These are truly bad people---Obama administration banned Christmas cards for veterans

Obama administration banned Christmas cards for veterans | The Daily Caller:
"The Obama administration’s Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) prohibited veterans from hearing Christmas carols or receiving gifts wrapped in Christmas-themed wrapping paper, prompting outrage from a congressional committee.
VA officials in Iowa City, Iowa told representatives of the American Legion that they could not hand out gifts to veterans wrapped in wrapping paper that featured the term “Merry Christmas.”
Additionally, the VA Medical Center in Augusta, Georgia — which treats veterans — banned Christmas carolers from singing Christmas songs with religious references in public areas."

How The Obamacare Rollout Is Really Being Experienced

How The Obamacare Rollout Is Really Being Experienced | Zero Hedge:

"As the New Year brings the actual implementation of Obamacare, it appears in reality things are not as great as many were promised.
A recent Gallup survey found that only 7% called their Obamacare experience "very positive" with a stunning 29% seeing it "very negative."
But as The Daily Mail found, from Northern Virginia hospitals turning away sick people because they can't determine whether their Obamacare insurance plans are in effect to high deductibles and long waits for authorizations; as many as one-third of the administration's claimed 2.1 million enrollees remain unsure of their coverage. 
The 'lie of the year' in 2013 may be even bigger in 2014."

Antarctic ice shelf melt 'lowest EVER recorded, global warming is NOT eroding it'

Antarctic ice shelf melt 'lowest EVER recorded, global warming is NOT eroding it' • The Register:
"Scientists at the British Antarctic Survey say that the melting of the Pine Island Glacier ice shelf in Antarctica has suddenly slowed right down in the last few years, confirming earlier research which suggested that the shelf's melt does not result from human-driven global warming.

The Pine Island Glacier in West Antarctica and its associated sea ice shelf is closely watched: this is because unlike most of the sea ice around the austral continent, its melt rate has seemed to be accelerating quickly since scientists first began seriously studying it in the 1990s."

Until we realize it's not GOP vs Dem, we're doomed. It's Government vs The People----Judicial Watch Announces List of Washington’s “Ten Most Wanted Corrupt Politicians” for 2013

Judicial Watch Announces List of Washington’s “Ten Most Wanted Corrupt Politicians” for 2013 | Judicial Watch:

Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-GA):

Sen. Saxby Chambliss makes the “Ten Worst” list for what he actually did in 2012, but which was finally exposed in 2013. Just as with House Speaker Boehner, Chambliss’s misdeeds were revealed in Peter Schweizer’s book Extortion: How Politicians Extract Your Money, Buy Votes, and Line Their Own Pockets. In fact, Chambliss is highlighted as one of the key abusers who used leadership PAC loopholes to convert campaign cash into lavish lifestyle upgrades for themselves and their family members.

As the New York Times reported:

The book details the extravagant expenses of Senator Saxby Chambliss, Republican of Georgia, for instance, whose leadership PAC spent $10,000 on golf at Pebble Beach, nearly $27,000 at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, and $107,752 at the exclusive Breakers resort in Palm Beach, Fla. The amount Mr. Chambliss spent at the Breakers in the 2012 election cycle, the book reports, is three times what the senator gave to the National Republican Senatorial Committee during the same period.

When Chambliss’s campaign was asked about the flagrantly lavish spending, they responded that all spending was reported according to the law. Though it may be legal, it is a clear abuse. And one has to wonder if the hardworking Georgians who sacrificed their scarce funds to support Chambliss’ re-election would be comfortable knowing their campaign contributions were used to support the “lifestyles of the rich and famous.”

Washington, DC) – Judicial Watch today released its 2013 list of Washington’s “Ten Most Wanted Corrupt Politicians.” The list, in alphabetical order, includes:

• Dishonorable Mentions for 2013 include:
• Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH)
• CIA Director John Brennan
• Senator Saxby Chambliss
• Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
• Attorney General Eric Holder
• Former IRS Commissioner Steven T. Miller / Former IRS Official Lois Lerner
• Former DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano
• President Barack Obama
• Senator Harry Reid (D-NV)
• Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius

• Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg
• Outgoing Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) / Incoming Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D)
• Former Rep. Rick Renzi (R-AZ)
• National Security Adviser Susan Rice

Judge Rules Constitution Free Zones 100 Miles Inside Borders are OK

Judge Rules Constitution Free Zones 100 Miles Inside Borders are OK - Freedom Outpost | Freedom Outpost:
"While everyone was busy celebrating the New Year last evening with parties, revelry and resolution-making, “a US federal judge reaffirmed the Obama administration policy granting officials the authority to search American’s laptops, citing a controversial premise that makes citizens within 100 miles of the border eligible for a police check.”"

The world needs to think very carefully about how to deal with Kim Jong-un

The world needs to think very carefully about how to deal with Kim Jong-un – Telegraph Blogs

Kim Jong-un, the North Korean Dictator, is obviously insane. First heallegedly had his ex-girlfriend executed by machine gun.
Now it is being reported that he ordered his uncle to be torn apart by savage dogs.

Up until now the conventional opinion about Kim Jong-un has been that he falls into the prototype of demented Marxist despots.
I don't think this fully accounts for his character.

To understand Kim Jong-un, one must read Suetonius's The Twelve Caesars. Kim is comparable to a figure such as Caligula or Nero, both of whom were driven insane by absolute power. Eventually they were killed, but not before they had wreaked terrible havoc.

This is why I believe that the world should be profoundly concerned by Kim Jong-un's behavior. In his televised New Year address on wednesday, he said: 

"Should another war break out on this land, it will result in a deadly nuclear catastrophe and the United States can never be safe." 
This sounds to me very much like the threat of a preemptive nuclear strike.

I think we need to take this threat very seriously.
Would Nero or Caligula have hesitated a moment before ordering nuclear destruction?
I tend to think not.
The world needs to ponder very carefully what to do about Kim Jong-un.

Protect yourself and your family with knowledge-----Researchers reveal that millions of ‘secure’ Kwikset smartkey locks can be opened with simple tools

Researchers reveal that millions of ‘secure’ Kwikset smartkey locks can be opened with simple tools | End the Lie – Independent News:
"If you are one of the millions of people who have Kiwkset smartkey locks on your home, it’s time to seriously consider changing those out for something a bit more secure.

Despite the security claims made about the smartkey locks, researchers demonstrated the ability to bypass the locks with “a screwdriver and a paper clip” and will present the technique at the DefCon hacker conference today."

Free enterprise=Compassion -----------------Chart of the greatest and most remarkable achievement in human history, and one you probably never heard about

Chart of the greatest and most remarkable achievement in human history, and one you probably never heard about | AEIdeas:
It turns out that between 1970 and 2010 the worst poverty in the world – people who live on one dollar a day or less – that has decreased by 80 percent (see chart above). You never hear about that.

It’s the greatest achievement in human history, and you never hear about it.

80 percent of the world’s worst poverty has been eradicated in less than 40 years. 

That has never, ever happened before.

So what did that? What accounts for that?

 United Nations? 

US foreign aid? 

The International Monetary Fund? Central planning? 

No.

It was globalization, free trade, the boom in international entrepreneurship. 

In short, it was the free enterprise system, American style, which is our gift to the world.

I will state, assert and defend the statement that if you love the poor, if you are a good Samaritan, you must stand for the free enterprise system, and you must defend it, not just for ourselves but for people around the world. It is the best anti-poverty measure ever invented.

We have a president embracing America's defeat----- Al-Qaeda force captures Fallujah amid rise in violence in Iraq

Al-Qaeda force captures Fallujah amid rise in violence in Iraq - The Washington Post:

BEIRUT — A rejuvenated al-Qaeda force asserted control over the western Iraqi town of Fallujah on Friday, raising its flag over government buildings and declaring an Islamic state in one of the most crucial areas that U.S. troops fought to pacify before withdrawing from Iraq two years ago.
The capture of Fallujah came amid an explosion of violence across the western desert province of Anbar in which local tribes, the Iraqi security forces and al-Qaeda militants have been fighting one another for days in a confusingly chaotic three- way war.
Elsewhere province, local tribal militias claimed they were gaining ground against the al-Qaeda militants who surged into urban areas from their desert strongholds earlier this week after clashes erupted between local residents and the Iraqi security forces.
But in Fallujah, where Marines fought the bloodiest battle of the Iraq war in 2004, the militants appeared to have the upper hand, underscoring the extent to which the Iraqi security forces have struggled to sustain the gains made by U.S. troops before they withdrew in December 2011.

Think twice before "investing" time and money in kollege-----Peter Thiel’s Graph of the Year

Peter Thiel’s Graph of the Year: "Wonkblog
 For 2013, we asked some of the year's most interesting, important and influential thinkers to name their favorite graph of the year — and why they chose it. Here's Peter Thiel's."

"Knowledge may be priceless, but a higher education is clearly not. 
University administrators keep hiking tuition, the wages of graduates keep falling, and a whole generation of Americans is struggling under the crushing burden of debt as they postpone their dreams for a tomorrow that may never come."

15 Fast Food FAILS!!

Life Clock-How long you got?

Life Clock:

History for January 4 - Perihelion, Brilliant and Caring, a whole bunch of "How'd that work out for ya?"

History for January 4 - On-This-Day.com:

Earth at perihelion—that point in its orbit when it is closest to the sun (about 91,400,000 miles).

Birth anniversary of physicist and mathematician Sir Isaac Newton (1643-1727).

Birth anniversary of Louis Braille (1809-52)

1884 - The socialist Fabian Society was founded in London.














1951 - During the Korean conflict, North Korean and Communist Chinese forces captured the city of Seoul.










1965 - In his State of the Union address, U.S. President Johnson proclaimed the building of the "Great Society."

1974 - U.S. President Nixon refused to hand over tape recordings and documents subpoenaed by the Senate Watergate Committee.

1999 - Former professional wrestler Jesse Ventura was sworn in as Minnesota's 37th governor.

2006 - Nancy Pelosi became Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. She was the first woman to hold the position.

Amazing American. Amazing life.--------WWII Veteran Aviator Bill Overstreet and His P-51 Mustang, "Berlin Express"

Bill passed away Dec. 29, 2013
He was 92.
WWII Veteran Aviator Bill Overstreet and His P-51 Mustang, "Berlin Express"
Bill relates, “Not long after (the March 6th Mission), I had a freak accident. 
I think it was a mission to southern France. 
While over enemy territory, a burst of flak cut my oxygen line. 
Since I was at about 25,000 feet, I soon passed out. 
The next thing I knew, I was in a spin, engine dead since the fuel tank it was set on was dry. 
Somehow, I recovered from the spin, changed fuel setting, got the engine started, and dodged the trees that were in front of me. 
Then, I looked at my watch. 
Ninety minutes were not in my memory. 
I had no idea where I was, but remembered where I had been headed so I reversed it. 
I was able to find the coast of France and headed for Leiston. 
By this time, I was low on fuel, so I landed at the Fourth Group base.  – Lowell Thomas on radio, newspapers and TIME magazine.“

Now they tell us.

Great Moments in Border Control

Great Moments in Border Control | Cato @ Liberty:
"One reader recalled the travel woes of distinguished Polish pianist Kristian Zimerman, as recounted by the L.A. Times:
Zimerman has had problems in the United States in recent years.
He travels with his own Steinway piano, which he has altered himself. 
But shortly after 9/11, the instrument was confiscated at JFK Airport when he landed in New York to give a recital at Carnegie Hall.
Thinking the glue smelled funny, the TSA decided to take no chances and destroyed the instrument.  
Yes, by all means, let’s put federal agencies in charge of as many aspects of our lives as possible."

WeMOG-Kayak training!

For anyone interested in practicing with their kayak in a swimming pool, or learning to roll their kayak,  I will be supervising pool sessions and providing instruction in Grandville this winter. 

The next sessions are January 18 and 25 from 3 - 5 p.m.

The cost is $15 the first time, and $10 each time after that.
You can read about more details at this website: http://www.wmcka.org/events.php
Call me if you have any questions. (231) 893-6905
I have extra equipment if you don't have enough, or don't have the right type.
Roger Starring

The Obama Box

The Obama Box | Washington Free Beacon:
"The dramas the president favors are soap operas with sophisticated vocabularies.
Left unmentioned is the difference between the shows Shears poo-poos and the shows Obama watches.
It is the same difference between a juicer bought at Wal-Mart and one bought at Williams-Sonoma: the latter is a luxury good.
It takes cash to afford the cable connections, premium channels, and Netflix subscriptions required to watch all of the titles on the president’s viewing list.
It is also necessary to have leisure time, which, disturbingly, the president seems to have a lot of. 
No wonder he finds out about everything from the newspapers."

Kim Jong-Un had uncle stripped naked, thrown into a cage and eaten alive by dogs

Kim Jong-Un had uncle stripped naked, thrown into a cage and eaten alive by dogs | Mail Online:
"How Kim Jong-Un killed his 'scum' uncle:
-Dictator had him stripped naked, thrown into a cage and eaten alive by pack of dogs
-A pack of 120 starving dogs were set on Jang Song Thaek and five aides
Kim Jong-Un and 300 officials watched horrific execution
-Punishment, called 'quan jue', or execution by dogs, lasted an hour
-Uncle was accused of treachery and corruption by the brutal regime
Kim has carried out a 'massive purge' of threats to consolidate his grip"

IMF paper warns of 'savings tax' and mass write-offs as West's debt hits 200-year high

IMF paper warns of 'savings tax' and mass write-offs as West's debt hits 200-year high - Telegraph:
"Much of the Western world will require defaults, a savings tax and higher inflation to clear the way for recovery as debt levels reach a 200-year high, according to a new report by the International Monetary Fund.
The IMF working paper said debt burdens in developed nations have become extreme by any historical measure and will require a wave of haircuts, either negotiated 1930s-style write-offs or the standard mix of measures used by the IMF in its “toolkit” for emerging market blow-ups.
“The size of the problem suggests that restructurings will be needed, for example, in the periphery of Europe, far beyond anything discussed in public to this point,” said the paper, by Harvard professors Carmen Reinhart and Kenneth Rogoff.
The paper said policy elites in the West are still clinging to the illusion that rich countries are different from poorer regions and can therefore chip away at their debts with a blend of austerity cuts, growth, and tinkering (“forbearance”)."

Yikes! There may be hope for Dead City------Detroit police chief: Legal gun owners can deter crime

Detroit police chief: Legal gun owners can deter crime | The Detroit News

Detroit— If more citizens were armed, criminals would think twice about attacking them, Detroit Police Chief James Craig said Thursday.

Urban police chiefs are typically in favor of gun control or reluctant to discuss the issue, but Craig on Thursday was candid about how he’s changed his mind.

“When we look at the good community members who have concealed weapons permits, the likelihood they’ll shoot is based on a lack of confidence in this Police Department,” Craig said at a press conference at police headquarters, adding that he thinks more Detroit citizens feel safer, thanks in part to a 7 percent drop in violent crime in 2013.

Craig said he started believing that legal gun owners can deter crime when he became police chief in Portland, Maine, in 2009.

“Coming from California (Craig was on the Los Angeles police force for 28 years), where it takes an act of Congress to get a concealed weapon permit, I got to Maine, where they give out lots of CCWs (carrying concealed weapon permits), and I had a stack of CCW permits I was denying; that was my orientation.

“I changed my orientation real quick. Maine is one of the safest places in America. 
Clearly, suspects knew that good Americans were armed.”

Isn't being mugged and taxed to death "not humane" too?-------------NYC Aims to Ban Horses, Create Stable of Electric Cars

NYC Aims to Ban Horses, Create Stable of Electric Cars | CNS News:

When it comes to horse-drawn carriages in NYC, Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio says, “It’s over.”

Sworn into office by Bill Clinton yesterday, de Blasio aims to replace the horse-drawn carriages that have historically pulled visitors through Central Park with electric cars.

Antique-style design electric cars are currently what are being considered. The mayor's team says the plan to go retro in style and modern electric in horsepower will help save the carriage workers' jobs that would otherwise end with the ban.

So possibly in the near future, during a trip to NYC tourists can look forward to - getting into an electric car.

“No tourist comes to New York City just to ride on a horse carriage," Allie Feldman, executive director of NYCLASS, an animal rights group, told CNN.

De Blasio says horse carriages are “not humane” and are cruel to the animals.

Next election (TAX INCREASE) Feb. 25, 2014-----Muskegon County Clerk

Muskegon County Clerk:

Barry wants to up it to $30 BILLION????? -------------------Americans Spent $7.45B in 3 Years Helping Other Countries Deal With ‘Climate Change’

Americans Spent $7.45B in 3 Years Helping Other Countries Deal With ‘Climate Change’ | CNS News:
 "American taxpayers spent $7.45 billion to help developing countries cope with climate change in fiscal years 2010 through 2012, according to a federal government report submitted to the United Nations on a subject that Secretary of State John Kerry described as “a truly life-and-death challenge.”

That sum of $7.45 billion, which reached more than 120 countries through bilateral and multilateral channels, met President Obama’s “commitment to provide our fair share” of a collective pledge by developed nations to provide a total of nearly $30 billion in “fast start finance” (FSF), the report stated."

Important news! -----------------Dogs Poop in Alignment with Earth's Magnetic Field

Dogs Poop in Alignment with Earth's Magnetic Field | Motherboard:
"Dogs seem to have an awful lot of ritual before hunkering down and soiling the sidewalk.
It’s not uncommon to see a dog owner—plastic bag in hand—rolling his eyes as his furry companion sniffs and spins, getting just so before hunkering down to do the least considerate thing possible.

But for whatever its worth, all that spinning is far from arbitrary. 
What dog owners witness is a small and furry version of the aurora borealis and a link between species and environment that’s as holistic and beautiful as a dog pooping can be.
A team of Czech and German researchers found that dogs actually align themselves with the Earth’s magnetic field when they poop."

Inept socialists can't even run a little power plant-------Lansing outage sparks calls for more oversight

BINGO!
Lansing outage sparks calls for more oversight | The Detroit News:
"Power issues remain for the utility, which is overseen by an eight-member board appointed by Lansing’s mayor and approved by the council. "

Is ANYONE surprised?-------------'They had no idea if my insurance was active or not!': At Virginia hospitals, Obamacare confusion reigns as frustrated patients walk out

'They had no idea if my insurance was active or not!': At Virginia hospitals, Obamacare confusion reigns as frustrated patients walk out | Mail Online:
"'They had no idea if my insurance was active or not!': Obamacare confusion reigns as frustrated patients walk out of hospitals without treatment
MailOnline spoke with patients who were told they would have to pay their bills in full if they couldn't prove they had insurance
One was faced with a $3,000 hospital room charge and opted to leave the hospital after experiencing chest pains
'Should I be in the hospital?
Probably,' she said
Another, coughing in the cold, walked out without receiving a needed chest x-ray
Consumers face sticker-shock from medical costs under the new Obamacare system, made worse if they can't prove they're insured
As many as one-third of new enrollees' applications have seen problems when the government transmits them to insurance companies"