn't matter as you're going to receive it anyway, and you're going to pay for it, all courtesy of your local political hack. The same goes for other mandates such as psychological treatment and counseling. As long as we treat what we call “health insurance” as a “medical payment plan,” it is going to continue to become more expensive. It needs to be like insurance again, which is something to cover unexpected medical costs. Then watch the prices plummet. There have been scores of extraordinary medical advances. Medical science can do spectacular things but these spectacular medical procedures are spectacularly expensive. How far are we willing to go to ensure that every American is somehow “entitled” to every single wonder drug and procedure that is invented? If this madness continues, then health insurance will be the single most expensive thing that Americans will ever have to buy. For those who actually want to accept this responsibility for themselves, politicians will try to make it all but impossible. Tax breaks are available for businesses that provide health insurance for their employees. Many of those same tax breaks are not available for the individual who tries to acquire the same coverage for himself. The political class wants to discourage individuals from accepting responsibility for their own lives. Politicians want us to operate under the supposition that health care is someone else's responsibility and by no means ours? Can you think of a better way to condition people to be government dependent?
JASPER BOWMAN Jasper J. Bowman, Jr. 1943 - 2006 Jasper of Southwick, MA, died September 27th, 2006. Born and educated Irmo, SC, Jasper was a professional musician who played the piano and composed and directed music. He was the conductor of the Heritage Pops Orchestra. Jasper was always a gentleman, very easygoing, a really pleasant guy and talented musician.
Jasper Bowman Conducts The Band
How Low-Carb, High Protein Diets Work High protein diets, such as Atkins and South Beach, were previously believed to be successful because they changed the body’s normal metabolic process. However, Dr. Rachel Batterham of the Imperial College of Medicine in London has proven differently. Her recent study shows that high-protein foods actually increase the amount of YY Peptides which, in turn, create a feeling of fullness. YY Peptides are a hormone, controlled by the hypothalamus (the part of the brain that regulates hunger) and released into the blood stream. A lack of the peptide triggers appetite. Batterham and her team asked test subjects to fast for 14 hours and maintain their current activity level. The volunteers were then given a 1,200 calorie meal. The process was repeated several times over the course of three weeks. While each meal was rated identically for taste and satiety, their contents varied. One was high in protein, another was based on carbohydrates and the third was laden with fat. Researchers tested blood from the participants several times, in half hour increments, after each meal. The highest level of YY peptide, and the lowest level of hunger, was recorded after the subjects had eaten the high-protein food. Now, get yourself a healthy, low-carb burger. Hold the bread!
George and his Low Carb Burger
HUGO CHAVEZ MAKES SENSE ON ONE KEY POINT Move the United Nations to Venezuela. That is a superb idea. They occupy a prime piece of Manhattan real estate which could quickly be ready for positive and purposeful development. Chavez stated, “Maybe we have to put the United Nations somewhere else; maybe a city of the south. We've proposed Venezuela.” This makes perfect sense to me. The United Nations is not now, nor has it ever been a friend of liberty, a friend of freedom, or a friend of the people of the United States.
IT’S HARD TO TELL A CONSERVATIVE FROM A LIBERAL ANYMORE In this era of a big-spending Republican administration, the differences between conservatives and liberals have shrunk so much, it's hard to tell who's who. Too bad neither liberals nor conservatives have scruples against forcing people to do things they don't wish to do. John Stossel, as always, offers a brilliant analysis.
Colorado State professor disputes global warming is human-caused I have been saying this for years. Global warming is happening, but humans are not the cause. Bill Gray, who is a professor at Colorado State University, said human-induced global warming is a fear perpetuated by the media and scientists who are trying to get federal grants. “I think we’re coming out of the little ice age, and warming is due to changes to ocean circulation patterns due to salinity variations,” Gray said. “I’m sure that’s it.”
CELEBRATE "TALK LIKE A PIRATE DAY" Official Pirate Translator: Aye, for Brownie (Greybeard), tis' like Christmas, New Year's Eve and Wrestlemania, all rolled int' one. Gar.
George visits with pirate performers Julie & Brownie.
Analyst predicts plunge in gas prices The recent sharp drop in the global price of crude oil could mark the start of a massive sell-off that returns gasoline prices to lows not seen since the late 1990s — perhaps as low as $1.15 a gallon. It is unlikely that we will see excessive media hype as gas prices plummet.
MASSACHUSETTS GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY GETS IT RIGHT The governor of Massachusetts won't allow state resources to be used to protect Iran's former president Mohammed Khatami during his appearance at Harvard. It would be a "disgrace" to accommodate Khatami on the eve of the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. "State taxpayers should not be providing special treatment to an individual who supports violent jihad and the destruction of Israel," Romney said in a statement. Harvard said in its own statement it was "disappointed" with the governor's action and called the speech part of an open dialogue that is "a critical part of effective education and policy." The first logical question is why was Iranian despot and terrorist Mohammed Khatami even allowed to visit the United States? If Hezbollah is a terrorist organization and if Iran is a terrorist state - part of the "axis of evil" - then why isn't Khatami right now on his way to a military brig somewhere? He is, instead, being coddled by the "disappointed" minions at Harvard.
TWO MEN GET SIX MONTHS FOR STEALING FOOD FROM DUMPSTER An owner of a Steamboat Springs produce store, Jonathon Hieb, said six months in jail is too harsh for two men who plucked discarded fruit and vegetables from the store's trash. Authorities said they took five cucumbers, four or five apricots, two bundles of asparagus spears and a handful of cherries from a garbage can at Sweet Pea Produce. Hieb said he didn't want them prosecuted at all. The most the pair should have gotten was 20 hours of community service. The two accused men, Giles Charle, 24, of New Hampshire and 27-year-old David Siller of Pennsylvania, said they would have bought food, but everything was closed when they rolled into town. What will it cost taxpayers to keep these treacherous criminals in confinement for six months?
Gas Prices Down 15 Cents Over 2 Weeks And, not a peep from the media. Had it gone up 15 cents, we would have been watching continuous reports about the catastrophic impact.
Blackberry addiction 'similar to drugs' Employers provide programs to help workers with chemical or substance addictions. 'Addiction to technology can be equally damaging to a worker's mental health. I can't wait to see my healthcare premium increases when this becomes a mandatory healthcare coverage requirement. On a positive note, to the best of my knowledge, no one has ever been shot in a Blackberry deal.
Medicare Snafu Accidentally Sends $50 Million to Recipients Medicare admits that someone in the organization "pressed the wrong key" on a computer, sending bad information to 230,000 people, with reimbursement checks averaging $215 for a total of $50 million. The government now wants the money returned.
$170 Million Bought an Unusable Computer System for the FBI
ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION COUNTERS Real-time Immigration Statistics
ACHIEVING PEACE Professor Mike Adams eloquently outlines the type of strategy necessary to effectively achieve peace.
AOL SEARCHES ARE FAR FROM ANONYMOUS A Face Is Exposed for AOL Searcher No. 4417749 No. 4417749 conducted hundreds of searches over a three-month period on topics ranging from “numb fingers” to “60 single men” to “dog that urinates on everything.” It did not take much investigating to follow that data trail to Thelma Arnold, a 62-year-old widow who lives in Lilburn, GA, frequently researches her friends’ medical ailments and loves her three dogs. “Those are my searches,” she said.
WALMART ENCOUNTER Professor Mike Adams details his recent experience with unruly teenagers.
A Bit of History for Global Warmers: Look at 1930 The recent hot temperatures are not the hottest on record. That "honor" belongs to a summer 76 years ago -- decades before the controversy over "man-made global warming" began. From June 1 to August 31, 1930, 21 days had high temperatures that were 100 degrees or above" in the metropolitan Washington, D.C. Between July 19 and Aug. 9 of that year, heat records were set on nine days and they remain unbroken more than three-quarters of a century later. "Big cities are getting warmer -- with or without global warming -- because the bricks and the buildings and the pavement retain heat," reported Patrick Michaels, senior fellow for environmental studies at the libertarian Cato Institute. For that reason, he prefers to compare temperatures in nearby rural areas. "There's been very little change" in those areas, "so we trust the record to be a reliable indicator of base climate."
John Stossel On The Trial Lawyers' 'Justice' Myth Lawsuits punish hundreds, if not thousands, of innocent people. What's worse is that fear of lawsuits now deprives us of things that make our lives better.
$40,000 Numbskulls You might be interested in what parents' and taxpayers' money is going for at far too many "institutions of higher learning." Parents are paying an average tuition of $21,000, and at some colleges over $40,000, to have their children exposed to anti-Americanism and academic nonsense. At Occidental College in Los Angeles, a mandatory course for some freshmen is "The Unbearable Whiteness of Barbie." At Johns Hopkins University students can enroll in a course called "Sex, Drugs, and Rock 'n' Roll in Ancient Egypt." Part of the course includes slide shows of women in ancient Egypt "vomiting on each other," "having intercourse" and "fixing their hair." A survey conducted by the Center for Survey Research and Analysis at the University of Connecticut gave 81 percent of the seniors a D or F in their knowledge of American history. The students could not identify Valley Forge, or words from the Gettysburg Address, or even the basic principles of the U.S. Constitution. Harvard's Educational Policy Committee found that some professors award As for average work. According to the Department of Education's 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy, only 31 percent of college graduates were proficient in prose, only 25 percent proficient in reading documents and 31 percent proficient in math.
Ohio Court Rejects Eminent Domain Score one point for private property rights. "For the individual property owner, the appropriation is not simply the seizure of a house," Justice Maureen O'Connor wrote in a case that pitted the city of Norwood against two couples trying to save their homes. "It is the taking of a home - the place where ancestors toiled, where families were raised, where memories were made." Targeting property because it is in a deteriorating area also is unconstitutional because the term is too vague and requires speculation, the court found. "This was a perfect example of what is going on all over the country: a perfectly nice, working class neighborhood with no tax delinquencies, no falling down buildings, a nice neighborhood of homes and businesses, that a developer thought could be much more profitable as an upscale shopping and high-end housing center," said Dana Berliner, an attorney for the Arlington, VA-based Institute for Justice that represented property owners in the case.
Katrina Audit Shows Fraud, Abuse The Homeland Security Department wasted hundreds of thousands of dollars last year on iPods, dog booties, beer-making equipment and designer jackets. I suppose Evacuees get thirsty and need to stay in fashion. The plunder continues. More than 2,000 sets of dog booties, costing $68,442, that have sat unused in storage since emergency responders decided they were not suited for canines assisting in Gulf Coast recovery efforts. Three portable shower units for $71,170 from a contractor who investigators said overcharged the government. Customs and Border Protection agents could have gotten similar showers for nearly a third of the price, and faster. 12 Apple iPod Nanos and 42 iPod Shuffles, worth $7,000, for Secret Service "training and data storage." Because the Shuffles cost less than $300, the Secret Service said they were not required to track them to ensure they were used properly. 37 black Helly Hansen designer rain jackets, costing nearly $2,500, for use in a firing range that the Customs and Border Protection purchaser later acknowledged shuts down when it's raining. Conference and hotel rooms at a golf and tennis resort at St. Simons Island in Georgia, worth $2,395, for training 32 newly hired attorneys when they could have used a nearby federal law enforcement training center. A beer brewing kit and ingredients for more than $1,000 for a Coast Guard official to brew alcohol while on duty as a social organizer for the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. "The estimated price for a six-pack of USCG beer was $12," the investigators noted, adding: "Given that the six-pack cost of most beers is far less than $12, it is difficult to demonstrate that the Academy is achieving cost savings by brewing its own beer." Customs and Border Protection wasted up to $464,586 by buying meals-ready-to-eat over the Internet instead of contracting through the Pentagon, as is standard procedure. The Federal Emergency Management Agency cannot locate 107 laptops, 22 printers and two GPS units worth $170,000.
The Government Educational System Was Designed to Keep Us Uneducated and Docile In 1888, the Senate Committee on Education was getting jittery about the localized, non-standardized, non-mandatory form of education that was actually teaching children to read at advanced levels, to comprehend history, and, egads, to think for themselves. The committee's report stated, "We believe that education is one of the principal causes of discontent of late years manifesting itself among the laboring classes." By the turn of the century, America's new educrats were pushing a new form of schooling with a new mission (and it wasn't to teach). The famous philosopher and educator John Dewey wrote in 1897: "Every teacher should realize he is a social servant set apart for the maintenance of the proper social order and the securing of the right social growth." The Rockefeller Education Board—which funded the creation of numerous public schools—issued a statement which read in part: "In our dreams...people yield themselves with perfect docility to our molding hands. The present educational conventions [intellectual and character education] fade from our minds, and unhampered by tradition we work our own good will upon a grateful and responsive folk. We shall not try to make these people or any of their children into philosophers or men of learning or men of science. We have not to raise up from among them authors, educators, poets or men of letters. We shall not search for embryo great artists, painters, musicians, nor lawyers, doctors, preachers, politicians, statesmen, of whom we have ample supply. The task we set before ourselves is very simple...we will organize children...and teach them to do in a perfect way the things their fathers and mothers are doing in an imperfect way." President Woodrow Wilson stated in a speech to businessmen: "We want one class to have a liberal education. We want another class, a very much larger class of necessity, to forego the privilege of a liberal education and fit themselves to perform specific difficult manual tasks." This was the openly admitted blueprint for the public schooling system, a blueprint which remains unchanged to this day. Although the true reasons behind it aren't often publicly expressed, they're apparently still known within education circles. Clinical psychologist Bruce E. Levine wrote in 2001: I once consulted with a teacher of an extremely bright eight-year-old boy labeled with oppositional defiant disorder. I suggested that perhaps the boy didn't have a disease, but was just bored. His teacher, a pleasant woman, agreed with me. However, she added, "They told us at the state conference that our job is to get them ready for the work world…that the children have to get used to not being stimulated all the time or they will lose their jobs in the real world."
Schwarzenegger: Ban Cell Phones While Driving Schwarzenegger called such driving distractions "terrible" and "inexcusable" and added "We have to see if the right way to go is through a bill or any other way, but I think we must make sure that people don't use phones, because it not only endangers them but it endangers everyone else out there."
Government Spying on Your Bank Transactions The next time you do your banking, be sure you don't do anything out of the ordinary. If you do, you may end up caught in the crosshairs of a government program designed to target terrorists and money launderers. A SAR is a secret filing, triggered by any financial activity the government deems unusual. Specifically, any group of transactions totaling $5,000 or more that "is not the sort in which the particular customer would normally be expected to engage." If your transaction is declared suspicious, your funds could be held up for weeks. But get this: You are never told if a SAR has been filed against you - it's against the law for that information to be revealed.
SHUT UP ALREADY Cell Phones as Dangerous as Drunk Driving A study from The University of Utah found that even talking hands-free was no less distracting than holding the phone, reports the BBC. Forty volunteers had their reactions tested in four separate circumstances when they drove without distractions, while using a handheld phone and a hands-free phone and while intoxicated. Motorists who talked on mobiles, both handheld and hands-free, were as impaired as drunk drivers and more likely to be involved in traffic accidents. Professor David Strayer and his team of researchers believe having a phone conversation alters how drivers perceive and react to information. Even when the drivers using the phones were looking at objects they often failed to see them. Professor Strayer said: "We suggest that talking on a cell phone creates a form of inattention blindness, muting driver's awareness of important information in the driving scene."
Surviving the Summer Sun What you eat and drink before going out into the sun this summertime could make the difference between getting a beautiful tan, a painful sunburn, or skin cancer. Sip a Margarita before sunning, for example, and you increase your risk of ending the day with blistered lips and sizzling skin. The reason is that two ingredients in this drink – alcohol and lime oil – are both what scientists have identified as “photosensitizing” chemicals that increase our body’s sensitivity and reactivity to sunlight. Many foods, drinks, and other substances are photosensitizing or even phototoxic and make the sun’s rays more dangerous. Other foods can help reduce damage from the sun’s rays. This article will tell which things are safest under the sun, and what foods should be eaten in the shade or after sundown. This information could literally save your or your family’s lives. The Dangers: Lemon oil, buckwheat, natural vanilla, carrots, celery, parsnips and parsley, dill, fennel, and figs all possess chemicals that make those who eat them a little, or a lot, more reactive to sunlight. The degree of this photosensitivity varies from one person to another. Many people experience “photoallergies” triggered in their immune systems by photosensitizing chemicals. The resulting rashes, which typically appear 24 to 48 hours after sunlight overexposure, can look like eczema, hives, or other allergic conditions. Some sunbathers slather their skins with mineral oil, but one of its effects is to make skin more reactive to sunlight. Many petroleum-based or coal-based chemicals are photosensitizing or phototoxic. Sunbathers should avoid “Earl Grey” tea. This beverage gets its distinctive flavor from Oil of Bergamot, a citrus extract that used to be found in African-American hair care products and “quick tan” lotions. (It elicited quick skin reaction to sunlight because it is photosensitizing.) Scientists have also identified photosensitizing chemicals in quinine and Quinine water, in various birth control pills and bodybuilder steroids, in nutrients such as selenium and riboflavin (vitamin B-2), in deodorant soaps containing halogenated salicylanilides, and even in the musk ambrette in perfume. Many prescription drugs – from antibiotics to antifungals, diuretics, tranquilizers and one heart arrhythmia drug – are supposed to carry labels to warn patients that these medications increase sensitivity to sunlight. Users should take these warnings seriously, and ask your doctor and pharmacist about such side-effects of your prescriptions. Some over-the-counter drugs can also cause photosensitivity or phototoxicity, e.g., old-fashioned antihistamines for colds and allergies whose ingredients include promethazine, dimethothiazine, Triprolidine or Diphenhydramine hydrochloride. The Protectants: To reduce your and your family’s risk of sunburn this summer, eat foods rich in the antioxidants vitamin C such as cantaloupe and strawberries, vitamin E such as nutmeats and tomatoes, and the vitamin A precursor beta carotene such as cantaloupe and apricots. Eggs are an excellent natural dietary source of the free-radical scavenging amino acid glutathione, which can reduce skin damage from sunlight. Taking antioxidant vitamins prior to sunbathing, as well as immediately after getting too much sun, has the potential to reduce at least a small part of the free radical damage a sunburn can cause in your body. Such substances therefore could almost be called photo-desensitizing because of their protective effect (albeit limited) against the sun's damage. What to Do for Sunburn: If you fell asleep in the sun or lost track of time, and now your skin is hot with a sunburn, and you reach for the local anaesthetic benzocaine to cool the fire, be sure not to go back into the sun. Benzocaine is photosensitizing. Whatever you do, do not grab ibuprofen to ease your agony. Ibuprofen is also photosensitizing. The best pain reliever for sunburn is aspirin. Like a heart attack, much of the damage from sunburn happens in the minutes and hours after the initial injury. Part of sunburn’s damage is associated with unleashed chemicals called prostaglandins. Aspirin can intercept prostaglandins. Taking up to four aspirin can somewhat limit the chemical damage that continues for hours after your skin has been sunburned. But, as with all medications, do so only with your doctor's approval.
HOW MANY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARE IN YOUR STATE?
AL GORE INTERVIEWS PROFESSOR MIKE ADAMS Here is a transcript of the interview. Always entertaining!
KATRINA RELATED FEMA FRAUD OVER ONE BILLION DOLLARS Emergency aid was used to pay for football tickets, the bill at a Hooters in San Antonio, a $200 bottle of Dom Perignon, "Girls Gone Wild" videos, even an all-inclusive weeklong Caribbean vacation. More than $5 million went to people who had provided cemeteries or post office boxes as the addresses of their damaged property. Another person collected 26 payments using 13 different Social Security numbers — a total of $139,000 — even though public records show the individual did not live at any of the addresses reported as damaged.
Apology over cruise ship's "Seamen Wanted" ad
New Orleans Police Chief: "I'll Grab Guns" New Orleans Police Superintendent Warren Riley announced that police in his city would once again confiscate privately-owned firearms in the event of another catastrophic storm like Hurricane Katrina.
NY Squandered Billions in 9/11 Aid New York politicians allowed up to one-third of the $20 billion in federal aid awarded to the city in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks to be squandered right under their noses. But that hasn't stopped some of the same politicians from complaining about a mere $80 million cut in New York City's federal anti-terrorism budget. The study reported: Up to one-third of the $21.4 billion in 9/11 cash awarded to New York by the White House had been earmarked for major transportation projects that had no connection to the devastation caused on 9/11. $10 million in 9/11 cash was embezzled by a senior member of the New York medical examiners office. Yet Rudy Giuliani said the cuts are wrong.
Myths and Lies on the Record Public officials commit fraud all the time. But because they write the rules, they call it "public service." Consider the Congressional Record. You probably think it's a record of what our representatives said or did. But that's a myth.
BRING A KNIFE TO A GUNFIGHT An ex-marine brought his knife to a gunfight and defended himself extremely well.
Click it or ticket If something is a good idea it doesn't necessarily make a case for state compulsion. The justifications used for "Click It or Ticket" easily provide the template and soften us up for other forms of government control over our lives. Last year, Maryland state troopers were equipped with night vision goggles, similar to those used by our servicemen in Iraq, to catch night riders not wearing seatbelts. Maryland state troopers boasted that they bagged 44 drivers traveling unbuckled under the cover of darkness. Walter E. Williams eloquently addresses the matter.
Peoples' Republic of Massachusetts Seat Belt Bill OK'd in Senate James W. Decoteau of Springfield couldn't manage his daughter but wants to use the police power of government to control your life. "They can claim part of this as their victory," Brian Lees said of the Decouteaus. "They really worked hard." The Decouteaus should have worked harder in educating and supervising their daughter. Instead, they turn to government for the solution. Sen. Andrea F. Nuciforo, D-Pittsfield apparently understands about government intrusion as she questioned, "Are we going to allow the government to use its powers to interfere in the lives of ordinary people as they are driving along a public way minding their own business?" Keep in mind that the majority of traffic fines are for revenue raising purposes, not safety.
Mexican Government Running US Immigration Policy "...the Border Patrol is not allowed to pursue vehicles they know to contain dope or illegal aliens except under very limited circumstances..." “Any shooting that may anger the Mexican government, such as returning fire across the border is almost unheard of.”
Mexico warns of lawsuits if Guard detains illegal migrants Foreign Secretary Luis Ernesto Derbez told a Mexico City radio station, "If we see the National Guard starting to directly participate in detaining people ... we would immediately start filing lawsuits through our consulates." Translation: If the United States National Guard protects the borders of the United States we're going to sue. As if we don't already have enough frivolous lawsuits.
CAB DRIVER COMPUTER EXPERT This sounds like an episode of The Twilight Zone. You are a producer for the BBC who wants to interview a computer expert. You send an intern to the lobby to bring the computer expert to the studio for the interview, only the intern brings you a cab driver instead of the computer expert. The fun of LIVE TV can be viewed from the web page for this story.
PRICE-GOUGING IS GOOD It's the profit motive that eases scarce supplies, especially during disasters.
Everything you know is wrong Myths, lies and stupidity are often the basis of today's scary news stories. John Stossel says, "Everything you know is wrong -- and that's very good news."
Is thinking obsolete? How much would the price of gasoline at the pump change if company profits were zero? The analysis suggests not much if anything at all. But this is the age of emotion, not analysis. The relationship between prices and profit rates is not as simple as media hype or political demagoguery claims.
Patrick Kennedy crashes at Capitol With driving skills rivaling those of his father, Representative Patrick Kennedy crashed his car near the U. S. Capitol. "Some time around 2:45 AM, I drove the few blocks to the Capitol Complex believing I needed to vote," his second statement said. He was probably heading for one of those famous Congressional RAVE Sessions. No sobriety tests were conducted at the scene. The officers involved in the accident were instructed by an official "above the rank of patrolman" to take Mr. Kennedy home. A letter written by a Capitol Police officer to acting Chief Christopher McGaffin said Mr. Kennedy appeared to be staggering when he left the vehicle after the crash about 3 AM.
Woman’s own car kills her at husband’s grave She was about 50 feet from her husband's grave when the car mowed her down. She died at the scene.
Senators to push for $100 gas rebate checks Whether you drive a car or not, you would get a $100 check. This is nothing more than a vote-buying scheme. Wouldn’t it be easier to merely abolish the federal gas tax, which is 18.4 cents a gallon? Of course, but FREE money from the government during an election year makes more “political” sense.
Greed--Not Kindness--Gets Things Done John Stossel looks at the positive side of greed.
Greenpeace Ads to Target Ted Kennedy Safe, alternative energy sources need to be implemented, but not in Ted Kennedy's backyard. Ironically, the Kennedys claim that windmills, which have been touted for years to be a safe method of energy generation, would block the view from Teddy's mansion and "would cause pollution."
The Sneaky Government & Your Tax Burden How much do your actually pay in taxes? John Stossel presents an eye-opening analysis.
TIME MAGAZINE SALUTES TED KENNEDY They have named Kennedy as one of the top ten senators. Next month he's expected to be nominated for driver of the month.
SCHOOL DRESS CODE BANS PATRIOTISM Wear a shirt with an American flag and get suspended in Adams County Colorado. Myla Shepherd, the principal of Shaw Heights Middle School said, "We started seeing name calling." Whatever happened to the days when schools employed the “sticks and stones” theory? More government school idiocy.
MA Lawmakers OK Mandatory Health Bill Lawmakers overwhelmingly approved a bill Tuesday that would make Massachusetts the first state to require that all its citizens have some form of health insurance. Those who can afford insurance but refuse to get it will face increasing tax penalties until they obtain coverage. Who will decide if someone can afford coverage or not? Look once again to government. What else would you expect from the Peoples’ Republic of Massachusetts?
Boy turns in knife but may still be expelled It would appear that the reward for honesty is expulsion in Indiana. In his expulsion recommendation summary dated March 6, Principal Jimmy Meadows wrote, "Elliot informed me that he had a knife in his coat pocket because he was working outside on some wooden objects the day before. Elliot put the knife into his pocket after he completed the tasks," Meadows' summary continued, "and forgot to remove the knife from his coat. Realizing that the knife was an item he should not have on school property, Elliot immediately went into the main office and handed the knife to our school treasurer." Meadows noted in his summary, "Throughout the entire investigation and student due-process, Elliott (sic) was a model student." Another journey into government school idiocy. Zero tolerance equals zero thought.
Rethinking the Drug War John Stossel gets it right as we are currently spending billions on the no win war on drugs. He says that the government's declaring drugs illegal doesn't mean people can't get them. It just creates a black market, where even nastier things happen. Drug addiction is bad but the drug war is worse.
City Hall evicts Easter Bunny St. Paul Council President, Kathy Lantry said it's not the government's business to celebrate holidays. If that is the official position, then employees of St. Paul’s government offices and divisions should be expected to report to work on all holidays. Fair is fair.
Hitlary Clinton vows to block bill criminalizing illegal immigrants Here we have a US Senator advocating "illegal" immigration. What is wrong with this picture?
TO GRADE OR NOT TO GRADE Professor Mike Adams attempts to demonstrate the same intensity of effort in grading their exams as employed by some of his students during the semester. He decided not to grade the exams because he "simply didn't feel like doing it."
Congressional Car Leases Fleece Taxpayers An interesting perspective of this information would be to identify how many and which political figures voting for legislation requiring citizens to scale down to compact or smaller cars are actually driving large vehicles or SUVs themselves in Washington?
WILD PARTIES IN ARIZONA A Mesa, AZ deputy fire chief considers having a little too much to drink to be the appropriate justification to have sex with a lamb. LeRoy Johnson "admitted to trying to have sex with the sheep because he had too much to drink."
Ruth Bader Ginsburg Snoozes In Court I can understand that discussing political redistricting in Texas could be considered a slightly boring subject that could put you to sleep. Unfortunately, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg actually fell asleep on the bench. What is additionally disturbing is that the other justices let her sleep.
Couple Found Dead In Car In Garage Apparently they had been having sex in the front seat of a 1978 Cutlass when they were overcome by carbon monoxide.
PROFESSOR MIKE ADAMS FOR PRESIDENT Professor Mike Adams is going to be announcing his candidacy for president of the United States.
Woman Fakes Death To Avoid Paying Traffic Tickets Kimberly Du of Des Moines, Iowa obviously didn't consider the fact that she was attempting to dodge a few misdemeanors by committing a class D felony, and going from a $500 fine to a five-year prison term.
PRESENT DAY AIRPORT SECURITY IS A JOKE Peggy Noonan illustrates the charade of present day airport security, which is more about harassing passengers than actual effective security measures.
Student under fire for yelling: "Remember Chappaquiddick!" A University of Massachusetts student, Paul Trost, may face disciplinary action for expressing his opinion about the senior Senator from Massachusetts, Ted Kennedy. In my opinion, Paul Trost should be given a award.
Student finds toilet water cleaner than ice at fast food restaurants A scientific study you won't want to miss.
12-YEAR-OLD ILLINOIS BOY CHARGED WITH POSSESSION OF POWDERED SUGAR A 12-year-old boy who said he brought powdered sugar to school for a science project last week has been charged with a felony for possessing a look-alike drug. Zero tolerance madness strikes again!
VICE-PRESIDENTIAL SHOOTINGS For the record, this recent Cheney incident is not the first time a vice-president has shot someone. On July 11, 1804 vice-president Aaron Burr shot Alexander Hamilton in a duel in Weehawken, New Jersey. Hamilton died the next day. Burr was indicted for murder, but never prosecuted.
Scientist predicts 'mini Ice Age' Russian Astronomer/Scientist gets is right when it comes to global warming and the upcoming cooling. "Dramatic changes in the earth's surface temperatures are an ordinary phenomenon, not an anomaly, he said, and result from variations in the sun's energy output and ultraviolet radiation."
Anti-smoking becomes as big as all outdoors The last permissible place to light up a cigarette could be your own home. However, keep in mind that we are dealing with the Peoples' Republic of Massachusetts and activities in your own home may be challenged next. As the smoke-free movement has wound its way through restaurants, bars and the workplace, outside public locations like parks and beaches may be next on the hit list. While tobacco products are the current targets, the question remains: What is next? Veterans can no longer smoke on Veterans Mall, a public park in Greenfield.
PRESIDENT PROCLAIMS HEALTHCARE TO BE A GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITY I knew that socialized medical care was coming. I just didn't realize how close it was. During his State of the Union address, President Bush said, "Our government has a responsibility to help provide health care for the poor and the elderly." Precisely which Article and Section of our Constitution sets forth that responsibility? I have read the document many times and can’t recall ever seeing a reference to this particular "responsibility." If the government has the "responsibility" for providing health care for the poor and the elderly, why not the rest of us? There is a section of the Constitution addressing "equal protection." The bottom line is that it is NOT the responsibility of the federal government to provide that health care. But that won’t stop our ever growing federal government.
Original 'Survivor' guilty of tax dodge Richard Hatch is heading to prison for tax evasion. Will he survive this challenge?
SADDAM’S ATROCITIES A video has been released depicting Saddam Hussein’s crimes against humanity. WARNING: This material is extremely shocking and graphic in nature and should not be viewed by children.
Beware of Hitlary Clinton Here are a few highlights of Hitlary's socialized medical scheme. The government will tell you which doctor to go to, and when. The government will threaten you with jail if you dare go to a doctor on your own without the mandatory government authorization. The government will control your access to prescription medication. Unfortunately, too many people today believe that it is someone else’s responsibility to provide healthcare. In Hitlary's dream world that would be the government. That means socialized medicine is coming. Be afraid. Be very afraid!
GOOGLE SEARCHES UNDER INVESTIGATION The Bush White House wants Google to turn over records detailing all Google searches for a one-week period. They want to identify who did the searching, and what they were searching for. They allege this to be a fight against child pornography. Keep in mind that if they obtain the records, they will know who you are and what you were searching for on the internet, whether it be child pornography or any legitimate and legal search. Fortunately, Google has refused to release the records. In no way am I endorsing child pornography. However, if the government has reasonable suspicions about a specific case or individual and desires records, it should follow the rule of law and go to a judge to get a specific warrant for a specific computer. They should not engage in some sort of “random sampling” search.
John Stossel responds to hate mail with facts.
MASS EXODUS The population of Massachusetts is shrinking. Jeff Jacoby explains why so many people are fleeing the Peoples' Republic.
SURVEY ON HOW TO BUILD WEALTH
ATTENTION SURPLUS SYNDROME Professor Mike Adams has discovered something that may possibly be even more perilous than ADD. It’s called Attention Surplus Syndrome.
|
UNAUTHORIZED DUPLICATION, DISTRIBUTION, EXHIBITION OR USE MAY RESULT IN CIVIL LIABILITY AND/OR CRIMINAL PROSECUTION.
