Saturday, June 6, 2009

Federal Government Water Grab

I know it seems somehow beyond belief.

The Obama Administration wants the mud puddle (above) to be a FEDERALLY REGULATED MUD PUDDLE.


Senate Bill 787 will change federal jurisdiction over "navigable water" to give the federal government control over all water everywhere in municipal reservoirs, on private land and in private wells. This bill ignores state water law authority and the Fifth Amendment of the US Constitution.

Politics Matters

The Invasion of Europe 
by the Allied Nations


By June 6, 1944, many millions of people had already died in the war against the Axis powers (Germany, Italy and Japan). Over a million civilians starved to death or were killed in the contested occupation of Stalingrad on the Volga. Millions of jews had been murdered simply for being and millions more would die before the war concluded. Non-combatants from both sides of the world war died in large numbers from bombing, invasion, starvation and war induced disease.

For those who read this blog who feel that politics isn't important, this date in history is one of many reminders of the effort humanity undertook to unseat a wicked political movement. It is cause for reflection of the absolute devastation and murder that results from a gullible voting block that casts their lot with a charismatic speaker who promises big.  

The murder of the European Jews was a redistribution of wealth from one group to another. Consider that carefully in light of current political trends where one group of citizens is looted/taxed for the satisfaction of the mob. 

Think long and hard about who the current administration has tagged "potential domestic terrorists" and ask yourself when you might be added to those rolls. 

June 6th is a good place to pause, to reflect, to remember and to resolve that politics does matter.

Friday, June 5, 2009

Toilets and National Character

What do camodes tell us about the countries where they are located? 
I'll let you draw your own conclusions.

Iranian toilet - indoor plumbing being said to be a sign of affluence in modern day Persia.
Outside toilet in Iran


Public toilets in China oblige that you squat and you are expected to bring your own toilet paper should you wish to wipe. I suppose I should admit that on more than one occasion, I entered the stall in a rush, having forgotten to bring toilet paper with me on my sojurn - but wearing socks... and left without my socks.

The plumbing pipes almost inevitably leak, allowing you to find the toilet an a moonless night with no effort at all.


I have dropped my trousers in many countries. In France the public facilities are compact and some take credit cards/debit cards in addition to coins.

But in Japan, the toilets are technical marvels, requiring that you make decisions on precisely how you wish to be washed and dried following your business.

And if you don't read Japanese and you can't figure out what the icons are hinting at, you can be deluged and embarrassed. 

Japanese toilets are also in use in Finland. The icons are different and if you don't read Finnish, you're no better off than you are in Japan...


Japanese Beverages

For those Japanese people who need to loose a few pounds.

There's nothing quite so refreshing 
as that yogurt - Pepsi blend. (sold only in Japan)

Goya Tea...  I can't comment further except to assure you that if you drink it, hair will grow on the soles of your feet.

Thursday, June 4, 2009

The Great Penis Caper

One Nigerian Prince's search for love and money...


CLICK HERE to read more about it.

  • I don't like thieves. 
  • I don't like scammers. 
  • I don't like receiving opportunity letters in my e-mail in-box from Nigerian princes.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

twenty-one years ago - 20 minutes of fame


April 8, 1988 7:00 pm

CBS Sixty Minutes

Everyone has fifteen minutes of fame according to Andy Warhol. That's how long America's attention span remains locked on one particular topic. 

I beat the odds. I managed twenty minutes of fame on a CBS Sixty Minutes episode where Mike Wallace interviewed me and a couple of the guys I worked with. Marion Goldin produced that episode (her last with Mike Wallace). Why do I mention it on this blog - I beat the odds - again.

Insomnia

~blogging on the road~

You can beat a good many things but you can never beat the clock. The clock always wins. Any sense that you have an advantage over the clock is highly illusory. 
There are times when I simply am too keyed up to sleep. This is one of those times. It's not because there is a bad situation afoot. I suspect that it's because there is too much going on and I know the alarm will sound at 3:30 am for me to "wake up" - shower and head for the airport through metropolitan traffic to catch the first flight out. I may have drifted off to sleep for a moment here and there as I listened to music but not for any meaningful slumber time.

Being "on the road" means that sleep doesn't come very often.
Blog Widget by LinkWithin