Substantial number of Jobs.

We are turning the corner and the Economy is creating substantial numbers of jobs!

Good news! Thanks, President Obama!

Whats that? We really cannot thank the President or the Government?

Veronique de Rugy of George Mason University’s Mercatus Center has found:

• No statistical correlation between unemployment and how the $862 billion was spent.
• That Democratic districts received one-and-a-half times as many awards as Republican ones.
• An average cost of $286,000 was awarded per job created.

So we can Thank Obama and Congress for a bad investment. Lets just do that in November and 2012...

I don't care about the Constitution..

46 Seconds into the video. Phil Hare (D-IL)

Questions about Right

Do you value the Constitution? Do you feel it needs to be defended?

or do you think it is in need of updating for the times...

Do you value individual liberty? Do you believe that our Rights are bestowed upon us by God?

or do you think the government gives you rights...

Why is it that Government is anti-individual? Why do we have to tell the government how much we earn? Why does the government need to know how many children we have? Why does the government need to know how much we are giving to Charity?

Why would anyone who values the Constitution and Liberty want a larger Government?

Week 1 of 10

There is a compulsion I have to get something to eat. I am not sure of the cause, I do not really care. There is a point were the choice of getting something or not comes into play.

Taking stock as to what to eat and why at this particular time is the assessment that I need to make. My High School friend Jack had devised a weight loss system that finally made sense to me. It was based on the simple concept that if you eat too much you gain weight. I recall my greatest weight being as high as 287. It is entirely possible it was higher then that, as I do not weigh myself that often. The weight was slowly put on over the course of 20 years.

After some dismal half attempts, I joined my wifes Weight Loss Club TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) and almost magically dropped down to 250. Then started creeping up to 265. That was a fairly static weight until last year.

Take your Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR), which is a calculation of how many calories your body burns in a day. I used the sedentary modifier. For each 500 calories per day you eat\burn per day, that is below that RMR. You will loose a pound.

I stared off with great gusto, lopping a good 1000 to 600 calories per day and putting in a good hours walk (over 400 calories burned). Over the summer and into the fall my weight dropped down to 198.

I did get quite a few accolades and some concerns. Around this point I stopped being as willful. I started choosing the compulsion. So my weight started creeping back up as high as 212.

Last week I geared my mindset to go into a 10 week period of weight loss. I weighed in last night at 207 which is a good start. My average daily intake is 1500 calories.

My RMR for my goal weight is 1890 Calories per day.

Now to keep making better choices in regards to compulsion. Week 1 of 10 done.

Too many people and islands will capsize??!!

What Congressman Hank Johnson is afraid is going to happen! If it get's two overpopulated, Johnson fears it will "tip over" and "capsize." This is who represents Georgia...

Amazing Penguin video!

Online Games

I found out that Warhammer Online has an endless free trial. Which means you can create an Avatar and run around doing the quests up to some level.

Further Dungeons & Dragons Online is now free to play (and you can purchase stuff as you go).

This gives anyone who is curious about MMO's a couple of quality options that they can immerse themselves into without laying out hard earned cash.

Connor's Early Morning.

I guess this is not all that amusing. Until you take into account Connors Autism. When he responds to a situation it can take you off guard.

He again lost a tooth handed it to mom with strict instructions to throw it away, because that "tooth is trouble". This kid does NOT want some fairy with money visiting him! No-siree bob!

I have the duty of rousting him from a nights sleep. This generally occurs around 7:15 AM Pacific Time (GMT -08:00). The response given will run the gambit from nothing to a near leaping from his upper bunk!

This morning was an example of the former. "Good Morning Connor! It is Wednesday and Time to get ready for school!" Instead of the disheveled squinting, labored mobilization to a sitting position, instead a verbal response was issued.

"Dangit!"

Which gave me a chuckle, in all empathy!"

The Good News is:

Cern did not create a black hole and destroy the Earth!

Bad news is our Government is closer to creating a fiscal black hole and destroying America....

Discovery of a Reid-Pelosi Boson (or the Obama Particle), could prove that the US dollar has a negative value...

Pope Hunt (more hatred via MSM)

There have been some good explanations of the Fr. Murphy case in regards to the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith and how then-Cardinal Ratzinger was involved in the case. I think though that Jimmy Akin has the clearest and best presentation of the Fr. Murphy case I have seen. He lays out the facts as we know them along with the Church’s process and timeline of events. He also points out areas where the handling of the case could prudentially be criticized.

The hysteria that the New York Times generated in it’s piece which could be described as a “Pope hunt” go so far beyond the evidence that it is hard to see other than malice involved. Though Jimmy Akin also charitably addresses this aspect.

Bike riding

The only way to get better at an activity is to do said activity. Profound eh?

I read someplace that putting in 10,000 hours makes you an expert. While I am not really sure about expert, assuming the quality of the time you would certainly be much better. There may be oblique proof in my roller skating. I certainly put in the hours. I can certainly skate well now.

So with my statistical sampling of one goes, it is factual!

Connor has made great strides in riding his bike. He still has lots of control issues. Things like riding straight, starting from a stop, needs more time. His confidence has nearly outpaced his ability.

While camping he found great joy in heading down the boat ramp and seeing how close to the water he could stop. Mom got palpitations watching that one. He has enthusiasm galore and the ability to crash, recover and get back on the bike. I mean bad bruise raising incidents. Nary a tear as well. Just him grimacing and saying ow until the pain subsides and getting back on board.

It is oddly inspiring and a source of pride seeing this. His mind really is remarkable, as he is a remarkable kid.

Today we were going to go the the park and ride to Wendy's. The rain started and I decided going up the street for a root beer would allow us to get to cover easier then the park. We headed down our road (pretty good incline downwards). Connor was very happy with his using the break to not careen out of control into traffic (I was trepidation personified). At the bottom he followed my verbal instructions to the letter, going on the sidewalk and pulling to the right for pedestrians.

Whom Connor talked to with a friendly "Good Afternoon!" The bridge near our house has a very narrow sidewalk. Connor was not able to pedal across. So we walk\rode it across to were there is no sidewalk. I pointed out how he is to ride on the dirt and he complied. We visited the market and got some soda's. Rode to his old elementary school (via a foot bridge). Drank our beverages and headed out into the nature trails.

Connor had a route already planned, allowing him to see various features, which we dutifully stopped and explored. As Oregon weather complied by not dumping rain on us, it was a fun outing. I figure he has 99,990 hours to go...

So I found this CBO report. It Projects that. President Obama's fiscal 2011 budget will generate nearly $10 trillion in cumulative budget deficits over the next 10 years, $1.2 trillion more than the administration projected, and raise the federal debt to 90 percent of the nation's economic output by 2020...

That is seriously screwed up. In pointing this out the response I got was a head scratching.

But, George Bush spent lots of money! To me this is like saying, "Wow, having my finger cut off hurt" and someone responding. "Oh yeah? My friend got a paper cut!"

Yeah Bush 41 did over spend. Yes, the congress was enabling this expenditure. Guess what? We the people voted them all the hell out. As a Republican I find myself defending GW, despite him not being anywhere near the President I would have wanted. I suppose it is akin to living in New Jersey and being an NBA fan.

But I *Want* A Gasoline-Powered Alarm Clock! -by. J Akin

Original Blog Link Here!

According to the Government Accountability Office,

American consumers, businesses, and federal agencies rely on the Energy Star program to identify products that decrease greenhouse emissions and lower energy costs.

Lower energy costs, okay. Lowering greenhouse emissions, ihh.

In addition, the federal government and various states offer tax credits and other incentives to encourage the use of energy-efficient products including Energy Star products. Specifically, approximately $300 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will be used for state rebate programs on energy-efficient products.

Ah. So my tax dollars are underwriting this thing. I want it held accountable! What are you going to do about that?

The Energy Star program, which began in 1992, is overseen jointly by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Nice to know, but again: What are you going to do to hold this government thingie spending my tax dollars to "lower greenhouse emissions" accountable? I want to know!

Given the millions of dollars allocated to encourage use of Energy Star products and concerns that the Energy Star program is vulnerable to fraud and abuse, . . .

My thought exactly!

. . . GAO was asked to conduct proactive testing to (1) obtain Energy Star partnership status for bogus companies and (2) submit fictitious products for Energy Star certification.

Ooooo! This should be interesting!

To perform this investigation, GAO used four bogus manufacturing firms and fictitious individuals to apply for Energy Star partnership and submitted 20 fictitious products with fake energy-savings claims for Energy Star certification.

So . . . our government is admitting . . . to lying . . . to itself?

GAO also reviewed program documents and interviewed agency officials and officials from agency Inspector General (IG) offices.

Okay, but that's less interesting than the government admitting to lying to itself part.

GAO's investigation shows that Energy Star is for the most part a self-certification program vulnerable to fraud and abuse.

I knew it! I knew it! (Just like all that climate science junk.) Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? (Oh . . . I guess that's the GAO.)

So what happened?

GAO obtained Energy Star certifications for 15 bogus products, including a gas-powered alarm clock.

WOO-HOO!!! Gas-powered alarm clocks! Oh wait . . . it's fake.

Two bogus products were rejected by the program and 3 did not receive a response.

So 75% of the fake products (15 of 20) were approved.

In addition, two of the bogus Energy Star firms developed by GAO received requests from real companies to purchase products because the bogus firms were listed as Energy Star partners. This clearly shows how heavily American consumers rely on the Energy Star brand.

Indeed!

The program is promoted through tax credits and appliance rebates, and federal agencies are required to purchase certain Energy Star certified products.

So . . . you're saying that I could come up with a fake product, get it approved by Energy Star, and then government agencies would be required to purchase it? I mean, not--er--me, but--well--somebody?

GAO found that for our bogus products, certification controls were ineffective primarily because Energy Star does not verify energy-savings data reported by manufacturers.

So you are saying that I--er--someone could do this!

At briefings on GAO's investigation, DOE and EPA officials agreed that the program is currently based on self-certifications by manufacturers.

Does Al Gore know about this? He might want to get in on the action.

However, officials stated there are after-market tests and self-policing that ensure standards are maintained.

Uhhh-huh.

GAO did not test or evaluate controls related to products that were already certified and available to the public.

Be interesting if it did, though.

In addition, prior DOE IG, EPA IG, and GAO reports have found that current Energy Star controls do not ensure products meet efficiency guidelines.

Okay, then.

AND SOME FROM POPULAR MECHANICS.

AND WIKIPEDIA REPORTS PAST PROBLEMS WITH ENERGY STAR.

Calories Calculations

Finding the calculations for the calories burned during an exercise is pretty difficult.

Calculators abound. They base the calculation on your weight, time doing activity and finally that activity itself. Finding that seed number list is what I am wondering about.

I found The Most Accurate Calories Burned Estimator.

Taking the run at 6 miles per hour and putting in a weight of 22 kg and a time of 10 min. shows the burn at 38cals. 46 kg raises that to 76 cals.

What is missing is the seed number for how intense of the exercise. There is an acronym METs which stands for Metabolic Equivalents, which does just that.

Calories burned by exercise = ((METs * 3.5 * weight in kg) / 200) * duration in minutes.

Quiz about Health Care Law.

Which of the following statements is true about Government run health care?

• It is financially unsustainable, increasing the deficit beyond our national means.
• It is unconstitutional and will be overturned in the courts.
• A Republican majority in the next Congress will repeal it.
• It will fail in the Legislative process because of procedural manipulation by the Democrat leadership.
• Doctors will refuse service to patients seeking subsidized, under market care.
• It will cause health insurance premiums to become so expensive that the entire system to collapse.

Some links and questions

The media is awash in tales of horror over the racist and dangerous Obamacare opponents.

2010: A Race Odyssey — Disproving a Negative for Cash Prizes or, How the Civil Rights Movement Jumped the Shark

On Saturday, during the peaceful and patriotic tea party protest at the Capitol, the Democrats staged a series of symbolic acts meant to manipulate the media to do its bidding. The Congressional Black Caucus pulled the Selma card and chose to walk through the crowd in the hopes of creating a YouTube incident. Saturday’s “never mind” moment will live in infamy as the Congressional Black Caucus claimed the N-word was hurled 15 times. YouTube video shows that at least two of the men in the procession were carrying video cameras and holding them above the crowd. They have not come forth with evidence to show that even one person hurled the vile racist epithet. The video also shows no head movement one way or another. Wouldn’t the N-word provoke a head turn or two? Is it really possible that in 2010, in a crowd of 30 or 40 thousand people — at the center of a once-in-a-lifetime media circus — not one person’s flipphone, Blackberry, video recorder or a network feed caught a single incident? And if not, then at least someone could have found an honest tea partier to act as an eyewitness — or the Congressional Black Caucus would have confronted the culprit(s). If that had happened, there would be an investigation to see if the perpetrator was a left-wing plant.

How the Left fakes the hate: A primer

If you can’t stand the heat, manufacture a hate crime epidemic.

After years of covering racial hoaxes on college campuses and victim sob stories in the public arena, I’ve encountered countless opportunists who live by that demented mindset. At best, the fakers are desperately seeking 15 minutes of infamy. At worst, their aim is the criminalization of political dissent.

Frustration Man Cometh

We are living in interesting times.

/rant on.

The socialism rampant in our Government is of great concern. As is the lack of representation. There is a serious lack of jobs and my current situation of being reduced in hours and still paying the bills .vs. going on the dole and being able to better support my household is not my ideal of America.

My office is permeated with the air of hopelessness. This seeps out of the various media outlets as well Doom is in the air with the spring.

There is a prayer to let go of those things out of our control. It is just difficult to not feel angst right now. My faith is resolute, the human in me looses that focus and some despair invades.

There are things to do. Family, House, Yard, Job hunting, Weight and Fitness. The fiscal side of things makes marked limits on house and yard and generates more stress then I would like.

Job market around here is horrid. The only thing worse is the housing market (it is a buyers market if you do not need employment).

Weight and Fitness requires more focus then I am willing to provide as well. Kids schooling provides some vicarious joys and sorrow. Overall there is a depressing feeling of just being tired.

/rant off

There are plenty of those much worse off, so even my rant falls flat by comparison. I have two upstanding citizen adult kids. A good supportive family all of whom reflect virtuous values. There is my angelic 12 year old who is joy incarnate. And my loving wife who provides me strength and fortitude. My blessings are vast.

What are people saying about Obama?

Harris poll is saying that people think Obama...

* Is a socialist (14%)

* Wants to take away Americans’ right to own guns (17%)

* Is a Muslim (15%)

* Wants to turn over the sovereignty of the United States to a one world government (12%).

* Has done many things that are unconstitutional (9%).

* Resents America’s heritage (12%)

* Does what Wall Street and the bankers tell him to do (15%)

* Was not born in the United States and so is not eligible to be president (8%)

* Is the “domestic enemy that the U.S. Constitution speaks of” (8%)

* Is a racist (7%)

* Want to use an economic collapse or terrorist attack as an excuse to take dictatorial powers (8%)

* Is doing many of the things that Hitler did (6%).

* May be the Anti-Christ (6%).

* Wants the terrorists to win (5%).

Oh when I said People, I mean Democrats! Full story linked here.

Joke

This biker walks into a bar, and sees a man sitting all by himself, just staring at his glass. Fifteen, twenty, then thirty minutes pass, and the guy hasn't so much as glanced away. So the biker, in a mischievous mood, walks over to him, grabs the drink, and swallows it all in a single gulp. Suddenly, the man starts to weep uncontrollably.

"Jeez, if I'd known you'd do that, I wouldn't have drank your beer!" Said the biker, startled. "I was only kidding. Here, let me buy you something. Anything you want."

"You don't understand." Said the man, still crying. "I've had the worst possible day. I woke up 30 minutes late, and when I got to work, my boss fired me. So I go out to my car, only to find it's been stolen out of the lot. So I get a cab, but when I get out, I realize I've left my keys and wallet inside. I get home, and I find my wife in bed with another man...

"To top it all off, I was sitting here just picking up the courage to kill myself, and you come by and drink my poison!"

Rollar Skating

FYI: Healthcare is now a right. Demand your right for any visit, test or procedure today!

My skates have reverted to their previous size. I have a pair of Hockey style inline skates. Hard thick leather with a steel toe. They are size 10. My feet are 10-1/2 somewhat closer to size 11. This is typical for hockey, you want an intimate fit. The problem is the skates had shrunk just enough that my big toe would impact the steel like shell. Which is painful after a couple hours skating. The combination of sweat, pressure and heat has remolded them to their previous glove like status!

Woot!