Month: October 2013

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Peter’s Pack of Pickled Pigskin Picks Week 7

Ladies and Gentlemen– Here is what you have been waiting for all week: another chance to show what you know about college football by guessing the results of ten games chosen based on whatever whim I feel at the moment. Like the pillow fight. ESPN chose last week’s loser of two teams who haven’t won all year again. So I decided to make it two BIG 10 teams who haven’t won a conference game all year. So without much further palaver from me, here are your choices for the pigskin picks:

1. #11 South Carolina @ Tennessee —  Chas’ team versus Anlir’s.

2. #22 Florida @ #14 Missouri — Mizzou got a big boost by knocking off Georgia. Can they do it again?

3. #24 Auburn @ #7 Texas A&M — Auburn gets a challenge this week. Go Tigers!

4. #9 UCLA @ #13 Stanford — This one seems like it will be a good game.

5. USC @ Notre Dame — Isn’t this one usually scheduled in November?

6. #5 Florida State @ #3 Clemson — Biggest challenge for Clemson.

7. #18 Oklahoma @ Kansas — A few years ago, this wouldn’t have been a gimme.

8. Nevada @ Boise State

9. A BIG 10 Pillow Fight: Minnesota @ Northwestern — Some think every BIG 10 game is a pillow fight.

10. Tie Breaker: Utah @ Arizona — Pick the winner and the score. Since Utah joined the PAC 12, it restarted a minor rivalry from the old Western Athletic Conference.

Get these picks in by noon Saturday.

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Our Daily Thread 10-17-13

Good Morning!

On this day in  1777 American troops defeated British forces in Saratoga, NY. It was the turning point in the Revolutionary War.

In 1888 the first issue of “National Geographic Magazine” was released at newsstands.

In 1931 Al Capone was convicted on income tax evasion and was sentenced to 11 years in prison. He was released in 1939.

In 1939 “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” premiered.

And in 1978 President Carter signed a bill that restored full U.S. citizenship rights to Confederate President Jefferson Davis.

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Quote of the Day

“You know, I had a couple hundred jumps in my career, and I made most of them, but the ones they show over and over are the ones when I crashed.”

Evel Knievel

(Robert Craig Knievel)

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Today is Ian Eskelin’s birthday.

Today is Trey McClurkin’s birthday. He was a founding member of Skillet. I couldn’t find anything that old, but I’m not gonna miss a chance to play one of my favorites. 🙂

Today is also the fake Alan Jackson’s birthday. 🙂

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Anyone have a QoD?

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Prayer Requests 10-17-13

Who has a request or praise to share today?

Psalm 63

¹O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;

2 To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.

3 Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.

4 Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.

5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:

6 When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.

7 Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.

8 My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.

9 But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth.

10 They shall fall by the sword: they shall be a portion for foxes.

11 But the king shall rejoice in God; every one that sweareth by him shall glory: but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.

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News/Politics 10-17-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

Well it’s over. Until the next time. 🙄

And there will be a next time, this guarantees it. Or as Michael Bloomberg says, they just kicked the can down the road. They did nothing about the actual problems here.

From Politicker  “Washington lawmakers finally reached a deal to re-open the government just hours before the debt ceiling deadline, but Mayor Michael Bloomberg isn’t celebrating yet.

“All of what they’re talking about is simply kicking the can down the road,” Mr. Bloomberg told Politicker this afternoon.

The mayor was responding to a request for his take not long before Republican lawmakers had officially conceded their fight. But Mr. Bloomberg, sounding confident a short-term deal would be reached, predicted another standoff soon.

“It is true it would be after the Christmas holiday shopping season, I suppose, but we’re gonna have the same problem come January. We’ve got to stop all of this stuff and come up with a rational system,” he argued at the press conference, which was called to announce the activation of a giant new back-up water tunnel, which was officially switched on at 5 p.m. this evening.”

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Well we now know why McConnell sold out.

From WFPL/Louisville  “A proposal to end the government shutdown and avoid default orchestrated by Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and Democratic Leader Harry Reid includes a $2 billion earmark for a Kentucky project.

Language in a draft of the McConnell-Reid deal (see page 13, section 123) provided to WFPL News shows a provision that increases funding for the massive Olmsted Dam Lock in Paducah, Ky., from $775 million to nearly $2.9 billion.”

“Asked about the additional funding in the proposal, McConnell spokesman Robert Steurer directed all questions to lawmakers who worked on the bill directly.

“Senators (Diane) Feinstein and (Lamar) Alexander, the chair and ranking member of the energy and water subcommittee, worked on the issue and can help you,” he says.”

I wouldn’t want to talk about it either Mitch. I’d be too embarrassed.

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Some might think calling Senate RINO’s sellouts is a bit much. I think it’s accurate. They sold out the American taxpayer with this deal.

From Politico  “But some Republicans were relieved to see the saga come to a close.

“It’s obvious that we are now seeing the end of this agonizing odyssey that  this body has been put through, but far more importantly, the American people  have been put through. It’s one of the more shameful chapters that I have seen  in the years that I have spent here in the Senate,” said Sen. John McCain  (R-Ariz.).

The Senate plan includes a proposal offered by McConnell in the 2011 debt  ceiling crisis that allows Congress to disapprove of the debt ceiling increase,  which means lawmakers will formally vote on whether to reject a debt ceiling  increase until Feb. 7. Obama can veto that legislation if it passes. If Congress  fails as expected to gather a two-thirds majority to override the veto, the debt  ceiling would be raised.”

They just agreed to change the rules so that the next time this comes up, it will take 2/3 of Congress to stop the President from raising it. There’s no way Dems would do that, so they just gave him the power to do it on his own. And you know he will.

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Why ObamaCare is a Mess.

From TheChicagoTribune  “We encouraged a one-year delay in the law. We recognize that’s not going to happen. Obamacare is here. It’s time, though, for the Obama administration to level with Americans about what’s happening here. It’s time to stop blaming Republicans and start talking about what needs to change.

The administration can do one thing — apparently on its own — to spare many Americans. It can delay the requirement that everyone buy insurance by March 31 or pay a penalty. Federal officials already have granted a one-year reprieve to the mandate that most employers provide insurance to their workers or pay a penalty. The administration cut a sweet deal for Congress and its staffers, who will continue to get generous federal subsidies. It has allowed any number of carve-outs for special pleaders.

A delay in the individual mandate would not be a special favor to American consumers. It’s a matter of fairness.”

“The deeper problems of cost and coverage in Obamacare are going to require an admission by the administration that this government management of the health care market is extraordinarily complicated and will be very costly for many people. The law has to change.”

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Well the website isn’t working, but the propaganda machine is up and running at full speed. 🙄 

From NewsBusters  “If you’re sick and tired of TV news broadcasts spewing pro-Obamacare  propaganda, get ready to be inundated with even more progressive health care  proselytizing in the dramas and comedies that follow those news shows.

For this you have the left-wing California Endowment to thank. The radical  philanthropy is in the news because it is funding Obamacare public outreach  efforts.

As Newsmax reports,  the Obama administration is “turning its focus on prime time television series,  using the influential platform and the power of celebrity to spread the word  about its healthcare initiative.”

With the White House’s blessing, the University of Southern California’s  Annenberg Norman Lear Center, which has something called a “Hollywood, Health & Society program,” has accepted a $500,000 grant from the left-wing  California Endowment to help TV producers condition the masses into supporting  Obama’s Soviet-style health care program.”

And due to the changed regulations, this is allowed. Which is exactly why they changed them. Just flat-out propaganda.

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Our Daily Thread 10-16-13

Good Morning!

On this day in 1829, in Boston, MA, the first modern hotel in America opened. The Tremont Hotel had 170 rooms that rented for $2 a day and included four meals.

In 1869 a hotel in Boston became the first in the U.S. to install indoor plumbing.

In 1916 Margaret Sanger opened the first birth control clinic in New York City, NY. 😦  We all know how that’s turned out.

In 1923 Walt Disney contracted with M.J. Winkler to distribute the Alice Comedies. This event is recognized as the start of the Disney Company.

In 1941 the Nazis advanced to within 60 miles of Moscow. Romanians entered Odessa, USSR, and began exterminating 150,000 Jews.

And in 1987 rescuers freed Jessica McClure from the abandoned well that she had fallen into in Midland, TX. The little girl had been trapped for 58 hours.

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Quote of the Day

“Thought is a strenuous art – few practice it, and then only at rare times.”

David Ben-Gurion

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Today is the day Albert Franz Doppler was born.

It’s also Jan Dismas Zelenka’s too.

And it’s John Mayer’s as well.

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Feel free to ask your own QoD.

Here’s mine. Anyone know what kinda bug this is?

liz 028

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Prayer Requests 10-16-13

Who has a request or praise to share?

And it’s Wednesday, so don’t forget Gambia.

Psalm 62

¹Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation.

2 He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.

3 How long will ye imagine mischief against a man? ye shall be slain all of you: as a bowing wall shall ye be, and as a tottering fence.

4 They only consult to cast him down from his excellency: they delight in lies: they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah.

5 My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.

6 He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.

7 In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.

8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.

9 Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity.

10 Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.

11 God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.

12 Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work.

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News/Politics 10-16-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

First up today, some interesting words from Rand Paul. I’ll be honest, my first thought was I wonder what Dad thinks?

From CNSNews  “Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said the mainstream media  try to ignore it but there is a “worldwide war on Christianity” being  waged by a “fanatical element of Islam,” and that U.S. policy towards  Syria has resulted in America now sending weapons to “Islamic rebels who  are allied with al-Qaida.”

“From Boston to Zanzibar, there’s a worldwide war on Christianity,”  said Senator Paul at the Values Voter Summit in Washington, D.C. on Oct.  12.  “Christians are being attacked around the world, but you won’t  hear much about it on the evening news because the answer’s not  convenient. It doesn’t fit the narrative we have been told about radical  Islam.

“The president tries to gloss over who’s attacking and killing  Christians,” said Paul.  “The media describes the killings as  ‘sectarian.’ But the truth is, a worldwide war on Christians is being  waged by a fanatical element of Islam.”

Meanwhile, the war on Christians in the military continues here at home.

Also From CNSNews  “After the Obama administration, for the second Sunday in a row, continued to prohibit approximately 50 Catholic  priests from saying Mass and administering other sacraments at U.S. military facilities around the world, Father Ray Leonard, who serves as the  Catholic chaplain at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay in Georgia, filed suit Monday against the Department of Defense, Defense Secretary Chuck  Hagel, the Department of the Navy, and Navy Secretary Ray Mabus.

DOD is prohibiting Father Leonard and the other Catholic priests from administering the sacraments and providing other services to their congregations even though two weeks ago Congress passed, and President Barack Obama signed, a law that instructed DOD to maintain on the job and keep paying contract employees who were supporting the  troops.

DOD took this action because Hagel determined–after consulting with Attorney General Eric Holder’s Justice Department–that civilian Catholic priests, working under contract as chaplains, did not, among other  things, “contribute to the morale” and “well-being” of service  personnel.”

Shocked? Me neither. After all, they’re more likely to support the people in the first link than they are Christians anywhere.

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In other news from the continuing shut down saga….

From TheWashingtonPost  “The Republican-controlled House canceled a vote Tuesday night on a plan to reopen the federal government and raise the debt ceiling after support from conservatives for the deal crumbled, leaving Washington without a clear path forward for avoiding a first-ever default on the nation’s debt.

Later Tuesday night, Senate leaders Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell moved to pick up the pieces of the shattered House effort, with aides to both senators expressing optimism a deal could be soon at hand.

“Senator Reid and Senator McConnell have re-engaged in negotiations and are optimistic that an agreement is within reach,” said Adam Jentleson, spokesman for Reid (D-Nev.).

“Given tonight’s events, the leaders have decided to work toward a solution that would reopen the government and prevent default. They are optimistic an agreement can be reached,” said Don Stewart, spokesman to McConnell (R-Ky.).”

I’d be more optimistic if McCain and Senate Republicans didn’t appear to be stuck in “Surrender Monkey” mode.

And the plot thickens as well. This should add a sense of urgency to the whole affair.

From CNBC  “Fitch Ratings put the US government’s “AAA” credit rating on ‘rating watch negative’ Tuesday, saying that the standstill on the U.S. debt ceiling negotiations risks undermining the effectiveness of the country’s government and political institutions.

U.S. stock index futures fell.

“Although Fitch continues to believe that the debt ceiling will be raised soon, the political brinkmanship and reduced financing flexibility could increase the risk of a U.S. default,” the rating agency wrote in a statement.”

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Next up, only 6,964,000 to go. If you do the math, at this rate, no way they hit 7 million by their deadline, even if you go with the Mail’s 51 thousand instead of the 36 thousand here. And where will the money to fund it and keep it afloat come from without actual policyholders to pay for it?

From NationalReview  “Millward Brown Digital, a consultancy firm, released an analysis today estimating that only 36,000 people had signed up for insurance through the federal Obamacare exchange website.

According to Millward Brown Digital, there were 9.47 million unique visitors to healthcare.gov from the site’s launch on October 1 through October 5. Of those visitors, 1.3 million left the website for their state-run exchange and 3.72 million attempted to create an account on the site. Only 1.01 million successfully did so.”

“The analysis says that “Healthcare.gov was clearly unprepared to handle the huge spike in traffic witnessed on October 1st when it was visited by .9% (or 1 in 114) of everyone online in the U.S. This is roughly equivalent to the daily traffic on Target.com.”

Yeah…….. 🙄

Here’s more from the study, also not encouraging. 1 year delay? Sounds like 3 or 4 is more like it.

From TheWashingtonPost  “The number of visitors to the federal government’s HealthCare.gov Web site plummeted 88 percent between Oct. 1 and Oct. 13, according to a new analysis of America’s online use, while less than half of 1 percent of the site’s visitors successfully enrolled for health insurance the first week.”

“Based on a sample of two million users — or 1 percent of all online users in the U.S. — which Millward Brown Digital has permission to track, it suggests that the rush of traffic administration officials cited as the cause of the site’s problems trailed off within a matter of days.”

“And Aneesh Chopra, who served as the White House’s first-ever chief technology officer during President Obama’s first term, said the analysis actually captured the public’s sustained interest in signing up for health insurance on the federal exchange. He noted that while the total number of visitors to the site is interesting, it matters much more that one million Americans created an online account.

“Account creation is always the holy grail. That’s the moment that matters,” Chopra said in an interview. “In one week, a million people began a process that will result in affordable coverage. That means a lot of people are going to ultimately get the product.”

Not surprised the former Obama admin employee tries to put a good spin on things. But the reality is he’s wrong. His “Holy Grail” is useless. It means nothing. What it needs are paying customers. Signing up is easy, forking over the cash for an actual policy is quite another matter. That isn’t happening in large enough numbers yet.

And Forbes says people will be shocked when they find out the cost. They say the system is designed to get all your info first, then you get to see the prices. They say that’s the case because the numbers will scare folks away.

From Forbes  “A growing consensus of IT experts, outside and inside the government, have figured out a principal reason why the website for Obamacare’s federally-sponsored insurance exchange is crashing. Healthcare.gov forces you to create an account and enter detailed personal information before you can start shopping. This, in turn, creates a massive traffic bottleneck, as the government verifies your information and decides whether or not you’re eligible for subsidies. HHS bureaucrats knew this would make the website run more slowly. But they were more afraid that letting people see the underlying cost of Obamacare’s insurance plans would scare people away.

HHS didn’t want users to see Obamacare’s true costs

“Healthcare.gov was initially going to include an option to browse before registering,” report Christopher Weaver and Louise Radnofsky in the Wall Street Journal. “But that tool was delayed, people familiar with the situation said.” Why was it delayed? “An HHS spokeswoman said the agency wanted to ensure that users were aware of their eligibility for subsidies that could help pay for coverage, before they started seeing the prices of policies.”

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And last one for today, was the difficulty with the SNAP program over the weekend really a computer glitch? Or a dry run to gauge reaction for this?

From WeaselZippers  “The United States Dept Of Agriculture is the governmental body tasked with overseeing the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or “SNAP.”

According to a memo dated Oct 11 2013 and circulated among SNAP program administrators for all states that participate, the USDA recommends they begin withholding benefits from citizens beginning in November.

Is the US Dept of Agriculture trying to create panic among program participants as we saw previously?“

Is this the next move in the make it hurt campaign the Obama admin is engaging in?

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Our Daily Thread 10-15-13

Good Morning!

On this day in 1815 Napoleon Bonaparte began his exile on the remote island of St. Helena in the Atlantic Ocean.

In 1860 Grace Bedell, 11 years old, wrote a letter to presidential candidate Abraham Lincoln. The letter stated that Lincoln would look better if he would grow a beard.

In 1937 “To Have and Have Not” by Ernest Hemingway was published for the first time.

In 1951 “I Love Lucy” premiered on CBS-TV.

And in 1962 the Cuban Missile Crisis began. It was on this day that U.S. intelligence personnel analyzing data discovered Soviet medium-range missile sites in Cuba. On October 22 U.S. President John F. Kennedy announced that he had ordered the naval “quarantine” of Cuba.

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Quote of the Day

“Life becomes inspiring, not in spite of the problems and the hard hits, but because of them.”

Joni Eareckson Tada

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Today is Barry McGuire’s birthday.

It’s also Jaci Velasquez’s as well.

And here’s some Lucy, with “The William Tell Overture” as background music.

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Anyone have a QoD?

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Prayer Requests 10-15-13

Who has a request or praise to share?

Psalm 61

¹Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.

2 From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

3 For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.

4 I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.

5 For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name.

6 Thou wilt prolong the king’s life: and his years as many generations.

7 He shall abide before God for ever: O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him.

8 So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows.

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News/Politics 10-15-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

First up, not really surprising. Muslim groups that support terrorists set training policy for DHS and law enforcement, so why not let a hate group like the SPLC decide who the hate groups are. The radicals set the policy in this admin.

From FoxNews  “Several dozen U.S. Army active duty and reserve troops were told last week that the American Family Association, a well-respected Christian ministry, should be classified as a domestic hate group because the group advocates for traditional family values.”

“A soldier who attended the briefing contacted me and sent me a photograph of a slide show presentation that listed AFA as a domestic hate group. Under the AFA headline is a photograph of Westboro Baptist Church preacher Fred Phelps holding a sign reading “No special law for f***.”

American Family Association has absolutely no affiliation with the controversial church group known for picketing the funerals of American service members.

“I had to show Americans what our soldiers are now being taught,” said the soldier who asked not to be identified. “I couldn’t just let this one pass.”

Who cares if it’s false, as long as it fits their meme, right?

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The next few are ObamaCare related.

Think ObamaCare is too expensive? You’re in luck, a solution to that has been found. Just make less money! 😉

From HotAir  “This is a story out of California that’s been making the rounds this weekend and definitely needs to be filed under, “Who could have possibly seen this coming?” Some of the people who managed the feat of getting through the dysfunctional web site and actually getting quotes on health care policies under Obamacare have already been finding out that “low priced” can mean something entirely different than they may have thought. This is particularly true of older citizens on fixed incomes. But if your income is low enough, you can just scratch off a lot of the cost of those premiums with a taxpayer funded subsidy, right? Sure… but what if your income is too high? Well, duh… you should make less money!

People whose 2014 income will be a little too high to get subsidized health insurance from Covered California next year should start thinking now about ways to lower it to increase their odds of getting the valuable tax subsidy.

“If they can adjust (their income), they should,” says Karen Pollitz, a senior fellow with the Kaiser Family Foundation. “It’s not cheating, it’s allowed.”

Under the Affordable Care Act, if your 2014 income is between 138 and 400 percent of poverty level for your household size, you can purchase health insurance on a state-run exchange (such as Covered California) and receive a federal tax subsidy to offset all or part of your premium.”

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Many places are now demanding co-pays and deductibles up front.

From Bloomberg  “When Barbara Retkowski went to a Cape Coral, Florida, health clinic in August to treat a blood condition, she figured the center would bill her insurance company. Instead, it demanded payment upfront.

Earlier in the year, another clinic insisted she pay her entire remaining insurance deductible for the year — more than $1,000 — before the doctor would even see her.

“I was surprised and frustrated,” Retkowski, a 59-year-old retiree, said in an interview. “I had to pull money out of my savings.”

The practice of upfront payment for non-emergency care has been spreading in the U.S. as deductibles rise. Now, the advent of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is likely to accelerate that trend.”

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And things will only get worse. The job killing will continue as well. Some are saying it’s temporary, but that remains to be seen.

From USAToday  “Hospitals, a reliable source of employment growth in the recession and its aftermath, are starting to cut thousands of jobs amid falling insurance payments and inpatient visits.

The payroll cuts are surprising because the Affordable Care Act (ACA), whose implementation took a big step forward this month, is eventually expected to provide health coverage to as many as 30 million additional Americans.

“While the rest of the U.S. economy is stabilizing or improving, health care is entering into a recession,” says John Howser, assistant vice chancellor of Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Health care providers announced more layoffs than any other industry last month — 8,128 — largely because of reductions by hospitals, according to outplacement firm Challenger Gray and Christmas.  So far this year, the health care sector has announced 41,085 layoffs, the third-most behind financial and industrial companies.”

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Oh look, more special treatment for Obama’s friends.

From TheHill  “Labor unions are poised to score the delay of an ObamaCare tax in the bipartisan  budget deal emerging in the Senate.

The bargain under negotiation would make small adjustments to the healthcare law, including delaying the law’s  reinsurance fee for one year. The three-year tax is meant to generate revenue  that will stabilize premiums on the individual market as sick patients enter the  risk pool.”

“The tax applies to all group health plans, but unions argue it will raise their  healthcare costs while providing them no benefit.”

So basically it does the same thing to them that it does to many of us. But we get no special treatment.

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