About This Here Blog

OK, don't freak-out about the above post date; you didn't time-travel to New Year's Eve of 2100. It's just my non-techie way of keeping the following message at the top of the blog:

NOTE that any text in blue are active links to "Source" material. To keep TFR "open", just press/hold "Shift" while clicking on each link. That way, when you're done reading the linked page you can just close that page and you'll be left with the original TFR window still OPEN. Cool, eh?

At the right side you'll see a bold "Labels" heading and a number of blue links below it. Those are SUBJECT categories. The numeral you see after each category shows the number of posts I've placed in that category. So if you wish to see ALL posts in a particular category, just click on that link. I have not categorized some of the oldest posts; that's on my "To Do" list.

The "Blogs I Visit" are also active links to those blogs -- but I visit many more than just those. [You'll see those others linked in posts, of course.] Just didn't want to overpopulate the list like I see on some blogs.

COMMENTING

I welcome all comments as long as you don't call me names or use profanity [I'll define.]. I know, "Sticks-n-stones, blah, blah..." Comments are moderated -- meaning I get an email notification to either approve or reject.
Just click on "Comments" at bottom of a post and a small window will pop-up. Type your comment in the box at top, then scroll-down and notice "Choose an Identity". I DO NOT WANT ANONYMOUS COMMENTS. No biggie, though; you can always create a fake name by clicking on the little circle beside "Name/URL" -- but I prefer reality. I have my name plastered prominently on this venue, so what's your problem, matey? You may PREVIEW your comment by clicking-on that button at bottom of that Comments window -- or just click on "PUBLISH YOUR COMMENT".
So don't be shy -- and enjoy.

And the Emmy Goes to...

In a survey by TripAdvisor.com more than 3,400 users voted Cleveland as the "Most Boring City" in the U.S. Well you'd never guess that after watching this. Is there an Emmy for Most Creative Reporting for WJW-TV? CAUTION: sip no beverage while watching [assuming you value your keyboard]. Continuing Le Grande Lark, one YouTube commenter declared,"This is NOT funny at all. In 1997 my father was attacked by a cardboard cut out of bigfoot."



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The Upside-Down Presidency

It votes "Present" on the vote fraud protests in Iran, but "votes" with His comrades to condemn a justifiable coup to save democracy in Honduras. [See HERE... HERE... HERE.]

It begs the question, "Are we on Candid Camera?"
Thanks, Powerline blog!

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Nice Job, Nancy

Some other aspects of the ACES Act [cap and trade] that will affect us all [from Rep. Boehner]:

Homebuyers Beware. Trying to save up for a new home? You may have to save up a little longer for your purchase. The Democrats’ bill would dramatically increase new home costs by mandating California’s expensive new building codes for the entire nation. Immediately upon enactment, the Democrats’ bill would demand a 30 percent increase in energy efficiency for new construction. A couple of years later, the Democrats’ bill would require an additional 50 percent improvement. These numbers were chosen with no concern for cost to consumers or feasibility in implementation.

Homebuilders Beware. The Democrats’ bill imposes new mandatory regulations and civil penalties for homebuilders. If your state refuses to accept the stringent and costly California building codes, the federal government may assess penalties. And don’t get too comfortable with the new mandatory regulations because the Democrats’ bill allows for “consensus-based” codes to supplant those outlined in the bill. So, as soon as you’ve invested your hard-earned money to comply with the bill’s mandates, the rug could get pulled from underneath you. Translation? You’ll pony up more and more money.

Home Sellers Beware. Having a hard time selling your home? Here’s one more hurdle to jump: all homes sales are conditioned upon an energy audit and a new energy rating assessment and energy labeling program for your home that’s outlined in the Democrats’ bill. And if you thought you could improve your property with a fresh coat of paint and some granite counters? Think again! Now your home will be subjected to a new energy rating assessment and energy labeling program that will penalize you for older windows, original fixtures, and dated appliances. So the Democrats’ bill would bring down the value of your home!

New Lights No Matter the Cost. As early as 2012, the Democrats’ bill eliminates all existing lighting technology used in many outdoor lighting fleets (parking lots, stadiums, secured facilities like power plants and factories). Just as an example, switching to the mandated technology in the bill will cost one small utility about $30 million in annual revenue. So you now have to comply with the new mandates for new lighting? Hold the phone. It is not clear that a feasible alternative technology is available for every existing lighting application – regardless of cost – which could force some businesses to close.

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And "legacy" energy users beware. [by Barky himself]:

UPDATE -- July 1, 2009 -- 3:28PM
Bob Zubrin adds [from Instapundit]:
“Consider: Burning one ton of coal produces about three tons of CO2. So a tax of $15 per ton of CO2 emitted is equivalent to a tax of $45/ton on coal. The price of Eastern anthracite coal runs in the neighborhood of $45/ton, so under the proposed system, such coal would be taxed at a rate of about 100 percent. The price of Western bituminous coal is currently about $12/ton. This coal would therefore be taxed at a rate of almost 400 percent. Coal provides half of America’s electricity, so such extraordinary imposts could easily double the electric bills paid by consumers and businesses across half the nation. . . . But all these bad aspects of the Waxman-Markey bill pale before its potential impact on the world’s food supply.”

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Turtle Bay West

"Hey Lar -- come here!" the boss commanded from the kitchen this morning. Her voice had that "Guess what I just spotted out back?" tone to it, so I promptly obeyed -- which is a common occurrence around these parts. On my arrival she just smiled and pointed out the window. 'Twas a turtle lumbering-along in the yard. We watched for perhaps a minute until the little [9-inch shell] interloper simply stopped. Now I figure the only thing more boring than a turtle strolling through the grass is a turtle not strolling through the grass -- so I went back to the Study.
A couple hours later we were both out back and this time it was just a query: "Wanna walk over there with me to look at it up close?" Me, all excited-like: "Oh, I s'pose." At Ground Zero she then asked, "Well, why would it just stay in this one spot this long?" Me: "Oh, just catching some rays I....", stopping as I spotted the mound of dirt behind each rear foot. "Uh-oh -- she's nesting!" I pronounced. Boss: "How do you know?" Me, picking her [turtle, not boss] up using my best Steve Irwin [R.I.P.] finesse: " See that hole in our turf where her butt was? That's where the eggs will go." Then, as I turned toward the pond [40ft away] with trespasser-in-hand, addressed same: "Oh no, ya don't, Missy! Not in my yard!"
So a while ago I filled-in the hole [about 4-inches deep and 5-inch diameter chamber below the main 1.5-inch hole] and planted seed and topped with lawn-patch mulch.

FYI, HERE is the Turtle Bay.

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Updates ALERT

Both previous posts UPDATED.

The Nation's Almost in Good Hands - UPDATED

“When there’s a bill that ends up on my desk as president, you the public will have five days to look online and find out what’s in it before I sign it, so that you know what your government’s doing.” -- Candidate Barack Obama

Hey, how about Congress knowing about what my/our government’s doing?

UPDATE -- June 28, 2009 -- 7:53AM

Andrew Stuttaford at the Corner blog re passage of the American Clean Energy and Security Act -- or what I'm calling the ACES Act:

Are the techniques that were used [to pass] unprecedented? Of course not, but the fact that they apparently bother Obama so little ought to worry just a few of those who believed that his election would usher in an era of more open government and a more democratic political process.

Oh, Nancy and her homies are a bunch of aces, alright.
Stuttaford quotes a few pithy observations from EU Referendum’s Richard North. It's b-r-i-e-f, people -- so just CLICK IT!

UPDATE -- June 29, 2009 -- 8:59AM

Some crusty old USAF vet in West-Central Florida threatens to "Fight No More Forever" over this. [The full quote is from Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce tribe.] He observes:
The Native Americans learned the hard way never to trust the feds...the rest of the public still hasn't learned...or at least over fifty percent has not learned or maybe they have but had rather get a free lunch than fight.
HERE is the chief's story via Hollywood.

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Clueless in da House -- UPDATED

Is this guy serious? [at 1:46 mark]: "...would touch and change the world.... thank God for letting all of us live in his.... era." Good. Grief.
So where's the "Moment" for Farrah? Get your priorities straight, Jesse. [ You know -- on people who really change the world, etc ] I think I best stop right here about MJ.



UPDATE -- 6:47 PM
But speaking of today's celebrity passing that deserves five-times the "Moment", how's this for a slick tribute?



Ah, yes, that Red-Bathing-Suit-Poster at the 1:14 mark. Won one of those at a carnival in Canton, OH in the late 70s [hmmm... I know I put that here somewhere...] We're talkin' classic feminine pulchritude here, people. Although I am partial to brunettes, blonds that look like this will turn my head too. And since I've now backed myself into the proverbial corner I'll confess that Jaclyn -- yes, a brunette -- was my fav "Angel" [Forgive me, Farrah].


UPDATE -- June 28, 2009 -- 8:35AM

Seems a certain John Roberts wasn't snookered by the Jackson PR Machine 25-years-ago-this-month -- which makes him much smarter and perceptive than those invoking adulation and uber-"PCitis" the other day in the well of the House. But that's no surprise. "PCitis"? Ooh... I just made that up. Dude!

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"Nasty" Lopez

Nativo Lopez is accused of fraudulently registering to vote at a commercial address in Los Angeles and voting in the 2008 presidential primary even though he actually lived in Orange County. Lopez has long been a vociferous advocate of open borders, immigrant amnesty, and treating illegal aliens like citizens. He was recalled from his service on the Santa Ana school board after he was accused of failing to enforce Proposition 227, which prohibited bilingual education in California. Lopez is currently the head of the Mexican American Political Association, but he may be more familiar to readers of the Corner as the head in 1996 of Hermandad Mexicana Nacional, the organization that was accused of registering non-citizens (and encouraging them to vote) in the Dornan/Sanchez congressional contest. Dornan lost that race by less than 1,000 votes even though the evidence showed that thousands of noncitizens had voted in the election. But local prosecutors and the Reno Justice Department refused to prosecute Lopez or Hermandad. -- Hans A. von Spakovsky

For other TFR posts on vote fraud click HERE. The evidence just keeps building.

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InstaPithy

Glad to see Fox is keeping us up on what’s really important. -- Glenn

Amen, Bra.

UPDATE -- 9:56 AM
Jonah Goldberg is right; THIS anecdote is the more-meaningful story -- about an entertainer who has been one of the great Pop songwriters for almost 40 years. So how about it, FoxNews?