O.C. Puts Its Spin on the Ball Drop - Los Angeles Times
Read about and see photos of the Big Pyrotechnic Orange which will be dropped in Orange County to bring in the New Year.
Amusing, also, is reading about the other New Year's objects dropped around the country: the 200 lb. tortilla chip (freshly deep-fried) which drops into salsa, the giant pickle, etc.
I'm going to try to see the fireworks from this Big Orange Extravaganza. Wish me luck.
Friday, December 30, 2005
Monday, December 26, 2005
Spying Said to Be Broader Than Reported
Spying Said to Be Broader Than Reported - Yahoo! News
Hmmm, Big Brother is watching?
Again, some more un-American, and perhaps un-Constitutional?, activities by the Bush administration.
Hmmm, Big Brother is watching?
Again, some more un-American, and perhaps un-Constitutional?, activities by the Bush administration.
Saturday, December 24, 2005
Peace on Earth, Good Will to All!
Happy Holidays! Merry Christmas!
(I am wearing shorts today - green shorts, of course. You know, for Christmas. I love California in the wintertime!)
Carolyn
http://www.carolynhmayer.com
http://www.carolynhmayer.com/wazzup.htm#Christmas_Section - have some Holiday treats!
(I am wearing shorts today - green shorts, of course. You know, for Christmas. I love California in the wintertime!)
Carolyn
http://www.carolynhmayer.com
http://www.carolynhmayer.com/wazzup.htm#Christmas_Section - have some Holiday treats!
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Congress pushes back, hard, against Bush | csmonitor.com
Congress pushes back, hard, against Bush | csmonitor.com
A good summary of recent news about our President and Congress.
A few related thoughts...
"Patriot Act" - what a strange name. It reminds me too much of how language was used in the novel "1984" by George Orwell - using language in the opposite of what it really means, as in "War is Peace", etc.
Much of the Patriot Act is extremely unpatriotic, as in un-American. I don't think I'm alone in feeling that I'd rather risk a terrorist attack then have the Government know our personal business, such as what books we buy, what books we take out from the library, etc. Something like this qualifies as a terrorist win. It is making us less American, isn't it?
Besides, it sounds like overkill, taking away so much privacy for just what gain, exactly?
In the meantime the 9/ll Commission's recommendations go ignored, Homeland Security remains underfunded on the local level (our first responders), our borders are leaky, our airplanes still aren't safe enough (is the cargo really checked?), what about our ports? Etc.
Another privacy issue - the secret eavesdropping that's just come to light. How American is this? And just how necessary is this, really?
A good summary of recent news about our President and Congress.
A few related thoughts...
"Patriot Act" - what a strange name. It reminds me too much of how language was used in the novel "1984" by George Orwell - using language in the opposite of what it really means, as in "War is Peace", etc.
Much of the Patriot Act is extremely unpatriotic, as in un-American. I don't think I'm alone in feeling that I'd rather risk a terrorist attack then have the Government know our personal business, such as what books we buy, what books we take out from the library, etc. Something like this qualifies as a terrorist win. It is making us less American, isn't it?
Besides, it sounds like overkill, taking away so much privacy for just what gain, exactly?
In the meantime the 9/ll Commission's recommendations go ignored, Homeland Security remains underfunded on the local level (our first responders), our borders are leaky, our airplanes still aren't safe enough (is the cargo really checked?), what about our ports? Etc.
Another privacy issue - the secret eavesdropping that's just come to light. How American is this? And just how necessary is this, really?
Sunday, December 18, 2005
Time Persons of 2005: Bill and Melinda Gates, Bono
Time Persons of 2005: Bill and Melinda Gates, Bono - Yahoo! News
I won't argue with this choice. It's also nice to see these Good Samaritans honored. They deserve our "thank you."
(A thought: Wouldn't it be scary if richest-person-in-the-world Bill Gates weren't a nice man?)
I won't argue with this choice. It's also nice to see these Good Samaritans honored. They deserve our "thank you."
(A thought: Wouldn't it be scary if richest-person-in-the-world Bill Gates weren't a nice man?)
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Gang Founder Claimed Innocence Until the End [& the death penalty]
Gang Founder Claimed Innocence Until the End - Yahoo! News
I'm no fan of Tookie Williams, and have no opinion about his guilt or innocence other than he was likely guilty and certainly deserved to be in prison, if for no other reason than for founding the Crips gang. This is not about Tookie.
What bothers me is that we still have a death penalty in this country - and, worse, that my state - which represents ME - has just used it, and is about to use it again, and even soon.
The death penalty is wrong. All the modern "civilized" countries of the world don't use it, why should we?
IMHO,Tookie should have stayed in prison for the rest of his life, that is, unless his innocence had been proven. (Although, there still is that founder of the Crips thing... I can't believe Williams could have done that and, at the same time, never have been guilty of crimes deserving of extended prison time.)
Well, good news, no riots in L.A. this morning. I like Jesse Jackson, but I sure wish he hadn't stirred the kettle so much with what he was saying about Tookie last night. Jeez... The man should stop and think a little about the possible violent and destructive consequences of his shooting his mouth off like that. Throwing a match into a tinder keg - why?
I'm no fan of Tookie Williams, and have no opinion about his guilt or innocence other than he was likely guilty and certainly deserved to be in prison, if for no other reason than for founding the Crips gang. This is not about Tookie.
What bothers me is that we still have a death penalty in this country - and, worse, that my state - which represents ME - has just used it, and is about to use it again, and even soon.
The death penalty is wrong. All the modern "civilized" countries of the world don't use it, why should we?
IMHO,Tookie should have stayed in prison for the rest of his life, that is, unless his innocence had been proven. (Although, there still is that founder of the Crips thing... I can't believe Williams could have done that and, at the same time, never have been guilty of crimes deserving of extended prison time.)
Well, good news, no riots in L.A. this morning. I like Jesse Jackson, but I sure wish he hadn't stirred the kettle so much with what he was saying about Tookie last night. Jeez... The man should stop and think a little about the possible violent and destructive consequences of his shooting his mouth off like that. Throwing a match into a tinder keg - why?
Saturday, December 10, 2005
Friday, December 09, 2005
Investigators Study Site of Runway Crash
Investigators Study Site of Runway Crash - Yahoo! News
What a tragedy.
Not a surprise, however. In all my many, many flights in and out of Chicago I never even considered using Midway Airport. I thought of it as a little old backward airport really just for small private planes - Cessnas and the like. Many Chicagoans share this attitude, or did when I lived there many years ago. If you wanted to fly somewhere, you went to O'Hare.
As for the weather problem, no surprise either. Those snowstorms Chicago gets sometimes, like this one, when the snow is just pouring out of the sky so thick you can hardly see, are horrible to drive in, hard even to walk in.
I remember the white-outs, the blizzards, the driving sleet, the slush, the ice... The terror of trying to drive in all this - "terror" not being too strong a word, "trying" literally meaning maybe you can and maybe you can't. You try, you attempt it, you give it your best. Whether your car or the road or the other drivers prevent you from reaching your destination is another matter. I've done many a "fishtail", despite my best efforts, I've skid through stop signs to land mid-intersection, I've skidded off the road. This is winter driving in the Midwest. It ultimately is in God's hands. You come to realize and accept that.
It takes some toughness and courage to cope with Chicago weather. It's also why I still, after all these years, laugh at Southern Californians' attitude toward rain. Ooooo, *Winter Storm Watch* - we may get .10" of rain!! We may have an overnight low in the 40s! We may have to drive a little more carefully, and even, a little slower (then they don't do either!).
All in all, though, with this latest Chicago weather disaster, I've decided that it is less dangerous in California than it is in Illinois. The weather will kill you in a hundred different ways in Illinois. No doubt many more people have died in the past 100 years in Illinois from natural disasters (include weather!) than have died here in California from the same. We just have more spectacular disasters out here (quakes, mudslides, wildfires...).
I love Chicago, love it dearly, but, yeah, nice place to visit! I'm glad I'm here in my SoCal beach town. (I so not miss winter driving!)
What a tragedy.
Not a surprise, however. In all my many, many flights in and out of Chicago I never even considered using Midway Airport. I thought of it as a little old backward airport really just for small private planes - Cessnas and the like. Many Chicagoans share this attitude, or did when I lived there many years ago. If you wanted to fly somewhere, you went to O'Hare.
As for the weather problem, no surprise either. Those snowstorms Chicago gets sometimes, like this one, when the snow is just pouring out of the sky so thick you can hardly see, are horrible to drive in, hard even to walk in.
I remember the white-outs, the blizzards, the driving sleet, the slush, the ice... The terror of trying to drive in all this - "terror" not being too strong a word, "trying" literally meaning maybe you can and maybe you can't. You try, you attempt it, you give it your best. Whether your car or the road or the other drivers prevent you from reaching your destination is another matter. I've done many a "fishtail", despite my best efforts, I've skid through stop signs to land mid-intersection, I've skidded off the road. This is winter driving in the Midwest. It ultimately is in God's hands. You come to realize and accept that.
It takes some toughness and courage to cope with Chicago weather. It's also why I still, after all these years, laugh at Southern Californians' attitude toward rain. Ooooo, *Winter Storm Watch* - we may get .10" of rain!! We may have an overnight low in the 40s! We may have to drive a little more carefully, and even, a little slower (then they don't do either!).
All in all, though, with this latest Chicago weather disaster, I've decided that it is less dangerous in California than it is in Illinois. The weather will kill you in a hundred different ways in Illinois. No doubt many more people have died in the past 100 years in Illinois from natural disasters (include weather!) than have died here in California from the same. We just have more spectacular disasters out here (quakes, mudslides, wildfires...).
I love Chicago, love it dearly, but, yeah, nice place to visit! I'm glad I'm here in my SoCal beach town. (I so not miss winter driving!)
NASA's Mars Rover Opportunity Moves Stalled Robotic Arm
NASA's Mars Rover Opportunity Moves Stalled Robotic Arm - Yahoo! News
The Mars Rovers - our Energizer Bunnies in Space, still hard at work exploring the Red Planet.
This is a NASA success story - these Rovers were supposed to stop functioning how long ago? years ago?
The Mars Rovers - our Energizer Bunnies in Space, still hard at work exploring the Red Planet.
This is a NASA success story - these Rovers were supposed to stop functioning how long ago? years ago?
Thursday, December 08, 2005
Streisand Cancels LA Times Subscription
Streisand Cancels LA Times Subscription - Yahoo! News
Remember my complaints about the firing of Michael Ramirez and Robert Scheer and the "dumbing down", IMO, of the L.A. Times Ed/Op sections?
Proof here that I am not at all alone. More important than Streisand's annoyance is the negative reponse in the vast majority of Letters to the Editor following this announcement. Yes, a bad move on the Times part.
Note that this is not an anti-liberal thing. Ramirez is rather conservative (he talked about it, even, when I interviewed him that time I discussed previously here.).
I'm not cancelling my subscription, though. I don't have a better option, no viable replacement.
Remember my complaints about the firing of Michael Ramirez and Robert Scheer and the "dumbing down", IMO, of the L.A. Times Ed/Op sections?
Proof here that I am not at all alone. More important than Streisand's annoyance is the negative reponse in the vast majority of Letters to the Editor following this announcement. Yes, a bad move on the Times part.
Note that this is not an anti-liberal thing. Ramirez is rather conservative (he talked about it, even, when I interviewed him that time I discussed previously here.).
I'm not cancelling my subscription, though. I don't have a better option, no viable replacement.
Great Lakes near ecological breakdown: scientists
Great Lakes near ecological breakdown: scientists - Yahoo! News
This should be troubling for all Americans - and North Americans, but, I take this personally as having spent the first 35 years of my life in the Chicago area. I am very familiar with the Great Lakes, having spent much time in them, on them, and on their beaches. I also know that the Chicago area is dependent on Lake Michigan for its water supply. (OTOH, Chicago does have a great water filtration system, far better than what we have here in Orange County, CA.)
Needless to say, I certainly hope this unhappy situation can be turned around.
This should be troubling for all Americans - and North Americans, but, I take this personally as having spent the first 35 years of my life in the Chicago area. I am very familiar with the Great Lakes, having spent much time in them, on them, and on their beaches. I also know that the Chicago area is dependent on Lake Michigan for its water supply. (OTOH, Chicago does have a great water filtration system, far better than what we have here in Orange County, CA.)
Needless to say, I certainly hope this unhappy situation can be turned around.
Monday, December 05, 2005
Dean: GOP Will Use Immigration to Divide
Dean: GOP Will Use Immigration to Divide - Yahoo! News
While Dean's rather a loose cannon (yes, I winced when he started his screaming that Primary night and wished he'd cut it out, 'cause it made him look a little too crazy), remember that he was the first Democrat to speak up and talk like one after 9/11 instead of sticking his finger in the air to see which way the wind was blowing first, as most of the other Democrats do.
Anyway, the Dean headline: I don't like it. I think this is horse hockey, to be polite. What division? There's division in the Republican Party between the business people who appreciate the cheap illegal labor, and the Republicans concerned about the borders. As for the Democrats, when they're not too busy testing for which way the wind is blowing, are cautiously, as they are so often lately, trying to discern just where they're with at this issue. Ever the namby-pambys these days. We need another leader with lots of initials, perhaps: FDR, JFK, LBJ... Although Jimmy Carter's a good guy, in spite of his lack of initials ; )
A Leader.
This is one Democrat that does not appreciate illegal immigration - I think it is wrong and shouldn't be - and I am not alone. (Note that I am for immigration - I am the daughter of an immigrant! A legal immigrant, I might add, who learned English, became a citizen, always votes, fought in WWII, flies the *American* flag - not the Swedish of his homeland, celebrates Thanksgiving and 4th of July, etc.) I am really tired of those who whenever the "illegals" issue is brought up start yelling "racism." It's not about race! What race, anyway? There's no Mexican race. It's about legal vs. illegal. And, jeez, I wish more people would speak English instead of Spanish - at least want to. My family learned... I've helped scores of Vietnamese and Korean immigrants learn English - they wanted to learn, they knew it was important, "the language of opportunity" one student called it. But, anyway, I digress...
I don't agree with Dean - I don't think this is going to divide between the Republicans and the Democrats. This is not yet another "gay marriage" monkey wrench to throw into an election, to keep us from having serious discussion about the truly important issues facing this country.
I'm overdue for checking out that Kennedy-McCain proposal on this subject... Whatever these two can get together on can't be too bad...?
While Dean's rather a loose cannon (yes, I winced when he started his screaming that Primary night and wished he'd cut it out, 'cause it made him look a little too crazy), remember that he was the first Democrat to speak up and talk like one after 9/11 instead of sticking his finger in the air to see which way the wind was blowing first, as most of the other Democrats do.
Anyway, the Dean headline: I don't like it. I think this is horse hockey, to be polite. What division? There's division in the Republican Party between the business people who appreciate the cheap illegal labor, and the Republicans concerned about the borders. As for the Democrats, when they're not too busy testing for which way the wind is blowing, are cautiously, as they are so often lately, trying to discern just where they're with at this issue. Ever the namby-pambys these days. We need another leader with lots of initials, perhaps: FDR, JFK, LBJ... Although Jimmy Carter's a good guy, in spite of his lack of initials ; )
A Leader.
This is one Democrat that does not appreciate illegal immigration - I think it is wrong and shouldn't be - and I am not alone. (Note that I am for immigration - I am the daughter of an immigrant! A legal immigrant, I might add, who learned English, became a citizen, always votes, fought in WWII, flies the *American* flag - not the Swedish of his homeland, celebrates Thanksgiving and 4th of July, etc.) I am really tired of those who whenever the "illegals" issue is brought up start yelling "racism." It's not about race! What race, anyway? There's no Mexican race. It's about legal vs. illegal. And, jeez, I wish more people would speak English instead of Spanish - at least want to. My family learned... I've helped scores of Vietnamese and Korean immigrants learn English - they wanted to learn, they knew it was important, "the language of opportunity" one student called it. But, anyway, I digress...
I don't agree with Dean - I don't think this is going to divide between the Republicans and the Democrats. This is not yet another "gay marriage" monkey wrench to throw into an election, to keep us from having serious discussion about the truly important issues facing this country.
I'm overdue for checking out that Kennedy-McCain proposal on this subject... Whatever these two can get together on can't be too bad...?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
