19 March 2008

Humpday Happenings...
Another "soft" day for us, as they say across the pond in the UK, and it's going to get colder once again, so be ready to put away the umbrella and turn up your collar. Spring IS coming...swear to God!
Don't blame the groundhog, blame the media and their floodlights...LOL!
So saddle up the old roan, and get ready for all the news you'll really need.
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-Bill Clinton Comes to Town...
And MY wife, as well as her blue dress are still safe! As for Bill's comment about "peace & prosperity", I guess he forgot about NAFTA (but he really didn't care in the first place - he'd be out of office when the $hit hit the fan), and I guess he forgot about the FIRST bombing of the WTC towers. Getting old sucks, Bill...get used to it (and keep better notes)...I have (and do).
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-A Writing Legend Passes ...
Award-winning authour Arthur C. Clarke has died in Sri Lanka at the age of 90. Best known for his series of "Odyssey" books, he was also known for proposing the use of satellites for communications when serving in the wartime RAF. Mr. Clarke won the Nebula award is 1972, 1974, and 1979. He won the Hugo award in 1974 and 1980, and in 1986 became the Grand Master of he Science Fiction Writers of America. Clarke had also written volumes on non-fiction space travel, the Great Barrier Reef, and the Indian Ocean, and earned him an honorary fellow of the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics. He wrote the best-selling 3001: A Final Odyssey when he was 79, and went on to write other best sellers such as Childhood's End, Rendevous With Rama, Songs of Distant Earth, and Imperial Earth.
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D.C. Gun Ban Goes Before Supreme Court...
Once again the Second Amendment is under scrutiny as arguments for and against the ban were heard in the nation's Capitol. After 32 years of having the ban in place, over 8,400 people have been killed with handguns in D.C., so in this person's opinion, the ban doesn't seem to be having that much of an impact (if any). Criminals will always find ways to get handguns. The best the regular populace can do in the meantime is to be allowed their individual right as set down in our Constitution.
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-I-95 Pillar Gets Emergency Fix ...
A support column along Interstate 95 just north of the center city area in Philadelphia began to crumble, and it has workers erecting a temporary repair in order to facilitate the over 190,000 vehicles that travel that part of the highway this week. The concrete split vertically, baring the rebar inside, and Penndot is moving quickly so as to avoid further damage to road or people, as well as maintain as normal a flow of traffic as is allowable at this time.
I've driven that stretch of highway more times than I want to remember. it used to be a nice ride and a great way to get from anywhere south to anywhere north in a hurry, but it DID come with a price. I recall the number of people who were abruptly displaced when I-95 was constructed, and the number of historical homes that were torn down to make way for this monster. And now, those responsible for all that mess way back in the 60s are reaping what they have sown. This might be the tip of that much larger iceberg. Let's hope nobody gets killed in the interim.
-Another Rapper gets Off...
Busta Rhymes was basically given a wrist slap for his assault case yesterday. He was ordered to 10 days of community service, and 3 years probation (with harsh restrictions during that time). Amazing how many black "artists" or "athletes" manage to avoid the penalties that you or I would most certainly face in similar situations. Maybe the judge was worried about his "self-esteem"?
Feds Lower Interest Rates -
(Oh well, someone's got to foster inflation, eh?)
Obama Speech Confronts Racial Divisions -
(It really IS all about race.)

And speaking of race...
The Dollar General on Goshen Ave (you're in the wronnnnnng place?) was robbed by a lone gunman Monday. The perp is described as being 5'7", 50 years iold, BLACK w/graying hair, a cold sore on his lip, missing some teeth, wearing a black knit hat, blue hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans with holes, and armed with a silver handgun.
The Arby's on East State Blvd was also robbed Monday by TWO men wearing masks. One perps is described as being in his 20s, 5'9", 140 lbs, BLACK, wearing a dark heavy coat w/fur on the hood and black pantyhose over his face. (what? no pants or shoes?) The other perp was describes as being in his 30s, 6' tall, about 190 lbs, BLACK, wearing a camo coat w/ fur on the hood, black pantyhose over his face,and armed with a small gray handgun. Hmm...seeing a pattern here. Maybe the FWPD should check out some of my neighbors". Ya think?
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Fifth Anniversary of War in Iraq -
OK, so the mission isn't quite accomplished yet, and in these past 5 years, we have lost more than 3,000 soldiers over there with another 20,000 wounded, but take a moment to consider this:

At Normandy - (one day): 6,603 killed -(est)
At Iwo Jima - (28 days): 6,800 killed
At Antietam - (1 day): 23,000 casualties
At Tarawa - (3 days): 3000 deaths
At Gettysburg - (3 days): Over 52,000 killed or wounded
In the Revolutionary War - battle deaths: 4,435
In the War of 1812 - battle deaths: 4.505
In the Mexican War - battle deaths: 4,152
In the Civil War - battle deaths:140,414
In World War I - battle deaths: 53,402
In World War II - battle deaths: 291,557
In the Korean War - battle deaths: 33,741
In Vietnam - battle deaths: 47,424
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Although there will be families that lose loved ones, due to sacrifices made by our troops, we're still not doing bad, and even doing a large amount of GOOD (that rarely goes reported), considering we have the BEST fighting forces on the whole planet, and that this is a military with NO conscription. These brave men and women CHOOSE to be placed in harm's way so that WE here in the good old USA don't have to worry about a foreign faction bent on terrorism breaching our shores.

And there you have it...all that's newsworthy...at the right price (free).
Stay safe, stay dry, and stay alert.

2 comments:

Phil Marx said...

It is a bit disingenuous for people to so frequently compare Iraq to WWII when it benefits their cause, but disregard when the opposite is true.

It is only fair to point out that this war has caused fewer American casualties per day than almost any of our previous wars.

Bob G. said...

...A LOT fewer, and those who have been wounded have gotten MUCH better treatment at a much FASTER rate, thereby saving many OTHER lives which would have been lost in wars past.

Someday, others will think like us, and begin to "get it".

B.G.