Memorial Day 2007

Thank you to all who have ever served our nation.

And words can never adequately express the gratitude for those who have died or been wounded in that service.

Peace and honor be with all.

Some of my favorite songs

Maybe too much personal info, but:
Some of the songs I like (no particular order). I've linked to You Tube, so the links may not last.

Pat Metheny - Last Train Home
Dar Williams - The Christians and the Pagans
Gary Newman - Cars
Kim Carnes - Betty Davis Eyes
Police - Every Breath You Take
Marc Cohn - Walking in Memphis
Bryan Adams - Cuts Like a Knife
George Jones - He Stopped Loving Her Today
Randolph Michaud - He Stopped Loving Her Today (another good interpretation)
Enigma - Return to Innocence (interesting video take)
Suzanne Vega - Luka
Procul Harum - Whiter Shade of Pale (original version)
Procul Harum - Whiter Shade of Pale (later live version)
Iron Butterfly - In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida
The Nightcrawlers - The Little Black Egg (ok, can't find actual version, but this is funny)
Moody Blues - Your Wildest Dreams
Bertie Higgins - Key Largo
Allman Brothers - Melissa
Melissa Manchester - Midnight Blue
Lou Gramm - Midnight Blue (of course not the same as Melissa's)
George Strait - Amarillo by Morning
Marshall Tucker - Can't You See
Charlie Daniels - Long Haired Country Boy
Tom Petty and Heartbreakers - Rebels

There are so many others, but these are a few I know are on the web, now at least.

Yeah, I know that I just pissed away an hour or so finding these. But I've enjoyed this eclectic hunt.

A good idea...

from antimedia. Having news media embedded with our warriors seems to be life changing. The linked article tells of foreign press types that 'love' our soldiers. Antimedia suggests embedding Americans with our troops. Of course, with many Democrats and other leftists, finding 'Americans' might be difficult.

The Immigration Issue

I like Peggy Noonan, but all too often she's kinda squishy. She's like the teacher who tries not to raise her voice as she separates two cantankerous children.

I have lots of thoughts about illegal immigration, but she pretty much summarizes them below.

But it's not so complex. The past quarter-century an unprecedented wave of illegal immigrants has crossed our borders. The flood is so great that no one--no one--can see or fully imagine all the many implications, all the country-changing facts of it. No one knows exactly what uncontrolled immigration is doing and will do to our country.

So what should we do?

We should stop, slow down and absorb. We should sit and settle. We should do what you do after eating an eight-course meal. We should digest what we've eaten.

Marion County raked in the goodies...

this legislative session. Even after Gov. Charlie tossed out some flagrant pork, some good things survived. Of them, as mentioned in the above linked Ocala Star Banner article, over a million dollars will be used to expand The Centers, a mental health/drug rehab operation that serves Marion and Citrus counties.

"The Centers received $1.25 million for construction of a 15-bed facility in Lecanto to serve youth and adolescents in Citrus and Marion counties. It was the project's third go-round in Tallahassee: In 2004-05, the Legislature didn't pass it, and last year's effort resulted in a veto."

Frankly, this project does have a whiff of 'bacon' but we seem to keep getting more and more crazies in our area and need to build more space to house them. Some Florida taxpayers may think this is just more pork, to which I say...thanks, Florida.

Religion of Peace, My Ass! (Part 16)

Actually, Islam would be much more peaceful if more American Muslims would follow the example of TAWFIK HAMID in the Wall Street Journal article linked above.

A former member of a terrorist organization, Mr. Hamid says "Islamophobia could end when masses of Muslims demonstrate in the streets against videos displaying innocent people being beheaded with the same vigor we employ against airlines, Israel and cartoons of Muhammad. It might cease when Muslims unambiguously and publicly insist that Shariah law should have no binding legal status in free, democratic societies."

Amen, brother Tawfik.

Why I voted for Katherine Harris (Part 3)

The answer: Bill Nelson.

Wait a minute! Is that possible?

Damn, spaceboy Nelson did NOT vote against the bill (U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007). I was sure he would follow the rest of the his leftist leadership.

But I was wrong.

I would almost think he's becoming less a Democrat and more of a patriot.

But this vote isn't enough to form that conclusion. I have every reason to think he will revert to form shortly.

Besides, there was enough pork in this bill to give him cover. For awhile.

(I still wish Katherine Harris had won. She is an uncompromising patriot. Not the best Republican candidate, but the best candidate on the 2006 Florida ballot.)

Why am I not posting more?

A very good question. I've been sporadic at best since I started this blog over 2 years ago.

Lately however I had a recurring problem: Damned Computers!

I can't blog at work, so that leaves the evenings. And my cheap ass 'system' started to have lots of problems and I couldn't rely upon it. Well, actually I could-to be too damned slow.

But that's fixed now. I did another upgrade and things seem to be going swimmingly-so far.

And oh yeah, I think I'm fighting some recurring depression. Usually passes. I'm still waiting.

Burning Up in Florida

It's been one helluva several days here in Florida...fires seem to be everywhere. I'm having flashbacks to the drought and fires of 1998. Here in the Ocala area we've been breathing smoke for a long time.

Just got back from visiting my Mom in Georgia. I left on Saturday morning on I-75 and made good time...until I got past the last Lake City exit. It was smoky as hell during the drive, but then visibility went to nearly zero. We crawled for a few miles before I got off at I-10 heading toward Tallahassee. Smoky there too, folks. Cleared up a bit, but it was smoky and hazy through Tallahassee and north into Georgia. Found out that the I-75/I-10 area was shut down a few minutes after I got through it.

Came back Sunday night a different way. Still through Tallahassee, but used US 27. Made it home and it only took me an additional 30 minutes. Still smoke, but the roads were open. And there I drove thru rain for the first time in over a month. Saw some landscape that I haven't seen in 30 years. Maybe I'll go that way again. Lovely parts of Florida. You can forget that sometimes.

For those of you still breathing smoke today-hang in there.

For those of you considering moving to Florida-a word to the wise. It's not all beaches and cool breezes.