Should we cheer because our government isn’t shutting down tonight, even though they’ve only come to a temporary agreement?

Via Stumbleon

Volunteers help family after farmer dies sandbagging

'This is just the Midwest attitude,' says man's son, 'it's all about helping people out'

I’m impressed by this show of concern among neighbors. It harkens back to the day when most Americans helped each other out without question. It’s good to know people are still willing to step up for others – especially strangers - during this miserable economy. This is the kind of thing America needs right now, more than ever.

Story Here

Earth to get very close look at a huge asteroid

Let’s hope we don’t have to divert this asteroid because someone’s off on their calculations. I’m reminded of those disaster movies where the hero’s are trying to shoot a monster asteroid down before the earth is destroyed.

Anyway, mark your calendars (November 8th, 2011) for an impressive and upcoming flyby of an asteroid that’s one of the larger potentially perilous space rocks in the heavens – in terms of smacking the Earth in the future.

Story Here

What about Mom? LeBrons’ mother in trouble with law again

Okay…so everyone knows who LeBron James is right? He’s that famous basketball player with more endorsements than Tiger Woods. It seems his Mom has some problems with booze. Has his fame gone to her head?

She was arrested for DUI in Cleveland in 2006, and now she got herself arrested for slapping a valet at a swanky Miami hotel. No problem though, LaBron’s money will get the best lawyer available and they’ll probably turn this case around and sue the assault victim for getting in the way of her hand!

New Car Engine Sends Shock Waves Through Auto Industry

This new engine sure sounds good to me, but I wonder if it will ever go on the market? Seems to me Big Oil might get nervous and put up some roadblocks.

Researchers at Michigan State University have built a prototype gasoline engine that requires no transmission, crankshaft, pistons, valves, fuel compression, cooling systems or fluids.

Their so-called Wave Disk Generator could greatly improve the efficiency of gas-electric hybrid automobiles and potentially decrease auto emissions up to 90 percent when compared with conventional combustion engines.

Story here

Relatives of George Washington selling collection of his artifacts

This article doesn’t explain why the family decided to sell these family keepsakes. It’s usually a matter of needing money, but not always. Washington memorabilia is extremely popular with presidential collectors and history buffs.

I don’t think I’ll be bidding on these items, they’re a little out of my range. For example, there’s a couple of books that are starting at $10,000 each, and you know the final price will be considerably higher. Do you want a piece of George Washington? Go to the link below to get the info:

Excerpt:

“Not only is such a sale by an old family unusual, those experts say, but the size of the collection and the variety of items provide a window on the life and times of both outsize and ordinary Americans in two pivotal centuries.” Story Here - Photo source

Glenn Beck's show sinks in ratings, Fox gives him the boot

Well how about that? Someone finally realized Beck was a basketcase!

Sinking ratings, an ad boycott and a focus on conspiracies lead to its demise.

Completing a swift rise and fall from TV stardom, controversial host Glenn Beck will lose his once-popular Fox News show later this year, the network announced Wednesday. Story Here.

The tax man cometh: how much did you pay for America’s wars this year?

What the heck? While you’re figuring out you taxes, due on April 18th, here’s something else you can figure out: How much did you pay to support the USA’s colonialism?

When will we say “Enough?”

Watch the video.
See how much of your income taxes will pay for war.

Source

If the clowns go what would a government shutdown look like?

Forget “Bring on the Clowns,” because the new version for that old phrase is “Watch the Clowns Do Nothing!” in 2011.

Based upon past shutdowns (1995-1996), here’s what we can expect if our dysfunctional government decides to shut down:

First off, forget about going to the National Zoo in Washington. It’ll won’t be open. I hope you don’t plan on going to any national parks when our polarized politicians are playing their games, because they won’t be open.

If you have a refund coming from The Internal Revenue Service, you’re going to have to wait a while because they could stop issuing refund checks.

How serious are these Republican and Democratic morons about going through with their tantrum? Today, “nonessential employees” were told to “..turn off their BlackBerrys during a shutdown, or risk punishment for working while on furlough.”

The Smithsonian Institution has a sign ready: “Closed for government shutdown.” Just think how thrilled  tourists will be when they arrive this spring and find that out. That’s not going to be pretty! It would be nice if they could give fair warning to the public, but guess what? No one knows when the “Bad Day” will arrive, or how long the shutdown will be.

No cleanup work was done at toxic waste sites during the last two shutdowns because contractors could not be paid and Environmental Protection Agency officials could not monitor cleanup work. No reason not to think the same thing will happen again.

As It Stands, if the clowns are no longer funny, then it’s time for a whole new show. Sweep ‘em all out and start over!

Here’s an article on this subject from today’s headlines:

As shutdown looms, agencies brace for impact

Beware of smiling faces–grining lawmaker unveils plan to dismantle Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare

Makes you want to move to Wisconsin doesn’t it? Not!!

Here’s the latest attack on middle America from the Greed Only Party. Rep. Ryan plan’s on leaving seniors out in the cold.

Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan officially unveiled his much-anticipated 2012 budget yesterday, which he dubbed the "Path to Prosperity," which includes ambitious plans to dismantle Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare. National media tripped all over itself calling it a "conversion" of traditional Medicaid into a voucher program rather than actually report it as an elimination of the program all together, even though it actually changes the system from a national coverage plan to a voucher system that leaves seniors on their own to find private insurance instead.

Story here