Shameless News Twisting

Obama calls Americans killed by terrorists in Middle East "bumps in the road."  Iran getting nukes is "noise."
So what does the mainstream press, AKA "NBC, ABC, CBS," want to make into the big story of the week?  A true comment made months ago by Romney about 47% that don't pay income taxes. Maybe someone could remind me again why the press is so in the tank for this administration?  Other than the fact that shameless partisan hacks are in charge of the news operations...

Obama and Clinton Pakistani TV stars

Taxpayers pony up $70,000+ to Pakistani TV stations to air another Obama "apology" for the 1st Amendment.  That's 20K more than the average American makes in 2012... to calm the unsettled local population.

Reagan warned us in 1964

A great speech from 1964 has many relevant points, even today. Obama isn't Johnson, although the Chicago way of politics is much like Johnson's was, and O isn't Jimmy Carter although they have much in common, like knowing what is best for you whether you like it or not and increasing the nations "misery factor."

Thanks, Chicago!

This is one of those rare times that the City of Chicago really does something FOR downstate.  Thank-you, Mayor Rahm Emanuel. It really IS for the children.
This is a great story about how the Chicago gun buyback program money sponsors an NRA youth shooting camp.

Illinois State Fair - Bills and Prizes

Illinois has money to pay for the State Fair, but not to pay its bills.  Hmmm. Scott Reeder, in his story at The Southern Illinoisan brings up good points about prize money doled out for "flower arranging" and other vastly important activities and contests. He differentiates between the prizes given to adults and those given to children, their lambs and 4H and other such educational venues.  Since the 944 dollars in prizes at the first State Fair in 1853, prizes awarded have had a growth rate of 36 times the rate of inflation and now top out at over $883,500.
"Separate line items exist in the budget for youth programs like 4-H  and FFA..." ($786,400 for 4-H) and ($325,000 for FFA).

The 4H and FFA prizes make some sense. The other 3/4 of a million plus do not make much fiscal sense in a state that can't make ends meet.

Reince Priebus, RNC Chairman

RNC chairman, Reince Priebus, is one of the best, clear and articulate voices for the GOP in recent memory.  Former VP Cheney type clarity and focus, but immensely smoother. This guy makes Obama's Chicago boss, David Axelrod, look like a bumbling cartoon character in comparison, and outshines DNC voice D.W. Shultz  like the sun compared to a 60 watt bulb.  I am seriously impressed.

Side note about Axelrod::
Watch the eyebrow/hand gesticulation coordination as he speaks, and note that the more animated the squints, gestures and eyebrow raises and flutters get, the more the B.S. quotient increases. The only time he seems straight with a statement is when he flashes that big mustache accented smile meant to disarm you, right before he speaks. Good smile though.

Substance

Great Romney choice in Ryan as VP. There should be no doubt now that a conservative is on the ticket, and will serve to energize the campaign.  Substance vs. Obamaloney.

Hello again

Hello again. I'm back.

TIANGONG 1 - Chinese Space Station

Chinese spacecraft manually docks with the TIANGONG 1 space lab, which will serve as a space station module prototype for China.

Gingrich - NBC

Newt Gingrich handled David Gregory gently, never calling him anything worse than "elite media," during this Sunday's "Meet the Press." Naturally, Gregory decided to open the interview with "access to contraception," and attempting to link Rush Limbaugh's comments and apology with Newt, and Newt would have none of it.
Newt was astonished at the desperation of "the elite media" to AVOID talking about rising gas prices, President Obama's many apologies, the trillion dollar deficit, the longest period of unemployment since the Great Depression, and suddenly deciding that Rush Limbaugh is the crisis of the week. There is no debate about access to contraception, but there is a debate about the administration's war on religion while apologizing to foreign extremists. Gingrich called Gregory out for intentionally misleading by framing the issue falsely.

Santorum last week, Gingrich this week. Will Romney dare enter the Mordor of NBC news next week for a session of "Meet the Bully?"
Side note: GOP majority leader of the House of Representatives, Eric Cantor was interviewed after Newt, and during the course of the interview, he mentioned three different times that both he and Gregory were Jewish. I still wonder what that was about.
At the end of the Cantor interview, Gregory tried to get a comment about the primary that Cantor had already said he wouldn't answer, and didn't answer the second time either.
The last comment of the March 4, 2012 interview was from David Gregory. "Here...I thought I might catch you in a weak moment."
This is standard operating procedure for him and I'm surprised that he said it out loud like no one already knew.
Here is a link to the opening of Gingrich's NBC interview on YouTube.

Commercial Crew Program - NASA+

An interesting combination of products from different companies that are designed for the "Commercial Crew Program" coming soon. Video from KSC.

Rick Santorum - NBC

I watched NBC's "Meet The Press" today, and as expected, host David Gregory did everything he could to try to bait and trip up his conservative guest, GOP candidate for President, Rick Santorum. Nothing worked, and Santorum answered directly and clearly, obviously frustrating the blatantly left leaning host who could never, ever lay claim to being fair and or non-biased. Gregory was clearly frustrated a couple of times when he thought he had good bait and gotcha questions and once when Santorum laughed at him, saying that he gets that question a lot, producing a humiliated look on Gregory's face. Santorum proceeded to answer each one, making it obvious that some of the questions were contrived, silly, and meant to elicit a headline.
Gregory's characteristic bully attitude and demeanor didn't seem to work with Sen. Santorum, who laughed at the bully and responded calmly.
I'd tell you how I thought Mitt Romney did in an interview with Gregory on Meet The Press, but he has declined to go on with Gregory. That is probably a good choice on his part.

Rahm's Autograph

Rahm Emanuel's autograph for the Second Amendment Foundation. There will be more. Rahm is bitter about this and now wants all of Illinois to begin a gun registration program, purportedly to fight crime in Chicago. Will he ever realize that going after the legal gun owners doesn't fight crime, but going after the criminals will work every time it's tried? $400,000. paid out by Chicago tax payers should be a reminder, or even a wake up call.

Apollo 11, Eagle has landed.

Symphony of Science - Journey to the Moon - Remixes for the Soul - Melody Sheep

The Case For Mars

Symphony of Science has an interesting way to make the case.

Vampire Lights

You don't need to be a vampire to realize these are a hazard to look at. Seems odd that the manufacturer would highlight a feature and show so graphically the grim reaction that happens when someone looks at the car at night while approaching it from the other direction or having it right behind you.

SOPA - PIPA

Find out which of your Senators and Representatives support this invasive attempt at control of the internet by the Motion Picture and Music industry.
These bills will seriously impact the internet and stifle innovation. Find out more and contact your Reps.
SOPA Opera
Where Do Your Members of Congress Stand on SOPA and PIPA?

Mitt, Newt and Rick

Ok, so I'm not Romney's biggest fan. However, the more that Gingrich and Perry attack him for being a capitalist, the more I have to like him. I don't think that using the tactics and language of the liberal left, and socialist class warfare to is the way to win the Republican nomination. Some say that this is the attack that Obama will wage if Romney is the nominee, and that this is just a warmup for him. Whatever. I don't believe that Gingrich and Perry are doing this to HELP Romney win in the general election, but they sure sound wrong spouting such liberal tripe.
If only Romney could lose that phony plastic smile that immediately appears after he says something, and the condescending look he has while he listens to the other candidates, he could be more likable.
All of that said, every one of the Republican candidates would be a better choice than a second term for President Zero.

Plumeria Bloom

One of my Plumeria trees (common name Frangipani) is about to begin its blooming cycle. I'm looking forward to the powerful fragrance from these little flowers for the next few weeks.