1958

October_06_TV

Finally?

If my premonitions are correct, my missing keyboard, mouse and router are at the post office. Not where they were supposed to be; which was on my front porch and in the hands of a smiling delivery person. When we picked up the mail we found a yellow card telling us that a package was available for us. But the post office was closed. Of course. Let’s see, I ordered the computer from Dell on the 18th of September and they took my money. Yes, they did. It’s now the 6th of October and I still haven’t been able to turn on the black box that resides beneath my desk. So much for service. And I’m not certain that the package waiting for me is from Dell. Time will tell.

How Sad

Living in a flaming ‘Red County’ like Glenn makes most political discussions less than welcome. Especially when so many in the same county think that education and knowledge are suspect. So most political knowledge comes from talk radio and not the printed word. Rumors abound and opinions hold sway over facts every time. It’s not much better in Butte County. Yes, last night I heard the ‘opinion’ that Obama is a secret Muslim and it’s because of the way he was raised? All attempts to find out more about how this opinion came to be held were rebuffed. And when I suggested that the Senator had stated more than once that he was a Christian, I was told that he was lying. That he can’t be trusted. Facts? You can’t use facts with people like this. Better to leave them in their misery.

I’m still planning on voting for an intelligent person for president. I think we deserve one after all of this time without one. It seems logical; intelligent = president. Duh! Sure there are other attributes to consider, but they should be related to the candidate’s intelligence. It’s the ‘smart’ thing to do. So I’m voting for Senator Obama.

Manzanar

Volleyball: 1943

"Manzanar Relocation Center, California. American women playing volleyball."

Getting Warmer

The season change has affected Boo the cat. I am now her favorite spot to sleep. Anywhere on me is fine. If I lay down for a nap, I may wake up and find her nestled between my shoulder and chin. Or simply in the middle of my chest. Luckily she is a small cat. And right now she is on my lap and I have had to move the keyboard up and out of the way so that she can rest undisturbed. Yes, it is the season that causes this behavior, not love. Well; love of warmth would explain it. I’m warmer than the floor over in the corner, her summer time bed. And once I find it necessary to start using the woodstove, she will abandon me for a spot in front of it. I feel like I’m being ‘used’.

Waiting

Another fine morning. And what will the day bring to us? Clear air for a change. I’m looking forward to a view of Shasta and Lassen. There is a chance that some small amount of snow fell upon them yesterday and that will change my perception of the season. Those two mountains have been looking pretty bleak all summer.

But, not all things are fine. The oven is broken. I was fixing dinner last night and my recipe called for 375°. I set it and began my prep. About 10 minutes later I looked and the temp was just 110°. Well, we had to eat and so I waited. And waited some more. I had it on for 90 minutes and it was only up to 300°. Dinner was still waiting to be cooked. Finally, at 335° and 8 PM, I gave up and put the meal in. It took it a bit longer but it was better than nothing at all. Laurae has found the warranty and we’re covered till the year 2010. But when will they come out to fix it?

A New Low

I just read that Palin is attacking Obama because of some possible connection between Obama and Bill Ayers, one of the founders of the Weather Underground. Since this would have happened when the Senator was only 8 years old, it’s hard to understand why this is even being brought up?

It’s obvious that she is the attack dog at the end of Karl Rove’s leash. Shouldn’t Palin be embarrassed?

We've got questions

I had a stray thought the other day when I read about Wells Fargo’s amazing luck; being able to purchase Wachovia. And that thought was… if the banking industry was about to go into free fall and we had to quickly put together a bailout package to save the nation, how did Wells Fargo have the wherewithal to pull off such a stunt? And then our own bank, US Bank? They’re still around and not making a peep about how they are standing on the edge of the abyss. Perhaps they’re not? Could it be that there are quite a few banks out there that didn’t risk their fortunes?

We wouldn’t be seeing a ‘manufactured’ crisis, would we?

Ask John

if he remembers these fine folks at Lincoln Savings.

From The View from Over the Hill

What Is It About Age John McCain Doesn't Understand?:

"...but have we learned to recognize our limitations?"

Apparently not. He needs a reminder.

From [daily dose of imagery]

deportations

Nice people

How Much For the Trade-in?

OK, I think I figured out how to decide on the candidate to vote for. Look at them very carefully as they speak. Turn the sound off. Now imagine that you are in a car dealers cramped little office and this person in front of you is trying to sell you a car; a used car. It will easy after that.

From Crooks and Liars

VP Debate:

"Buchanan responded to her viscerally, caring neither for her flubs nor her lack of details, but just finding her stimulating through her attractiveness."

Attractive? You sold me! I've been looking all my life for an attractive president. Trust those Republicans to find me one!

Rain

Temperature: 60.3°F | Humidity: 88% | Pressure: 29.72in (Steady) | Conditions: Overcast | Wind Direction: SSE | Wind Speed: 15.0 mph | Forecast: Widespread rain showers. Highs 63 to 69. Southwest winds 10 to 20 mph.

As noted. It has been raining. A good rain without too much wind and not all at once. A soaking rain. On a less than positive note, the wind that did come along with the storm managed to knock down quite a few walnuts. Wet walnuts are not a good thing. So I will have to sweep those away and wait; more will drop. It’s guaranteed.

What else is new? Not much. A quiet Saturday after a very eventful week. We, the people, have been robbed by our leaders once more with the passage of the bailout bill. The bill was passed in record time. Yet; do you remember a groundswell of public opinion demanding that such a bill be crafted and passed? No, I didn’t think so. How long do think it would take to put together a healthcare reform bill? Would it ever pass? But hey, I’m just nitpicking. Wall Street is saved so everything must be right with world today.

With Palin/McCain in place next year, we would just have to get used to scenarios like that.

WALL-MOUNTED

HEADBOARD FOR A BED - Google Patents

Just browsing... can you imagine a headboard like this? Scary!

Yes, Google does patents.

Critics say

bailout bill is stuffed with billions in pork -

I'm appalled I tell you... and shocked!

The Bailout

in Plain English:

"...that the richest 400 Americans now have more money stashed away that (sic) the combined bottom 150 million Americans. Some $1.6 trillion bucks."

And now you know...

Oops. Sorry about the plain English.

Looked Good

I enjoyed these this morning...

* I'm glad I didn't have to fight in any war. I'm glad I didn't have to pick up a gun. I'm glad I didn't get killed or kill somebody. I hope my kids enjoy the same lack of manhood.
- Tom Hanks
* You cannot make a man by standing a sheep on its hind legs. But by standing a flock of sheep in that position you can make a crowd of men.
- Max Beerbohm
* The reverse side also has a reverse side.
- Japanese Proverb

Very Dangerous

I certainly hope some others noted the fact that Palin was very interested in expanding the role of Vice President and doing a ‘little more’ within the Senate. Danger! Executive branch versus Legislative. Basic Constitution. Don’t go there! (I was glad to see Biden jump on it…)

Before it rains...

I have been collecting walnuts for the past few days. And there are plenty to collect. I’ve just been concentrating on the lone walnut tree out in front and haven’t even looked under the two walnut trees in back. We threw out the walnut meats we had in the freezer; that was last year’s crop. It’s time to crack some more. And put them in the freezer for a year. It’s a tradition. And after the walnuts are gone, we’ll have pecans to harvest – my favorite!

Lies and more lies

Something that both parties at the debate lied about. Responsibility for the meltdown on Wall Street. If you believe Biden and Palin, the poor homeowner was blameless. There is definitely a lot of blame to share and the ‘common folks’ deserve some of it. Some (lots) of the people ignored the warnings and signed up for loans that they shouldn’t have. Some (lots) lied about their resources. But, since Biden and Palin are nothing more than politicians, they aren’t about to tell the voters something they don’t want to hear. They just repeat the current mantra; Wall Street is evil and you are a victim.

Just the Facts

After last night’s exercise in political chicanery, I am obviously disappointed to see that the Republican’s are still pushing the fable that we can drill our way to ‘energy independence’. What is it about facts that they don’t like? The fact that we use 25% of the world’s oil resources while owning just 3% of the oil reserves? Is it the fact that we don’t have any new refineries being planned or built and the ones we do have can’t handle any more oil? Is it the fact that the oil companies already own millions of acres of oil lands that they won’t develop? Could but won’t. But then again; when did facts ever enter into the thinking of the Republican's?

I almost forgot; the governor said that Palin/McCain was going to win the war. She never said how that was going to happen. Or how we would know that it had been 'won'. Ask anyone that supports the war if they know. Ask them for details. I'm curious.

I'm Over It

We watched the debate last night and Biden reacted the way I had hoped that Obama would. Biden called his opponent on the lies. OK, he didn’t use the word ‘lies’. He should have. They were. The Palin answers…simply weren’t. She didn’t venture far from the safety of canned responses. And all of the usual ‘buzz words’.

I need to know; what kind of a country are we when we allow politicians of any stripe to get away with using these words in their speeches to us? Maverick? Straight-talk, Main Street, Washington Insider, Joe Six-Pack, Hockey Mom, Kitchen table, and on and on. Personally, I was insulted when either one of them used those words. Do they really think we are that stupid? Yes, I guess they do.

On the plus side, Biden did show his contempt for the ‘maverick’ term and it was high time. You cannot spend 30+ years of getting a government paycheck and be a maverick. Smoke and mirrors. And although the governor tried her best to spread the fable, she is not really your next door neighbor. She is not like you. Honest. She is the governor of Alaska and hasn’t been like you for at least two decades. Get over it.

Despite all of the rhetoric last night, we really don’t need a common man or woman in the White House. We need someone uncommon. You want common? Go to a… let’s say a hockey game; look around. Which one of the ‘common’ folks there would make a good president? Sorry, this is the 21st century and Thomas Jefferson’s yeoman farmer no longer exists. He’s as dead as Jefferson.

'I Am So Sorry' - Yes, You Are

Temperature: 64.7°F | Humidity: 68% | Pressure: 29.77in (Falling)| Conditions: Clear | Wind Direction: South | Wind Speed: 2.0mph | Forecast: Rain likely. Highs 66 to 72. Light winds becoming south 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon.

There it is; rain is likely. About 80% likely. Nothing wrong with that except for the possibility of mud flows in all of the burned out areas of the north state. A high possibility. But here in the flatlands, we’re eager for it. The harvest season leaves everything coated with dust and the mountains just 15 miles away to the west are often hard to see in the haze. The rain can change all of that; overnight.

I lost my pen pal in India. We had been corresponding regularly about my problems with the delivery of my new Dell computer, but as soon as I mentioned that as much as I appreciated his small efforts, I didn’t consider them adequate and I wanted to speak to someone with a bit more authority, that was when he seemed to get a bit upset. He suggested that his boss would tell me the same thing and so I asked to speak to his boss’s ‘boss’. That was it. We’re no longer speaking. Or typing.

Without my usual channel to vent, I had to find Dell’s address in Texas and when I did, I wrote them a lengthy letter describing all that had gone wrong with their approach to customer service. It was polite. Just the facts. Will they reply with an apology? Not that I haven’t received plenty of apologies already. Every email from India contained an apology; built right into the header. I was looking for one with a more personal touch.

Fact check

Context of key debate claims -

Just watched the debate and took a look here...

Oops! Liar, liar, skirts on fire!

Ohio Court

Rules for McCain-Palin on Absentee Ballots

The Democrats better take this up to the Supreme Court.

Oops! Better not... that's what they did 8 years ago and look what happened to us.

Time for an FDR moment -

from Our Miss Brooks

"debates about constitutional amendments to ban flag burning, for instance."

Oh, yeah! That was a hot issue for me... country is going down the tubes but our flags will be safe from those darned liberal socialist twits that are burning them all of the time. And I bet it was a Democrat that was providing the matches! Got em' with his food stamps...

Reading!

About the 50 Book Challenge! group - Shelfari:

“Forty percent of the people in the U.S. read one book or less last year."

I rest my case. YouTube wins. And the nation loses.

Lies Conservatives Tell

to Avoid Blaming Wall Street for the Financial Crisis

Amazing stuff...will the election results be determined by who has the best video on YouTube or by thinking folks? Best video will do it every time! Remember, we're a watching nation, not a reading nation. Reading's for sissies!

Yes, it has...

I was looking at my daughter's blog a few minute ago and spotted the harvest.

Motivated, Laurae and I went outside and did some harvesting of our own. Pomegranates!

We have persimmons, but our are the other kind, Hachiya's, and they won't be ripe for another month or so.

The green things in the wheel barrow? Apples.


And this how the trees looked after we picked...

Dying to Vote

From the Eavesdrop Writer

She's back.

And with a great story. Although I sort of wish I hadn't read it.

From Up The Mainstream:

Herger Votes "Yes" on Bailout

Once again Wally surprises us with his utter cluelessness (Is that a word? It ought to be) And no, I wasn't really surprised.

Oh, there you are!

What’s up with Facebook lately? Suddenly everyone is there…well, not everyone, but lots of family! I had kind of dumped it for awhile; not paying attention to it, but now there seems to be a renewal of interest. But will it last? So many things on the internet are ephemeral; crazy popular and then gone. Like Stumbling. I haven’t Stumbled in months. And Twitter probably won’t make it with me; I’m simply not that well connected.

AB Normal

After a few intense rounds of cat wrestling, the cat has finally settled down in the family room, up on one of the cushions she calls ‘home’ and I have my second cup of coffee in front of me while I’m listening to rain on the roof of the shed outside the window. (Whew! A one sentence paragraph. Hemingway would approve.)

Just browsing now; ran across this… in an interview Tuesday with talk show host Hugh Hewitt, Palin described herself as "a normal Joe Six-Pack American." What? Why would anyone, anyone at all, want someone like that to be the president of the most powerful nation on the earth? Normal? I want my president to be the brightest person on the block. With an IQ that soars! How about you NASCAR fans… would you go to the races with ‘normal’ tires?

How Very Odd

That was different. I was brewing some coffee and heard the first drops of rain pounding down on the patio cover. But… it is 72° outside at 3:30 in the morning. Go figure. And according to the forecasts, we’re in for a wintry storm during the next few days with snow levels dropping in the mountains. I guess it’s time to refresh my list of traffic cams for the various mountain passes. There’s nothing better than sitting here at home with a cup of coffee while watching drivers slip and slide across the Sierra’s on a winter morning.

And today is the day for the VP debate. Do I really want to watch it? In the past I’ve revealed the fact that I hate to watch anyone making a fool of themselves. I’m embarrassed for them. (If they don’t have the good sense to be embarrassed, someone has to be!) So watching the VP debate, Dr. Phil or Maury… it’s all about the same for me.

Did I mention?

That the Plant Barn now has a page on Facebook? You can be a fan...

The CodeWeavers

Great American Lame Duck Presidential Challenge

Everyone loves a challenge. Even Dubya, I'm sure.

You would think that #3 would be easy...I bet he doesn't make it!

It doesn't seem to end...

The Dell Dilemma continues… I’ve been involved in half a dozen emails to India this morning and if it wasn’t so IRRITATING, it would be funny. The one I liked the most was when I was told that the mouse and keyboard were ‘in production’ and would be shipped in 8 business days. Apparently Dell doesn’t keep keyboards and mice around the old Dell factory, ready to pop into a box and ship. They must be produced first. So I had this vision of Elbonia, you know, the place that the comic strip character Dilbert has so much fun with; and in my vision the Elbonian boss is picking up the phone and Dell is on the line.

Dell: We have an emergency. We just found out that Mr. Dunn wants a keyboard and a mouse with his computer!

Boss: Impossible. The plant is closed for the holidays.

Dell: What holiday?

Boss: Is ancient and traditional Elbonian holiday. So ancient we forgot what is called.

Dell: We have no time for holidays! You must call the workers back in and build a mouse and a keyboard for Mr. Dunn. And while you’re at it…build two. Who knows who else might need one.

From Rainy day thoughts

What we have is a serious lack of grown-ups

More good comments... and some links.

It's True

I was reading a good article this morning that described the danger we face if we sell Palin short. She appeals to a lot of people. And if they think she is being attacked unfairly, they will do their darnedest to make sure she is elected. It’s that old anti-intellectual feeling that sweeps across the country far too easily. That’s what happened in 2000 and again in 2004. If you’re not a ‘good old boy’ or ‘girl’, don’t bother applying for the job as president. We like our leaders ‘comfortable’. Some actually believe that the president listens to and cares for them. I know…crazy, isn’t it?

Light Blubs

by Pieke Bergmans

Yes, blubs. Way cool!

What's that Light?

Now it looks like the conservatives have seen the light. (Why is it always so dim in the conservative world?) And the sudden bright light shows them that Governor Palin is somewhat deficient in talent. Now there is a quandary! Admit the mistake for their early admiration for her or go forward, boldly? Since conservatives never admit mistakes, I’m thinking it will still be a Palin/McCain ticket in November. For those who can still see the light; vote for Ron Paul, please!

Hmmm? There is still the matter of that darn debate on Thursday. And that could change everything! All bets are off! Can you imagine the number of viewers for that one? It should be bigger than the Super Bowl. But it probably won’t be…

Orland

Conditions & Forecast : Weather Underground

A special weather statement...I love it! If we have to end summer, let's do it with a bang!

The Dell problems continue. And I’m still sending notes to India. These are always returned 24 hours later with another cryptic message requiring me to send yet another mail. Which is returned 24 hours later. Ad infinitum.

Currently I have the computer and the monitor, but I’m missing the keyboard, mouse and router. The last message from India was heartening. I might see those items within 8 business days. Eight. In the meantime the monitor sits next to me; blank. The computer is only a footrest for now; silent.

What has happened to Dell? I used to be a Dell cheerleader. If anyone asked me for advice about computer purchases, my answer was always the same; buy a Dell. At the company where I used to work as an IT guy and all around geek, I was ecstatic when our CFO told me that he was going to buy Dell from that point on; no more IBM clones! And I loved being able to work on a Dell; they were all the same inside and there were no surprises when you opened the case. Eventually we were buying close to $2 million dollars worth of Dell equipment each year and life was good! For us and presumably, for Dell.

It’s certainly not the same company. Dell has had my money for a couple of weeks now and I have half a computer and I’m looking at another week of this. I guess I will have to gain some sort of satisfaction by trying as best I can to persuade at least one person to NOT buy a Dell. That’s my goal.

Come Back Here!

Here we are, October at last. (Yeah, right! As if we needed it...not!) It’s too early for it to be fall, where did summer go? I’m not through with it!

Despite all of the failings at the state and national levels, everything around here on the Planet Orland is pretty much the same. Or it appears that way on the surface. There are increased threats of layoffs in various departments of the city and county, but nothing substantial yet. The big almond fire of two weeks ago (9/22) is still smoking. The insurance company will have to absorb the cost of that one and it could be $7 million. There are even a few construction projects going on; a new shopping center and some housing.

Where you do see the fiscal crisis in action is at the grocery store. The prices are incredible! The fact that there is only one market in town doesn’t help. And since no one can do without food, this is the place where the local economy will slowly be drained away and taken elsewhere. It will take time, but it will happen.

From Rainy day thoughts:

Do you start at the bottom or the top?

One Moment Please

Palin treads carefully

between fundamentalist beliefs and public policy -

Bill McAllister, Palin's chief spokesman as governor said this…

"The only bigotry that's still safe is against Christians who believe in their faith."

Sorry Bill, that’s how it’s supposed to be. Jesus said that we would suffer for our faith. So be quiet and suffer. It’s God’s will. And since the meek shall inherit the earth, you might try a little humility as well. (You really need to read your Bible more often, Bill.)

Maybe later...

I’m in denial today. Not going to think about our retirement account. Not going to think about the people who stole it from us. And I’m certainly not going to vote for them! “Fool me once…” Well I wasn’t fooled the first time, but too many were and then again in 2004. Now look at us.

For the rest of my years, the only criteria I will follow when voting will be incumbency. Vote the incumbent out! And McCain has 30+ years of incumbency. He needs retirement!

Just how monstrous is John McCain’s ego? Normal people with normal egos want to enjoy life as they age. But to actively seek out the kind of pressure that the presidency holds? You must be insane.

‘Normal’ has a wide range indeed. If you were so inclined it would be normal to start a new business at the age of 70. It would be normal to go back to school at age 70. But to seek the highest office in the world at that age? That’s demented.

(Sounds of crying)

Wow! 777.8 points have disappeared off of the DJIA. And billions of dollars from the pockets of ordinary citizens. We have an appointment with our financial planner in about two weeks. What will we talk about?

Is there a good side to any of this? Will these lost billions translate into Obama votes? One can only hope that some small amount of good will come from this debacle.

Conservatives

to McCain camp: Let Palin be Palin - CNN.com:

"she will travel Monday to McCain's Arizona cabin to cram for the debate in St. Louis, Missouri."

McCain's cabin? Would that be one of his 5 houses? Or is it 5 houses and a cabin? And is the cabin the place where John does his Abraham Lincoln imitations? Just wondering.

But I agree; I think that they should just let Sarah be herself.

Thanks, Dell!

Yikes! The whole order didn’t arrive. The keyboard/mouse order is missing. Hey! How important can that be? And my spare keyboard, the one I put in the dishwasher a few months ago? It’s all sparking clean now. But… wrong connector. It seems that the latest keyboards use a USB connector. Oh sure, I could go buy another keyboard to use until Dell finally unsnarls this mess, but do I need a spare keyboard? No. I’ve got one. It’s just the wrong kind.

So here I sit, all of the cardboard collected and stowed. The 131 black twist ties all neatly folded. All of the various pieces connected and everything ready to go do battle with Vista…except for a keyboard and mouse. Well, the computer makes a dandy footstool for now. Sob.

At Last

The saga has come to a close. OK, it was only my saga and not all that important in the grand scheme of things. My new computer arrived at the post office. Not exactly door to door service as promised by Dell; I had to go to the loading dock in the back of the post office and pack it in the car. But I considered myself lucky as the postal clerk told me that he recognized the name on the package and set it aside instead of the usual practice of sending it back to the sender. So, no thanks to Dell or DHL, and lots of thanks to a postal person, I do have the computer and I can begin setting it up. Hmmm? Vista? I hope I haven’t made a mistake…though it is the highest grade of Vista. Perhaps that will help.

OAC

Bancroft Library

Only those parts of the collection with a 'camera' icon have images. So far. Can you imagine what it will be like when all universities, everywhere, digitize their collections? This is why I love the internet!

From The Associated Press

Gas shortage wipes out weekend across the South

Being the kind of cynical guy that I am... is this happening only in 'swing' states?

Apparently

Wall Street doesn't like the bailout bill in Congress... and I doubt we will either.

BBW 2008

T-Shirt

Would this be fun to wear to a Palin/McCain rally? (Don't worry...they wouldn't get it)

Button Set

(5) Very nice...not as historic looking as mine and I'm not a real fan of purple, but...

From Don't Gel Too Soon

BOOK BANNING: THIS IS NOT (EXACTLY) ABOUT SARAH PALIN

OK, this is what got me onto the subject in the post below...

ALA

I didn't know...

But I do now. How odd, I've been wearing my I Read Banned Books badge all week, but didn't even know about this...

The power

of the other candidates - Los Angeles Times

Yes! And I'm pushing all of my Republican friends to vote for Ron Paul...

The only thing wrong here is the fact that Ron Paul is a 'thinker' of sorts and that won't play well among the Red State's faithful... intellectuals need not apply

Debate This

Just a moment of my own personal insight; I was reading some of the comments by the various candidates and I had to wonder why they don’t appear to be more thoughtful in their answers? Why do some just blurt out verbal garbage as if the thought of silence terrifies them? What would be wrong with a candidate answering, “That’s a tough question and one that can’t be answered in just a minute or two. To be honest, I really should do some research on it before I give you a full answer. But here; let me give you my first take on it.”

Wouldn’t we want them to be thoughtful when they’re doing their job? For a change? Do we really expect our candidates to have all of the right answers at their fingertips? Why?

Write

Wait! It can’t be the end of September already. 2 days left. Seriously, I’m not ready for it to be fall. And going outside right now convinces me that the season is premature. It’s 65° outside at this early hour. That’s not fall!

It feels like I’ve been very ‘wordy’ lately. I know my journal has increased in size dramatically. I usually try to write a page a day and even that is sometimes a stretch. But recently the output is more like 3 pages a day. And the same thing happens to the blog posts. My journal and the blog are not identical, though I do borrow from the journal frequently. And some paragraphs are lifted whole from the journal and posted on-line.

I’m looking forward to putting the journal onto the new computer. I have a feeling that it will speed things up. This year’s journal is already up to 342 pages and the processor has to work pretty hard to get it all, including photos, to open in a timely manner.

I’m surprised at times by the fact that not that many people write journals. With a computer at hand, it’s the easiest thing in the world to do. I frequently leave my Word program open and add to the journal at various times during the day. A little here. A little there. And it’s a piece of cake to add images and quoted material to the journal… which probably accounts for some of the 342 pages.

Stuff I find on the net...

“So far, the major new McCain supporter that Palin has attracted is James Dobson of Focus on the Family. Of course, for Dobson, "women are merely waiting for their husbands to assume leadership," so he may be voting for Palin's husband.”

Out of Touch

Out of touch? Yes, I think that describes McCain perfectly. With thirty years in the Senate, how else could he be described? Have you ever been around political types? You have to remember that they are all ego driven. It’s a rare bird indeed that goes into politics for the good of the country. Being what they are; political animals, they are always focused on themselves and rarely care about the voters except as potential votes to keep them in office. So how do they do that? Stay in office? Well, they don’t do it by working for the common good. That attracts too much attention from the special interests and they will attack if irritated. So they walk a narrow line between the various groups, trying to keep them all satisfied just enough to keep their support. The people in the middle? You and I? I don’t know about you, but I don’t belong to any group and so I’m voiceless. And I have never seen any of my political representatives. Ever. OK, I better take that back, I did see State Senator ‘Bizz’ Johnson once every year when we lived in Janesville. He would ride in a convertible down Main Street in Susanville when the Lassen County Fair opened.

Let’s say that you were lucky enough to live in a city big enough to attract a U.S. Senator to visit, would you ever actually see the Senator? Or would the Senator only be present at the Rotary luncheon or the Chamber of Commerce breakfast? Duh! Yes, he will be where the money is. And that doesn’t include stopping by your place to see how you’re doing.

Now how many houses does John McCain have? And he’s not sure of what it takes to be called ‘rich’? I would have to say he hasn’t been in your neighborhood recently.

I was just thinking of how the candidates try so hard to be just one of us. But it only happens while they are the ‘candidate’. And what kind of voters are we? We insist that the candidates appear to be ‘common’ although we seem quite happy (ignorant?) with the fact that they never really were and never will be. It’s all smoke and mirrors. Reminds me of Oz.

Not At My BBQ!

Intellectual – From the Free Dictionary

Noun intellectual - a person who uses the mind creatively

Adjective intellectual - of or associated with or requiring the use of the mind; "intellectual problems"; "the triumph of the rational over the animal side of man"

Adjective 1. scholarly, learned, academic, lettered, intelligent, rational, cerebral, erudite, scholastic, highbrow, well-read, studious, bookish

OPPOSITE stupid

Noun 2. academic, expert, genius, thinker, master, brain (informal) mastermind, maestro, highbrow, rocket scientist (informal), chiefly U.S. egghead (informal) brainbox, bluestocking (usually disparaging) master-hand

OPPOSITE idiot

For some reason, every time we have an election, the poor intellectuals are vilified by the Republican’s. The intellectuals and their ideas are the reason for all of society’s ills. So says Professor Karl Rove and all of his students.

And whenever I look at some of the comments on political blogs, there it is again; intellectuals being given the blame for everything, including the weather.

But wait…if we look at the definitions above; aren’t these the qualities we want for our children and, heaven forbid…ourselves? OK, maybe you don’t want to be known as a ‘rocket scientist’, but what’s wrong with being known as a ‘thinker’? And look at the opposite meanings; stupid and idiot. Doesn’t get much worse than that.

So does that mean that someone who opposes intellectualism is a…?

Exclusive

The methane time bomb -

Did this even make U.S. news? I don't remember it.

Paul Newman

1925-2008 | The Daily Mirror | Los Angeles Times

Some good stuff here...

From [daily dose of imagery]

red three wheeler

I'm pretty sure I want one...

That's It!

I’m going to try a new policy. No talking about politics allowed. If you want to discuss the issues or the candidates with me, you have to do it on-line. Typing out a comment or response takes time and thought. Blurting out what’s on your mind is far too easy and just as easily wrong. It’s for my own protection. Now if I can just stick to it.

Editorial - NYTimes.com

I’m Your Pastor, and I Approved This Ad

It's Sunday and I came to worship...and you're talking politics? I'm so out of here! I need to go find a church...

Last Word on the Debate...For Now

OK, here’s another thought. Remember how McCain was simply going to ‘cut spending’. That’s all. Just do it. That’s always been the Republican mantra. The no thought approach to budgets. Remember Arnold’s 10% across the board cuts suggestion here in California? Typical. It requires no brain power…which is a perfect fit. Obama said that he wanted to cut those things that needed cutting and spend more on those things that needed more. Thinking. Wow! What a concept!

From Patchwork Reflections

far out

I was wondering, just the other day, what Gary was doing for spending money. I wish he were just a little bit greedier... and would go back to drawing on a regular basis.

Memories...again

It’s terrible; becoming old. I had to read a few blogs this morning to remember some other vital points in the debate last night. How about the McCain $5,000 tax rebate to purchase health insurance for the family? You can get it that cheap? Where? That would be enough for 1 person and for 6 months. And when faced with an Obama statement about the importance of education…McCain skillfully chose to talk about funding the military. Instead. After all, he has to keep those ‘hawks’ satisfied and they require a red meat kind of talk. Education is for sissies. After all, if you let your kids go to school too long, they’ll turn into intellectuals. Yikes!

Ministers

to Defy I.R.S. by Endorsing Candidates -

Forget the fact that it's a direct violation of the Constitution; how in the world can their congregations allow themselves to be treated as if they had no valid thoughts of their own? When it comes to politics, pastors have opinions...just like the rest of us. Pastors are supposed to be servants, not masters.

What Century is This?

We have a little 13” combo VCR/television set that is used for moments like last night, the presidential debates. Or it can be used for watching old tapes of the 3 Stooges. Same thing.

I knew from the beginning statements that it was not going to be a barn-burner evening when both candidates decried the rise of government spending and vowed that they would do something about it. I’m just old enough to be able to remember Harry Truman saying those very same words. And Eisenhower and Kennedy and Johnson and Nixon and… ad infinitum and nauseum. C'mon, give me a break!

If you were already a fan of either candidate there was nothing said last night that would have changed your mind. And if you were on the fence, you would have had to have been politically aware to have noticed all of the half truths that McCain was spouting. And I think that was where Obama made a mistake; he should have called out McCain for being a liar. He shouldn’t have been so nice to him.

The first instance of that was when McCain stated that American businesses face the second highest tax rate in the world; 35%. That is true. And that is why over 70% of all corporations pay no taxes at all. They know about the tax rate and they use every possible loophole to escape it. All quite successfully.

The company I used to work for did just that; becoming a Sub Chapter S corporation and no longer paying a $6 million yearly tax bill. Whoa! I wonder who ended up paying that bill?

On and on it went. McCain being smarmy and avoiding any direct confrontation on his statements. Obama should have tried harder to make him responsible for each lie. Should have pointed his finger at him and said, ‘John, that’s a lie.’

I had this thought about the whole evening; it really was the 21^st century vs. the 20^th. The same old politics vs. something different. Something filled with thoughts and not slogans. (I'm a fan of the 21st century.) And I remember looking at the split screen image of the two of them and wondering who looked ‘presidential’; who would best represent me in the world and it wasn’t the clown on the left.

Two more to go.