Sign of the Times

You do not even have to make this stuff up!  The sign of our times...

I'm sure these attorneys are right next door to Dewey, Cheatem & Howe!

"If I wanted America to fail"

This is a very powerful video and worth the few minutes it takes to watch.

Paul Revere's 21st Century Message

Listen my children and you shall hear

   of the midnight ride of Paul Revere.

His message is different than in seventy five

    instead of a horse he may drive.

The President is running, so you better draw near.

    Hang onto your hat and everything you hold dear.

Well, OK... or something like that. Here is what I think Paul Revere's message would be today.

   

World War II gun barrels arrive in Arizona

A train carrying gun barrels from the USS Arizona and USS Missouri as seen near the Arizona Capitol on Friday. The barrels will be incorporated into a complete World War II memorial to be built in Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza.

by Alex Ferri - Apr. 20, 2012 02:43 PM
The Republic | azcentral.com

A freight train on Friday morning brought Arizona two big pieces of history -- gun barrels from World War II battleships the state will soon add to Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza in Phoenix.

Received through negotiations with the federal government, the gun barrels once belonged to the U.S.S. Arizona and the U.S.S. Missouri.
The Arizona sank Dec. 7, 1941, during the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The Missouri fought in the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa and was the site of Japan's official surrender on Sept. 2, 1945.
Arizona Secretary of State Ken Bennett, who hosted a ceremony for the arrival of the gun barrels, said the artifacts "represent bookends of the war," with the Arizona signifying the beginning, and the Missouri standing for the end.
Plans for the memorial include the construction of nine metal "ribs" between the gun barrels in the plaza, which would represent the hull of the ship, Bennett said. The nine structures also would represent the nine minutes it took the Arizona to sink, and each rib would feature a nameplate for the more than 1,900 Arizonans who died in the war.
Joey Strickland, director of the Arizona Department of Veterans' Services, said the guns "helped defeat perhaps the greatest evil to threaten the world."
The project's estimated cost is $500,000, and Bennett said half that has been raised already through donations. No tax dollars will go towards the memorial.
The installation of the barrels is planned for Dec. 7, the 71st anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
For more information or to donate to the memorial, visit www.gunstosalutethefallen.com.

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/community/phoenix/articles/2012/04/20/20120420world-war-ii-gun-barrels-arrive-arizona.html#ixzz1sdEA50zF

Future AZ Governor?

Arizona Secretary of State Ken Bennett

(Sun City) - Arizona does not have a Lt. Governor, so the second in line to the Governor of Arizona is Secretary of State Ken Bennett.  Bennett addressed Republicans in Sun City on Monday evening with his easy to understand description of the State's Budget.  Then he "wooed" the crowd of about 60 attendees, with his singing tribute to Arizona's 100th Anniversary, his lyrics set to Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start the Fire."

At this meeting, Bennett announced that he has established an exploratory committee for Arizona Governor in 2014.  Current Governor Jan Brewer is term limited and can not seek another term as Governor.  Secretary Bennett is a Republican politician and businessman.  He started his political careet on the Prescott City Council, serving a term as Mayor Pro-Tem, then was appointed to the Arizona State Board of Education serving as the President of the Board and was elected to the Arizona Senate in 1998 and served as president of the Arizona Senate from 2003 to 2007.  He was appointed to Secretary of State in 2009 by Governor Jan Brewer. 

Another project that Bennett has been working on is the WWII Memorial in Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza in front of the State Capitol Building.  He has recently procured the last remaining gun barrel from the USS Arizona and a gun barrel from the USS Missouri.  Both of these battleships were the flagships of the fleet during WWII, the Arizona at the beginning of the war and the Missouri at the end of the war.  An artist depiction shows steel uprights to resemble the superstructure of the ship with the gun barrels mounted on concrete bollards flanking each side of the steel uprights.  Brass plates will be engraved on the steel with the names of those serving from Arizona who lost their lives fighting for freedom in WWII.  That number is believed to be nearly 1800 names.

The new memorial is expected to be completed later this year.  The two gun barrels have just arrived this week on rail cars from the US Retired Shipyard in Virgina.  They need to be sandblasted and repainted before installing into the memorial.  The memorial is being built entirely with private donations and no tax dollars.

We are excited about Ken Bennett and will follow his activity.
  

R.I.P. Jack O. Dvorak

To one of the world's greatest gentleman, mentor and Father.
Honorable Mayor Jack O. Dvorak
January 19, 1923 to April 3, 2012
Your love, patience and strength has helped to make me what I am today! I could not have done it without you.
Thank you for the lifetime of memories.
Rest in Peace Dad!

...We will return to our program; after this commercial break!

Mike, wake up!  You are having a bad dream!  LOL

Ten things more popular than Congress

After reporting today “futile talks” the Associated Press reported, “Congress' super committee conceded ignominious defeat Monday in its quest to conquer a government debt that stands at a staggering $15 trillion, unable to overcome deep and enduring political divisions over taxes and spending.”   Congressional negotiators conceded the obvious: that the joint Congressional committee can’t fix our Nation’s Budget Troubles.  At least not now.   The stock market responded with a nearly 250 point drop in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, closing at 11,547.31. 

So, we should not be surprised with a new CBS News Poll that reveals Congress' approval rating has hit an all-time low of 9 percent, the first time the rating has hit single digits since the polls' inception in 1977.  This all begs an interesting question, “what does Congress now rank behind?”  We have the answer from UPI.Com with the 10 things more popular than Congress, and some of these things may shock you!

Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

First is the IRS, which posted a 40 percent approval rating in a 2009 Gallup poll.

President Richard Nixon

Former President Richard Nixon's approval rating during the Watergate scandal that eventually ended his presidency sat at 24 percent in a 1974 Gallup poll.

The U.S. becoming Communist

In the most shocking of all of the polled sentiments, more Americans approve of their country becoming a Communist nation than approve of Congress, at 11 percent.

The Airline Industry

Just this year, 29 percent of Americans approved of the airline industry in a Gallup poll.

Paris Hilton

At the peak of her fame in 2005 (and one could say the nadir of her popularity) Hilton had a 15 percent approval rating, according to Gallup.

Lawyers

As broad as the term may be, lawyers tallied a 29 percent approval rating during a Gallup poll this year.

Oil and gas industry

The oil and gas industry has a 20 percent approval rating this year, despite ongoing concerns over prices at the pump and the hazards of drilling.

Banks

In another broad categorization, Gallup polled America's approval of the banking industry to find that 23 percent give them the thumbs up this year.

BP during the Gulf oil spill

The catastrophic blowout at the BP Deepwater Horizon site in the Gulf of Mexico apparently wasn't as much of a blowout in 2010 as Congress is today, as 16 percent of Americans approved of BP during the crisis.

President Barack Obama

It may not seem like it at times, but 46 percent of voters at least slightly approve of the job that Obama's doing up at the White House, according to the latest Rasmussen daily poll.

Congress does two things exceptionally well.  1) Nothing  2) over react.

I'm surprised that they are not concerned about their approval ratings.  But then, maybe they think we are not paying attention?

Edited from UPI.Com 11/21/2011

11.11.11

 

Today is Veteran's Day. Remember those that have protected us, around the world, for the cause of Freedom. Thanks to all who have worn a uniform of the United States Military and placing their lives on the line to keep us safe. Make it a point to personally thank a Veteran today! I will start with my two sons, J & robert!

Thank you for your service to a greatful nation!  We will never forget!

Obamacare...from craddle to grave

Breaking News…

October 12, 2011 3:30 PM

(Owosso, Michigan) – If you live in the area of Owosso, Michigan, “Chances are you or a loved one has been cared for by Memorial Healthcare, with a 150-bed hospital, a comprehensive emergency room, two urgent care centers, outpatient rehabilitation centers, satellite primary care and specialty medical offices, and a cancer/endoscopy center, Memorial Healthcare provides high quality preventative, acute and rehabilitative care close to home.”  But now the facility will be adding to their range of health services for truly “birth to grave one stop health approach.”  That was announced today by James Full, President & CEO of Memorial Healthcare. 

This comes in the wake of changes to our national healthcare system and the passage of the Healthcare Affordability Act, otherwise known as “Obamacare.”  Full went on to say, “We are the first hospital system in the country to gain approval of adding ‘after live’ services to the healthcare experience.”  The hospital will now offer federally assisted “post life” services to all who qualify under the plan.  A board of 3 judges and 3 alternates will serve to determine the suitability and range of services for these new post life services to include, but not limited to, final life expenses.  Deductibles and co-pays may apply.

In making the announcement, at their new Healthcare, Rehabilitation and Casket facility, Full had this to say, “These are tremendous achievements for our entire organization, but more importantly, they speak to our focus to use our expertise and technology to improve quality of care, patient flow and ‘final’ outcomes.” 

When contacted, area funeral homes (who did not want to be identified) all were taken back by this new development.  One said that the hospital administrator was, “Full of it” in thinking that the hospital could ultimately compete for these services.  Most agreed that there was a “conflict of interest” with this full service concept.  

Most area residents were ambivalent to the concept, when asked.    But there still seems to be a difference of political opinion on the issue.  Elected Democrats responded, “The economy is in the tank and the government has got to bail the little guy out.  It’s just governments’ role to give it all too each and every one of us!”   Republican elected officials in Washington are waiting and watching to see if they get a favorable US Supreme Court ruling to rescind major portions of “Obamacare” stating “We just don’t have spine to stop all this craziness and the Presidential Election is still over a year away!”

…Mike, wake up!  Uh, ah, what?  Whew, I just had a terrible dream about Memorial Healthcare getting in the funeral business under the new healthcare laws.  What a nightmare.  Wonder what prompted my brain to think of that?...

 A picture can be worth a thousand words!  ...or one good nightmare!