A tragedy

Yesterday twelve American soldiers lost their lives and 31
more were injured. In times of war that doesn’t seem like a
high number but this time it happened at Fort Hood, Texas,
and the alleged shooter is also an American soldier.

This action caused friends and family of those on the base
some tense moments. It caused other families a grief that
pierced their hearts. Words escape us except to give our
condolences.
Comments are always welcome.

Different ship

The picture is the USS Independence(LSC52) at sea.
They sure didn’t have anything like this when I was
in the Navy. This one looks like something out of a
James Bond movie to someone who served on a DDG.

The fact that this 418 foot long ship can do 47 knots
in spurts is something amazing. The fact that it has a
displacement of over 2700 tons and has a top speed of 50
knots is amazing. It is powered by Two gas turbine engines,
two propulsion diesels, and two waterjets. It’s a hot rod!

If you’d like to know more about the Littoral Combat Ship
you can go here
for more information and pictures.
Comments are always welcome.

Pet peeves rant

Once again it’s Thursday. This week we’ll just stick to some of our pet peeves. You know, those things that get us to grab the remote and change the channel when we hear the newscasters start talking about them. That being said, here’s a few of ours.

I’m getting tired of this administration telling us we have to go “green” to prevent global warming. And at a time when new car sales are at a 25 year low this administration decided to take over the auto industry. I am axiously awaiting the debut of the 2012 Obama Motors electric Hopemobile.

Speaking of cars and government, it seems the government wants to put the ‘cash for clunkers’ bill back on the table. This go-round they want to up payment to $3500-$4500 instead of $2500 if the clunkee buys a more-fuel-efficient vehicle. Once again SEMA will be there when they drop this mess on the table. This program hasn’t worked in California and now they want to nationalize it? This sort of nonsense has to stop. Find another way to peddle your carbon credits.

Talking about government we can’t leave out the swine flu, or H1N1 virus if you prefer. Why is the current administration acting like Chicken Little on this issue? Some are calling it a pandemic, some Governors want to issue medical emergencies, the Vice President even advised against travel. Seems like a lot of hype to me.

What about high prescription drug costs? The Pharmaceutical industry has a really high markup that nobody seems able to get the facts on. Then add to that the difference in price between Pharmacies and it makes it hard to tell if we’re getting anywheres near a fair shake. One study done in Detroit found a one-month supply of Fluoxetine HCL (generic Prozac) ran from a high of $92.24 to a low of $9.69 within the city. Snopes has that story here.

I’ve said since the beginning I’m not against gay marriage. It goes against the way I was taught growing up, but I’ve always felt what goes on behind closed doors is not my problem. That has blown up in my face with the onslaught of media coverage of numerous gay weddings. I have nothing against the televising of a classy ceremony.
I do have a problem with the video coverage of the bride kissing the bride or the groom kissing the groom or however it goes. Get a room.

I’ve heard from a lot of people about Insurance Companies being slow to pay lately. Since the wife’s knee replacement surgery we have first hand knowledge of the problem. Her operation was March 3rd and the Insurance Company is still giving us a runaround. They don’t hesitate to call about 10 days before the premium is due and threaten to
terminate coverage if it isn’t paid on time so what’s their excuse. I guess that’s a one-way street.

Comments are always welcome.

Sad news, and news

I was saddened to see that Tom Saul has passed away. We always looked forward to his articles in the QC Times because we knew he wouldn’t pull any punches. Our condolences to his family.

GM has announced that they will end production of all Pontiac models next year. While we felt the end was near I can’t help but remember some of the great Pontiacs we’ve had. I’m sure there will be more cars biting the dust until the economy gets straightened up.

As I mentioned earlier, the Guardian Angels are going to be guests on the Jim Fisher show this afternoon. As a member of the local chapter I’d like to thank Mr. Fisher for his continued support. He got behind the program from the beginning and has always been a gracious host and a supporter of our efforts.
Comments are always welcome.

A few things

Broadcaster Paul Harvey died today. We’ve enjoyed his take on things
for many years. Even though he is gone I’m sure we’ll hear the Rest of the Story.

On another note, when the stimulus bill passed it did so without the cash for clunkers bill in it. The SEMA Action Network sprang into action and stopped the bill. I am proud to say that I am a member of this group.
This is the at least the third time SAN has worked to successfully defeat this bill. We hope it is the last.

We have the vote on the Promise coming up Tuesday. If you haven’t voted early, please vote on Tuesday.
Comments are always welcome.

Did you know?

I didn’t know!
How could we?
Did you know that 47 countries’ have
reestablished their embassies in Iraq ?

Did you know that the Iraqi government
currently employs 1.2 million Iraqi people?
Did you know
that 3100 schools have been renovated,
364 schools are under rehabilitation,
263 new schools are now under construction;
and 38 new schools have been completed in Iraq ?
Did you know
that Iraq ’s higher educational structure consists
of 20 Universities, 46 Institutes or colleges and 4 research centers,
all currently operating?
Did you know
that 25 Iraq students departed for the United States in
January 2005 for the re-established Fulbright program?
Did you know
that the Iraqi Navy is operational?
They have 5 – 100-foot patrol craft,
34 smaller vessels and a naval infantry regiment.
Did you know
that Iraq ‘ s Air Force consists of three operational squadrons,
Which includes 9 reconnaissance and 3 US C-130 transport aircraft
(under Iraqi operational control) which operate day and night,
and will soon add 16 UH-1 helicopters and 4 Bell Jet Rangers?
Did you know
that Iraq has a counter-terrorist unit and a Commando Battalion?
Did you know
that the Iraqi Police Service has over 55,000
fully trained and equipped police officers?
Did you know
that there are 5 Police Academies in Iraq
that produce over 3500 new officers every 8 weeks?
Did you know
there are more than 1100 building projects going on in Iraq ?
They include 364 schools, 67 public clinics, 15 hospitals,
83 railroad stations, 22 oil facilities, 93 water facilities
and 69 electrical facilities.
Did you know
that 96% of Iraqi children under the age of 5
have received the first 2 series of polio vaccinations?
Did you know
that 4.3 million Iraqi children were enrolled in primary school by mid October?
Did you know
that there are 1,192,000 cell phone subscribers in Iraq
and phone use has gone up 158%?
Did you know
that Iraq has an independent media that consists of
75 radio stations, 180 newspapers and 10 television stations?
Did you know
that the Baghdad Stock Exchange opened in June of 2004?
Did you know
that 2 candidates in the Iraqi presidential election had a
televised debate recently?
OF COURSE WE DIDN’T KNOW!
WHY DIDN’T WE KNOW?
BECAUSE OUR MEDIA WON’T TELL US!
Instead of reflecting our love for our country,
we get photos of flag burning incidents at Abu Ghraib
and people throwing snowballs at the presidential motorcades.
Tragically, the lack of accentuating the positive
in Iraq serves two purposes:
It is intended to undermine the world’s perception
of the United States thus minimizing consequent support;
and it is intended to discourage American citizens.

Above facts are verifiable on the Department of Defense web site.
http://www.defenselink.mil/
Comments are welcome

A few points to ponder

We want to get a few points accross before we get busy tomorrow. In no particular order here they are-

 The candidates have done about all they can do before the election, now it’s up to us voters. It’s our chance to enable a change in our City Council. Some incumbents didn’t run for re-election, other races are contested. Now it’s our turn to vote in whomever we feel is the best for the opening. All the candidates have earned a thank you for running a clean campaign. We wish they all could win, but only half will. A well deserved nod to all the candidates.

 This election we’ve also noticed more candidates using the internet as a tool to get their word out. Some have even used us bloggers. We as bloggers have an opportunity to keep this door open after the election. We only hope some who are elected see us as way to get the news to a different group of citizens instead of just rumormills. We are now at a crossroads where we, as bloggers could work together with the City Council to inform this group.

 In an earlier comment I stated that ex-Police Chief Bladel confirmed blogs weren’t a news source. A while back Alderman Meyer emailed him asking if a couple blogs could be added to the media release list. Bladel replied that blogs weren’t a legitimate news source. We can only guess why, but this blog would like to change that perception.

 A nod to Jim Fisher and his producer Jeremy Link of WOC talk radio for mentioning the blogs as a news source, and also for allowing the candidates another outlet to get their word out. They kept the interviews entertaining and educational.

 And a goodbye to snarky, we will miss her slant on things. Good luck to you and yours.

 This is the last rambling thoughts of an old redneck before the elections. Your comments are welcome.

Crime cover-up

 Listed below are the major findings from a 1999 New Century
Foundation study based on federal crime reports, entitled
The Color of Crime.

-There is more black-on-white than black-on-black violent crime.

-Of the approximately 1,700,000 interracial crimes of violence
involving blacks and whites, 90% are committed by blacks against
whites. Blacks are therefore up to 250 times more likely to do
criminal violence to whites than the reverse.

-Blacks commit violent crimes at four to eight times the white
rate. Hispanics commit violent crimes at approximately three times
the white rate, and Asians at one and a half to three quarters the
white rate.

-Blacks are twice as likely as whites to commit hate crimes.

-Hispanics are a hate crime victim category but not a perpetrator
catagory. Hispanic offernders are classified as whites, which
inflates the white offense rates and gives the impression that
hispanics commit no hate crimes.

-Blacks are much more dangerous than whites as men are more
dangerous than women. I you wish to look at the study, on a
pdf file go-here.
 Another story tells of the coverup of such crimes to the
general public. I’m not a conspiracy nut, but theses kinds
of things makes one stop and wonder. To read what happened
in Whichita go to http://www.vdare.com/fulford/wichita.htm

 Comments are welcome

Doc’s save a million plan

Media – Press Conference :  August 10 th, 2007; 5:00pm, at The
Urban Grind Espresso Café, 221 Brady St, Davenport.

Doc Jim Davis will give a Press Conference on “How Davenport
could save $1 Million, probably more, yearly. Doc will introduce
the person who will help Davenport become more efficient. Doc
will also state how we will increase public safety when he takes
office in January.

James Davis recently sent his “10- Point Plan” on what he will
do his first 6 months on the job when he becomes the Newly
Elected Mayor of Davenport; see “10-Point Plan” at
www.DocForMayor.com 

Photo on www.DocForMayor.com/media.php 

Doc can be reached at 563-650-5645, email: docjimdavis@gmail.com .

Monday Update

 Jim Fisher is now resting at home and seems to have made a full recovery. Don’t push yourself too hard, I know you want to get back on the air. We’ll be listening.

 Happy Birthday Dad! You’ve been out of the terrible seventies for a while now, many more. Don’t let mom get too close to the Croc-rat.

 The Rumble on the River car show was a soggy event. We went out for a few hours Saturday morning, and while the show on the riverfront was a great idea the weather just didn’t co-operate. Wiz, just remember if the car show thing falls through, you can always start a second career fixing electronics. I know we’ll be there at the Flying Eyeball later in the year. And yeah, if it rains we’ll get soaked again.

 Just a short thought on the recent crime trends. After seeing the crime rate drop Nationally for several years, it has been on the increase the last two. All the figures won’t be out until later in the year, but the Midwest has seen an increase in all crime catagories except murder. I’ll have more about this on a later post.

 Here’s where I say if you don’t comment you only have yourself to blame. Comments are welcome, you pick a subject.