January 29, 2010
Greets and Huggers. Posted the evening of January 29, 2010. Remarkable!! The Haitian Relief special was on all local broadcast channels, all of the major networks, and just about every cable channel, last Friday night. Made my heart sing. MY America, united, leading the charge, World Wide, in an effort to provide relief for Haitian earthquake victims. The hungry, the homeless and those needing medical care. Share with me … where else on this, God’s Creation, any nation, any people, could pull together such an exercise in compassion? Not the government, but the American people. All segments, artistic and technical, pulling it together, with how much notice!! In how much time? Course, do a “google” on “Haitian Relief” and note the number of Websites that have sprung up, soliciting funds. I wonder how many are scams? And the legitimate efforts … make me wonder, “What about the suffering here, in my America?“ Don’t we also have children/people going to bed hungry? Aren’t there also homeless Americans? Aren’t there also Americans needing medical treatment? Who is mobilizing an “American Relief” effort? Without a doubt, history teaches, Americans as a people, are among the most generous on earth, opening their hearts and wallets for every natural disaster worldwide. And not just for natural disasters. In 2006, we spent $22.8 billion dollars on Foreign Aid, up from $14.8 Billion in 2001. The two largest recipients? Israel, $2.5 Billion … and Egypt, $1.7 Billion. Israel and Egypt? Why? In 2008, the American people voted for change. Perhaps part of that change is a review of the way we view ourselves in the world community? Stop trying to be the world’s “policeman”? Stop trying to export/impose our sense of justice or social order on the rest of the world? Instead, focus and use that $22.8 Billion dollars to reduce our budget deficit and provide relief to the “least of us”, here, in our America? Charity begins at home, doesn’t it?
New York (CNN) – Software executive admits affair after mistress’ billboard campaign. “The former mistress of a married man has taken their relationship public in a big way — a series of giant billboards of the happy couple erected in New York, San Francisco and Atlanta. New Yorkers passing through midtown Manhattan this week saw the smiling faces of “Charles and YaVaughnie” beaming down upon them from one of two billboards in the city with the caption reading, “You are my soulmate forever! - cep.” … Phillips, 50, the co-president of Oracle Corp., admitted the affair with Wilkins, 42, in a statement released by his spokeswoman Friday.” Well, perhaps this “software” executive should have exercised better control over his “hardware” … consulted an “oracle” about whether this “lady” really was his “soulmate”. And this “lady” feels stepped on, after screwing around with a man she knew was married, when he dumped her? Like she had no clue “fidelity” was not his strong card? We decriminalized “adultery” years ago and criminalized “bestiality” … I wonder, does the prohibition against “bestiality” apply to two legged bitches?
(PEOPLE.com) – Elin Nordegren hopes to save marriage. “Elin Nordegren is hoping to save her marriage to Tiger Woods because she doesn’t want to raise their two children without a father. “Elin wants a solid family life,” a Florida source told PEOPLE. “She was a child of divorce and felt her dad slighted her. She absolutely does not want that to happen to Sam and Charlie. So she wants to keep her family together even if she and Tiger live together as friends instead of lovers.” During the past week, Nordegren, 30, reportedly visited her husband at the Gentle Path sexual addiction clinic in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, where he has been getting treatment. During the middle of the six-week counseling session, a patient’s spouse is invited to visit for about a week, according to a former patient of the alcohol addiction section of the Hattiesburg clinic.” So “conjugal visits” are part of the treatment at a sex addiction clinic? Wouldn’t they just be a reminder, why you were screwing around on your spouse to start off with?
Queensland, Australia – Man in court over Simpsons porn. “AN IPSWICH man has admitted downloading graphic cartoon porn images featuring child characters from The Simpsons and The Powerpuff Girls TV shows. The 28-year-old is now a registered sex offender and will have to report to police after pleading guilty in Ipswich District Court to having the bizarre images on his computer … Defence lawyer Matthew Fairclough said his client did not get any sexual gratification from the cartoons.” It would be a crime here as well: 18 U.S. Code � 1466A, ” … defines obscene child pornography as �a visual depiction of any kind, including a drawing, cartoon, sculpture, or painting,� that depicts (i) a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct and is obscene (� 1466A(a)(1) and � 1466A(b)(1))” [See US v Whorley: ” The Virginia Employment Commission maintains a public resource room in Richmond, Virginia, where job seekers may use Commission copiers, computers, and printers for employment-related purposes. On March 30, 2004, a woman in the resource room informed a Commission employee that Dwight Whorley was viewing what appeared to be child pornography on a Commission computer. In response, the office manager and two supervisors went to the resource room and saw Whorley standing in front of the printer with papers in his hand. Upon request, Whorley showed the supervisor the documents, which depicted Japanese anime-style cartoons of children … “ Mr. Whorley was sentenced to 20 years in prison.] I’m certainly not in favor of any form of porn: have no interest in it … but share with me, does it really make sense to sentence a person to 20 years in prison for looking at cartoons, while the penalty for armed criminal action, is 10 years?
BBC NEWS – New Zealand jails German underwear gecko smuggler. “A German man who tried to smuggle 44 live geckos and skinks out of New Zealand in his underwear has been sentenced to 12 weeks in jail. The Christchurch court heard Hans Kurt Kubus, 58, had sewn pouches into his clothing to hide the protected animals as he had gone through the airport.” You have to ask yourself, what kind of fool would pack 44 live, carnivorous reptiles in his shorts? That’s 176 little hoofies tap dancing on your cojones. Certainly raises “kinky” to a new level.
Beijing, China (CNN) – China’s super-rich look for love online. “In China it can be hard for millionaires to find love. Just ask Xu Tianli. “These people are very excellent themselves, which leads to their high standards for partners,” Xu said. “And those who can meet those standards are few.” Xu is the founder of Golden Bachelor, an online dating site catering to an expanding class of super-wealthy Chinese singletons who have it all except for one thing: a bride. So they pay, a lot, to find one. The Golden Bachelor “Diamond Love” membership goes for 300,000 Yuan ($44,000).” I guess the Beatles were wrong: money can buy you love. But if not, for $44,000.00, I’m sure you can rent it.
BBC NEWS — Movie made by chimpanzees to be broadcast on television. “The world’s first film shot entirely by chimpanzees is to be broadcast by the BBC as part of a natural history documentary. The apes created the movie using a specially designed chimp-proof camera given to them by primatologists. The film-making exercise is part of a scientific study into how chimpanzees perceive the world and each other. It will be screened within the Natural World program “Chimpcam” shown on BBC Two at 2000GMT on Wednesday 27 January.” The chimps have hired an agent and are currently negotiating with CBS for a new “reality show” series, “Are You Smarter Than A Chimp?” If current programing is any indication, most aren’t, so it will probably be a hit.
(CNN) – Activist Roeder convicted of abortion provider’s murder. “A Kansas jury deliberated just 37 minutes before convicting an anti-abortion activist of first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of an abortion provider. The jury found Scott Roeder, 51, guilty of gunning down Dr. George Tiller, who operated a clinic in Wichita where late-term abortions were performed. Roeder, 51, faces life in prison when he is sentenced on March 9.” The part I find amazing remains, that there are people who actually believe shooting Dr. Tiller, as he worshiped in church, was justifiable. Only reinforces the statement, “Play it safe. Never turn your back on a Christian.”
Sitting here finishing off and editing these Ramblings, the Editorial Staff hunkered down or playing. It is cold and snowing outside, a good night to stay home. The pellet stove is cranking out heat: it is nice and warm, here, at Ft Timmerman. I watched President Obama answer questions at the Republican Caucus on CNN today. Unprecedented, (no pun nor play on words, intended). Good news, in that the economic recovery seems to be taking hold: a 5.7% increase in the GNP for the 4th quarter. Scott Brown, (who replaced Sen. Kennedy), and President Obama are 10th cousins. I wonder how many other people President Obama is related to? I will get on-line this evening and research recipes for Cornish Game Hens, (thanks to those of you who shared yours), for “Lunch and A Movie” on Sunday. The movie? Haven’t selected one yet. Later I hit the sack and settle in and as I drift off to sleep, I’ll say a prayer of thanks for the many blessings in my life, Susan to share them with … and for the safe and soon return of our men and women in uniform, (care to join me?) Be and sleep well, the best there is, is walking the walk, so you can. If these Ramblings offend, I apologize, that is not my intent. As always …
A Warm Brotherly Hug
KarlT (the dumb old country lawyer from Holden, Missouri and the “Editorial Staff”, Willie, Karly, Dinker, my L’il Buddy … and Floyd, the copy boy. “Smarticus” and “Farticus” were too busy playing!!)