Snerk…

Posted on by April 16, 2013

Talk about intolerance…  But then it IS a muslim country…

Three Emirati men were ejected from a festival in Saudi Arabia as they were deemed “too handsome”, leading authorities to fear women could become attracted to them, it has been reported.

According to Arabic language Elaph newspaper, the UAE nationals were taking part in a heritage event in the capital Riyadh on Sunday when they were thrown out by Saudi’s religious police.

Saudi Arabia, a strictly conservative Sunni Muslim society, prohibits women from interacting with unrelated males.

“A festival official said the three Emiratis were taken out on the grounds they are too handsome and that the Commission members feared female visitors could fall for them,” the newspaper said.

Full article HERE.

Finally found it…

Posted on by April 18, 2013

Yes, they really DID land a C-130 on the Forrestal back in the 60s’…

Took me a while, but I finally found this video that shows the actual landings!

NOT something I’d want to be riding in the back of the bus for… Just sayin…

From Who’s On First To Who’s In Charge…

Posted on by April 15, 2013

Another Abbot and Costello that hits the nail on the head… dammit…

COSTELLO: I want to talk about the unemployment  rate in America .

ABBOTT: Good Subject. Terrible Times. It’s  7.8%.

COSTELLO: That many people are out of  work?

ABBOTT: No, that’s 14.7%

COSTELLO: You just  said 7.8%.

ABBOTT: 7.8% Unemployed.

COSTELLO: Right 7.8%  out of work.

ABBOTT: No, that’s 14.7%.

COSTELLO:  Okay, so it’s 14.7% unemployed.

ABBOTT: No, that’s  7.8%.

COSTELLO: WAIT A MINUTE. Is it 7.8% or  14.7%?

ABBOTT: 7.8% are unemployed. 14.7% are out of  work.

COSTELLO: If you are out of work you are  unemployed.

ABBOTT: No, Congress said you can’t count the “Out of  Work” as the unemployed.     You have to look for work to  be unemployed.

COSTELLO: BUT THEY ARE OUT OF  WORK!!!

ABBOTT: No, you miss his point.

COSTELLO: What  point?

ABBOTT: Someone who doesn’t look for work can’t be counted  with those who look for work.   It wouldn’t  be fair.

COSTELLO: To whom?

ABBOTT: The  unemployed.

COSTELLO: But ALL of them are out of  work.

ABBOTT: No, the unemployed are actively looking for work.  Those who are out of work gave up looking and if you give up, you are no  longer in the ranks of the unemployed.

COSTELLO: So if you’re off  the unemployment rolls that would count as less  unemployment?

ABBOTT: Unemployment would go down.  Absolutely!

COSTELLO: The unemployment just goes down because you don’t  look for work?

ABBOTT: Absolutely it goes down. That’s how they  get it to 7.8%. Otherwise it would be 14.7%.   Our govt. doesn’t  want you to read about 14.7% unemployment.

COSTELLO: That would be tough on  those running for reelection.

ABBOTT:  Absolutely.

COSTELLO: Wait, I got a question  for you. That means there are two ways to bring down the unemployment  number?

ABBOTT: Two ways is correct.

COSTELLO:  Unemployment can go down if someone gets a job?

ABBOTT:  Correct.

COSTELLO: And unemployment can also go down if you stop  looking for a job?

ABBOTT: Bingo.

COSTELLO: So there are  two ways to bring unemployment down, and the easier of the two is to have  people stop looking for work.

ABBOTT: Now you’re thinking like an  Economist.

COSTELLO: I don’t even know what the hell I just  said!

ABBOTT: Now you’re thinking like  Congress.

h/t JP

Mini-meet…

Posted on by April 15, 2013

For you DC/NOVA/MD area bloggers, Borepatch is in town tonight, get together is at Herndon at 1830.  If you’re interested, drop Borepatch a line HERE.

I know it’s short notice, but any excuse to get out of the house… 🙂

Johnathan Winters…

Posted on by April 18, 2013

I know I’m late, but I was looking for a good clip of him at his best…

JP sent this one, and I remember this as a kid.  Improv at it’s best!!!

And many comedians today owe their styles to him, including Robin Williams!

RIP sir, RIP and know that you will be missed (at least by my generation)!

Benghazi, still again…

Posted on by April 18, 2013

We still don’t have answers…

The families, AND America deserve answers, not continued stonewalling…

Please support these folks in their attempt to actually get a special committee to look into this disaster and get the real answers. We know that in fact not a single person was fired, they were just lateral moved to new jobs and the excuse was they ‘couldn’t be fired’…

Gentle Thoughts… Kinda, sorta…

Posted on by April 13, 2013

Birds of a feather flock together and then crap on your car.

A penny saved is a government oversight.

The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing at the right time, but also to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.

The older you get, the tougher it is to lose weight, because by then your body and your fat have gotten to be really good friends.

The easiest way to find something lost around the house is to buy a replacement.

He who hesitates is probably right.

Did you ever notice: The Roman Numerals for forty (40) are XL.’

If you think there is good in everybody, you haven’t met everybody.

If you can smile when things go wrong, you have someone in mind to blame.

The sole purpose of a child’s middle name is so he can tell when he’s really in trouble.

There’s always a lot to be thankful for if you take time to look for it. For example I am sitting here thinking how nice it is that wrinkles don’t hurt.

Did you ever notice: When you put the 2 words ‘The’ and ‘IRS’ together it spells ‘Theirs….’

Aging: Eventually you will reach a point when you stop lying about your age and start bragging about it.

The older we get, the fewer things seem worth waiting in line for.

Some people try to turn back their odometers. Not me, I want people to know ‘why’ I look this way. I’ve traveled a long way and some of the roads weren’t paved.

When you are dissatisfied and would like to go back to your youth, think of Algebra.

You know you are getting old when everything either dries up or leaks.

One of the many things no one tells you about aging is that it is such a nice change from being young. Ah, being young is beautiful, but being old is comfortable.

Lord, keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth… AMEN!

Just Moved the Site

Posted on by April 14, 2013

Due to some server issues with my previous host, I just finished moving the site to the new VPS.  This is an open thread for comments in case anyone discovers any issues with the new server while I beat out the hiccups.

-B

It’s that time of year!!!

Posted on by April 13, 2013

Fairfax, Va. – The National Rifle Association (NRA) is pleased to announce this year’s Annual Meetings and Exhibits, to be held at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas from May 3-5, 2013.

For further updates and announcements, be sure to follow NRA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NationalRifleAssociation and on Twitter @NRA.

Seventy-thousand attendees are expected at this year’s Annual Meetings and Exhibits, sponsored by Midway USA, making this one of the largest in NRA’s 142-year history. Leading firearm manufacturers will display the firearm industry’s latest and greatest products. Guides and outfitters, various hunting and shooting accessories, and an extensive private collection displayed by NRA-affiliated gun collector clubs will fill nine acres of convention space.

The ever-popular NRA-ILA Leadership Forum will take place on Friday, May 3, from 1:00-3:00 p.m. Confirmed speakers for the event sponsored by Midway USA include Governor Rick Perry, former Congressman Asa Hutchinson, Governor Bobby Jindal, former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, Senator Ted Cruz, former Senator Rick Santorum, former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. John Bolton, and Emmy Award winner and host of Fox News’ “Justice with Judge Jeanine” Jeanine Pirro.

NRA Country, a proud partnership between NRA and country music’s brightest stars, is pleased to present NRA Country Jam III, on the 3rd floor of the Houston convention center, Friday, May 3. This year’s headlining act is the Eli Young Band. Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. NRA Country Jam III is presented by Bushnell and benefits the Folds of Honor Foundation, an organization who provides support services to the spouses and children of soldiers killed or disabled in service to our country.

NRA’s Stand and Fight Rally, sponsored by Midway USA, will take place Saturday, May 4, at 7:30 p.m. Glenn Beck, political commentator and host of the Glenn Beck Program, will be the featured speaker for the evening.

NRA’s Annual Meetings and Exhibits provide a safe and fun atmosphere the whole family can enjoy. NRA offers diverse seminars presented by Cabela’s throughout the three-day convention, including: Methods of Concealed, Gun Dog & Retriever Training, Defensive Shooting Skill Development and Refuse to a Victim®.

For more information, including event tickets, please visit www.nraam.org.

I’ll be there, how about you???

Oh yeah, and the NRA 500 is coming on Fox now!  So much for TV not showing it… 😀

Budgets…

Posted on by April 11, 2013

BO’s FINALLY submitted a budget, which is basically a rehash of what he’s been trying to get through since 2008… But one interesting note is the $.94/pack ‘new’ tax on tobacco products!  It’s for the children… AGAIN!!!

The investments in early childhood education and development on the mandatory side of the Budget are fully financed by raising the Federal tax on cigarettes from $1.01 to $1.95 per pack. In addition to financing important investments in early learning, the proposed tobacco tax increase would have substantial public health benefits, particularly for young Americans. Researchers have found that raising taxes on cigarettes significantly reduces consumption, with especially large effects on youth smoking.

Here by comparison is Ryan’s budget submission on the House side…

Notice S.S. and the military are NOT on this list.

These are all the programs that the new Republican House has proposed cutting. Read to the end.

* Corporation for Public Broadcasting Subsidy — $445 million annual savings.
* Save America ‘s Treasures Program — $25 million annual savings.
* International Fund for Ireland — $17 million annual savings.
* Legal Services Corporation — $420 million annual savings.
* National Endowment for the Arts — $167.5 million annual savings.
* National Endowment for the Humanities — $167.5 million annual savings.
* Hope VI Program — $250 million annual savings.
* Amtrak Subsidies — $1.565 billion annual savings.
* Eliminate duplicating education programs — H.R. 2274 (in last Congress), authored by Rep. McKeon, eliminates 68 at a savings of $1.3 billion annually.
* U.S. Trade Development Agency — $55 million annual savings.
* Woodrow Wilson Center Subsidy — $20 million annual savings.
* Cut in half funding for congressional printing and binding — $47 million annual savings.
* John C. Stennis Center Subsidy — $430,000 annual savings.
* Community Development Fund — $4.5 billion annual savings.
* Heritage Area Grants and Statutory Aid — $24 million annual savings.
* Cut Federal Travel Budget in Half — $7.5 billion annual savings
* Trim Federal Vehicle Budget by 20% — $600 million annual savings.
* Essential Air Service — $150 million annual savings.
* Technology Innovation Program — $70 million annual savings.
* Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Program — $125 million annual savings..
* Department of Energy Grants to States for Weatherization — $530 million annual savings.
* Beach Replenishment — $95 million annual savings.
* New Starts Transit — $2 billion annual savings.

* Exchange Programs for Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and Their Historical Trading Partners in Massachusetts — $9 million annual savings
* Intercity and High Speed Rail Grants — $2.5 billion annual savings.
* Title X Family Planning — $318 million annual savings.
* Appalachian Regional Commission — $76 million annual savings.
* Economic Development Administration — $293 million annual savings.
* Programs under the National and Community Services Act — $1.15 billion annual savings.
* Applied Research at Department of Energy — $1.27 billion annual savings.
* Freedom CAR and Fuel Partnership — $200 million annual savings..
* Energy Star Program — $52 million annual savings.
*Economic Assistance to Egypt — $250 million annually.
* U.S.Agency for International Development — $1.39 billion annual savings.
* General Assistance to District of Columbia — $210 million annual savings.
* Subsidy for Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority — $150 million annual savings.
*Presidential Campaign Fund — $775 million savings over ten years.
* No funding for federal office space acquisition — $864 million annual savings.
* End prohibitions on competitive sourcing of government services.
* Repeal the Davis-Bacon Act — More than $1 billion annually.
* IRS Direct Deposit: Require the IRS to deposit fees for some services it offers (such as processing payment plans for taxpayers) to the Treasury, instead of allowing it to remain as part of its budget — $1.8 billion savings over ten years.
*Require collection of unpaid taxes by federal employees — $1 billion total savings.WHAT THE HELL IS THIS ABOUT?
* Prohibit taxpayer funded union activities by federal employees — $1.2 billion savings over ten years.
* Sell excess federal properties the government does not make use of — $15 billion total savings.
*Eliminate death gratuity for Members of Congress.WHAT???
* Eliminate Mohair Subsidies — $1 million annual savings.
*Eliminate taxpayer subsidies to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change — $12.5 million annual savings

  WELL ISN’T THAT SPECIAL
* Eliminate Market Access Program — $200 million annual savings.
* USDA Sugar Program — $14 million annual savings.
* Subsidy to Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) — $93 million annual savings.
* Eliminate the National Organic Certification Cost-Share Program — $56.2 million annual savings.
*Eliminate fund for Obamacare administrative costs– $900 million savings.
* Ready to Learn TV Program — $27 million savings..
* HUD Ph.D. Program.
* Deficit Reduction Check-Off Act.

*TOTAL SAVINGS: $2.5 Trillion over Ten Years

My question is, what is all this doing in the budget in the first place?  Some of them are truly mind boggling… Sigh…

h/t Ev