As It Stands says goodbye to a veteran

This Sunday's As It Stands will be talking about a local veteran who just suddenly died. His name was Bob Porter and he was a man who loved God, and his fellow veterans. He was a volunteer for the last two veteran stand downs here in Humboldt County. and a volunteer worker for the American Red Cross.

Bob wasn't famous, but he did make a positive impact on the people who knew him. Like many veterans, Bob had his problems, both physical and mental, and lived with pain. He still managed a smile however, and that's how I'll remember him.

If you haven't seen this week's McKinleyville Press make sure to pick one up. Especially if you'd like to know about an economical pet for the times!

There's no thread today. I don't have anything to say!

As It Stands debuts with Nolan Chart

I've been accepted as a guest columnist for Nolan chart, a national Libertarian Online Magazine. My first article with them deals with the fact that the media narrows our choices in a Presidential campaigns. I give the reader a list of EVERYONE who is running for President this year.

I hope this column gives everyone pause for thought. Let me know what you think about it.

Things are tough in today's economy

Wholesale prices are rising at the fastest pace since 1981, according to an article in the Washington Post today.

The reasons are varied, but the cost of materials used by businesses increased by 1.2 percent in July, and the cost has risen 9.8 percent during the last year.

Basically wholesale inflation translates into higher consumer costs. So far the Fed has not reacted to recent inflation reports for fear that higher borrowing costs would further slow the economy.

                                                                          TODAY'S THREAD

       Should the Fed keep watching the inflation figures in the hope that things will turn around soon?

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FOR THOSE READERS WHO MISSED MY SUNDAY COLUMN REGARDING CORRUPTION IN PRESIDENTIAL

FOUNDATIONS AND CHARITIES RECENTLY, HERE'S THE LINK.

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Monday Meanderings

I've signed up to be a guest columnist for The Rational Review, a Libertarian blog. The blogger and editor of the Online Magazine is Thomas L. Knapp of Missouri, who is the Vice-Presidential candidate for the BOSTON TEA PARTY.

Interestingly enough I took an Online test to see what type of political animal I am, and it said I was a Libertarian. But, just to confirm that I took another Online test and it said I was a Centrist. So I guess it's how someone forms the questions that decides what you are. An imperfect science at best.

Pakistanis are celebrating today as President Pervez Musharraf resigned. Many Pakistanis are happy to see the strongman go because they believe he was responsible for Minister Benazir Bhutto's death. In his resignation speech Musharraf blammed his political foes of conducting a vendetta against him.

TODAY'S THREAD:

The question now is whose going to step up and lead the country? To take it one step further, is the new leader going to help the US go after Osama Bin Laden who has been living in the Pakistan border region by Afghanistan?       

McCain Obama debate is revealing

The debate between Obama and McCain last night surprised some people, like me, that Mccain actually came across better than Obama. It was obvious that McCain knew how to push the right buttons(in this case Jingoism and patriotism). He proved that most Americans are into the short and sweet rhetoric.

Obama's mistake was in being too thoughtful about his replies. The white-dominated wealthy Republican audience heard the buzz words that make them happy and cheered when they were thrown out like tasty tidbits. After viewing the so-called debate (it really turned out to be a forum for McCain's blatherings with his handpicked audience), I came to the conclusion that Obama is in trouble.

I also came to a very troubling conclusion regarding McCain. He is probably going to be the next president and we can expect four more years of the Bush legacy, new enemies to attack, and no end to the occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan. The economy will continue to stagger and the rich will get richer.

The badly needed change in leadership isn't going to happen unless people recognize that McCain means four more years of the hell that we've been going through under the current Republican regime. If your a CEO or other wealthy-type, why would you vote for someone that is going to clean up your act and make the corporations pay taxes too?

Hell no...unless a miracle happens, Obama's race will keep the majority of white males from voting for him. That and his proposed changes to make things fair in this country, will assure that the power elite will refrain from voting for him.

                                                                               TODAY'S THREAD:

                                               Do you think Obama even has a chance in this election?  

Odd News & My Muse

Good day blog buddies! When I heard that a 3-foot penguin was being knighted in Scotland the other day my muse went wild and the result was a new column for The McKinleyville Press. In a nutshell, my pug Millie felt she was more deserving of some royal title than a penguin.

After all, she pointed out to me, she's descended from a long line of Royal Chinese lapdogs. I could not argue with that. She wanted the Chinese do do some sort of ceremony honoring her, but it turned out they were too busy with the Olympics. Instead I contacted one of America's "royal families" and the results were pretty funny.

I let you know when Jack publishes it.

                                                                 TODAY'S THREAD:

"Does Millie deserve to get some sort of royal recognition? If so then what would you suggest?

So it's finally friday...

After battling with computer gremlins this morning for two hours I'm glad to say I've overcame the creatures and am back online. The problem actually turned out to be a loose connection.

I want to remind everyone that HSU will be celebrating the new opening of the V.E.T.S program on Aug.28.

Here's a link for more information about the program.

I don't know about you but my week has flown by on the wings of my usual muse...writing. Working on columns, my blog, and new book, is making the days fly by. That doesn't even count my other daily activities that range from chief dishwasher to being the manager of four Fantasy Baseball teams.

This sure has been a wild week internationally with the Olympics and the invasion of Georgia. If you believe in God then pray for those poor civilians who are getting caught in the crossfire of this terrible invasion. Russia is once again the Bear That Roars and old imperialistic aims have been revived. Watch as the other republics - like the Ukraine - get invaded too.

                                                                             TODAY'S THREAD:

"What can the US and the world do to stop Russia's aggression against it's struggling democratic neighbors? 

A new arms race

Make no mistake, we're locked into a deadly arms race with China and it's happening in Cyber Space. There were 79,000 attempts to break into American computers in 2005, including the Army's 101st Airborn and 82nd Airborn Division, and the 4th Infantry Division. This year those attempts have increased.

Beiijing is trying to achieve "electronic dominance" over it's global rivals by 2050, particularly the US, England, Russia, and South Korea. What's really alarming is that the Chinese military manuals say the US is the country they are most likely to go to war against!

Our "chimp-in-charge," President Bush, has said that he was going to talk with the Chinese about this while he was at the Olympic Games. So far, I haven't heard a word about it.

                                                                              TODAY'S THREAD:

How dangerous do you think these cyber attacks are and what do you think we (as a country) should do about them?

More Mudslinging with new book

It looks like Jerome R. Corsi,PH.D. is back to his dirty tricks with a new book called "Obama Nation," in which he frankly said he wrote to attack Obama (and damn the facts) and make sure he doesn't get elected. Critics are already pointing out factual errors, but Corsi who was the co-author of "Unfit for Command" another attack book on a presidential hopeful John Kerry, really doesn't care. Mere facts don't bother this man. See Swift Boat For Veterans for further proof of his low-road attack philosophy.

THREAD: How do you feel about this kind of low-down journalism?

A link for readers

For those readers who didn't see my last column on animal activists.

Political mudslinging reaches new low

Hillary Rodham Clinton may not have gone with all of Mark Penn's suggestions during the primaries, but she did use one of them. Penn, a longtime pollster and strategist for Clinton's bid for the Democratic nomination for President, wanted Clinton to make an issue of Obama's "diverse, multicultural" upbringing.

He suggested, in a memo titled "Lack of American Roots" that Obama's, "roots to basic American values and culture are at best limited."

Fast forward to today and look at the Campaign that McCain's handlers are running. They have taken a cue from Penn's notebook, and are attacking Obama on nothing more than "he's different." McCain's campaign is taking the low road where Clinton left off, and he's trying to portray Obama as some sort of star - like Paris Hilton and Britney Spears - who is only an air-headed entertainer/speaker.

Forget about real issues like the economy and the two wars we're embroiled in, the McCain campaign would rather run a mudslinging contest and to rely on Jingoism to carry him to the White House.

 

TODAY's THREAD:

Is McCain's strategy going to be his key to the Oval Office?  

Presidential pardons are a bad idea

 

For our commander-in-thief, bumbling along in the final days of his occupancy in the White House, there is one last perk that he'll get this December.

Every lame duck president has taken advantage of this blanket pardon  idea since Washington pardoned the men who started the so-called whiskey rebellion in 1794.

Some past examples are; Nixon pardoned Jimmy Hoffa, President Ford pardoned Nixon, Jimmy Carter pardoned Vietnam war draft dodgers in 1977, President H.W. Bush pardoned Casper Weinberger, and President Clinton pardoned his buddy Marc Rich after getting hefty donations from his wife Denise.

My point? Abuse of power. There's been times, as in President Carter's case, that the pardon really was warranted. But there also has been numerous cases of really bad people getting a pardon like Marc Rich (who by the way fled the country and was pardoned while living overseas.)

Here's more information about presidential handouts.

TODAY'S THREAD:

Should the practice of presidential pardons be stopped? 

Monkeying around...

These guys are wondering when the next As It Stands column is coming out in the Mack Press?

The answer? August 19th

The subject is: economical pets...hmmmmm

Recycle Or Else!

Another week is underway blogger buddies and today's topic is about forced recycling.

Apparently San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom thinks that "enforced" recycling is the answer to the city's trash problems.

He floated the idea of having mandatory recycling, like some other cities do, and went one step further, creating the first composting law in the country.

Customers will get colored bins and God help them if the coffee grounds are found drizzling through the wrong colored bin! Gavin is proposing a $1,000 fine for violators. I suppose they will also have to create "trash police" to enforce such a draconian law!

TODAY'S THREAD:

Should people be forced to compost - even if it means enforcing the law with big fines?
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If it's Sunday...

...then it's time for As It Stands! Today's column deals with animal activists who go too far in their zeal to stop animal research.

They throw fire bombs at people's houses and cars. What's the difference between them and any other terrorists? None, in my opinion. I'm kinda funny about things like that.

When someone physically attacks others in the name of some ideology they are taking the wrong approach to solving their difference. Might does not make right. Terror does nothing but set the table for death.

I did not pick on all animal groups that are actively seeking better lives for animals. I picked out ALF (Animal Liberation Front) to highlight how some can be so negative. I offer the reader their full view by providing a link to their press office. I think some people are going to be surprised at what they read there.

TODAY'S THREAD

"Do you think groups like ALF are really helping the cause for animals?"

The rise and fall of a politician

Greetings to you all! Have you heard the latest? Once presidential candidate John Edwards has been a bad boy! The National Enquirer has been dogging him for a year now ever since they got a hot tip that he was cheating on his wife who is battling cancer. In a scene right out of the movies, Edwards ran from the reporter from the National Enquirer when he was caught trying to slip out of the motel where his girlfriend (and possibly new daughter) were staying at 2 a.m. in the morning.
He ran right into a men's bathroom and blocked the door! Can you imagine what a scene that was?
So, the next day he had to fess up to the mainstream press (who by the way felt sheepish about getting scooped on such a big story by a "rag" publication) and tell them he had an affair (as in past tense). The problem with that is why was he visiting her then at that time of night? There's something rotten (and not in Denmark) about his claims that the baby girl is not his.
If Obama had him down as a possible veep, that thought has vanished with all of Edward's credability with voters. Just last year some national organization gave him the Daddy-of-the-Year award! Talk about irony. The guy even admitted that he was in love with himself!
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TODAY'S THREAD:
Why is it that so many politicians cheat on their spouses?

A passing of the torch?

Greetings blog buddies! As you know today marks the opening day of the Olympics. Our chimp look-alike Commander-in-Thief started things off real swell by knocking China's Human Rights record. If it wasn't for the fact that the Bush regime totally ignores human rights I wouldn't have had a problem with W's speech. But propaganda is all he knows. His timing on the world scene has been consistently horrid. He knows just what to say to tick off the rest of the world.
I find it ironic that Bush is trying to take the high road when in fact all he travels are the low roads!
The Chinese are going all out to impress the world with their architectual wonders, i.e., The Bird's Nest and The Ice Cube.
What's really going on is a passing of the torch. But not the Olympic torch. America and the rest of the world are being shown that China's military and economic power deserves to carry the torch of the world leader.
America has been building up to this economic change of the guard for year's by importing everything China makes. Forget about the quality of the stuff they turn out. It's cheap and the masses can usually afford it.
So when they light that big Olympic cauldron in The Bird's nest the symbolic ceremony will be hailing the world's competition in sports and China's economic power in the world.

TODAY'S THREAD:

Are you going to watch the Olympics or have they become too political?

Another Thread for the day

I can't believe what a couple of big babies the Clinton's are! Now Hillary is hinting that she wants her supporters to "speak up" at the Democratic National Convention and allow them to nominate her as the Dem's choice for president. Excuse me? I thought we were finished with that nasty little process after the primaries.
That doesn't appear to be the case. Bill keeps whining that he's not a racist (by the way who called him that?) and has been emitting sound bites that are less than supportive of Barack. Insiders say Bill still has his dander up about no one showing him any respect for his presidency. I suppose the "no one" he's talking about is Obama. In Bill's lust-driven mind, Obama should have been bowing every time he sees "Master Bill," and praising his wonderful presidency that saw such monumental failures as NAFTA!
Hillary is really a case though. This is a woman who was sure the presidency was going to be handed to her on a plate because; a.) she's a woman and it's time for a woman president (regardless of how qualified she is) to lead this country, B.) she quite naturally assumed she was going to inherit the presidency because she is of the royal American blood that has controlled our top office for the past 22 years! Yes...it's either the royal house of Bush or Clinton during those dark decades, and C.) she's not a black man with a Muslim sounding name - therefore she will get all those white supremacy votes that will make the difference and assure that the Democrats get in the Oval Office.
It's time for change all right! But it may not happen if the Democratic Party is torn over who their candidate will be!

The Thread:

"Are the Clinton's dividing the Democratic Party and paving the way for John McCain?

Thursday Thoughts about Television

Another day in Paradise folks! I finished a future column yesterday about television. I touch on it's early history and the cultural impact it has had on Americans. The love/hate relationship with the Boob Tube has been going on since the first telecast in 1928.
Once upon a time it was safe for all family members to watch tv, but that has changed these days. Your kids could be watching an adulterous affair in Prime Time, or Tia Tequila whose "reality" show involves men and women trying to woo her!
A generation of couch potatoes have passed their constant viewing habits on to the next generation which has become "the overweight generation." TV's as babysitters is commonplace.
Still, there are good things on tv and it really boils down to watching it in moderation. You can drink too much water and get sick. The same goes for tv. You can watch it constantly while your health fails from lack of exercise. And don't forget about the subliminal messages that are beamed out 24/7 on the tv. The key is to be selective about what you watch and how much you watch it.
The evolution of tv's has been nothing short of amazing. The latest models make you feel like your right there with whatever your viewing.

TODAY'S THREAD: Would our lives be healthier if televisions were never invented?

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Parting shot for the day

"I cook with wine. Sometimes I even add it to the food."

W.C. Fields