US Automakers are showing significant increases in market share.

Ford is expecting to give bonuses to their employees that will at least match last year.

...Hourly bonuses (click here) are certain to top last year's $450, but a Ford official cautioned they would not be as large as some reports have indicated.

A memo to Ford's salaried workers Thursday said that salaried workers would get their bonuses, which are based on profits, market share and other performance metrics, in March.

Still, the memo from Mark Fields, Ford's president of the Americas, also said there would be no merit pay increases this year because a market study showed workers were being fairly compensated and Ford must be vigilant in managing its costs....

Current energy rates are going up, mostly in the area of oil and gas.  Ford held an edge over GM when it had monies set aside as money was cheap.  Ford did not need to be bailed out as GM did.  So, it makes sense Ford would seek to hold down its production costs by deferring merit pay due to its prudent management in the past.  With a more than 12% increase in profits globally, GM could be able to out save Ford in the future and put market pressure on Ford by keeping their prices down.  I think Ford is doing what it should until this 'new car market' (as fuel costs rise) is better understood.

 ...The energy index increased in December.(click here) The gasoline index rose  sharply and accounted for about 80 percent of the all items seasonally adjusted increase. The household energy index, which declined in November, increased as well. The food index increased slightly in December, with the fruits and vegetables index rising notably....

Toyota out sold GM, but, only by a margin.  That is a global inventory.  It is noted the China market for autos has picked up which indicates the Chinese are beginning to spend more on quality of life.  The problem is that the cars being sold in China aren't necessarily the most energy efficient, but, there is always Russian petroleum that doesn't rack up the overseas transportation costs.

I really think China is an excellant example as to when consumers are paid well for the economies they live in they purchase.  The purchase power of the Chinese is increasing.  The same would be true in the USA if people were back to work manufacturing cars for their own country.  The USA needs to focus on domestic production and return a better outcome to consumers seeking fuel efficient cars.  China is proof.  The outsourcing worked, but, it is killing the USA market place.  China has to domesticate its economy and labor force to allow the USA to 'take back' domestic manufacturing.

If citizens of any country don't have money to spend, they can't purchase.  Just that simple.

GM's China sales top U.S. total, a first for the automaker (click title to entry - thank you)

General Motors' sales in China increased 28.8% in 2010 while U.S. sales rose just 6.3%. GM is one of the best-positioned automakers in emerging markets, even better than Toyota, says one expert.

By Jerry Hirsch, Los Angeles Times

January 24, 2011, 9:16 a.m.

...GM's sales in China rose 28.8% last year to 2,351,610 vehicles, GM said Monday. U.S. sales rose just 6.3% to 2,215,227, in part because of the slow economy and GM's closure or sale of the Saturn, Pontiac, Hummer and Saab brands as part of its financial restructuring....

...Meanwhile, Toyota wasn't showing much growth in North America (click here) — and growing slower in China than GM — partly because it lacks the U.S. automaker's extensive model lineup such as large-size sedans, he said.
Toyota's global sales, including truckmaker Hino Motors Ltd. and Daihatsu Motor Co., which makes small cars, rose 8 percent from 2009, driven by solid sales growth in China and other Asian nations, the Japanese manufacturer said.
Toyota Motor Corp. dethroned General Motors as the world's No. 1 automaker in worldwide vehicle sales in 2008 — a position GM held for nearly eight decades. Since then, General Motors, now called General Motors Co., was bailed out by the U.S. government and underwent restructuring after a brief period in bankruptcy protection.
George Hansen, a GM spokesman in Tokyo, played down the importance of Toyota's bigger sales numbers.
"We don't focus on who is No. 1," he said of the so-called "new GM."...

Let's hope Hezbollah has found a peace way of co-existing in the Middle East now.

There is always that "W"orry that democracy doesn't achieve the same STABILITY in the Middle East as it might elsewhere.  Let's home the New Mikati government proves that "W"orry "W"rong.

Lebanese MP and former Prime Minister Najib Mikati smiles as he delivers a news conference after meeting Lebanon's President Michel Suleiman at the presidential palace in Baabda, near Beirut,

...But caretaker Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri (click title to entry - thank you) said he and his Future Movement would not take part in a government where the Shi'ite militant group has the upper hand.
Lebanon was plunged into political crisis after Hezbollah and its allies walked out of Hariri's unity government on January 12 in a dispute over still-confidential indictments by a U.N.-backed tribunal which is investigating the 2005 killing of statesman Rafik al-Hariri, the premier's father.
Hariri has stayed on in the interim and hoped to form a new coalition. But support from Jumblatt and six members of his parliamentary bloc -- added to the 57 members of Hezbollah and their allies, plus Mikati himself -- will give Mikati 65 votes in the 128-member parliament....

Political crisis threatening Lebanon's economic gains (click here)

Country’s history of managing difficulties may be an advantage despite analysts’ fears
Monday, January 24, 2011

Bassem Mroue

Associated Press

BEIRUT: The political crisis in Lebanon is threatening to derail economic progress after a year that saw 7 percent economic growth, a record number of tourists and bank deposits among the highest in the Middle East.

Lebanon’s Western-backed government collapsed on Jan. 12 after Hezbollah and its allies resigned from the Cabinet in a row over a U.N.-backed court investigating the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

The court, which is widely expected to accuse the Shiite militant group, filed a sealed draft indictment last Monday, touching off a process many fear could ignite new bloodshed nearly six years after the massive truck bombing along Beirut’s waterfront that killed the former prime minister.

“This is a very deep and troubling crisis in Lebanon,” said Lebanese economic analyst Kamel Wazni. “The continuation of this crisis with the absence of any political resolution any time soon will have its implications in terms of growth and in terms of development.” Still, Lebanon is accustomed to managing in crises. Street protests and violence have been the scourge of this tiny Arab country of 4 million people for years, including a devastating 1975-990 Civil War and sectarian battles between Sunnis and Shiites in 2008....

Looks like it is time to pull the plug on aid to Lebanon.  Does Hariri need a new place to stay?

US threatens to stop Lebanese aid if Hezbollah leads government, says report  (click here)

Sunday, January 23, 2011

ISTANBUL - Daily News with online dispatches

The United States will stop aiding Lebanon if the Shiite militant group Hezbollah leads the new government in the country, Israeli media reported, citing a pan-Arab newspaper’s report.
Lebanon's national unity government recently collapsed after Hezbollah and its allies withdrew from the cabinet to protest against caretaker Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri's reluctance to cut ties with the U.N. tribunal that is probing the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri.
In the first reported U.S. comment on the possibility that a Hezbollah-controlled government could rise from the ashes of the current Lebanese crisis, a U.S. official told London-based Asharq al-Awsat on Sunday that such a power shift could mark the end of American aid to Israel's neighbor to the north. According to the top U.S. official quoted in the report, Congress would refuse to provide additional aid to anyone "taking orders from Hezbollah."
Israeli newspaper Haaretz said that late last year two top U.S. lawmakers attempted to hold up $100 million that was approved for Lebanon's army but not yet spent, saying they wanted to make sure neither funds nor arms meant for the Lebanese army would reach Hezbollah....

What recruit of al Qaeda was traveling out of Somalia or Yemen? No different than London and the G8, this is probably linked to Davos.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has postponed his trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos following the blast / AFP Source: AFP

AND. 

Then there is this THANKLESS statement by Abbas.

 If this is true it proves Abbas has no control over his people and/or aligns with them in violence.  Like, what kind of thing is this to say to a Russian President seeking solutions for peace?  Sounds like a threat to me.

Abbas urges Quartet to put pressure on Israel (click link below). 

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH AND HERB KEINON 
01/18/2011 22:43

...Medvedev stops short of saying border of future Palestinian state should be 1967 lines; PA president praises Russians for support of Palestinians.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday urged the Quartet members, who are scheduled to meet in Munich next month, to issue decisions that would oblige Israel to return to the negotiating table with the Palestinians.

Abbas, who was speaking during a joint press conference in Jericho with visiting Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, said there were only two options: Negotiations or violence and terrorism....

http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=204226

At least 31 killed and 130 injured in Moscow airport bombing (click here)

January 25, 2011 3:24AM

A SUICIDE bomber has killed at least 31 people and wounded more than 130 others this morning.

"Today at 4:32 pm [local time] an explosion went off in the international arrivals hall of Domodedovo airport," the Russian investigative committee said in a statement.
There were scenes of carnage at Domodedovo airport in southern Moscow as corpses were stretchered out of the arrivals area after the blast, the latest deadly attack to hit the capital after the metro bombings in March.

Describing the attack as an act of terror, President Dmitry Medvedev chaired an emergency meeting of transport and security officials and ordered a special security regime across the country's main airports and railway stations.

"Today at 4.32pm an explosion went off in the international arrivals hall of Domodedovo airport," the Russian investigative committee said in a statement....

What have I been saying and for how many years? Why was it clear to me and NOT you?

Topsy-Turvy Weather: U.S. Is Frigid, Artic Is Balmy

By JUSTIN GILLIS

Published: January 24, 2011

Judging by the weather, the world seems to have flipped upside down.

For two winters running, an Arctic chill has descended on Europe, burying that continent in snow and ice. Last year in the United States, historic blizzards afflicted the mid-Atlantic region. This winter the deep South has endured unusual snowstorms and severe cold, and a frigid Northeast is bracing for what could shape into another major snowstorm this week.

Yet while people in Atlanta learn to shovel snow, the weather 2,000 miles to the north has been freakishly warm the past two winters. Throughout northeastern Canada and Greenland, temperatures in December ran as much as 15 or 20 degrees Fahrenheit above normal. Bays and lakes have been slow to freeze; ice fishing, hunting and trade routes have been disrupted....

The New York Times places the Climate Crisis on the top of its website for the first time in history IN PROPER AND CORRECT CONTEXT.

What did I say about these weather satellite COMPLIMENTS of UNISYS every time I would post them?

Didn't I call those huge monsterous water vapor 'trails' in the upper troposphere 'Heat Transfer Systems?"

Yes?

Why would I call them that?

January 24, 2011
15:30:13z
UNISYS North and West Hemisphere Water Vapor Satellite (click title to entry for 12 hour loop - thank you)

Through some of the most difficult political pressure the "Free Press" ever experienced UNISYS 'found a way' to stay online and stay connected.  I am eternally grateful to them.  At one point there were faux charges of some kind of federal crime.  I mean you talk about control and hate.  If UNISYS found the will to do all that regardless, why couldn't the 'Free Press?"  And how FREE is it really?

They like to call me "The Rebel Without a Cause."  I don't think so and I never did.

Now.

The Satellite above exhibits minimally two discernable upper tropospheric vortexes.  One off the East Coast of the USA/North American Continent and one off the West Coast. 

The one off the West Coast is a formation called "The Arctic Oscillation."  This formation, when Earth is in NORMAL carbon dioxide/greenhous gas BALANCE would not be found daily NOR in joint 'appearance' with any other VOLITILE and EARTH COOLING MECHANISM.  This formation can under NORMAL Earth conditions spawn 'Mid-latitiude vortex' that deliver the most turbulent of weather across North America.

The one off the East Coast is a HUGE heat transfer system removing heat from the Equator and carrying it to the Arctic Circle, where the hotter air rises above the colder and denser air forcing down to the lower latitudes lowering temperatures and raising temperatures over the Ice Ocean.

With lack of PUBLIC acceptance of THAT FACT and reality, scientists have been seeking 'solid' more 'public friendly' ways of PROVING the existence of a dangerous and UNIQUE Earth event that would bring unrelentless warming that was deadly.

It would seem as though their persistence has paid off.

...Murray Roberts, a bioscientist (click here) at Heriot-Watt University in the UK, is impressed by the experimental work. "This is a very exciting result, and one of the nicest demonstrations of the importance of cold-water corals of archives of environmental change," he says. "[The researchers] have uncovered new evidence that the recent warm and nutrient-rich conditions in the north-west Atlantic off Nova Scotia may be rather different to earlier times – and this change seems to be related to anthropogenic climate change."...

The weather in Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska, USA (Crystal Wind Chime) is:

 

Local Time  ::  6:38 AM AKST (GMT -09)

Lat/Lon  ::  58.8° N 137.0° W

Elevation  ::  33 feet

Temperature  ::  39 Fahrenheit

Windchill  ::  32 Fahrenheit

Dew Point  ::  36 Farhenheit

Wind  ::  10 mph from the SE

Pressure  ::  29.75 inches and rising

Visibility  ::  10.0 miles

UV  ::  0 out of 16

Clouds  ::  Overcast 3300 feet  (Above Ground Level)

Elevation  ::  33 feet

Temperatures Map of Canada from "The Weather Network."

January 24, 2011
10:00 EST

Current Temperatures across Canada noted to be colder in the more southern locations and warmer at the Arctic Circle.

And below Canada is the Continental USA.

January 24, 2011

1345 GMT

Continental USA Temperature Map showing frigid temperatures extending to the subtropical areas of the Southern USA.

Have a better day.

Good Night, Moon.

The Moon for Jan 23, 2011 at 11:36 PM is Waning Gibbous and 76% of a Full Moon.

There is a very strange culture in the USA. I don't know if it exists in Europe or Australia, similar democracies.

It embraces death with vampires, corpses, cadavers, autopsies and forensics.

It is completely bizarre how it pervades the social culture and is even glamorized. 

Perhaps, someday, someone will see fit to examine the etiology of the 'death pathology' in the USA, report on it and do a compare and contrast with generations and social values.

I think there is more wrong than right about it.

The operative word is 'civilized.'  I sincerely believe a larger part of the USA has forgotten how to be civilized.  I don't find anything civlized about embracing death as a 'social condition.'  It all seems rather barbaric to me.

Killing should not be a dominant word in any society.

Margaret Mead

A prolific writer, she  produced 44 books and more than 1,000 articles.  Her publishings were translated into many languages.  (click title to entry - thank you)

Margaret Mead was a very interesting anthropologist.  She and others like her believe death should be understood, but, life should be embraced.

I sincerely believe the USA is so off track with being civilized, its society is 'out of step' with appreciation of life.  It may that the nation is still coping with terrorism in an ineffective way.  Certainly, the link between the 'understanding' of a benevolent God and the cultural extremist that kills for 'loyalty' is promienent in social dialogues.

Rarely do we hear from anthropologists regarding the topic of violence and how it is impacted by social and political speech.

Margaret Mead Quotes:

- Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

- I must admit that I personally measure success in terms of the contributions an individual makes to her or his fellow human beings.

- I was brought up to believe that the only thing worth doing was to add to the sum of accurate information in the world.

- If one cannot state a matter clearly enough so that even an intelligent twelve-year-old can understand it, one should remain within the cloistered walls of the university and laboratory until one gets a better grasp of one's subject matter.

- It may be necessary temporarily to accept a lesser evil, but one must never label a necessary evil as good.

-  Life in the twentieth century is like a parachute jump: you have to get it right the first time.

Greatness isn't afraid of words. Words are embraced by great communicators.

Words used by great communicators are chosen as a tone to impart importance of actions. The words chosen are not 'tools of manipulation' but of expectations.

Communication is inescapable, complicated, irreversible and contextual.

Does the USA media actually need lessons in communication with the public?  It sure does appear that way in some segments of it.

1.  If communication can fail, it will. (click title to entry - thank you)

2.  If a message can be understood in different ways, it will be understood in just that way which does the most harm.

3.  There is always somebody who knows better than you what you meant by your message.

4.  The more communication there is, the more difficult it is for communication to succeed.

This is from an educational website.  If there is academic proof that communication effectiveness is difficult, I would think the practice of Communication (which is a college major, by the way) would be seeking to be clear and concise under the governance of freedom to be sure the citizens are well served.

If communication is this difficult to be understood BY ALL, then when it is abused by ? PROFESSIONALS ? isn't that a verbal assault? 

If citizens of the USA aren't provided with professionalism by media professionals then why are they there?

President Reagan was not afraid of the word "Peace."

Words matter.

The once Great Democracy of the USA is now being used to "Play Chicken" in the House Legislature.

The Second Liberty Bond Act, (click title to entry - thank you) which helped finance U.S. participation in World War I, established a cap on federal debt in 1917 at the now-quaint level of $8 billion....

...Republicans are intent on extracting major concessions from the Obama administration in exchange for agreeing to lift the debt limit. They will play a game of debt-limit chicken with Geithner and President Barack Obama.

While administration officials would like the public to believe that political gamesmanship is unprecedented and irresponsible, the opposite is true. Debt-limit debates are commonplace and can be political theater at its finest....

While quibbling about the debt ceiling seems appropriate to some, it is grossly hideous for Republicans to even embark on the debate. 

George Walker Bush was in office for eight years and seven of those years saw the debt ceiling increased. 

From a Sept 2008 cbs story: "Buried deep in the hundred pages of bailout legislation is a provision that would raise the statutory ceiling on the national debt to $11.315 trillion. It'll be the 7th time the debt limit has been raised during this administration. In fact it was just two months ago, on July 30, that President Bush signed the Housing and Economic Recovery Act, which contained a provision raising the debt ceiling to $10.615 trillion."

The theatrics are political, aggressive and seek to feed the political fodder the Right Wing seems to thrive on these days.

The State of Union is coming up and the TWO rebuttals by two political factions in the USA will 'make theater' of very serious issues in this country.  They will mock the President and bring about disrespect.  So what else is new?  If the Right Wing truly loves the USA they will have ANSWERS and not rhetoric to solve the problems beset on this country by a run amok Republican majority for many, many years.

I do believe the Right Wing in the USA pride themselves on ACCOUNTABILITY.  I hope I hear plenty of it about THEIR responsibility to THE MESS we are all facing due to their irresponsibility, including the economic collapse and RESULTED 'Great Recession' which they never bothered to 'bailout.'

I suppose this is a role model for the elderly and their need to arm themselves now.

All Rush Limbaugh CONTINUALLY states is corruption in the Executive Branch of our government is the fact when one goes to "Google" and types in "Obamacare" the ONLY selection on  the page is the government website for "The Affordable Care Act" (click here).

Well, if you click the title to this entry it is completely obvious the President or the Secretary of Health and Human Services have NOT paid "Google" to direct every request for "Obamacare" to the government website.  See, Limbaugh has been selling for weeks how the notion that the White House is corrupt can be demonstrated because it pays "Google" to redirect traffic of heatlh care inquires stating "Obamacare" to ONE and only ONE government website. 

I am sure by his broadcast tomorrow Limbaugh will be denying he ever said it and hopes the 'mention' of same will bring the listeners he is missing otherwise.

It would seem also a couple of lovely and personable senior women are 'targeted' by the Murdoch Media folks as 'proof' that elderly people need to be protected from Obamacare.  If one pays attention to the Right Wing Media they have made a VERY FALSE issue of 'death panels' and the mere appearances of Betty White and/or Joan Rivers is 'code' for 'empathy' for 'the now threatened elderly' under "The Affordable Care Act." 

When is this harassment of the Ameican Public by the Right Wing Media going to stop?  They are nothing but lies that bring grossly inappropriate political pressure accompanied by the Pro-Gun Movement and Private Insurance Interests.

The Link I was hoping to put at the title won't be accepted becuase it is too long, so you try this yourself.  Click the title to go to "Google" and type in "Obamacare" and see what you get.  This is what I got in the first five of the list of 3,240,000 results in 0.17 seconds.

1.    Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act - Wikipedia, the free ...

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and Obama's plans for health care reform in general, is often nicknamed "Obamacare". The term was usually ...

Legislative history - Provisions - Impact - Legal challenges

en.wikipedia.org/.../Patient_Protection_and_Affordable_Care_Act - Cached - Similar

2.   Images for obamacare

 - Report images

3.   The Truth About ObamaCare

What the Liberal Media Aren't Telling You About Obama's Healthcare Plans.www.obamacaretruth.org/ - Cached - Similar

4. Videos for obamacare

5.ObamaCare Watch

Jan 19, 2011 ... The mission of ObamaCareWatch.org (OCW) is to help promote sensible health care policy that is patient-centered and market-driven.www.obamacarewatch.org/ - Cached

Common LIES that are spoken DAILY by the Right Wing Media.  All day, every day.  It is a political strategy that ACTS AGAINST the electorate of the USA to bring about results that favor those they bestow favoritism on to promote a 'limited' and 'profitable for a few' view of the world.

I am standing in the background. That is my Dad.

It is a bit unfair to list this without really giving everyone his history and an insight to his personality, but, he was a great guy.  Served in the Air Force to the rank of Sergeant, fought in Korea, worked at a plant for thirty years, retired in comfort, had a wife with a career for twenty of the 56 years they were married, raised three daughters, saw them all through college, had four grandsons, two great-grandchildren that he knew of at the time of his death on October 11, 2010.  A third great-grandchild was born after he passed.  This picture was on his eightieth on September 9th.

My father died of metastatic lung cancer that only non-smokers contract.  Oddly it was a slow growing cancer as stated by the oncologists, yet his initial diagnosis was a Grade 4, 'end stage' tumor.

I guess we all have to go sometime.

I am not happy about that and gradually the rest of the family is beginning to wonder as well.

The 'thing' about the Hospice issue was NOT about 'killing grandma' it is about 'maturing' the Right to Die laws. 

It goes like this.  The brave man that he was, he consented to give the family what we wanted.  We wanted him to stay with us as long as possible.  That is not frequently what occurs in cases like this and folks tend to decide to die without treatment.  As a matter of fact, a case extremely similar to my father's condition happened to a dear friend of mine, only he was age 78 and a smoker.  He was diagnosed for the first time with Grade 4 tumor.  Different type of tumor from my Father's tumor.

The Right To Die Laws are too harsh when they limit IV fluids.  My father would still be with us IF his 'Living Will' didn't limit the infusion (through an implanted port used for his chemo) of NORMAL SALINE during the time when he was not feeling well enough to eat and became dehydrated.  My Father died of dehydration and hypovolemia a week after his chemo was administered, NOT the cancer. 

The Oncologists hands were tied when the Hospice Nurse called the MD with my Father's blood pressure.  He was in pain, confused and my mother's words over the phone when the MD called to clarify the Living Will was "We want him to be comfortable."  Those words were pre-programmed by my Father to my 75 year old Mother.  With that the physician ordered comfort only measures and he died within 12 hours after that conversation.  When I learned of the conversation it was too late and almost futile because my Mother was only 'coping' and not thinking. 

While my father would have died 'in time', it wasn't expected to happen for at least a year.  The entire circumstances surrounding my Father's death is unfortunate and my Mother does not realize her role in it from me or anyone else for as long as she lives.

The Right to Die, Living Will or whatever you want to call it isn't LEGALLY MATURE yet.  When a patient wants NO EXTRAORDINARY measures that is important.  But, when they are submitting themselves for PALIATIVE treatment with radiation and chemotherapy, their Living Will needs to support that treatment modality without prolonging their lives on life support.  IV Normal Saline would have got him through a 'rough spot' when that is all he needed at the time.

The word 'respect' should mean something and it simply doesn't anymore. Anything goes.

The Green Bay Packers are going to the Superbowl.


I guess so.  With 1,017 pounds (click title to entry - thank you) of human flesh pointed at a Quarterback, is there any doubt what this is all about?


It isn't about football, it is about causing injuries and placing a human wall in the way of progress to the goal line.  There is no way a Quarterback can even attempt a running game with monsters like this on the other side of the scrimmage line.


This is a nightmare for any Quarterback who would like to have his 'first string' teammates make it to the 'end of the season, yet alone the Superbowl.


I don't watch professional ball anymore.  I used to be a huge fan when the game was played as the game was suppose to be played, but, between steriods and the lack of 'self respect' supposed 'heroes' are allowed by the so called Professional Leagues, such as this NFL team I don't find it interesting, yet alone a sport.


The professional leagues of any sport were once 'gentlepersons' sports.  It just ain't so anymore and it ADDS to the deterioration of the 'moral' content of the American Fabric. 


These men are going to have health problems, but, damn that if the money is right.


Having 1000 pounds of flesh or more on any defense line should be outlawed, because, is it not 'good sportsmanship,' nor either are some of the 'attitudes' on the field, such as 'bumping' after the referees have called the play.


These people are supposed to be sports heroes and the First Lady actually thinks she is going to have an impact on childhood obesity?  I wish her the best of luck.

I won't be watching the Superbowl.  I suppose there is going to be more political activism like last year and that isn't why I would be tuning in, either.


Tom Landry was my idea of coaching.  I don't recall him being drenched with Gatorade either.

...The marchers (click here) then gathered in the Capitol rotunda to hear speeches from several anti-abortion speakers, including a physician and a priest. Speaking with two priests sitting behind him, Dave Daubenmire, a former football coach from Ohio, criticized churches for not opposing abortion strongly enough in recent years....

Since when does a coach hold a Doctorate of Divinity. 

If the Pro-Lifers want a mission, they can start with violence against women and demand better outcomes for women that are raped but find no reason to prosecute because it simply makes their lives worse instead of better.  The Pro-Lifers can work on incest and all those ills that they simply 'handle' by demanding abortion be outlawed. 

If the Pro-Lifers SOLVED social problems rather than causing them I might even find a way to admire the movement.

"In the course of human events..."

Anyone recognize those words?  Those words are not the words of a new nation yet, but, the plans to form one and take their freedom seriously.

Great orators were born during those years.  I find is oddly interesting that the people in the USA that claim to be 'the most patriotic' among their peers don't pride themselves on 'their oration,' but, on the words that promote their cronies and aggression.

Where have all the orators gone? 

Certainly not into the GOP.

I suppose this was mental illness, too.

DETROIT (click title to entry - thank you) -- A gunman opened fire inside a Detroit police precinct on Sunday, wounding four officers including a commander before he was shot and killed by police, authorities said.
The gunman walked in through the precinct's revolving door around 4:20 p.m. with a pistol grip shotgun and opened fire, Sgt. Todd Eby, who was sitting at his desk in the precinct at the time of the shooting, told the Detroit Free Press. He said officers shot back at the gunman, killing him.
"Utter chaos and pandemonium took place," Police Chief Ralph Godbee said at a news conference. "We have a number of officers who are shaken up."
Godbee said the gunman has been identified but it was "too early to characterize" him while the investigation was ongoing....

Michigan just got a draconian Republican governor that basically deceived his way into the Governor's seat.  If 'cut backs' are what he has in mind, he needs to think again.

The Police Station is supposed to be the safest place in the entire city for officers.  Bullet proof glass, yet, this occurred.  So, now we are cop killers and not just assassins, huh?  In multiples.  This was the sort of thing we used to hear about from Iraq.  The police have every right to be rattled by this incident.  I guess the gunman is dead, huh?  I am sure he didn't expect to walk out, although in this day and age any belief about reality seems to be possible considering the 'tolerated lies' of the Right Wing Media.

Last night I sent the hours I sometimes enter on my blog on Saturday night flipping through the channels.  I am not a big fantasy person.  I watch documentaries and ‘live’ television, but, not really entertainment.  Entertainment has its place, but, in a way it is also fantasy.  It is an escape really. 

At any rate, last night as I reviewed the stations I receive from through cable, the violence was incredible.  Bloody.  Graphic.  There was a video (And I am not picking on any music video station in particular except for what was actually there.) on BET that remarkably reminded me of news reports from car bombings in foreign countries.  And I understand MTV is being reviewed for child pornography?  Like, what?


MTV's "Skins": Group Calls for Federal Child Porn Probe
January 21, 2011 4:46 PM
…Another group shares their concern: The Parents Television Council. And they're asking for a federal investigation….

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20029239-504083.html
 

The violence in the USA is getting worse and not better.

...NOT A COMMON LINK (click title to entry - thank you)
It is proven that mental illness does not increase a person’s tendency to commit violent crime. In fact, those with mental illness are 11 times more likely to be victims of violent crime themselves....

The violence affiliated with 'political speech' is out of hand and there is every indication it is escalating.  In a 'ad' on Rush-Radio; Beck is noted to be stating if he is making violent undertones (my words, not his) then so be it.

Mental Illness is rarely connected with pre-meditated and well planned activities as noted before the US Congresswoman's attempted assassination and the assassination of her assistant, Mr. Zimmerman and five other innocent people. 

The planning that occurred prior to the actions of Friday into Saturday was NOT a deranged person, but, of a killer, a well rehersed killer.  His aim was incredible.  He had control of that gun and landed nearly every shot with plans for more.

Blaming shootings on 'mental illness' is a TACTIC by the NRA and the Right Wing, their cronies.

It's Sunday Night

"Words" by the Bee Gees - Click title for vocals and music.

Official Website (click here)

Smile an everlasting smile
A smile could bring you near to me
Don't ever let me find you gone
'Cause that would bring a tear to me
This world has lost it's glory
Let's start a brand new story
Now my love right now there'll be
No other time and I can show you
How my love
Talk in everlasting words
And dedicate them all to me
And I will give you all my life
I'm here if you should call to me
You think that I don't even mean
A single word I say
It's only words, and words are all
I have to take your heart away
You think that I don't even mean
A single word I say
It's only words, and words are all
I have to take your heart away
It's only words, and words are all
I have to take your heart away

"Morning Papers" - Its Origins

The Rooster
"Okeydoke"