The last few days have seen the loss of several people I knew, knew of and who had been parts of my life and the lives of those I care about.

One was a dear lady who was a substitute in our building.  She looked like the perfect victim of kids who mistreat subs, but, in fact, she was a beloved sub.  Even the nasty kids found in her someone to be kind to and to protect.

Another was someone I knew long ago, someone for whom life had been harsh and had left marks on her.  But always, her smile was there and her kindness to others.

One individual  I knew only through his family.  Within him were the pulls and tugs of insecurity and those tugs and pulls led him to often move in hurtful ways toward those who tried to love him.  I can only hope that he now is at peace.  Those who loved him are left behind, but love him still.

As a person who spends a lot of time in her own head, I wonder about my own relationships with other people.  I often wince when I think that I've cut short interactions with others and hope I've not hurt them badly. 

Sometimes it just seems that I don't have enough to give to everyone who wants it.   There's just not enough of me to go around.

Perhaps I've always been selfish with myself.  All through life I have demanded "alone time".  Crowds sometimes are exciting but then I have to withdraw to settle things in my own mind, to recoup some energy for myself.

Maybe it's middle age, maybe it's growing up.  Maybe it's introspection.  Maybe it's self-absorption.  Maybe I'm just full of it. 

But I'm awfully pensive today........

I just love the news.  Local, state, national, international, it's all a source of constant amazement to me.

Let's begin local shall we?

A couple driving down a local interstate had to pull over because a snake bit the man in the car.  You read that right, a snake.  It seems the couple had just been to a yard sale or two and bought a box.  State police and animal control officers felt that the box was probably where the snake was before making it's  appearance.  The police determined that the snake could either be a garter snake or a copperhead.  Um....big difference there~I'd want some clarification if it were me....just sayin'.....

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The governor attended a major agricultural event in Central Pa today and had the audacity to proclaim that it was Marcellus Shale that would bring the jobs to PA and that we should all do what we can to make the industry feel at home.  Imagine. Telling this to a group of people besieged by land use rules, environmental concerns from states other than PA, and whose land is going to be divided and whose water is potentially going to be ruined by this industry.  Way to go, Telegenic Tom Corbett!  Once again, you insult the Pennsylvanians who ARE working in favor of out of state workers and companies.  Yep, you've got your heart in Pennsylvania and your pocketbook owned by Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, etc.

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There's a church in the central part of the state where the pastor had to request police to attend the service because of a threat of violence.  There's so many things wrong with that situation that a lifetime worth of blogging could not address it all.

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The folks in Iowa had a straw poll the other day.  Pay $30 and get to vote on who you think ought to be the Republican candidate for President.  Apparently the old adage that a fool and his/her money are soon parted has been proven again.  This sure does give the commentators a lot to talk about though.

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A whale that had been entertaining folks in the Northwest has beached herself on a sandbar and has died.  It's always sad when a magnificent animal like that dies. 

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Kids are dying from an amoeba creature that lives in river water that reaches high temperatures.  Sadly, a day of swimming cost these kids their lives from something that is so small, they had probably never even seen them.  It's the little things in life that matter in terms of life and death.  We should be more diligent to enjoy the little things of life more.  Little things that lead to death create big holes in lives.

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The killer in Norway retraced his steps and discusses his shooting spree with police.  He showed no remorse for what he had done.  The human mind is a complex thing.  I wonder if we will ever know the extent of how it works and doesn't work.

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At the same time that hundreds of thousands are dying of starvation in Africa, there are millions in America who are dieting.  Oh, for a magic wand to switch that scene and even it out for everyone!

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And that's just some of what flitted by my attention span this week.......

Harold Fineman has written an article where he dissects the straw poll in Iowa over the weekend.  Based on the debates and the substance of the candidates speeches, he has come up with the following for the new "10 Commandments for Republicans".  Here they are as taken from Huffington Post (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/13/gop-presidential-primary-_n_926293.html):

• Thou Shalt Not Raise ANY Taxes

• Thou Shalt Pass a Constitutional Amendment to Make Abortion Illegal

• Thou Shalt Pass a Constitutional Amendment to Define Marriage as the Union of a Man and a Woman

• Thou Shalt Repeal "ObamaCare," AKA the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

• Thou Shalt Repeal The Dodd-Frank Banking Regulation Act

• Thou Shalt Pass a Constitutional Amendment to Balance the Federal Budget

• Thou Shalt Only Give Military Support to "Our Friends"

• Thou Shalt Limit the Power of -- If Not Entirely Abolish -- the EPA

• Thou Shalt Drill, Mine and Frak to the Widest Extent Possible

• Thou Shalt Take the Name of President Obama in Vain

Interesting, I think, and limiting in some instances and lacking foresight in others.....

Taking them one by one:  No taxes raised at all.  Everybody loves this idea but practically it just won't work.  As mentioned by this blog before, the government has an obligation to help its citizens in time of emergency.  Unless the GOP has tapped into a way to see into the future and plan for it, either they aren't planning to take care of the citizens during emergencies or they plan on cutting current programs to do so, or maybe just print more money.  In addition, the infrastructure of this country needs repaired.  Costs to do so go up, up up.  These will need to be paid for as well.  Oh, and let's not forget that emerging industry is creating situations where the infrastructure is being destroyed at an increasing rate.  But, let's not expect them to help pay for fixing/maintaining that structure.  We all can just tighten our belts, ride out the potholes and support the new industry of ferryboats getting us across waterways.

Constitutional Amendment to make abortion illegal.  This one will be interesting to watch Rick Santorum dance around.  When it became apparent that the fetus his wife was carrying was, in fact, threatening her life, he and the doctor made the decision to begin spontaneous efforts to hasten the birth.  (This is known as abortion to everyone but Rick apparently.)  While this was reported as a still birth, unlike a natural still birth, this was drug induced and caused the baby not to survive.  Making abortion illegal will make the righteous feel good that they "saved" a life (even in those instances where the mother dies).  However, I have a difficulty balancing that with the same group's desire to eliminate those programs which would provide nutrition, schooling and protection for those same saved lives.  Maybe I'm just not understanding hyprocrisy. A Chinese proverb tells us that if we save a life, we are then responsible for it. 

Constitution Amendement to define marriage as between a man and a woman. Great for both the wedding business and the divorce lawyers. Yes, divorce is sometimes necessary. But all too often, it's convenience and the kids pay the price. I know that if gay marriage is made legal that there will also be divorces in those relationships as well. But let's quit pretending that marriage is held in such high regard that it must be protected.  It hasn't been held in high regard since divorce prices have come way down.  In addition, if the GOP continues to press for states rights, then they shouldn't be too upset when states grant "partnerships" to gay couples.  After all, it isn't called a "marriage".  It's just....business, with a heart.

Repealing Obamacare. Sigh. When will we all realize that we pay for the uninsured?  The public screams about Obamacare taking away their freedom to buy or not buy insurance. Where's my freedom not to have to pay for the slackers who live dangerous lives and don't pay into the insurance and medical facilities which have to heal them by law? It's too expensive, critics say. Ever wonder why an ibuprophen tablet costs you eight dollars in the hospital?  It's to help pay for the uninsured. The cost for everyone goes down the bigger the pool of those paying into the system.

Repeal Dodd/Frank. Oh yes, let the banks do as they feel. Love those extra fees and exorbitant charges on your ATM withdrawals, checking accounts and let's not forget the miserly interest rates on your deposits. After all, the bank is your friend....right up until they foreclose on your house. Deregulation has worked so well in the past, hasn't it?

Constitutional Amendment to Balance the Budget. While this sounds wonderful, like any large entity, this nation must at times borrow money. Times of war, natural disaster and crises in infrastructure demand it. Considering that it takes money to have a balanced budget, that money must come from somewhere. Raise taxes? Oh never! say the Republicans! Then cut programs. To listen to some parts of the Republican Party (those with the Minnie Pearl tags), it's time to cut, cut, cut and let's start with what the Constitution doesn't specifically call for. Except, of course, our Social Security and Medicare, even though we are outliving by a lot the amount of what we paid into it. But then that can be taken care of!!! Raise the retirement age (for those who haven't quite gotten there yet so they can keep paying into the system so we retirees can be taken care of in the manner in which we have become accustomed) and stop this silly system beginning with those born in 1957 (even though this is the year that had the biggest birth rate since the end of WWII and who, as a group, have paid more into SS than any other group). I would like to see any one of this bunch who screams for the balanced budget amendment explain how they got through life without ever, ever borrowing money for a good reason. Uh huh.....I'll wait.

Military Support to "Our Friends". Here's where a screaming lack of knowledge of history comes into play. At various times, our nation has supported some of the darndest groups and individuals, including arming Osama Bin Laden. So, um....who are our friends this week?

Limit the power of or abolish the EPA. Who needs clean water?  We need those Love Canals! DDT killed bugs! The Cuyahoga River is famous for catching fire! You can buy fish, who needs to go catch them. All these regulations designed to keep us safe! And yes, I do even agree that some of them have me scratching my head too.....But then, big business can be trusted to keep us safe and secure-after all, they have our best interests in mind. 

Drill, Mine and Frack to the widest extent possible. Living in Pennsylvania, I've seen the damage that unregulated industry causes. It's nice to have cheap heat....enjoy it while you pay a fortune for drinking water. And those exploding wells? It's the price of keeping business going.....

Take the name of Obama in vain. Once upon a time, boys and girls, this country had a budget surplus. And then along came a President who was saddled with 9-11 and several wars (one of which wouldn't have been necessary if daddy would have had the cujones to finish what he started...but I digress). In the eight years of this man's administration, tax cuts were continued while spending continued almost unabated. End result?

Please note that the surplus was diminishing a bit toward the end of Clinton's administration but look at the immediate drop as soon as GW became President. Without increasing revenues (otherwise known as taxes and fees) it is difficult to dig out of this hole.  And yes, some of Obama's policies increased the deficit.  But if you are in over your head to start with...... These figures, by the way, come from the Congressional Budget Office. (http://www.factcheck.org/2008/02/the-budget-and-deficit-under-clinton/).

I won't even mention that the red sections are during Republican administrations.  Oops.  I guess I just did. Funny how this seems to get swept under the rug. 

So, just some opinions on this article. 

My replies to your comments are not being accepted by Xanga.  If you commented, I do appreciate your comments, at the present I cannot answer you and keep the conversation going.  I hope to have this fixed soon.

Warning!  The following post in political in nature and rather long. You may not agree with one word that I say, but I reserve the right, on my blog, to say what I think. The result of that is what follows.......

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I still believe in this country. I'm still proud of this country. But I'm not unaware of what's going on in this country.

Point by point, politically speaking, this is what I want to vent about:

1. The debt ceiling. It is the RESPONSIBILITY of the Congress to pay this nation's bills. There's been a lot said about dialing back this and that and bringing forth a balanced budget amendment. Great idea but it does not account for emergencies.The government of this land must support various parts of this country in times of unforseen need. If you don't believe that, then the next time there is a blizzard/tornado/wildfire/flood/hurricane/drought that affects your county/state/region then just say no to financial help, the support of the national guard and declarations of emergency that helps you get funds and help. The Red Cross is great, but it can only do so much. A balanced budget amendment would hamstring efforts to provide aid to those in need in desperate times. At some point, you will be in desperate times.

2. The Democratic Party is stupid. The Party of the Donkey has acted like one lately. In particular, having it's head up its (rather considerable) butt. Stop grandstanding and work for meaningful compromise. Call a spade a spade, admit that the budget is bloated and fix something.

3. The Republican Party is evil. Of course you are. You have even abandoned that silly concept of compassionate conservatism. You have now become the party of mine, yours becoming mine, and more of mine. Of course you don't want to compromise. You would have to admit what you are really up to.

4. The Tea Party is misguided and possibly treasonous. Misguided in that the members read a "cleaned up" version of the Constitution without reading ALL of the Constitution. Misguided in believing that the Founding Fathers lived lives where they opposed slavery (as reiterated by Sarah Palin and Michelle Bachmann) and where the economy could only be trusted to business without any supervision (as tossed about by Glenn Beck, Paul Ryan, et al). Misguided into thinking (and believing quotes taken out of context) that Ayn Rand believed in the supremacy of the common man and his liberty and rights. Rand believed that the "common worker" was an expendable commodity that was to be used up and discarded for the glory of the corporation. I know her books are thick and the words are big, but unless you've read the whole things, you cannot understand her thinking and NO, the Ayn Rand Foundation is not telling you the truth, the whole truth, etc.  Your silly and simple minded tantrum has resulted in the United States losing it's credit rating.  You don't even have a clue what you have done.  Dressing up in costume and chanting slogans is wonderful but being an agent of the downfall of the nation is treasonous.  Yes, even if you are carrying a "Don't Tread on Me" flag and wearing a powdered wig.

5. Barak Obama needs to grow a pair.  If you are the leader of the free world, people expect you to LEAD.  That doesn't mean you pontificate, eat your peas, and celebrate a bandaid fix that already leaks.  Leadership means taking the elephant and the donkey by the ears and making them do what they are CONSTITUTIONALLY commanded to do.  Failure to do that is failure.  No excuses.

6. The Supreme Court of the United States (hereby known as SCOTUS) has been bought out by big business.  Designating a corporation as having the same rights to fund political campaigns is tantamount to allowing the fox in the henhouse.  Do you really think that the power and funding of big business will in any way have anything to do with what's good for the vast majority of the American people?  I'm not talking about the top 1%, they have already been cocooned and comforted.  When the Constitution is only interpreted for the good of big business, then the common individual is screwed.

7. The Koch Brothers and George Soros.  If you want to influence government, then stop hiding behind the sham "grassroots" organizations you fund and step out into the light.  Oh, that's right, you are more like cockroaches, you run when the light is turned on.

8. Republican governors.  You have it tough.  Your fellow party mates in the federal government want to suspend money coming to your states but not in any way ease the burden of governmental regulation.  And yet, you go after the wrong people.  NO NEW TAXES.  Great campaign speech material.  Really stupid way to govern.  Here in PA there is a great opportunity for revenue to be generated by extraction fees on the Marcellus Shale industry.  But our Republican governor and his bobble headed lieutenant governor (who by the way is the HEAD of the commission on this industry) are crying that the industry will leave the state.  B***S***!  If they want that natural gas bad enough, they'll pay the fee.  And they want that gas really, really badly.  The LG has said that the industry is creating thousands of jobs.  Yep, but not for Pennsylvanians.  What it is doing is pulling currently employed workers away from their current jobs and leaving smaller businesses to scramble for qualified workers.  Most of the jobs are being created for short term employees from Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, etc.  I have no problem with them being employed-but I want my LG to stop lying about jobs for Pennsylvanians.  If the states are having budget crisis problems, then make the government smaller-and start with the governor's budget.

9. Republican Presidential candidates (declared and undeclared).  This is the best you can do?  And I am adamant in this:  This country does not need another stupid, Republican former governor of Texas as President.  We had 8 years of that and barely survived.  We may never get his messes cleaned up.  And don't snarl that it's time to quit kicking GW Bush around.  He was a mess and he left a mess.  As long as it's still sticking to my shoes, I will gripe.

10. Voting obstacles.  Some states (Wisconsin for example) are now requiring photo IDs for voters. That is, in the words of the Wisconsin Republican governor Wilson, designed to keep fraud from happening.  What it is more likely to do is keep the elderly and poor from voting.  One benefit might be found-all those dead Republicans won't be able to get from the graveyard to vote.   Oh, and the Koch Bros have been caught with their hands in the cookie jar sending out mailings with the absentee ballots that tell the voters to get their ballots in by Aug. 11.  Aug. 11 is two days after the voting closes.  Ummmmm hmmmm, you hear what I'm sayin'?  I take voting and the right to vote very seriously.  Don't mess with that.  Ever.

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Ok, I feel better now that I've gotten this off my chest. Whew! It's dusk, time to take down Old Glory for the day. Tomorrow's another day, and my flag will still fly proudly.

...can you not just feel the summer slipping through your fingers?????

(photo from raintoday.com)

Yesterday, a private screening and rave party got out of hand near the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.  Young people arrived in mass, disrupted traffic, allegedly set fire to a police car and in general, created mayhem.

Here is the MSNBC photo of their behavior:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/

It's been said that a picture is worth a thousand words.  I'd like to spend a few of my thousand on this photo.

1. Young man trying to get young woman to get off the police car:  Good for you.  Common sense when it was in short supply.

2. Dude leaping onto the police car.  Was this on your bucket list?  Did you think someone would be impressed with the height of your leap?

(In order to keep this easy to read, I'll be reposting the picture from time to time....)

3. Young bearded man dressed in black pants and grey shirt.  Nice dance move.  Do you Salsa as well?

4. Young man, face obscured by camera, dresses in white t and blue shorts, holding your business.  Dude, it's attached, you can let go now!

5. Man in black on stairs to the theatre with camera.  Why do I think you had a hand in staging this?

6. Left side, hand holding camera.  Oh yeah, make sure this hits YouTube, ok?

7. Bald headed guy on steps.  What? you never saw a mini riot before?

8.  Guy in background pointing.  Are you pointing out the leaper's bad behavior? height of leap? what?

9. Young Asian appearing lady with short skirt and off the shoulder top.  What is so doggone funny?

10. Dude in the 'fro, far side of the police car, mostly blocked by the cop lights.  You appear to be the only one headed in the right direction from this mess.

See?  This was fun....I think I might try this again.  Maybe soon.....

Creation (Christian Music Festival) is this week and once again, I'm part of a group who are going.

I'll be back later with my thoughts and pics.....

This week's news has been filled with a little of this and a lot of that....

Casey Anthony

Way too much of this.  Either this is one clueless family, or Casey is a complete and total nutjob.  Her craziness is matched (and exceeded) by the people fighting to get into the courtroom.  Her lawyers are doing a good job, though, of creating doubt.  Which, for a defense attorney, is all they have to do.

Whitey Bulger

Well, the FBI prides itself on always getting their man.  This one took decades and a plea to women to look for his girlfriend who was reported to "have had much plastic surgery".  Huh....should have done this a long time ago.  Women can spot "falsies" anytime.....

Minot

Oh you poor town.  You've dug and wedged and bailed and prayed and yet, this slow moving disaster of a flood surge will beat you in the end. 

Lindsey

Ok, dummy.  Stop having parties at your house while you wear the electronic bracelet.  Good grief.  Your crime time has been paid for already, can you not just behave to get out of probation? 

Arizona

Your climate may be good for people who have allergies, but somehow I suspect that all that wildfire smoke is negating the effect.

Harry

If you are going to chase the skirt of your brother's sister-in-law, then just do it.  Personally?  I think the two of you might be a perfect, publicity seeking, good time loving, couple.

Economy

Will you ever, ever take off your black mask and quite robbing us?

Somehow, there must have been some good news this week.  Or....not.