May 2007 Stuff!

Here's a few things I found interesting this month:

Support the Troops - End the War

It's not complicated. Our people  should not be dying in Iraq just to ensure the Iraqis pass an Oil Law to our liking. You can get a free bumper sticker at: http://johnedwards.com/supportthetroopsendthewar/choose?ref=m2

And you know what? Just because John Edwards gets an expensive haircut, doesn't mean he's not right on this. Our greatest president of the 20th century was FDR - and he was 'way richer than Edwards. - 05/30/07

Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund

The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund is a leader in supporting the men and women of the Armed Forces and their families. Begun in 2000 under the auspices of the Intrepid Museum Foundation, and established as an independent not-for-profit organization in 2003, the Fund has provided close to $60 million in support for the families of military personnel lost in service to our nation, and for severely wounded military personnel and veterans. These efforts are funded entirely with donations from the public, and hundreds of thousands of individuals have contributed to the Fund. 100% of contributions raised by the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund go towards these programs; all administrative expenses are underwritten by the Fund’s Trustees. See http://www.fallenheroesfund.org

Sicko! (preview)

Interesting & entertaining look at health care.

This Modern World

Not only  a great comic with a penguin, but a smart and funny blog: http://www.thismodernworld.com/   (05/20/07)

Registry Cleaners

If you have a Windows machine, you'll gradually notice is slowing down over time as its "Registry" accumulates garbage. More information at article by Fred Langa.

You can, of course, buy things to clean the registry, or use some free downloads to do it almost the same. One of them recommend by Fred (and tested by me ... seems o.k.) is a 30-day free sample of jv16 Power Tools, available at http://www.macecraft.com/downloads/ - (05/19/07)

More free stuff: http://rewinn.com/9993.html

 

A General Speaks

 

Gas Buddy!

As gas prices go insane, you need Gas Buddy: http://www.gasbuddy.com to help you look for the lowest gas prices in your area!

Other tips on saving money: http://rewinn.com/9993 

-5/13/07

 

Happy Mother's Day for Peace!

Did you know that that Mother's Day in the United States was originally a woman's movement for peace. In 1870, Julia Ward Howe (best known for writing the "Battle Hymn of the Republic") published a Mother's Day Proclamation in reaction to the carnage of the American Civil War and the Franco-Prussian War:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother%27s_Day_Proclamation

It didn't catch on, but her daughter Anna Jarvis continued and until in 1914 President Woodrow Wilson declared the first national Mother's Day, as a day for American citizens to show the flag in honor of those mothers whose sons had died in war.

Sadly the U.S. holiday became so commercialized that Anna Jarvis herself became a major opponent of what the holiday had become. But we can take it back.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2003698620_snorugg09.html

Happy Mother's Day, one and all!  

http://rewinn.com/9907   -5/12/07

Skywatching

Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane!

It's  Joel Block and Deborah Byrd and their Earth & Sky program:   

http://www.earthsky.org/skywatching/

-05/11/07

 

Remember when troops were promised


...they'd get a year in the USA between deployments?

That was a solid promise, issued last month, sort of a bargain made in exchange for increasing deployments to 15 months.

Well, that promise didn't last 30 days before being broken, according to an article in Stars And Stripes:

"Members of the 1st Armored Division’s 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry, Company A, learned Tuesday that they are scheduled to head back to Iraq in November, just nine months after the 150-soldier company left the combat zone in February ..."

Support the troops for real, not fake.

-4/10/07
 

Schedule for Bush's Last Day As President

1. Bush pardons Cheney
2. Bush resigns
3. Cheney sworn in
4. Cheney pardons Bush
5. They move to Dubai and collect their pay.

-5/9/07

 

What I Believe (1)

As a liberal, I believe that any American who works full-time should be able to:

Now, we can quibble about the details.  But anyone who does not agree with the above is simply anti-family and, I believe, not a good American.

-5/5/07

 

Happy May Day!

 

When I was a kid, May Day was a vague holiday having something to do with flowers and the Blessed Virgin Mary. I wasn't real clear on what a virgin was, but whatever the nuns wanted was o.k. with me.

Ages later, I learned about Beltane, Labor Day (and also a little more about "virgin"). Also, May 1st is the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker and Americanization Day and Loyalty Day (36 U.S.C. 115) and more.

All in all, it's the most confusing holiday of the year. Might as well have a drink!

-5/1/2007

Law Poem:
Loyalty Day

 

"May 1 is Loyalty Day ...

 .... a special day
for the reaffirmation of loyalty
to the United States
and
for the recognition
of the heritage
of American freedom.

....The President is requested to issue a proclamation

... calling on United States Government officials to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on Loyalty Day; and

...inviting the people of the United States
to observe
Loyalty Day
 

with appropriate ceremonies
in schools
and other suitable places. --- 36 USC 115"

 

 

-5//2007

 

Memoirs of William Sampson

Now in Print!

After being out of print for 190 years, William Sampson's Memoirs are now available at http://cafepress.com/rewinn . Sampson was an Irish Protestant lawyer, tortured and exiled for the crime of defending Catholics. He came to America on July 4, 1806 and became a leader in promoting human rights and religious under our Constitution.

You can read his exciting memoirs free on the web, or, better still: order the book!

Earlier Finds

Past Thoughts & Stuff

Cost of the War in Iraq

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