don't leave home without it

Your camera that is

That was such a pleasant afternoon. I was waiting for my brother in the parking lot at the VA clinic in Galveston listening to satellite radio, and the birds, enjoying the unseasonably cool breeze.

Countdown:State senators time-warped thinking

Countdown:State senators time-warped thinking

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Because you didn't think to go to Keith's program today.

And from the ticker at the Chronicle  Denton man gets religious tattoo, runs out on bill  The lead, "God might not be the only one passing judgment on a man who skipped out on paying $200 for a religious tattoo at a Denton parlor.",  When you click on over there don't forget to treat yourself to some of the genuinely inane comments that follow the article.

Something abut which I don't have to worry is also news in the Chronicle today, House Dems look at surtax on the wealthy   The lead off "WASHINGTON — An income tax surcharge on highly paid Americans emerged as the leading option Wednesday night as House Democrats sought ways to pay for health care legislation that President Barack Obama favors, several officials said.

As discussed in the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, the surtax would apply to individuals with adjusted gross income of more than $200,000 and couples over $250,000, they added."

Of course if you want the real scoop on the budget you casn find it here And, yes, I put real in italics to mock some with whom I sometimes have disagreements ... you know who you are.:=)

If your visit to the OMB get's you riled enough to take action you can read and consider this from True Majority

Ending production of the F-22 fighter jet should be common sense. The plane's a Cold War relic built to win dogfights with the Soviet Union.1 But despite never having flown in combat, we've already bought 187 F-22s at a cost of more than $351 million each.2

These planes don't make us any safer, but companies like Boeing and Lockheed make a fortune building them. And so far those same corporations have spent enough on lobbyists and campaign donations to scare Congress into keeping the weapons contracts alive, even in this recession.3

President Obama is FINALLY standing up to the weapons builders and calling for an end to the F-22.4 So far, Congress has been too scared to follow suit - but we've just learned that there will be an amendment to the Defense Authorization bill that could end the F-22 program for good.

That amendment gives us a chance, but we need to act fast - the vote on the F-22 could come as early as next week. Help convince YOUR Senators that we've got better things to do with $351 million dollars by signing our petition and sending them one of our F-22 hologram cards.



Our F-22 hologram card shows that for the cost of one F-22 we could rebuild and renew 60 American schools serving more than 36,000 kids. This succinct and effective tool has already convinced thousands of friends and relatives. And the President, the Secretary of Defense, and other leaders who support cutting the F-22 have used the same arguments in their speeches and testimony.5

But the weapons builders know that if the Congress gets up the courage to end this one plane, they might start cutting other weapons and investing in things like education or healthcare instead.

So they've brought out their big guns to oppose Obama's plan. And under that storm of corporate pressure, Congress already chickened out twice.6

The Senate amendment gives Congress another chance to stop wasting our money on airplanes we don't need, and start investing in things that make us truly strong. By signing our petition and sending your Senators an F-22 card, you'll show them where you stand, and also provide the facts and maybe even the courage they need to do the right thing.

Sign now and we'll gift-wrap a F-22 card in the signatures of you and other TrueMajority members from your state and send it to your Senators with your compliments.

- Matt

Matt Holland
Online Director
TrueMajority / USAction

Bernie: Dems should unite against GOP filibuster threat - Daily Kos TV (beta)

Bernie: Dems should unite against GOP filibuster threat - Daily Kos TV (beta)

Countdown:Fmr. CIA analyst wants U.S. attacked?

Countdown:Fmr. CIA analyst wants U.S. attacked?

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The Facts

The Facts: "WASHINGTON (AP) -- Al Franken became a senator on Tuesday, completing the transformation from comedian to politician.

The Minnesota Democrat's swearing-in marked the end of an eight-month political and legal struggle and drew thunderous applause and a standing ovation in the Senate chamber. His presence gives Democrats 60 votes, enough to thwart possible Republican filibusters."

Vietnam War architect Robert McNamara dies at 93 - Yahoo! News

Vietnam War architect Robert McNamara dies at 93 - Yahoo! News: Quoting the linked article, "WASHINGTON – Robert S. McNamara, the brainy Pentagon chief who directed the escalation of the Vietnam War despite private doubts the war was winnable or worth fighting, died Monday at 93.
McNamara revealed his misgivings three decades after the American defeat that some called 'McNamara's war.'"

  A great many people have attempted to engage me in debate over the value and consequence experienced by the U.S. as a result over it's involvement in that conflict. Because I carry visible scars and such from my time in the army there most who ask prepare for an extreme response either for or against the whole episode.  Yea, I don't go there anymore.  In the forty years since my personal experience with the situation I've yet to witness any meaningful "Renaissance moment" on either side tempering their views with any real growth.

ICE AGE 3: DAWN OF THE DINOSAURS

My brother and I took his grandchildren and a friend to see ICE AGE 3: DAWN OF THE DINOSAURS (digital 3d)yesterday afternoon and I swear if you've brought your realD 3d glasses home and put them on while watching this trailer you can see a difference.

  Well, maybe not, but it's still a good movie.  The film is rated PG for mild rude humor, which had the adults in the audience laughing out loud.  The 3d effect is fabulous!