Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Political Climate: Hmmm.... Worth Reading, So I Pass It Along Here

A "Chain E-Mail" submitted by Barbara Leahy:
...."I'm 63 and I'm Tired " , A VERY PROFOUND READING!

cid:1A40D7C1EBFB446EB4856A88F72D7A6B@hewlett2ih5nie
 Robert A. Hall is the actor who plays the coroner on CSI.  He also is a Marine Vietnam War veteran. 
This should be required reading for every man, woman and child in the United States of America .
  "I'm 63 and I'm Tired"By Robert A. Hall


I'm 63.  Except for one semester in college when jobs were scarce and a six-month period when I was between jobs, but job-hunting every day, I've worked hard since I was 18.   Despite some health challenges, I still put in 50-hour weeks, and haven't called in sick in seven or eight years.   I make a good salary, but I didn't inherit my  job or my income, and I worked to get where I am.  Given the  economy, there's no retirement in sight, and I'm tired.  Very tired. 

I'm tired of being told that I have to "spread the wealth" to people who don't have my work ethic.  I'm tired of being told the government will take the money I earned, by force if necessary, and give it to people too lazy to earn it. 

I'm tired of being told that I have to pay more taxes to "keep people in their homes."   Sure, if they lost their jobs or got sick, I'm willing to help.   But if they bought Mc Mansions at three times the price of our paid-off, $250,000 condo, on one-third of my salary, then let the left-wing Congress-critters who passed Fannie and Freddie and the Community Reinvestment Act that created the bubble help them with their own money.

I'm tired of being told how  bad America is by left-wing millionaires like Michael Moore, George Soros and Hollywood Entertainers who live in luxury because of the opportunities America offers.  In thirty years, if they get their way, the United States will have the economy of   Zimbabwe , the freedom of the press of China  the crime and violence of Mexico , the tolerance for Christian people of Iran , and the freedom of speech of Venezuela .

I'm tired of being told that Islam is a "Religion of Peace," when every day I can read dozens of stories of Muslim men killing their sisters, wives and daughters for their family "honor"; of Muslims rioting over some slight offense; of Muslims murdering Christian and Jews because  they aren't "believers"; of Muslims burning schools for girls;  of Muslims stoning teenage rape victims to death for "adultery";  of Muslims mutilating the genitals of little girls; all in the name of Allah, because the Qur'an and Shari'a law tells them to.  

I'm tired of being told  that "race doesn't matter" in the post-racial world of Obama,  when it's all that matters in affirmative action jobs, lower college admission and graduation standards for minorities  (harming them the most), government contract set-asides,  tolerance for the ghetto culture of violence and fatherless  children that hurts minorities more than anyone, and in the appointment of U.S. Senators from Illinois.  

I think it's very cool that we have a black president and that a black child is doing her homework at the desk where Lincoln wrote the Emancipation Proclamation.  I just wish the black president was Condi Rice, or someone who believes more in freedom and the individual and less arrogantly of an all-knowing government. 

I'm tired of a news media that thinks Bush's fundraising and inaugural expenses were obscene, but thinks that Obama's, at triple the cost, were wonderful; that thinks Bush exercising daily was a waste of  presidential time, but Obama exercising is a great example for the public to control weight and stress; that picked over every line of Bush's military records, but never demanded that Kerry release his; that slammed Palin, with two years as governor, for being too inexperienced for VP, but touted Obama with three years as senator as potentially the best president ever.  Wonder why people are dropping their subscriptions or switching to Fox News?  Get a clue.  I didn't vote for Bush in 2000, but the media and Kerry drove me to his camp in 2004. 

I'm tired of being told  that out of "tolerance for other cultures" we must let Saudi Arabia use our oil money to fund mosques and mandrassa Islamic schools to preach hate in America , while no American group is allowed to fund a church, synagogue or religious school in Saudi Arabia to teach love and tolerance. 

I'm tired of being told I must lower my living standard to fight global warming, which no one is allowed to debate.  My wife and I live in a two-bedroom apartment and carpool together five miles to our jobs. We also own a three-bedroom condo where our daughter and granddaughter live.  Our carbon footprint is about 5% of Al Gore's, and if you're greener than Gore, you're green enough.  

I'm tired of being told  that drug addicts have a disease, and I must help support and treat them, and pay for the damage they do.  Did a giant germ rush out of a dark alley, grab them, and stuff white powder up their noses while they tried to fight it off?  I don't think Gay people choose to be Gay, but I  sure think druggies chose to  take drugs. And I'm tired of harassment from cool people treating me like a freak when I tell them I never tried marijuana. 

I'm tired of illegal aliens being called "undocumented workers," especially the ones who aren't working, but are living on welfare or crime.  What's next?   Calling drug dealers, "Undocumented Pharmacists"?   And, no, I'm not against Hispanics.  Most of them are Catholic, and it's been a few hundred years since Catholics wanted to kill me for my religion.  I'm willing to fast track for citizenship any Hispanic person, who can speak English, doesn't have a criminal record  and who is self-supporting without family on welfare, or who serves honorably for three years in our military.... Those are the citizens we need. 

I'm tired of latte liberals and journalists, who would never wear the uniform of the Republic themselves, or let their entitlement-handicapped kids near a recruiting station, trashing our military.  They and their kids can sit at home, never having to make split-second  decisions under life and death circumstances, and bad mouth better people than themselves.  Do bad things happen in war?  You bet.  Do our troops sometimes misbehave?  Sure.  Does this compare with the atrocities that were the policy of our enemies for the last fifty years and still are?  Not even close.  So here's the deal.  I'll let myself be subjected to all the humiliation and abuse that was heaped on terrorists at Abu Ghraib or Gitmo, and the critics can let themselves be subject to captivity by the Muslims, who tortured and beheaded Daniel Pearl in Pakistan, or the Muslims who tortured and murdered Marine Lt. Col. William Higgins in Lebanon, or the Muslims who ran the blood-spattered Al Qaeda torture rooms our troops found in Iraq, or the Muslims who cut off the heads of schoolgirls in Indonesia, because the  girls were Christian.  Then we'll compare notes.  British and American soldiers are the only troops in history that civilians came to for help and handouts, instead of hiding from in fear.  

I'm tired of people telling me that their party has a corner on virtue and the other party has a corner on corruption.  Read the papers; bums are bipartisan.   And I'm tired of people telling me we need  bipartisanship.  I live in Illinois , where the " Illinois  Combine" of Democrats has worked to loot the public for years.   Not to mention the tax cheats in Obama's cabinet.  

I'm tired of hearing wealthy athletes, entertainers and politicians of both parties talking about innocent mistakes, stupid mistakes or youthful mistakes, when we all know they think their only mistake was getting caught.  I'm tired of people with a sense of entitlement, rich or poor. 

Speaking of poor, I'm tired of hearing people with air-conditioned homes, color TVs and two cars called poor.  The majority of Americans didn't have that in  1970, but we didn't know we were "poor."  The poverty pimps have to keep changing the definition of poor to keep the dollars flowing. 

I'm real tired of people who  don't take responsibility for their lives and actions.  I'm tired of hearing them blame the government, or discrimination or big-whatever for their problems. 

Yes, I'm  tired.  But I'm also glad to be 63.  Because, mostly, I'm not going to have to see the world these people are making.  I'm just sorry for my granddaughter. 

Robert  A. Hall is a Marine Vietnam veteran who served five terms in the Massachusetts State Senate.
There is no way this will be widely publicized, unless each of us sends it on!

This is your chance to make a difference
.
  
cid:46C31901BF154A13881234DA778324F7@hewlett2ih5nie

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Japanese Radiation Situation FAQ Sheet #1 - Public Health Advisory

.
The following public health advisory has been issued to medical professionals in Washington, DC.  It concerns radiation risk to those recently returned from Japan.  It is passed along here to the public as a service by the Journal of American Ideas Today:

For Residents of the District of Columbia
Provided by DC Department of Health and DC Emergency Healthcare Coalition

March 23, 2011

The following information is provided to assist residents in the District of Columbia with any questions or concerns regarding the radiation situation at the Fukushima Nuclear Power plant in Japan.  

Questions:

“Is any one at risk for radiation injury or illness for someone who has just returned from Japan?”

Current guidance from the United States Government (USG) is that anyone who has remained outside of the 50 mile exclusion zone around the Fukushima plant does NOT have a risk for radiation illness or injury and thus does not require a special medical examination.  They should be provided reassurance about their situation.

Even within the 50 mile exclusion zone, the risk remains very low to individuals unless they were on the grounds of the nuclear plant itself.

“Is there any risk for radiation injury or illness for individuals in the US territories?”

The USG has continued monitoring radiation levels and at this time, has no indication that anyone residing in the US (including Alaska and Hawaii) is at risk for radiation injury or illness from the Fukushima plant.

“Is there a risk to individuals who flew on a plane over the East Coast of Japan in the past two weeks?”

There is no risk to individuals who have flown over the East Coast of Japan over the past two weeks.  A no fly zone has been in place over the plant shortly after the incident began. US officials will continue to monitor the situation.

“What evaluation is appropriate for an individual who claims to have been within the 50 mile exclusion zone, near the plant?”

Screening is already being conducted in Japan for populations close the Fukushima plant and at ports of entry into the US.  In addition, the changing of clothes and showering would reduce the chance of this being a productive procedure to conduct at a US facility.

“Should anyone be prescribed potassium iodide (KI)?”

Currently, there is no evidence that anyone present in the US should be prescribed KI for any reason, even if they were in proximity of the Fukushima plant over the past 2 weeks.  The protective effects of the drug require administration near the time of potential exposure.

“Are there any concerns about the food supply in the US?”

Certain food items from Japan have been embargoed by the Japanese Government.  The U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, and appropriate U.S. agencies continue to monitor those items being imported from Japan for evidence of radioactivity.

This guidance has been developed with available knowledge at the time it was written.  DC DOH and DC EHC will update it as necessary with new guidance if more information becomes available.

Monday, March 21, 2011

MOST PIRATES CAN'T SWIM!!

By JC Leahy

Oddly enough, most Somali pirates don't know how to swim.  That just shows how attractive are the financial rewards of piracy!!  In 2009 alone, Somali pirates collected 82 million dollars in ransom!!  (2009 was a relatively quite year for Somali piracy, according to ABOUT COM ! )This 82 million dollars does not include the value of stolen vessels and material or the proceeds of cargo sold in port!!  The successful Somali pirate is very much like the successful drug kingpin.  In his local environment, he is seen as a source of many good things.  He brings foreign currency.  He is a wonderful, free spending customer. He provides employment, both directly and indirectly.  In his own way, he is even seen as a role model!!

Peter Eichstadt, in his book Pirate State, provided these illuminating quotes from Somali citizens:  "'Even now, pirates are marrying the most beautiful ladies, with nonstop dancing at weddings that go a couple of days.  Some pirates are even sending their girlfriends to hospitals abroad to give birth.  Imagine that!' ...  Fatuma Abdul Kadir, twenty-one, bragged about  attending a two-day pirate wedding in July, 2008 with endless dancing, trays of goat meat, and a band from neighboring Djibouti.  'It was wonderful,' she said. 'I'm now dating a pirate.'"  Pirates live high on the food chain, occupying the best houses, driving the flashiest cars, and dating the most attractive women.

The successful Somali pirate supports a whole network of participants, both in his local community and abroad. When that multi-million  dollar ransom is paid, it is dropped in hard cash right onto the deck of the captive ship.  Of the whole ransom, 30% goes to the pirate crew right then and there.  It is divided equally among them with a double portion or a bonus going to the "jumper."  The jumper is the man assigned to be first up onto the victim ship during the capture.  Another 30% of the ransom is reserved for the raid's sponsor.  The next 20% typically goes to the raid's financial backers. The financial backers may have to pay others who have provided political or other cover. The next 10% goes to security personnel in port where the captive ship has been anchored during negotiations.   The final 10% goes to local elders, officials, and residents who have provided logistical support or hospitality for the pirates or their friends.

Piracy is an industry spawned by big money, greed, and the credible promise of easy wealth. It supports a whole network of people in the local community who are willing to provide cover and/or turn a blind eye to piracy. Such complicity makes piracy very, very difficult to curtail. Today this is as true in Somalia as it was in South Carolina two hundred years ago.  Only by capturing and executing enough Carolina pirates were the remaining pirates persuaded to find other occupations. We have a crew of 14 Somali pirates in Norfolk, Virginia today. The US Navy caught them red-handed and delivered them to Norfolk, Virginia earlier this month. They murdered the entire complement of an American vessel. The Navy caught them still aboard the American vessel and in possession of the dead mariners' bodies. These priates need to be tried for capital murder, by jury, in Federal court.  If they are NOT guilty of capital murder, pirates will find that under US law, piracy carries a mandatory life sentence. If they ARE guilty of capital murder, the pirates must be executed without remorse.  That's what I think. Got an idea?  Post it below!


Saturday, March 19, 2011

WASHINGTON DC'S KEYSTONE COPS STILL UNABLE TO MAKE A CASE !!!

By JC Leahy

DC Police have thus far failed to file charges in the Keystone Cops case.  The Keystone Cops case involved the theft of property from a physician's office at the Veterans Administration Medical Center on Irving Street, NW.  Among the stolen items was the physician's laptop computer.  The laptop was equipped with Lojack for Laptops.  Impressively, Lojack not only located the computer, but located it on the same afternoon of the theft and also identified the user by email and Facebook account data and physical address.  Nevertheless,  the seemingly reluctant DC police took 30 days to act on that information and recover the computer.  By that late date, the computer was with a different person at a different address and had been separated from the other property stolen with it.

"The thing is," said victim Matthew Steehler, "If someone breaks into your house and steals everything including your laptop, you can probably find everything if you can find the laptop quickly."   Quick police action is vital.

The police finally recovered the computer on February 25,  immediately after the Journal published a story titled "Lojack vs. Keystone Cops."  DC City Council member Harry Thomas read the article and began making inquiries.

"I am convinced that the Journal of American Ideas Today article prompted action on this case," said victim Matthew Steehler today.  "If it were not for the Journal article, DC Police might have recovered the computer eventually, but it would have taken much longer.  After the Journal  article, they  went right into 'attack' mode and just recovered it!   My understanding is that the Police contacted the person at his workplace and got him to hand it over." 

Commander Hickson, Chief of Detectives for DC, who was placed in charge of the investigation immediately after Councilmember Thomas' inquiries, did not respond to a request for updated information. 

According to the victim, however, the police have consulted a prosecutor or magistrate and do not believe they have sufficient evidence to charge the end-recipient of the stolen laptop.  In that instance, the crime would have been receipt of stolen property. 

As for the actual felony theft, the investigation is ongoing but doubtful, according to Dr. Steehler. 

"What I have been told is that the first person to check her e-mail with the stolen laptop [on the afternoon of the theft] was someone by the name of Alicia (sp?) Cunningham.  I am told she has  a prior record.  I'm told that during that computer session, she was on the internet using the stolen computer for a significant time.  But checking your e-mail doesn't necessarily prove that you stole the computer.  I don't think they can really prove that she stole it without seeing the  surveillance videos of the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center police --- and I've kinda' given up on ever seeing those videos," said Dr. Steehler.

"The good news is that I've managed to restore and reconstruct all of my data files on the computer.  The bad guys had deleted all my files, but that only deletes them from Windows.  The deleted files are still on the physical hard disk until  they are overwritten by some other file.  I thought that the Windows "restore" utilities would do the trick, but they only restored my system settings.  That was a big disappointment!!   But I found a software package called Recover My Files.  It worked wonderfully!!   The only thing is that I  had to recover my files to a new and  different hard disk.  You see, if you recover a deleted file and write it to the same hard disk, you may be writing in the space that contains another deleted file you want ot recover.  So I recovered all my pictures and research data and everything else to a new hard disk.  It's all there!!  That software is amazing!!"

Dr Steehler said that an internal DC Police review has been initiated to see how the Police could have done a better job.  Council Member Harry Thomas declared today that, "We will continue to look into this matter"  of the Keystone Cops of Washington, DC.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

PIRATES IN VIRGINIA TRY FEDERAL JUDICIAL SYSTEM

By JC Leahy
A crew of 14 pirates has arrived in Norfolk, Virginia.  The pirates executed everyone aboard an American vessel.  The US Navy captured the pirates still aboard the American vessel and in possession of the dead American mariners’ bodies.  The Navy delivered the pirates to Federal prosecutors in Norfolk earlier this month.
According to the Virginia Pilot newspaper, Federal prosecutors have filed piracy, kidnapping and weapons charges.  Amazingly, prosecutors have demurred from filing ANY capital charges.  (Priacy does NOT carry the death penalty under Federal law.)
These 14 men conducted themselves as pirates on the high seas and executed the entire complement of a US vessel.  They were caught red-handed -- literally.  They should be tried by jury for ALL applicable capital charges.  Then, if found guilty, they should be remorselessly executed.
Furthermore, under both US and international law, jurisdiction for piracy cases follows pirates into whatever port they are found.    These pirates are currently In the port of Norfolk, Virginia.  Therefore, the Commonwealth of Virginia should get in line to try these pirates if Federal prosecutors fail to do their job.
Let me count the ways that these pirates can be charged with capital offenses:
U.S.C, Title 18, Ch. 40, Sec. 844 – Death resulting from offenses related to destruction of property related to foreign commerce
U.S.C., Title 18, Ch. 51, Sec. 1111 – First degree murder
U.S.C., Title 18, Ch. 55, Sec. 1201 – Murder in a kidnapping
U.S.C., Title 18, Ch. 55, Sec.1203 – Murder during a hostage taking
U.S.C., Title 18, Ch. 113B, Sec. 2332 – Terrorist murder of a US national in another country
For the Commonwealth of Virginia:
Virginia Title 81.2, chapter 4, section 31 – First degree murder with aggravating circumstances.
Virginia must also have laws specific to piracy, since it was the coastal governors who subdued piracy in the 17th 18th and 19th centuries.

Friday, March 4, 2011

YAY LOJACK !!!! DC COPS RECOVER STOLEN LAPTOP !!!

By JC Leahy

Details are sketchy, but the DC Police have apparently recovered the stolen computer that was at the center of the "Keystone Cops" incident.   Fifth District Detective Tony Walls issued a statement today indicating that the laptop was in police custody.  Detective Walls did not return phone calls requesting further details, according to victim Matthew Steehler.

"I want to express my warmest thanks to everyone who helped make this happen!" exclaimed Dr. Steehler.  Police recovery of the computer followed shortly after Councilmember Harry Thomas vowed to discover the cause of a month of police inaction.  Councilmember Thomas had learned of the so-called  "Keystone Cops" incident through this Journal.

"I'm eager to know the details," said Dr. Steehler.  "You know -- whodunnit and whether there will be arrests and prosecutions to follow."  There is no word about the camera that was stolen with the laptop.

"The thing is," said Dr. Steehler, "If someone breaks into your house and steals everything including your laptop, you can probably find everything if you can find the laptop quickly.  For that reason, I was hopeful of recovering both the laptop and the camera."

The key word in the last paragraph is "quickly."

*******************************************

FOGGER (INSECTICIDE BUG BOMB) TO KILL STINK BUGS:



Wednesday, March 2, 2011

DC OFFICIALS VOW ACTION ON "KEYSTONE COPS" INCIDENT


By JC Leahy

DC Council Member Harry Thomas today vowed action on the "Keystone Cop" incident reported in the Journal on February 27. The crux of that incident was the DC Police Fifth District's failure to investigate Lojack-provided information about an apparent theif and the location of the computer that was among items he stole from an office at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in DC.   Council Member Harry Thomas contacted DC Police Chief Cathy Lanier to demand an explanation.  Mr. Thomas also promised, "My staff [will] review policies on why we did not respond and take advantage of the technology available to solve this case. If there area legislative actions needed I will take them.".

 Cheif Lanier responded,  "I have [contacted] Commander Hickson, who oversees all detectives, ... so he can research the matter and follow up with all of us.  We will be back in touch with further information very shortly."

Commander Hickson, in turn issused the following communication:

"Councilmember Thomas,

Chief Lanier forwarded your email to me for follow-up. I have reviewed the case that is referenced in this email. I am not satisfied with the investigative progress or the lack of urgency in the investigation. I have contacted the appropriate supervisors who will properly address the deficiencies. Captain Taylor, who supervises the District Investigation Branch, is personally assuming the supervision of this case and will insure the matter is resolved in a timely manner.  Our detectives have utilized the assistance of Lojack in recovering stolen property on many occasions and we will continue to leverage this technology in investigations.  I will advise you of the outcome of the investigation. 

Daniel P. Hickson, Commander, Criminal Investigations Division"

The "Keystone Cop" incident involved a month's police inaction on a grand larceny despite Lojack-provided information about the name and address of the likely thief and the current location of a laptop computer that was among the items stolen.