There really isn’t much we can do here on the East coast about the fires in California, but I guess the best bet is to give to the American Red Cross. Here is a summary of their efforts in California, here is the page to donate.
Archives for 2003
ANSWER THIS
International A.N.S.W.E.R., still the favorite ally of thugs, fascists, murderers, and totalitarians anywhere.
But don’t you dare point out that marching with them in ‘peace protests’ is a horrible idea- then you are ‘stifling dissent.’
Let’s Get Something Straight
If I hear some variation of this one more time, I am going to have the big one:
Edwards, who was the first of the pro-war Democrats to announce his opposition to the $87 billion, also shrugged off Lieberman’s attacks.
“My view of leadership is standing up for what you believe,” he said. “Here’s my view, Joe. For me to vote yes on that would be to give President Bush a blank check, and I am not willing to give George Blush a blank check.”
I am looking at my checkbook right now at a ‘blank check.’ It does not say $87 Billion anywhere on this ‘blank check.’ It does not say $86 billion. In fact, it does not even say ANYTHING. Not even one thin dollar. IN essence, that is because it is a ‘blank check.’
Senate Bill 1689, the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Iraq and Afghanistan Security and Reconstruction Act, 2004, is not a blank check. It is an itemized accounting of hwat money is needed for what, line by line, down to the dollar. No aspect of it is a blank check- in fact, this is best evidenced by the fact that we know how much it will cost- in this case, $87 billion.
Go take a look at the hundreds of pages in this so-called ‘blank check.’ Maybe they are just lying about it being a blank check because a couple hundred pages of appropriations legislating a massive amount of money for specific functions negates the Democrat’s equally idiotic claim that the administration has ‘no plan.’
These guys will say anything to get elected. The $87 billion dollars is clearly designated for things Edwards can feel free to vote for or against, as is his right. However, to claim it is a blank check, and the administration is going to spend it on whatever it wants, be that hookers, beer, or invading Syria, is absurd. Democrats- quit your damn lying.
Cat Help
I need help from cat owners regarding a recent unpleasant change in the behavior of my cat, Oliver. Two weeks ago, he started urinating at various places around the house. It started with a blanket on my bed, then a comforter, then a pillow, then some dirty clothes in a hamper, then a couch, and in the last few days he has nailed my sheets twice and tonight he nailed my bed again. I have not changed his diet, I have not moved anything, I have not changed his kitty litter, I have not moved the litter box, I have not moved the water dish. In fact, there is no reason at all for this behavior that I can tell.
Since it started, other than doing laundry every day, I took Oliver to the vet to see if he had a urinary tract infection. As he had nailed a blanked five minutes before leaving for the vet, they were unable to get a urine sample, so he went on antibiotics anyway. No change in behavior. The last few days, I have been keeping my bedroom door shut, but today when I came home from work, in the time it took me to change clothes and walk into the bathroom to brush my teeth, he came in and hammered the bed again (missing my last pillow, thank goodness).
My biggest fear is that Tunch is going to start doing the same thing because Oliver is doing this. So, what I need are any suggestions you might have.
*** Update ***
Oliver is neutered and approaching 1 1/2 years old.
*** Update #2 ***
He nailed my bed, with me in it, at 4:49 am. I am not amused.
Animals
It appears that the remnants of the Ba’ath party, some Saddam loyalists, and the rest of the Islamist riff-raff that has congregated in Iraq have decided to spending the beginning of Ramadan doing what they do best- killing innocents:
A series of suicide bombings shook Baghdad early today, including an attack on the offices of the International Committee of the Red Cross and blasts at four Iraqi police stations that punctuated two days of bloody violence in this capital city.
Iraq’s police chief and deputy interior minister, Ahmad Ibrahim, said at a news conference that 34 people had been killed and 224 had been wounded in the attacks. He said 26 of the dead were civilians and 8 were police officers; 65 police officers and 159 civilians were wounded.
The explosions plunged the capital into chaos at the outset of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. Ambulances raced through the streets and smoke rose from smoldering cars blown up in the blasts. Iraqi police officers dug through rubble to search for bodies.
I guess this means in the future we do not need to schedule military action around Muslim holy days.
*** Update ***
Arash points to this piece on public reactions in Iraq. If you don’t feel for the poor people of Iraq after reading this, you have no heart.
Interesting Economic Data
Some interesting data analysis on the economy:
Wage increases for employees at almost all income levels are giving important and unexpected support to the nation’s economy. If the gains continue, they offer hope that the rapid economic expansion of recent months could prove more durable than other spurts of growth over the last two years.
Forecasters expect the Commerce Department to say in its quarterly report on Thursday that the economy grew about 6 percent in the three-month period ending in September, which would be the fastest pace since 1999. Most of that growth stemmed from a sharp rise in consumer spending, driven largely by a continuing boom in mortgage refinancing and checks that were mailed out as part of the recent tax cut.
Let’s hope.
Lack Of Poss
Sorry for the lack of blogging, but as you have probably observed, this site has been having some maintenance problems. Things seem to be working now.
Also, watching the Rams destroy the Steelers yesterday took the wind out of my sails.