In California....

That nasty cancer-causing chemical acrylamide will be no more in potato chips.  No longer in fries and tater tots, either.  And companies will pay, including Heinz and Frito-Lay. 

"Acrylamide is produced when potatoes and other starchy foods are cooked at high temperatures. It is used industrially for treating sewage, and its presence in food was unknown in 1990 when California listed the chemical as a cancer-causing substance under Proposition 65. That initiative, passed in 1986, requires companies to post warnings of exposure to substances that cause cancer or birth defects.Swedish scientists were the first to detect acrylamide in food in a 2002 study. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is studying the chemical but has not imposed nationwide restrictions. The FDA has advised consumers that they can reduce the levels of acrylamide in fried potatoes by not over-browning them while cooking.

The settlement requires the potato chip producers to reduce acrylamide to 275 parts per billion in three years, a low enough level to avoid a Prop. 65 warning label. That amounts to a 20 percent reduction for Frito-Lay and an 87 percent reduction for Kettle Chips, Brown's office said. Little or no reduction will be needed for most Cape Cod chips, but one product, Cape Cod Robust Russets, will require a warning label, the attorney general said."

So why aren't there nationwide restrictions?

Read complete article HERE

 

Edgar Mitchell, the sixth man to walk on the moon, says aliens have been visiting the earth for the past sixty years.
 

 


 Read the short article at Reuters HERE


The aliens have landed.

Thus declared Apollo 14 astronaut Edgar Mitchell on Saturday to more than 200 admirers.

"A few insiders know the truth . . . and are studying the bodies that have been discovered," said Mitchell, who was the sixth man to walk on the moon.

[...]

Besides aliens, Mitchell talked about being freed of prostate cancer during a healing ceremony and his epiphany while returning from the moon.

From an interview Mitchell had with the St. Petersburg times in 2004...




There was a time when American astronauts were thought to be heroes.  Can you imagine, back in the sixties, what it must have felt like to be the ultimate adventurer?  Then you are just tossed aside and forgotten.  Is this just a way to gain attention?  Edgar Mitchell has quite an interesting life.  Frankly, I believe that if Dr. Mitchell were going to be an astronaut today, he would not pass the testing beforehand...if you know what I mean.



 

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger





Holy Cow!

I don't know who will pay the price if this happens...

The Governor?  Only those stalling on the budget?  All of them?

Because all state employees will suffer from the pay cuts...and they won't forget at election time.

"Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is considering an order that would slash the paychecks of hundreds of thousands of state workers to the federal minimum wage until the state budget impasse is resolved.

The workers would be entitled to recover the difference between their salaries and the minimum wage - $6.55 an hour - once the state enacts a budget and appropriates the money, under an executive order that the governor's office has drafted and that he is considering signing next week.

But the delay would help the state through an immediate cash crunch, as well as add pressure to legislators who failed to resolve their differences and pass a budget, as required, by the July 1 start of the fiscal year.

[...]

"We are not pawns. We are living breathing human being with mortgages, kids in school and car payments," said Jim Zamora, a spokesman for Service Employees International Union, Local 1000, which represents 95,000 state workers. "They're playing this multibillion-dollar game of chicken, but they're taking it out on us."


I'd say that will be one way to get the ball rolling on the budget process...


Read the full article HERE

 

So, I went to pay my AT&T Bill online and this popped up….






AT&T online Billing Site


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



My first reaction?

Kind of odd that AT&T is mocking the class-action lawsuit brought against them by the EFF on behalf of customers.  They are accused of violating customers' rights by illegally assisting the National Security Agency in widespread domestic surveillance.

Yeah, the average American has nothing to hide.  So what?

This isn't about the lawsuit.  This is about the ad.  I think the ad fails if it was meant to try and make people feel better about AT&T.

Boy, AT&T....

What a stupid ad.

 


For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
June 26, 2008

Termination of the Exercise of Authorities Under the Trading with the Enemy Act with Enemy Act with Respect to North Korea
A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America

 

I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including section 101(b) of Public Law 95-223 (91 Stat. 1625; 50 U.S.C. App. 5(b) note), hereby find that the continuation of the exercise of authorities under the Trading With the Enemy Act (50 U.S.C. App. 1 et seq.) (TWEA) with respect to North Korea, as authorized in Proclamation 2914 of December 16, 1950, most recently continued under Presidential Determination 2007-32 of September 13, 2007 (72 FR 53407), and implemented by the regulations set forth below, is no longer in the national interest of the United States.

Section 1. The exercise of TWEA authorities with respect to North Korea, which were implemented by the Foreign Assets Control Regulations, 31 C.F.R. part 500, and the Transaction Control Regulations, 31 C.F.R. part 505, and that were continued by Presidential Determination 2007-32 of September 13, 2007, is terminated, and Presidential Determination 2007-32 is rescinded with respect to North Korea.

Sec. 2. The Secretary of the Treasury is authorized and directed to take all appropriate measures within the Secretary's authority to give effect to this proclamation.

Sec. 3. This proclamation is not intended to, and does not, create any right, benefit, or privilege, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity, by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, instrumentalities, or entities, its officers or employees, or any other person.

Sec. 4. This proclamation is effective at 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on June 27, 2008.

WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-sixth day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand eight, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-second.


GEORGE W. BUSH  

Promises, promises….

or should I say going back on them?

Does this make him the typical politician?

Barack Obama thinks he’s entitled . . .

Entitled to make American citizens look foolish.

Democratic Sen. Obama is going back on his promise to use public financing in his fall campaign.

"Obama's decision to skip an earlier pledge to forgo public financing for the general election if his opponent did so will probably allow the Illinois fundraising phenom to outspend John McCain 3-to-1. But it also raises questions about his keeping commitments, especially when commitments made earnestly and early on turn out to be inconvenient. This sounds like old-style political gamesmanship and calculation, not the message of change Obama had been preaching..."



Read Insights from the Kiplinger Report  í  here

 

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
June 14, 2008

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. This week I'm traveling in Europe. In the past few days, I have visited Slovenia, Germany, Italy, and the Vatican. I'm spending this Saturday in France. And I will conclude my trip in the United Kingdom.

In my meetings, I've discussed our shared efforts to advance peace and prosperity around the world. America has strong partners in leaders like Italy's Silvio Berlusconi, Germany's Angela Merkel, France's Nicolas Sarkozy, and Britain's Gordon Brown. And together we're pursuing an agenda that is broad and far-reaching.

America and Europe are cooperating to open new opportunities for trade and investment. We're working to tear down regulatory barriers that hurt our businesses and consumers. We're striving to make this the year that the world completes an ambitious Doha trade agreement -- which will open up new markets for American goods and services, and help alleviate poverty around the world.

America and Europe are cooperating to address the twin challenges of energy security and climate change while keeping our economies strong. We're working to diversify our energy supplies by developing and financing new clean energy technologies. And we're working toward an international agreement that commits every major economy to slow, stop, and eventually reverse the growth of greenhouse gases.

America and Europe are cooperating to widen the circle of development and prosperity. We're leading the world in providing food aid, improving education for boys and girls, and fighting disease. Through the historic commitments of the United States and other G8 countries, we're working to turn the tide against HIV/AIDS and malaria in Africa. And to achieve this noble goal, all nations must keep their promises to deliver this urgent aid.

America and Europe are cooperating on our most solemn duty: protecting our citizens. Our nations are applying the tools of intelligence, finance, law enforcement, diplomacy, and -- when necessary -- military power to break up terror networks and deny them safe havens. And to protect against the prospect of ballistic missile attacks emanating from the Middle East, we're developing a shared system of missile defense.

We're also working together to ensure that Iran is not allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon. This week, America and our European allies sent a clear and unmistakable message to the regime in Tehran: It must verifiably suspend its enrichment activities -- or face further isolation and additional sanctions. Together, America and Europe are pursuing strong diplomacy with Iran, so that future generations can look back and say that we came together to stop this threat to our people.

In the long run, the most important way we can protect our people is to defeat the terrorists' hateful ideology by spreading the hope of freedom. So America and Europe are working together to advance the vision of two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, living side-by-side in security and peace. We're working together to protect the sovereignty of Lebanon's young democracy. And we're working together to strengthen the democratically elected governments in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In all of these areas, the United States and Europe have agreed that we must take action -- and that we must go forward together. The level and breadth of the cooperation between America and our European allies today is unprecedented. And together we're making the world a safer and more hopeful place. Thank you for listening.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Father's Day, 2008

A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America

On Father's Day, we honor our Nation's fathers for the unconditional love they give to their children and for their selfless dedication to the well-being of their families.

Fathers play a unique and irreplaceable part in the lives of their children and pass along values that help children grow into responsible adults. By providing their sons and daughters with a positive example, fathers help give their children the necessary foundation they need to make wise decisions throughout their lives. Fathers strive to inspire their children to lead lives of integrity, honor, and purpose, and they pray for wisdom and the strength to give their children the love and support they need to achieve their dreams.

All Americans are thankful for the extraordinary efforts of our Nation's fathers, stepfathers, grandfathers, and guardians. Their devotion and encouragement as mentors, providers, and role models help strengthen their families and our country. We are especially grateful for the fathers who serve in our Nation's Armed Forces. These dedicated fathers protect liberty so that all children can have a more promising future. We pray for the safe return of all those serving overseas, and we thank the fathers who support sons and daughters who are defending our freedom around the globe.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, in accordance with a joint resolution of the Congress approved April 24, 1972, as amended (36 U.S.C. 109), do hereby proclaim June 15, 2008, as Father's Day. I encourage all Americans to express their appreciation to all fathers for their many contributions to our Nation's children. I direct the appropriate officials of the Government to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on this day. I also call upon State and local governments and citizens to observe this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twelfth day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand eight, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-second.

GEORGE W. BUSH

 

 

What NASA earlier reported as an “unidentified” object ‘floating” (UFLO….my acronym) away from space shuttle Discovery, which is on a return trip from the international space station, has now been identified.  The 1.5 foot long object is a clip that is part of the rudder speed brake insulation.  No worries, says NASA, this has happened before…..


“NASA says the missing clip isn't critical for landing. It's used to protect the speed brake from high temperatures during the shuttle's launch. "Orbiters have come back with those missing. It's just not a factor for entry," Mission Control told the shuttle crew. “

Oh, my…I know I feel better.  I hope the crew does.

Read about it from Breitbart   ç  here





Space Shuttle Discovery being
prepared for mission

 

No, that’s not a spelling error…

I meant to write “idle.”

This story has nanny state written all over it.





“The Minneapolis City Council and Mayor R.T. Rybak approved changes Friday, to the city’s vehicle idling ordinance that aims to reduce air pollution. The ordinance limits most vehicle idling to three minutes, except in traffic.”









Cripes!

What’s really telling is that Minneapolis had a vehicle idling ordinance in the first place. 

You know…you can put the useful information out in a newsletter… or get it to the public at registration renewal time.

Don’t idle!  Idle bad!

But do you really need an ordinance?

Read the article from ABC News   í  here

Looks like airports are going to be seeing a little more than your underpants, since eventually over 2000 of the nation's airports will be replacing metal detectors with body-scanners that can see through your clothing.  You've probably heard of these scanners before...they can see your body parts very clearly.






"Body-scanning machines that show images of people underneath their clothing are being installed in 10 of the nation's busiest airports in one of the biggest public uses of security devices that reveal intimate body parts.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently started using body scans on randomly chosen passengers in Los Angeles, Baltimore, Denver, Albuquerque and at New York's Kennedy airport.

Airports in Dallas, Detroit, Las Vegas and Miami will be added this month. Reagan National Airport in Washington starts using a body scanner today. A total of 38 machines will be in use within weeks.

"It's the wave of the future," said James Schear, the TSA security director at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, where two body scanners are in use at one checkpoint.

Schear said the scanners could eventually replace metal detectors at the nation's 2,000 airport checkpoints and the pat-downs done on passengers who need extra screening. "We're just scratching the surface of what we can do with whole-body imaging," Schear said."

Read the full story on USA Today

In honor of National Children’s Day today, I want to share a “recipe” I’ve kept in the front of my cookbook for over 30 years.  It always reminded me of who I was cooking for, and about how my own life was when I was a child….


How To Preserve Children

To Preserve Children, Take:

1 Large Grassy Field
½ Dozen Children
2 or 3 Small Dogs
A Pinch of Brook
Some Small Pebbles
Flowers
A Blue Sky

Mix the children and dogs well together and put them in the field, stirring constantly.  Pour the brook over the pebbles.  Sprinkle the field with flowers.  Spread over all a deep blue sky and bake in a hot sun.  When thoroughly browned, remove and set in bathtub to cool. 

and now, from President Bush....

National Child's Day, 2008
A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America

America has a duty to provide its children with the support and skills they need to become the next generation of responsible leaders. On National Child's Day, we underscore the importance of fostering the love, encouragement, and protection that empowers our children to become happy and successful adults.

Children are a precious gift who need the love and support of family and friends to lead lives rich in promise and fulfillment. Parents are the most vital part of a child's life, providing them with the guidance and discipline to make the right choices and understand the consequences of their actions. Family, teachers, and others inspire our youth to use their talents and to become confident and caring adults. Religious and community leaders also have a role in teaching values and encouraging children to love their neighbors just as they would like to be loved themselves. Together, we can all help our children be prepared to meet life's challenges and realize the great promise of our country.

My Administration continues to support programs that help prepare America's youth for the opportunities ahead. The No Child Left Behind Act requires that every child have access to a quality education. We have made significant progress toward that goal across the country, with students achieving record math and reading scores. The America COMPETES Act, which was built upon my American Competitiveness Initiative, helped strengthen our goal of staying competitive within the global economy. The Helping America's Youth initiative, led by First Lady Laura Bush, encourages adults to work to help our young people reach their full potential.

On National Child's Day and throughout the year, we honor the boys and girls of America and show our gratitude to those who work to support them. This day is a reminder to us all that our commitment to children helps make our country a better place.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 1, 2008, as National Child's Day. I call upon all our citizens to celebrate National Child's Day with appropriate ceremonies and activities. I also urge all Americans to dedicate time and energy to educating our youth and providing them with a safe and caring environment.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand eight, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-second.

GEORGE W. BUSH  

 

New Names Etched Into Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall By John J. Kruzel American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, May 7, 2008 – The names of four U.S. servicemembers were etched into the glossy black walls of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial this week alongside more than 58,000 of their fallen comrades. Finishing the addition today was the name of Raymond C. Mason, a Marine lance corporal who died a year ago as a result of ailing health stemming from a bullet wound that paralyzed him in February 1968 during the Tet Offensive. In a ceremony at the wall here, Mason’s widow, Priscilla Mason, watched as an engraver inched a sandblaster over the Marine’s stenciled name with surgeonlike precision. Priscilla got on bended knee, held a sheet of paper up to the bright, new inscription, and rubbed a crayon in diagonal strokes until “RAYMOND C MASON” was embossed against the white paper. She said she plans to have the outline tattooed onto her skin, and she has promised to make dozens of rubbings for friends back home in Riverside, R.I., when she returns here on Memorial Day. “This is wonderful. He’s finally home,” she said when asked how she felt upon seeing the finished product on Panel 41E, Line 64 of the memorial. The names of Richard M. Goosens, a Marine lance corporal, and Dennis O. Hargrove and Darrell J. Naylor, both Army specialists fourth class, were inscribed here yesterday. The Defense Department determined that their deaths, which occurred years after the end of U.S. operations in Vietnam, resulted from wounds suffered in a combat zone there. The wall’s 58,260 etched names bear testament to the ultimate sacrifice paid by those U.S. troops, said R. James Nicholson, former secretary of Veterans Affairs. “It’s also a tangible expression of the gratitude of the American people for those who served and died there,” he said in an interview today. “The hope is that more and more Americans will learn and grow to appreciate the sacrifice and the price that was paid to perpetuate our freedom.” Designed by architect Maya Lin and built in 1982, the memorial consists of two black walls sunken into the ground, with a rolling mound of earth behind it sloping toward a heavily trafficked street. “It was Maya’s vision for the memorial that it appear as a rift in the earth,” said J.C. Cummings, architect of record for the memorial. “At the same time, the wall serves a practical purpose of separating the visitor from the noise and the traffic of Constitution Avenue and the noise of the city.” As a result, the architecture creates a quiet and contemplative atmosphere, he said, a design that allows visitors to have a respectful experience. Jan C. Scruggs, founder and president of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, said adding the names this week completes the healing process for surviving friends and family members. The additions also reflect America’s solidarity with its servicemembers of past and present, he said. “When you join the service, you can feel comfortable that the service is going to stand behind you,” Scruggs said in an interview today. “Especially the people who are serving today in Iraq and Afghanistan in combat, they need to know that we’re behind them and we appreciate what they’re doing.” James Lee, who has engraved many names onto the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, holds a piece of white paper over the name of Priscilla Mason's husband, Raymond C. Mason, a deceased Vietnam War veteran. She rubs a crayon in diagonal strokes until Mason's name is embossed on the paper, May 7, 2008, Washington, D.C.Defense Dept. photo by Sebastian J. Sciotti, Jr.

Related Sites: Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Getty Images



Remember that question? 

Do you ask that of your kids?

Did your dream come true for yourself?

Maybe you need  a career change.


"If you're considering switching careers, or are just starting to think about where to start yours, this is the list for you: The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projections of the 30 fastest-growing careers.

The projections, which are updated every two years, show that the total number of people employed in the United States will have increased 10 percent — by 15. 6 million — between 2006 and 2016. However, some jobs will grow at a much faster rate during that period.

The careers on this list range from the always-in-demand, engineers and healthcare aides, to the slightly more quirky — gambling officers, anyone?"

From the Boston Globe view a great slideshow with descriptions and photos of the


30-fastest-growing careers     í here


The last slide also has links with job hunting tips, advice and hints.

And here's a list of those careers....



Physician assistants
Physical therapists
Manicurists and pedicurists
Environmental science and protection technicians
Gaming and sports book writers and runners
Computer software and systems software engineers
Database administrators
Computer systems analysts
Dental assistants
Marriage and family therapists
Mental health and substance abuse social workers
Mental health counselors
Dental hygienists
Forensic science technicians
Pharmacy technicians
Physical therapist assistants
Gaming surveillance officers and gaming investigators
Social and human service assistants
Financial analysts
Skin care specialists
Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors
Veterinarians
Medical assistants
Theatrical and performance makeup artists
Personal financial advisers
Veterinary technologists and technicians
Computer applications software engineers
Home health aides
Personal and home care aides
Network systems and data communications analyst

Mine’s being deposited this week….

How about yours?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


The Wall Street Journal has an article today that answers questions about the stimulus payment.

One of the questions is one that I'm sure many of you want to know:

Q: Will the federal stimulus payments be taxable by Uncle Sam?

A: No. An IRS spokesman says those payments will not be considered taxable income for 2008.

Here's a new twist in the rules, announced recently by the IRS: Stimulus payments deposited directly into an individual retirement account or other tax-favored account may be withdrawn "tax-free and penalty-free."



Read the rest of the article on Ask Dow Jones  í here

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



 

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service has begun to transfer economic stimulus payments to millions of Americans, some of whom will see payments in their bank accounts as early as [April 28].

The IRS will issue payments of up to $600 ($1,200 for married couples) plus $300 for eligible children younger than 17, throughout the spring and summer. The first wave of payments will go to people who opted for direct deposit on their 2007 income tax returns.

“People who chose direct deposit will receive their economic stimulus payments the quickest,” IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman said. “We know there are many people who are eligible for an economic stimulus payment who have not filed a tax return. If you think you may be eligible, even if you don’t normally file a tax return, please check it out. And, use direct deposit to get your payment faster.”

Whether a taxpayer opted for direct deposit determines how soon the payment will arrive. The first cycle of paper checks will be mailed starting May 9.

Even people who normally do not have a filing requirement may be eligible for the stimulus payment. People who have no filing requirement must have at least $3,000 in qualifying income. Qualifying income includes any combination of earned income, nontaxable combat pay they elect to include in earned income and certain payments from Social Security, Veterans Affairs and Railroad Retirement.

People with at least $3,000 in qualifying income may qualify for an economic stimulus payment of $300 ($600 for married couples) plus the $300 per qualifying child payment. However, they must file a 2007 income tax return by Oct. 15 , 2008, to receive a stimulus payment. They can use the simple Form 1040A and provide basic information. Form 1040A is available on IRS.gov, the official IRS Web site.

The payment schedule announced earlier this year is for people who filed early enough to have their tax returns processed by April 15. People who did not submit a return in time for it to be processed by April 15 may see their stimulus payments later than the scheduled dates.

Below are the schedules for economic stimulus payments related to tax returns processed by April 15, 2008:

Some taxpayers may receive smaller economic stimulus payments than they anticipated. By law, the stimulus payments are offset to satisfy past-due taxes, student loans, child support and certain other debts.

The IRS will send notices to taxpayers who have already filed a 2007 tax return and who are eligible for an economic stimulus payment. This notice will serve as an important recordkeeping document and should be retained by taxpayers. By keeping people informed, the IRS hopes to reduce calls to customer service representatives who are still busy helping taxpayers complete tax returns.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



and in anticipation…
 

                     "Money" - Liza Minnelli, Joel Grey

New Jersey Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine is a liberal with a budget problem.

Hospitals are closing right and left in his state.

What's his answer?

A fast food tax !

Tax, tax, tax.....

Why is that always the answer?

How about some accountability?

"Senate President Richard J. Codey said he wouldn't favor a fast food tax.

"That's a tax on poorer people and people with kids," said Codey, D-Essex"

What Codey says makes sense.

"I don't like it any more than you do, but I think it is absolutely essential that we get our fiscal house in order," Corzine said at New Jersey Hospital Association headquarters. "

Oh, really?

Just how low can you go, Corzine?

Sounds like you are getting desperate.

Taxing is how you get your fiscal house in order?

Sounds like Corzine and Doyle have a lot in common when it comes to problems getting their fiscal houses in order.

They need a reality check.

Read the story from ABC News

Fast Food Tax To Save NJ Hospitals?    í here 

John McCain says he thinks we are in a recession?

"While McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, said he thinks the country is in a recession, he noted that he is more worried about helping people who are facing “enormous challenges,” rather than figuring out what the technical definition of a recession is."

Read The Hill  ç  here

Well, "technically," that would mean we had two quarters of negative growth, wouldn't it?  And I really would like to stick to the definition, because putting the "R" label on what is going on right now doesn't make me feel any better.

I don't think anyone will argue we are going through some very tough times.

Housing, fuel, now food prices.

But what's up?

Has the definition of a recession changed? 

You know, like when we had to change the definition of "man" when Jane Goodall discovered chimps were using tools?

In the story I'll link you to next, from the Boston Globe, it's almost comical.

 "The United States has already slipped into a deep recession that could be the most serious since World War II."

Well, that's news to me....it must have happened while I was in the shower or something.

I'm not saying it will not happen, or can't happen, but there is a chance we can get out of this mess.

And the comical reference I was making...well, we're in this deep recession, but all through this article references are made to the economy growing slightly in the 4th quarter of 2007 and in January of 2008, and there was an increase in jobs in January, etc.

Recession is here, economist declares  ç  here


Come on!


Before we declare a recession...let's make sure we are actually in a recession. 

Why make it any more painful than it has to be.


I'll tell you what's changed.

The definition of candidate for President of the United States of America....and I'm talking about all of them.









 

While we are moaning about what we are paying to fill our gas tanks, I’m sure we have all noticed the prices going up on food and other items in the stores.

A direct result of gas prices?

In most cases.

How do those items get to the stores?

Shipping…. Trucks and truckers.

Think about how those truckers feel when they are filling up their tanks for their livelihood.

How far will they let it go?

What will they do? 

There are now whispers of “strike.” 

What will we do?

Read about it in the QC Times


Truckers “Going Broke” and Threatening to Strike   í  here

 

Ode to Obama

The Jeremiah Wright debacle has had a huge impact on the primary campaign, to the detriment of Barack Obama. Real Clear Politics looks at the damage done so far, although the polling was prior to Obama’s speech in defense of his relationship with Rev. Wright. The results may give Hillary Clinton something to use as ammunition for her argument to super delegates:

Ohio: For Obama, it’s a 17-point swing against him since the last SurveyUSA poll taken just three weeks ago, going up from up ten on McCain to down seven. Clinton has slipped four points over the same period but still leads McCain by six.

Missouri: Obama’s support dropped three points in Missouri while McCain’s rose five, giving McCain a substantial 14-point lead. Over the same period Clinton picked up four points on McCain according to the SUSA survey.

Kentucky: McCain’s support jumped 10 points and Obama’s dropped five in three weeks. Clinton’s support remained steady, though she trails McCain by 10.

Both McCain and Clinton have gained in the same period in which Obama dropped in these key states. Ohio’s results will make the strongest argument for Clinton.

These polls will set the question up for the super delegates. The next round of polling will show whether they need to make a decision to drop Obama on an electability argument. If the polling continues to slide for Obama in Ohio and Missouri, and if McCain continues to do well in Michigan and Pennsylvania, the Democrats can't afford to nominate Obama. That is the purpose of the super delegates. 

There are rumors of Gore stepping back into the race if things get worse for  Obama.

Just where is she coming from?

From the way she talks, and she's speaking for Barack, too, she doesn't have a clue about the average American who is so gung-ho about hope and change.

Back in Zanesville, Ohio, before the primary, she told a group of women at a daycare center....

“I know we’re spending — I added it up for the first time — we spend between the two kids, on extracurriculars outside the classroom, we’re spending about $10,000 a year on piano and dance and sports supplements and so on and so forth,” Mrs. Obama tells the women. “And summer programs. That’s the other huge cost. Barack is saying, ‘Whyyyyyy are we spending that?’ And I’m saying, ‘Do you know what summer camp costs?’”


"With all those concerns, one might wonder whether the women should be comforting Mrs. Obama, but she assures them that she’s really O.K. “We don’t complain because we’ve got resources because of our education. We’ve got family structure,” she says. “So I tell people don’t cry for me.”

"But there are still problems. As she has many times in the past, Mrs. Obama complains about the lasting burden of student loans dating from her days at Princeton and Harvard Law School. She talks about people who end up taking years and years, until middle age, to pay off their debts. “The salaries don’t keep up with the cost of paying off the debt, so you’re in your 40s, still paying off your debt at a time when you have to save for your kids,” she says.

Oh, don't worry, Michelle....I'm certainly not crying for you.

Between Barack and Michelle, with her high paying job, his senate pay, his book sales, and her pay from serving on Boards, they make over half a million a year.

And she says America is so mean.

I think America has been pretty good to her....

$10,000 a year on piano, dance, sports, and camp?

And she's just adding it up now?

Read about Michelle's Struggle  É  here   in the National Review Online

AP photo


Looks like Nancy Pelosi has had to break apart the playground antics of Obama and Clinton and send each of them to a corner for a time-out.


"[Pelosi] said she believes that supporters for both Obama and Clinton, after a long and exciting race, have grown strongly attached to their candidate. She worries how those voters will react when - inevitably - one of the two candidates loses."

"So many new people are involved because of Barack Obama and we don't want them to be disenchanted," Pelosi said. "On the other hand, there is a chance that he might not win, and hopefully he will keep them in the fold. I think it will be about his leadership, too - whether he wins or not - to keep them in the fold and to attract others."

"She said the same is true if Clinton loses the fight for the nomination. Many of Clinton's supporters, especially women, are just as passionate about her candidacy, and those voters will be crucial in November, Pelosi said.""You have to have a thick skin in this business. You can win or you don't win, but it doesn't mean you pick up your marbles and go away," she said."

I don't think the "bickering" has been anything that unusual.

It's not any worse than we have seen in past elections.

And even with Pelosi's reprimand, I believe we will be seeing the war of words between Obama and Clinton reach higher levels as time goes on.

Especially with Obama pulling some of Clinton's old skeletons out from the back of the closet.

It will be interesting to see what Clinton can find to try to knock Obama off his pedestal.

In the meantime, McCain can just sit back and let those two just fight it out. 

The less bad mouthing he has to do, the better for him.


Read the full article from the San Francisco Chronicle


Pelosi asks Clinton, Obama to Stop Sniping   ç here