tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65646902024-03-07T21:33:40.907-05:00deuddersun says...Resident Scholar - The American Patriot Institutedeuddersunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01757971753925741976noreply@blogger.comBlogger528125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564690.post-1157990394058176342015-09-11T09:33:00.000-04:002015-09-11T07:45:26.459-04:009/11 - I Will Never Forget Paul John Gill, FDNY<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4nKpj2PtV92dsAcik8MpZ6a5Yf6yuJwd9PqrSrq-jITtQrDX4tIoUvfufeL3pXPbZ0fLZgstAmWqk7p4MN62pEEv8rlEEeI73VomWd66oy33t4ytpHfcCOw7jZRjhyphenhyphen-FdX3xHeg/s1600-h/gill.paul.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108595205025572178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4nKpj2PtV92dsAcik8MpZ6a5Yf6yuJwd9PqrSrq-jITtQrDX4tIoUvfufeL3pXPbZ0fLZgstAmWqk7p4MN62pEEv8rlEEeI73VomWd66oy33t4ytpHfcCOw7jZRjhyphenhyphen-FdX3xHeg/s400/gill.paul.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></a><br />
<b>Today marks the fourteenth anniversary of the day that the United States of America was attacked by Terrorists.</b> One of those who bravely gave their lives that day was a friend of mine. Fourteen years later, I still miss him.<br />
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<b>I am re-posting the tribute I originally posted .</b> I just can't find the words today to do another, other than to say that I have often wondered where Paul would be today, had he made another, safer choice? He could have joined our Union - he would have been a shoe-in. He could have worked with me on the movie <span style="font-weight: bold;">"World Trade Center"</span>, instead of losing his life in the real one. That should tell you all you need to know, that Paul would rather risk his life saving others, than tell the stories of those who do.<br />
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I will Never Forget <b>Paul John Gill</b>. Who will you be remembering today? Don't let them be forgotten...<br />
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<b>Paul, this is for you...</b><br />
<b></b><br />
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<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/img/195/1322/1024/DSCF0442.jpg"><img border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/img/195/1322/400/DSCF0442.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 2px;" /></a><br />
<b>Miss you, Bro...</b> <a href="http://www.hello.com/" target="ext"><img align="absMiddle" alt="Posted by Hello" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbh.gif" style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: 0% 50%; border: 0px currentColor; padding: 0px;" /></a><br />
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<b>Three years ago today one of the finest men I have ever known was murdered by terrorists in New York City.</b> Paul Gill was my friend. I remember the day he walked into our shop. He had flames tattooed up and down his arms, kind of like what you might expect to see on a '57 Chevy Bel Air, you know, a real Hot Rod. Paul was a real Hot Rod. He was a New York City Firefighter and like many of his Brother's, he worked other jobs on his off days. For all the hoopla about New York's Bravest, and probably everywhere-else, Paul needed to work other jobs to make ends meet. What does that tell you about how much we appreciate those who risk their lives for us on a daily basis?<br />
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<b>Anyway, I came to know Paul after a period of time.</b> I took him under my wing and showed him the ropes of the make believe world of Motion Pictures. Paul fit right in. He was smart, talented, with a great work ethic. He hit it off with this old Marine and we became friends. I often went to the Firehouse with him and hung out with the guys, watching TV and shooting the breeze as guys often do. We used to go to a little <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Brazilian</span> Restaurant, Chateau Brazil, after work and hit a few cold ones. The days Paul worked at the Firehouse, I would stop by and hang for a while. His fellow Firefighters were always amazed at the fact that Paul was a good enough carpenter to make it in the crazy world of TV and Movies. They shouldn't have been.<br />
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<b>Paul was the kind of guy who was good at anything he tried.</b> He was dedicated. He paid attention. He wanted to learn. He took personal pride in everything he did. He never wanted to let us down or make excuses for sloppy or poor workmanship.<br />
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<b>I remember when he came in one day after serving his tour with the Fire Department</b>. He was very excited. I asked him what the happy <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">occasion</span> was and he told me that he had gone on a Rescue Call and had actually saved a guy's life. It was the happiest I had ever seen him. Paul was a Life-saver, not a Life-taker.<br />
<br />
<b>But on September 11, 2001, Paul's life was taken.</b> He had been <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">transferred</span> back to his home station at 48<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">th</span> & 8<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">th</span> Avenue, the Pride of Midtown and when the planes hit the Trade Towers he was there. No movie, no make believe. No special effects. Not this time. Paul Gill died doing what made him happiest - trying to save other people's lives.<br />
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<b>And Paul, you never let us down.</b> We are proud of you. And we miss you terribly.<br />
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<b><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Semper</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Fidelis</span>, Brother</b>, for you were, and are, and will always be, "Always Faithful" We will never forget you.<br />
<br />
<b><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">deuddersun</span></b><br />
<b></b><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">For the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">FDNY</span>...</span><br />
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<object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/lT6tCQioI9E"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/lT6tCQioI9E" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">For My Fellow New Yorkers...</span><br />
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<object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/p_prLlrJl5o"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/p_prLlrJl5o" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><br />
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<b><a href="http://www.angelfire.com/ny5/paulgill/index.html">Paul Gill, New York City Firefighter</a><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.cooperativeresearch.org/timeline.jsp?timeline=complete_911_timeline&complete_911_timeline_key_events=complete_911_timeline_key_day_of_9_11_events">Complete 911 Timeline</a><br />
<a href="http://www.cooperativeresearch.org/timeline.jsp?timeline=complete_911_timeline&complete_911_timeline_key_events=complete_911_timeline_key_day_of_9_11_events"></a></span><br />
<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: normal;">(This post will remain on top until Wednesday, September 12, 2009)</span><br />
</b><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>deuddersunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01757971753925741976noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564690.post-86880103618174961482013-04-25T16:23:00.001-04:002013-04-25T16:43:27.148-04:00API To Saddle Up Again<h2>
API, The American Patriot Institute to Saddle Up Again!</h2>
<h3>
Via <a href="http://alterx.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Alternate Brain</a></h3>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmDt5x-UcwRUqZlp460yfyXxbSFTAoUqa_8Wjk-uPKRlqSffA7-LCpWAcTn-JpBBFpIWj5jjc3DCITKzUOuuv5LTsB3ng1UZYY4P162Wm3P1lf90EmQpFzMttwJup1VpkIQty15g/s1600/gse_multipart49820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmDt5x-UcwRUqZlp460yfyXxbSFTAoUqa_8Wjk-uPKRlqSffA7-LCpWAcTn-JpBBFpIWj5jjc3DCITKzUOuuv5LTsB3ng1UZYY4P162Wm3P1lf90EmQpFzMttwJup1VpkIQty15g/s400/gse_multipart49820.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>To defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.</i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
<a href="http://alterx.blogspot.com/2013/04/api-to-saddle-up.html" target="_blank"><u>Alternate Brain Announces:</u></a></h3>
<br />
<br />
The <a href="http://theamericanpatriotinstitute.blogspot.com/">American Patriot Institute</a> is pissed off at this and I don't blame us:<br />
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<a href="http://www.military.com/daily-news/2013/04/23/va-silent-on-exec-bonuses-for-manipulated-data.html">Military.com</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<blockquote>
VA Silent on Exec Bonuses for Manipulated Data<br />
<br />
A year after testifying that some executives received bonuses by
manipulating appointment data for veterans needing mental health care, a
former Department of Veterans Affairs hospital administrator said
officials have avoided the issue “like the plague.” <br />
<br />
“They avoid it with a 10-foot pole,” Nicholas Tolentino told Military.com in a telephone interview Monday.</blockquote>
They'll be damn lucky if the pole we shove up their ass is only 10 feet!<br />
<br />
Go read the rest of the article and you will know why us creaky old Vets
are pissed off enough to groan our way to our feet and head for the
sound of the guns. Our newer Vets, from Iraq in particular, were
suckered into giving it up for a neocon lie and we owe them big time.
All Vets are affected by this as well.<br />
<br />
Stay tuned.
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvahZkSTpOaT5iXJbtdJV0E420xD-Iyvyp1p__6QQILhYszSqWdZI_O-sIGWajEolsK_DbbEKp7J_34ipV7dzh0QdxutWBUCw2o5tQNevi-2bKxHNRp_PNht0B1YM9FwflOK_vhg/s1600/Project022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvahZkSTpOaT5iXJbtdJV0E420xD-Iyvyp1p__6QQILhYszSqWdZI_O-sIGWajEolsK_DbbEKp7J_34ipV7dzh0QdxutWBUCw2o5tQNevi-2bKxHNRp_PNht0B1YM9FwflOK_vhg/s320/Project022.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 8 Founding Members of the API</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />deuddersunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01757971753925741976noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564690.post-41809093181751986132011-06-11T09:00:00.000-04:002011-06-11T09:58:21.722-04:00Philadelphia's Finest<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Congratulations to Philadelphia Police Officer</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 180%;"><span style="color: #3366ff;">Gregory Giacomelli</span><br />
</span></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidcFjXKFUylyec76FbjLpsz2LM1a-DKuf4YcswGHm2eZt1YcBIntW53SgmNV452-wwDaETYMSclwa2-dik_sxT-xDTocJ9UxA9dedLY1eEc7Dia5EaWfkxiJDOmUYa14yGUzF5oQ/s1600-h/DSCF3566.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5107482701121725730" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidcFjXKFUylyec76FbjLpsz2LM1a-DKuf4YcswGHm2eZt1YcBIntW53SgmNV452-wwDaETYMSclwa2-dik_sxT-xDTocJ9UxA9dedLY1eEc7Dia5EaWfkxiJDOmUYa14yGUzF5oQ/s320/DSCF3566.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Greg is my favorite nephew and it was with enormous pleasure that I attended his Graduation from the Philadelphia Police Academy on Wednesday, September 5th.</span><br />
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Officer Giacomelli has been assigned to the 39th District here in Philadelphia. A strapping young man at 6'-4" and adept in the martial arts, Greg fulfilled his dream and is now proudly serving the city he loves.<br />
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As I mentioned Greg is adept in the martial arts and qualified Expert on the pistol range, but his most important qualities can't be measured- quick to smile or laugh, Greg has an innate ability to relate to regular people, and the patience necessary to reach workable solutions to unworkable situations.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">I am so proud to know him.</span> I know he will be a credit to the Police Department, the City of Philadelphia, his family and friends. He's the kind of Cop you would want to see if you're lost, need help or in trouble.<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_NMpOJBGf43L8X3O0KaesFqMsIkbjUM_oqdilp-L2TKvl06UbDc6PTi6dQ5zyRaQi0DhFz9Ug1sN68gp-WO4SpVPjSkCGnV93K-qaGYA7UkyLfaCGviQcDPGC5D-kxFIBhMOxlg/s1600-h/DSCF3522.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5107485510030337330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_NMpOJBGf43L8X3O0KaesFqMsIkbjUM_oqdilp-L2TKvl06UbDc6PTi6dQ5zyRaQi0DhFz9Ug1sN68gp-WO4SpVPjSkCGnV93K-qaGYA7UkyLfaCGviQcDPGC5D-kxFIBhMOxlg/s320/DSCF3522.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Officer Giacomelli taking his Oath to Serve and Protect.<br />
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</span><span style="font-style: italic;">While I have pictures of Greg and his proud family I have declined to post them in the unhappy event some miscreant decides to take "revenge" on Greg's family for some future"episode", however, I don't have the same reservations, so ...<br />
</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />
Here we are!<br />
</span></div><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsFhLx91aje3B5kIy2pD3b5SVfirIp9_BvcrCmBh-rCgPPucY48hcxLlZccGmsDI9w57N9Ih2Vt4yO74BrrRCuHj8S7d7k2WYUwFQ40GSMLg4qVaJtTkpBW_70mGBjyr8HxnYLxg/s1600-h/DSCF3570.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5107487391226012994" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsFhLx91aje3B5kIy2pD3b5SVfirIp9_BvcrCmBh-rCgPPucY48hcxLlZccGmsDI9w57N9Ih2Vt4yO74BrrRCuHj8S7d7k2WYUwFQ40GSMLg4qVaJtTkpBW_70mGBjyr8HxnYLxg/s320/DSCF3570.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></a><br />
<br />
I told you he was a strapping young man!<br />
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<span style="color: #3366ff; font-size: 180%;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Congratulations Officer Giacomelli! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">And Congratulations to Class 349, Philadelphia Police Academy!</span><br />
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As Sergeant Phil Esterhaus, of Hill Street Blues used to say: <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Hey, let's</span> <b>be careful out there</b>."<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">d.</span>deuddersunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01757971753925741976noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564690.post-77720307673981330452010-07-03T11:23:00.000-04:002010-07-03T11:23:43.391-04:00Happy 4th Of July!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWkybCLuBaHNOjifBd5Q5q6ZVplqA9VwkD9HL7RiTeU2aySPv4TkJ1xlT_m6GJ4DIvqCmPAzVAwRcCpBoM-TnhSOB-Vii5ALUoI_KSf-dBwcftUbHiYY6Tkima6qZJ3abpZO-umg/s1600/EGAFlag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWkybCLuBaHNOjifBd5Q5q6ZVplqA9VwkD9HL7RiTeU2aySPv4TkJ1xlT_m6GJ4DIvqCmPAzVAwRcCpBoM-TnhSOB-Vii5ALUoI_KSf-dBwcftUbHiYY6Tkima6qZJ3abpZO-umg/s400/EGAFlag.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This weekend let's put aside our differences and celebrate the birth of our Nation!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Happy Independence Day!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/WCSS1Xy6kfE&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/WCSS1Xy6kfE&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>deuddersunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01757971753925741976noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564690.post-40244510054343498432010-06-29T18:55:00.000-04:002010-06-29T18:55:56.390-04:00WorkingI've been doing a little house cleaning here, changed the look, moved some stuff around, still plenty to do tho. Some links and widgets are out of date, others just won't work, guess yer gonna have that. Not sure who's comment service I'm using, think it's Blogger's, but it works and that's good enough for the moment. I also need to go thru my link list and see what and who is still active. I hate to delete links tho, you never know when someone will get bitten by the bug and pop up again with something to say, so if there's a site at the end of the link, active or not, I'll leave it. A lot of people have put a lot of effort and love into those sites, and if nothing else, they can serve as archives.<br />
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So, while I work behind the curtain, I'll leave you to ponder this. <br />
<br />
Little blast from the past...<br />
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<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Yt6D4NFQ2Cc&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Yt6D4NFQ2Cc&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br />
<br />
Let's update this, ok? So what, exactly, have we learned over the last 45 years or so? You tell me...<br />
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<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ft36GQMmvXs&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ft36GQMmvXs&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>deuddersunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01757971753925741976noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564690.post-27484377046310425552010-06-28T12:25:00.006-04:002010-06-29T16:15:30.129-04:00An Exhumation (and Reincarnation)For some reason, a reason I have not yet fully fathomed, I have decided to exhume this old blog and try to make it readable again. There is a lot here - years of my thoughts and realizations, which I am reluctant to bury, some good, some awful, but mine none-the-less. I started this blog in order to combat the lunacy of the Aways Wrong Right during the years of the George "Dubya" Bush debacle. Motivated by my brother, Scroff, I joined other Progressive bloggers in an attempt to counter the Right's lies and insinuations, hence my participation in the American Patriot Institute. How, I reasoned, could we who had served be labeled Un-American and traitors? The swiftboating of a legitimate war hero, John Kerry, showed me that in Right Wing politics there is no room for "reason" of any kind. This was only reinforced by the Right's lame efforts to discredit Barack Obama in the 2008 Presidential elections. Indeed, to this day, their claims that he is a Muslim, (as if that in itself should disqualify him somehow in a country founded, in part, on religious freedom), or that he is not a natural born citizen, still ring from the mouths of the Right Wing shills on Fox News and from the likes of Rush Limbaugh on Right Wing Radio, and is eagerly consumed by legions of common working folk, too scared or bamboozled to act in their own best interests. (Face it, the wealthy, who are for the most part, the Real Republicans, are far too educated and intelligent to fall for such blatant nonsense.) With the election of Barack Obama to the Presidency of the United States, I naively considered the battle won and slowly withdrew from the field.<br />
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But it is not politics that draws me back. Rather it is death. The death of four good friends over the last eight months. I have come to see my own vulnerability and mortality and it is this realization, that tomorrow should never be taken for granted, that motivates me now. There is no more "later". There is only now for me, and if there is to be a "later" for someone-else, a later that involves a truly free country, with equal opportunities and real justice, a later in which all the sick are treated and all the hungry fed, a later where all children are able to reach their potential, where war is a last resort and not a method of strong arm diplomacy, where good, hard working men do not die in mines or offshore oil rigs to feed the Corporate Coffers of soulless, arrogant men, then I must act now.<br />
<br />
No longer can I sit by while our work is shipped offshore and our hardworking citizens left to languish in fear, choosing between eating, medical care or paying bills, as rich Republicans deny even the smallest bit of help by refusing to extend unemployment benefits. No longer can I bear to watch once proud workers who built our nation and raised our families struggle, with no help at all from their fellow citizens while Big Banks, Oil Companies and Automakers feed freely at the public trough! Welfare is evil and only encourages laziness! Unless it is Corporate Welfare under the guise of Bail outs! Too big to fail is too big to exist! That is real free market economics! Socialism works fine for Mismanaged Corporate giants, for Wall Street... but not for Main Street! Main Street is told to "pull themselves up by their bootstraps" and carry on as the rugged "Real Americans" always have, and the illusive carrot that is dangled is "work hard and you too can join the ranks of the wealthy"! Ah yes, Capitalism at it's best ~ indeed, then let that free market capitalism apply to all.<br />
<br />
Myths like the Protestant Work Ethic apply only to the working class! Easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven! This false promise of reward and social justice in an afterlife is small comfort to the family watching their child die due to lack of adequate healthcare.<br />
<br />
It is time to level the playing field. And that is exactly what I will try to do. Will you join me? Will you help me? The future is ours, but we must act now.<br />
<br />
d.deuddersunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01757971753925741976noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564690.post-27973015117077117022010-01-18T13:21:00.002-05:002010-01-18T13:25:36.733-05:00No Comment<strong>After years of using a wonderful FREE service from Halscan for comments,</strong> a new outfit has moved in, taken over and now wants us to pay for commenting. That is why there are no comments after each post. I am working to rectify this and any suggestions would be appreciated. C'mon, one of the two people who still visit here must have an idea!<br /><br />I may try to enable Blogger's comments, but I will be damned if I'm gonna pay so some jack-off can call me names in my comment section! Anyway, we'll see what happens.<br /><br />Ciao!<br /><br /><strong>d.</strong>deuddersunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01757971753925741976noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564690.post-8823814086106112582009-12-30T09:31:00.002-05:002009-12-30T09:42:38.420-05:00Move Your Money!<b>It's so simple an idea I don't know why it took this long for someone to come up with it! </b>If Washington can't or won't control the Big Banks, <i>we can!</i><div><i><br /></i></div><div>Read the article below and take a look at the video. Then <i>repost this everywhere!</i> Let's put our money where it will do us the most good!</div><div><br /></div><div><b>d.</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/move-your-money-a-new-yea_b_406022.html">Move Your Money: A New Year's Resolution</a></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>Arianna Huffington </div><div>and Rob Johnson</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px; "><p style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; ">Last week, over a pre-Christmas dinner, the two of us, along with political strategist Alexis McGill, filmmaker/author <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eugene-jarecki" target="_hplink" style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; color: rgb(43, 0, 115); text-decoration: none; ">Eugene Jarecki</a>, and<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nick-penniman" target="_hplink" style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; color: rgb(43, 0, 115); text-decoration: none; ">Nick Penniman</a> of the HuffPost Investigative Fund, began talking about the huge, growing chasm between the fortunes of Wall Street banks and Main Street banks, and started discussing what concrete steps individuals could take to help create a better financial system. Before long, the conversation turned practical, and with some help from friends in the world of bank analysis, a video and website were produced devoted to a simple idea: Move Your Money.</p><p style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; ">The big banks on Wall Street, propped up by taxpayer money and government guarantees, have had a record year, making record profits while returning to the highly leveraged activities that brought our economy to the brink of disaster. In a slap in the face to taxpayers, they have also cut back on the money they are lending, even though the need to get credit flowing again was one of the main points used in selling the public the bank bailout. But since April, the Big Four banks -- JP Morgan/Chase, Citibank, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo -- all of which took billions in taxpayer money, have <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/16/nations-4-biggest-banks-c_n_394264.html" target="_hplink" style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; color: rgb(43, 0, 115); text-decoration: none; ">cut lending</a> to businesses by $100 billion.</p><p style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; ">Meanwhile, America's Main Street community banks -- the vast majority of which avoided the banquet of greed and corruption that created the toxic economic swamp we are still fighting to get ourselves out of -- are struggling. Many of them have closed down (or been taken over by the FDIC) over the last 12 months. The government policy of protecting the Too Big and Politically Connected to Fail is badly hurting the small banks, which are having a much harder time competing in the financial marketplace. As a result, a system which was already dangerously concentrated at the top has only <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/29/too-big-to-fail-too-small_n_338387.html" target="_hplink" style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; color: rgb(43, 0, 115); text-decoration: none; ">become</a> more so.</p><p style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; ">We talked about the outrage of big, bailed-out banks turning around and spending millions of dollars on lobbying to gut or kill financial reform -- including "too big to fail" legislation and regulation of the derivatives that played such a huge part in the meltdown. And as we contrasted that with the efforts of local banks to show that you can both be profitable and have a positive impact on the community, an idea took hold: why don't we take our money out of these big banks and put them into community banks? And what, we asked ourselves, would happen if lots of people around America decided to do the same thing? Our money has been used to make the system worse -- what if <em style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; font-style: italic !important; ">we</em> used it to make the system better?</p><p style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; ">Everyone around the table quickly got excited (granted we are an excitable group), and began tossing out suggestions for how to get this idea circulating.</p><p style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; ">Eugene, the filmmaker among us, remarked that the contrast between the big banks and the community banks we were talking about was very much like the story in the classic Frank Capra film <em style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; font-style: italic !important; ">It's a Wonderful Life</em>, where community banker George Bailey helps the people of Bedford Falls escape the grip of the rapacious and predatory banker Mr. Potter.</p><p style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; ">It was a lightbulb moment. And, unlike the vast majority of dinner conversations, the excitement over this idea didn't end with dessert. It actually led to something -- thanks in great part to Eugene and his remarkable team, who got to work and, in record time, created a brilliant, powerful, and inspiring video playing off the <em style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; font-style: italic !important; ">It's a Wonderful Life</em> concept. Watch it below.</p><p style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; ">Within a few days, the rest of the pieces fell into place, including an agreement with top financial analysts Chris Whalen and Dennis Santiago, who gave us access to their IRA (Institutional Risk Analytics) database. Using this tool, everyone will be able to plug in their zip code and quickly get a list of the small, solvent Main Street banks operating in their community.</p><p style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; ">The idea is simple: If enough people who have money in one of the big four banks move it into smaller, more local, more traditional community banks, then collectively we, the people, will have taken a big step toward re-rigging the financial system so it becomes again the productive, stable engine for growth it's meant to be. It's neither Left nor Right -- it's populism at its best. Consider it a withdrawal tax on the big banks for the negative service they provide by consistently ignoring the public interest. It's time for Americans to move their money out of these reckless behemoths. And you don't have to worry, there is zero risk: deposit insurance is just as good at small banks -- and unlike the big banks they don't provide the toxic dividend of derivatives trading in a heads-they-win, tails-we-lose fashion.</p><p style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; ">Think of the message it will send to Wall Street -- and to the White House. That we have had enough of the high-flying, no-limits-casino banking culture that continues to dominate Wall Street and Capitol Hill. That we won't wait on Washington to act, because we know that Washington has, in fact, been a part of the problem from the start. We simply can't count on Congress to fix things. We have to do it ourselves -- and the big banks are the core of the problem. We need to return to the stable, reliable, people-oriented approach of America's community banks.</p><p style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; ">So watch Eugene's amazing video, then go to <a href="http://moveyourmoney.info/" target="_hplink" style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; color: rgb(43, 0, 115); text-decoration: none; "><strong style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; ">www.moveyourmoney.info</strong></a> to learn more about how easy it is to move your money. And pass the idea on to your friends (help make this video -- and this idea -- go viral!).</p><p style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; ">JP Morgan/Chase, Citi, Wells Fargo, and Bank of America may be "too big to fail" -- but they are not too big to feel the impact of hundreds of thousands of people taking action to change a broken financial and political system. Let them gamble with their own money, not yours. Let's turn big banks into smaller banks. We'll all be better off -- and safer -- as a result.</p><p style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; ">Make it your New Year's resolution to move your money. We can't think of a better way to start 2010.</p><p style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; "><br /></p><p style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; "><br /></p></span></b></div><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Icqrx0OimSs&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Icqrx0OimSs&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>deuddersunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01757971753925741976noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564690.post-15263542439710108362009-12-25T09:23:00.004-05:002009-12-25T09:30:11.925-05:00Rock on Santa!<span style="font-weight:bold;">George Thorogood & the Delaware Destroyers!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><i>Crank up the volume and rattle the needles right off the Tree!</i><span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/cnnj-N_Vc0I&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/cnnj-N_Vc0I&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-weight:bold;">Merry Rock & Roll Christmas! <i>From me in the Great White North to you where-ever you are!</i><span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXTWO5Tn9R7Z_O9cBC7YFCA63CgqewUV3CpFVFUn_yA9co0c-FkiwbA-55btOKvhF_lqGXQviaP58L5XRoH0_J3dgwoGeH-PF4kIStqpkZKXl_RwX33q6xCM9PZzJHj2wayAS3Fg/s1600-h/5706357.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXTWO5Tn9R7Z_O9cBC7YFCA63CgqewUV3CpFVFUn_yA9co0c-FkiwbA-55btOKvhF_lqGXQviaP58L5XRoH0_J3dgwoGeH-PF4kIStqpkZKXl_RwX33q6xCM9PZzJHj2wayAS3Fg/s320/5706357.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419180115477353474" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br /></span><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; ">Santa d.</span></div></div>deuddersunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01757971753925741976noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564690.post-11149696132739735102009-12-25T09:20:00.001-05:002009-12-25T09:21:52.961-05:00Ho Ho Fucking Ho! Merry Christmas! (X Rated)<span style="font-weight:bold;">Think the Elves have had enough?</span><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/nWMTF5fLA6o&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/nWMTF5fLA6o&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Merry! Merry!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">d.</span>deuddersunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01757971753925741976noreply@blogger.com39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564690.post-3917523877657512752009-12-25T09:17:00.002-05:002009-12-25T09:19:33.768-05:00Christmas Elf Bootcamp - Not for Children!<span style="font-weight:bold;">What really motivates the Elves! </span><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/DOq-8kvAV3o&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/DOq-8kvAV3o&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Merry Christmas!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">d.</span>deuddersunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01757971753925741976noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564690.post-58276631364657301092009-12-25T09:15:00.000-05:002009-12-25T09:16:50.532-05:00Merry Christmas From the Kings of Cool!<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/RDojaTFEP9k&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/RDojaTFEP9k&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">d.</span>deuddersunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01757971753925741976noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564690.post-3327363297832326742009-12-17T13:18:00.008-05:002009-12-17T14:11:25.782-05:00Sickening indeed...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtpXrYQSCAul_6miJHJ2YQlwkHtDw-XNSUUoBtVD8opjXCt4p1ao-BQi7KFoSc5Wcz7UjVQAaSiZZNsa62tXDTX_mKMa-Lf1FyKK_27nCTuZMWAg8J86lUi8GX0_hJOdTiCYPMVA/s1600-h/nobama.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 135px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtpXrYQSCAul_6miJHJ2YQlwkHtDw-XNSUUoBtVD8opjXCt4p1ao-BQi7KFoSc5Wcz7UjVQAaSiZZNsa62tXDTX_mKMa-Lf1FyKK_27nCTuZMWAg8J86lUi8GX0_hJOdTiCYPMVA/s200/nobama.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416279566017823218" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">I never thought it would come to this,</span> but I have to say, there are a lot of Democrats I won't be voting for again, and that includes <span style="font-style:italic;">you</span>, Mr. President. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">I have, for well over a year now, proudly displayed your picture in my margin over the words, "Another Union Marine for Obama".</span> You have made me ashamed of that. You have made me doubt myself. How could I have been so blind, how could I have been so fooled? The only answer I can come up with is the one I convinced myself of so long ago, that <span style="font-style:italic;">anybody</span> would have been better than four more years of Republican chicanery. I was wrong.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">At least with the Republicans I know what to expect.</span> I know they are against me and those like me. I know that they are self-serving, soul-less creatures who worship at the alter of the almighty dollar. I don't expect anything less from them and I did garner a certain joy in fighting them for eight long years at every turn. I tuned in every night to Keith Olbermann and reveled in his tirades against the Bush Crime Cartel and posted them all right here. I was convinced that once you were elected you would make things right. I looked forward to the end of our military involvement in Iraq. I relished the idea that Gitmo would be closed. I celebrated in the knowledge that justice was finally coming to America and that <span style="font-style:italic;">every</span> American citizen would have access to quality healthcare, regardless of socio-economic status. <span style="font-style:italic;">You</span>, Mr. President, would boldly lead us into the new century and a new America that truly offered the American Dream to everyone. I was so wrong.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Mr. President, <span style="font-style:italic;">in my eyes you have betrayed us</span>.</span> You have sat idly by and watched our dreams get swept away by a handful of Insurance Company cronies led by the ultimate turncoat, Joe Lieberman. You have failed to close Gitmo. You have failed to extricate us from Iraq. <span style="font-weight:bold;">And now you have failed us again on an issue of such colossal importance that I can no longer turn away and forgive you your sins.<span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">"Yes We Can" rings empty and unfulfilled.</span> <br /><br />I can't even credit you with "No we can't", because you just didn't even really try. <br /><br />You have shown us all plainly that it is, after all, <span style="font-weight:bold;">"No We Won't".<span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span><br /><br />Now, excuse me while I replace your picture in my margin with the one best suited to you. The one above, Nobama!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">d.</span><br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://embed.crooksandliars.com/v/MTEyMDgtMzM1NTU?color=173466"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://embed.crooksandliars.com/v/MTEyMDgtMzM1NTU?color=173466" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="355" wmode="transparent"></embed></object>deuddersunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01757971753925741976noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564690.post-36065278764549181862009-12-16T08:29:00.005-05:002009-12-16T08:41:09.196-05:00Fix it!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_IKXgvE1A9Ar0BLc6CVAPbGj2oNYJfbrhIfM0jSEd4L0EkuQqr6DBLK-5ZIZDDP0LmBzU_8h9H_rQxFHs23UWU_g-BGnoSrrT91FqT6z8HP928loa7fkEtYvsKu3HMakQKlSdkg/s1600-h/API+large.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_IKXgvE1A9Ar0BLc6CVAPbGj2oNYJfbrhIfM0jSEd4L0EkuQqr6DBLK-5ZIZDDP0LmBzU_8h9H_rQxFHs23UWU_g-BGnoSrrT91FqT6z8HP928loa7fkEtYvsKu3HMakQKlSdkg/s200/API+large.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415827967532449586" /></a><br /><b>While perusing my feed this morning</b> I came across this from Fixer at <a href="http://alterx.blogspot.com/2009/12/fix-it.html">Alternate Brain</a>. Sums up the way I feel exactly, so head on over to<a href="http://alterx.blogspot.com/2009/12/fix-it.html"> Alternate Brain</a> and give it a look.<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 15px; font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">"Fixing shit is what </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 15px; font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I do, and I do it well. Everything from lawnmowers to jet engines, I can figure out what's wrong with it and make it work correctly, or let you know it's beyond hope. All except our political system. I wouldn't have a clue of where to start. This health care "reform" process shows me it's pretty well beyond hope."</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Read the rest </span><a href="http://alterx.blogspot.com/2009/12/fix-it.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">here</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 15px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">While you're there, look around. A lot of good stuff going on over there!</span></i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 15px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">d.</span></b></span></span></div>deuddersunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01757971753925741976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564690.post-60304631599722778992009-12-14T09:06:00.001-05:002009-12-14T10:41:16.204-05:00Hey Liz, STFU!<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;font-size:11px;"><div class="UIIntentionalStory_Header"><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: normal; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; font-size:13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:13px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; font-size:11px;"><div class="UIIntentionalStory_Header"><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: normal; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; font-size:13px;"><span class="UIStory_Message"><b>Outrageous...</b> Bimbette, Liz Cheney, who was noticeably quiet as her Father's administration did everything it could to drive Gay men and women back into the closet, and straight women back to the "hanger", has no problem defending torture and Gitmo as "American Ideals". Is this chick confused, or what?</span></h3></div><div class="UIStoryAttachment" ft="{"type":"attach"}" style="margin-top: 6px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 5px; "><div class="UIStoryAttachment_Media UIStoryAttachment_MediaSingle" ft="{"type":"media"}" style="float: left; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-right: 10px; "><div class="UIMediaItem"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/13/liz-cheney-accuses-obama_n_390215.html" class="" id="" title="" target="" onclick="ft("4:9:63:1004456770:46744042133::0:::228618743454");" rel="nofollow" onmousedown="UntrustedLink.bootstrap($(this), "27e1de79385548f46f07fcb47cb63ddc", event)" style="cursor: pointer; color: rgb(59, 89, 152); text-decoration: none; "><div class="UIMediaItem_Wrapper" style="overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; "><img src="http://platform.ak.fbcdn.net/www/app_full_proxy.php?app=46744042133&v=1&size=z&cksum=b9c2c4c022ca979a21530aff7732f3a0&src=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.huffingtonpost.com%2Fgen%2F125966%2Fthumbs%2Fs-CHENEY-small.jpg" alt="" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; display: block; vertical-align: middle; " /></div></a></div></div><div class="UIStoryAttachment_Info" style="display: table; "><div class="UIStoryAttachment_Title" style="font-weight: bold; padding-top: 3px; "><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/13/liz-cheney-accuses-obama_n_390215.html" class="" id="" title="" target="" onclick="ft("4:9:63:1004456770:46744042133::0:::228618743454");" rel="nofollow" onmousedown="UntrustedLink.bootstrap($(this), "27e1de79385548f46f07fcb47cb63ddc", event)" style="cursor: pointer; color: rgb(59, 89, 152); text-decoration: none; ">Liz Cheney Accuses Obama Of Slandering CIA In Nobel Speech: 'Shameful'</a></div><div class="UIStoryAttachment_Copy" style="color: rgb(128, 128, 128); padding-top: 3px; ">President Obama's speech accepting the Nobel Peace Prize this past week has won unlikely plaudits from conservatives, who say he injected a bit of militaristic realism into a committee founded on the lofty notion of world peace. But not everyone is applauding. Liz Chen<span class="text_exposed_hide">...</span></div><span class="text_exposed_link" style=" padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; white-space: nowrap; display: block; font-size:11px;"><a onclick="CSS.addClass($("div_story_1329264373_228618743454"), "text_exposed");" style="cursor: pointer; color: rgb(59, 89, 152); text-decoration: none; ">See More</a></span></div></div></span></b></span></span></span></span></h3></div></span>deuddersunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01757971753925741976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564690.post-87267656076026892862009-12-14T07:56:00.007-05:002009-12-14T08:21:46.939-05:00Time to tell Turncoat Joe to Go!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3AYvOtfTtvNTVCTawLm_CODTFLCmyfjbsp-7At3neUHAV1c87gsYv28jl1TfWV15TvTLIK-ItQbn02yN3GawmJLsbn_sReK4OZo6A5WX_YZBEyWFmW3FajHsM78xuSi9YE3J4FA/s1600-h/Putz.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 260px; height: 190px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3AYvOtfTtvNTVCTawLm_CODTFLCmyfjbsp-7At3neUHAV1c87gsYv28jl1TfWV15TvTLIK-ItQbn02yN3GawmJLsbn_sReK4OZo6A5WX_YZBEyWFmW3FajHsM78xuSi9YE3J4FA/s320/Putz.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415077478267930434" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Outrageous...</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> The only good thing about Gore "losing" the Presidential election in 2000 is the fact that, had he won, "Turncoat" Joe Lieberman would have been the vice President of the United States. This would have positioned him to run for President in 2008, instead of Barack Obama. As big a disappointment as Obama has been, I can't imagine what things would be like under a DINO administration led by a closet <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Likudnik</span> like Lieberman. It's time to divorce him from the Democratic Party completely. Strip him of his Chairmanship! Thanks Connecticut! We owe all this to you!</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;font-size:13px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;font-size:13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: normal; line-height: 16px; font-family:Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;"><h1 style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; "><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/13/lieberman-tells-reid-to-h_n_390416.html" id="title_permalink" style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; color: rgb(26, 26, 26); text-decoration: underline; font-size: 20px; line-height: 22px; ">Lieberman Tells Reid To His Face: I'll Vote Against Current Health Care Bill</a></h1><div><br /></div><div><div class="about_reporter_name" style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 5px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; width: 345px; font: normal normal normal 20px/normal Georgia; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(121, 121, 121); text-align: left; font-weight: bold; "><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-news/reporting/sam-stein" style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; color: rgb(121, 121, 121) !important; text-decoration: none; ">Sam Stein</a></div><div class="about_reporter_email-hp" style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 5px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border- width: 345px; height: 20px; text-align: left; color:initial;"><span style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border- font: normal normal bold 10px/normal Georgia; color:initial;"><a href="mailto:stein@huffingtonpost.com" style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; color: rgb(255, 166, 54) !important; text-decoration: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">stein@huffingtonpost.com</span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span class="about_reporter_text" style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; font: normal normal bold 10px/normal Georgia; color: rgb(5, 139, 123); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">| </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">HuffPost</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> Reporting</span></span></div><div class="about_reporter_email-hp" style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 5px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border- width: 345px; height: 20px; text-align: left; color:initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia;color:#058B7B;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></div><div class="about_reporter_email-hp" style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 5px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border- width: 345px; height: 20px; text-align: left; color:initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia;color:#058B7B;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; font-family:Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Senator Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) informed Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) in a face-to-face meeting on Sunday that he will vote against a health care bill that includes a public option or a provision that would expand Medicare, a Democratic Senate aide tells the </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Huffington</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> Post.</span></span></b></span></span></div><div class="about_reporter_email-hp" style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 5px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border- width: 345px; height: 20px; text-align: left; color:initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="about_reporter_email-hp" style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 5px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border- width: 345px; height: 20px; text-align: left; color:initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div></div></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Full story </span><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/13/lieberman-tells-reid-to-h_n_390416.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">here.</span></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It's time for the Democrats to grow a set and</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> let Turncoat Joe know that there is a price to be paid for his outrageous betrayal - </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">strip him of his coveted Chairmanship!</span></i></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Hit the road, Joe! We don't want you.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">d.</span></b></div></div>deuddersunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01757971753925741976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564690.post-45584796529886481532009-12-12T13:53:00.004-05:002009-12-12T14:41:53.595-05:00Big Giant Head Rips Wolf; Law & Order<div><b>Bill O'Reilly Slams "Law & Order" Creator Dick Wolf: 'Despicable Human Being' </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; color: rgb(26, 26, 26); line-height: 16px; "><b style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; font-size: 14px; ">Huffington Post</b> | Danny Shea </span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;color:#1A1A1A;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 12px; "><div class="comments_datetime" style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13px; "><p style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; line-height: 16px; color: rgb(26, 26, 26); font-size: 11px; "><span style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; color: rgb(105, 105, 105); ">First Posted: 12-11-09 03:28 PM | Updated: 12-11-09 05:09 PM</span></p></div><div style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; clear: both; "></div></span></span></span></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; ">Bill O'Reilly slammed "Law & Order" and its creator, Dick Wolf, Thursday night on "The O'Reilly Factor." O'Reilly took particular offense to a recent segment in which one character said: </span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; ">"<i>Garrison, Limbaugh, Beck, O'Reilly, all of them. They're like a cancer spreading ignorance and hate. I mean, they have convinced folks that immigrants are the problem, not corporations that fail to pay a living wage or a broken health care system.</i>" </span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; ">O'Reilly called that "simply defamatory and outrageous," and labeled Wolf "a coward"...</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; ">Full story<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/11/bill-oreilly-slams-law-or_n_389180.html"> here.</a></span></b></div><div><br /></div><b>Crazy...</b> Pure, unadulterated <i>bullshit</i> from the Big Giant Head! <div><br /></div><div><b>I have worked on every Law & Order show there is, including the original series.</b> I can tell you that Mr. Wolf puts his money where his mouth is. He uses Union labor. He pays extremely well. His employees all have one of the best healthcare plans available. He cares about those he employs. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>There have been times in the past</b>, when other shows pulled out of New York to seek cheaper labor in Canada or Right to Work states, with little care for the hard working, dedicated people they left behind. Mr. Wolf is NOT one of these. He has helped to shape the New York Television Production industry more than any other single person or company and he has fed my family countless times and will continue to do so in the future. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>It is not often</b> that a behind the scenes crew member will publicly defend a producer or production company, but in this case I have no problem putting my name on the line in Mr. Wolf's behalf. If Mr. O' Reilly did half the good for people that Dick Wolf does, he would be a saint. As it is, all he does is sit on his butt and criticize those who do. </div><div><br /></div><div>So <i>STFU</i> Billo! You aren't fit to be a pimple on Dick Wolf's ass!<br /><br /><b>Chris "Snaggle" Markunas</b><br />Shop Craftsman<br />IATSE<br />Local #52<br /><br /><i>Updated 12/12/09, 2:42 pm, est, to correct omission of source and author<br /></i><br /></div>deuddersunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01757971753925741976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564690.post-56371900996134758902009-12-11T09:55:00.010-05:002009-12-11T10:40:53.532-05:00Merry Christmas & Happy Chanukah to Those who Serve...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD3VRdZR_IYgBVhsMfjS5BgRCF82P_6QR2CXEFKwwujAkNdGSwyg2RlYWtEhIceEfTTCtwGoE-fnd_2X2qzL7PIL0Y1TrJQKOEVoOakaa3moFxLpXOzwiUQC9pxaGPO4tdHepj2A/s1600-h/korean67.gif"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 255px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD3VRdZR_IYgBVhsMfjS5BgRCF82P_6QR2CXEFKwwujAkNdGSwyg2RlYWtEhIceEfTTCtwGoE-fnd_2X2qzL7PIL0Y1TrJQKOEVoOakaa3moFxLpXOzwiUQC9pxaGPO4tdHepj2A/s320/korean67.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413995033107931442" /></a><br /><div>The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,<br />I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight. My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,<br />My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.<br />Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,<div>Transforming the yard to a winter delight.<span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.22em; font-size:10px;color:black;"> </span><div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.22em; "></div><br /><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.22em; "></div><br /><div align="center" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.22em; text-align: center; "><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.22em; color:black;"><br /><br /></span></div><div align="center" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.22em; text-align: center; "><br /></div><div align="center" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.22em; text-align: center; "><br /></div><div align="center" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.22em; text-align: center; "><br /></div><div align="center" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.22em; text-align: center; "><br /></div><div align="center" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.22em; text-align: center; "><br /></div><div align="center" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.22em; text-align: center; "><br /></div><div align="center" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.22em; text-align: center; ">The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,</div><div align="center" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.22em; text-align: center; "><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.22em; color:black;">Completed the magic that was <span id="lw_1258372985_3" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.22em; ">Christmas Eve</span>.<br />My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,<br />Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.<br />In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,<br />So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.</span><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.22em; font-size:10px;color:black;"></span></div><div align="center" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.22em; text-align: center; "><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></span></div><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.22em; color:black;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></span></div></span></div><div align="center" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.22em; text-align: center; "><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.22em; color:black;">The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,<br />But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear..<br />Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the<br />sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.<br />My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,<br />And I crept to the door just to see who was near.</span><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.22em; font-size:10px;color:black;"></span></div><br /><div align="center" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.22em; text-align: center; "><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.22em; color:black;"><br />Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,<br />A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.<br />A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,<br />Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.<br />Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,<br />Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.</span><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.22em; font-size:10px;color:black;"></span></div><br /><div align="center" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.22em; text-align: center; "><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.22em; color:black;"><br />"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,<br />"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!<br />Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,<br />You should be at home on a <span id="lw_1258372985_4" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.22em; ">cold Christmas Eve</span>!"<br />For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,<br />Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..</span></div><br /><div align="center" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.22em; text-align: center; "><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.22em; color:black;"><br />To the window that danced with a warm fire's light<br />Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,<br />I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."<br />"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,<br />That separates you from the darkest of times.</span><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.22em; font-size:10px;color:black;"></span></div><br /><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.22em; "></div><div align="center" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.22em; text-align: center; "><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></span></div><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.22em; color:black;">No one had to ask or beg or implore me,<br />I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.<br />My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,"<br />Then he sighed, "That's a <span id="lw_1258372985_5" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.22em; ">Christmas</span> 'Gram always remembers."<br />My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam',<br />And now it is my turn and so, here I am.</span></div><br /><div align="center" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.22em; text-align: center; "><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.22em; color:black;"><br />I've not seen my own son in more than a while,<br />But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.<br />Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,<br />The red, white, and blue... an American flag.<br />I can live through the cold and the being alone,<br />Away from my family, my house and my home.</span><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.22em; font-size:10px;color:black;"></span></div><br /><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.22em; "></div><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.22em; color:black;"><div align="center" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.22em; text-align: center; "><br />I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,<br />I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.<br />I can carry the weight of killing another,<br />Or lay down my life with my sister and brother...<br />Who stand at the front against any and all,<br />To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall.."<span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.22em; font-size:10px;color:black;"></span></div><br /><div align="center" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.22em; text-align: center; "><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.22em; color:black;"><br />" So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,<br />Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."<br />"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,<br />"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?<br />It seems all too little for all that you've done,<br />For being away from your wife and your son."</span></div><br /><div align="center" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.22em; text-align: center; "><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.22em; color:black;"><br />Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,<br />"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.<br />To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,<br />To stand your own watch, no matter how long.<br />For when we come home, either standing or dead,<br />To know you remember we fought and we bled.<br />Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,<br />That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."</span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 17px;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;">Semper Fidelis to ALL who serve...</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><b>d.</b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;">Cross posted at The American Patriot Institute</span></span></div></div></div>deuddersunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01757971753925741976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564690.post-79907157154863388612009-12-11T07:49:00.006-05:002009-12-11T08:06:14.543-05:00He wore a cane and derby hat...Goodbye Bat...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6sSznhIWIHBfY0Qb63U1PR-mTGXk0IqxZ5k2BDACMCs7rtn0rNZGHnvrilyefZFzC0WAVvIr_-AfDqu7FyjevDZeHYjNBBmnlWLOUYXCzX371Pt5E44YSZOZ-DU0YTP26JH2E5g/s1600-h/masterson.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6sSznhIWIHBfY0Qb63U1PR-mTGXk0IqxZ5k2BDACMCs7rtn0rNZGHnvrilyefZFzC0WAVvIr_-AfDqu7FyjevDZeHYjNBBmnlWLOUYXCzX371Pt5E44YSZOZ-DU0YTP26JH2E5g/s320/masterson.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413961453864318114" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Another part of my childhood has died...Goodbye Gene. Thanks for all the great memories!<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:12px;"><h1 style="color: black; font-size: 24px; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">Gene Barry, Actor of TV, Film and Stage, Dies at 90</h1><div id="toolsRight"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 13px; text-transform: uppercase;font-size:10px;"><br /></span></span></div><nyt_byline version="1.0" type=" "><div class="byline" style="color: rgb(128, 128, 128); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; ">By <a href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/p/michael_pollak/index.html?inline=nyt-per" title="More Articles by Michael Pollak" style="color: rgb(0, 66, 118); text-decoration: none; text-transform: uppercase; ">MICHAEL POLLAK</a></div></nyt_byline><div class="timestamp" style=" font-weight: normal; color: rgb(128, 128, 128); font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Published: December 11, 2009</span></div><div class="timestamp" style=" font-weight: normal; color: rgb(128, 128, 128); font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="timestamp" style=" font-weight: normal; color: rgb(128, 128, 128); font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 22px; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><a href="http://movies.nytimes.com/person/4257/Gene-Barry?inline=nyt-per" title="" style="color: rgb(0, 66, 118); text-decoration: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Gene Barry</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, who portrayed debonair lawmen on television but whose career of more than 60 years ranged from song and dance on Broadway to science fiction, died Wednesday in Woodland Hills, Calif. He was 90 and lived in Beverly Hills until about a year ago.</span></span></div><div class="timestamp" style=" font-weight: normal; color: rgb(128, 128, 128); font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Read more</span><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/11/arts/television/11barry.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> here.</span></a></span></span></div></span></div><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/DtMoGVoSs3M&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/DtMoGVoSs3M&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">d.</span></div>deuddersunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01757971753925741976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564690.post-87009082967801176392009-12-09T21:35:00.002-05:002009-12-09T21:38:35.171-05:00Betrayal!<span style="font-weight:bold;">I never expected this much betrayal from the Dems...I guess it's time to reopen deuddersun says... and go back on the offensive.</span> These folks need to know that we won't forget <i>and we certainly won't forgive.</i><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><div class="UIStoryAttachment_Media UIStoryAttachment_MediaSingle" ft="{"type":"media"}" style="float: left; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-right: 10px; "><div class="UIMediaItem UIMediaItem_UnknownWidth"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.huffingtonpost.com%252F2009%252F12%252F09%252Fbank-friendly-dems-shut-d_n_386200.html&h=b30482986c76c2736f41585d4d6c8563&ref=share" target="_blank" onclick="ft("4:20::1004456770:::0:::197899832063");" style="cursor: pointer; color: rgb(59, 89, 152); text-decoration: none; "><div class="UIMediaItem_Wrapper" style="overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; "><img src="http://external.ak.fbcdn.net/safe_image.php?d=5145421c281c7dad4f0bc540a839da18&url=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.huffingtonpost.com%2Fgen%2F98181%2Fthumbs%2Fs-BEAN-large.jpg&w=90&h=90" alt="" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; display: block; vertical-align: middle; max-width: 90px; max-height: 90px; " /></div></a></div></div><div class="UIStoryAttachment_Info" style="display: table; "><div class="UIStoryAttachment_Title" style="font-weight: bold; padding-top: 3px; "><a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.huffingtonpost.com%252F2009%252F12%252F09%252Fbank-friendly-dems-shut-d_n_386200.html&h=b30482986c76c2736f41585d4d6c8563&ref=share" target="_blank" onclick="ft("4:20::1004456770:::0:::197899832063");" style="cursor: pointer; color: rgb(59, 89, 152); text-decoration: none; ">Bank-Friendly Dems Shut Down House, Threaten To Kill Wall Street Reform</a></div><div class="UIStoryAttachment_Caption" style="color: rgb(128, 128, 128); padding-top: 3px; ">www.huffingtonpost.com</div><div class="UIStoryAttachment_Copy" style="color: rgb(128, 128, 128); padding-top: 3px; ">A group of Democrats friendly to Wall Street interests forced a delay in consideration of the landmark financial regulatory reform bill scheduled to hit the House floor on Wednesday, Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank (D-Mass.) told reporters in the Speaker's lobby. ...</div><div class="UIStoryAttachment_Copy" style="color: rgb(128, 128, 128); padding-top: 3px; "><br /></div><div class="UIStoryAttachment_Copy" style="color: rgb(128, 128, 128); padding-top: 3px; "><br /></div><div class="UIStoryAttachment_Copy" style="color: rgb(128, 128, 128); padding-top: 3px; "><br /></div><div class="UIStoryAttachment_Copy" style="color: rgb(128, 128, 128); padding-top: 3px; "><br /></div></div></span></i></div>deuddersunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01757971753925741976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564690.post-51193424889613864082009-11-30T11:40:00.004-05:002009-11-30T19:14:40.135-05:00Blackwater? Black deeds...<b>I found this this morning at </b><a href="http://walkofthefallen.com/wordpress/"><b>Walk of the Fallen</b></a><b>.</b> It's a must see. As a United States Marine, it makes me sick to my stomach. I may, we may, have to fight these people some day and it breaks my heart to think I might have to take up arms against fellow Marines, but they made their choice...<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/hAeE4SUdshs&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/hAeE4SUdshs&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Hat tip gratefully given to <a href="http://walkofthefallen.com/wordpress/">Walk of the Fallen</a>.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">d.</span>deuddersunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01757971753925741976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564690.post-60969013231598100472009-11-28T12:19:00.005-05:002009-11-28T12:35:48.861-05:00Saving Grace, by Amanda Mueller<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfBKO6DFqEmuo-PPV-V_xfZ-w6jdSp6YM1D22RV3_fB7GpF0VBTaXVn9VDjV7wgIM5PxvL5ffwZ7N8XMF0qYCjDE_vAJgBOrrp_hzJccRxPLBa5_Y_imMyzG8VgA-7n1jsiB5Log/s1600/12141_168000136505_167998686505_2761724_3908048_n.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfBKO6DFqEmuo-PPV-V_xfZ-w6jdSp6YM1D22RV3_fB7GpF0VBTaXVn9VDjV7wgIM5PxvL5ffwZ7N8XMF0qYCjDE_vAJgBOrrp_hzJccRxPLBa5_Y_imMyzG8VgA-7n1jsiB5Log/s320/12141_168000136505_167998686505_2761724_3908048_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409208982611868450" /></a><br /><b><br /></b><div><b>This is a guest article by <a href="http://amandamueller.com/">Amanda Mueller</a> and it really hits home on the Abortion issue. Take a minute and read it. It's well worth it.</b><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 4px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 4px; font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:medium;"><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;color:#990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:+3;color:#990000;">P</span><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:-1;">ulling up to the home of Gail and Robert Anderson, a large statute of the Virgin Mary sits in the yard welcoming guests into the home, while protecting the family that lives there. Next to the statute of Mary, inside of labyrinth of daisies, daffodils, tulips and roses is a stone engraved with the word grace. For the Anderson’s grace is not just a word or a concept taught through their strong Catholic faith, but the name of the daughter their hopes and dreams hung onto. It is the name of the daughter they said goodbye to in the Kansas office of a man named Dr. George Tiller.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:-1;">Both coming from large families with faith deeply-rooted in the Catholic church, the Andersons looked forward to starting their own family with great anticipation, eagerly awaiting pregnancy test results each month in hopes that they would discover they were to become parents. The April morning that their hopes were realized is described by Robert as being one of the best days of his life. After breakfast, they went to the local bookstore together to purchase books on pregnancy, for him and for her, and celebrated by inviting their parents to dinner, sharing their news between the gumbo and the dessert.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:-1;">“We were the first of our families to marry and were the first in our families to have children. With our parents around the table, we celebrated a generation being added – being first time parents and first time grandparents. It was a moment of love, hope and joy,” Gail says, thinking back to the day that was to change their lives forever, unknowing exactly how much would change.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:-1;">Their world was now filled with routine doctor visits, baby name books and trying to decide what color to paint the nursery. With no complications known to them, the Andersons enjoyed their last moments together as husband and wife before they would also become mother and father.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:-1;">It was during a routine ultrasound, Gail’s first, when concern was raised over the development of the child. Told by their doctors that there was no cause for alarm, the Andersons were referred to specialists who referred them to another set of specialists. Finally, at 27 weeks, a doctor out of Baton Rogue gave them the honesty they had needed, informing them with regret that cystic masses were covering the child’s left lung, forcing pressure on a heart that had not fully developed.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:-1;">Gail would be forced to deliver her child through c-section, as the stress of a traditional birth would be too much for their baby’s body to handle. Their baby would need to be on life support machines for months until able to have the surgeries required that could repair the damage of the child’s suffocated heart and remove the masses from the undeveloped lung. As painful was it was for the Andersons to hear that this child they wanted so badly may not live even after the surgeries intended to repair damage, they were forced to make a decision that not only challenged their personal strength, but where they fit into their Catholic faith.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:-1;">After a frank discussion with their specialist, they decided that not only did the quality of life of their unborn child need to be questioned, but the life expectancy even if surgeries were successful. There were no guarantees and one day, one month or one year could be added to the life of their child, but not much more than that. After discussing every option available to them, the decision to visit Dr. George Tiller’s office in Kansas to have a late-term abortion was made. Both the Andersons sunk into a depression, feeling as if they were losing both their child and their religion.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:-1;">“We are catholic. We are supposed to be against abortion, but the church teaches mercy as well. The church examines quality of life. It isn’t a black and white issue as so many like to make it, ” Robert says, looking away while fondling with his fingers the golden crucifix he wears around his neck.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:-1;">As they packed their car to travel to Wichita, Kansas, members of their parish came, trying to talk them out of their decision. Unable to deal with the confrontation, Gail admits she almost called the trip off at the last minute, unsure of how she would be able to sit next to these women in mass. This group was the same women she had gathered with outside of a clinic that performed abortions in Metarie, Louisiana, once a month coming together, praying for the souls of the unborn babies; for the souls of those making this choice. They traveled in silence, both trying to come to terms with their own perceived failures in the choice they were making.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:-1;">“It was the longest car ride I had ever been on. I didn’t know what to say to my wife. I didn’t know what to think for myself, ” says Robert, recalling the trip that led them from Louisiana to Kansas, finally reaching the one-story, beige Women’s Health Care Services building where Dr. Tiller practiced.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:-1;">“Dr. Tiller was a very gentle man to my husband and I. He wasn’t the villain that people, me included, had often painted him. He was soft-spoken. He held our hands while we mourned our loss. He even prayed with us.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:-1;">Explaining the procedure to the Andersons and the efforts the clinic would make to help them memorialize their child, Dr. Tiller showed the Andersons the compassion and support they so badly wished they had received from their neighbors and friends.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:-1;">The next day as they arrived to the clinic, they found themselves surrounded by protesters chanting, begging the Andersons to change their mind and group of children holding a pro-life model of a fetus while calling the Andersons murderers, telling the Andersons that God would not save their souls for taking away the life of another. What was already a traumatic experience, was now infused with guilt, panic and fear.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:-1;">“The staff was respectful and allowed me to have a little bit of dignity where I didn’t think I had any left. It made me sad that I didn’t get that from my friends or my religious community, but from strangers in a hospital setting. To this day, I am bitter about that,” Gail confessed.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:-1;">On the wall of their living room, next to a crucifix and a painting of the Virgin Mary and St. Brigid of Ireland, is a plaque that holds on it two tiny foot prints.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:-1;">“They do not just look at this as being abortion mills – the staff,” Robert says, looking up at the footprints of their baby Grace.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:-1;">“She was real. They made her real for us. Those footprints was Dr. Tiller’s idea. He wasn’t a man with crazed-eyes anticipating the kill like some anti-abortion activists would like you to picture. He understood the difficult position we were in. He allowed us to still have a piece of the family we wanted. He even called the baby be her name, by Grace.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:-1;">It was very difficult for the Anderson family to learn of the murder of Dr. Tiller. Because he was one of the few individuals that showed them understanding, he became an unofficial member of their family, the quiet uncle that sits in the corner, observing, quiet except for a few pieces of sage advice.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:-1;">“The people that praised Dr. Tiller’s murder - they are the real monsters.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:-1;">The Andersons have not left the Catholic church, still strong in their faith, believing that the church has begun to rely too much on the word of man rather than church teachings, becoming dangerously involved in politics and losing sight that the world simply is not black and white.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:-1;">They continue forward, despite for some calling of their removal from the church, because they know that they are not alone. They move forward because it is their hope that other Catholics faced with similar situations will realize that they are not alone. They move forward by the Grace of their daughter. They move forward, with two beautiful boys, ages five and four, who send kisses to their sister in heaven each night, their head held high, believing their only crime was showing mercy to the meek.</span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><strong><a href="http://amandamueller.com/">Amanda Mueller</a></strong> is an independent journalist based out of New Orleans, Louisiana. Her reporting on human rights issues has been published in syndication and internationally and she serves as a researcher and the only United States member of Press for Peace, an organization focused on advocacy, research, education and networking in peace, human rights and environment related issues. She is also the winner of the 2009 SIANS Human Rights Award and serves as the United States Development Officer for PNN English. Her website can be found at <a href="http://amandamueller.com/">amandamueller.com</a></span></span></p></span></b></div></div>deuddersunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01757971753925741976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564690.post-39015352892498128562009-11-24T08:14:00.002-05:002009-11-24T08:15:33.495-05:00Ali G on DrugsA little humor to warm you up for the really funny shit below...<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/HqZKW1WEVlM&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HqZKW1WEVlM&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Any questions?<span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">d.</span>deuddersunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01757971753925741976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564690.post-19820203996327908262009-11-24T07:14:00.003-05:002009-11-24T07:24:33.967-05:00The Reagan"Purity" testThis is too dam funny! They never cease to amaze me with their absolute ignorance of facts!<br /><br /><div><iframe height="339" width="425" src="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/34118448#34118448" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe><p style="font-size:11px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #999; margin-top: 5px; background: transparent; text-align: center; width: 425px;">Visit msnbc.com for <a style="text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#5799DB !important;" href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com">Breaking News</a>, <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032507" style="text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#5799DB !important;">World News</a>, and <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032072" style="text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#5799DB !important;">News about the Economy</a></p></div><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">d.</span>deuddersunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01757971753925741976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564690.post-883496248148450392009-11-24T06:55:00.003-05:002009-11-24T07:12:07.473-05:00Give Unto Ceasar...Chris Matthews schools Bishop Thomas Tobin in the separation of church and state.<br /><br /><div><iframe height="339" width="425" src="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/34116440#34116440" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe><p style="font-size:11px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #999; margin-top: 5px; background: transparent; text-align: center; width: 425px;">Visit msnbc.com for <a style="text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#5799DB !important;" href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com">Breaking News</a>, <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032507" style="text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#5799DB !important;">World News</a>, and <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032072" style="text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#5799DB !important;">News about the Economy</a></p></div><br /><br />The arguments put forth by Bishop Tobin, that religion trumps all and therefore justifies any activity, might well have come from Osama Bin Laden. You make the call.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Keep your bible off of my laws!<span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">d.</span>deuddersunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01757971753925741976noreply@blogger.com0