Vocabulary Word of the Day : Brontide

We fixate on weather reporting in our state. Because we have extremes of cold, snow and hot, steamy summers our attention is focused on weather. We don't need to listen or watch weathercasts if we have a computer but we do. My late father in-law amused us years ago by buying a VCR to tape the 10pm news and weather because he fell asleep watching it. Think about it. By the time he played the tape that weather system was happening.

It seems like it has rained half of the days this summer and we should be grateful. With all the precipitation and forecast precip you would think I would have already heard about brontide. As we had our early morning cup of coffee on the deck we noted dark clouds approaching and a low, rumbling thunder without lightning. I googled "thunder" to see if there was a name for the phenomonon and found brontide.

Will the Real Butter Princess Please Stand Up -or- Float Like a Butterfy

We have a long tradition at our Minnesota State Fair of sculpting a bust of contestants for Dairy Princess. I never was a dairy princess, but at long last have reached my dream. Facebook has an app that allows you to see yourself memorialized. Who could resist.
link: apps.facebook.com/butterfy.

It's Cool to be Green

Just listened to a story on NPR that amused me. A Canadian man from Nova Scotia is involved in a disagreement with local authorities. Self-described as "not a tree hugger" but wanting to be responsibly green, he purchased a motorized Coleman cooler on wheels. It is designed to be an extreme cooler that will transport a person(up to 300 lbs) to the picnic while keeping the liquids very cold. The ad claims it will travel at 15 mph. He said he would emit less carbon if he drove the cooler around town than if he used his Impala.
http://www.cooler-store.com/cruzin_cooler_motorized_cooler_750watt_50_750xe_6900_prd1.htm

The first time he took it on the road he was stopped by a policeman who asked to search the vehicle. He didn't have beer on board, but was advised to wear a helmet and drive on the sidewalk. He complied and was later stopped by another officer who ticketed him for driving a motorized vehicle on the sidewalk.

The guy is appealing claiming people drive motorized wheelchairs and scooters on the sidewalk and don't wear helmets. The judge agreed there was some merit to his case.

Local politicians have not addressed the question of motorized coolers on wheels.
There might be a window when this inexpensive form of transportation would be viable.
Just be sure to drive sober. It isn't legal to canoe, bicycle or even walk drunk in Minnesota.

Losing Face

My nemesis: Facebook. I know that punctuation is incorrect. A couple years ago I even read the book, "Eats, Shoots and Leaves" but I don't recall what I read. If you can believe it, I had excellent grammar and punctuation skills in high school. Trouble is high school days are eons ago. I am now in that group who will wear purple when they want and throw in a colon or semi-colon where I think it looks right.

Now about facebook. After receiving another suggestion about fixing my double account, I made the leap and did the fix. I was finally able to spot my problem. The double account was due to using two e-mail addresses on login. Because I had the same password on both, I was reluctant to push de-activate. I did it and the correct account survived. Hardly anyone comments on my Facebook blurbs so it really is insignificant.

I should be happy about killing off my evil faceless twin on Facebook, but my joy didn't last long. Today I made a new booboo. Thinking it would be fun to befriend Ole Savior, a guy who is running for governor, I asked to be his friend. (I blogged about him last week.) Ole seems to have a sense of humor based on his pick of a running mate named Elvis. Terry Elvis Anderson. They are running as Ole & Elvis. I wanted to see if he was selling t-shirts. When I put in a request to be his friend, a screen came up with all my Facebook friends and email list. I hit the wrong button and offered all of you to him. If you get a request from Ole, you can ignore it. I plead forgiveness unless you too would like an Ole & Elvis for Governor t-shirt. I REALLY did do this accidentally.

Pimping Pawlenty

Our Governor, Tim Pawlenty, has had increased national visibility the past few years on national TV shows. He frequently travels on weekends appearing to prefer speaking to a group in New Hampshire or Iowa to doing a ribbon cutting ceremony at a grand opening in Minnesota. He won't announce he is running for president but everyone thinks he is.
Yesterday I listened to radio program political analysts from New Hampshire and Iowa discussing Pawlenty. One thought he was a nice guy but boring. Many Minnesotans have been pleased with a bland governor. He followed the big guy...the former wrestler/ movie actor. Enough said. There are no scandals in Pawlenty's wake except that his wife caught more fish than he did at the Governor's Fishing Opener.

What can the Governor do to attract more attention and support? Maybe he should use the opportunities he has. If Iowans think he is boring, he might remind them that Minnesota is all they have to defend the border to their north. We have been holding the line at the northern border. (We are the only state that noticed and reported the 9-11 terrorists when they were taking flying lessons here.)
I am not aware of illegals running across the northern border to deliver babies in border hospitals and we don't even need a 15 ft. fence. Tim could brag that we have answers to keeping our borders secure. We also keep a lot of Wisconsin Cheeseheads out because we don't seem to be able to replace that 1930 river crossing in Stillwater. How long can our old bridge last? The river is 65 feet deep and there won't be many who wade across like they do the Rio Grande at low water.

The Tea Party has it's champion (Sarah Palin). Maybe Pawlenty could boost our state image and his career by championing fishing. He could share our recipe for lutefisk. He would be unique. Lutefisk provokes strong feelings. Love it or hate it. That might be what he needs. Now he better work on his fishing technique and not let wife Mary outshine him next year at the Governor's opener. He should also be cautious going fish-to-fish with former Gov. Palin.

Did Palin Look Pale?

Someone should invite Sarah Palin over for a cup or tea and sympathy. I am assuming she is not thrilled with her daughter's recent engagement. Haven't seen or heard any recent press releases from Wasilla welcoming Levi into the family. Maybe they are resigned. Maybe they are accepting.
Our offspring get to pick their own mates. We have been pleased with the choices our kids made. Not all parents are. I am not Bristol's mom so I will offer my opinion. The guy is a cad. He is naive and was probably manipulated by politically motivated people to behave badly. Don't marry him. It is a big country. You may not like anyone you see in Wasilla, Alaska, but it is a big world.
Is this girl a romantic, or also naive or seeking the limelight herself? A reality show is in the offing. I am glad I don't have cable. Bristol is reportedly making $15,000 to $30,000 per appearance as a single mom warning against teen pregnancy. That should pay the diaper bills. You don't need Levi.

Bayfield with an Olive

We just returned from our annual visit to the quiet little town of Bayfield, WI . We visited many times over the years and now do an annual summer visit. It has become one of our favorite places. Pictures don't reveal how charming it is. (Google Apostle Island National Shore. )
We found the beach where locals swim this time. Miles of sandy beach with crystal clear water and only a few people. Bliss.
Bayfield, tucked into a bay on Lake Superior, reminds me of a little fishing village on the east coast but without the throngs of people. It does get its share of tourists but if you stay overnight most leave. We stay downtown and have dinner on the deck of a local establishment overlooking the gazebo and marina. We enjoy the view and a martini. I am not a drinker. Never have been able to drink without giggling. We cold have shared the first drink.
This visit left me with an overwhelming urge to sell our house and move there. While it would be blissful May to Oct., the winters would be long. Most local shops close, sailors and summer people leave and the local population of 611 hunkers down for the winter. We talked to a couple locals who love it but admit it gets quiet. Maybe with a Kindle and a fast internet connection....
In the end we agreed to continue our yearly visits and maybe rent a house for a month to see if this is a pipe dream. Jon also promised to take my ashes back for a dinner and drink on the deck if I go first. Smiling, he said I would probably not be so worried about talking too loud after that martini. I kept asking him in a whisper if I was talking too loud. Never could handle the booze.

Good Book

Just finished reading "Peace Like a River". I picked it off a display at the library of books recommended by the librarian. I am keen on reading books by Minnesota authors and this didn't disappoint. The characters are beautiful.
It was published in 2001.

Suspicious Minds Question Candidate on Fair Proposal

I'll bet most Minnesotans thought Brett Favre was a modern day savior. In spite of Brett giving his all, we know how that worked out. Don't lose hope. A new "savior" is on the way. This isn't about football or religion. Worse. It is about politics.

After watching twenty DFLers (Minnesota's version of a Democrat) file to run for governor, we have seen that list pared down. We have an endorsed candidate. We also have two rich guys who are spending their own money with hopes of winning the DFL primary without party endorsement. They are Matt Entenza and Mark Dayton. The last time I made a comment about Dayton on this blog, I heard from his people. I won't say anything about him this time. If he wants to spend a large part of his family inheritance pursuing election, that is his business. I don't have to understand.
Mayor Bloomberg of NYC did the same. Personally, I think candidates who freely spend other people's $$$ are thinking more clearly. No one asked my opinion.

I digress. The purpose of this blog is to reveal a new Republican candidate for governor. Our primary has been moved up to August and we will vote soon. Voters need information. I know, we will be bombarded with more campaigning than we can handle but this guy's name caught my attention. He isn't really new to state politics. He has run for office as a Democrat for the past 26 yrs. Ahh, a man in the tradition of the late-great Harold Stassen. Sadly, the Democrats haven't warmed to him this year. He didn't get a single vote at the convention this spring and switched allegiance to the Republican party who must be thrilled. His name? His name is Ole Savior. You read correctly.

Today's paper list him among "Other GOP (Minnesota's term for Republicans) Candidates". They say "He proposes to build a new Minnesota Vikings stadium funded in part by racetrack gambling proceeds and to keep the State Fair open year-round."

Isn't that wonderful? We could eat pronto pups and chocolate covered bacon on a stick all year 'round if we didn't mind standing in line in our parkas and mittens.
This guy sounds like a fresh fount of ideas. Since local politicos heavily campaign at the State Fair, we might keep them off TV and not calling us on the telephone. They could work the fairgrounds year around. I think I might like Ole Savior.

Good luck winning over Republican voters, Ole. Your first name might help in this land of Sven & Ole, but building stadiums with gambling revenue isn't going to endear you to most.

I wonder why the Democrats didn't vote for him. Don't discount him winning if it becomes a three-way race. We did elect a governor in a boa a few years back, a Saturday Night Life writer and even an inmate in the state pen won election as a judge. The judge didn't get to serve his term on the outside.

Someone thought the name Ole Savior was an unfair advantage. Apparently Ole didn't feel that secure his name alone would help elect him. He chose an Elvis impersonator as a running mate. Now we know why he wants to keep the state fair open year-round. They could play the grandstand. The other plus for Ole is the purple necktie he wears in this picture. Go Vikes. We don't know if Brett Favre is coming back this fall. We need some help wooing him.

I might have dropped out of the gubernatorial race too soon. I thought my credentials were a little thin. Who knew? Thanks to those who encouraged me. Thank you. Thank you very much.


If you want further amusement, read his profile on the link to website. Certainly if his good ideas don't impress, the fact he donated 6 gallons of blood might help him.
Link: cut and paste to address line.

http://mpls.startribune.com/news/metro/elections/profiles/26137.html

Raspberry Pie from the Norske Nook, Hayward, Wi....worth the drive no matter how far away you live.

No Anchovies, Please

It is a lovely morning. Cool. Low humidity. We had just turned off the AC and were enjoying a cup of java on the deck while reading the newspaper.
As usual I read the "Bulletin Board" section which publishes vignettes from readers.
I copied the second story for you to read. My comments will follow.

The Permanent Maternal Record
Fevered Rabbit: "It's been three months now since my mom passed away. She was buried next to my dad. Her grave is still unmarked.

"We intend to place a tombstone. We just don't know what to put on it.

"Mom had many health crises in the years before her death. Several times I contacted my kids to tell them that if they wanted to see their grandma one more time, they'd better visit her right away. She'd somehow recover. Her death, when it happened, surprised us; she'd been doing well within the limits of her failing body, giving no indication that the end was imminent.

"After one of the earlier crises, with the possibility of her death still fresh in our minds, I asked her what she wanted on her tombstone. She understood why I wanted to know, and took no offense at the question. She wanted to be reminded of what my father's grave marker read. Though


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his death years earlier had caught us all off guard and completely unprepared, there had been no question as to how his marker should read. He had what he called his 'life verses' from the Bible, Proverbs 3:5-6: 'Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.'
"His gravestone wasn't big enough to hold the entire text, so it reads: 'Trust in the Lord with all thine heart.' My father believed this and lived it, and sought to pass this on to his family and to others.

"Mom didn't have a life verse. She loved many passages of Scripture, taking comfort, encouragement, and guidance from the much-read pages of her well-worn Bible. But there was no one verse or section that jumped out to her as being what she wanted on her marker.

"So I reminded Mom of what Dad's stone says, and suggested that she might want to use one of the continuing phrases from the verses started on Dad's stone. There were several options. Hers could read 'Lean not unto thine own understanding,' or 'In all thy ways acknowledge him,' or 'He shall direct thy paths.' Any one of those would fit nicely on a tombstone and, laid next to my father's stone, would augment the verses begun on his, much as she had augmented him in life. [Bulletin Board interjects: We love the idea. An eternal "Joy of Juxtaposition"!]

"Mom asked for some time to think about this idea. We agreed to talk about it the next day.

"As soon as I arrived the following day, Mom said that she'd thought it over and had decided what she wanted to have put on her tombstone. She asked me to tell her again what Daddy's marker said. I recited: 'Trust in the Lord with all thine heart.'

"With a straight face and with sincerity in her voice, she said: 'I want my tombstone to say "Ditto." '

"We laughed. We both understood that she was joking.

"There is a big part of me that wants to put 'Ditto' on her tombstone, just as she requested. Her family and close friends would understand. I am afraid, however, that the meaning would be lost or confusing to others. So, instead — until we can come up with something better — there is no marker at all." em>

My comments:
After reading this story, I handed the newspaper to Jon to read. I told him I knew what the writer might put on mom's gravestone. "Amen" would be more dignified than "Ditto". Amen denotes agreement and the end. We say it in church. After a little more thought, I told Jon since space is limited on my columbarium for a lengthy verse, I would also like "amen". Without missing a beat he said, "You always have to have the last word". Love this guy. Hope I go first.
Amen.

Happy 234th Birthday America

Constitution of the United States : Preamble


We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Before you read further, let me quiz you. How many amendments are there to the constitution? Read on.


Index of constitution:

Contents
•Preamble
•Article 1 - The Legislative Branch
◦Section 1 - The Legislature
◦Section 2 - The House
◦Section 3 - The Senate
◦Section 4 - Elections, Meetings
◦Section 5 - Membership, Rules, Journals, Adjournment
◦Section 6 - Compensation
◦Section 7 - Revenue Bills, Legislative Process, Presidential Veto
◦Section 8 - Powers of Congress
◦Section 9 - Limits on Congress
◦Section 10 - Powers Prohibited of States
•Article 2 - The Executive Branch
◦Section 1 - The President
◦Section 2 - Civilian Power over Military, Cabinet, Pardon Power, Appointments
◦Section 3 - State of the Union, Convening Congress
◦Section 4 - Disqualification
•Article 3 - The Judicial Branch
◦Section 1 - Judicial Powers
◦Section 2 - Trial by Jury, Original Jurisdiction, Jury Trials
◦Section 3 - Treason
•Article 4 - The States
◦Section 1 - Each State to Honor All Others
◦Section 2 - State Citizens, Extradition
◦Section 3 - New States
◦Section 4 - Republican Government
•Article 5 - Amendment
•Article 6 - Debts, Supremacy, Oaths
•Article 7 - Ratification
•Signatories
•Amendments
◦Amendment 1 - Freedom of Religion, Press, Expression
◦Amendment 2 - Right to Bear Arms
◦Amendment 3 - Quartering of Soldiers
◦Amendment 4 - Search and Seizure
◦Amendment 5 - Trial and Punishment, Compensation for Takings
◦Amendment 6 - Right to Speedy Trial, Confrontation of Witnesses
◦Amendment 7 - Trial by Jury in Civil Cases
◦Amendment 8 - Cruel and Unusual Punishment
◦Amendment 9 - Construction of Constitution
◦Amendment 10 - Powers of the States and People
◦Amendment 11 - Judicial Limits
◦Amendment 12 - Choosing the President, Vice President
◦Amendment 13 - Slavery Abolished
◦Amendment 14 - Citizenship Rights
◦Amendment 15 - Race No Bar to Vote
◦Amendment 16 - Status of Income Tax Clarified
◦Amendment 17 - Senators Elected by Popular Vote
◦Amendment 18 - Liquor Abolished
◦Amendment 19 - Women's Suffrage
◦Amendment 20 - Presidential, Congressional Terms
◦Amendment 21 - Amendment 18 Repealed
◦Amendment 22 - Presidential Term Limits
◦Amendment 23 - Presidential Vote for District of Columbia
◦Amendment 24 - Poll Taxes Barred
◦Amendment 25 - Presidential Disability and Succession
◦Amendment 26 - Voting Age Set to 18 Years
◦Amendment 27 - Limiting Changes to Congressional Pay

link: http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html#Am5--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I Do Declare.....The Declaration of Independence

There are many new US citizens sworn around our nation's birthday. They must learn about our history, our documents. When is the last time your read the Declaration of Independence? Be a good citizen not put to shame by those newly arriving.



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IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

When 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.

— John Hancock

New Hampshire:
Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton

Massachusetts:
John Hancock, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry

Rhode Island:
Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery

Connecticut:
Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott

New York:
William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris

New Jersey:
Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark

Pennsylvania:
Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross

Delaware:
Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean

Maryland:
Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton

Virginia:
George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton

North Carolina:
William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn

South Carolina:
Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton

Georgia:
Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton

Land of the Free, Home of the Brave

It's the weekend of the Fourth and there is a lot of patriotic stuff on the internet.
I loved the one I got today with a You tube clip of an Oliver North speech. I looked twice. Is that really Ollie? It is. Time flies. We first met Oliver North during the Reagan administration. Can that really be over 28 years ago?

The video is about the American soldier. It is about warriors who are heroes. The last story brought tears and it is why I am angered when our government possibly approved torture of enemy prisoners. We are better than that. Even if our enemy wins, I would rather be an America who does what is right...what is righteous, than stoop to the level of terrorists. Might be my Catholic education that taught "the end doesn't justify the means".

link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJfeD-I39CQ&feature=player_embedded#!

Being Resourceful

I got the message again today that says we have massive amounts of oil reserves in the Bakken reserve in the Dakotas and Montana.
This isn't a new story. It is old enough for Snopes to have commented. If Snopes is correct, this is partly true. There is oil in the reserve. There are oil wells in No. Dakota and they currently are one of few states not in the red ink. Current estimates say there is enough oil to keep us supplied one whole year. Not a panacea. Better keep working on that problem.

I heard BP has gotten hundreds of suggestions of products and procedures that would take care of the Gulf oil. Those doing cleanup have pleaded with salons to quit sending them hair. Someone envisioned that as an absorbant.That always seemed a little messy.
They log suggestions and consider them. Who knows what might be valuable. I wondered if anyone had suggested cleaning those beaches with Dawn dish detergent. Nothing cuts the grease like Dawn. It could be sprayed from crop dusting helicopters. They already use it on the oily pelicans.
My more practical husband reminded me what that body of water would look like when it gets choppy or stormy. Might have a lot of foam. Maybe Bounty paper towels are better.

Entreprenures have figured out how to run cars on left over french frying oil from restaurants. Could we try powering some of those boats on the available surface oil?