While the Democrat has the early lead of only 65 votes, this one is not over yet.

Venture capitalist Scott Murphy (D) holds a 65-vote lead over state Assemblyman Jim Tedisco (R) in a special election in Upstate New York, a race cast as an early referendum on President Obama's economic stimulus package.

With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Murphy had 77,344 votes to Tedisco's 77,279. Somewhere between 6,000 and 10,000 military and absentee ballots remain uncounted, according to the Associated Press, and overseas absentee ballots will continue be accepted until April 13. In short, no winner will be declared any time soon.

Let's think about this one. This district leans Republican, though a Democrat has won in recent elections. The current margin with today's votes counted is only about 4/100ths of a percentage point. And there are literally thousands of ballots yet to be counted from men and women in uniform -- votes that historically tend to break for the Republican candidate. What this means is that we are likely to see Jim Tedisco take this seat back for the GOP -- dealing Barack Obama and the Democrats a setback. After all, this is the first special election in a district that is actually competitive, and it appears that Obama and the Democrats may lose it in the end.

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Could we here in Houston be getting a new neighbor, for at least part of the year? Well, according to Rush Limbaugh, we might -- namely himself.

When I am there working I pay whatever, you know, my rate is based on income for that day in New York. And I try to go as little as possible. If it weren't for hurricanes down here, I would never go up there. New York is the escape valve in case hurricanes are showing up in our area, because of the loss of electricity. So I'll tell you what I'm going to do. I'm going to look for an alternative studio somewhere outside New York, perhaps Texas -- another no-income-tax state -- and I'm going to get the hell over there, when a hurricane starts coming our way, 'cause I told Mayor Bloomberg: I'll be the first to lead the way. You know, this is just... I'll sell my apartment. I'll sell my condominium. I'm going to get out of there totally, 'cause this is just absurd, and it's ridiculous -- and it isn't going to work. It's punishing the achievers for the mistakes and the lack of discipline on the part of a bunch of corrupt politicians that have run that city and state into the ground for I don't know how many years -- and I, for one, am not going to take the blame for it.

One of the things that too many of the political class forget is that We, the People are not serfs. We are not bound to the land, and the law does not compel us to live and work in any particular place. In the case of Rush Limbaugh, he can do his job from just about anywhere. That is the beauty of technology today. So if taxes increase in New York to the point that they are prohibitive (especially when there are seemingly politically-based audits conducted yearly), then there is no need for him to stay in New York. And since Texas has a very attractive business and personal tax system, why should Rush not relocate to a place where it is possible to keep more of what he earns AND where the views and values of the populace are more like his own?

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It can happen. You get accepted to the college of your choice, fill out all the financial aid forms, ad discover that you are still short on what you need, even after you take into account the federal aid programs that you qualify for and whatever scholarship money the school of your choice might offer. There is still a way to pay for college -- using private student loans.

iStudentLoan is a site that can guide you in finding a private student loan over the Internet. IStudent Loan is not some fly-by-night company -- they have been in the business of providing students with help in locating such resources for a decade, since 1999. In addition to information on private student loans, they can also help provide information on private student loan consolidation.

Of course, this is not free money for college. Private Student Loans are what they call alternative college financing, and they will have to be paid back with interest at some point after graduation. It is important, therefore, to take into consideration the amount of student debt that you will be leaving college with at the end of your career -- especially today, in a period of economic difficulty. However, it is something that can be beneficial for you, both in terms of paying tuition and meeting other college needs like books, computers, and living expenses.

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The First Amendment is applicable against the government. It does not apply to private citizens, organizations, or institutions. Thus, the current brouhaha over the decision of Boston College to cancel a speech by terrorist Bill Ayers raises precisely ZERO free speech issues.

Friday morning I found out that Bill Ayers was scheduled to appear at Boston College the following Monday - yesterday. When a listener to my talk show tipped me off, I didnÂ’t believe it. And because BC was being so careful not to promote it, it took me several Google searches to confirm the details.

Yes, the unrepentant founder of the Weather Underground terrorist organization that bombed a dozen American targets, advocated murder and whose members killed at least two police officers, among others, was invited to speak on the campus of a Catholic university.

* * *

In other words, I just shared the facts. Friday evening, after a day of getting pounded by angry BC alums and horrified citizens, the college did the right thing and barred this repugnant cretin from its campus.

And thatÂ’s when the Angry Left turned their sights on me.

I attacked “free speech.” I was a talk radio hypocrite, only supporting controversial opinions from the right. My favorite is the blogger bemoaning “a verbal terrorist assault by right-wing yakker Michael Graham.”

LetÂ’s look at this. Boston College is a Catholic institution. It has no obligation to host an unrepentant terrorist like Ayers on its campus. This should not even be controversial. Indeed, were we talking about arch-racist David Duke, there would be no controversy at all. The school would have cancelled the speech without so much as a second thought, and the Left would have told anyone who would listen that the decision was a proper one. Ditto an admitted abortion clinic bomber.

So why the difference here?

Because Ayers is a man of the Left – and a close associate of Barack Obama. The Left also embraces the terrorism that Ayers and his associates engaged in four decades ago because they view the cause for which he allegedly acted as a noble one.

Now if BC were a public college or university, I might be troubled by the actions of the administration. But they aren’t, so I’m not. This Catholic institution has decided that to bring among them a man who was prepared to kill hundreds in an effort to give victory to a totalitarian enemy of the United States was simply scandalous. They did not silence Ayers – they simply decided that their campus should not be the venue for his talk. Doesn’t BC have the right to determine that it does not want its name and reputation associated with the actions of one who was involved in the murder of policemen and plotted the deaths of military officers and their dates at a dance? What of the school’s right to speak and associate – or not associate – freely? What of the right of Boston College to refuse to facilitate a speech by an unrepentant killer?

And as for Michael Graham, what he did hardly constitutes any form of terrorism. He expressed a righteous moral outrage at something that was, when looked at objectively, outrageous. He urged folks to act peacefully to bring about change. Interestingly enough, those who argue that there was something wrong with his actions actually make Graham’s point – they want to silence speech they oppose.

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Needless to say, the past year has been a rough one. Since last spring, we've lost a loved one, faced a major health crisis, and gone through major natural disaster and the resulting dislocation. And since i had to cancel a trip to a conference because of the hurricane, I've got a credit on a major airline to use before I go back to school in the fall. Any suggestions on a quiet getaway? Should we head for a mountain retreat or a major tourist attraction? Should we head north to Canada for the Calgary Stampede or use a CheapCaribbean Coupon and take a cruise?

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In the past, I’ve questioned the policy of keeping the names of alleged sex offense victims out of the newspaper. But in the end, that should be the decision of the news organization doing the reporting – not the judge in a particular case. And it is precisely such a case that I find disturbing here.

The Daily Press in Victorville reported yesterday that a judge ordered a reporter not to print the last name of a witness who testified in open court — a mandate the newspaper claimed was illegal.

The Daily Press said Judge Bridgid McCann gave the order to one of its reporters when an alleged victim in a sexual-abuse case testified in San Bernardino County Superior Court.

The alleged victim, a 24-year-old U.S. Army soldier, wore a name badge but his name was not on the court record when he testified at a preliminary hearing against his father, Richard Swank.

Daily Press Editor Don Holland said the judge called the reporter and attorneys to the bench and ordered that the last name of Swank's son not be printed.

And therein lies the problem. This manÂ’s name was on display for anyone in the courtroom to see. Any person who saw it could legally speak it or otherwise communicate it. The judge, however, singled out a particular media outlet and imposed a gag. That is something our First Amendment cannot and should not permit.

Of particular interest is the position taken by the paperÂ’s editor.

He said all the judge had to do was "rescind your order, ask nicely and we won't run the name.

Especially since they had never intended to publish the name in the first place.

But at this point, I’d argue that there is almost an obligation to publish the name – because to fail to report it now that it is a matter of public interest in a case where a judge issued an unconstitutional order is irresponsible.

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I've heard from some folks recently asking how much longer we will be away from the house. The end is in sight! All that is left are the final few touches inside, and some outside work like vinyl shutters. The builder assures me we are days away from completion, and the delivery date for the furniture we have bought so far has been scheduled. So if you notice a blogging hiatus of a couple of coming up in the near future, that is your sign that the move back home is underway!

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Please enjoy all of this weekÂ’s winners (and share, share, share!!!!!)

Winning Council Submissions

• First place with 2 1/3 points! - The Provocateur - My Grandfather, the 14th Amendment, and the AIG Bonuses


• Second place with 1 2/3 points - (T*) - Bookworm Room - Out of the Mouths of Babes
• Second place with 1 2/3 points - (T*) - Right Truth - Grim Assessment for AmericaÂ’s Safety


• Third place with 1 points - Soccer Dad - Major newspaper seems fated to cast israel in the worst possible lightfrom Soccer Dad
• Fourth place with 2/3 points - The Glittering Eye - Geithner Announces Banker Bailout Program


• Fifth place with 1/3 point - (T*) - Rhymes With Right - Republican Rejection Of Hyperbole Called Racist In Georgia
• Fifth place with 1/3 point - (T*) - The Razor - Congressman Lives in MD - Represents California


• Fifth place with 1/3 point - (T*) - Mere Rhetoric - Great News: ObamaÂ’s Hand-Picked NSC Consolidating Power Great

Winning Non-Council Submissions

• First place with 2 1/3 points! - Big Lizards - The Great Dictator


• Second place with 1 2/3 points - (T*) - Robert Averech/Big Hollywood - The Burning Of Los Angeles: The Gauntlet
• Second place with 1 2/3 points - (T*) - Self-Evident - The ‘Geithner PutÂ’, Part 1


• Third place with 1 1/3 points - (T*) - Big Hollywood - Love, War — and Gay Marriage
• Third place with 1 1/3 points - (T*) - Chesler Chronicles at Pajamas Media - A Universal Doctrine of WomenÂ’s Rights.


• Fourth place with 2/3 points - Olivier Guitta - Which Way Will the Wind Blow From Damascus?

  There is some great stuff among this week's winners, so be sure to take the time to read them all!

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As I've mentioned, I've done a lot of furniture shopping in the last few months, ever since we lost most of the contents of our home in Hurricane Ike. One of the places that we visited was Ashley Furniture, which has recently merged with one of Houston's local furniture stores and developed quite a presence in the local market. Frankly, I've been impressed with what we have seen there, especially some of the bedroom furniture. Not only is it attractive and well-made, but it is also quite reasonably priced. We still have one more room to furnish, so I expect to be back in their showroom before too long, looking for furniture for the guest room/office.

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We who disagree with Obama, even speak against him harshly, are not racists for doing so.

"Here's my problem with this, I'm just going to come out and say it. If I have anything to say against Obama it's not because I'm a racist, it's because I don't like what he's doing as President and anybody should be able to feel that way, but what I find now is that if you say anything against him you're called a racist," Harmon told Tarts at ThursdayÂ’s Los Angeles launch of the new eyelash-growing formula, Latisse. "But it has nothing to do with it, I donÂ’t care what color he is. IÂ’m just not crazy about what he's doing and I heard all about this, and heÂ’s gonna do that and change and change, so okay Â… I'm still dressing for a recession over here buddy and we've got unemployment at an all-time high and that was his number one thing and that's the thing I really don't appreciate. If I'm going to disagree with my President, that doesn't make me a racist. If I was to disagree with W, that doesn't make me racist. It has nothing to do with it, it is ridiculous."

I've said it before -- Barack Obama is, for better or worse, the President of the United States. When one sits in that chair and receives all those perks, one also has to deal with the reality that there are those of one's fellow citizens who will be critical. Some of that criticism may be wrong, and some of it based upon being ill-informed. Some of it might even be because there are folks who just do not like the incumbent. Regardless, it comes with the job -- and for any president or his supporters to seek to cut off that criticism, debate, and dissent with a scurrilous, unfounded accusation undermines the man and the office.

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The advent of the camera phone has made it easier than ever for folks to pass around pictures. I've done it during the rebuilding of my house, sending photos of cabinets, a shower, and other design features to my contractor. Unfortunately, though, some folks have taken to sending nude or otherwise erotic photos of themselves over a cell phone -- and once that is done, they can be passed just about anywhere.

This is an especially troublesome development when kids are sending such pictures of themselves. Take this case here.

One summer night in 2007, a pair of 13-year-old northeastern Pennsylvania girls decided to strip down to their skivvies to beat the heat. As Marissa Miller talked on the phone and Grace Kelly flashed a peace sign, a third girl took a candid shot of the teens in their white bras.

It was harmless, innocent fun, the teens say.

But the picture somehow wound up on classmates' cell phones, and a prosecutor has threatened to charge Miller and Kelly with child pornography or open lewdness unless they participate in a five-week after-school program followed by probation.

On Wednesday, the American Civil Liberties Union asked a federal judge to block Wyoming County District Attorney George Skumanick Jr. from filing charges, saying that the teens didn't consent to having the picture distributed, and that in any event the image is not pornography.

Now this case, and others like it, raises all sorts of perplexing questions that go beyond whether or not a particular photo in a particular case constitutes child pornography. In an attempt to protect kids, even photos with no nudity can be defined as kiddie porn if they are too revealing and sexual in nature -- and if I understand the law correctly, even pictures that are computer generated and do not involve actual children being exploited can qualify.

Here are a couple of the issues I see.

1) Should sexting by minors be illegal? Should the production of these photos be treated as producing and distributing child pornography? Should there be a penalty for receiving such photos and keeping them? How about redistributing them? Should minors involved in any of these aspects of sexting be treated as sex offenders and subject to temporary or permanent registration as such?

2) Let us assume that we are not going to treat these situations as sex offenses. Is the taking of such pictures of oneself a victimless crime that should be ignored by the law? Do we treat the receipt of such images the same way? How about the redistribution of the photos? How ought issues of age of consent (and the legal inability to consent) enter into this?

3) Assuming that the taking of such pictures of oneself is not going to be treated as a crime because of the lack of a victim, what is the status of such pictures under the law? Are they legally contraband if in the hands of another person? Would it be legally acceptable for the person who took such pictures of herself/himself to later distribute them once she/he has reached adulthood -- again basing this on the view that an one cannot sexually exploit oneself? What does this do to the entire argument for criminalizing kiddie porn?

I'm going to be honest -- I don't have the answers to these questions. It seems a bit much to treat a stupid action by teens as a sexual offense, but we already do that when we classify teens engaged in consensual sexual activity with another teen as sex offenders. It also strikes me as unwise to allow any sort of "acceptable distribution" of such self-produced images of kids -- after all, how does one distinguish such photos from illegal child pornography? And as for my last scenario, that constitutes a real nightmare for me.

Unfortunately, these issues are not entirely hypothetical in my mind. Some studies have shown that one out of every four teens have engaged in sexting. That means I have 25-30 kids in my classes each day who have such pictures of themselves potentially being distributed among a tight circle of trusted friends -- or perhaps even more widely if their trust was misplaced. I won't even begin to speculate how many of my students have received such pictures of friends or acquaintances. I want to see society discourage such activities -- even ban them under the law -- but I don't think that putting these kids in the same category as rapists and child molesters is the right answer. I also know that I don't have all -- or even most -- of the right answers. But it seems to me that we need to start talking now.

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A couple of years back, our nation's Leftists tried to gin up a controversy regarding Rush Limbaugh when he used the phrase "phony soldiers" to describe individuals who claimed to be veterans but never served a day in uniform. These same folks have tried to turn Rush Limbaugh's policy disagreements with Barack Obama into treason against the United States. How about if these same liberals stand up and condemn one of their own icons for a direct attack against members of our military in the field?

If you think you misunderstood the words of this so-called humorist, here they are in black and white for you.

Forget about bringing the troops home from Iraq. We need to get the troops home from World War II. Can anybody tell me why, in 2009, we still have more than 50,000 troops in Germany and 30,000 in Japan? At some point, these people are going to have to learn to rape themselves.

Got that, American patriots? Bill Maher, on national television, has called our American troop rapists. Are you prepared to speak out against him? Are you prepared to turn off his show and contact his advertisers?

But then again, maybe our "support the troops" liberals will show the same level of outrage they have in the past when folks like John Kerry, Dick Durbin, and John Murtha have called the troops stupid, Nazis, and murderers -- they then defended those attackers of our servicemen and women, calling them patriots and rewarding them with their votes. Yep, that is sure some way to show support for those who defend our way of life!

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I've spent a lot of time furniture shopping over the last several months, in anticipation of our eventual return to our hurricane ravaged home. The day is quick approaching when our new furniture will be delivered and we will be able to begin anew our life in our house. But one of the things I discovered during all of this shopping is the wide variety of furniture that is available in terms of style and fabric.

Now we ultimately went a different direction because of certain special needs, but one of the pieces I saw that I found really interesting was this Stellar Round Lounge Sofa . If you think about it, in the proper setting you could be really happy with it -- whether you purchased it for your office or your home. It is large and comfortable, almost reaching out to embrace you in luxury. It is even available in a variety of colors and custom order fabrics to suit your taste and style.

Frankly, the folks at Stylehive have got just what you need in the way of designer furniture. Their many designs and fabrics will help you make your residence or place of business as distinctive as you are. So if you are in the market for new furniture, check out Stylehive.

Posted by: Greg at 01:36 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Bravo to this store owner who dared to exercise his Second Amendment rights in defense of himself and his property against one of our nation's domestic enemies.

A man allegedly attempting to rob a northwest Harris County cell phone store died after he was shot by the business owner and then hit by a car as he attempted to flee, authorities said.

Deputies answered a call around 6:15 p.m. Saturday at a cell phone store in the 5200 block of Barker Cypress, where they learned that two armed men dressed in black allegedly attempted to rob it, said SheriffÂ’s Office spokesman Lt. John Legg.

The store owner produced his own handgun and the alleged robbers fled the business, Legg said.

As the men ran into the parking lot, the store owner chased them. One of the men fled the scene in a 90s model red Ford Taurus, while the other man stopped and turned toward the store owner, Legg said. “At that time, the owner of the store fired several shots towards the suspect, hitting him once,” Legg said.

Sounds like this guy performed a public service with his actions. Let me be among those who adds a hearty "Well done!" to the accolades he is receiving from the local citizenry.

Posted by: Greg at 12:39 PM | Comments (28) | Add Comment
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About a year ago, I had to admit it -- I needed new glasses. Indeed, I knew that I probably needed bifocals. I don't know if the reason was aging, my time on the computer, or my habit of reading late into the night. What was clear was that somethingneeded to be done to improve my eyesight -- and so I went to visit my neighborhood eye doctor. Sure enough, my fears were confirmed -- bifocals. I was officially old.

Frankly, I wish I had known how readily available eyeglasses are on the internet. I bought locally, only to discover that I had many online options, such as GlassesShop.com. They make a lot of great looking glasses available to you at incredibly reasonable prices, including both High-indexted Prescription Eyeglasses and Discounted Reading Eyeglasses. What's more, some glasses are available to you for as little as $8.00. Wow!

While the price is low at GlassesShop.com, the quality is not. I've seen a number of testimonials around the web about thir products, and they talk about the stylish frames and the quality lenses. You woul dpay much more for what you get at your local retail optical shop. So if you are in the market for new glasses, drop by and give them a look. What have you got to lose?

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So say these scientists.

Observations and models demonstrate that northern tropical Atlantic surface temperatures are sensitive to regional changes in stratospheric volcanic and tropospheric mineral aerosols. However, it is unknown if the temporal variability of these aerosols is a key factor in the evolution of ocean temperature anomalies.

Here, we elucidate this question by using 26 years of satellite data to drive a simple physical model for estimating the temperature response of the ocean mixed layer to changes in aerosol loadings. Our results suggest that 69% of the recent upward trend, and 67% of the detrended and 5-year low pass filtered variance, in northern tropical Atlantic Ocean temperatures is the mixed layer's response to regional variability in aerosols.

Translation -- it is the amount of dust in the atmosphere from the Sahara and volcanoes that has impacted the temperature of the oceans and therefore the number/intensity of storms, not anything that we humans are doing.

Now, will scienctific research actually silence the members of the Global Warmist cult?

H/T SciGuy

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After all, she is on tape snorting cocaine.

Now, will the media give her the "Bush Twins" treatment? Or the "Gore Kid" treatment?

A "friend" of Vice President Joseph Biden's daughter, Ashley, is attempting to hawk a videotape that he claims shows her snorting cocaine at a house party this month in Delaware.

The anonymous male acquaintance of Ashley took the video, said Thomas Dunlap, a lawyer representing the seller.

Dunlap and a man claiming to be a lawyer showed The Post about 90 seconds of 43-minute tape, saying it was legally obtained and that Ashley was aware she was being filmed. The Post refused to pay for the video.

The video, which the shooter initially hoped to sell for $2 million before scaling back his price to $400,000, shows a 20-something woman with light skin and long brown hair taking a red straw from her mouth, bending over a desk, inserting the straw into her nostril and snorting lines of white powder.

So, will this be splashed all over the national media like the silly college drinking escapades of the Bush daughters? Or will the media instead treat Ashley Biden like they did Al Gore III, who has an extensive history of drug and alcohol abuse that generally has stayed out of the papers, even when he was expelled from school , ticketed, or arrested?

This question is particularly relevant given Joe Biden's long history as an advocate of stricter drug laws.

Posted by: Greg at 02:52 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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According to this report, Barack Hussein Obama!

President Obama continued collecting money for his 2010 Senate re-election campaign even after he resigned his seat from Illinois, including a maximum $2,300 donation the day after Christmas from a top executive of a Wall Street firm that had received a government bailout.

Four contributions - $4,800 in all - were donated to the Obama 2010 fund on Dec. 26, according to Federal Election Commission reports.

The money came from some of Mr. Obama's top presidential fundraisers: Bruce A. Heyman, managing director at Goldman Sachs, which received a $10 billion bailout last year; Steven Koch, vice chairman at Credit Suisse First Boston; and John Levi, a lawyer at the law and lobbying firm of Sidley Austin LLP.

Now I realize that he is allowed to keep his Senate campaign kitty and use it for various political purposes -- but to take this money afetr he had been elected president and resigned from the Senate seems mighty shady to me. And to be taking the cash from execs of bailed out companies seems particularly wrong, given that he was in the process of moving from the legislative to executive branch. It may be legal, but it certainly has the appearance of impropriety.

Posted by: Greg at 02:47 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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I frequently mention Hurricane Ike in my posts due to the fact that the biggest event in my life over the last year has been that storm, which put me out of my home for the last seven months. I learned a lot of things about a lot of things in the days and weeks following the storm, and have re-shuffled a lot of priorities as far as things I feel it is important for me to have. One thing that I definitely need is a Power Generator, because you really never know when you are going to find yourself without electricity for an extended period of time -- something that can be a really serious issue if you have a family member whose medical condition requires that they have a controlled climate and medication kept at a specific temperature.

We were lucky -- when we first came back to town, the church put us up in the church hall and had a Cummins Generator on standby in case we lost power at any time. I g0ot a quick education in just how critical generators really are. I've since learned that there are some really great Natural Gas Generators on the market that will kick in when the electricity goes out -- and given that we've had a couple of power outages during the past few years during the height of summer, I think that I may need to get one for the house after we move back in in a few weeks.

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Posted by: dmwklnnw at Wed Apr 29 13:43:40 2009 (54lWk)

2 I think that I may need to get one for the house after we move back in in a few weeks.

Posted by: Graciela at Fri Jul 20 00:45:58 2012 (Zc5PJ)

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This old favorite of mine strikes me as the perfect theme song for the Obama Regime.

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Shhhh! DonÂ’t offend the Muslims or you are going to jail for a violation of international law.

The U.N.Â’s top human-rights body approved a proposal by Muslims nations Thursday urging passage of laws around the world to protect religion from criticism.

The proposal put forward by Pakistan on behalf of Islamic countries — with the backing of Belarus and Venezuela — had drawn strong criticism from free-speech campaigners and liberal democracies.

A simple majority of 23 members of the 47-nation Human Rights Council voted in favor of the resolution. Eleven nations, mostly Western, opposed the resolution, and 13 countries abstained.

And remember – Muslims have repeatedly told us that any criticism of Islam, the Quran, and Muhammad constitutes defamation of their religion. This effectively means that this measure will ban any negative comments about the religion of jihad and decapitation or its false prophet. The time has come for the civilized peoples of the world to stand up and oppose such efforts to silence those who speak the truth about Islam, the greatest threat to human rights in the world today – because it is only a small step from imprisoning critics to beheading them.

But as for me, I'm proud to be an international criminal for speaking the truth.

Posted by: Greg at 11:59 AM | Comments (16) | Add Comment
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You know, just last year, when Democrats complained about high energy prices and their harmful effect on the American people. Well now that they are in power, we’ve got some who are out to make sure that we pay more for the energy we use – for our own good, of course.

Government policy should be crafted to raise the price of carbon-emitting energy sources so consumers are compelled to choose alternative energy, House Democratic Conference Chairman John Larson (D-Conn.) told CNSNews.com on Thursday.

Larson agreed that such a policy would likely result in higher electricity prices for consumers but said this is needed to protect the environment from the possible “catastrophic results” of not implementing a pro-green energy policy.

This would no doubt happen through increased taxes (more money for the government – an essential good for the Democrats) in order to make sure we use green technologies that are too expensive to compete (competition bad, comrades) to combat man-made global warming (which the science now shows isn’t happening). But remember – we can afford these higher energy prices in the midst of a recession. After all, the Democrats say so.

Posted by: Greg at 11:57 AM | Comments (25) | Add Comment
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Call this a case of premature detonation – with particularly lethal consequences for the guy’s colleagues.

A would-be suicide bomber accidentally blew himself up on Thursday, killing six other militants as he was bidding them farewell to leave for his intended target, the Interior Ministry said.

"The terrorist was on his way to his destination and saying good-bye to his associates and then his suicide vest exploded," a statement from the ministry said.

Seven more terrorists in Hell – may they sizzle like bacon along with their fellow jihadi swine.

Posted by: Greg at 11:40 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Call this a case of premature detonation – with particularly lethal consequences for the guy’s colleagues.

A would-be suicide bomber accidentally blew himself up on Thursday, killing six other militants as he was bidding them farewell to leave for his intended target, the Interior Ministry said.

"The terrorist was on his way to his destination and saying good-bye to his associates and then his suicide vest exploded," a statement from the ministry said.

Seven more terrorists in Hell – may they sizzle like bacon along with their fellow jihadi swine.

Posted by: Greg at 11:40 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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As we creep ever closer to a return home following the devastation of Hurricane Ike, Monday will mark a landmark for us. Our HVAC guy will be coming to install our new AC unit, since our old one sat under 3 feet of salt water for quite a while back in September. I'm fortunate that our contractor is associated with a good company for HVAC work, so I know I will be happy. Of course, if you are seeking a Phoenix air conditioning contractor, then you might consider checking out the site at chasroberts.com for information about one reputable source for HVAC work in your area.

Posted by: Greg at 11:34 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Not only does the Obama Regime plan on settling terrorists in your neighborhood, they also plan to send them welfare checks so that they donÂ’t have to work like the Americans they want to kill.

During his news conference, [National Intelligence Director Dennis] Blair also said the Obama administration is still wrestling with what to do with the remaining 240 detainees at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, which the president has ordered closed.

Some of the detainees, deemed non-threatening, may be released into the United States as free men, Blair confirmed.

That would happen when they can't be returned to their home countries, because the governments either won't take them or the U.S. fears they will be abused or tortured. That is the case with 17 Uighers (WEE'-gurz), Chinese Muslim separatists who were cleared for release from the jail long ago. The U.S. can't find a country willing to take them, and it will not turn them over to China.

Blair said the former prisoners would have get some sort of assistance to start their new lives in the United States.

"We can't put them out on the street," he said.

I feel confident that I speak for the vast majority of Americans when I say “HELL NO” to this proposal. Shutting Gitmo is wrong. Settling these enemies of America in our midst is even worse. And supporting them with the hard-earned money of American citizens is intolerable. This is clearly not the sort of hope or change that any lover of America can believe in.

Posted by: Greg at 11:33 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Because on your own, you might pick one that is less energy efficient.

The California legislature is considering regulating the color of cars and reflectivity of paint to reduce the energy requirements to cool them. A presentation on the proposed legislation by the California Air Resources Board is below.

The problem isn't the color per se, but the reflectivity of the paint overall. And dark colors just don't reflect well, so they are likely out. "Jet black remains an issue," says the report.

No word yet on what will be done about energy hogs like this one – which is not only jet black, but also gets a under 10 MPG.

I wonder what sort of energy hog rides around in something like that?

Talk to me about this crazy law when Barack obama is riding around in a white Prius.

Posted by: Greg at 11:22 AM | Comments (36) | Add Comment
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It seems that the Port Authority has forgotten 9/11 -- the powers that be have declared that the replacement building will not bear the name "Freedom Tower" as promised for so long. Instead, it will be called simply One World Trade Center".

Freedom is so passe at Ground Zero.

Once hailed as a beacon of rebirth in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terror attacks, the Freedom Tower's patriotic name has been swapped out for the more marketable One World Trade Center, officials at the Port Authority conceded today.

You don't suppose that the new Chinese tenant could have anything to do with the decision, do you? After all, freedom is antithetical to the powers-that-be in Red China. Just ask the people of Tiber.

Posted by: Greg at 03:21 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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If there is nothing more pressing to be taken up by the US Senate, it is time for them to get out of Washington until we have a financial crisis or a war to deal with.

Everyone from President Barack Obama on down to fans has criticized how college football determines its top team. Now senators are getting off the sidelines to examine antitrust issues involving the Bowl Champion Series.

The current system "leaves nearly half of all the teams in college football at a competitive disadvantage when it comes to qualifying for the millions of dollars paid out every year," the Senate Judiciary's subcommittee on antitrust, competition policy and consumer rights said in a statement Wednesday announcing the hearings.

Under the BCS, some conferences get automatic bids to participate in series, while others do not.

Let me say it -- I'd like to see a playoff for college football, too. But in the end, this matter is not something that is the business of the federal government -- at least not according to my copy of the US Constituion.

Posted by: Greg at 03:17 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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In the New York Times and Washington Post!

I'll concede that not all criticism of Israel is anti-Semitism, and even that one can be anti-Zionist without hating Jews (though the latter is harder than the former) -- but doesn't this sort of imagery look like something straight out of the Third Reich?

H/T Ace, LGF, Founding Bloggers

UPDATE: JoshuaPundit explains why he thinks this editorial decision is a good thing -- because it exposes the NY Times for the hateful rag it is.

Posted by: Greg at 03:11 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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Let me say this flat out -- the decision of Chance Nalley to invite his seventh grade students to his commitment ceremony with his same-sex partner was wrong. What's more, I'll go so far as to call it unprofessional.

A self-proclaimed bisexual male teacher in New York has invited his seventh-grade students and their parents to witness his commitment ceremony to another man.

The New York Times reports 32-year-old Chance Nalley gave slips of paper to his entire seventh-grade class at Columbia Secondary School, inviting them to the upcoming ceremony to be held at St. Paul's Chapel on the campus of Columbia University on April 4. Nalley teaches math, science, and engineering at the school -- "whose mission statement includes a commitment to diversity," notes the Times. Nalley reportedly obtained his principal's support before coming out to his students in the fall of 2007, when the school opened.

It isn't the sexuality issue that I object to -- it is the question of the appropriate degree of separation that should exist between teacher and student. I've taught with any number of gay teachers over the year -- indeed, my best friend is one of them -- and I've been supportive of every one of them in their decision to be public or private about their sexuality. One of them was intensely private about his personal life, to the point that students knew nothing of his life outside of school. Another kept a framed photo of herself and her partner on her desk, and was honest about her orientation when asked by students. Others have fallen somewhere in the middle, depending with their own comfort level.

No, my concern is with issuing the invitation of the students to attend such an intimate event. Such an entanglement of the personal and professional strikes me as the blurring of the separation that needs to be maintained between teacher and student. I realize, of course, that there are times when such boundaries can and should be crossed -- after all, if a student is a neighbor or a friend of one's own child, this is unavoidable. But that isn't the case here.

I'm going to presume that Nalley was not seeking to make a political statement with the invitation, which is something I'd consider much worse. But even assuming the best of intentions, I still feel that the decision was the wrong one. On the other hand, showing pictures or even inviting his partner to meet the class would be just fine in my book -- just as it would with any straight couple.

Posted by: Greg at 03:01 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Well, youÂ’ve doubled down on the accusation that Justice Antonin Scalia is a homophobe. By implication, you are accusing him of failing to render his decisions based upon the facts and the law before him, and of acting on prejudice against certain parties before the Supreme Court.

Congressman Barney Frank defended his use of the term "homophobe" to describe Antonin Scalia, the conservative Supreme Court justice who has ruled in favor of limiting legal protections for gays.

"What a 'homophobe' means is someone who has prejudice about gay people," Frank told WBZ radio, arguing that Scalia's judicial writing "makes it very clear that he's angry, frankly, about the existence of gay people."

In particular, Frank cited Scalia's opinion in the 2003 case Lawrence v. Texas, in which the Supreme Court struck down state laws barring consensual acts of sodomy. In his dissent, Scalia wrote that the 6-3 vote served to ratify an "agenda promoted by some homosexual activists directed at eliminating the moral opprobrium that has traditionally attached to homosexual conduct."

"If you read his opinion, he thinks it's a good idea for two consenting adults who happen to be gay to be locked up because he is so disapproving of gay people," Frank said yesterday.

Congressman Franks, what you have just done is accuse Justice Scalia of an impeachable offense. If you truly believe this to be the case – that he is deciding cases based upon his personal animus rather than the facts and the law – then you have an obligation to act pursuant to the US Constitution and introduce a resolution seeking his impeachment. Anything less is a dereliction of your duty and a violation of your oath to uphold the Constitution. If you do not believe this to be the case, then you have a moral obligation to offer Justice Scalia a public apology for this scurrilous charge you have made against him. The choice is yours, sir.

Posted by: Greg at 01:59 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Now I'm not one for name brands or fashionable consumer goods. I like what I like, and it does not really matter to me what the name brand is. So while I do have a couple of "prestige name" items in my wqrdrobe or around the house, the reason is because they came as gifts or because i needed the name brand. A good example would be my shoes, which are from a well-known footwear maker because of my wide feet and issues related to my diabetes. The reason for buying them isn't the name -- it is functionality.

On the othe rhand, some folks want that name brand. But can they afford it? What are their options if they can't? Well, when it comes to timepieces, there is always the possibility of considering the purchase of replica watches. They look like the big names, but they cost only a fraction of the amount you will spend on the, So if you want a Tag Heuer or Rolex watch but aren't in the position to drop the cash, it is possible to find something that looks the part. Of course, you might not always get the quality or durability, but you will get the look.

Posted by: Greg at 01:44 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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This strikes me as a very bad idea – especially from a First Amendment standpoint, because it will allow the government to get insert itself into the editorial decisions of those newspapers who accept non-profit status.

Struggling newspapers should be allowed to operate as nonprofits similar to public broadcasting stations, Sen. Benjamin Cardin, D-Md., proposed Tuesday.

Cardin introduced a bill that would allow newspapers to choose tax-exempt status. They would no longer be able to make political endorsements, but could report on all issues including political campaigns.

Advertising and subscription revenue would be tax-exempt, and contributions to support coverage could be tax deductible.

Got that – no more political endorsements. But it would no doubt go further than that, as there would no doubt follow requirements that the opinions page reflect a diversity of ideas rather. That would mean, as an example, that a newspaper like the libertarian-leaning Las Vegas Review Journal would need to balance the ideas of a Vin Suprynowicz and his colleagues with some more statist writer – maybe Bill Ayers. Or, from the other side of things, the New York Times might find itself required by the government to provide more conservative columnists to balance its overwhelmingly liberal stable. That is something that government should not be involved in.

Posted by: Greg at 12:58 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Posted by: Greg at 12:26 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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I’ve not commented on whether or not those bonuses to AIG executives should have been paid or not. I’ve heard lots of discussion both ways on the issue. But today’s New York Times carries the resignation letter of one of those executives – and offers one particularly compelling reason why those bonuses were appropriate.

I take this action after 11 years of dedicated, honorable service to A.I.G. I can no longer effectively perform my duties in this dysfunctional environment, nor am I being paid to do so. Like you, I was asked to work for an annual salary of $1, and I agreed out of a sense of duty to the company and to the public officials who have come to its aid. Having now been let down by both, I can no longer justify spending 10, 12, 14 hours a day away from my family for the benefit of those who have let me down.

Got that? These bonuses went, by and large, to folks who were taking nominal compensation as salary, with their overwhelming majority of their compensation deferred into one lump-sum payment. They were contractually owed that money as salary, they were repeatedly assured that it would be paid, and they were never asked to renegotiate or forego any portion of the money they were guaranteed. I donÂ’t know about you, but for me that places this entire matter in a different light than how it has been presented by some demagogues.

H/T Don Surber, GayPatriot, PoliPundit

Posted by: Greg at 11:55 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Computers have produced a revolution in my field of work, education. We've reached the point where we can presume that most of our students have access to technology that I could barely imagine when I was still in school. Indeed, this has made possible all manner of alternative delivery methods. As computers and and the internet have developed, students are not bound by such mundane things as time and space in seeking education. They can learn from home, at their own pace, on their own schedule. Learning is no longer confined to classrooms and auditoriums.

Consider the options available from the K Alliance. Their field is online computer training, something that seems to be quite logical in the Internet Age. Their e-learning solutions include the use of CDs, intranets, and online training video course-ware. It is all a matter of student preference and learning style, as well as the technology they wish to work with. These online course help students reach their educational goals. Their self-placed computer training videos include a variety of topics such as IT Training, Certification Training, Desktop Office and Soft Skills.

Check out the K Alliance and see what they have to offer you -- you will likely be quite pleased.

Posted by: Greg at 11:42 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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If this isnÂ’t evidence that McCain-Feingold is unconstitutional, nothing is. The following is part of the oral argument of the

But if the federal government can treat a movie like a political advertisement, then why not books, the justices asked.

It can, answered [Deputy Solicitor General Malcolm] Stewart, "if the book contained the functional equivalent of express advocacy," the test used in regulating broadcast, cable or satellite communication released 60 days before a general election or 30 days before a presidential primary or convention.

That answer seemed to concern the justices. What about electronic books, like those used on Amazon's Kindle reader, justices asked. Yes, Stewart said.

Got that, folks. The Obama Regime is now claiming the power under McCain-Feingold to ban political speech and writing of all types – even speech and writing of the very sort that the Founders sought to protect. That, my friends, is evidence that there is no possible way to reconcile the law with the Constitution.

Posted by: Greg at 12:26 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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I took a hardline stand against mandatory vaccination for young girls when Texas Gov. Rick Perry decided he wanted to play doctor with every sixth grade girl in the state of Texas, because I did not and do not see a sufficient nexus between school and an STD to justify the requirement. At the same time, I indicated that I would probably have my own daughter vaccinated if I had one. Others, though, raised issues of long-term (or even short-term) health consequences. It now appears there may be a rare one.

Phil Tetlock and Barbara Mellers were in a race against time to save their 15-year-old daughter, Jenny. As I reported last summer, Jenny developed a degenerative muscle disease nearly two years ago, soon after being vaccinated against the cervical-cancer-causing HPV. She became nearly completely paralyzed, though her mind was perfectly intact and she could still enjoy her pet parakeet, Hannah Montana, and Twilight.

I've been E-mailing Phil regularly over the past year, and up until our last E-mail, one week ago, he had been holding out hope that they would be able to find a cure for his daughter—or to at least determine if the human papillomavirus vaccine called Gardasil had caused his daughter's illness, most likely a juvenile form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (aka Lou Gehrig's disease). Sadly, the clock ran out last Sunday, and Jenny passed away.

Through their efforts to publicize Jenny's case on their blog, Jenny's parents have connected with two other sets of parents whose daughters developed what appears to be ALS after being injected with Gardasil. One was 22-year-old Whitney Baird, who died last August, just 13 months after receiving Gardasil. Another is Alicia Olund, a 12-year-old who began having trouble walking after getting her third shot last September. She now uses leg braces and a walker at home as her muscles continue to deteriorate. After ruling out other conditions, her specialists at the University of California-San Francisco Medical Center—who also treated Jenny—suspect that Alicia may have the same condition. "They don't know what she has," her mother, Barbara, tells me through tears, "but it's destroying her nerves and muscles, and none of the treatments they've given her are working. Before the vaccine, she was a perfectly healthy child, going for her brown belt in karate." (They're awaiting the results of the ALS test.)

Juvenile ALS is rare, with there being about 1 case for every 2 million teens. What’s more, there is no definitive link between the disease and Gardasil – but it appears suspicious that these three girls (among others) had the disease develop so soon after taking the HPV vaccine. The CDC is investigating to see if there is a link – and I now wonder if the risk of ALS outweighs the risk of cervical cancer. Frankly, I don’t know – but I do know the cancer can be treated and cured while the degenerative disease can’t be. What I do know is that I’m glad the Texas Legislature stepped in and ended Rick Perry’s foray into the unlicensed practice of medicine before even one girl could be endangered.

H/T Debbie Schlussel

Posted by: Greg at 12:25 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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I hadnÂ’t heard the rumor before now, but must say IÂ’m sorry it isnÂ’t true.

Michelle Obama is putting supposed baby rumors to rest: She's not pregnant.

The First Lady told that in a interview this month with Oprah Winfrey in "O: The Oprah Magazine."

Michelle Obama apparently has been the speculation of baby rumors ever since Barack Obama got elected.

Not happening, she says.

Too bad, from my point of view. While I don’t particularly like Michelle Obama and don’t support her husband, I’ll freely acknowledge that they appear to be a loving couple who have done their best to provide a stable home to their two beautiful daughters. It would be nice to have such a couple – especially an African-American couple, given the high rate of illegitimacy in the black community – providing an example of the right way to go about having a family for our nation’s young people. Call it a healthy dose of family values in the face of what is often provided as an example by pop culture.

Posted by: Greg at 12:19 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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