Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Global Warming Wednesday

Tip O' the Hat to neo-neocon for this weeks debunking of environmental science whackery (is that a word?).

Gaia and the oil spill

It seems the earth’s waters have a powerful capacity to repair themselves:

Scientists said the rapid dissipation of the [Gulf spill] surface oil was probably due to a combination of factors. The gulf has an immense natural capacity to break down oil, which leaks into it at a steady rate from thousands of natural seeps. Though none of the seeps is anywhere near the size of the Deepwater Horizon leak, they do mean that the gulf is swarming with bacteria that can eat oil.

So even the Times admits that oil in the Gulf is an ongoing and naturally-generated problem, and that the body of water seems to contain naturally-occurring ways of dealing with it.

Blogger Issues


Is anyone else having issues with Blogger? I know I published the Heroes post yesterday. I am one hundred percent positive I hit "Publish Post," yet when I jumped on just a while ago, it was not showing, and upon investigation, it was saved as draft. Last time this happened I figured I had hit the "Save Now" button, but now I am not so sure. Additionally, I have had a hell of a time trying to add the picture to this post. I keep receiving a stupid error message, grrrrrrrrrRRRRR! Let me know if you are having similar problems.

Hero of the Week

You might have noticed that the title of this week's American Patriot/Hero of the week post is missing something. This is not an oversight on my part, I purposely removed the "American" and "Patriot" parts because this week's honoree is not an American, and while he me be a patriot, typically these posts are only for patriotism of the American variety. His actions to save brave American soldiers under fire by jihadi terrorists mean that this weeks honoree is so great is my esteem, that I could not let the chance to honor him pass me by despite being a Brit.

Flight Lieutenant Ian Fortune

Source: Daily Mail
A British Chinook helicopter pilot was shot between the eyes by a Taliban bullet - but flew on and saved all 20 aboard, The Sun reported.

The Sun reports that Flight Lieutenant Ian Fortune, 28, had flown in to pick up casualties as a firefight raged between American and Afghan forces and heavily-armed rebels near Garmsir in Helmand Province.

Flt-Lt Fortune - who had TV presenter Mike Brewer on the aircraft filming a documentary - was advised to hold off on approach to the battle as it was "too hot" on the ground. He circled until troops reported incoming fire had calmed down.

But as he flew in the helicopter came under attack - which continued as casualties were being loaded.

Then, as he lifted off, Flt-Lt Fortune was shot. A bullet hit a metal rail on the front of his helmet which is used to attach night vision goggles.The round then penetrated his helmet hitting him between the eyes. It knocked his head back and caused severe bleeding.

More bullets followed, hitting the Chinook's controls and shutting down the stabilisation system.

But with blood pouring into his eyes, Flt-Lt Fortune battled with the controls to stop the chopper from spiraling out of control

Then with the aircraft lurching from side to side he continued flying for eight minutes before landing at Camp Bastion.

He was taken to the field hospital and treated for his wound.

It is the first time in the nine-year war in Afghanistan a pilot has been shot while in the air.

One senior RAF source said: "This could have become one of the worst incidents of the conflict.

"If the bullet had hit the pilot a millimetre lower, those on board wouldn't have stood a chance.

"And had it not been for the skill of the pilot the result would have been the same."

Brewer, 41, who was with a crew from the Discovery Channel, said: "The courage and heroism of the pilot was beyond belief.

Monday, July 26, 2010

Joke of the Week

California:
The Governor of California is jogging with his dog along a nature trail. A coyote jumps out and attacks his dog.

1. The Governor starts to intervene and is bitten, but reflects upon the movie "Bambi" and then realizes he should stop; the coyote is only doing what is natural.

2. He calls animal control. Animal Control captures coyote and bills the State $200 for testing it for diseases and $500 for relocating it.

3. He calls a veterinarian. The vet collects the dog which has died and bills the State $200 testing it for diseases.

4. The Governor goes to hospital and spends $3,500 getting checked for diseases from the coyote and on getting his bite wound bandaged.

5. The running trail gets shut down for 6 months while Fish & Game conducts a $100,000 survey to make sure the area is free of dangerous animals.

6. The Governor spends $50,000 in state funds implementing a "coyote awareness" program for residents of the area.

7. The State Legislature spends $2 million to study how to better treat rabies and how to permanently eradicate the disease throughout the world.

8. The Governor's security agent is fired for not stopping the attack somehow and for letting the Governor attempt to intervene.

9. Additional cost to State of California: $75,000 to hire and train a new security agent with additional special training re: the nature of coyotes.

10. PETA protests the coyote's relocation and files suit against the State.


Arizona:
The Governor of Arizona is jogging with her dog along a nature trail. A coyote jumps out and attacks her dog.

1. The Governor shoots the coyote with her State-issued pistol and keeps jogging. The Governor has spent $0.50 on a .45 ACP hollow point cartridge.

2. The Buzzards eat the dead coyote.

And that, boys and girls, is why California is broke ................

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Immigrants Today and Then

This piece came to me in an email from my friend and coworker Johnny Mac. This is so true, yet so sad.


Maybe we should turn to our history books and point out to people like Mr. Lujan why today's American is not willing to accept this new kind of immigrant any longer. Back in 1900 when there was a rush from all areas of Europe to come to the United States, people had to get off a ship and stand in a long line in New York and be documented.


Some would even get down on their hands and knees and kiss the ground. They made a pledge to uphold the laws and support their new country in good and bad times. They made learning English a primary rule in their new American households and some even changed their names to blend in with their new home.


They had waved goodbye to their birth place to give their children a new life and did everything in their power to help their children assimilate into one culture. Nothing was handed to them. No free lunches, no welfare, no labor laws to protect them. All they had were the skills and craftsman ship they had brought with them to trade for a future of prosperity.


Most of their children came of age when World War II broke out. My father fought alongside men whose parents had come straight over from Germany, Italy, France and Japan. None of these 1st generation Americans ever gave any thought about what country their parents had come from. They were Americans fighting Hitler, Mussolini and the Emperor of Japan. They were defending the United States of America as one people.


When we liberated France , no one in those villages were looking for the French American, the German American or the Irish American. The people of France saw only Americans. And we carried one flag that represented one country. Not one of those immigrant sons would have thought about picking up another country's flag and waving it to represent who they were. It would have been a disgrace to their parents who have sacrificed so much to be here. These immigrants truly knew what it meant to be an American. They stirred the melting pot into one red, white and blue bowl.


And here we are with a new kind of immigrant who wants the same rights and privileges. Only they want to achieve it by playing with a different set of rules, one that includes the entitlement card and a guarantee of being faithful to their mother country. I'm sorry, that's not what being an American is all about. I believe that the immigrants who landed on Ellis Island in the early 1900's deserve better than that for all the toil, hard work and sacrifice in raising future generations to create a land that has become a beacon for those legally searching for a better life. I think they would be appalled that they are being used as an example by those waving foreign country flags.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Global Warming Wednesday

This piece is courtesy of 24th State. FYI his is a great blog that everyone should be reading.

FiredUp Uses Holocaust Term To Embarrass Self On Climate, Again

Sean Nicholson is really trying to hold onto the global warming hoax.

There isn't a better cut the headlines and paste it and pretend he understands the scientific method third party paid by anonymous sources in Missouri blogger than Sean.

Too bad the truth keeps kicking him in the ass.

In a snarky post title, Back To You Global Warming Deniers, Sean points to a couple of whitewashed reports on Climategate that literally never looked at the science or allowed anyone who questioned the findings to reply.

The Atlantic, which is a left leaning magazine, has a story out from Clive Crook, a senior editor and a believer in man-made climate change, tearing apart the ridiculous vindication touted by Nicholson.

I had hoped, not very confidently, that the various Climategate inquiries would be severe. This would have been a first step towards restoring confidence in the scientific consensus. But no, the reports make things worse. At best they are mealy-mouthed apologies; at worst they are patently incompetent and even willfully wrong. The climate-science establishment, of which these inquiries have chosen to make themselves a part, seems entirely incapable of understanding, let alone repairing, the harm it has done to its own cause.

Wow. Clive really lays it out that the recent attempts to hide the decline are transparent whitewashes, otherwise known as political cleansing of scientific issues.

This would be like the National Review coming out and attacking the Heritage foundation for faking budget data. It basically says anyone serious about science knows Climategate has posed real problems for the scientific community have not been answered.

Now I know Sean doesn't actually reads anything for comprehension. That isn't in the job description, but you would think that if you're going to use a word like Global Warming Denier, which is derived from Holocaust Denier (those who believe the murder of six millions Jews was faked), would at least understand the issue before attacking his political opponents (or at least the opponents pre-approved by the Carnahan family).

Get that? If you expect scientists to actually show their data and results before demanding trillions in economy wrecking legislation, you're just like people who deny the Holocaust.

To find out more about the climate change, global warming, and the fraud of temperature data, check out Wattsupwiththat.com

Read about the Dutch report on the IPCC.

And for the kicker - remember that consensus of thousands of scientists?

It was dozens, says IPCC whistleblower.

Back to you, poorly paid media hack.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

American Patriot/Hero of the Week

Sorry I could not publish any original work this last week like I had planned. My drywall project took a turn for the worse, and not only am I behind, but it appears that I may not be able to gain enough ground to meet my deadline. Enough of my problems though. Proof said that any of his MOH posts I wanted to use were up for grabs, so I am going to once again avail myself of this generous offer in the interests of time, as I need to save all the time I can.

The Medal of Honor

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Specialist Fourth Class Gary George Wetzel


Citation:

Sp4c. Wetzel, 173d Assault Helicopter Company, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life. above and beyond the call of duty. Sp4c. Wetzel was serving as door gunner aboard a helicopter which was part of an insertion force trapped in a landing zone by intense and deadly hostile fire. Sp4c. Wetzel was going to the aid of his aircraft commander when he was blown into a rice paddy and critically wounded by 2 enemy rockets that exploded just inches from his location. Although bleeding profusely due to the loss of his left arm and severe wounds in his right arm, chest, and left leg, Sp4c. Wetzel staggered back to his original position in his gun-well and took the enemy forces under fire. His machinegun was the only weapon placing effective fire on the enemy at that time. Through a resolve that overcame the shock and intolerable pain of his injuries, Sp4c. Wetzel remained at his position until he had eliminated the automatic weapons emplacement that had been inflicting heavy casualties on the American troops and preventing them from moving against this strong enemy force. Refusing to attend his own extensive wounds, he attempted to return to the aid of his aircraft commander but passed out from loss of blood. Regaining consciousness, he persisted in his efforts to drag himself to the aid of his fellow crewman. After an agonizing effort, he came to the side of the crew chief who was attempting to drag the wounded aircraft commander to the safety of a nearby dike. Unswerving in his devotion to his fellow man, Sp4c. Wetzel assisted his crew chief even though he lost consciousness once again during this action. Sp4c. Wetzel displayed extraordinary heroism in his efforts to aid his fellow crewmen. His gallant actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.

Sp4c. Wetzel: We humbly salute you and thank you for your service.

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Hat tip Home of Heroes

There are fewer than a hundred living MoH recipients today. Their names and their stories should not be forgotten. My mission is to honor one of those heroes here each week, and salute them for their courage and sacrifice. In the words of John Fitzgerald Kennedy:
“A nation reveals itself not only by the men it produces, but also by the men it honors; the men it remembers.”

Joke of the Week

This week's joke is courtesy of my coworker Michele R.

A LOGICAL SOLUTION

Now here is a problem that finally has a formula for getting to the bottom of an age old problem. From a strictly mathematical viewpoint it goes like this:

What Makes 100%? What does it mean to give MORE than 100%? Ever wonder about those people who say they are giving more than 100%? We have all been to those meetings where someone wants you to give over 100%. How about achieving 103%? What makes up 100% in life?

Here's a little mathematical formula that might help you answer these questions:

If:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z is represented as:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26.

Then:

H-A-R-D-W-O-R-K
8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%
and
K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E
11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96%

But,

A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E
1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%

And,

B-U-L-L-S-*-*-T
2+21+12+12+19+8+9+20 = 103%

AND, look how far a** kissing will take you.

A-*-*-K-I-S-S-I-N-G
1+19+19+11+9+19+19+9+14+7 = 118%

So, one can conclude with mathematical certainty that While Hard work and Knowledge will get you close, and Attitude will get you there, it's the Bulls**t and A** Kissing that will put you over the top.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Global Warming Wednesday 2.0

This post is also the target of shameless thievery also from seeker101 at Follow the Money.

Meteorologist forecasts drastic cooling

http://www.iceagenow.com/Meteorologist_Forecasts_Drastic_Cooling.htm

“Think the markets are in the tank? asks meteorologist Joe Bastardi. “Wait till you global temperature watchers get a load of what is coming. The drastic drop being portrayed here is something akin to the kind of cooling we saw with Pinatubo.”

Using data compiled by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Bastardi sees a climate crash in the months ahead.

“It looks rather extreme,” says Bastardi. “I mean both poles cold and then 75% of the earth under normal? Geez, I know there is cooling that is going to go on, but this is a bit drastic.”

If the almighty climate models are showing this kind of crash, says Bastardi, “such an event could take the running 13 month temp of the earth next year to -.2 or -.3…”

“As this La Nina, low solar cycle and cumulative volcanic activity means business, then things may be quicker than I thought.”

In NOAA’s forecast, blue represents cold and the tannish to orange colors warm.

NOAA chart from:
http://www.cpc.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/lanina/images3/glbT2mSea.gif

———–

thanks to metric for the link..

but we are supposed to be heating up..??

bilderberg did say global cooling didnt they?..hmm


Global Warming Wednesday

This post is shamelessly stolen from seeker401 over at Follow the Money.

3rd Climategate whitewash report to be tabled

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science_and_environment/10530554.stm

An inquiry into questions raised by the so-called ClimateGate affair will release its conclusions on Wednesday.

The Independent Climate Change Email Review was commissioned by the UK’s University of East Anglia following the hacking of emails from its servers.

Climate sceptics allege that the emails undermine the integrity of researchers at the university’s Climatic Research Unit and of climate science in general.

Two previous reports found issues in the unit, but no deliberate deception.

At the end of March, a report from the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee said the Climatic Research Unit (CRU) should be more open and transparent and must comply with Freedom of Information laws.

But it found no evidence of malpractice.

And in April, a second inquiry looking at scientific output from CRU found no evidence of malpractice, but criticised the sometimes “messy” practices within the unit and suggested closer liaison with professional statisticians.

Both reviews were criticised in “sceptical” circles as superficial and lacking in balance.

The unit has played a key role in building datasets of global temperatures, which are key to understanding modern-day human-induced climate change and widely cited in the influential assessments from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

The third review, chaired by former civil servant Sir Muir Russell, is likely to prove the most influential of the three and has spent much of its time gathering and sifting comments sent in by interested parties.

These include working climate scientists, including some who have collaborated closely with the unit and its former director Phil Jones, and prominent critics.

The Canadian blogger Stephen McIntyre, who runs the influential website climateaudit, called the independence of panel members into question – an issue that Sir Muir rejects.

On CRU itself, his submission to the inquiry said the unit had manipulated and withheld data in such a way as to distort temperature records.

“The manipulation includes (but is not limited to) arbitrary adjustment (‘bodging’), cherry picking and deletion of adverse data.

“The problem is deeply rooted in the sense that some forms of data manipulation and withholding are so embedded that the practitioners and peer reviewers in the specialty seem either to no longer notice or are unoffended by the practices.”

However, Professor Raymond Bradley, an eminent climatologist from the University of Massachusetts, said he had “the greatest respect for (the CRU team’s) scholarship, insight and scientific integrity, and I have seen nothing in the stolen emails that changes this opinion”.

The hacked emails and other documents emerged shortly before the Copenhagen climate summit, and the episode was seen in some quarters as an attempt to wreck the chances of a meaningful global treaty.

“The theft was a political act, and your inquiry should be fully aware of the context in which you are operating,” Professor Bradley told the inquiry.

The panel’s investigation will:

  • Examine the hacked e-mail exchanges, other relevant e-mail exchanges and any other information held at CRU to determine whether there is any evidence of the manipulation or suppression of data which is at odds with acceptable scientific practice
  • Review CRU’s policies and practices for acquiring, assembling, subjecting to peer review and disseminating data and research findings
  • Review CRU’s compliance or otherwise with the university’s policies and practices regarding requests under the Freedom of Information Act
  • Review and make recommendations as to the appropriate management, governance and security structures for CRU and the security, integrity and release of the data it holds.

It will not review the accuracy of the science emerging from CRU, or of climate science itself.

On Monday, a review commisioned by the Dutch government into the IPCC’s projections of climate impacts found “no errors that would undermine the main conclusions” – that man-made climate change poses a significant threat in many regions of the world.

———–

“It will not review the accuracy of the science emerging from CRU, or of climate science itself.”

[I] rest my case..

whitewash..

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

American Patriot/Hero of the Week 2.0


Recently I received an e-mail from a coworker saying that the last Lakota Code Talker, Clarence Wolf Guts, has passed away at the age of eighty-six. He was laid to rest, just shy of a month ago, in the Black Hills National Cemetery. Many think that these men were strictly radio jockeys who never got near an enemy, this was not the case. Only a few were safe in a office, the rest worked in some of the heaviest fighting during the war. I attempted to locate a list of all the awards that the Code Talkers recieved from a grateful nation, but I was unable to do so. I do know that they received many, many awards for bravery and courage under fire, and that the Code Talkers from all the Indian nations recieved the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of their efforts, without which, winning the the war would have been much harder. These are brave men are more than worthy of our highest praise.

American Patriot/Hero of the Week


This was supposed to be last week's hero post, but as I said, I fell behind. Often when the story of the birth of our great nation is told, we think of the leaders of The Revolution, our Founding Fathers (not "The Framers"). These were great men, one and all, but this week, I want to honor a different set of revolutionary heroes, the common soldiers who fought and died to bring forth the greatest nation this world has ever known. It is still close enough to Independence Day that I ask that everyone reading stop and take a minute to think on these great men, the sacrifices they made, our debt to them and the freedoms we enjoy. Without them we would still be subjects of the crown without many of the freedoms that are taken for granted all to often today. We owe them, and their memories, more than we can ever repay.


Monday, July 12, 2010

Joke of the Week 2.0

Again thanks to my dad. Without his, and others, help I would have run out of jokes long ago.

Playboy just offered Sarah Palin $4 Million to pose nude in the July 2010 issue. Michelle Obama was offered 50 Bucks from National Geographic.

We all remember the "Hillary Meal," two small breasts and two big thighs. Now, KFC has announced an addition to their chicken dinners. It's called the Obama Cabinet Bucket. It consists of nothing but left wings and crusty gizzards.

Joke of the Week

Again I must apologize. Between work, my DIY projects and my youngest not feeling well, and needing extra attention, I found I had little time to post last week. As penance I have decided to double up this week's regularly scheduled posts. I also have some other tid bits of interest I have been working on, or waiting for the right timing for, that will also be coming out this week so hold on, it is going to be a prolific week.

This week's joke comes to you courtesy of my father. As a retiree, he has lots of time on his hands to dig up jokes for our enjoyment.

Thank your father kids.
THANKS DAD!
-The Bundy Family (Married with Children)

As the bus stopped and it was her turn to get on, she became aware that her skirt was too tight to allow her leg to come up to the height of the first step of the bus..

Slightly embarrassed and with a quick smile to the bus driver, she reached behind her to unzip her skirt a little, thinking that this would give her enough slack to raise her leg. She tried to take the step, only to discover that she couldn't.

So, a little more embarrassed, she once again reached behind her to unzip her skirt a little more, and for the second time attempted the step.

Once again, much to her chagrin, she could not raise her leg. With a little smile to the driver, she again reached behind herself to unzip a little more and again was unable to take the step.

About this time, a large Texan who was standing behind her picked her up easily by the waist and placed her gently on the step of the bus.

She went ballistic and turned to the would-be Samaritan and yelled, "How dare you touch my body! I don't even know who you are!"

The Texan smiled and drawled, "Well, ma'am, normally I would agree with you, but after you unzipped my fly three times, I kinda figured we were friends."

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Independence Day Education

*****REPOST*****
I was away from the computer this weekend, so I am sorry for the lateness of this post. However, it is never too late to for this timeless document.

4th of July

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

W

hen in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

Joke of the Week

You Might Be a Redneck if....... (a different take)

You might be a redneck if: It never occurred to you to be offended by the phrase, 'One nation, under God.'

You might be a redneck if: You've never protested about seeing the 10 Commandments posted in public places..

You might be a redneck if: You still say ' Christmas' instead of 'Winter Festival.'

You might be a redneck if: You bow your head when someone prays.

You might be a redneck if: You stand and place your hand over your heart when they play the National Anthem.

You might be a redneck if: You treat our armed forces veterans with great respect, and always have.

You might be a redneck if: You've never burned an American flag, nor intend to.

You might be a redneck if: You know what you believe and you aren't afraid to say so, no matter who is listening.

You might be a redneck if: You respect your elders and raised your kids to do the same.

You might be a redneck if: You'd give your last dollar to a friend.

If you got this email from me, it is because I believe that you, like me, have just enough Red Neck in you to have the same beliefs as those talked about in this email.

GOD BLESS AMERICA AND DEATH TO HER ENEMIES!

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Independence Day Weekend


Everyone have a safe and happy Independence Day weekend.

While we are grilling our burgers, water-skiing, etc., please keep in mind what the Fourth of July is really about. Again be safe and have fun.


Scheduling Note:
Because many of us will be off on Independence Day:
The Joke of the week will move to Tuesday.
The usual Tuesday Patriots/Hero post will move to Thursday.
The Global Warming Wednesday post will stay on the regularly scheduled day.