Month: October 2013
Our Daily Thread 10-3-13
Good Morning!
On this day in 1863 President Lincoln declared that the last Thursday of November would be recognized as Thanksgiving Day.
In 1893 the motor-driven vacuum cleaner was patented by J.S. Thurman.
In 1906 W.T. Grant opened a 25-cent department store.
In 1922 Rebecca L. Felton became the first female to hold office of U.S. Senator. She was appointed by Governor Thomas W. Hardwick of Georgia to fill a vacancy.
In 1954 “Father Knows Best” began airing on CBS-TV.
In 1955 “Captain Kangaroo” premiered on CBS-TV.
Also in 1955, “The Mickey Mouse Club” premiered on ABC-TV.
And in 1961 “The Dick Van Dyke Show” debuted on CBS-TV.
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Quote of the Day
“I have felt cats rubbing their faces against mine and touching my cheek with claws carefully sheathed. These things, to me, are expressions of love.”
James Herriot
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I know he’s the “All Creatures Great and Small” guy, but when I read British vet, I immediately thought….
And yes, I am aware that the Alps don’t extend into Britain. 🙂
Today is Eddie DeGarmo’s birthday.
Today is also Stevie Ray Vaughan’s birthday.
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Anyone have a QoD for us?
Prayer Requests 10-3-13
Who has a request or praise to share?
Psalm 49
¹Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:
2 Both low and high, rich and poor, together.
3 My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.
4 I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
5 Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?
6 They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:
8 (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)
9 That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.
10 For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.
11 Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.
12 Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.
13 This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.
14 Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.
15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.
16 Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;
17 For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.
18 Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.
19 He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.
20 Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.
News/Politics 10-3-13
What’s interesting in the news today?
First up, “The Water Carriers”.
Or If you prefer an alternate headline, “Remember Folks, Liberal Bias is a Myth”.
From TheWashingtonExaminer “The nation’s big three news networks are falling right into place for President Obama and the Democrats, blaming the Republican Party for the government shutdown by a whopping 21-0 story count.
According to a survey by the conservative media watchdog Media Research Center, in 39 stories during the two weeks leading up to the shutdown, CBS, ABC and NBC blamed the failure to cut a budget deal on the Republicans 21 times, both parties four times, and Democrats zero times. In 14 stories, nobody was to blame.”
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Really? Good grief. More from the RINO faction. 🙄
From TheChristianScienceMonitor “The tea party created an existential threat to America, not Obamacare”
By pretending that the Affordable Care Act poses such an existential risk to the republic that it merits dragging our national character through the mud of a government shutdown, tea party Republicans are belittling the very real crises America soon may face.”
Harry Reid called Justin, he needs those talking points he gave you back for his evening press conference. Thanks.
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Two words Mr. President…… Bad Optics….
From Breitbart “The Obama Administration has decided to block access to public memorials on the National Mall as a result of the government shutdown. Like its decision to end White House tours when the sequester cuts took effect, there is no rational reason for this. The Park Police, nominally in charge of monitoring these spaces, isn’t even effected by the shutdown. Shutting off access to these sites is gratuitous and petulant. “
“Having lived in DC for 18 years, I can tell you, the WWII Memorial is simply an architectural structure in an open public space. There is no official “access” to it. There are no guards. It’s a building in a park. Yet, the Obama Administration tried to block veterans from viewing the public memorial, even after hearing about the planned visit.”
“This is nothing more than a petulant response by the Obama Administration to the government shutdown.”
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Have these veterans, and the bad PR Obama and Dems have received as a result, caused them to blink?
From LegalInsurrection “Everything has changed since the Obama administration Barry-caded the World War II Memorial and tried to keep out a group of visiting WWII Veterans, and then the Democrats in the House killed funding for the Veterans Administration.”
“Democratic hubris and Harry Reid’s fisticuff-style of politics were no match for elderly WWII Vets seeking to pay homage to their fallen comrades in what for many of them would be a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the WWII Memorial.
Everything changed overnight. Even the biased mainstream media is being forced to cover the protests today.
Harry Reid has blinked in the face of the Scooter and Wheelchair Brigades, pathetically tweeting out blame for the Republicans even though the barricades were on order of OMB and funding for National Parks was killed by Democrats in the House.”
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More on the failed launch of ObamaCare.
Not what we would expect? Speak for yourself Junior.
And don’t you just love the Govt shutdown clock CNN is running? 🙄
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At least somebody is enjoying the ObamaCare launch….. Oh, wait….
From AmericanSpectator “If you’ve been listening to Rush Limbaugh’s radio show today, you know this already: President Obama’s old friends in the ACORN crime syndicate have decided to get a piece of the big-money Obamacare action.
United Labor Unions (ULU) Local 100 in New Orleans, which is run by ACORN founder Wade Rathke, announced on its Facebook page that it’s gearing up “to do mass enrollment and help navigate people into the marketplaces in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas under the Affordable Care Act!”
“Wherever Rathke goes, lawlessness follows.
Before his calamitous 38-year tenure as ACORN chief organizer ended in his expulsion from the group in 2008, Rathke covered up a million-dollar embezzlement involving the nonprofit’s pension funds. He presided over massive campaigns involving identity fraud in furtherance of voter fraud. (ACORN even knowingly hired felons convicted of identity theft to work on voter registration drives, giving them custody of sensitive voter information.)”
And these are the guys and types of groups the Obama admin has hired to help “navigate” the system. Just give them your personal info, I’m sure it’ll be fine…. 🙄
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And last today, blood money is trying to buy the Virginia governorship. He’s promised taxpayers funds as repayment for the abortion mill money.
From TheWashingtonPost “Planned Parenthood Votes has spent more than $1 million on television and radio ads that will soon air in the Norfolk and Richmond areas, telling women that they should not trust Ken Cuccinelli II, the Republican candidate for Virginia governor.”
“Planned Parenthood’s various political advocacy groups have been heavily involved in the Virginia race for more than eight months, pushing a campaign dubbed “Keep Ken Out” and endorsing the Democratic candidate, Terry McAuliffe. Women’s issues, especially those related to abortion, have dominated campaign commercials and debates.
Planned Parenthood Votes plans to release its television ad on Wednesday. It will hit airwaves in the Richmond and Norfolk areas later this week. The ad warns voters about Cuccinelli’s stances or actions that the group considers dangerous to women’s health, including limiting access to birth control, opposing emergency contraception and banning abortions.”
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Our Daily Thread 10-2-13
Good Morning!
On this day in 1780 British army major John Andre was hanged as a spy. He was carrying information about the actions of Benedict Arnold.
In 1835 the first battle of the Texas Revolution took place near the Guadalupe River when American settlers defeated a Mexican cavalry unit.
In 1919 President Woodrow Wilson suffered a stroke that left him partially paralyzed.
In 1937 Warner Bros. released “Love Is on the Air.” Ronald Reagan made his acting debut in the motion picture. He was 26 years old.
And in 1950 “Peanuts,” the comic strip created by Charles M. Schulz, was published for the first time in seven newspapers.
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Quote of the Day
“Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedies.”
Groucho Marx
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On this day in 1937 this gentleman made his acting debut. And thanks to YouTube, I found it. 🙂
Today is Mandisa’s birthday.
And it’s Don McLean’s birthday, so the obvious choice is….
And it’s Mike Rutherford’s birthday.
I wasn’t trying, but I guess we have a Reagan theme today. 🙂 But this one kinda weirds me out a little. 😯
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Who has a QoD?
Prayer Requests 10-2-13
Who has a request or praise to share today?
And it’s Wednesday, so please remember The Gambia.
Psalm 48
¹Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.
2 Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.
3 God is known in her palaces for a refuge.
4 For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together.
5 They saw it, and so they marvelled; they were troubled, and hasted away.
6 Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail.
7 Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind.
8 As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it for ever. Selah.
9 We have thought of thy lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple.
10 According to thy name, O God, so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: thy right hand is full of righteousness.
11 Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments.
12 Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof.
13 Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following.
14 For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.
News/Politics 10-2-13
What’s interesting in the news today?
First up, it’s finally time to panic. The Apocalypse has come. 🙄
From TheHill “The Department of Defense released a statement early Tuesday that shocked college sports fans. The department said that all athletic competitions at the Army, Navy and Air Force academies would be postponed for as long as the government remained closed.”
“The Air Force and Navy are scheduled to square off in a sold-out, nationally televised football game on Saturday, while the Army has a planned match-up against Boston College. If the government impasse isn’t resolved by Thursday, both games will be suspended.
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), a graduate of the Naval Academy, told reporters that the cancelation of the Air Force-Navy game would be the “defining moment” of the shutdown.
“The apocalypse is upon us,” McCain lamented.”
As an ARMY fan, I say big deal, it just delays the next loss. 🙂
Dems are throwing a hissy fit. The name calling, Taliban comparisons, and what not sure are predictable. And childish.
They’re also refusing to do stand alone funding for Veteran services and others affected. Despite their cries of “extremist Republicans” it’s they who refuse to compromise.
King, McCain, and the other surrender monkeys in the RINO faction are fretting and handwringing over the whole affair.
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Here’s an update on the story of the vets crashing the gates at the WWII memorial.
From TheDailyCaller “The White House and the Department of the Interior rejected a request from Rep. Steven Palazzo’s office to have World War II veterans visit the World War II memorial in Washington, the Mississippi Republican told The Daily Caller Tuesday.”
“Palazzo’s office was in touch with the heads of the National Park Service, the Department of the Interior and the Capitol Police. He says all these officials rejected his request to allow the veterans, many of whom are octogenarians and some of whom are in poor health, to attend.
Palazzo, a Gulf War Marine veteran who has participated in all five of the Honor Flights, blames the White House for making it harder on veterans and playing politics. “At first I thought it was a huge bureaucratic oversight,” Palazzo told The Daily Caller, “but having talked with the officials I can’t help but think this was politically motivated. Honor Flights, which bring WWII veterans to the nation’s memorials, are planned a year in advance and cost anywhere between $80,000 to $100,000. How low can you get with playing politics over our nation’s veterans?”
Much like the Sequester, people must be made to suffer. It’s the way these folks do business.
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They could agree to separately fund these things, yet they choose not to.
From Boehner, via USAToday “The president isn’t telling the whole story when it comes to the government shutdown. The fact is that Washington Democrats have slammed the door on reopening the government by refusing to engage in bipartisan talks. And, as stories across the country highlight the devastating impact of Obamacare on families and small businesses, they continue to reject our calls for fairness for all Americans.
This is part of a larger pattern: the president’s scorched-Earth policy of refusing to negotiate in bipartisan way on his health care law, current government funding, or the debt limit.”
“As of this morning, Senate Democrats, acting in concert with President Obama, have rejected four different proposals from the House of Representatives to keep the government running and fund basic services.”
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I see the new ObamaCare exchanges opened without a hitch yesterday. 😆
From NY/CBSLocal ” The online insurance marketplaces that are at the heart of President Barack Obama’s healthcare overhaul struggled to handle the wave of new consumers Tuesday, the first day of a six-month open enrollment period.
A combination of high demand and technical glitches seemed to overwhelm the online system early in the day. Federal and state officials were working to address the problems, which led to long waits on government websites and a federal call center.”
“Even employees at a help center on Southern Boulevard couldn’t get past the homepage.
“It’s too confusing. It’s not user friendly,” one employee said. “It’s confusing for us as well, so I can imagine what its like for customers.”
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Once again, Twitter and Twitchy provide a source of amusement for me. Today, the Twits who think the failures of the ObamaCare websites are the result of a GOP/Tea Party conspiracy. A vast right-wing one even. 🙄
From Twitchy “As Twitchy has reported, the much-heralded Obamacare signup sites are proving to be nothing less than a giant festival of fail. But surely that’s not due to the government’s unpreparedness or all-around incompetence, right? Surely more nefarious forces must be at play:”
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Meanwhile, McAfee is warning about actual hackers and attacks that may result from visiting the healthcare sites. But they didn’t mention Republicans or the Koch brothers.
From FoxBusiness “Security firm McAfee warned Tuesday that hackers are likely to take advantage of the rollout of ObamaCare exchanges this week by launching phishing attacks aimed at stealing personal information.
Phishing attacks are designed to dupe users into revealing credit-card numbers or other confidential data by delivering phony links or attachments in emails and messages on social media sites.
“I can say with a high degree of certainty that they will come. We live in a world where people look at compelling events and look to do something malicious. This is just the nature of the beast,” said Gary Davis, vice president of global consumer marketing at McAfee, which is owned by Intel (INTC).”
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Our Daily Thread 10-1-13
Good Morning!
On this day in 1880 Thomas Edison began the commercial production of electric lamps at Edison Lamp Works in Menlo Park.
In 1903 the first modern World Series took place between the Boston Pilgrims and the Pittsburgh Pirates.
In 1908 the Model T automobile was introduced by Henry Ford. The purchase price of the car was $850.
In 1940 the Pennsylvania Turnpike opened as the first toll superhighway in the United States.
In 1961 Roger Maris (New York Yankees) hit his 61st home run of the season to beat Babe Ruth’s major league record of 60.
And in 1971 Walt Disney World opened in Orlando, FL. 🙂
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Quote of the Day
“I love it when a plan comes together.”
George Peppard
🙂
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On this day in 1880, John Phillip Sousa became the director of The United States Marine Band.
And it’s Andre’ Rieu’s birthday. I don’t understand him, but I like the music. 🙂
First, bagpipes and “Amazing Grace”.
And “Nearer, My God to Thee”.
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Anyone have a QoD?
Prayer Requests 10-1-13
Who can we pray for today?
Psalm 47
¹Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph!
2 For the Lord Most High is awesome; He is a great King over all the earth.
3 He will subdue the peoples under us, And the nations under our feet.
4 He will choose our inheritance for us, The excellence of Jacob whom He loves. Selah
5 God has gone up with a shout, The Lord with the sound of a trumpet.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
7 For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with understanding.
8 God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne.
9 The princes of the people have gathered together, The people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God; He is greatly exalted.
News/Politics 10-1-13
What’s interesting in the news today?
Open thread, as always.
Well, it’s shutdown. So this is either the worst thing ever if you listen to Dems, or it’s no big deal. I hate not knowing whether it’s time to panic or not. 🙂
From NBCNews “With just hours to go before a midnight deadline, the Senate swiftly nixed a House-passed government funding proposal late Monday, tossing the legislation back to the lower chamber with unusual speed as the nation careened towards a federal shutdown.
Shortly after receiving the House proposal to fund the government and delay a key provision of the president’s health care law, the Senate voted along party lines to send the bill back to the House for a last-ditch effort at meeting a midnight deadline to keep the government’s lights on.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said on the Senate floor before the vote that Republicans “have lost their minds” by repeatedly voting for “ridiculous policy riders” destined for failure in the Democratically-controlled Senate.”
If it’s the end of the world, why do I feel fine?
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This one? Well it’s kinda like that Sequester thingy. It’s supposed to be bad, and it might be for the little guys in the federal food chain. But rest assured, the people in charge are gonna be OK.
From TheWashingtonExaminer “A federal government shutdown will temporarily cut off pay of thousands of Uncle Sam’s workers, but for those considered “excepted employees,” there could be a nice salary bump thanks to rules allowing overtime, compensatory time and other benefits provided to those the administration feels too important to furlough.
In advance of the potential shutdown, the Office of Personnel Management distributed a 30-page “Guidance for Shutdown Furloughs” that spells out who will get what, if anything, if President Obama and House Republicans can’t negotiate a break in the budget stalemate by Monday night, the end of the fiscal year.
Most workers won’t be considered excepted employees, but OPM emphasized that it’s not because their work isn’t valued. “Excepted employees include employees who are performing emergency work involving the safety of human life or the protection of property or performing certain other types of excepted work,” said the guide.”
Comp time and overtime will be permitted for the lucky ones. The ones who get furloughed will get back pay when they get back to work, at least they have the last 17 times this has happened.
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Today is the scheduled launch day for ObamaCare. And yes, it breaks federal law on taxpayers not funding abortions.
From TheWashingtonTimes “The Office of Personnel Management ruled Monday that members of Congress and their staffs will be able to buy health care plans that pay for abortions, even though the premiums are funded largely by taxpayer money — a move that conservatives say breaks federal law on abortion funding.
Under the terms of Obamacare, lawmakers and their aides are required to ditch their government-sponsored plans and buy insurance on state-based health care exchanges, though unlike most people on the exchanges, the staffers and members will have most of the costs of their premiums paid by their employer — in this case, taxpayers.”
“Federal law generally prevents taxpayer money from being used to pay for abortions, but OPM said the health care plans offered through the exchange were private. The agency also said it will make sure the money is segregated so that the portion that pays for abortions comes out of the employees’ own contributions, which amounts to about a quarter of the premiums.”
Please. Don’t insult our intelligence. That’s hogwash and they know it. It’s a distinction without a difference.
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And last one from me today…
The Obama DoD continues their war on Christians.
From FoxNews “Evangelical Christian airmen at Lackland Air Force Base are facing severe threats and retribution for their religious beliefs and some personnel have been ordered to publicly express their position on gay marriage.
“There is an atmosphere of intimidation at Lackland Air Force Base,” said Steve Branson, the pastor of Village Parkway Baptist Church in San Antonio. “Gay commanders and officers are pushing their agenda on the airmen. There is a culture of fear in the military and it’s gone to a new level with the issue of homosexuality.”
Branson tells me at least 80 airmen attended a private meeting at the church where he heard them voice their concerns about religious hostilities at the Air Force base. It was a standing-room only crowd.
“The religious persecution is happening,” the pastor said. “It’s getting bigger every day. Gay and lesbian airmen can talk about their lifestyle, but the rest have to stay completely quiet about what they believe.”
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UPDATE
Looks like the govt isn’t the only thing down this morning.
From Twitchy “Surprise! Obamacare health insurance exchange websites don’t work”
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Wandering Views 