Humpday Happenings...

I was debating whether to make today's post a DIATRIBE...or a TIRADE, and then I thought F$CK IT...
"Why not have BOTH?"
So, just as a warning, this might get a little "intense", because in all honesty, I haven't been this depressed since our aunt and uncle passed down in Portland, nor have I been this angry since...well, I can't remember when.
What I can say is that the speech I had posted yesterday from "V For Vendetta" seems a bit closer to fruition.
*** But first, let's see what today's military quote, aka WHO SAID THAT? has to say on this, shall we?
"This house wanted this decision. Well, it has it. Those are the choices. And in this dilemma, no choice is perfect, no. But on this decision hangs the fate of many things."
This quote is a bit more contemporary in nature than you might believe, so don't think back to antiquity.
The answer at the top of tomorrow's post.
Meanwhile, back on the home front...
*** There comes a time (now and again) in America when ALL REAL AMERICANS will stand up and be counted.
Last night...THEY WERE.

And yet, even in their (our) defeat we could plainly see what direction this nation is headed for.
The election was never about the REAL issues facing this country, for if it were, the decision would have been overwhelmingly REVERSED.
We found out last night what REALLY matters to too many people who have no more love of this country than those who have hated us from day-one.
It's all about the STUFF...the "me" factor - feed me, clothe me, give me, entertain me...no longer is it about iindividual exceptionalism vis-a-vis "US", and that is woefully sad.

-- As I stated yesterday, we stood at the door to the asylum, with the possibility of escaping the morass that has plagued this nation for the last four years...that door has been slammed in our faces, and we are left to wander the halls with the other "guests" for another term of "the regime".
At this point, I would not be adverse to the possibility of a "Seven Days in May" scenario to reclaim our nation.

The ONE redeeming factor in all this was Mitt Romney as he gave his concession speech...very well done, and HE can pray for Obama and this nation, 'cause we WILL need all the help we can get!
I will pray for our NATION, and those AMERICANS that inhabit her.
-- When former politician Mark Souder (of Indiana) noted that "CANADA is now THE MOST CONSERVATIVE nation in North America", that has to make you just a bit concerned.
We are headed in the wrong direction...and will be doing so for another four years.

The damage that has been already perpetrated AGAINST this country is damn near irreparable, but with the continuation of this progressive agenda for another term, we might well wind up living in a nation WE, the people, no longer recognize as our "land of the free, and the home of the brave".
-- It's been proven time and again over the first term of Obama that what he's doing economically CANNOT be sustained.

Minuscule job growth (not enough to carry those entering the work place), hyper-inflation nipping at our heels daily, a dollar so devalued that other nations are changing over to CHINESE currency (brush up your MANDARIN), because THAT (currency) is more stable than ours (although not by much), a loss of America's credit-rating AND her credibility, an ever-increasing number of people on PUBLIC assistance, a pathetic policy regarding American energy-independence, and an even WORSE foreign policy that allows OUR people to be killed when it could have been avoided, a huge DECREASE in military spending, and a huge INCREASE in (other) government spending...where the f$ck does this catastrophe END?
(and that's JUST the SHORT-LIST)
-- Now, if this isn't enough to make you reach for the nearest 80 proof bottle (or at least venture out to get some), we're not even close to being done with this fiasco...
Obama "claims" he will work with Congress...and if recent history is ANY indicator of how well he "plays with others", I'd say let the bully bluster and then make him leave the damn playground...
This man doesn't LIKE to work (how typical), and the fact that he's nothing more than a privileged 1%er Harvard grad with nice diplomas that make him a mediocre community-organizer who has NEVER held a REAL job at all, should tell the tale.
He's gone on 100+ golf outings...that's over TEN WORK WEEKS...that WE, the people paid for.
He's got a wife that wants us all to eat leaves for God's sake.

He spends money that WE don't have in useless sh*t and failed stimulus plans.
Hell, at least Robin Hood robbed from the "rich" ( ILLEGITIMATE posers to the throne of England) to give to the "poor" ( peasant WORKING class)...
Let's set THAT record straight, shall we, once and for all?
It PAYS to READ your legends and mythologies COMPLETELY.
Obama is NO Robin Hood...just a typical Chicago "Hood"...always has been, always will be.
He's a STATIST...and that means he likes things such as socialism, Marxism, fascism, and so on...
It's more "Don't do as I do...do as I SAY". that rules his roost.

But, he's given the undeserving people "free sh*t", and they LOVE him for that.
Remember the "Obamaphone" ?
Wonder what's NEXT?
The ObamaCAR?
The ObamaHOUSE?
The ObamaBIG-SCREEN TV with FREE CABLE?
Where does such lunacy END?
It always comes back to the asylum, doesn't it?
-- Still, there IS always IMPEACHMENT...and here's hoping this boy trips up big time and forces that issue. We will be waiting...and watching.
But what about "Gaffin' Joe"...his Veep?

Do we want someone who's second-in-command that doesn't know the difference between IOWA and OHIO running things?
And it looks like Joe is holding the damn KEYS to the ASYLUM.
(apparently some folks living in America think he's funny, you see...so damn entertaining)
Either Joe is borderline DEMENTIA or just suffering from the beginning of Alzheimer's..,something's just wrong with him, clinically.
That puts Hillary Clinton in third...another person we don't want running things. We still never took her to the woodshed over the WHITEWATER scandal (that conveniently went away), did we?
-- REAL Americans know the differences here...and tried to end this regime before this nation loses it's identity.
If this country was divided BEFORE the election, that gap has turned into the GRAND CANYON in the aftermath.
Rush Limbaugh made a wonderful comment yesterday...saying that we should just DIVIDE the country in half...CONSERVATIVES on one side, LIBERALS on the other...and then see how long it would take before those LIBERALS are trying to TUNNEL THEIR WAY BACK into the CONSERVATIVE side of the country...
I found that marvelous, because it would be all too true.
The liberal side would fail miserably and fall into chaos, while the conservative side would prosper, and liberals HATE that.

That just makes so much sense.
I will say that Obama will definitely secure his position as FIREARMS SALESMAN OF THE YEAR...for probably the NEXT FOUR YEARS!
Which means if you DON'T have a gun...BUY ONE, and if you already have one...BUY ANOTHER (and ammo)!
I plan to do just that, because I can see our 2nd Amendment rights being attacked again, just as our 1st Amendment rights have been.
Like I said above...this progressive agenda towards a socialist government has got the trappings of several dystopian movies, none of them are places we would want to live or visit.

-- REAL Americans know that the next four years will be more of the last four years, but I guess that'll be fine with the DOJ...as they let MORE illegals across our border.
And we never HAVE had real accountability from Eric Holder, have we?
Doesn't sound like MY America...how about YOURS?
Perhaps we should think about changing the name of our country?
What about:
The United States of Mexico
Obamastadt
Amerikenya
AmeriKa
The Socialist Republic of North America
The Progressive States of Obama
Obamaland
The Obamunist Republic of Amerika
I'm sure you can make up even better ones...
Does this make me any less HOPEFUL for a return to OUR AMERICA?
Hell NO !

If anything, I want to see this guy's feet placed to the fire EVERY SINGLE DAY he remains in office.
I demand accountability on the part of HIM, and his regime. That is the right of EVERY AMERICAN.
And I demand it every day for the next four years.
I have to go with Limbaugh on another point...I seriously WANT this man-child to FAIL...I just don't want him to take THIS NATION (or the REAL Americans) with him in the process.
I want to see this president stymied at every turn, and I want to keep track of all his "executive orders" so we can track his leftist tactics.
If any person was more UNdeserving of a second term, it is THIS man...he is dangerous to this nation in ways we haven't even seen yet.
Some might even say some of what he has done against this country is downright TREASONOUS...and I'm in that crowd there.
I cannot conceive of Obama doing a "180" and coming back around to the values and principles that made this nation great.
It's simply NOT in his "genes"...both nature AND nurture are against him in that regard.

All WE can do is pay attention, not be diverted from what this person tries to do TO this nation, rather than FOR it, and be bold enough to take him to task whenever he does anything contrary to the best interest OF this nation...period.
To all you real and honest, God-fearing Americans out there...this IS still OUR country...not THEIRS.
WE surround THEM, and not the other way around.
These leftist (or any) politicians are civil SERVANTS...NOT the masters of OUR fate.
And I suppose that's all I have to say on this...for now.
I still am PROUD to be an AMERICAN...just ashamed at what some people are willing to settle for when it comes to "leadership" FOR this country.

And in knowing that, I believe I'm not alone.

Be well, make a difference to someone, and...

Stay SAFE out there, America.
(grab the Dramamine - It's going to be another bumpy ride, folks)

Tuesday Tidbits...

Well friends, after four L...O...N...G...years, we're finally at the door that points us OUT of the asylum...we hope.
Now we all know that every channel (save Bravo and the "real housewives" shows...LOL) will be touting THE ELECTION...no getting around that.
And while I'm not attempting to trivialize it, I do think that too much of ANYTHING is not necessarily a GOOD thing.
What was it Ben Franklin used to say?
"Everything in MODERATION, nothing to excess."...yeah, that's the quote.
So, I will try my best to avoid most of the election drama, conjectures, possibilities, and even much of the tallies as they accumulate over the course of today.
Consider this much like a sit-down, linen-tabled restaurant outing...
You already KNOW what you WANT, and you KNOW the ingredients that go into it, but all you're REALLY concerned about is the RESULT...or in this case, what winds up on your plate in front of you for the money you're putting out.
We'll come back to that in a moment, but first, some other things need taking care of.
*** An update to the stolen I-Pads on the SE side of town...
Seems this was NOT the first one stolen...and not in another part of Ft. Wayne.

Two days prior to the latest theft, another one was taken from another 16-year old student, and police are looking for a beige Ford Explorer in that matter.
And it was in and around the same neighborhood...imagine that.
Here's the "4-1-1" on this:
http://www.wane.com/dpp/news/crime/police-warn-parents-of-students-with-ipads-laptops-about-thieves-mre
In both thefts, the perps were BLACK MALES...(couldn't see THAT one coming, he said sarcastically).
Personally, driving a BEIGE anything wouldn't be on my list of vehicles.
The comments on the story page are worth a read as well as the video there.
Meanwhile, back at the Study Hall...
*** Yes, Virginia, the East coast is awaiting another storm, slated to hit them by tomorrow...and the area is STILL reeling from Hurricane Sandy.

If you notice a difference between the east coasters and those in say, southern Indiana or even Joplin, MO, (from last year) go to the head of the class.
In THOSE two cases, the people didn't even wait for FEMA to show up...because THEY knew it would take some time, so they helped one another.
The STATES kicked it into high gear, rather than depend on the FEDS to act...and with good reason.

But, along the coast, people are (a week later) standing around wondering WHERE FEMA IS...?
You could say it's the density of the population that's the reason, and maybe that's correct to some degree, but it's the PEOPLE that acted in Joplin and elsewhere that makes the difference. Many along the coast are just of a mindset that allows the government to take care of whatever goes wrong.
We used to call it SELF-RELIANCE for a reason a while back...and that never let us down at all.
But when a sense of FEAR permeates part of a society, they will turn to anyone to relieve that fear...(yes, even the federal government).
*** And that brings me to the next item on today's agenda.

There is a speech in the movie "V For Vendetta" that exemplifies much of what ails society in trying times, and even though the movie came out during the Bush administration (the graphic novel came out a decade before), much of what is said during this monologue should make us all think.
Here is that speech.
(to the people of London after "V" takes over the city's broadcast station):
"Good evening, London.
Allow me first to apologize for this interruption.
I do, like many of you, appreciate the comforts of the everyday routine, the security of the familiar, the tranquility of repetition. I enjoy them as much as any bloke. But in the spirit of commemoration - whereby those important events of the past, usually associated with someone's death or the end of some awful bloody struggle, are celebrated with a nice holiday - I thought we could mark this November the fifth, a day that is sadly no longer remembered, by taking some time out of our daily lives to sit down and have a little chat.
There are, of course, those who do not want us to speak.
I suspect even now orders are being shouted into telephones and men with guns will soon be on their way.
Why?
Because while the truncheon may be used in lieu of conversation, words will always retain their power.
Words offer the means to meaning and for those who will listen, the enunciation of truth.
And the truth is, there is something terribly wrong with this country, isn't there?
Cruelty and injustice...intolerance and oppression.
And where once you had the freedom to object, to think and speak as you saw fit, you now have censors and systems of surveillance, coercing your conformity and soliciting your submission.
How did this happen?
Who's to blame?
Well certainly there are those who are more responsible than others, and they will be held accountable.
But again, truth be told...if you're looking for the guilty, you need only look into a mirror.
I know why you did it.
I know you were afraid.
Who wouldn't be? War. Terror. Disease. There were a myriad of problems which conspired to corrupt your reason and rob you of your common sense. Fear got the best of you and in your panic, you turned to the now High Chancellor Adam Sutler.
He promised you order. He promised you peace.
And all he demanded in return was your silent, obedient consent.
Last night, I sought to end that silence.
Last night, I destroyed the Old Bailey to remind this country of what it has forgotten.
More than four hundred years ago, a great citizen wished to embed the fifth of November forever in our memory. His hope was to remind the world that fairness, justice and freedom are more than words - they are perspectives.
So if you've seen nothing, if the crimes of this government remain unknown to you, then I would suggest that you allow the fifth of November to pass unmarked.
But if you see what I see, if you feel as I feel, and if you would seek as I seek...then I ask you to stand beside me, one year from tonight, outside the gates of Parliament.
And together, we shall give them a fifth of November that shall never, ever, be forgot! "

-- There is much to consider in that speech, whether it's the denial of one's god-given rights, the ability to voice one's opinion without retribution, or even the fact that people will turn to ANYONE in times of crisis, rather than seek a solution they might have to unite for and work towards.
The agenda of the government in this movie has a few parallels to the past four years here in America, and whether that was by accident or design is something you must decide for yourselves.
Curiously enough, there is another quote in the movie that I'm quite fond of, and I believe it embodies the essence of any well-run society:
"People should not be afraid of their government...government should be afraid of it's people."
And along those lines, know that YOU have the power to invoke change in our nation.
While there will be those who would have you think that your vote or your voice doesn't matter, this is the type of fear that is planted among a country's people.
If left unchecked, that fear will grow until your liberties, freedoms and rights are supplanted BY that fear.

Thankfully, we ALL have a choice, and today is the best day to enact that choice.

Now, I'm not casting aspersions at anyone in these political races (much), but I would caution you all to THINK about our recent past, and then ponder one of two possible futures. One future we already know because it will be a continuation of that recent past.
The other, although a bit more "unknown", can be a more hopeful future, based on overcoming challenges, changing only that which requires change, and relying on faith in those we choose to serve this nation, who will do what's in the best interest for ALL this nation's citizens, both here AND abroad.
*** Lastly today, we stand at a crossroads in this country, and through all the years I've been a citizen of this great nation, I have never been more concerned about one of those possible futures.

I believe this country IS still the greatest on the planet, and yes, we do have our problems, but it's nothing that cannot be overcome with the proper leadership, and the right amount of devotion to a higher authority, upon which much of our nation's tenets were based.
The crossroads can only take us on a very finite number of directions.
And like any journey, we might wind up on some rough road for a spell, or encounter a detour here and there.
But our destination (to prosperity with a thriving nation) should be all too clear to us now.
We've had FOUR years to think on it, after all.
Life is all about making choices....I've said that numerous times here, and I think you're all in agreement on that point.

Every day should become an exercise in trying to make the BEST choices we can, given the knowledge we acquire, and the proper wisdom to apply such knowledge.
So, make the BEST choice you can today...and every day after that, and allay your fear in knowing you are doing the right thing for the right reason.

And may God bless this nation.

Be well, make a difference to someone, and...

Stay SAFE out there, America.

Monday Musings...

Welcome to the day before THE election.
One might say that the fuse has been lit, and all that really remains is the fireworks...
And, speaking of "fireworks", today is also a day that's remembered in the UK.

*** It was back in 1605 when a group of conspirators sought to blow up the House of Lords in Parliament.

Quaintly enough, there is a children's verse that goes with it.

"Remember remember the fifth of November...the Gunpowder Treason and plot...

I know of no reason why the Gunpowder Treason should ever be forgot."

If that rhyme sounds a bit familiar, it might be that you saw the movie "V for Vendetta", for in that movie the basis of the protagonist IS in fact the Gunpowder Treason of 1605.

He even dons the caricature mask of Guy Fawkes, the only conspirator that was captured and hanged, although it was said he jumped from the gallows and broke his neck in the fall.

Either way.
Here is the WIKI for the Gunpowder Plot:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunpowder_Plot
And the WIKI for Guy Fawkes:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes

If you think Fawkes was just some nutcase that went around terrorizing people, think again. He was a well-learned individual, and an excellent soldier, once recommended for a captaincy after the Siege of Calais (1596).

What I find intriguing about this man, is that he was a bit of a zealot when it came to his religion.
He was a devout Catholic who (with others) wished to remove the protestant king (James) from the throne and replace him with his daughter, Elizabeth, third in line for the throne.
Today, he is often regarded as: "...the last man to enter Parliament with honest intentions".
The UK "celebrates" today with fireworks and effigies of Fawkes paraded through the streets.

One might say that back then, and as is chronicled in the movie, the man did the wrong thing...for the right reasons.
And why the occupy movement adopted the Fawkes mask makes NO sense at all...obviously they didn't read history.
They just wanted a tie-in to a movie where someone operates outside the law (...well, HE had a reason, OWS had no reason at all), but that's another post for another day, right?
Meanwhile, back in the catacombs...
*** A 16 year old Fort Wayne boy is shot over his SCHOOL-issued Ipad.
Here's the story:
http://www.wane.com/dpp/news/crime/boy-robbed-and-shot-suspect-stole-his-ipad

Sorry, but a BB pistol wouldn't leave someone in "fair" condition with a stomach wound...had to have been a small caliber pistol.
This happened in the 2900 block of Palisades Drive in the...(...all together, gang...)...SOUTHEAST SIDE of the city!
Pretty damn sad when a kid can't even sit outside his house and use his damn Ipad that the SCHOOL gave to him.
Well, there's just SO MUCH you simply CANNOT do down here any longer, thanks to the local aboriginies, AND those people in city government afraid to act to STOP such crap.
If anything, they PROMOTE it, by theirr apathy and ignorance of the matter.
Perhaps some folks need to "convince" the criminals that operating down here with impunity might NOT be good for their health in the future?
It has the novelty of never having been tried...yet.
*** Well, we made it to that MAGIC NUMBER...
(at last)

We in Fort Wayne/Allen County can now claim TWENTY FIVE HOMICIDES this year...and we've still some year left to go...how about that!
Here's the lowdown:

http://www.wane.com/dpp/news/crime/bar-fight-spills-outside-one-dead

And, as is always the case (or so it seems), this took place on the SOUTH SIDE of town (barely SW).

The vic, Renaldo Morales was stabbed multiple times (around 0130 hours Sunday morning) outside of the DUG-OUT BAR at 3401 Fairfield after the bar closed when a fight broke out INSIDE.
Morales had priors for resisting and assault with bodily waste...not any longer.
Kinda makes a case for not having bars open on SUNDAY AT ALL...doesn't it?
Helluva lot less crime when we had the BLUE LAWS...damn, I miss those days.
*** Okay, so how do you turn an otherwise nice outing at the zoo in Pittsburgh into a day of horror?

Well, that's simple...you balance your two-year old on a railing above the pit where wild African painted dogs roam about, and then have the toddler slip down into the pit...
WHERE THE HELL do they GROW such irresponsible parents, anyway?
Who, in their RIGHT mind would EVER have such a small child THAT close to a possibly fatal (which it was) scenario...what a dumb-ass parent.

I'm glad she's distraught...she damn well SHOULD be for acting so carelessly.
Cripes, house plants display more common sense.
Here's the story:
http://www.fox19.com/story/19998337/child-killed-after-fall-mauling-at-pa-zoo
Some people just have to learn life's lessons the HARD way, and that's not being unsympathetic...
If a modicum of SAFETY around wild animals was practiced (and not having the toddler on or near the rail without being SECURELY held by the parents would have been a good start), this would NOT have happened...simple as that.
*** We're in the final throes of the election/campaigning process.
All that's left is the VOTING.

We've heard both sides, and seen the result from one incumbent on how "well" the past four years have gone.
We've seen the attack ads, the commercials, and vitriol flowing more profusely than blood from a bleeding hemophiliac.
We've seen where this nation has gone in four short years (seemed a long EIGHT YEARS if you ask me)!

There have been double-standards set in place that will take real work to remove, gratuities for the lazy in the form of "public-assistance", wasteful spending by our government on programs that have failed marvelously, as well as a continued devaluation of OUR monetary system, and a dropping of this country's credit rating.
Now, if we want to pursue such lofty failures as we have seen in the last four years, your choice is REAL easy.

But, if we want a BETTER nation...a more prosperous nation, and a thriving nation, THAT choice should be JUST as easy to make.

The road back from such a fiscal and societal precipice won't be without challenge,...that much is certain.

But to continue the course we're on now is folly at best...socio-economic suicide at worst.
Hell, I'd give anything for a rollback to the 80s...those were some GOOD times.
And there are those instances where, when you need to move FORWARD, you might have to pull back a bit in order to better pursue the right path that you were MEANT to be on, rather than the one you were tossed onto.
We have a chance to become better...and it could start as early as tomorrow...it's all up to US.
*** Lastly today, please keep those suffering on the east coast in your thoughts and prayers...they're due for ANOTHER storm this week.

I was pumping gas in the Wifeymobile Saturday, and I was thinking "some folks can't even do THIS, and here I am without a second thought about it".
That really got to me.
Same goes for grocery shopping.
Sure, it might have cost us more when we went, but...we could GO food shopping...those on Staten Island...not so much. 

They can't even get electricity or water (if they even have a house still standing).
Think about fortunate YOU are, what YOU have and what YOU can do, while others lost everything, have nothing, and can't do a damn thing about it.
Somehow, some God-directed thanks are in order for those of us not affected and some God-directed prayers for deliverance to those who ARE affected.
Can't really go wrong with that, can you?

DO have yourselves a good week.

Be well, make a difference to someone, and...

Stay SAFE out there, America.

Friday Follies...

Welcome to the WEEKEND...(and all those 50% OFF sales for Halloween candy).

Lots to get into today, not the least of which is voter machine "inconsistencies".

More about that a little farther down.

SO, without any further ado, let's get this show on the road...

*** Item - The death toll from Hurricane Sandy now stands at 90 - many of them were not DIRECTLY related to the storm itself, but were the result of trees falling on people.

You'd think that would be on the short list of places to stay away from.

*** Item - NYC residents are displaying something I said a few days ago that they really needed to practice...PATIENCE.

Lines for gasoline were akin to the Carter era, stretching around blocks, with people waiting for HOURS...and at wit's end .

Problem stems from the LACK of electricity to operate these new-fangled automated pumps...(who knew?)

And yes, I've had MY share of ill-performing gas pumps...(and in perfecting GOOD weather to boot...sheesh).

I'm sure there are some (older) pumps that do have some sort of mechanical pump process...or manual backup...or at best, a method of attaching a secondary EXTERNAL power supply (generator) to allow the pumps to operate...but you need GAS for the generators, right?
One man was accused of pulling a gun on another person in line at one station in Queens.
Here's the story link:
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/11/01/tensions-boil-over-at-gas-stations-as-pumps-run-dry-in-wake-sandy/

Imagine facing FIFTEEN YEARS for pulling such a stunt (and pistol)...
Interestingly enough, trying to purchase a GAS CAN is all but impossible, because there aren't any to be had.
No gas cans...and a trickle of gas..pretty damn FUBAR.
It's gotten to the point where the NY state police have been deployed to gas stations to maintain order.
*** Item - An update to the "railroad driver"...
Here's the story:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20121102/LOCAL07/311029940

The driver of the Buick suffered from (according to his brother) M.S. and had numbness and vision issues.
(so MAY-BE he shouldn't be driving after dark? Ever hear of RESTRICTIVE LICENSES?)
He could have got his ass KILLED.
*** Item - And in a twist of IRONY, there's THIS story about GAS PRICES:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20121102/BIZ/121109920/1031/BIZ
Doesn't matter how CHEAP gas might become (which won't be much, rest assured) when you can't GET ANY, right, NYC?
Wouldn't the gas-pump fiasco in NY (and probably other storm-ravaged areas) become a LOT simpler IF we didn't have all that "technology" getting in our way?

Wasn't there a time when an ATTENDANT pumped your gas (which was a HELLUVA lot cheaper), and cleaned your windshield?
And didn't that used to mean MORE people EMPLOYED by those SERVICE STATIONS?
Many pumps in THOSE days were not electrically-operated, as well...and through ALL that, we managed to survive, only to be faced with outages which impact on SO many aspects of us just wanting to live our lives.
*** And that brings us to the center of today's SHRUBBERY MAZE...

Voter machines...used to be MECHANICAL in nature, and they worked pretty damn well in their day.

When you heard those metallic thunks, you KNEW the vote was cast, and depending on WHICH LEVER you pulled, cast CORRECTLY.

Nowadays, it's a whole other ballgame...and some folks can't even "get up to bat".

Here's the story from The Blaze:
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/more-electronic-voting-machines-changing-romney-votes-to-obama-we-looked-into-it-and-heres-what-a-vendor-told-us/
This is one of those eye-popping, epiphanic moments when you read this.
And we can place the blame on...(...you guessed it...)...TECHNOLOGY.

Imagine going into a voting booth on Tuesday (or earlier, if you state has that early voting gig), you touch the screen on YOUR candidate, and you leave...case closed, right?
Not really...you might have JUST cast a vote for "the OTHER guy"...in this case Obama.
Many early voting machines have been found to be suffering a case of "bad calibration-itis".
Machines that SHOULD be attended to a lot closer, BECAUSE of their electronic capabilities, have been neglected, and that means (just like your computer sometimes) it might go a bit to the WONKY SIDE...(not a good thing).
Apparently, there is a need to "double-check" your vote, because it might wind up "wasted"...
(but not for that other guy).

Around the touch screen "field", there is an invisible "boundary", and when these machines go OUT OF WHACK, that boundary might "drift about"...become LARGER, and all but negate the other touch screen tab nearest to it.

One person is wondering "if this is intentional"...well, think about it.
It's been the DEMS that have "gamed the system" by casting votes from the DECEASED, Alzheinmer's victims, as well as Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and sundry other "voters" of like substance and cartoon mythologies.
And they've been doing it for some time.
-- Almost forgot...here's a link to a documentary ABOUT voter fraud and "spigot cities"...very revealing:
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/have-you-heard-about-spigot-cities-that-may-pump-votes-to-obama/
But, all is not lost...
Some states have gone and taken a page from the "Bobby G. Handbook of Cautious Technological Living" (3rd edition) and gone BACK to using WRITTEN ballots.

Now, that would necessitate a longer wait to tally all of them, but it WOULD be a lot more ACCURATE...and FINAL.
I'd be happy with just going back to MECHANICAL MACHINES.
The big issue with the touch-screen voting rigs, is that the vendors are not doing preventive maintenance on the machines.
Should be a PRE and POST election screening of these machines to see IF they have a penchant for going OUT of calibration, and if they do, dump the machine or call the manufacturer, and bitch a fit.

If there is ONE facet of our society that needs to be as free from ANY problem that might arise, it's when it comes to VOTING for who (all) we want to LEAD this nation. You'd think there would be adequate oversight HERE, if no place else.
Well, the problems have been addressed for now, and we can only hope that any other problems that surface will be noted and taken care of ASAP.
And, if that means we return to mechanical machines or even WRITTEN ballots, so be it.
Some states have already done so. Good for them.
*** Lastly today, I've listened to a few people on TV and radio that have spoken about the aftermath of Sandy and how this could have been largely avoided, particularly when it comes to utilities (and the restoration of such whenever they fail).

It would have been nice to have taken ALL that "stimulus" money (close to a TRILLION BUCKS) and dumped it into this nations' aging INFRASTRUCTURE, such as the POWER GRID.
Face it, it's been motoring along all these years, and no REAL upgrades to speak of. The nation's been putting band-aid after band-aid on a broken leg, hoping that will hold (for now).
We can plainly see it has not...on the EAST COAST, especially.
Imagine how far down the "repair and replace" road we COULD have been with all that money that was all but wasted on other crap that hasn't produced the results that were first thought.
Our infrastructure would have CERTAINLY produced JOBS too numerous to count, and would have gone a lot farther to lower the national debt (as long as spending is kept in check).
If anything could be considered a "wake up" call for America, Hurricane Sandy MUST be highly considered near the top of ANY list.
We've seen what can happen when things are ignored or placed on the "back burner".

As what can be done to reinforce our electrical grid, the same can be done for increasing the number of refineries and upgrading existing ones.
This nation has already been DOWN the road to independence, and the path should be clear to us all by now, if we've learned anything from history.
We better plan now so as not to wind up repeating the aftermath of ANY disaster, large or small.
Because when it comes to YOU, it IS a big deal.
Do have yourselves a great weekend.

Don't forget to change your clocks BACK one hour (Sunday 0200hrs) for "Daylight Saving Time" - we're not REALLY saving it, just moving it about a bit.

Be well, make a difference to someone today, and as always...

Stay SAFE out there, America.