The Future

A Plan of Action

*****So often the very things that hubby and I discuss at the dinner table show up in well-written essays the following day. We joke that there must be hidden microphones in our chandelier.

*****The fact is, many, many people are worried about these things, and the same discussions are happening across our nation, and probably around the world.

*****It is easy to feel the effects of the constant stream of nonsense and outright lies rammed down our throats by the MSM. Soon, we all start to think we are alone, and may even be a bit crazy ourselves. We flounder around looking for answers, not realizing we are the answer.

*****We wonder why the Republicans are letting opportunity after opportunity pass by without doing or saying anything. Why won't they stand up and blast our current President and his misbegotten policies? I wish I had the answer to that question, but I don't.

*****What I do know is that we must stand and fight. To crawl into a shell of defeatism will never be a part of the answer. If the Republicans in high positions will not do their job, we must continue to do it for them. We must continue to believe that we matter, no matter how many times a day the powers-that-be tell us otherwise.

*****Yesterday our current President denigrated and dismissed over half the population of this country. Never have I seen a sitting President do this. It may have happened, but if it did, I missed it.

*****Part of my plan is to pass on news and articles that I think are important. Not everyone has the luxury of time I have to ferret out, what is in my opinion, the worthy and important. We are being bombarded with a constant stream of information; some of it important, but most of it just snarky criticisms and cheap laughs that do not advance our cause. Let's concentrate first on the solutions so that we can laugh last and best.

*****I will not stand by while our current President destroys this country and insults us in the process, and I hope you won't either. We are all being called to be prophets - ones who speak the truth. Speak up often and without fail for what is right and true.


April 30, 2009
This is Not Working
By Robert West

*****We have learned a few things from this presidential campaign season, and Barack Obama's first 100 days in office.
*****First, and to our untold horror, we have discovered that Barack Obama can in fact successfully hide who he is and his vision for our country. read it all

Law vs. Moral Values

by Walter E. Williams

04/28/2009
*****A civilized society's first line of defense is not the law, police and courts but customs, traditions and moral values. Behavioral norms, mostly transmitted by example, word of mouth and religious teachings, represent a body of wisdom distilled over the ages through experience and trial and error. read the rest

In Other News:

The Simple Women's Daybook is quickly becoming The Simple Person's Daybook. LarryD and Terry are the first of what I hope will be many men who will take up this fine way to start their week. Good job guys, errrr, persons....

Last Day for Nominations
Cannonball Catholic Blog Awards

Get on over there and put in your nominations. I see several places that are devoid of "Adrienne's Catholic Corner". Guess what? I don't care whether I belong in any given category. I just need to win something eventually, and the more categories I'm in, the better chance I have of bringing home a trophy. A woman my age sobbing in the corner of a room is an ugly sight. Voting will begin soon.

This is how your current President feels about you.



But hey, it's ok 'cause he has "swagga"

Let's Make Pizza

Since I am now probably part owner of GM or Chrysler (hard to say what the heck is going on anymore), and partnered up with the unions, I figured it was a good time to make pizza.

First start some pizza music and then scroll down to read a great recipe for pizza.....




Pizza is really not all that hard to make and really doesn't take very much time. I've tried many recipes for crusts. So far this one, that I have modified, is the easiest and most tasty. It has a nice chewy texture which I really like.

I do have a Kitchen Aid stand mixer. If you don't have a mixer than you will have to do the kneading yourself.

1. 1 cup warm water
2. 1 1/2 - 2 TB active dry yeast
3. 1 1/2 - 2 teaspoons sugar
4. 3 cups bread flour**, divided
5. 2 TB extra-virgin olive oil
6. 1 1/2 tsp salt

** I highly recommend the use of bread flour. It is higher in gluten and will give you the springiness you will want in your crust.

1. Throw the water, yeast, and sugar into the bowl of your mixer and stir it up; let it sit until foamy (about 5 minutes)
2. Add 1 1/2 cups of the flour, the oil and salt and using the paddle attachment (the k-beater), stir until mixture is smooth
3. Switch to dough hook
4. While the machine is running on low, add remaining flour, 1/4 cup at a time; make sure each addition is well mixed in before adding more. You may have to stop machine and scrap bowl.
5. Once all the flour is added turn up the machine and beat the heck out of that dough. I usually go for about 3 - 5 minutes. If the dough seems too dry I splash in a bit more warm water. This is not an exact science.
6. When kneading is complete, pick up the glob of dough and throw some oil in the bowl and roll the dough around until it's all greasy.
7. I set my bowl in the oven with a towel or plastic wrap over the top. Our house is kept fairly cool so I usually turn the oven on for just a few minutes before putting the dough in to rise. (Don't forget to turn off the oven after the short pre-heat.) I let it double in size which takes 60 - 90 minutes. This is a good opportunity to cut up your toppings and grate your cheese so everything is ready to go when the crust is ready.
8. When the dough is ready, punch it down and give it a few kneads right in the bowl.
9. I use a pizza power pan (pictured below), which has holes to allow steam to escape so your crust doesn't get soggy. I put the blob of dough on the oiled pan that has been sprinkled with corn meal and let it rest for about 10 minutes. I also have a pizza stone and when I use that, I construct the pizza on a corn meal covered piece of cardboard so I can slide it onto the stone. I'm too cheap to buy a pizza peel and cardboard works just dandy. The stone must be pre-heated for at least 20 - 30 minutes at about 500 degrees and so most of the time I use the power pan
   
10. Now it's time for the real fun. Stretch out that pizza blob, pulling and pushing, this way and that. So fun! If the dang stuff is bouncing right back and you are getting frustrated, both of you need a time out. Walk away, have a few sips of wine, and when you come back in a few minutes that dang dough will know who is boss.
    
11. Put on your toppings and bake on lowest rake for 8 - 10 minutes at 475 degree. Pour more wine - sip, eat, and enjoy!
    

Baked Potato Pizza

Last week I made a baked potato pizza. This is probably the most single fattening thing you can shove in your mouth, but oh so good!!

The base is a cream cheese and mayo mixture with some parsley and garlic powder, fresh ground pepper. Use your imagination here and add whatever spices you wish. I added roasted garlic that I had in the freezer. If I have sour cream sitting around I use that along with the cream cheese and mayo. The mayo is what will make the base remain creamy. I sprinkled a bit of Parmesan cheese over the base and started adding my toppings.

The first layer was baked sliced red potatoes (skins left on.) You can cook these in the microwave to keep it simple. I prefer the red to the russet as they are not as dry and mealy. Next came chopped up pre-cooked bacon, chopped green onions, and shredded sharp cheddar cheese. On the top I artfully arranged artichoke hearts (not pickled), that had been halved and just a wee sprinkle more of the cheddar for appearance.

1. 

Bad Law

All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others....

*****The House passed a bill today to add gender, sexual orientation and disability to the category of hate crimes. The GOP hated it, with just 18 voting in favor.

*****Republican Study Committee Chairman Tom Price (R-Ga.) declared: “This bill undermines our fundamental constitutional principle of equal justice under the law. Every American life deserves equal justice, regardless of race, gender, or sexual preference. Yet this legislation says violent crime against one person is more deserving of justice than a crime against another. Apparently Democrats agree with Orwell on this matter: all are equal, but some are more equal than others.” read more

Words of Wisdom

from the combox:

Sarah writes...

*****Dark days . . . but we must not forget we have the Light of Christ. We definitely have our work cut out for us, but we have to remember Thy Will Be Done . . . keep Christ in the middle of it and we will be fine.

*****Some times I read this stuff and it makes me feel bitter, helpless, depressed and scared. What to do? Get my weapon: the Rosary. I'm so grateful for this Faith - even if it means I don't understand it all and that true martyrdom may be required. I mean, St. Catherine was the girl who wanted to go die for the Faith in Muslim land (did I get the right Saint?). I mean, I'm not eager about death . . . but what could be more noble for Christ? Just to be willing?

We have to keep praying! Get better informed, make noise.

Senate confirms health secretary nominee - Kathleen Sebelius

*****Make no mistake about what I am about to say. Our current President is purposely picking out and promoting Catholics with very sketchy credentials. He hates the Catholic Church and wishes to cause division and dissension. It's the old "divide and conquer" method of gaining control.

****The Catholic Church has always stood against socialism and communism. Obama does not wish to see us unified and following the authentic teachings of the Church. Educate yourselves and teach your children. Pray often and preach endlessly. I have complete faith that the Holy Spirit and the truth will prevail, but that does not give us license to sit back and relax.

*****"I agree with you that the Republic is lost," said the young politician Publius Clodius, surnamed Pulcher. "And I agree with you that the future of Rome belongs to the Caesares. It is regrettable. My fathers believed in the Republic."

*****"When a nation becomes so demoralized and corrupt and angerless as Rome, then that nation is lost forever," said Marcus. "Then come the Caesares."

Taylor Caldwell, A Pillar of Iron

Google Reader vs Followers

Someone help me out here. What is the difference between adding someone to your Google Reader or "following" them? Other than the obvious boost to the bloggers's ego by having lots of followers, I was wondering if there were other advantages that I may be missing?

Not that the ego thing is small potatoes. I admit to feeling pangs of jealousy when I see my friend's list of followers soar past my measly little number.

Therese over at Aussie Coffee Shop has 80 and Adoro has 82. Not that these fine ladies don't deserve to have lots and lots of followers - they do. Oh yes, Adoro is on a troll hunt. I would have offered to loan her my troll but now she has one all her very own.

I would expect someone like Father Longenecker (145) and Father Powell (117) to have lots of followers. And we won't even get started on the big guys like The Other McCain ,who get five to ten thousand hits a day.

So the question is: Should I use my usual tactics of whining while sitting in a corner twirling my hair (I learned how to do that from Angela, bless her heart!) to obtain more followers, or should I save the histrionics for the the annual Cannonball Catholic Blog Awards?


Meantime our current President, using the EPA as a smoke-screen is, sticking it to the Navajo Nation. (who, if I'm not mistaken voted overwhelmingly for Obambi). I'm not a big fan of this whole Indian reservation thingy, which is primarily responsible for the lousy life of most Indians.

Don't get me wrong - I think ultimately people are to be held responsible for how they live, and the good Lord knows we spot all the minorities ample extra points so they can prosper. However, sticking them on a plot of land and handing them a government check each month is not a way to foster independence and hard work. It's just a form of welfare that harms more than helps.

And tomorrow our current President will fire up those three jets to pop over to Missouri to celebrate his 100 days of destruction. Hundreds of thousands of dollars will be used like the Monopoly money it is fast becoming.

Piggy Flu

Want to know one of the filthiest things you can handle? Sure you do! It's the handle on the shopping cart at your favorite grocery store. I cringe every time I see some little kid sitting in the seat gnawing on the handle. Ugh!

If you have little ones cover the handle with a plastic bag from the store or use a anti-bacterial wipe to clean it off. And don't eat samples without using a anti-bacterial solution on your hands first.

Weasels at Work

According to Fox News:

*****Veteran GOP Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania intends to announce Tuesday he will switch political parties and run in the Democratic primary in 2010.

Well - don't let the door (you know the rest)..............Weasel! Good riddance!

Auctiva and ADD

Auctiva ecommerce

*****I spent hours and hours today working on my Auctiva ecommerce store. It was not pretty. As a matter of fact it was downright ugly.

*****Granted, I am not a computer wizard. I operate on the need-to-know model. When I need to know something I go find out. If I don't need to know, I ignore it. It took me about 30 minutes today just to find my dashboard. And it was downhill from there. As an ebay veteran this should not be so hard. I will be giving it a few more hours tomorrow and if I don't get anywhere it will be adios and bye bye to the new Auctiva ecommerce.

Adult ADD

*****So after spending hours working with Auctiva I decided to link to some things I had written on my blog. Do you think I could find them? Nooooooo! I couldn't find them because my labels are a mess, the blog is a mess, my links are a mess, and usually I'm a mess. Welcome to the world of adult ADD. But, guess what? We have fun in our weird little world.

*****My goals are to clean up this problem. In the meantime my friend RightKlik has, as usual, said everything I was planning on saying. Right now I'm too tired and frustrated to say much of anything.........except - do you think the swine flu may be distracting us from the real stuff that's going on? Things that are waaaay more dangerous than the possibility of us coming down with a case of this new bug?

Government-Run Health Care: A Sensible Idea
by RightKlik

I think government-run health care is a fantastic idea. One obnoxious bully making life-or-death decisions for 300 million people — simply brilliant! read the rest

Democrats announce agreement on budget pact...

WASHINGTON—Congressional Democrats sealed an agreement Monday night on a budget plan that would help President Barack Obama overhaul the health care system but allows his signature tax cut for most workers to expire after next year. read the rest

Notre Dame

Mary Ann Glendon will not accept Notre Dame's Laetare Medal and will not speak at the graduation ceremony....

April 27, 2009

The Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C.
President
University of Notre Dame

Dear Father Jenkins,

When you informed me in December 2008 that I had been selected to receive Notre Dame’s Laetare Medal, I was profoundly moved. I treasure the memory of receiving an honorary degree from Notre Dame in 1996, and I have always felt honored that the commencement speech I gave that year was included in the anthology of Notre Dame’s most memorable commencement speeches. So I immediately began working on an acceptance speech that I hoped would be worthy of the occasion, of the honor of the medal, and of your students and faculty.

Last month, when you called to tell me that the commencement speech was to be given by President Obama, I mentioned to you that I would have to rewrite my speech. Over the ensuing weeks, the task that once seemed so delightful has been complicated by a number of factors.

First, as a longtime consultant to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, I could not help but be dismayed by the news that Notre Dame also planned to award the president an honorary degree. This, as you must know, was in disregard of the U.S. bishops’ express request of 2004 that Catholic institutions “should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles” and that such persons “should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions.” That request, which in no way seeks to control or interfere with an institution’s freedom to invite and engage in serious debate with whomever it wishes, seems to me so reasonable that I am at a loss to understand why a Catholic university should disrespect it.

Then I learned that “talking points” issued by Notre Dame in response to widespread criticism of its decision included two statements implying that my acceptance speech would somehow balance the event:

• “President Obama won’t be doing all the talking. Mary Ann Glendon, the former U.S. ambassador to the Vatican, will be speaking as the recipient of the Laetare Medal.”

• “We think having the president come to Notre Dame, see our graduates, meet our leaders, and hear a talk from Mary Ann Glendon is a good thing for the president and for the causes we care about.”

A commencement, however, is supposed to be a joyous day for the graduates and their families. It is not the right place, nor is a brief acceptance speech the right vehicle, for engagement with the very serious problems raised by Notre Dame’s decision—in disregard of the settled position of the U.S. bishops—to honor a prominent and uncompromising opponent of the Church’s position on issues involving fundamental principles of justice.

Finally, with recent news reports that other Catholic schools are similarly choosing to disregard the bishops’ guidelines, I am concerned that Notre Dame’s example could have an unfortunate ripple effect.

It is with great sadness, therefore, that I have concluded that I cannot accept the Laetare Medal or participate in the May 17 graduation ceremony.

In order to avoid the inevitable speculation about the reasons for my decision, I will release this letter to the press, but I do not plan to make any further comment on the matter at this time.

Yours Very Truly,

Mary Ann Glendon

Mary Ann Glendon is Learned Hand Professor of Law at Harvard Law School, and served as U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican from 2007 to 2009.

Socialized Medicine

*****I'm headed off to see the nice man who takes care of our health insurance so I thought it appropriate to provide you with some reading material concerning this issue.

Soros-backed socialists lean on Obama to hurry up government-run "health care"Socialized medicine--Part 3;
by Wes Vernon

*****"Activist" groups lavishly funded by multi-billionaire George Soros — the de facto leader of the Democrat Party — have ordered their puppet in the White House and their Reid-Pelosi minions on Capitol Hill to stop talking, even talking with private health interests behind closed doors — where they are accused of plotting to "cave" to (gasp!) the "for profit" private insurance industry. read the rest at Renew America

Sunday Fun

This is Dancing...

Sunday

*****Mass, breakfast out, and off to an art show.

****Have a wonderful Sunday. See you later...

Faith

*****"When the wind blows hard on a tree, the roots stretch and grow the stronger. Let it be so with us. Let us not be weaklings, yielding to every wind that blows, but strong in spirit to resist."
-Amy Carmichael

...and may our roots grow deep in the Lord.

Barf Bag Alert♦

Obama Worship Goes Into Overdrive as 100-Day Mark Approaches

By P.J. Gladnick (Bio | Archive)
April 25, 2009 - 09:06 ET

*****"You're not seeing things and it is not a spoof picture from The Onion or any other satirical website. The image you see to the right (larger version below the fold) is a painting by artist Michael D'Antuono called "The Truth" that will be officially unveiled at Union Square in New York City on April 29 to mark President Barack Obama's hundreth day in office." **read the rest

Networks Balk at Another Primetime Obama Egofest

******"You would think the most overexposed president in history would be satisfied with the nonstop slobbering media coverage and magazine covers. Although in the case of Barack Obama, his vanity knows no limits." read the rest at JammieWearingFool


For Obama, hipness is what it is....

During his first 100 days as president of the United States, Barack Obama revealed how different he is from all the white men who preceded him in the Oval Office, and the differences run deeper — in substance and style — than the color of his skin.

Barack Hussein Obama is the nation’s first hip president. read the rest but keep a barf pail handy

So now what makes someone "hip" is:

1. funding abortions all over the world (with your tax money)
2. removing all limits on embryonic stem cell research
3. spending billions of your dollars to "bail out" companies that should have been allowed to fail (and will fail anyway)
4. preparing to ram nationalized health care down your unsuspecting throat whether you want it or not
5. releasing key documents that aid the enemy and bring additional danger to you and your family
6. run all over the world apologizing for the awfulness of the USA

...and on and on

List your favorite beef

Cap and Trade

Coming to a neighborhood near you......soon

Banks Want More

Fed (that would actually be you and me since it is our money, after all) says they are ready to save stress tested banks.....

*****Several days ago I stopped in to my local WAMU branch to activate my debit card. In case you didn't know, WAMU is now Chase. The entire interior was gutted and they were busy with a major remodeling.

Wow, what's going on?", says I to the nubile and not very bright little gal behind the brand spanking new counter. "This was a great looking place and it was practically brand new."

*****"Oh, I think Chase wants all the banks and branches to look alike", she says with a lovely smile on her face.

*****"But didn't we just give a pack of money to bail out these banks? I'm not so sure this is a good use of their money."

*****She looked at me with some confusion as she sifted through this piece of information and her best explanation was, "but it's given jobs to a lot of nice men."

*****This is the bank that says they can only pay me .01% interest on my savings account and is asking for more tax payer bailout money but somehow still has money for major and unnecessary renovations. I highly doubt if I walked into a Chase branch in California which looked differently from my Post Falls branch it would register on my radar.

Shaping up to be a typical Friday in the Obama administration...

You may be getting our current President's "health care reform" whether you want it or not........

Deal may mean fast-track treatment for health care overhaul read more


Democrats’ Budget Deal Sets Up Fight on Health Plan

WASHINGTON — Democratic Congressional leaders were putting the finishes touches Friday on a budget plan virtually certain to protect a proposed health care overhaul from Senate filibusters, an approach likely to touch off a nasty partisan fight with Republicans. read all

And let's not miss the fact that we just donated another 2 billion dollars to GM. This was done on Wednesday and made the news today.

Obama and Credit Cards

Welcome to The Other McCain readers. Browse around and say hi! I love new friends....

Obama and Credit Cards

*****In more schizophrenic maneuvering by our current President, we must now shift our focus to reforming (controlling) the credit card industry. Credit card issuers (the banks that just received billions of our dollars), are headed for major restructuring and oversight by our government.

*****Why is Obama so concerned with credit cards? Simple! He needs you to spend money. Never mind it's money you don't have, for purchases of items you don't need or are incapable of paying back. If the government can operate on that basis, why can't you?

*****I'm old enough to remember when the concept of the credit card as it now operates was first sold to an unsuspecting public. In the "old days" when a larger purchase was made from a department store, such as for furniture or an appliance, only the very credit worthy were allowed to put it on a "contract account", which was much like a bank loan. There was a set interest amount and a fixed payment each month with no penalty for paying it off early. They soon discovered that a revolving account, allowing them to charge interest on the unpaid balance, would make them way more money.

*****I worked in the bookkeeping department at Montgomery Wards while I was a senior in high school. I saw what they did to customers who insisted on putting an item on a contract account rather than opening a revolving account. They shagged those people all over the store and generally wore them down until, out of frustration, they put their purchase on a shiny new revolving account.

***** In 1950, we saw the emergence of the first of what we consider to be the "credit card" as we know it today. Diners Club issued a card primarily for businessmen for entertainment and such. In 1951, Franklin Bank issued the Charge-It Card that could be used at retail establishments of all sorts.

****In 1958, American Express issued the "Don't leave home without it" card. I can attest to the fact that acquiring an American Express card was a huge deal. Only the very top of the income brackets could lay their hands on this card and it became a status symbol.

****The first revolving-credit card that could be used at most retailers was issued in the State of California by the Bank of America. It was the first major card to offer payment options to the cardholders. Pay it off at the end of the month (a requirement of American Express), or the cardholder could make monthly payments. The company charged interest on the remaining balances, thus starting the enslavement of the American people to buying what they couldn't afford and probably didn't need.

*****Anyone who has a mail box knows how aggressively credit cards are marketed. College campuses are inundated each fall with reps trying to cram credit cards down the immature throats of freshmen. It is normal for people to have five or ten major credit cards. The average consumer debt of households in the year 2000 was $12,000.00. I'm sure it's much higher now.

*****So now we have our current President mopping up the credit card industry to entice you to spend more money. Do the credit card issuers operate deceptively? Yep! Do they victimize the consumer? Nope! Because, and listen closely here, you can't be victimized without your consent.

*****If you have credit cards, get rid of them. If you owe money, pay it off. Dave Ramsey has a good plan for this and one I highly recommend. We don't use credit cards and even though most people would consider our income nothing to chat with their neighbors about, we live like a king and queen.


"I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of contentment in every situation, whether it be a full stomach or hunger, plenty or want; for I can do everything God asks me to with the help of Christ who gives me the strength and power." Philippians 4:12-13

Robert Stacy McCain

******Mr. McCain, being the class act blogger that he is, was nice enough to mention me today. His post on marriage and the contraception mentality of the people this country was excellent.

*****Now go read what he has to say about the Catholic Church. I recognize truth where ever it is found. His views of some of the current problems with the Church are dead on. Time for the Catholics to wake up and smell the incense.

The Weekend:
Plenty of time to nominate ME in any and all categories

*****The Crescat continues to accept nominations for her premier event of the year - The Cannonball Catholic Blog Awards. Things are really heating up in the "best blog by a religious who's not Father Z" category.

*****Later today, I will be heading over with many nominations. Be sure and leave the URL of the blog you are nominating to make Carolina Cannonball's job easier.

Why Go to Daily Mass

*****Ironic Catholic has twelve good reasons. I'm pretty bad at taking advantage of daily Mass. This list of reasons made a difference for me.

Welcome to The Other McCain readers. Browse around and say hi! I love new friends....

Information Overload

*****My mind has hit the wall again. The info (most of it not good) , just keeps up it's relentless pace. At a certain point my ADD brain explodes and I must take a small break. With many things squirreling around in my head, a short period is needed to sort it all out and present my thoughts when they may (hopefully) attain a semblance of order.

****In the meantime, here is some very good reading that I have run across. Father Longenecker's post on modernism, "The Resurrection and Theological Sleight of Hand", is excellent.

****Stacy McCain, who heads up the wonderful blog "The Other McCain", has one of the best posts on marriage and birth control I have read in ages. There is a lot to read and digest, so take your time and do this piece of fine writing the justice it deserves

*****Dad29 , who turns out great posts as though he is getting paid by the word, led me to Stacy. I thank him very much.

Annual Cannonball Awards

*****Nominations being accepted at The Crescat until May 1st. Folks - this is the only award that counts!! There are many categories and blogs may be nominated in more than one category. Head on over and in the words of my best friend, Tony (Soprano), nominate ME (in any category you wish).

******Dear Lola has nominated me in the The Susan Boyle Award, but I'm sure my brilliant readers can find other places to put me (now, now - watch your thinking)

Now off to do some work and attempt to re-file the jumble in my head....

Our Current President Celebrates
Earth Day

*****And how does he do this? By firing up Air Force One, plus the two other jets that are necessary when the President travels, for a quick jaunt to Iowa. He wants to congratulate the 140 people who are lucky enough to work in a new "green plant" making wind turbines that no one wants. Sure doesn't sound very green to me.

*****The man who claims to be the founder of Earth Day (there is some dispute about this) Ira Einhorn , was so devoted to saving the earth that he killed his girlfriend, Holly Maddux, and stuffed her in a trunk kept in his apartment. After 18 months the neighbors were a bit disturbed by the odor wafting from his abode. I guess no one told him, contrary to what you may have heard about soylent green, that humans don't make good compost.

*****How about we celebrate the Creator and Sustainer of the earth instead?

Today's the Day!!

Today is publication day for my friend Katie Alender. Her book, Bad Girls Don't Die hits the shelves today.

Congratulations, Katie!!

Head on over to wish her well and enter her contest. You could win a singed (which is similiar to a signed copy - only better cause Katie can spell), copy of her book plus other goodies to be announced. The advance reviews are spectacular. Stop over and enter her contest, read the advance reviews, and wish her "happy publication day."

Katie
Rocks!!

Our Current President to Sign National Service Bill Today

WASHINGTON – The AmeriCorps program started by President Bill Clinton will triple in size over the next eight years, and tens of thousands of other Americans will soon see new opportunities to give back to their communities.

It's all part of a $5.7 billion national service bill President Barack Obama is scheduled to sign Tuesday to foster and fulfill people's desire to make a difference, such as by mentoring children, cleaning up parks or building and weatherizing homes for the poor. source

Volunteer
v.intr.

1. To perform or offer to perform a service of one's own free will.

2. To do charitable or helpful work without pay: Many retirees volunteer in community service and day care centers.

Here's how this works in simple terms:

1. You pay taxes.
   
2. The Feds take those taxes and hand them out in the form of grants (I smell ACORN'S roasting on an open fire).
3. But first the people in charge skim off a considerable amount to run all these programs.
4. People line up to "volunteer" to get what's left of this money.
5. Voila - the government spends billions for some one to pick up trash in your park.

Brilliant!

Meantime:

Obama Cabinet Spending Cuts Ridiculed

*****Yesterday, President Obama ordered his cabinet to identify $100 million in budget cuts. The CBS Evening News reported that "critics say the amounts are so small," that "it's nothing more than a publicity stunt." CBS added that the President "admitted $100 million is a drop in the budget bucket, but insisted there's a lot more cutting to come." The New York Times says "budget analysts promptly burst out laughing. read the rest

While this bit of news:

H/T to Instapundit for this.....

Crimes Suspected in 20 Bailout Cases - for starters

********Reporting from Washington and Los Angeles -- In the first major disclosure of corruption in the $750-billion financial bailout program, federal investigators said Monday they have opened 20 criminal probes into possible securities fraud, tax violations, insider trading and other crimes.

*****The cases represent only the first wave of investigations, and the total fraud could ultimately reach into the tens of billions of dollars, according to Neil Barofsky, the special inspector general overseeing the bailout program. read the rest



The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act Summary
(H.R. 1388, as of 3-31-2009) read the bill (pdf)

What happened to "I won't raise taxes?"

Welcome Digg Readers - pour a cup of coffee and browse around...

The days of buying online to avoid paying sales taxes may soon be over...

*****A bill is expected to be introduced to Congress this week that would force retailers like eBay and Amazon.com to start collecting sales taxes on behalf of states from people who shop online or through mail order.

*****I do a large amount of my shopping on-line, not to avoid paying taxes but for the convenience. Less time shopping equals more time to work and generate income. I think this is a fairly typical scenario.

*****The focus so far has been on catching all the nasty people who purchase on-line items, but very little has been said about the on-line sellers. Technically the laws already state that we are to keep our receipts and pay state tax at the end of the year. Does anyone do this? Well, no - because most people don't even realize this is required.

*****Not very many people are alarmed by this bill but if you ask folks who have mom and pop on-line businesses what they think you'll get another story. Both my husband and I operate on-line businesses. If we were required to collect and pay taxes for every state in the union it would probably close our businesses down. Compliance with a dizzying complexity of state laws would be an impossibility.

*****Multiply that by the huge number of small businesses that operate on-line and the hit to the economy will be enormous. If we don't make money - we don't spend money. And if we don't make money or spend money, the government isn't collecting any taxes at all. Simple!

*****It reminds about the advice to thieves. Would you rather steal $100.00 a day every day for the rest of your life or....would you rather steal $1,000,000,000.00 in one day and get caught?

Thieves get caught because they get greedy!!

*

Read others:

*****State governments — now suffering from spending binges, fiscal mismanagement, and exploding budgets — are starving for new tax revenue. read more

Filth from the MSM

Mainstream Media Hits Bottom

*****Shockingly appalled was my reaction to the recent comments and what passes for reporting on MSMBC and CNN. These people are not journalists. A journalist is someone who reports the news, not someone who interjects their opinions.

*****Where is the outrage over the filthy mouthed people who are paid handsomely to sit behind desks and pretend to be intelligent, while denigrating and insulting the citizens of this country?

*****The likes of Rachel Maddow and Anderson Cooper should be fired immediately!!

April 18, 2009
CNN and MSNBC: sexual degenerates and liars
by Mark McGrew

*****"...America's Major Media, with no moral boundaries, brought their filthy, trashy mouths into the homes of decent, honest, churchgoing people with children present.

****The term "Teabagging" will not be explained here. Adults will figure it out and children don't need to know. Most of us had no idea what it was, until having the term constantly shouted at us by Major News degenerates." read more


I've many requests for adoptions. Thank you all!

I must head outside for more work. My spring spraying of RoundUp takes hours....see you later.

Obama Saves Money

Obama to "Slash" 100 Million of Government Spending

Please, someone tell me this is a joke.... please!

*****Our current President (who has just returned from his most recent bashing the USA trip), has finally stepped up to the bat and recognized that the government spends too much money. Solutions include buying office supplies in bulk, consolidating rental space for government offices, and using the internet for publication of forfeiture notices from newspapers to the Internet.

*****This after spending more money than all previous Presidents combined. Well, I just feel a lot better now.

According to the AP:

*****"The federal deficit for March alone was $192.3 billion, and $100 million would represent a minuscule portion of that sum, roughly one-twentieth of 1 percent. Obama in February brought forward a $3.6 trillion budget for the 2010 fiscal year, beginning Oct. 1, a proposal that would produce $9.3 trillion in deficits over the next decade."



On Political Correctness, or, How To Speak Nonspeak
by John C. Wright

*****"In language as in economics, whatever you subsidize, you multiply. Since we have spent years erecting utterly false and nonsensical verbal signs that point away from reality rather than toward it, in the name of ceasing to offend the sensitive, instead of a polite society, we achieved the opposite." Read the whole essay. It's wonderful!

First Cut

I cut the lawn yesterday. Whoooee! Spring is here!

Divine Mercy Sunday

Divine Mercy Sunday

and
Adoptions

*****While rummaging around the net looking for a picture to "steal" (I'm not real fond of the usual Divine Mercy image), I spy this lovely image. I clicked on it and was led to a blog by a one Father Anthony Ho.

*****It didn't take long to be rather engrossed by the delightful posts of this cheerful and energetic priest. I was feeling rather down today (it's an easy trap to fall into with all the strange stuff going on in our country), but after a half hour with Father Ho, I feel energized again. Thank you, Father!

Do yourself a favor and pay a visit to Father Ho.

Adoptions

*****As some of my long time readers know, I "operate" an adoption service for people that have passed away. I acquire funeral cards of folks that have, in most cases, died many, many years ago. It occurred to me that if these cards were floating around (many come from ebay auctions), then there was a good chance no one was praying for them.

*****The cards are kept in a bowl on my prayer table and so have become known as my "bowl" people. A few months ago nine lovely French people came to live in my bowl and are looking for homes. All are up for adoption except for Georgette Renault, who has asked to stay here.

*****My adoptions are, of course, not limited to just these folks. My bowl is bursting and I have twelve new cards on the way that I just purchased on ebay.

Send me an email at adrienne0645 at gmail dot com or the email on my "about me" page. I will mail you the card and you will be in charge of praying for that person. And remember - they will be praying for you!

Read more about my "bowl" people....

The red colored card is a souvenir of the Jubilee of Abbe Paul Lecouflet who was ordained in 1898...

You may click on images for larger view

Some of them died as long ago as 1902. Two of the cards have actual photos that were glued on which I thought was quite interesting

Monsieur Etienne Eudeline and Madame Eudeline will be adopted out together. He passed away in 1937 and she passed away in 1941. Both were in their 70's.

Georgette died 2 years and 23 days before I was born. She was 17 years old...


See you all Monday

Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself.

Legislation and Flowers

More Stealth Bills

HR 1913
The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Bill of 2009

*****Establishes discretionary grants that will, in effect, bring local law enforcement under the control of the federal government in the prosecution of hate crimes, defined as any crime "motivated by prejudice based on the actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability of the victim, or is a violation of the State, local, or Tribal hate crime laws."

*****Representative, Barney Frank, announced Thursday that the House Judiciary Committee will be considering hate crimes legislation, H.R. 1913, this coming week of April 20. Frank is expecting the committee to pass the bill which would leave it in the House to vote on later this spring, according to a news release issued by Barney Frank on his website last week.

*****This bill sets the stage for prosecuting and silencing pastors and priests who dare to teach that homosexual acts are wrong. Don't think it can happen? It's happening right now in Canada and Sweden.

*****Well, just call me silly, but I though all crimes against persons were, on some level, based on hate.

Read entire bill ...


Hate Crimes Bill on Fast Track
by Karen Hall at Some Have Hats


Dobson Editing Radio Show to Avoid Hate Crimes

"Hate crimes" laws were defeated in Congress just a few months ago. Just a few weeks ago, Frank Wright of the National Religious Broadcasters Association warned, "We must be one in Christ to face the days ahead" because "hate crimes" laws would create untold new liability for Christians. read more

BBC bans "husband" and "wife"; Canada's hate-crime law

*****"Just as was predicted in these pages months ago, the acceptance of homosexual "marriage" is leading instantly to the prohibition of the words "husband" and "wife." According to Robert Bork writing in the current issue of First Things, the BBC has banned use of "husband" and "wife" because those terms privilege heterosexual couples over homosexual couples. So there you have it: the most basic natural and social concepts and realities--concepts and realities fundamental to all human societies from the beginning of time--are now seen as discriminatory and are forbidden." read more

Geranium Journey Update:

Look at all the wonderful little roots...


All nice and cozy in their new box. I used a Priority Mail box lined in plastic. Loaded it up with Miracle Grow Moisture Control soil and gave it just a sprinkle of water.



Next batch sitting in window under the watchful gaze of St. Francis. This time I remembered to label the containers (using window blind markers), so I would know if it was the variegated or solid color flower.

Six Hundred Posts

Yesterday's post was number 600. I don't know if that's good or bad, but it's a nice round number.