My sister had found a tape of my dad on the radio singing some songs that he wrote. She had sent me digitized versions of them sometime last year. It took me until today to actually listen to these songs

I haven't heard these songs since I was a kid. I grew up to these songs. I had no idea he wrote them. It makes them all the more special.

Based on the fact he was hawking his mobile mechanic service in these records, this recording is likely from somewhere around 1983.

This is an import of my dad's blog that was previously hosted on Vox, which closed its doors on 30 September 2010. Don't expect a lot of updates to this blog since the old man isn't around to say anything anymore--he passed away in July 2010.

CFL bulbs don't stand a chance against this technology. This video pretty much explains it all. It's pretty exciting folks!

SEATTLE, September 14, 2009 - Vu1 Corporation (OTCBB: VUOC) today posted a documentary which for the first time publicly demonstrates the company’s Electron Stimulated Luminescence™ (ESL™) lighting technology

Here's the press release...and more info

http://www.vu1.com/news/news_sept09.htm

Regardless of your age, human nature is that when you have to pay out of pocket for anything, you might just opt to do things different to avoid having to pay that cost. Health Insurance creates a mechanism that actually supports and promotes unhealthy lifestyles.

The fact is that if you have less to lose, you take bigger chances. Taking chances with your health is no different. And when you have a mechanism such as Health Insurance to fall back on, the odds you will ultimately take bigger risks increase exponentially.

This is only made worse by Government Sponsored Heath Care Insurance. Personally, I'd rather cram down a McD burger than get choked to death by Obamacare. What good is it to live longer, when all you have to look forward to is higher taxes, a lifestyle you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy, a total loss of personal freedom. There is one rule that will always apply...there's no free lunch! 

The House has voted to deny all federal funding for ACORN, the community organizing group that has been caught up in several scandals. The vote, on a provision attached to a student aid bill, was 345-75. All 75 no votes were Democrats.

Now my question is that why do we need to pay "ANY" organization to register voters?

I registered in Redding at the DMV. Years ago when I was a fireman, I was also a registered votor registrar. People would come into the firehouse and register. Then we often give them a tour. Every county in the US has a county Regitrars office...another good place to register.

While not as convenient as someone standing at a mall, and not as many people ever registered, there was little fraud associated with it. The registrar signs the form as a witness!

If you want to exercise your constitutional right to voice your opinion and participate in an election, you should know that there are no guarantees that exercising that right will be convenient. The exception being a "convenient polling place".

There is nothing in the Constitution that says that taxpayers should be responsible to fund any action that would 'encourage" voter registration. If anything, this should be funded by party funds....If memory serves me correctly, this is the reason ACORN was funded origionally because party funded registration drives were riddled with fraud problems also.

Any method that makes voter registration convenient will lead to fraud. We need to go back to the old ways to ensure the integrity of the system. It is too easily abused.

The Census Director has sent a letter to the National Headquarters of ACORN notifying the group that it will no longer have a role in conducting the 2010 census. ACORN had previously been tapped to help with low level data gathering.

FOXNews.com

Friday, September 11, 2009

Complete article here!

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/09/11/census-bureau-severs-ties-acorn/

OBAMA LIE #1: "No federal dollars will be used to fund abortions." 

THE TRUTH:  The Capps Amendment to HR 3200 has a Section 4B that reads: "Abortions for Which Public Funding Is Allowed. -- The services described in this subparagraph are abortions for which the expenditure of Federal funds appropriated for the Department of Health and Human Services is permitted."  The Washington Times reported:  "You can't get more explicit than that."  And FactCheck.org exposed Obama's lie too:  "Despite what Obama said, the House bill would allow abortions to be covered by a federal plan and by federally subsidized private plans."  So President Obama lied, plain and simple. 

OBAMA LIE #2: "I will not sign a plan that adds one dime to our deficits either now or in the future. Period."   

THE TRUTH:  The Democrat controlled Congressional Budget Office said Obamacare would add $220 billion to the deficit over 10 years, but will not succeed at shrinking the overall costs of our nation's health care.  Republicans claim it's more like $600 billion increased deficit spending.  (Confirmed by Associated Press, 9 Sep 09.)  Either way, Obama lied.   

OBAMA LIE #3: "Don't pay attention to those scary stories about how your benefits will be cut...That will never happen on my watch. I will protect Medicare."   

THE TRUTH:  The Washington Post reports Obama proposes "to squeeze more than $500 billion out of the growth of Medicare over the next decade....[which has] fueled fears that his effort to expand coverage to millions of younger, uninsured Americans will damage elder care. As a result, barely one-third of seniors support a health-care overhaul, several polls found." (Washington Post, 9 Aug 09)  Even the Post admits, Obama lied. 

OBAMA LIE #4:  "If you lose your job or change your job, you will be able to get coverage."

THE TRUTH:  Whether working or not, rich or poor, you will be ordered to get mandatory government-run health-care coverage, or pay a fine a $3800 fine per family, under the new Senate plan being railroaded through the finance committee by Max Baucus (D-MT).  (New York Times, 9 Sep 09).  Obama pretends you're "able" to get coverage, when he knows it's mandatory (with a big tax increase or "fine" penalty).  Obama lied.  But the biggest of all... 

OBAMA LIE #5:  "The claim, made not just by radio and cable talk show hosts, but prominent politicians, that we plan to set up panels of bureaucrats with the power to kill off senior citizens, such a charge would be laughable if it weren't so cynical and irresponsible. It is a lie, plain and simple."   

THE TRUTH:  Mandatory "end of life" counseling in HR 3200 "shall" include counseling every 5 years to the elderly, giving doctors a monetary incentive to persuade you to sign a "do not resuscitate" (DNR) order to pull the plug on Grandma, just like the Obama administration already pressures all Veterans to sign them.  (Confirmed by the Washington Post and Wall Street Journal, read extensive details at www.prayinjesusname.org.)  And under the British NHS government-run health plan, "Patients with terminal illnesses are being made to die prematurely under an NHS scheme to help end their lives, leading doctors have warned."  (The Daily Telegraph, 2 Sep 09).  Dr. Ewing Cook just admitted intentionally killing patients who signed DNR authorizations during Hurricane Katrina.  "I gave her medicine so I could get rid of her faster…there’s no question I hastened her demise."  Bottom line: Grandma, don't sign Obama's DNR order, even if your doctor gets a bonus check from the President for talking you into that.  

Obama lied at least five times during his speech.  Congressman Wilson was right after all. 

Today, a vast majority of the world’s oil is burned for transportation. Energy sources such as wind, geothermal and solar power, fluctuate continuously and can do little to reduce oil consumption unless the energy produced can be harnessed and stored.

Many experts believe the solution may lie in the development of an efficient, affordable energy storage network. Simply stated, energy storage – not energy generation – is seen as an important step toward the future.

A key part of current electric energy storage research will be influenced by the work of a consortium that hopes to develop next generation lithium batteries able to power electric vehicles for 300 to 500 miles on a single charge. This research may uncover major advances in larger-scale power storage for future electric grid applications. This next-generation battery is called Lithium-air.

On this episode of Building a Smarter Planet, Winfried Wilcke – Chairman of the Almaden Institute, and Senior Manager of Nanoscale Science & Technology at IBM talks about the research and development behind Lithium-air and why he feels it is so important to the future of energy storage.

Technorati Tags: energy, smart grid, Smarter Energy

Hear the Podcast

http://asmarterplanet.com/blog/2009/08/next-generation-electric-energy-storage.html

Guess who gets to do their civic duty? Totally messes me up! Funny every time I go, I never get selected though. It will give me time to actually read my pocket version of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence maybe if I'm there long enough. I'm supposed to show up tommorow at 12:45. Kind of messes up the day.

(from newsmax.com newsletter)

I find this article interesting. except for one thing, most government employees or services are viewed as inefficient. Working 10 hour days won't help that. But it should save a bundle of cash. In the private sector, It would be difficult for any company that has a 24 hour operation which normally has 3 shifts of workers to implement this. The only thing that would make it feasible, is to modify overtime laws on the books so companies that can implement it could do so without losing additional revenue. In theory, I said in therory, it could work.

My question is what will people do with all that extra time on thier hands?

Utah Pioneering Four-Day Work Week

The state of Utah is leading the way in adopting a four-day workweek, which may become more widespread as the United States seeks to reduce energy consumption.

Since August 2008, all government employees in Utah have been working 10 hours a day, Monday through Thursday, with Friday off. That leaves government buildings vacant on Fridays, with no lights, elevators or computers in use.

"Electric bills have dropped even further during the summer, thanks to less air conditioning," Scientific American reported.

"Friday's midday hours have been replaced by cooler mornings and evenings on Monday through Thursday."

By May, the state had already saved nearly $2 million in energy costs, and Utah projected that it would see a drop of at least 6,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide over the course of a year.

When reductions in greenhouse gases from the loss of one day's commuting are included, the drop would be at least 12,000 tons — the equivalent of taking 2,300 cars off the road for a year.

El Paso, Texas, is among the U.S. cities also experimenting with a four-day workweek, adopting the Fridays-off schedule in June.

If the four-day workweek were adopted across the country, the elimination of one workday's commuting would lower U.S. oil imports by 5 percent to 10 percent, The New Republic reported, and help workers save money on gas.

The Utah program is popular with state workers, too — 82 percent say they want to keep the four-day workweek, according to a survey by Brigham Young University's Lori Wadsworth. Workers say they enjoy less stress, need fewer sick days, and spend more time with their families.

Kseniya Simonova is a Ukrainian artist who just won the "Ukraine's Got Talent" competition. She uses a giant light box, dramatic music, imagination and "sand painting" skills to interpret the invasion and occupation of her country from 1941-1945.

(The audiobook version is a good listen)

Glenn Beck's Common Sense

The Case Against an Out-of-Control Government, Inspired by Thomas Paine

"If you believe it's time to put principles above parties, character above campaign promises, and Common Sense above all -- then I ask you to read this book...."

Nearly two and a half centuries after Thomas Paine's masterpiece changed America forever, Glenn Beck revisits it with one purpose: to galvanize Americans to see past government's easy solutions, two-part monopoly, and illogical methods and take back our great country.

Where to Buy It...

I have a couple of fingers (same as my grandfather) that are curling. The disease is called Dupuytren's contracture and for me makes it difficult to type, shake hands, and more importanlty just put my hand in my pocket. I have had this problem for years and didn't know what it was. Surgery which of course is expensive dosen't always fix it on a permanent basis so I doubt this proceedure would either....but does appear as an decent option If I can find a local Doctor to perform it.

On my other hand, I have 2 partially knumb fingers that according to some are from spurs in my neckbones, or nerve damage in my shoulder, or nerve damage in the Ulna Nerve...one thing at a time!

Math Logic

Here is a little something someone sent me that is indisputable mathematical logic. It also made me Laugh Out Loud.
This is a strictly mathematical viewpoint....it goes like this:

What Makes 100%? What does it mean to give MORE than 100%? Ever wonder about those people who say they are giving more than 100%? We have all been to those meetings where someone wants    you to give over 100%.. How about achieving 103%? What makes up 100% in life?

Here's a little mathematical formula that might help you answer these questions:

If:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M
N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

is represented as:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26.

Then:

H-A -R -D-W-O -R -K
8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%

and

K -N -O -W-L -E-D-G-E
11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5
= 96%

But ,

A-T  -T -I -T  -U -D-E
1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%

And,

B -U  -L  -L -S -H-I -T
2+21+12+12 +19+8+9+20 = 103 %

AND, look how far ass kissing
will take you.

A-S -S -K -I -S-S -I -N-G
1+19+19+11+9+19+19+9+14+7

= 118%

So, one can conclude with mathematical certainty, that While Hard work and Knowledge will get you close, and Attitude will get you there, it's the Bullshit and Ass kissing that will put you over the top.

'REMEMBER SOME PEOPLE ARE ALIVE SIMPLY BECAUSE IT IS ILLEGAL TO SHOOT THEM'

I finally broke down and got a GPS for the car. Haven't installed it or tried it yet other than turning it on and mapping out a trip around the block. I've had a GPS that I carry that uses my laptop but that's too cumbersome to use regularily.

Basically what I do is rely on maps.

Both of the doors in my Jeep have quite an assortment of maps I have collected over several years. Between my collection, Yahoo Maps, and Google Maps, and specific directions from a client, I can usually find a clients house with no problem.

Did I need another GPS?

Well obviously not, but I found a deal on a refurb TomTom that was reasonable. This model of course is not the top of the line. No MP3player. Like my laptop GPS, You have to enter in an address to your destination. The TomTom is easier in this area than I expected. As you are typing on the touchscreen it offers suggestions based on what it knows about you can select. Kind of like what happens in my web browser.

I suspect this will encourage me to use the GPS more often than my maps. However, the screen is small and the voice doesn't seem loud enough. That may pose a problem when it comes to deciding a place to mount it and how effective it is for regular use. But being as small as it is, it also fits in the pocket so it could double as a hiking tool when walking through town or just doing some exploring.

President Obama, bless his heart, has to date prevented off shore drilling off our shores basically on environmental grounds.  This is regardless of the fact that the majority of Americans believe the time is now...Drill Baby Drill!

A recent court ruling has opened up the possibility of off-shore oil leases in the Gulf, but still not in Alaska, and the East and West coasts. August 19th was the date set for negoiations to start.

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, a vocal proponent of offshore drilling, had plenty to say.

"So why is it that during these tough times, when we have great needs at home, the Obama White House is prepared to send more than $2 billion of your hard-earned tax dollars to Brazil so that the nation's state-owned oil company, Petrobas, can drill off shore and create jobs developing its own resources?" she asked on her Facebook page.

Ugh... Let me get this straight Brazil is in our environment last time I checked. Where is Obama's concern?

OK now IF and only IF drilling starts in Brazil AND the US anywhere soon, AND wells are actually producing oil as one would suspect, then loaning Brazil the money to develop might just make sense. Let's loan money to other South American countries as well. Let's flood the market with oil and get the prices back down to rock bottom prices.

If this should happen, commodity speculators would have no other choice than to speculate the prices as dropping. OPEC of course could reduce production to offset that but how far can they drop production and maintain thier economy?

It's a big shell game that we could ultimately win....but we gotta drill and do a lot of it as soon as possible to see the results. Even that though is not the whole solution...we need more refining capacity to go along with it.

The White House for the first time Sunday somewhat acknowledged that people across the country received unsolicited e-mails last week on health care from the administration, suggesting the problem on third-party groups it claimed placed the recipients' names on the distribution list. 

In a written statement released exclusively to FOX News, White House spokesman Nick Shapiro said the White House hopes those who received the e-mails without signing up for them were not "inconvenienced" by the messages. 

More Here

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/08/16/white-house-e-mail/

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

The alarming part about this is that it is following the Presidents request to turn in your friends by forwarding emails of dissent toward the heathcare bill to flag@whitehouse.gov. By law, all emails sent to the whitehouse cannot legally be destroyed if you didn't know. It is also illegal for them to use that information by law except under certain circumstances...this is not one of them!

The American's Creed

by William Tyler Page

I believe in the United States of America as a government of the people, by the people, for the people; whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed, a democracy in a republic, a sovereign Nation of many sovereign States; a perfect union, one and inseparable; established upon those principles of freedom, equality, justice, and humanity for which American patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes.

I therefore believe it is my duty to my country to love it, to support its Constitution, to obey its laws, to respect its flag, and to defend it against all enemies.

–Written 1917, accepted by the United States House of Representatives on April 3, 1918.

More Cool Stuff here

http://www.ushistory.org/documents/creed.htm

I finally looked at my server the other day to see if I could get a new printer working on it. I picked up a Brother MFC-5460CN on sale and Brother said it was compatible.

Ubuntu was telling me there was an Ugrade available and also 59 updates. Each and every update failed as in the file no longer existed. So I ran the Upgrade and all went well. I also installed the drivers and setup the printer on USB. After a little cattle-prodding with the chief cook and bottle washer, we even got it working on her machine.

I also hooked it up to the network for my Windows Machines. Not sure how the server felt about being shutdown but has been running reliably for what seems a couple of years.

It'a about time that it can Print!

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