Fast-tracking another appointment? Geithner getting Pass?

Let me see now. Roland Burris gets the green light from a corrupt governor to be the next senator from Illinois (filling Obama's old seat) and every Democratic (and of course Republican) senator said they wouldn't let him take a step onto the senate floor.

Obama quietly passes the word to senator Reid and suddenly Burris is golden and being hailed as the next senator from the great state of Illinois!

But that's yesterday's news. How about having a Treasury Chief that didn't pay several years back taxes?

Better yet, how about a Senate Finance Committee that is fast-tracking his confirmation? One senate Republican blocked it temporarily, and it doesn't look like he's going to be confirmed during Obama's inauguration.

 The feeling among the "good ol boys" on the committee is, "What's a measly $34,000 in back taxes?" They've been grinning happily for the cameras and talking about "honest mistakes."

Gee, I wonder if I failed to pay $34,000 in back taxes if the IRS would think that's okay? Somehow, I don't see getting any special treatment like this Gaithner has. And he's going to head up the IRS! This guy is supposed to be such a financial genius, but he can't even keep track of his own finances? What about knowing financial laws? His people say there was some question on whether he even had to pay taxes while working for his last job. A question that Geithner couldn't answer? That sure doesn't bode well for our new financial guru!

Can you say, "double standard?" Doesn't it feel good to know that whoever runs this country one thing isn't going to change? I'm referring to political corruption, the backbone of our capitalistic society.

AS IT STANDS, I guess that's why I smile every time I hear all of this talk about "change" coming to America. What a laugh!

photo by Alex Wong/Getty images 

Foot-in-mouth moments: Palin rails against press

For someone who was just going to go back to her job in Alaska and get out of the limelight, Palin has done anything but.

She's been in the news lately complaining about the mainstream press, bloggers, and everyone else who she doesn't like.

She actually has a few good points, but their buried in her rants against people like Katie Couric.

The Los Angeles Times takes a critical look at her this morning. Click here for the whole story.

photo by Stephen Morton/Associated Press

Fun Illusions:How many Eagles and Pandas can you see?

  

Eagle Hint: There's more than four.     Panda Hint: There's almost 12 bears.

Eagle image from newopticalillusions.blogspot.com and the Pandas are Google images.

This blog toured by worldwide academia today!

Who reads this blog?
I’m still researching that. Today, I thought I’d name where some visitors were coming from. One thing that was quickly apparent, this blog is popular with public schools, colleges, and universities across the USA and the world.
It’s funny how things travel in cyberspace. One email to the next. A link to your blog travels around the world, and suddenly strangers are reading you stuff.
I’m also adding a couple of unique visitors who stopped by just today.
Going to school with me today are:
Albuquerque Public School; Drake University; Utah Education Network; Saskatoon (Canada) Board of Education; Fairfield Public Schools; Bridgeport Public Schools; Austin Independent School District; Range High School; Hamilton-wentworth Catholic District School Board (Canada); Flagstaff Unified School District; Carnegie Mellon University(!); Angus College2 (United Kingdom); Thames Valley District School Board (Canada); DOD Dependents Schools-European Region-APO, Armed Forces; Eastligh College (United Kingdom); Hillsdale Baptist College, and Stockport Education Services (United Kingdom).
Unique Visitors
How about the Archdiocese of New York? Goodwill Industries; South Carolina Budget & Control Board; Kent County Council and Bridgend County Council and Dorset County Council, all from the United Kingdom, read my post on recycling.
Someone from the State of Nebraska/Office of the CIO stopped by for a read. Unisource Business Networks (Schwerz)Ag, from Bern Switzerland, checked in and someone from Vietnam Telecom National (out of Hanoi) paused to view too.
My last count shows about 350 visitors today and still counting. Thank you all for coming by. I’m learning something everyday!

Bill's Presidential Foundation-aka Clinton Memorial-causing some uneasy moments during Hillary's secretary of state confirmation in the senate today...

image from politicalhumor.com

Senate caving in to seating Burris as next senator from Crimeland USA, otherwise known as Illinois!

As the senate goes through the motions to seat Roland Burris today, I'm struck by how high corruption reaches into the halls of Congress!

How could a governor involved in a scheme to sell a senate seat get away with appointing someone to the Barack Obama's old job?

Why was Burris Blago’s senate pick?

Burris donated $4,500 to Blago’s campaign for Governor, he even donated as early as June which was the same time Blago was deep in scandal. Basically  Blago just got his damn way. Lets not forget that Burris and ex-Black Panther, Bobby Rush, were trying to inject race into this whole thing.

This guy is from old school Illinois politics, he isn’t even “Change”.  This type of distraction is what Blago wanted. This whole situation is very apparent to me. Obama didn't want the distraction this appointment was causing so he basically told Senate leader Reid and others to cave in, and let Burris have his way.

As usual, back door deals continue to be the modis operandi of our politicians, from the bottom to the top. I'm disgusted at the way this is going down. Secret deals are made and everything is supposed to "go away."

photo courtesy of HistoryMakers

I hope one of you guys have an eye out for Sarah Palin

Update on Movie Theater Gunman by informed reader

TODAY-Monday:

FROM ANONYMOUS

Yesterday I spoke to Jim personally.( Had his cell phone number in mine all along, but didn't realize it) He explained the actual details of the incident differed greatly to the news report.
He was released from jail 72 hours ago and is on house arrest. The attempted murder charge was dropped. He was and is licensed to carry a concealed weapon.
It was not PTSD. He was not the one throwing popcorn nor was he the once confronting another patron in the theatre because of their loundness.
He was being beaten by a small mob having gotten involved when the a woman was punched in the face defending her husband who was defending their family.
It made great headline news the day after Christmas Day but his story is far from over.
Posted by Anonymous to As It Stands at January 12, 2009 4:11 PM

DECEMBER 30 POST

I want to share this rare insight on a man who has been described as a "crazed gunman." The moral of the story is don't judge someone unless you've walked in their shoes. This guy is an Iraqi veteran, and I suspect he has PTSD. I think this should be considered when authorities sentence the man. He served his country. As a combat veteran myself, I can't help feeling for this man who made a mistake. I put a post up yesterday on his story and this person submitted the following comment:

Anonymous said...

The last time I saw Jimmy (James Joseph Cialella) was at a church service where I am an associate pastor.
         I'd not seen him for quiet a while and he told me he'd recently returned from serving in Iraq, just gotten married and was looking forward toward getting his degree. I remember thinking how awesome it was that he'd pulled his life together, as I remember the struggle he had in his late teens and early twenties.
       I'd have had him home for a cup of coffee afterwards, but my wife and I had already made plans for our Sunday afternoon.
We're in Florida at the moment with family and it was a considerable shock to see Jimmy's pic on the Internet with the accompanying story regarding what he did (allegedly) at the Riverview Movie Theatre.
       I'd introduce Jim to our Sr Pastor on this particular Sunday who thanked him for serving in Iraq and warmly invited him to return again soon. I forwarded the news piece to my Pastor, and later on in a follow up phone call he said something to the effect that he was glad he preached a good message that day considering that Jim did not shoot us at church.
       So here it is, a guy who I genuinely like being commented on as a crazed gunman. I don't know how that makes me feel about the kind of people who I believe the best in until the prove themselves otherwise.
Guess I just wanted to share the human side of this guy who's life will never be the same, as he walks out the consequences of his criminal insanity in accordance with the letter of the law of the land in which we live.
       Bless you and if you do not know that Jesus loves you and has a plan for your life, I'd encourage you to consider this fact for yourself.

December 30, 2008 6:21 PM

 

Some great record albums from between the 20s and 40s

  

  

via Google images

My list today is really very simple...

via funnypill.com

National safety group urges cell phone ban while driving

When California passed its first cell phone law, I knew that it just didn't solve the problem. People were still texting while driving, which was actually more dangerous!

After some guy caused a train wreck that killed over twenty people, California lawmakers hastily added texting to the misdemeanor list. My gripe is that people ignore these laws everyday. I still see the same amount of people playing with hand-held cell phones as their driving.

One of the reasons is the ridiculously low fine imposed. A ticket for $20 bucks, or even $50 bucks is chump change to most people. It sure isn't going to deter people from yakking on the cell phone as they hurtle down the road.

A national safety group is advocating a total ban on cell-phone use while driving, saying the practice leads to fatalities. I really think this is a well-written article. Click here for the full story in the Chicago Tribune.