2005 February | The Bull Speaks!

Forwarded from Pop, an email…

==========

SOCIAL SECURITY:
(This is worth reading. It is short and to the point.)

Perhaps we are asking the wrong questions during election years.

Our Senators and Congresswomen do not pay into Social Security and,
of course, they do not collect from it.

You see, Social Security benefits were not suitable for persons of
their rare elevation in society. They felt they should have a special
plan for themselves. So, many years ago they voted in their own benefit plan .

In more recent years, no congressperson has felt the need to change
it. After all, it is a great plan.

For all practical purposes their plan works like this:
When they retire, they continue to draw the same pay until they die.

Except it may increase from time to time for cost of living adjustments…

This is calculated on an average life span for each of those two
Dignitaries. For example, Senator Byrd and Congressman White and their
wives may expect to draw $7,800,000.00 (that’s Seven Million,
Eight-Hundred Thousand Dollars), with their wives drawing $275,000.00
during the last years of their lives.

Younger Dignitaries who retire at an early age, will receive much
more during the rest of their lives.

Their cost for this excellent plan is $0.00. NADA….ZILCH….

This little perk they voted for themselves is free to them. You and I
pick up the tab for this plan. The funds for this fine retirement plan
come directly from the General Funds;

“OUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK”!

From our own Social Security Plan, which you and I pay (or have paid)
into – every payday until we retire (which amount is matched by our
employer) – we can expect to get an average of $1,000 per month after
retirement.

Or, in other words, we would have to collect our average of $1,000
monthly benefits for 68 years and one (1) month to equal Senator Bill
Bradley’s benefits!

Social Security could be very good if only one small change were made.

That change would be to:
Jerk the Golden Fleece Retirement Plan from under the Senators and
Congressmen. Put them into the Social Security plan with the rest of
us.

Then sit back and watch how fast they would fix it.

==========

Yep. That would bring about reform PDQ!
Omar, out.
  End of Article

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*Some stupid laws I ran across while trying to determine if it is indeed legal for me to openly wear a knife on my belt in public. I thought you guys might get a kick from some of them. I’ll start with a few from Alabama…*

Alabama:
–It is illegal to play dominoes on Sunday *( Uh oh! Sorry, family…)*
–Anyone who wears a false mustache to church and causes “unseemly laughter” will be arrested
–Operating a motor vehicle while wearing a blindfold is illegal *(Some people might drive BETTER if they did!)*
–Breton: It is unlawful to ride down the street in a motorboat
–Mobile: Pigeons may not eat pebbles from composite roofs (Pigeon Police! Pigeon Police! Actually, there may be good reason for this law. Imagine ‘armor-piercing’ pigeon poop… :-( )

California: *(You know I can’t resist going after the ‘Granola State’…)*
–It is a misdemeanor to shoot any sort of game from a moving vehicle unless the target is a whale *(I thought this was ‘Save the Whales’ country??)*
–No person may possess a bear gall bladder
–No person may trip a horse for entertainment
–Women may not operate a motor vehicle while dressed in a house coat
–Animals are banned from mating publicly within 1,500 feet of a tavern, school, or place of worship
–It is illegal to skateboard on walls “or other vertical surfaces”
–Peeling oranges in a hotel room is prohibited
–Baldwin Park: It is illegal to ride a bicycle in a swimming pool
–Belvedere: No dog shall be in public without its master on a leash *(Gone to the dogs, eh?)*
–Glendale: Horror Films may only be shown on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday
–Hollywood: It is illegal to drive more than 2000 sheep down Hollywood Boulevard at a time *(The problem is that the police enforcing this law keep falling asleep.)*
–LA: No persons shall hunt moths under street lights *(Darn! Back to using candles.)*
–LA: Two babies may not be washed in the same tub at the same time
–Pacific Grove: One may not threaten or kill a butterfly
–San Fransisco: Every day shall be guarenteed sunshine *(I wonder what Momma Nature has to say about this?)*
–San Fransisco: Only elephants on leashes may stroll down Market Street
–Santa Ana: No two people may congregate on a sidewalk for a conversation
–Santa Clara: It is illegal to dedicate parking spaces to the patron saint of television *(Just who is the ‘Patron Saint of Television’?)*
–Santa Clara: Santa Clara, bicycles may not be ridden without “appropriate fashion accessories” anywhere in the county

And one more for the road…
In Oklahoma whale hunting is strictly prohibited. *(You’ve got to wonder what the Oklahoma state legislature was smoking that day.)*
Omar, out.  End of Article

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OK. All of you In-Laws, Out-Laws, Parents, Siblings, & Other Assorted Relatives and Friends, LISTEN UP! (…or rather, read on…)
Ya’ll know I don’t ask for anything. I’ve always figured that in this life at least I was not intended to actually *have* the things I want, but rather merely spend my free time staring longingly at various free catalogs. But there is one thing that I’ve been nuts over since I was a kid and never had – a Ruger Single Action Revolver chambered for the .45 Colt, with a 4 5/8 inch barrel. Over the years the company changed it from its original design several times. Each change made it more and more bulky. Almost two years ago Ruger introduced one of the fixed sight Vaquero models with a “Bird’s Head” grip frame. But it was still the same huge action frame and bulk.

Not any more!!!! YAY!!! Ruger listened to the guys involved in Western shooting and all of us history buffs that have written *tons* of letters wanting the old model back. It has been released as the Color Case Blued Ruger New Vaquero, model number NV-44.
So all of ya’ll just pool your money for my birthday coming up in April and I’ll be a real happy camper! ;-)

Ain’t gonna work, is it…? Well. I had to try… :-( Anyhoo, here’s a picture of the thing so you too can stare at its beauty. Enjoy!


Ruger New Vaquero in .45 Colt

Factory Release…

The Color Case Blued Ruger New Vaquero is an entirely new, fixed-sight single action revolver. Destined to exceed even the legendary performance of the original Ruger Vaquero, the New Vaquero offers a new smaller size and great new features, including:

** Smaller, original-size frame and cylinder.

** Original, slimmer “XR-3″ style steel grip frame.

**New crescent-shaped ejector rod head and steel ejector rod housing.

** Reverse indexing cylinder pawl which positively aligns the cylinder with the loading gate for faster loading and unloading.

** Beveled cylinder for easier holstering.

**Unobstrusive internal lock contained within the grip frame.

** Longer hammer spur and improved hammer springs for easier cocking.

** Patented Ruger transfer bar safety mechanism and loading gate interlock, which provides an unparalleled measure of security against accidental discharge.

** Checkered black “hard rubber” grips with new eagle crest design.

** Blade front and notch rear sights.

Ahh…. Dreams….
Omar, out.  End of Article

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Don’t panic!

There is nothing wrong with your computer or server. I’ve just upgraded to WordPress v1.5 and need to make changes in my files to redirect the software to my photos. I suppose I *could* do it now, but I’m finally sleepy and I’m going to bed for a couple of hours. Everything here will be back to normal within minutes of when I get up.

Oh! I need to tell you… I *LOVE* the changes in WP v1.5!
Omar, out.
  End of Article

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Source: Fox News Online
GROTON, Conn. â€??? The USS Jimmy Carter entered the Navy’s fleet Saturday as the most heavily armed submarine ever built, and as the last of the Seawolf class of attack subs that the Pentagon ordered during the Cold War’s final years.

jcartersubmarine The Last of the Seawolf Subs

The $3.2 billion USS Jimmy Carter was commissioned Saturday, the first submarine named after a living ex-president. Carter, himself a submariner during his time in the Navy, was on hand for the ceremony signaling the end of an era in submarining.

“*The most deeply appreciated and emotional honor I’ve ever had is to have this great ship bear my name*,” Carter said in remarks prepared for the ceremony at the Naval Submarine Base New London.

Carter was joined by his wife, Rosalynn, former Vice President Walter Mondale and his wife, Joan, and Stansfield Turner, CIA director in the Carter administration.

Read the rest of this entry »

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*The following was attributed to Andy Roonie, and it does sound like his stuff. Still, I’ll have to do some checks to be sure. Thing is, I have these same points of view so I’ll happily post them here.*

I don’t think being a minority makes you a victim of anything except numbers. The only things I can think of that are truly discriminatory are things like the United Negro College Fund, Jet Magazine, Black Entertainment Television, and Miss Black America. Try to have things like the United Caucasian College Fund, Cloud Magazine, White Entertainment Television, or Miss White America; and see what happens…
Jesse Jackson will be knocking down your door.

Guns do not make you a killer. I think killing makes you a killer. You can kill someone with a baseball bat or a car, but no one is trying to ban you from driving to the ball game.

I believe they are called the Boy Scouts for a reason, that is why there are no girls allowed. Girls belong in the Girl Scouts! ARE YOU LISTENING MARTHA BURKE?

I think that if you feel homosexuality is wrong, it is not a phobia, it is an opinion.

I have the right “NOT” to be tolerant of others because they are different, weird, or tick me off.

When 70% of the people who get arrested are black, in cities where 70% of the population is black, that is not racial profiling, it is the Law of Probability.

I believe that if you are selling me a milkshake, a pack of cigarettes, a newspaper or a hotel room, you must do it in English! As a matter of fact, if you want to be an American citizen, you should have to speak English!

My father and grandfather didn’t die in vain so you can leave the countries you were born in to come over and disrespect ours. I think the police should have every right to shoot your sorry ass if you threaten them after they tell you to stop. If you can’t understand the word “freeze” or “stop” in English, see the above lines.

I don’t think just because you were not born in this country, you are qualified for any special loan programs, government sponsored bank loans or tax breaks, etc., so you can open a hotel, coffee shop, trinket store, or any other business.

We did not go to the aid of certain foreign countries and risk our lives in wars to defend their freedoms, so that decades later they could come over here and tell us our constitution is a living document; and open to their interpretations.

I don’t hate the rich. I don’t pity the poor.

I know pro wrestling is fake, but so are movies and television. That doesn’t stop you from watching them.

I think Bill Gates has every right to keep every penny he made and continue to make more. If it ticks you off, go and invent the next operating system that’s better, and put your name on the building.

It doesn’t take a whole village to raise a child right, but it does take a parent to stand up to the kid; and smack their little behinds when necessary, and say “NO!”

I think tattoos and piercing are fine if you want them, but please don’t pretend they are a political statement.

I am sick of “Political Correctness.” I know a lot of black people, and not a single one of them was born in Africa; so how can they be “African-Americans”? Besides, Africa is a continent. I don’t go around saying I am a European-American because my great, great, great, great, great, great grandfather was from Europe. I am proud to be from America and nowhere else.

And if you don’t like my point of view, tough…

*All I can say is “Hell yeah!”
Omar, out.*  End of Article

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By the way….

The party last night was a blast. I even got to sing a bit! Something I’ve not had the heart to do in a couple of years. Felt good, sounded terrible.
Perhaps we can do this more often…
Omar, out.  End of Article

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Finally!
WordPress v1.5 Strayhorn has been released! w00t!

What that means is that I’ll be spending hours and hours tinkering again – though this time I have some idea of what I’m doing… And, the site will only be FUBAR during the actual upgrade, which I intend to do sometime in the next 24 hours. (Depending on household requirements on my time – i.e.: How good a day the twins, my daughter, the 5 dogs, 2 cats, 2 geckos, 3 snakes, the disabled dragon, and Lady Beth, are having. (The aquarium is pretty much a “hands off” affair.))

Man, I *love* tinkering with this stuff!
Omar, out.  End of Article

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Lady Beth and I are actually going to venture out of the house tonight!
To a party of all things! People, music, conversation, laughs (I hope…), and if I’m lucky – tasty snacks too. I’m sure to get at least one good food item as my bride made her delicious salsa. Still, a variety would be nice.

Of course, I’ll be the oldest person in the house. How often has that happened? Since I went to my last Living History event it seems that I’ve regularly been the oldest in my circle of friends. But it works, though. I suppose I manage somehow to fit in with a younger crowd as well as those my own age. The “Gift of Gab” showing through, I suppose.

Anyhoo, the baby-sitter will be here after the kids are asleep so we souldn’t have any issues there. Besides, Lady Beth’s cousin – the beautiful Brittany – is handling the duties of baby-sitter. She’s a cutie, but what’s *really* special about this kid is her ability to handle – properly – any situation you throw at her. Strength. There is a lot of it on that side of Beth’s family. Good genes.
Kind of a shame that Beth and I can not have any more kids.

Oh well, wish us a good time. She deserves it and I wouldn’t mind a break myself.
Omar, out.  End of Article

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Here’s a couple of shots of “*Nosey*”, our latest Ball Python rescue. These were taken at my in-law’s house just after our trip to the vet with both pythons. “*Nosey*” was diagnosed with a couple of problems… One was a huge gut load of parasites. The other was more obvious – she had not shed her eye caps and has the beginnings of serious problems because of that. Well, a good de-worming and some salve for the eyes and we were off. Oops! Forgot to mention we had both pythons sexed… They are both female.

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Oh! I wanted to share this picture as well. This pic on the right is of the larger python, “*Sneaky*”. She has a perfect ‘question mark’ on her right side just about half way down her body.

Well, that’s it for now. Maybe I’ll feel more like writing something of substance later on this evening. Lady Beth is working a 14 hour day today so I’ll be damned lonely before she arrives home. To make things even better, I’m puppy-sitting for Lady Beth’s ex-husband for the next five days… A beagle pup named “*Snoopy*”, of course. Why I volunteered for this I’ll never know!
Omar, out.

  End of Article

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The Navy will commission the newest nuclear-powered attack submarine Jimmy Carter on Saturday, Feb. 19, during an 11 a.m. EST ceremony at Naval Submarine Base New London, Groton, Conn.

The attack submarine Jimmy Carter honors the 39th president of the United States.

President Carter is the only U.S. president to have qualified in submarines. He has distinguished himself by a lifetime of public service, and has long ties to the Navy and the submarine force. Carter graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1946, served as a commissioned officer aboard submarines, and served as commander-in-chief from 1977 to 1981. Carter’s statesmanship, philanthropy and sense of humanity earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.

Retired Navy Adm. Stansfield Turner, a classmate of the president who served in the Carter administration as the director of the Central Intelligence Agency, will deliver the ceremony’s principal address. Rosalynn Carter is the sponsor for the ship named for her husband, with daughter Amy serving as matron of honor. In a time-honored Navy tradition, Rosalynn Carter will give the first order to “man our ship and bring her to life!

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The Jimmy Carter is the third and final submarine of the Seawolf class. As the most advanced submarine in the class, the Jimmy Carter will have built-in flexibility and an array of new warfighting features that will enable it to prevail in any scenario, against any threat – from beneath Artic ice to shallow water. Differentiating the Jimmy Carter from all other undersea vessels is its multi-mission platform (MMP), which includes a 100-foot hull extension to enhance payload capability. The MMP will enable the Jimmy Carter to accommodate the advanced technology required to develop and test new generation of weapons, sensors and undersea vehicles for naval special warfare, tactical surveillance and mine-warfare operations.

Capt. Robert D. Kelso, a native of Fayetteville, Tenn., will serve as the Jimmy Carter’s first commanding officer, leading a crew of approximately 130 officers and sailors. Built by General Dynamics Electric Boat in Groton, Conn., the 12,130-ton Jimmy Carter is 453 feet in length, has a beam of 40 feet, and can operate at speeds exceeding 25 knots when submerged.

General Characteristics, Seawolf class:

Builders: General Dynamics Electric Boat Division.
Power Plant: One nuclear reactor, one shaft
Length:
SSNs 21 and 22: 353 feet (107.6 meters)
SSN 23: 453 feet (138.07 meters)
Beam: 40 feet (12.2 meters)
Submerged Displacement:
SSNs 21 and 22: 9,138 tons (9,284 metric tons);
SSN 23 12,158 tons (12,353 metric tons)
Speed: 25+ knots (28+ miles per hour, 46.3+ kph)
Ships:
USS Seawolf (SSN 21), Groton, Ct.
USS Connecticut (SSN 22), Groton, Ct.
Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), under construction
Crew: 140: 14 Officers; 126 Enlisted
Armament: Tomahawk missiles, MK-48 torpedoes, eight torpedo tubes.
Commissioning dates: Seawolf – 19 July 1997; Connecticut – 11 December 1998
Commissioning date: Jimmy Carter – scheduled for 19 February 2005.

There ya go…
What’s more, here is equal time for a humorous look at the boat. (You knew it was coming…) Splendor of Truth.

Omar, out.  End of Article

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Remember Robocop?
How about the Terminator series of movies? I Robot? No? Let’s try that episode of the original Star Trek where the USS Enterprise, (NCC-1701. “No bloody A, B, C, or D.:-) ), is rigged with a computer so that it needs no crew; becoming a “robotic” ship?

What was the one thing these movies all had in common?
The premise that when Man gives over to robots the power of Life & Death we step over the edge of a very slippery slope. One from which we may not recover.
Keep that in mind as you read the following from the Associated Press

Imagine a soldier who can fire a machine gun with deadly accuracy at 300 yards, doesn’t complain about heat or cold and can go forever without food or water.

Meet the “Robo-Soldier.”

The idea for the Robo-Soldier started in Afghanistan, where U.S. troops wanted help clearing the entrances of caves.

“The concept … here at Picatinny is don’t reinvent the wheel, don’t keep engineering. Take what’s already proven, apply it to this robot that’s already proven. We need it now,” said tester Santiago Tordillos.

Design teams at New Jersey’s Picatinny Arsenal came up with the idea of mounting grenade and rocket launchers on the existing Talon robot, which evolved into a machine gun setup. The operator can be at the controls up to 1,000 yards away â€??? pulling the trigger while staying well out of harm’s way.

“We were sitting there firing single rounds and smacking bull’s-eyes after zeroing the scopes. We were completely amazed,” said Bob Quinn of Foster-Miller Inc.

The robot has already been in Iraq clearing roadside bombs, and the team at Picatinny is ready to ship out the weapons-mounted model as soon as the call comes.

“If a decision came down from a commander in the field to the United States Army that said they want this capability, it could be in the hands of the soldiers in approximately 60 days,” said Anthony Sebasto of Picatinny.

But there is one thing the Robo-Soldier can’t do: put a human face on war. That will always be the job of the men and women in uniform.

Laugh on, mate. Go ahead. Laugh. You know you want to… Did I *really* just equate Life and modern warfare to Star Trek?
Yes, I did.

Look to history, my Dear Reader. Look to yesterday’s Sci-Fi magazines and novels. They are *packed* with today’s realities. Everything from Space Shuttles, lunar landings, exploration of the other planets, and satellite communication – to – robotic house cleaners and microwave ovens. It seems that the writers of yesterday’s good sci-fi were the real prophets of our modern life.

Considering the success of those writers in making predictions of our future, (and noting that todays movies are often based on the witings of those great Sci-Fi writers), perhaps it would be wise to re-think the wisdom of giving machine guns and rocket launchers to robots. Even those that, *for now*, are under our complete control.

“By your command!”
Omar, out.  End of Article

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Lady Beth and I have, beyond any shadow of any doubt, one of the most unique marriages anywhere.

No, we are not involved in any weird sexual escapades nor are we “open” in our marriage vows. Therefore all of you pervs looking for a thrill can buzz off now. What we *do* have is a home where what is *normal* is out of kilter with our neighbors. First, our pets…

As you know, we have two cats, four dogs, two geckos, two pythons, a boa constrictor, and a disabled bearded dragon. We have also been known to take in strays of all kinds and find them homes. We are starting a *Reptile Rescue* and are on ARF’s list of foster homes. Oh! Don’t forget the three kids under 5 years of age. With all of this our days are kind of odd.

Consider a *normal* weekday morning… We all get up around 6:15 AM and lets the Shih-Tzus and the Lab out to potty. Turn on the day lamps to all the reptiles, feed the indoor and outdoor dogs. Ditto cats. Sarah has to be readied for school while Lady Beth feeds the strange creatures in her saltwater aquarium brine shrimp and chopped clams. The twins go to the bathroom and compare pee-pee style and then demand breakfast – either a pop-tart, Eggos, or oatmeal, (Provided there is no cold pizza around. It’s everyone’s fav.) Someone magically makes Sarah’s snack for school and I fix her hair. (She says I’m the best hair-brusher in the world… So does her Mom!) Everyone gets something to drink and I read my email while Beth gets dressed. Then she reads hers while I get going. When this is all done Lady Beth takes Sarah off to school while Jack crys and says “Mom, I will miss you.” even though she will be back in five minutes. (And yes, Jack does talk like that. Just like Commander Data from Star Trek TNG, he does not use contractions in his speech. Just simply won’t.) When Beth comes home the boys watch Blue’s Clues while we talk about our day and hold hands before she goes to work.

At least that is the plan… Plans are made for destruction, though… And in our house they don’t stand a chance.

Today was different. First, it is Saturday. More, it is a Saturday when Beth’s ex has the kids. She still goes to work, but that just means I’ll be lonely all day without the kids to play with and watch over. This morning we were watching the tube and having a bite to eat when I heard something like a *meow* or a *chirp* coming from the fireplace. I look at Beth and she’s looking at me. We walk over there and open the doors on the insert.
~listen~
*Scratch, scratch, scratch!* We look at each other again. Could it be a squirrel? I immediately started singing “The Day the Squirrel Went to Church“. Beth is looking deep into the fireplace as I went for the flashlight. Then she said “It’s a bird!” Cool! At least it’s not our cat Inanna.

The next thing I heard was “BIRD IN THE HOUSE! BIRD IN THE HOUSE!” A starling had launched itself out of the fireplace and was buzzing the house. Fortunately we had put all the dogs outside, but the Manx cat Karma was going goofy. After a couple of rounds I managed to get the critter to fly out the now open front door. Well, that made for some good laughs… Then we realized we were not done yet. There was a second bird in the fireplace…

We left the door open and went on with our chores. I was cleaning the kitchen and Beth went back to get ready for work. Next thing I know I hear *flutter, flutter, flutter* as the second bird exited the fireplace. This time I got to say “BIRD IN THE HOUSE! BIRD IN THE HOUSE!“, but had to quickly amend it with “IT’S HEADED YOUR WAY!“.

That’s when it happened.

Beth had just stepped out into the hallway to hear what I was saying, dressed in only a pair of undies, as this starling landed on her head. What a hoot!! I got to see a real beauty dancing topless through the house and chasing this bird. Man, my wife is stunningly beautiful!

Forgot the front door was wide open though.

Happy to say I got to the door before anything was revealed to the neighborhood. But for a moment there I wondered which one was going to leave the house first. I caught the bird and let it out with no harm. And to be honest, Lady Beth handled it all well. I just like to make a cute story when I can. One thing is certain, we will have a bunch of great laughs about it and I bet at midnight tonight we’ll be in bed laughing so hard it hurts.

It is a strange life.
But I wouldn’t trade it for anything. We are both enjoying the happiest times of our lives, and we laugh every day. Is there any better medicine out there?
Omar, out.  End of Article

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