CNN Again

As I said in my previous post I rarely watch CNN but I did watch Wolf Blitzer's interview with Lynn Cheney.

Typical of Blitzer, he got Lynn Cheney on his show to talk about a childrens book she has written about the 50 ststes. The interview starts with about 30 seconds about the book and then he immediately starts in on VP Cheney and a comment he made that some took to mean he favors torture.

Ms. Cheney was ready for maggot face and made it clear CNN is biased and is serving as a propaganda outlet for terrorists. She brought up the sniper story and let the world know CNN was wrong to air it. She also brought up the Broken Government series and how the title alone is biased.

Frankly, I wish she had slapped the shit out of him but I guess that is too big a dream to come true. Wolf Blitzer is scum and I would give anything to be locked in a room with him for 5 minutes. He definitely would not walk out when the door was unlocked. I guess that is too much to dream about too.
Chuck

CNN the Propaganda Network

I rarely watch CNN because I generally don't like their anchors. Wolf Blitzer can irritate me by just breathing and Lou Dobbs is just devoid of personality.

I turned to CNN and they were doing their series of Broken this or Broken that. The totles themselves speak volumes about what CNN is trying to do. The whole series is designed to blame Bush and the GOP for every ill we are facing. They try to make it look like terrorism started when Bush took office and won't end until he leaves.

The segment on Broken Borders paints a picture of Republicans practically leading illegal immigrants across the desert so they can capitalize on the cheap labor. If were not for greedy Republicans and a corrupt administration there would be no illegal immigration.

I was totally unaware that we never had a border problem or an illegal immigration problem until the Republicans took over. I have to thank CNN for enlightening me on that matter. According to CNN Bill Clinton had the border under control and the only way Hispanic immigrants got into this country under Clinton was through legitemate means.

Of course in the Broken Government segment the Republicans are the obstructionists and are the ones who won't cooperate on such things as fixing Social Security. The Republicans are the corrupt ones and people like Harry Reid, William Jefferson and Nancy Pelosi are the Knights in Shining Armor fighting to cure the ills of the House and Senate. The Republicans are the only ones who have homosexuals or people who take advantage of unsuspecting Pages or Aides.

Good old CNN. They will put us on the right path if we will just listen to them.
Chuck

Border Fence

I see that President Bush has signed the border fence bill. I'm glad he finally did, I was beginning to think he was going to pocket veto it.

I'm not sure which portions of the border are going to be fenced but I hope that while they are at it they go ahead and electrify it. That may sound cruel to some but it is going to take more than a fence to keep the illegals out. The term illegals here includes not only immigrants but drug smugglers and terrorists.

If I were in charge of securing the border, I wouldn't bother with a fence. I would mine the border 100 yards on our side and clear all brush and other cover for 500 yards. To prevent tunneling I would place sensors every 200 feet along the border and when they pick up the sounds of someone digging a tunnel I would drill a hole, pack it with dynamite and blast it. Tough shit if the digger happens to get blown away.

We are never going to stop illegal immigration as long as people hire them. We should make hiring an illegal a felony with a minimum of 1 year in jail. Maybe that would help.
Chuck

Call Me Pollyanna

It could be that I am in a state of denial or it could be just wishful thinking but I don't think the democrats are going to take over the House or the Senate.

Democrats that I know cringe at the idea of Nancy Pelosi becoming Speaker and at Harry Reid becoming Majority Leader. If the Republicans do hold the majorities, we have these two people to thank. Their perpetual negativity and mean spiritedness have turned off a lot of Democrats who otherwise would run to the polls and pull the levers for Democrats.

As a lifelong Republican I am sorely disappointed in the performance of our Congresspersons and Senators and think that if we do lose it is because our elected representatives threw the election away. If we win and hold the majorities it will be because people will have made a choice between the bad and worse.

I hope Republicans will learn a lesson from the upcoming election and will realize that the public actually wants them to do something other than politic every issue. They need to take advantage of being in the majority and act on Social Security, Immigration, Health Care, Terrorism, Intelligence Gathering and most of all they need to recognize thet we are engaged in a war (not Iraq) against terrorism. Iraq is only a sideshow in the Global War on Terror and it is time for our elected officials to acknowledge it.
Chuck

Kim is Sorry

Kim Jong Il reportedly apologized to the Chinese for conducting his nuclear test. If the Chinese buy it they are insane.

I'll bet the Korean scientists working on the nuclear bomb told Kim the first test yielded enough information for them to make adjustments to improve the weapon. They probably told him that additional tests are not necessary right now but when they have made the modifications a new test will be needed.

I predict that the North Koreans will go back to the lab, refine the triggering mechanism, conduct some tests using conventional explosives and when they think they have a viable weapon will inform Kim they need a test. Kim will do something outrageous and get the US, Japan, Australia and a few others stirred up again and use it as an excuse to conduct the test.

Mark my words this is going to happen.
Chuck

I ran into a guy who was my best friend from first grade up to my departure for the Navy in 1966. I am struck by how we change with time.

From first grade on James and I were inseperable. One of us was at the other's house all the time. We double dated, built cars together and just generally were comfortable in each others company.

James hasn't changed much appearance wise and we recognized each other immediately. What has changed is all mental.

After high school I went to college and James didn't, but during vacations we picked up right where we left off and hung around together like we always had. I got married while in college and James married his high school girlfriend. When I finished college I went to Pensacola, Fl for Naval flight training and James took over his father's drug store.

I dropped out of the Naval flight training program because I could see that I was going to kill myself and went to Vietnam in 1968 where I spent most of the year in the Bassac River. At least I didn't get killed but I formed some very strong opinions about how to fight a war.

When I returned from Vietnam, I was due for shore duty which I thought I would spend in San Diego. Wrong. My detailer, thats the guy in Washington who assignes officers to their next job/ duty, wanted me to do my shore duty in Vietnam. I immediately told him he was crazy since I had only returned 2 months ago. Well, he rummaged around in the billet pot and came up with wintering over in Antartica testing cold weather clothing. Again I said no thanks since I had a wife and 2 kids I wanted to be with.

I got out of the Navy in 1969 and went to work for Johnson & Johnson in Sherman, Texas which started me out on a career manufacturing pharmaceuticals. Over the next 37 years I was relocated 29 times by various pharmaceutical companies. I lived in North Carolina (8 seperate times),Georgia, Kansas, New York, Puerto Rico (twice), Arizona, Illinois, California (twice),New Jersey, Maryland, Italy, and South Carolina. I know that doesn't add up to 29 but some moves were duplicates. I have furniture that made all of those moves and still looks like new. You learn after a couple of moves to watch the packers.

During all those years, James never moved more than 20 miles from where he grew up. He didn't go to Vietnam. He took a trip to Europe once and went to the Carribian a couple of times. He has never widened his circle of close friends beyond the ones he had when we were growing up.

When I saw James I thought, Great we'll have some fun like old times. Wrong. After about 30 minutes of talking we had nothing in common. We both started squirming like we were sitting on a hot rock. The proverbial pregnant pause hung over us like a cloud and we finally said our goodbyes.

As I was driving home I thought how was it that just yesterday ( it does feel like only yesterday) we could talk and laugh for hours and feel totally relaxed with each other? What changed? The answer is simple: We changed. I hope for the better.
Chuck

Speculation

There has been a lot of speculation over whether the North Korean nuclear test actually occured or if it was a hoax. In my opinion, it doesn't matter either way. What does matter is that North Korea says it has a nuclear weapon and that it works.

I think a threat should always be taken seriously and North Korea has issued a threat. Whether they can follow through on their threat or not is their problem. Our response to it should be that any missile launched from North Korea in our direction will be assumed to be carrying a nuclear warhead and will be shot down or failing that will result in a nuclear strike on North Korea.

I think North Korea did in fact conduct a nuclear weapons test. The magnitude of the explosion is questionable but it was still a nuclear weapon. The detection or not of radiation from the NK test is not a good indicator of the success of their test. We tend to think of nuclear test in terms of the ones we have conducted which were devices of many mega tons.

The depth of the test and the magnitude of the explosion will play a major role in the amount of radiation in the atmosphere. A relatively small explosion very deep under ground may not release any radiation at all.

Bottom line. We have to assume the North Koreans do have a nuclear weapon and that they are willing to use it.
Chuck

First Attempt

I've never posted pictures to the internet before so I thought I would give it a try.
Since I've mentioned working on my house in previous posts, I will try posting a picture of the house. If I am successful, I will have learned something. If I'm not sucessful, so what, I will go back to the drawing board.
Chuck

What A Great Day

Today started out kind of overcast and I felt kind of down in the dumps. I am a sunshine person who only likes clouds when it is actually raining. I do like for it to rain though because otherwise I have to water my yard, and I learned when I lived in Phoenix that sunshine every day can get old. When I lived in Albany, NY it was cloudy every day and that sucks.

Anyway, at about 10 am the sun started peeking through the clouds with a beautiful sunburst. After the Northern Lights, Sunbursts and and Sun Dogs are my favorite atmospheric phenomena. I drove to Alaska in 1961 on the old ALCAN highway camping on the side of the road along the way and the Northern Lights were fantastic. I must have been very lucky on that trip since I cooked out and had food all around. Its a wonder I wasn't done in by a Grizzley. I guess God really does look after fools and children.

When I worked on a ranch in Montana, Sun Dogs ocurred fairly often and I was always mesmerized by them. I think I will drive up to Montana this spring and refamiliarize myself with the beauty of it. Eastern Montana isn't what I would call beautiful but western Montana is about as close to heaven as you can get without actually dying.

All things considered, where I live now is my favorite. I live on a tidal island between Savannah, Ga and Brunswick, Ga. We are back from the coast far enough to be protected by the barrier island, St. Catheines and Sapelo Island. The Georgia coast is a great place to live if you like seafood, sunshine and a leisurely pace. I catch my own shrimp occasionaly. I don't enjoy fishing but there are plenty of places that you can get fresh caught flounder, grouper, tuna etc. at very reasonable prices.

Well, I said in my profile that I would sometimes post random thoughts and my thought for today is: Life Is Great- I wish more people would enjoy it as much as I do.
Chuck

OOPs, It Didn't Work

The more I read and hear about the North Korean nuclear device the more I think of our own Manhattan Project in the 40s. We knew the physics, had the best scientists, had the budget and the scientists were dedicated to developing an "Atom Bomb". What caused the most consternation was how to set it off.

The North Koreans probably did put a nuclear device in a shaft and did try to detonate it but I think they haven't figured out how to reliably trigger the device. This is the most complex aspect of a nuclear device unless you use an apparatuus like a gun to fire one fissionable material into another which will give a lower yield reaction.

What is puzzeling about the North Korean device is the 4.2 seismographic readings. It would take a hell of a lot of conventional explosives to cause that kind of tremor and the shaft would have to be huge.

I think what happened is the North Koreans did in fact have a nuclear explosion but because of a defective or poorly engineered triggering device only got a partial yield.

They will learn from this test, after all thats what testing is for, and will work the kinks out of their trigger. I look for a full sucessful test in the near future but in the meantime we have a nuclear North Korea on our hands and they now know they can make a nuclear bomb. Now it is a matter of refining their technology and they will be a nuclear threat.

In my opinion, now is the time to stop them from becoming a true nuclear power. Whether by military means, assination or coup Kim Jong Il has got to be elimentated.
Chuck

Now We're Not So Sure

I saw where some in the intelligence community are saying they aren't sure North Korea actually exploded a nuclear device. Well, they said they did and I think we should take their word for it and respond accordingly. If someone walks up behind you and sticks a hard object against your back and says its a gun you would believe that wouldn't you?

Whether North Korea is running a bluff or not is immaterial. If we call them on it and they are bluffing, great. They lose credibility with their own people and with other nations. If we don't call them on it and they aren't bluffing, then we lose and the whole world is endangered.

Kim Jong Il is a nut case who I think actually would launch a nuclear strike. I don't want to take a chance on his being lucid enough to think the consequences through. This man needs to be elimenated. This will be no easy task given the police state he and his father have created but it can and should be done.

If I were President, I would have no compunctions about having him greased.
Chuck

Atomic Test

I see North Korea claims and seismographic readings of 4.2, confirm they conducted a sucessful nuclear test. The test occurred Monday morning.

This really changes the complexion of things in the Far East. Japan and South Korea are really on the hot seat now. Japan will probably begin a new approach to their military stance. Since WW2, Japan has maintained a relatively small self defence force and we have provided the bulk of their defence.

South Korea will probably ask for a larger US presence there after years of anti US protests and we will probably accomedate them.

Politically here at home, I think this helps the Republicans. It was, after all, the Clinton administration that took their eye off the ball while North Korea cranked up their nuclear program.

North Korea's nuclear test will probably have a major impact on the Iranian situation. I think it will cause a much more concentrated effort by us and the EU to stop them from developing a nuclear capability.

Its a whole new ballgame in world politics. A nutcase now has the bomb and he can't be allowed to expand his capabilities.
Chuck

I Might Have To Unretire

I retired Sept. 27 and since then I have worked harder than I ever did while employed. My ass is dragging. In addition to all the painting and sprucing up I have done to the house, today I had to work on the roof.

I said in one of my previous posts that my first job was working on a bridge over the Savannah River. It was 118 feet above the water so one would think working on a roof that at it's peak is 54 feet would be a piece of cake. Wrong. My pucker factor was so high you couldn't have driven a needle up my ass with a sledge hammer. That coupled with the heat just about did me in.

I see the Foley thing is still going strong and the pundits are saying the GOP is up the creek in a screen wire canoe. I think something is going to come out soon that will drag the Democrats into the mire. As much dirt as there is in the Washington scene, some democrat is going to find himself spalshed all over the media.

I saw where Nancy Pelosi said one of the first things the democrats will do is raise the taxes of anyone making more than $250k. Watch what will happen to the economy if they do. The stock market will drop like a turd from a tall cow. I don't know what it is about democrats, they just don't understand that people spend more if they have more money. One year after the democrats take over, if they do, and we will be in a recession.
Chuck

Life Is Good - Most Of The Time

I'm one of those people who thinks the worst day in my life was wonderful and the rest are even better. Today was only wonderful.

I woke up with an excruciating pain in my right side. Right away I knew it was a kidney stone since I average 2-3 per month but this one is not one of my ordinary ones. It has to be a chip off the Rock of Gibralter. It really hurts but there isn't much that can be done other than wait for it to pass. I could go to the Doctor and let him ultra sound it but that just makes a whole lot of smaller ones that still have to be passed and the last time I had it done it cost $12,000.00. As the saying goes, This too will pass.

Not being one who lays up because of a little pain, I painted the bannisters on my front porch. This being Coastal Georgia the trim on the house has to be painted about every 3 years. This gave me a chance to try out my new Wagner Professional spray gun. The painting took about 3 hours and the cleanup took an equal amount of time. Spray painting with latex paint is expensive. It takes about 3 times as much paint to cover an area than if you painted with a brush or roller.

After I finished the bannisters I decided to paint the porch floor. I had been planning to do this anyway and already had the paint so I lit into it using a brush because I didn't want to cleanr the spray gun again. Being a perfectionist, not in spelling and composition, I can't tolerate overlap so I masked around the columns with the new super duper, blue, easy release, masking tape that sells for an arm and a leg. The new super duper, blue, masking tape will not tear straight no matter what you do so I got my sissors and cut it. It would have been easier not to mask and to go back and touch up any overlaps.

At this point in my wonderful day, not ecstatic but wonderful, my wife brought in the mail. We had a letter from the IRS telling us we owed $10,630.00 from 2004.

I'm glad it was only a wonderful day, I don't think I could have survived an ecstatic one.

I have been trying to figure out how to put a blogroll on my blog. I signed up with Blogrolling. com and tried to follow the directions but to be honest I am so computer illiterate I haven't been able to get it to work. I will get it done some way but I have to figure it out a little at a time. Sixty- six year old gray matter doesn't function as well as it did a few years ago.

Well, there is always tomorrow. Maybe it will be an ecstatic day.
Chuck

Lame Excuses 101

With each passing hour the plot thickens in the Foley scandle and his attempts to rationalize his behavior get more lame.

The first thing out of the box was a drinking problem so he checks into a rehabilitation center.
Now I see that he was abused as a child by a clergyman.

I suppose next he will claim he was kidnapped by aliens and they altered his brain to make him a pedophile.

Why can't people just 'fess up when they are caught redhanded? I would look a lot more favorably on someone who said "I'm caught, I'm a pervert and I know it. I will seek psychiatric help."

Does Foley really think people are going to feel sorry for him? He had the world by the tail and he couldn't control himself.

My Dad, fount of all wisdom. told me long ago when I first started in management to "keep your pecker out of the payroll". Sound advice.
Chuck

Political Weasels

The democrats are jumping on the Foley bandwagon like white on rice. To hear them howling you would think Gary Condit,Barney Franks and Bill Clinton were pillars of virtue. The whole thing is about as hypocritical as you can get.

I think Foley should be drawn and quartered but I don't think his perversion is any worse than that of Franks or Clinton. To the best of my knowlegde his indescretions didn't kill anybody as did Ted Kennedy's. The house and senate are full of creeps who should not be there but they are dispite their creepyness.

I have reached the point where I have no respect for congressmen or senators. They live like leeches off the public payroll and give virtually nothing in return except a lot of hot air. We, the public, need to start insisting on term limits and on accountability. If we don't we will continue getting piss poor representation.
Chuck