It’ Winter, It Snows in the Winter – Get Over It!

Fox News Headline: Mid-Atlantic Braces for Second Massive Snowstorm. As Mid-Atlantic digs out from a historic snowstorm that hit over the weekend, forecasters are predicting another two-footer to blanket the region later this week.

It’s winter, who would think it could snow this time of year?

I have never heard so much whining and complaining in all my life. It’s only a little snow.
18 – 24 inches of snow is not all that big of a weather event! Get over it!
It’s winter and winter brings cold, snow, freezing weather every damn year. Get a real life, Get over it, it’s only a minor winter weather event.

Get a shovel and dig out! Walk to work! To far to walk, to lazy to dig out, then you should Stay home! Here’s an Idea…Visit friends and neighbors, better yet talk to your husband / wife and kids! Wow talking to someone in person. I wonder how that works. Can you talk in 140 characters or less?

No TV, No Internet, No phone? What will become of this world if you miss Oprah or a phone call or text message? Get over your self, your just not that important.

No power, no lights? Use a candle or coal oil lamp for light, No candle, no lamp! That is because you are incompetent, lazy or an idiot! You have know for days that a snow storm was approaching, if you were not prepared thats Your fault, no one else’s!

No heat! Put on more clothes and wrap up in a quilt or blanket. It’s really not that cold! Hungry? Try cooking on a camp stove or Sterno. Let me guess no camp stove or Sterno, well I guess you were to busy whining about what government should do about the weather to prepare for a storms arrival.

Why is Common Sense so Uncommon?

Drink Beer, It Taste Good And It’s Good For You!

Drinking beer can be good for your health.

Beer It's good For You!

New analysis of 100 commercial beers shows the hoppy beverage is a significant source of dietary silicon, a key ingredient for bone health. Silicon content of the beers ranged from 6.4 mg/L to 56.5 mg/L, with an average of 30 mg/L. Two beers are the equivalent of just under a half liter, so a person could get 30 mg of the nutrient from two beers. And while there is no official recommendation for daily silicon uptake, the researchers say, in the United States, individuals consume between 20 and 50 mg of silicon each day.

Hops were the stars of the beer ingredients, showing as much as four times more silicon than was found in malt. The downside: Hops make up a much smaller portion of beer compared with grain. Some beers, such as IPAs are hoppier, while wheat beers tend to have fewer hops than other brews, the researchers say.

Beers containing high levels of malted barley and hops are richest in silicon”. “Wheat contains less silicon than barley because it is the husk of the barley that is rich in this element. While most of the silicon remains in the husk during brewing, significant quantities of silicon nonetheless are extracted into wort and much of this survives into beer.

The type of silicon in beer, called orthosilicic acid, has a 50 percent bioavailability, meaning that much is available for use in the body. Some foods, like bananas are rich in silicon but only 5 percent is bioavailable. This soluble form of silica found in beer could be important for the growth and development of bone and connective tissue, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Research has suggested that moderate beer consumption may help fight osteoporosis, a disease characterized by low bone mass and deterioration of bone tissue.

Another study involving nearly 1,700 women reported last year in the journal Nutrition showed participants who were light to moderate beer drinkers had much better bone density than non-drinkers. The researchers suggested the beer’s plant hormones, not the alcohol, could be responsible for the bone boost.

Why is Common Sense so Uncommon?

Toyota’s Changing Stories Raise Credibility Issues

Look Ma, Accelerator Stuck and No Brakes

Toyota Japan manufactured Prius brakes may fail when you need them the most. Toyota in order to protect brand name so far has refused to issue a recall to repair defective breaking systems. Toyota’s slow response has placed thousands of Prius owners life’s in danger.

This follows a massive recall of several models to repair a serious sticking accelator problem. As many as 8 million Toyota’s world wide may be effected. After a California accident that killed a family of four, including an off-duty California Highway Patrol officer. Toyota officials dismissed those who contended the reports of sudden acceleration might have to do with something other than floor mats. Bob Carter, general manager of the company’s Toyota division, insisted such claims were “unwarranted speculation.”

The real question is, What did Toyota know and when did they know it? That is the question circling around Toyota executives as the world’s largest automaker grapples with widening safety issues engulfing the company’s most popular models.

Why is Common Sense so Uncommon?

Bankers seeking recession affairs or Sexy banker?

LONDON: Reviled by the public and spurned in private, bankers have been looking for solace in adultery, according to a dating website for people
seeking affairs.

Illicit Encounters said it has seen a huge increase in the number of financial workers signing up to have affairs after the collapse of the markets in October last year, and that “finance” continued to be one of the most represented professional areas on the site.

The website said in a statement that it has over 380,000 members across Britain of which more than 20,000 work in “financial services.

It surveyed over 600 men and women bankers to compile a top 10 list of reasons why they embarked on extra-marital affairs.

The list shows that public revulsion for bankers combined with a lack of affection in private was the top reason for having an affair, followed closely by the excitement of doing something risky, escaping boredom, feeding the ego and one-upping the boys with a trophy mistress.

We were surprised at the honesty of some responses, representative Sara Hartley said of the replies, which also showed that long work hours and commuting left many bankers with very little time at home for romance. The more time they spend away from home, the less time they have to rekindle that spark.

A common reply from male respondents had to do with boosting egos and giving in to the peer pressure of having a mistress for the sake of status. Where I work, many of the top dogs are open about their affairs, the website quoted “member 23*56 as saying in its statement. “Having a mistress is like having a flash car.”

A list of the top 10 reasons bankers gave for having affairs follows:

1. To feel loved
2. For the thrill
3 . Unstable home life
4. To escape the mundane
5. Ego boost
6 . To avoid costly divorce
7 . To lavish attention on someone
8 . Because they feel entitled
9. Because they can/opportunity
10 . Peer pressure

Why is Common Sense so Uncommon?

Fatty foods may not be that bad for your heart

“Another scientific fact debunked”.
Saturated fat found mainly in meat and dairy products has a bad reputation,  new analysis of published studies finds no clear link between people’s intake of saturated fat and their risk of developing heart disease.

Overall studies found, there was no difference in the risks of heart disease and stroke between people with the lowest and highest intakes of saturated fat. Some other studies, the researchers write, have shown that consuming polyunsaturated fats in place of saturated ones may lower heart disease risk. Full MSNBC Report

Why is Common Sense so Uncommon?

UK Town Chooses Village View Over Gas Plant

What a bunch of Idiot’s!

UK: Gloucestershire Plans for a gas plant in rural Gloucestershire have been thrown out. National Grid planned to build a facility, that would handle 20% of the nation’s gas, at Tirley, near Tewkesbury.

There has been fierce opposition to this plan from some locals who feared their country view would be ruined. National Grid said the planned plant was vital to complete a 200-mile pipeline plan to carry gas from its terminal at Milford Haven in Pembrokeshire.

‘National importance’ Company spokesman said: “Company we are very disappointed with this decision. “Secretary of state has confirmed a compelling need for this installation. It’s of national importance for our gas supplies. Planning offices recommended this plan saying national need outweighed any possible environmental concerns.

Why is Common Sense so Uncommon?

PORTLAND, Ore. Tax Business and The Rich Pays for more Welfare!

Oregon with it’s liberal socialist government agenda is doing their best to drive wealthy citizens and profitable businesses out of the state.

Oregon. votes on higher taxes for rich citizens and businesses. Polling results suggest that raising taxes on the earnings of the wealthy is more popular than raising taxes on business.

Why is Common Sense so Uncommon?

High Unemployment, Low Wages, States Find New Ways To Collect More Taxes!

Left leaning, liberal state of Massachusetts finding new sources of tax revenue.

Massachusetts is imposing a 5 percent tax on satellite services.
Satellite TV operators DirecTV and Dish Network are teaming up to sue the state.
The two companies filed the lawsuit on Tuesday at a Massachusetts state court. They call the tax “discriminatory” because it applies only to them and not rival cable TV operators.

Italy Owes United States, UN and Others Nations Formal Apology

2010's Biggest Idiot

Italy’s top disaster official blasted the U.S.-led relief effort in Haiti.

Guido Bertolaso, the head of Italy’s Civil Protection Agency, told Italian television on Sunday that the U.S. military “tends to confuse military intervention with emergency intervention,” and that despite the presence of 13,000 U.S. troops there, “no one is giving orders.”

He said there is a danger that aid will be lost by the “inefficient” operation.
Bertolaso threw darts at targets ranging from former President Bill Clinton to the United Nations, which he faulted for throwing aid packages at the island and hoping for the best.

Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini quickly distanced the government in Rome from Bertolaso’s comments and said the Cabinet-level official was not speaking in an official capacity when he lit into the U.S.

“We have lamented from the first day that there has been a lack of adequate coordination,” Frattini told Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera. “But this doesn’t mean that Italy has any intention of criticizing the U.S. efforts.”

Speaking again Monday alongside Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Frattini told reporters in Washington of Italy’s appreciation for U.S. leadership.

“I want to repeat here how highly we value the important and generous efforts of the United States to help the people in Haiti,” Frattini said.
We highly value, we strongly appreciate the personal commitment of President Obama and Secretary Hillary Clinton to help people there.”

Why is Common Sense so Uncommon?

Life Is Tough 01-24-2010

Obamas Propaganda Czar’s Cass Sunstein

An obscure 2008 academic article gained traction with bloggers over the weekend The article was written by the head of Obama’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Harvard Law Professor Cass Sunstein.  He’s a good friend of the president and the promoter the contradictory idea: “libertarian paternalism”. In the article, he muses about what government can do to combat “conspiracy” theories.

…we suggest a distinctive tactic for breaking up the hard core of extremists who supply conspiracy theories: cognitive infiltration of extremist groups, whereby government agents or their allies … will undermine the crippled epistemology of those who subscribe to such theories. They do so by planting doubts about the theories and stylized facts that circulate within such groups, thereby introducing beneficial cognitive diversity.

Read more: of John Stossel report

Be Careful What you Wish For You May Get It!

Old Airplanes, Old Pilots, Aunts and Uncles part II

1917 President Woodrow Wilson declared war on Germany mobilizing millions of men and boys to fight a war in a far away place called Germany and France.  Otis was 35 to old for most jobs in the Army, none the less he give Sis keys to the general store they owned in San Angelo, Texas, made out his will and joined the Army.  San Angelo in 1917 was nothing more than a small cow town with a few dirt streets.  Oil had been discovered near by but at that time was not a big or important industry. They lived in an apartment that they had constructed above the store.

He was sent off for 6 weeks training before being shipped to France.  Upon his arrival in France he met an old friend that was able to get Otis a job working on airplanes, far from the front lines.  Within a month or so Otis convinced one of the pilots to teach him to fly.  By his third month in France Otis had become a pilot and was flying reconnaissance missions over enemy lines. Airplanes in those days could not carry bombs and few were fitted with machine guns.  Otis managed to contribute to the battle effort by flying very low over the enemy lines and pitching hand grenades down on the battle field from the open cockpit of his airplane.

During the insuring 18 months, Otis and his flying partner were shot down several times, crash landed more than once and was recognized for their heroics in battle. When not flying much of his time was invested in patching bullet holes in his airplane.  In November 1918 as suddenly as it started WWI came to an end and Otis along with millions of other Americas were shipped home.

Back home operating a general store could no longer keep Otis happy.  He started a search and found an old Army surplus bi-wing airplane for sale. it was the same model he had flown in France so he knew how to repair and fly this piece of flying history. After a year or so of saving, finding repair parts and rebuild it was ready to take to the air once again.  Otis assisted by Sis spent the next 30 years flying 3 days a week employed by Gulf oil company flying gas and oil lines looking for leaks. I might note that he managed to survive several crash landings due to either pilot error or engine failure.

Rewind to their arrival at my home, many pounds of fried chicken, potato salad and gallons of ice tea had been consumed.  Women and girls were clearing tables washing and putting away dishes, men had gathered to visit and tell stories, boys were sent away to play and not be under the adults feet.

About 3PM Sis and Otis started saying their good bye’s, ( it took about 5 hours to fly back to San Angelo) quickly checking out their airplane began the task of getting it started and ready to fly.  Sis made her way into the front seat, as Otis stood by it’s propeller ready to spin it to start this beast.  Now I find it amazing the were able to manage this task they were both almost 70 years old.  Sis yelled something out of the cockpit to Otis and within seconds the airplane came to life. Otis climbed into the back seat, as Sis gave it more gas, it began to bounce down our dirt road a  was soon in air. I watched until it was out of site.

That was the last time I saw them, they were both killed in a plane crash in 1960 at age 78 still doing heroic things even to death.  What a life, What an adventure they had!

TGIF  -  Why is Common Sense so Uncommon??

Old Airplanes, Old Pilots, Aunts and Uncles part I

Fasten your seat belt, extinguish all smoking materials as we taxi to the runway for take off.

It has been 32 years sense the end of the War to End All Wars, WWI and a full 5 years sense the end of the  big war WWII.  Everyone was busy cleaning,  washing, putting out their best glass and sliver ware.  Dogs and kids had been banished to the backyard with stick instructions not to get dirty and to be on our best behavior.  (Great) Aunt and Uncle Sis and Otis would soon be here.

I really did not understand why but I knew that today was to be a special day.  Great grandpa, great grandma, grandpa, grandma and many cousins, aunts and  uncles were arriving all the time. Most of them were finding a place to set in the shade of our front porch or under the cotton wood trees where grandma had set up tables and benches.  Mama scurrying around, chipping ice, keeping everyones glass filled with ice tea.  I could hear someone asking what time will they get here while straining to see as far down the dirt road  leading to our house as possible. Hoping to see a cloud of dust from an approaching car.

Suddenly we all heard it! The roar of a popping sputtering airplane engine.   Looking up it was only a few feet above our house, I ran to papa in a panic, screaming something about that airplane was going to crash. Papa took my hand and assured me it was not going to crash, it was going to land on our dirt road.  Sure enough it dropped down bouncing once or twice coming to a stop some distance from our house. Two or three older cousins ran down the road, grabbing that airplane by its tail, turning it around so Sis and Otis could drive it back to our house. Everyone with much excitement commenting on the arrival of my great uncle Sis and Otis!

I didn’t know what to expect, I had never seen them before but everyone seem to have a story about them.  The stories always involved them being in evolved in commission of heroic acts or down right foolishness.  Either way they seemed to be everyones favorite aunt and uncle.  It took a bit of doing but they finely got out of that airplane with a brown paper sack in hand started the rounds of hugs, hand shakes and identifying what kid belonged to whom.  There last visit was before I was born.  After things settled down a bit, Otis carefully opened that brown paper sack, dumping a large quality of hard candy on top of an over turned wash tub.  Saying only one piece now, you can have the rest after we eat.

After all the heroic stories I had heard he did not look like the hero kind to me.  He wasn’t much taller than I was, thin and needed a walking stick.  Sometime Sis had to help him get up from his chair.  I could from time to time hear him gasping for air, but no one else seemed to take notice.  Some years later I was told how he had won many metals for his acts of bravery in WWI and that the walking stick was need because he had been in a mustard gas attack and got caught in the sights of a German machine gunner.  I felt so ashame of myself for some of the things I had though about him.

Part I
part II to be posted Saturday or Sunday

Why is Common Scene so Uncommon??

EU Courts Terrorize UK Police and Parliament!

EU Courts terrorize European countries

EU Courts are Worlds Biggest and most well organized terrorist organization.  EU kangaroo Courts more dangerous to freedom loving countries than Al-Qaeda.

Why should any government have a need to answer to these thugs?

LONDON British government said Tuesday it will appeal a European Court of Human Rights ruling that prevents police from using anti-terror laws to stop and search members of the public.

Strasbourg-based court ruled that a British law allowing police to stop and search people without having to first prove they were acting suspiciously violates individual freedoms. (Who are these ass holes to dictate what British Laws are legal or illegal)?  The ruling came in a case brought by two Britons, Kevin Gillan and Pennie Quinton who were stopped and questioned by police near an arms fair held in London in 2003.

British courts ruled that police acted legally because they were dealing with a general threat of terrorism. But the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the pair’s rights were violated and awarded them 30,000 pounds ($48,000) to cover legal costs.

British government gave police the power to stop and search anyone they wished as part of the Terrorism Act passed in 2000. Rights groups, protesters and photographers have complained that police often misuse the law to stop people from carrying out legitimate activities, such as participating in demonstrations or photographing police officers or public buildings.

Home Secretary Alan Johnson said in a statement that he was disappointed by the ruling and the government would appeal. He said police would retain the powers pending the outcome. “Stop and search under section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 is an important tool in a package of measures in the ongoing fight against terrorism,” he said.

Why is Common Sense So Uncommon??

Old News – Do You Remember??

1947 Nissan Electric Car

1946 Technique developed to produce high-quality frozen orange juice concentrate

1946 Tupperware was introduced

1946 Frozen French Fries went on sale at the R.H. Macy department store in New York

1946 Instant Potato (mashed potatoes) was introduced

How Much things cost in 1947?

Average Cost of new house $6,600.00

Average wages per year $2,850.00

Cost of a gallon of Gas 15 cents

Average Cost of a new car $1,300.00

Loaf of Bread 13 cents

United States Postage Stamp 3 cents

Coke Cola 6 ounce Bottle 5 cents

Candy Bar was 5 cents

Ammonium nitrate cargo of SS Grandcap explodes in Texas City, Texas – 552 dead, 3000 injured

UFO allegedly found on July 7th in the Roswell UFO incident

Polaroid Land Camera Demonstrated giving photos in 60 seconds

UK News: Royal Highness Princess Elizabeth marries the Duke of Edinburgh at Westminster Abbey, London.

The United Nations General Assembly votes to partition Palestine between Arabs and Jews

Cold War starts which endured over four decades, from 1947 until the decline and eventual collapse of East European and Soviet state communism in the late 1980s

The Transistor is invented

Walter Morrison invents the Frisbee

ENIAC, one of the world’s first digital computers, is turned on after a memory upgrade. It will remain in continuous operation until October 2, 1955.

The Sound Barrier Broken ( Traveling faster than Sound )

1947 Sugar rationing ends in the U.S

1947 The first aluminum foil, Reynolds Metals ‘Reynolds Wrap’ goes on sale

1948 London, the opening of Britain’s first supermarket, at Manor Park

1948 Bread rationing ends in Britain

Why is Common Sense so Uncommon??

Cabin Fever Is Reaching Advanced Stages

9 degrees {-13 degrees C} it’s the middle of January and to cold to do much in the way of gardening.  Water in my rain barrels and the  ground are frozen,  my hands go numb within minutes of leaving my warm winter hide away. Even the sun is playing tricks on me.  It’s a sunny day.  I can feel the suns warmth as it shines in my south facing window.  Two of my regular visiting  male {cardinals} here after known as Red Birds, are setting on a perch at my home made feeder.  It looks like one of them is busy knitting a sweater.

Peering out my window I see my 3 Holstein steers and 2 goats are bedded down on the south side of a large bail of hay.  In hay they pulled from that hay bail.  [Note to self:  Take sometime and  build a hay feeder to stop them soiling and wasting so much hay!]  But not today!   They have grown their winter coat of hair and look a bit like one of the old Scottish heritage breeds.

Rabbits as you know come from the factory with fur coats and are stretched out in their cages soaking up some warmth from sun shinning into the cages.  They don’t have a care.  Sunshiny cage and all the water and alfalfa hay they can eat at no additional charge.  Cold never seems to bother them much.  It’s the 100 + degree {38 + degree C } Oklahoma summer weather that they seem to dislike the most.

Spock and BG {blue heeler and border collie} don’t seem to like this cold blast any more than I do.  Both of them have found warm places in front of a heater and are warm, snug and sound asleep. I think I will wake them, send them out to check on cows and goats.  They are not doing anything else, besides they need the exercise. Grinning..

Local weather forecaster says that next week we will  get back to our more normal temperatures mid to high 20’s {-1 to -4 degrees C} at night starting Monday this week.  He says we may even get a little rain by weeks end.  We surly need the rain it is getting very dry and I can’t do any garden work until it’s a bit warmer and we get a little moisture in ground. Even in heavy mulched areas I think it is to dry to use a roto tiller in my garden plot.

Now back to important things, looking through a stack of seed catalogs, making a long list of wanted seeds to plant in my garden this spring.  I will then tear it up, I know most of the things on that list will not survive a hot, dry Oklahoma summer!!

Why is Common Sense so Uncommon??

TGIF – Obama Adminstration Filled With Obamas Hand Picked Idiots

NEWS Flash: Obama Adminstration and his hand picked Idiots Pushing EPA to punish America for His Failure in Copenhagen

“The Obama Administration’s proposal, if finalized, will keep unemployment high and put another Washington-based regulation in the way of economic recovery,” Senator Inhofe said. “This action could impose severe restrictions on growth and economic development in cities and towns across the nation. We all support cleaner air, but here’s where the Obama EPA and I disagree: it shouldn’t come at the expense of people’s jobs or the economy.

The Obama EPA proposal comes despite Oklahoma’s tremendous progress in reducing air pollution. In fact, today, no county in Oklahoma is designated as ‘non-attainment’ with the existing ozone standard. But if EPA finalizes its proposal, 15 counties will face stiff new federal penalties-all because the Obama Administration doesn’t think our air is clean enough.

The agency is proposing to set the “primary” standard, which protects public health, at a level between 0.060 and 0.070 parts per million (ppm) measured over eight hours. EPA is also proposing to set a separate “secondary” standard to protect the environment, especially plants and trees.

———————————————————————————————-

ON THE LIGHTER SIDE of things… Winter Has Arrived!
Every morning this week has started off Cold! But this morning it’s not Cold it’s Damn Cold! It was 8 degrees F {about -14 C} and thats cold by any standard! The good news is we haven’t had any freezing rain or snow. The bad news is is going to remain Cold for at least a week.

My friends in the UK are worse off than I am. BBC reports “UK cold snap plunges to new low Travel problems and school closures continue across the UK after temperatures plummet as low as -22.3C (-8.1F).” Thats just plain old fashion cold and they did not dodge the snow and ice storms that brought them this Cold Arctic Blast! Train and bus service interruptions, school closings, cross channel train service stopped several days.
Even Winston Churchill could not avoid being snow covered!

Young Boy’s and Old Men – Walking On The Moon

Only a little over 100 years have passed sense Orville Wright took to the air for a full 12-second, sustained flight on December 17, 1903. This was the first successful, powered, piloted flight in history. My great grandpa had came from Mississippi to Texas in a ox drawn covered wagon in 1880. He and those of his generation spoke of the Wright brothers, David Buick, Dodge brothers, Henry Ford and others as if they knew them personally, as if they were personal friends and how they were building ever bigger, faster airplanes, cars and trucks. Just as a note, he died in 1955 having never owned a car or flown in an airplane.
Commercial Jet Era

As a child and teenager, most airplanes were gasoline powered propeller driven. Hearing one of the 2 or 4 propeller airplanes over head was still a thrill and wonder to see. Young boy’s and old men would stop what they were doing, look into the sky and try to identify what kind of air plane was over head and speculate as to it’s cargo and it’s destination. Watching and listening to it’s roaring engines until it was out of site.

To hear or see one of those New jet engine airplanes sent boy’s into a state of excitement, squinting eyes, straining to see this thing of wonder. They flew so much higher and faster  than propeller airplanes it was often impossible to see this shining silver airplane in a deep blue sky. World War II and US Army Air Corps demands for ever bigger and faster bombers and fighter aircraft hurled America into the jet age. Flying and living in space was something only seen in Buck Rogers comic books. However by 1960 jet travel was common place, propeller driven airplanes were being salvaged as obsolete junk. It’s a bit sad, they were such wonders of technology and a marvel to see and hear.

Soviet Unions launch of Sputnik, on 4 October 1957 sent fear into the hearts of many if not most Americans. Rumors were flying, What is it, what is it doing, what are the Russians up to? All this prompted America to jump into the space race. Only eleven  years later July 16, 1969, looking up at the moon in a faraway country, Vietnam, wondering if AFN radio broadcast could be correct, America had a man walking on the moon at that very moment!   40 years later unlike many Americans I’m still filled with amazement and wonder at flying and living in space. Our space missions have been so numerous with so few failures that most Americans don’t even notice when we launch a new mission into space!

Are we really so busy that we can no longer take time look skyward and to wonder in total amazement how America and Americans have accomplished so much is such a short time? We have only Russia to thank for space flights, walks on the moon and now people living and in space of the international space laboratory. Without Russia pushing to be first, leaving America behind, we would not have accomplished so much so quickly. Thanks Russia for gently pushing America into Space!

Why is Common Sense so Uncommon??

Obamas Health bill would leave 23 million uninsured

Full Story
Democratic universal health care plan. would still leave as many as 23 million people without health insurance by 2018.

Democratic House and Senate sponsored bills, would leave about 8 percent of the population under age 65 without health insurance, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

Why is Common Sense so Uncommon?

Remember Us – A Soldiers Christmas Poem

Take time out of your busy shopping schedule and if only for a minute
remember those that bring you freedom to celebrate Christmas.

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.

The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn’t loud, and it wasn’t too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn’t quite know, Then the
sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.

Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

“What are you doing?” I asked without fear,
“Come in this moment, it’s freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!”
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts…

To the window that danced with a warm fire’s light
Then he sighed and he said, “Its really all right,
I’m out here by choice. I’m here every night.
“It’s my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.

No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I’m proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at ‘ Pearl on a day in December,”
Then he sighed, “That’s a Christmas ‘Gram always remembers.”
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ‘ Nam ‘,
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.

I’ve not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he’s sure got her smile.”
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue… an American flag.
“I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.

I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall.”

“So go back inside,” he said, “harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I’ll be all right.”
“But isn’t there something I can do, at the least,
“Give you money,” I asked, “or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you’ve done,
For being away from your wife and your son.”

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
“Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we’re gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.”

PLEASE, would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as many
people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our
U.S service men and women for our being able to celebrate these
festivities. Let’s try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people
stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us.

LCDR Jeff Giles, SC, USN
30th Naval Construction Regiment
OIC, Logistics Cell One
Al Taqqadum, Iraq

IN GOD WE TRUST

I wish each and everyone of our Hero’s a Safe and Merry Christmas  and a Happy and better 2010.

Thank you for my freedom