Friday, October 01, 2004

Mr. Bush informed by email this morning of his termination

Just a Joke/Not real;"this was sent to me by another fellow-blogger hope you get a chuckle out of it. I at first thought it was real!! Then I re-read it and saw that it was just a joke..Some one did..Happy reading!
On-Line Press Release..."FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: PRESIDENCY TO BE OUTSOURCED
Washington D.C. - October 01, 2004

The Congress today announced that the Office of President of the United States will be outsourced overseas as of October 31st, midway through this fiscal year. The move is being made to save $400K a year in salary, a record $521 Billion in deficit expenditures and related overhead. "The cost savings will be quite significant" says Congressman Adam Smith (R-Wash) who, with the aid of Congress research arm, the General Accounting Office has studied outsourcing of American jobs extensively. "We simply can no longer afford this level of outlay and remain competitive on the world stage," Congressman Smith said.Exporting American jobs has been a popular trend lately, ironically at the urging of President Bush.Mr. Bush was informed by email this morning of the termination of his position. He will receive health coverage, expenses and salary until his final day of employment. After that, with a two week waiting period, he will then be eligible for $240 dollars a week from unemployment insurance for 13 weeks. Unfortunately he will not be able to receive state Medicaid health insurance coverage as his unemployment benefits are over the required limit. "I'm in shock," Mr. Bush stated. "I thought for sure I'd have some job security around this here place. I have no idea what I'll do now," he further lamented. Preparations have been underway for some time for the job move. Sanji Gurvinder Singh of Indus Teleservices, Mumbai, India, will be assuming the Office of President of the United States as of Nov. 1. Mr. Singh was born in the United States while his parents were here on student visas, thus making him eligible for the position. He will receive a salary of $320 USD a month but with no health coverage or other benefits. Due to the time difference between the US and India, Mr. Singh will be working primarily at night, when offices of the US Government will be open."I am excited to serve in this position," Mr. Singh stated in an exclusive interview. "Working nights will let me keep my day job at the American Contract Programmer. I always knew I could be President someday."Congress stressed patience when calling Mr. Singh as he may not be fully aware of all the issues involved with his new position. A Congressional Spokesperson noted that Mr. Singh has been given a script tree to follow which will allow him to respond to most topics of concern. The Spokesperson further noted that "additional savings will be realized as these scripting tools have already been used previously by Mr. Bush here in the US. Such scripts will enable Mr. Singh to provide an answer without having to fully understand the issue itself." Congress continues to explore other outsourcing possibilities including that of Vice-president and most Cabinet positions."
Hope it sparked a chuckle in you..Really did throw me at first after seeing the Pesidental Debate last night!!...Did you see that! I was very unhappy by the way Bush kept throwing up the words that he said Kerry said, Wrong-War-Wrong-Place. Don't get me wrong I think it was a very good De-bate on both mens parts, but I felt that also, that Kerry should of been more open with what he said he was going to do in details because I still wonder how he really plans to do this. I don't know, who Bush, was trying to make look good but, as far as I was concered he just made himself look look like a ASS!! He should of head his head above the Bull-Slinging he's suppose to be our President.......

Thursday, September 30, 2004

Worried about Mtn. St. Helen... Blowing

sumthingtosay.blog;"This was passed on to me by, Lietta from Seattle Wash. You might want to pass this along. Mt St Helens, first time I clicked on it was "temporarily not available", then 2nd time it was available. I would imagine that it's getting a lot of hits these days with news that Mt St Helens will be erupting anytime now. Likely you've seen in the news that the mountain is quaking with unusual activities and is expected to blow anytime, with alert level raised. I live in Washington, and well know ol' Mt St Helens power. I tip my hat in learned respect to what she can do when she blows her top.
Shows where earthquakes happened:ShakeMap
shows live pitcure of mtn.: StHelen ,and web-site and web-cam: volcanocam-site "
I used to live in Washington state and I remember the first time it blew, I worry now because I have a sister and her children that live in the area close to their and I also have a - Step/daughter and her children that still live in beaver wash. And worry if this may cause trouble for them.

Health department warns against buying Vender foods

Journal; "District Health Department is reporting an increase in the sale of potentially high-risk foods, tamales, burritos, sandwiches prepared in unregulated home kitchens. according to a press release. Sale of food prepared in an facility, such as a home kitchen, is against the law. Considers such items to be a higher risk for causing serious food-borne illnesses, including hepatitis A, campylobacter, salmonella, and E.coli. For this reason, recommends that anyone who has purchased food from an vendor should NOT consume the food item, "high-risk" foods include anything that is moist or ready-to-eat. This advisory does not apply to "low-risk" foods, such as baked goods."
Well I wonder what this is going to do for the vendors you see on side-walks and parking-lots, that we all go to during our rushed lunch hours? As I have many a time stopped and ate at one of these places when I am on the go.. But the part that is strange to me is I have gotten sick eating in a fast-food place several times in my eating in the public food chain, verses eating at one of these little food carts. You tell me how is that any differant. We all know its a chance we take when we eat out. I know of people, that will not eat anything that is not made in their own homes because they are so afraid that they may get sick...

Dick Cheney's million-dollar float trips in Idaho

Views; Found this in the Pocatello Newspaper from a man named- Mike Breed From Blackfoot Idaho about 30min. From where I live. I posted this to show you , yes the Pesidental men do come to Idaho. But not to help or talk with us, but to use our lands and waters for their own pleasure, and we get to pay for it..
"Aren't you tired of the arrogance of this presidential administration? Dick Cheney's million-dollar float trips on the South Fork, with his entourage of the attack helicopters, Suburbans and Humvees is a slap in the face to every taxpayer in the country. He likes to come to Idaho to fish on the busiest of weekends (Memorial Day, for one), and the river is virtually shut down (no boat launching, and those on the river are told to bank their boats while he floats by) to the local fishermen. I just don't understand all the fuss; I have floated past many close friends, not recognizing them because they were wearing unfamiliar clothing, or were in an unfamiliar boat. I got a kick out of the article in the Post Register recently quoting Stan Klan of the Lodge at Palisades Creek, "We don't talk about it or advertise it because we respect his privacy." Why? He obviously doesn't care about yours or mine. He doesn't care how much the local fishing guides and local fishermen are inconvenienced by his mere presence. And as for George Bush, hasn't he spent more time in Crawford than in D.C.? I thought he wanted that job. I guess he'd rather play cowboy, so maybe the voters should help him out in November, and send him back to Texas permanently. I wish the people of this country would look at the record in regards to the deficit this administration has burdened on our grandchildren. If you or I had squandered our employer's revenue surplus, and put them in the red the way this administration has the United States, I don't think we would have control of the checkbook anymore,someone would take it away. (if we still had a job)."
If you don't like what this gentlemen had to say or do please leave a comment...

Voting mistake

Editor;"I Found this letter in a News-paper while surfing the web, felt it had some merit to post to my Blog. Was sent to the Editor by: Linda Lowack, Archer City Kansas....

"In response to Janie and Jack Barker's letter on Sept. 19, I did not contradict myself, as I made the "mistake" of voting for "War President Bush," as he said he was proud to be known as, and is living up to. I won't make that same mistake on Nov. 2. I still consider him wishy washy, never seeing any combat himself. It's big news when he falls off his bicycle and skins his knee and elbow. He found out too late he can't turn Iraq nor Afghanistan into anything close to a democracy. Our men and women are still getting killed daylye because Bush says the U.S. will not back down. If he was the one in captivity going to have his head removed the next day, I doubt very seriously he would say, "We won't back down." Mr. Ballog, Mr. Jim Horany Jr., myself, and millions more of us so-called liberals have not been "shut down at every turn in the road." Us millions of voters would rather vote for Kerry or their next-door neighbors than vote for Bush, so congratulations and deal with that. In response to Patricia Ford's letter Sept. 19 stating President Bush never accused American servicemen of committing atrocities, why were many of them accused and punished for showing Iraqi prisoners in the nude and with a collar and leash on them, when orders came from "higher-ups"? The editor's note to your letter, "Urban Legend Web Sites," asserts that Mr. Kerry's photo was taken while visiting Hanoi on a diplomatic visit in 1993. He was part of a team that included a Vietnamese admiral also in the photo. I pray all our men and women service members in foreign countries get to vote in the presidential election and that the public is not given the lame excuse again that the military were too scattered out to get their ballots in time."
I know this Post is really narrow minded and heavy on the writers part, but I wanted to post it because their was some things in it that I felt needed to be heard. And I understand if you are Voting for Bush and that is fine. But you also have to understand a lot of people have been hurt by what Bush has done and the pain and anger is still with them...

Arthritis Drug Vioxx Pulled Off Market

Vioxx;"Sept. 30, 2004 -- Merck Pharmaceutical voluntarily pulled its popular anti-inflammatory drug Vioxx from shelves worldwide today after concerns it increases risk of stroke and heart attack. The move comes after a recent clinical trial linked the arthritis drug to these potentially fatal conditions. Showed an increased risk of heart attack and other cardiovascular problems after patients started taking Vioxx, showed that Vioxx at a 25-milligram dose prevents recurrence of polyps in the colon and rectum. This is not the first time there has been evidence linking Vioxx to heart attack. Patients taking more than 25 milligrams a day had triple the risk for heart problems. Another study showed that Vioxx doubled the risk of heart attack in patients taking blood pressure medication, which are used to relieve arthritis and joint pain. Merck says patients who are currently taking Vioxx should contact their health care provider to discuss discontinuing Vioxx and possible alternative treatments. Patients and health care providers can obtain more information by calling (888) 36-VIOXX (1-888-368-4699). The FDA says it will closely monitor other drugs in this class for similar side effects. All of the [non-steroidal anti-inflammatory] drugs have risks when taken, especially of gastrointestinal bleeding, but also liver and kidney toxicity."
I was taking Vioxx for about 3-months and stopped because I gained so much weight, in the short time I was on it. Now hear that it had other problems that it caused, worries me. As I was taking 50mg. a-day for pain I was having in my knee, I started with the normal 25mg. But the doctor uped me and after awhile it wasn't doing anything to help me , also the fact I gaining weight at record speed worried me mostly, so I went off them. I posted this to let everyone know, or if you know someone taking Vioxx!! Tell them to call the 1-800 number I have posted..

Expect higher heating bills

MSNBC;"Users of natural gas should expect to pay higher heating bills this winter, the gas industry warns.While there is plenty of gas in storage, the market is expected to remain tight because of increased demand, the higher wholesale cost of gas and expected colder-than-normal weather, according to the Natural Gas Supply Association. This tight market could really impact customers’ bills in some regions, particularly during extreme weather. The natural gas industry is entering the heating season with plenty of fuel. Largely because demand this summer was less than anticipated, there’s about 3.2 trillion cubic feet of gas in inventory, near record amounts and well above the target for the start of the heating season. “It’s not that we’re running out of natural gas,” said Blount. But he said the gas cost an average of $5.80 per thousand cubic feet, less than today’s spot prices but still 64 cents a thousand cubic feet more expensive than a year ago. The higher price will be passed on to customers in most cases. Also, demand this winter “is expected to increase across all sectors” from industrial users and power plants to residential customers, said Blount."


This is something that alot of us do not really need right now, with money already being tight...They tell us to move-in to homes with gas-heat because its cheeper..Well this it seems is no longer true. So what happens now if you can't afford heat because your bill, becomes to high? I know they say that can't shut you off during the winter, but. Their Ideal of winters is like (Dec.1st.-March1st) that they won't turn it off. But come that last day you better have lots of heaters!! As I have heard and seen families suddenly have no heat or hot-water, or cooking stoves because ..boom the shut them off!! Then Its not that easy getting it back on , because now the want a $1-200.00 deposit because now your a credit risk to them, So if you find someone to help you with your bill, you still have a deposit now to come up with.. I think these companies take avanage of the American people because the know the have us by the shorts if we live in a cold side of the country and like to stay warm. I feel they are just taking the money hungry road to make more money becasue of the war and differant things going on right now..What do you think?

Monday, September 27, 2004

Microsoft -Trivia

Microsoft recently sued a company that offers web hosting services to bulk e-mail senders, accusing it of being one of several companies that "recruit spammers to use their services" by trolling Internet forums that spammers use. What is the name of that company?

A. Hosting Resources Inc.
B. Spamtastic Enterprises
C. CheapBulletProof.com
D. Spaminator LLC

Click the link for the correct : Answer - Just something to get your brain working today. I got it wrong the first time, Picked-Hosting Resources Inc..... What did you pick?

Sunday, September 26, 2004

How about a truly national election?

election;"As we enter of the home stretch of the quadrennial horse race known as the presidential election, it's time to remember that this is an election for the president of the United States of America - all 50 states, not an election for the president of the Swing States of America. As debate waxes in Washington for constitutional amendments against same-sex marriages and flag desecration, wouldn't it be novel for our lawmakers to consider a measure that would enhance the very democratic institution they were elected to protect? All summer and now through autumn we will witness John Kerry and John Edwards, the Democratic Party candidates, and incumbents George W. Bush and Dick Cheney, the Republican candidates, take their campaigns to Ohio, Pennsylvania, Missouri and other states where polls indicate the election could go either way. With more than 1- month of campaigning remaining until November 2, many voters' participation in the election process has already been relegated to the sidelines. National issues of concern that should drive a presidential election now take a back seat to parochial issues involving individual swing states that could tip the election results to one of the candidates in the Electoral College. It is unfortunate that as election campaigns become ever more sophisticated, politicians and their advisors recognize the uselessness of campaigning in states where the outcome is already a faith accompli. The only time Idaho sees a presidential candidate is when they're on vacation, or have lost directions to California or Nevada. Presidential candidates have abandoned their national campaigns for the more pragmatic tactic of winning enough states to secure victory in the Electoral College - and who can blame them? The Electoral College trumps the popular vote, big time. Candidates in this day and age have the ability to transmit their messages across the country at the same time they sequester themselves in the states that have heavy representation in the Electoral College. But they don't. A direct election of the president, counting votes from Maine to Florida to California - and even Idaho - would even take some of the wind out of third-party candidacy if voters nationwide found their ballot had strength outside their state borders. If we are to consider constitutional amendments, then we should look at dumping the archaic Electoral College system of electing a president. That would re-enfranchise millions of voters throughout the nation. It would reinvigorate voter participation nationally. Democratic voters in die-hard Republican states, such as Idaho and Utah, and Republican voters in Democratic stronghold such as Massachusetts and New York would see their individual votes take on new strength in a truly national election."
Yes...This would be nice in a make believe world, if it ever happened. But why would they want to do something that would make it better for the American people? As far as I am concerned the only time you even see these good-ole-boys is when they want something from you...Right! So why should we let them take our Vote so easy, I say make them work for it in every state not just the ones they think are imporantat...

Teenager shoplifts winning lottery ticket, but finds crime doesn't pay

sfgate;"A Swedish teenager who shoplifted a winning lottery ticket that could be worth as much as $1 million has discovered the truth in that old adage 'crime doesn't pay'. The 15-year-old boy stole the scrape-off lottery ticket from a grocery store outside the northeastern Swedish town of Oernskoeldsvik last week, local media reported Tuesday. When he went home and scraped the ticket, he discovered it contained a winning combination worth as much as $1 million. Store manager Patrik Nygren, however, recognized the teenager from surveillance tapes that caught him stealing the ticket and went to his home to reclaim it. The boy handed the winning ticket over and Nygren gave it to police after reporting the theft, the newspaper Oernsoeldsviks Allehanda said. Nygren could not be reached for comment. But he told Oernskoeldsvik Allehanda he would contact a lawyer to see if he could claim the winning ticket for himself. However, state-owned Svenska Spel, which runs government lotteries in Sweden, said neither the boy nor Nygren will get the payoff. "Legally, we own the ticket until someone buys it, scrapes it and wins," Svenska Spel's spokesman Claes Tellman said Tuesday. "In this case, that hasn't happened." The winning lottery ticket, which cost $3.30, contained three clover symbols, which means the buyer would get to participate in another scrape-off broadcast on national TV every weekend. The winner is guaranteed a payoff of at least $1,330 a month for 10 years, but could receive as much as $3,330 a month for 25 years. The odds of getting a ticket with the three clovers is about one in 3 million, Tellman said. "This is an incredible case," Tellman said. "The probability of him stealing that ticket is extremely low." Police would not release the boy's name due to his age, and it was not immediately clear whether he would face charges."
Damn!! Wouldn't you know it!! The one Big Fat-Winner!! And its the one the the kids Stole..LOL I think I would of went out and searched the parking-lots for one someone threw away and said here's your Ticket You know they say crime don't pay...I know that's wrong, But It's that how your luck just seems these days...LOL

Jump On the Bush Train To Apocalypse -Land

Apocalypse;"This is the great thing about rabid fundamentalism. You really just don't have to give a damn!
Take the environment. I mean, isn't it just a little pointless to care so damn deeply about the air and the soil and the water and the stupid little disposable animals on this silly spinning ball of expendable rock when the Second Coming is imminent and a blood-soaked fire-breathin' Jesus who looks remarkably like Mel Gibson will return very soon to smite the heathens and the gays and the vegetarians and the Francophiles, and who will rescue all those who worship patriarchy and country music and blue-chip oil portfolios? You're goddamn right it is. Look. This much has become clear. Bush is, more than anything else, an extreme fundamentalist Christian. He is widely regarded as the most openly pious and sanctimonious president in modern American history. He actually preaches the GOP screed in evangelical churches across America. He panders so slavishly to the anti-choicers and the Bible-thumpers and the homophobes it makes Jerry Falwell swoon and giggle. And Bush actually says, out loud, that God speaks through him, and that God is on our side we bomb the living crap out of Afghanistan and Iraq and that it is the Almighty's wish that we take control of these angry pip-squeak nations and in so doing kill thousands of civilians and tens of thousands of young Iraqi soldiers, as over a thousands of American soldiers are now dead, over a makeshift cause that never really existed. God wanted it this way, that's why. Bush has called Jesus his "favorite philosopher." He has claimed that the act of being "born-again" saved him from a long, sad life of vaguely homoerotic frat parties and repetitive binge drinking and going AWOL from the National Guard, all so he could turn his full attention to righteously ruining multiple businesses and then making Texas the most murderous and polluted state in the union. But, you know, why stop there? God, of course, isn't just about the current Iraqi war. Bush understands this. Nor is God just about slamming gays or creating nasty, isolationist foreign policy. God is not merely about setting those gul-dang Muslim heathens straight about who is the supreme big-daddy all-powerful mega-righteous SUV-drivin' American-flag-wavin' God and who is just a dimestore wannabe false idol scruffy Allah. Because above all, God is nothing if not all about putting a quick and fiery stop to all this Earthly nonsense ASAP. He is nothing if not all about the coming apocalypse. And He is nothing if not all about saving those who believe, as Bush does, that he is among the chosen to be saved. This is the fundamentalist truth. And this is the BushCo maxim. The End Times provide the ultimate meaning, the final straw, the only thing worth caring about, because it defines the BushCo worldview like nothing else except maybe embarrassing grammar and crushing deficits and a secret craving for gin. You can see it in his sad, vacant eyes: Bush is absolutely convinced that God is a Republican. Why else would He create all those cool M-1 tanks and oil refineries and those neat deer-antler chandeliers? Exactly. Do you see? Do you get it? If not, you haven't been reading nearly enough of those silly pulpy sociopathic gazillion-selling "Left Behind" doomsday books so frighteningly adored by the Christian Right. It's simple, really: The world is gonna end real soon. The End Times are comin'. All the signs are in place -- famine, war, disease, sodomy, fires, hurricanes, Avril Lavigne -- and Bush, by instigating holy wars and inciting more terrorism and burning through the planet's natural resources as fast as humanly possible, is merely hastening the blessedly inevitable. As his fellow fundamentalists say, God bless him. Hey, it explains a lot, this view. It explain how Bush can just smirk and mumble and, with one big, heartless shrug, dismiss the complete lack of WMD and the loss of 1.6 million U.S. jobs and the nation's staggering $422 billion budget deficit. Pay down the national debt? Bah. Planet's going to hell anyway, people. Stock up on nuclear missiles and get yourself an escape pod. Can't afford one? Whatta shame. It surely explains the general GOP hatred of gay marriage, of open-hearted sex, of those wicked, sin-inducing vaginas (that harlot Eve is gonna pay, dammit), of environmentalism, of caring about air quality and water quality and the EPA and organic foods and homeopathic medicine and resource management and the Alaska Wildlife Refuge and the U.N. and any country that doesn't have a McDonald's and a Starbucks and a decent strip club for lonely gin-soaked Republican expats. And it explains not only the outright contempt for any view other than Bush's own, but the willingness to legislate that hatred, codify it, to make it outright illegal to think or feel or love otherwise. Look at it this way: When you have an angry, patriotic God and the red-hot promise of the juicy apocalypse on your side, there is no such thing as a counter-argument. There is no such thing as competition. There is no such thing as giving a damn what anyone else thinks. How else do you explain it? How else can you understand the most aggressive, war-hungry, abusive, nature-loathing, isolationist administration in American history? How else can you explain BushCo's overall "F" grade from every environmental organization in the world? How can you explain his mauling of long-term Social Security planning? The decimation of the idea of universal health care? A pre-emptive, attack-first-ask-questions-never, warmongering policy that creates more anti-U.S. hatred by the minute? How can you explain the fact that every human rights organization on the planet is appalled by Bush's actions? Guantanamo Bay to Abu Ghraib to John Ashcroft to the Patriot Act to gutting funding for international women's health care. Hey, if God had wanted us to care about other viewpoints, He would've made everyone speak English. Can I get a "hell yeah?" This lust for apocalyptica, then, is perhaps the best way we have to at least partially understand the shamelessness of this administration's policies and its blatant disregard for international law, its open hatred of any nation that disagrees with us and the deep, profound concern only for nations that either cower in our God-flexin' presence and/or have resources that Bush's corporate pals are salivating to exploit. And it is the perhaps ultimate explanation for the Right's final cattle call, its bitter war cry of a message, its exact parallel to every pseudo-religious evangelical scam artist on late-night cable TV. Listen, good people of America. If you just send your money to the party and give up all that careful, nuanced thinking, if you just quit questioning our decisions and load up on blind faith, it will all be OK and you can have all the guns and fast food you want and those terrifying gays will leave you alone because BushCo will take care of you and God will reserve your seat on the glory train to salvation. Deal? Praise Jesus! Praise Bush/Cheney! Hallelujah you are saved! Even as we are, you know, doomed......Isn't bogus salvation fun?"
Hope I made you smile, I found this and thought it was worth posting if nothing else it's cute to read. But also makes you think about a few things.... huh?

Saturday, September 25, 2004

Goverment is courting a raise - AGAIN!!

washingtonpost;"The House yesterday moved closer to passing a major spending bill that provides a 3.5 percent pay raise for civilian federal employees and prevents the Bush administration from proceeding with controversial rules. "Our nation is able to deploy our air, sea and land fleets safely and swiftly thanks to the muscle and logistical support of both federal civilian employees and military employees, so it is appropriate to provide them with equal pay. The Bush administration had proposed increasing the pay of nonmilitary government workers by only 1.5 percent for fiscal 2005. But the House Appropriations Committee voted 42 to 16 for an amendment offered by Washington area lawmakers giving federal employees the same 3.5 percent raise as the uniformed military."
This is a strange bill, but its also a good thing, if..... You work for the government!! But Hello Mr. Bush!! When your American People started Yelling for a wage increase!!! We were talking about the Poverty-Levels. This is where you should of started giving raises. Because we are now worse off then we were before if this goes thru...Still not making ends MEET!!

Vacation Trip Into The Eye Of The Storm

Journal;"Ivan the Terrible is how Mr. & Mrs. Hoch describe the hurricane that held them captive for 24 suspenseful hours this past week on their trip to Cancun, Mexico. Landing on the beautiful Yucatan Peninsula on Sept, 9, along with their nine-year-old granddaughter, Amanda, they were impressed with the pristine, pale blue ocean water quietly lapping the shore and the cream-colored, powdery sand of the beaches nearby the Marriott Casamagna Hotel where they were staying. Little did they know this calm, peaceful setting was soon to change. Following three exciting days being hosted at numerous activities, they found themselves locked down for the final day of their trip due to the onslaught of Ivan. "Originally the eye of the storm was heading toward Cancun, but we were grateful that it shifted to a more northerly direction," say the Hochs. "Nevertheless, we could not believe the magnitude of the 15 or 20 foot waves or the fierceness of the wind and rain when the edges of the hurricane hit. "We were told by the Marriott Hotel manager that plans had been in place to evacuate all hotel guests at 7 a.m. on the 13th, but instead, beds were set up in the ballroom, which was the innermost and safest part of the huge property. We were instructed to bring all deck furniture into our room, secure all widows tightly, and close the heavy drapes. We were also told not to venture out of the hotel until further notice. The airport was closed down, and for 24 hours all we could hear and see was the magnitude of the storm circling about us. We watched as hotel employees feverishly nailed boards over the windows, and the hotel shops were not only closed, but we observed all merchandise and office computers quickly being moved to higher levels for safe keeping. Fortunately, makeshift buffets were set up so that there was enough food for all of the guests, and old movies were shown in the ballroom to help pass the hours. We saw "Finding Nemo" for the first time, and our granddaughter, who had viewed it before, enjoyed seeing it once again. The movie was probably a fitting one with its colorful underwater theme, since we were all hoping we would not wind up swimming around trying to find Nemo ourselves. A bellhop told us jokingly, "Don't worry even if you do see a shark or two swimming along the marble floors of the lobby." Kidded our granddaughter that Ivan should be called a "Him-icane" since it carried a male name. The Hochs said that fortunately the violent storm did abate enough the morning of the 14th for them to catch their scheduled flight home, However, they could hardly believe the massive numbers of people when they arrived at the airport. The Hochs say that, in spite of the fact that they missed the final day of their activities, they heartily recommend Cancun for a vacation spot. They add, "We especially liked visiting an ancient Mayan Village located deep in the Yucatan jungle and seeing the archeological ruins at Coba, primitive Mayan villages where people live without internet, TV, electricity, and even running water." Surprisingly, however, the natives do earn money by taking digital photos of the tourists and printing them, using solar power. Cancun's beaches are phenomenal, and there are endless water activities, such as Aquaworld's wave runners, Garrafon Park's sea trek, zip line, and scuba fun. Garrafon is located on the ILA de Mujares (Island of Women) and is reached by a high-speed boat ride from Cancun. In spite of Ivan's threat, which gratefully proved to create no major devastation for the area, the Hochs found Cancun a place that has matured into a great vacation spot for the entire family...Best, of course, not to go there during the Caribbean's hurricane season."
I wonder if these poor People were giving a free return trip paid for by the Mayor of Cancun, Because they gave a great re-view of their trip their and told people its a wonderful place to take your family to play..But just don't go when their in bad weather times..LOL

Jewish Voters Back Kerry

Voters; "If U.S. President George W. Bush thought that aligning U.S. Middle East policy in Israel would win him Jewish votes he must be sorely disappointed. A poll released this week by the American Jewish Committee showed that 69 percent of Jewish voters currently intend to cast their ballots for Sen. John Kerry. Also found that two-thirds of U.S. Jews now say they disapprove, of last year's war with Iraq. The survey, which is part of an annual series Jewish community has become increasingly disenchanted with Bush's foreign policy. U.S. Jews are concentrated in states that Kerry is expected to win handily- New York, California, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and most, perhaps most important, Florida. Respondents said they considered anti- Semitism to be a ,very serious problem, in the U.S, just before the release of Mel Gibson's controversial film, -The Passion of the Christ. Asked what groups are the most anti-Semitic in the U.S., most or many Muslims were anti-Semitic. About one quarter of the respondents said most, or many evangelical Protestants were anti-Semitic."
Who know that Mel Gibsons movie- Passion of Christ would turn peoples views on the election of our President! I have yet to see this movie, I picked it up several times off the shelf.. But put it back again, because people tell me it is the most horrid and graphic, movie done in years. And very painful to watch. Has anyone who has seen it care to comment and tell me what they thought about this movie, and now how its effecting our country and views?

Thru -The Eyes Of Our Soldiers Frustrated

US soldiers;" Night-vision goggles pressed against their eyes and a carpet of stars glittering overhead, the Alpha Company patrol creep silently through the valley. Dogs bark as the 20 soldiers pad past farmhouses and deserted almond orchards. Swinging right, they sweep infrared beams over the mountain line for signs of the enemy. Nothing. Sergeant First Class halts before a bridge over a creek. The Taliban mounted a checkpoint here two days earlier, he whispers. They might return. The scouts crouch behind a rock, train an automatic rifle on the bridge, and wait. By dawn, only goats have strayed into their sights. The "bad guys" have eluded them again. "The Taliban are hard to find," says Sgt Aranda, trudging back to base. "We need good information from local people. But some of them are really against us." Rooting out the remnants of the Taliban has proved a maddening task for US forces in Afghanistan. Scattered and weakened the militia remain a slippery foe, hidden in the crevices of the mountains. But with landmark elections just weeks away, the hunt has gained fresh urgency. The US military is trying to quell the elusive insurgency with a mixture of friendship and force. One day its soldiers drill wells, build schools and perform lifesaving medical operations. The next they go hunting for Taliban. The American assumption that good works buy Afghan loyalty does not always hold true. And sometimes it can go disastrously wrong. During a medical patrol to help the sick in a remote village last Friday, commanding officer Captain Andrew Brosnan heard gunshots and mortar fire in a nearby valley. Suspecting bandits were attacking a truck convoy, he led an investigating team. As they mounted the slope his soldiers spotted two running figures in the distance. After a verbal warning and a warning shot, Capt Brosnan ordered his team to open fire. But when the approached the fallen "enemy", they discovered they had shot two children, a boy-12years, who was hit in the leg, and his brother 10, who had been shot in the head. By the time a Black Hawk helicopter landed to evacuate the wounded boys, Wali was dead. The Guardian did not witness the shooting and the 25th Infantry provincial commander, Lieutenant Colonel Terry Sellers, who was visiting Uruzgan at the time, ordered the troops involved not to speak about it. The 140 soldiers of Alpha Company, whose 25th Infantry Division is based in Hawaii, arrived early this summer. After a quiet welcome the base has come under sustained attack in the past month. Suspected Taliban have fired rocket-propelled grenades at the camp three times, though most of them exploded off the perimeter wall, and planted at least 10 roadside bombs designed to destroy passing US convoys. Yet the CO is frustrated that he has run into a wall of silence about the attacks. Even though some were launched from the busy town bazaar, nobody, it seems, knows anything. "They wave, they smile. But someone out there knows what's going on - and they're not saying anything," said Specialist Melvin Krambule, a gunner atop an armour-plated Humvee. Then, gathering hundreds of local men in a circle around him, Capt Brosnan delivered a stern message. He had come to the townspeople "in friendship" two weeks earlier, he said, and outlined Alpha Company's development projects. He also appealed for information about the Taliban attacks. Despite that, he admonished, "not one person here has helped me." Several factors mitigate against the US mission. Many locals have vivid memories of the brutal decade-long Russian occupation. Many are also terrified of reprisals if they are seen as being associated with the US troops. For their part, the Americans, who rely on young translators flown in from Kabul, struggle to make sense of local feuds and tribal rivalries. "People come to us denouncing suspects, but it's usually just a grudge against an old enemy," one sergeant said. Their heavy-handed style can also alienate locals. Camp Ananconda is ringed by barbed wire and sandbags, and supplied by huge Chinook helicopters that land in a fury of noise and dust. Soldiers only leave base with full body armour and a cocked gun, and the most common interaction with locals is a Hawaiian hand salute that means "hang loose". In a briefing after the shooting of the two boys, Col Sellers insisted the rules of engagement had been followed in the "tragic accident". But admitted it was a big setback to building relations with the already-suspicious local community. On Sunday morning Abdul Nabi, the boys' father, sat nursing his surviving son at Kandahar military hospital. "How can this be a mistake?" he asked, holding Ali's wounded leg in his hand. "A mistake is shooting one person. Not two, If they are shooting our children how can we be their friends?"
This is what really happens in the lives and minds of our American Soldiers, we send over their each day they wake up, Our Great President, Mr. Bush - don't tell you about so as we don't worry. I don't think these soldiers themselves, knew what was in store for them once they got their. Did you? I know it's ugly and cruel what you have read.. *But it's the true story* Not the Fairy Tale Version !!, that's what Mr. Bush wants, us to believe. Our soldiers our not in harms way... Even in the end of this War!! When these soldiers come home they will carry the damage and scars they had to indure while fighting for what they believed, was a good cause. YOU!! Need to ask yourself, would you want to walk beside these soldiers each and every day? You will, when they all finally come home. They alone will, have to live with this memory..Burned into to their, thoughts and mind, for ever?......Sometimes the truth is ugly, remember.............

Going To Iraq Was The Wrong War

MoveOn;" Fifteen of the nineteen terrorists who executed the attacks of September 11th were from Saudi Arabia. None were from Iraq. And Saddam Hussein's Iraq had no ties with Al Qaeda or any other terrorist organizations that threatened the United States. Bush's Iraq war was a war of choice. And just last week, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan called the war "illegal."even before we had over a thousand dead Americans in Iraq, even before Bush was overspending by hundreds of billions and dipping into emergency funds, we knew that, as a response to September 11th, going into Iraq was a dreadful mistake. Bush and Cheney pretended there were links between Iraq and Al Qaeda to justify the war, links that didn't exist."
I am having such a hard time with this Iraq war right now, I just don't deal with wars and fighting to begin with. But this one it seams to me is more Deadly then the others! I don't know why? Maybe I am just more commeted in reading about this one or maybe it's because of what lead up to us going to war. Or just maybe its the fact that everyone that wants to be President has the answers on how to fix this problem but no one is fixing it!!

John Kerry for President

Kerry;"John Kerry and John Edwards will do whatever it takes to make America safe. That means coordinating our intelligence agencies, taking action on all key fronts, standing up for security whenever special interests stand in the way, and getting the needed resources to the first responders who defend America every day.John Kerry and John Edwards will stand up for America's values and have a plan to build an America that is strong at home and respected in the world. They believe we can have a strong economy focused on good-paying jobs, a health care plan that reduces costs, an energy plan that frees us from Mideast oil, and they believe we can strengthen our military and lead strong alliances that keep America safe and secure.The America that George Bush has created is one with fewer jobs, increasing health costs and more obstacles to achieving the American dream. Kerry-Edwards communities share a common desire to improve education, attain access to affordable health care, create jobs, work towards a cleaner environment and a safer America....John Kerry will once again restore America as a beacon of hope."
I feel that if we don't all get out their and VOTE!! come November, we will have Mr. Bush for another four years and I'm not sure if this is something we all can afford to do unless you like living from hand-to-mouth each month. And the fear of always wondering if we, ALL!! will dye before this war ends......

Sorry I Have Been Sick

Up-Date9/24/04; Went to the Ear Doc. Again, did the ole-suck my brains out thing again with my ear. Then made me go thru a MRI on my sinuses to see if I had a problem their, was fine. Said I still have a hole in my ear and still have a 60% hearing lost which is why I'm tired all the time, said time will make me better and to take more Meds. And now ear drops to help heal the ear. So will see him in a-couple of weeks again. Never knew how special my hearing was till I lost it...I think I will live its been 4wks now, I Blew out my ear drum and had a really bad ear infection. finally after 3-wks I got my damn health Insurance, to approve for me to go see a ear/nose-Doc. Within a week of taking what he gave me I'm finally feeling better. Its amazing what the right pills, and person can do to make you well>>hehe. When I went in a week ago I had already been on 3-different meds. And nothing was helping me and I felt really bad and My ear hurt like hell, and wasn't getting any better. Well he put this, Ele.Sucking machine..LOL in my ear and, I thought he was trying to suck out what brains I had left...Hurt like hell, but said he had to get all the puss and crap out of it because I had blow-out my ear drum-out. But it was still fix-able even if it meant surgery..I thought oh god!!! So they threw me in a box that looked like a Mimi -walk-in freezer and said they were going to check my hearing.(I thought good because for a minute I thought they were going to put me on ICE, by the looks of the box) After Testing me found out, I had lost 60% of my hearing in my right ear and that was why I couldn't hear shit, and felt like I wanted to just shoot myself to put me out of my misery. Because my teenage daughter said, she did care about me but, I had been sick to long and she was getting sick just watching and, listening to me boo-how all the time :( .. hehe, but you know I'm feeling better and I think I am going to be okay, I am even some what starting to hear a bit in the crappy old ear. I just wanted to tell everyone why I haven't been posting much of anything the last feel weeks been so sick. Going back to the Docor next week again we'll see...Thank-you all for taking the time to stop and read my Blog it means a lot to me when people leave comments or send me articles to post...Bye

Friday, September 24, 2004

Leave No Voter Behind,

VoterDrive;" Leave No Voter Behind, our neighbor-to-neighbor vote drive to turn out 440,000 new voters for Kerry this November. Our army of 500 organizers spent the past three days training. They're pumped up and ready to hit the pavement. Today they head out into the battleground states, and Leave No Voter Behind begins. We're officially launching the program, we want you to be a part of the kick off event. To join the effort, all you need is a computer with a high-speed internet connection and speakers, or a phone. Can you make it? RSVP today!! Two years ago, MoveOn members were part of a historic movement to stop the war in Iraq. Together, we warned that the war would make the world less safe, that the inspections were working, and that the Bush administration had no exit strategy. And when the zealots in the Bush administration recklessly went to war, we vowed to hold George Bush accountable for this enormous and tragic blunder on November 2nd. And that's what Leave No Voter Behind is all about. Like the movement against the war. Our 500 battleground-state organizers will help 10,000 MoveOn Precinct Leaders and tens of thousands of local volunteers systematically reach out to people in their community who might not vote. And those of us who are not in the battleground states are just as important. In millions of face-to-face and phone conversations, we'll explain to occasional Democratic voters why this election is the one they can't sit out, and why they need to vote for John Kerry. The methods in Leave No Voter Behind are proven to work."
Here is your chance to help make sure that John Kerry ...Becomes our New!! President come 2005!! As it takes everyone to help to make sure it happens or you may, wish you did help if you do nothing and Bush is re-elected.. So click on the link and lets help John Kerry Become the President of the United States...

Gorbachev Launches Global Campaign

Come Clean;" Gorbachev is an ex-president going after weapons of mass destruction. But not the way U.S. President George Bush thought he was going after them in Iraq. That war on Iraq was a mistake, Gorbachev said, ''It not only undermined international law, it undermined democracy. Millions spoke out, but the war was launched in spite of their democratic views,'' he told media representatives.Gorbachev was emphatic about his campaign against WMD. ''If they exist, sooner or later there will be disastrous consequences. They can fall into the hands of terrorists. It is not enough to safeguard them, they must be abolished.'' Anyone who supports the existence of weapons of mass destruction should not be allowed to run for the post of president or prime minister, Gorbachev said. ''You may again think I'm naïve. But I'm not stupid, I know what I'm saying.'' As Soviet leader Gorbachev knew what he was sitting on. His initiative led to a joint declaration with former U.S. president Ronald Reagan that a nuclear war can never be won and must never be fought."
Here is a man that holds a very strong view on what we should all think about......