An interesting prospective on Hillary Clinton's run for the presidency

I tend to look to the Wall Street Journal's on line edition for a lot of my news content. I find that "market driven" reporting tends to give me information that is much more reliable than other sources.

They also have an editorial side that despite criticism strikes me, to borrow a phrase from Fox News, fair and balanced. Dan Henninger's blog Wonder Land asks the question today of why Hillary Clinton finds herself in the political predicament that she does. I found the analysis to be thought provoking. Take a look for yourself and see what you think.

Hillary's Close Up
From the Wall Street Journal On Line edition February 28th 2008.

A bit of humor as we near the end of the week

Some notable quotes.




"No diet will remove all the fat from your body because the brain is entirely fat. Without a brain you might look good, but all you could do is run for public office." - Covert Bailey

"If you want to look young and thin, hang around old fat people." - Jim Eason

"A male gynecologist is like an auto mechanic who has never owned a car." - Carrie Snow

"A waist is a terrible thing to mind." - Ziggy (Tom Wilson)

"I got kicked out of ballet class because I pulled a groin muscle. It wasn't mine."- Rita Rudner

"Those in the cheaper seats clap. The rest of you rattle your jewelry."-
John Lennon (1940 - 1980)

"The government is like a baby's alimentary canal, with a happy appetite at one end and no responsibility at the other." --Ronald Reagan

Learning to walk and chew gum at the same time

Well it has been an eventful few days for me.

My brother in law spent twenty plus yeas working as a police officer and now has retired and gone to work full time engaged in his real passion working with wood. He makes some of the most beautiful items that I have seen in his garage shop and loves doing it.

You can see an example of his work here under construction. If you click on the picture you will get a larger version.


Now I have been really looking forward to getting these book shelves so that I can gather all of my books that I have stashed in various nooks and crannies around the house. So I arose early on Thursday setting my alarm clock for 06:00 AM. When the alarm went off Linda nudged me so I got out of bed to silence the beeping as her clock was set for a latter time.

Now Linda sleeps in on occasion because she keeps her alarm clock on her night stand and has a habit of pushing that "snooze" button once to often only to find on occasion that it is much latter than she thinks. My philosophy is if you have to get up to shut it off you are already up and hence will stay up. So as I jumped up and started around the bed at which point I some how tangled my feet either with themselves or covers hanging over the end of the bed, I never did figure out which. The end result was that I found myself laying on the floor in the wink of an eye. Now those of you that know me will understand that I have a lot to hit the floor with even if it is only a ground level fall. I was lucky in that my head only impacted carpet and not a bed rail or table. Needless to say this was not how I envisioned my day starting.

The net result was that I spent most of the day sitting at the keyboard not doing a heck of a lot because I had some abnormal aches and pains. Lucky for me not only did John and Kenny come to put the bookshelves in but John brought a neighbor to help not knowing that I was going to be home. I spend the day as an observer as far at the wood work was concerned.


Now by Saturday I had somewhat recovered from my self inflicted problems enough so that I was helping stock the new shelves and enjoying seeing all the books that I have accumulated lined up in neat rows. As part of the rearrangement of the living room to accommodate the new editions we were moving some pictures and various wall adornments around one of which, a ceramic eagle, had to be placed on a different wall. I decided I could do that and thinking our step stool was in the basement proceeded to mount a dining room chair to complete the task.

Linda rounded to corner just in time to see me fall from the chair and literally bounce on the floor. Now I can't tell you which bothered me more as I lay there on the floor in pain wondering what had just happened. I really can't say if it was the pain in my leg, back and side or Linda yelling at me for what I had just done. I thanked her for her concern for my well being and dusted off my pride and got up off the floor. Now I'm sitting here contemplating if I'm going to be able to walk to go to work in the morning. I have been taking Advil all day with very little relief. So the lesson here kiddies is use the proper tool for each job and try to be a little more careful. Oh, and for some of us not to try walking and chewing gum at the same time.

A really pleasant Sunday

I actually wrote this post a few weeks ago and saved it as a "draft" in the blogging software. Guess I was enjoying the day so much that I didn't get around to posting it.


Sunday February 18th 2008

Well yesterday was a very pleasant Sunday. Linda and I picked up our grand daughter Autumn and went to Sunday school followed by church services. We then took Autumn out to lunch and she and Grand Ma engaged in one of their favorite pass times, shopping. Even though she has very short legs Autumn can wear most adults out on a "shop till you drop" expedition. On this day though I think Linda got the better of her. By the time they had reached Michael's Craft Store Autumn was ready to ride in the shopping cart instead of walking.

Pap on the other hand served as chauffeur and got to read the Sunday paper and take in a few more chapters of the latest book I'm reading. I never have been one for shopping myself.

There was time to sit and talk while having lunch making me aware of just how quickly our little princes is growing up. She is only three and I can't for the life of me figure out where the last three years have gone. I want to soak up every minute of her childhood as well as that of her sister. Then we returned her home to her parents where Andy demonstrated the camera he gave Katie for Valentines Day by taking a few snap shots which you can see two of here. I hope your day in Oakmont and around town was half as pleasant as mine was and that you experienced God's blessing as well.

While I long for a warmer climate and milder winters yesterday reminded me to remember what I have right here in my own back yard.

Obama's Wiretap Votes

Here is an article from the Wall Street Journal Opinion page that I think bears reading and thinking about. While my policy remains "anybody but Hillary" this vote has given me real pause about Obama's qualifications.

February 13, 2008; Page A26

Now and then sanity prevails, even in Washington. So it did yesterday as the Senate passed a warrantless wiretap bill for overseas terrorists while killing most of the Lilliputian attempts to tie down our war fighters.

"We lost every single battle we had on this bill," conceded Chris Dodd, which ought to tell the Connecticut Senator something about the logic of what he was proposing. His own amendment -- to deny immunity from lawsuits to telecom companies that cooperated with the government after 9/11 -- didn't even get a third of the Senate. It lost 67-31, though notably among the 31 was possible Democratic Presidential nominee Barack Obama. (Hillary Clinton was absent, while John McCain voted in favor.)

Follow THIS LINK to read the complete story.

Real Change

When I was in my first year of high school someone in my history class violated one of some set of rules. I don't remember who it was but the end result was to bring down the wrath of the teacher on the entire class which of course made this individual very popular. The net result was that we were all assigned the task of writing a report with a minimum of two pages to be turned in the next day with the subject left to our own design. This convinced me that the task was only punishment for the infraction of the rules since it could be about something totally unrelated to history, but I digress.

Now when I was in my teenage years I had already developed a yearning to read but I was not much for writing for a number of reasons. First I never mastered the English language and still haven't to this day. I fear given an junior high school level English test I would fail. I know I can't properly diagram a sentence and my syntax leaves much to be desired. Second I still have a problem with spelling although that thankfully has been resolved by the advent of the computer though it still aggravates me at times that I just can't seem to master this discipline. And last but definitely not least, my handwriting was and is atrocious. I think it is for this that reason that God allowed the desktop computer with word processors to be invented and develop to the extent that they have as another blessing for me and my kind. So in a rebellious move of sorts I wrote my report on why the study of history was a complete waist of time. If I remember correctly I think I got a passing grade for effort. All of this is somewhat ironic since one of the people I truly admire and look up to these days is a former history professor, Newt Gingrich.

I can't write about the book Real Change because my copy has not yet arrived. I have received notification from Amazon that it is on its way so I will be discussing it at some point in the future. I want you to know that I am not procrastinating. Every time Linda accuses me of this I have to point out to her that I am putting off procrastinating! It does however offer a partial explanation why my "unread stack" of books keeps growing at such a fantastic rate.

What I would like to present to you today is a video that deals with the book Real Change that will give you a flavor of the ideas that it expresses and the thoughtfulness of its writer. I honestly believe that if we don't take up a program like the one proposed by Mr. Gingrich or something very similar that we are going to find ourselves in a political and cultural position in the near future that none of us are going to be very happy with.


This is one of those situations where I look at and listen to the ideas put forth by Newt Gingrich and they seem to make such common sense to me that I stand completely baffled as to why we are not having as Newt calls it "A national conversation" on these topics. And further why the political party that I have supported for a number of years now seems unwilling or unable to bring them to the forefront of the American conscious for debate and possible implementation.

So my dear reader I ask that you take the time to view this video on the subject then think about it and discuss it with someone you know. A close friend or family member perhaps a coworker or member of your church. Perhaps if enough of us do this we can help start that conversation. I am also going to add some additional links on the sidebar of the blog on the subject.

Click here to watch FedEx vs. Government Bureaucracy

A short course in brain surgery

I'm sure with all the media attention that the politics of health care have received over the past two years you are familiar with the debate. I'm sure that the so called "single payer" system has some merit, almost every argument has two sides each with their points.

I think this video and the web site that hosts it FREE MARKET CURE present a pretty good case for why the system that has been dubbed "Hillary care" would be a huge mistake for our country. Take a look and see what you think.

Photos from Linda's road trip

Ground Hog Day 2008

Linda took a number of photos while visiting Gobblers Knob last Saturday, February 2nd, aka Ground Hog Day. Here for your enjoyment are a sampling of the visual images from that day as well as a few from my friend Henry with whom she made the trip. You can click on the image to see the entire group of photos. Enjoy!

Ken & Linda @ the movies

The Bucket List


Every once in a while a movie comes along that impresses me to the point that I can't stop thinking about it. The Bucket List is one of those movies. I had seen the previews both in the theater and on television and wanted to see the movie just on that basis alone. I thought this is going to be mostly a comedy with a few sad moments based on the subject involved. It turned out to be so much more.

This movie tells a tail of two men both with cancer and both given less than a year to live. Edward Cole (Jack Nicholson) is a wealthy business man, Carter Chambers (Morgan Freeman) is an auto mechanic of modest means. They find themselves in adjoining beds in a hospital room where over a period of time they develop a friendship.

All of this you can surmise from the previews that are running in the theaters and on television since the movie was released. What you can't see is the rich dialog between the two characters as their past lives are developed into a story that draws the audience in and makes them seem to be someone that you know or have known in your life.

Having dealt with cancer in my own family I can tell you that some of the hospital scenes were written by someone who has spent time with someone who has been there or experienced it themselves.

The journey that follows take Edward and Carter literally around the world. Along the way the friendship grows deeper and both men reveal their inner most thoughts to each other as they look back over their lives. They discuss things that they wouldn't change if they could and about missed opportunities in life that can never be regained. They talk about faith,God and the existence of an after life. Each explaining their feelings to the other. Their relationship becomes strained as the get to know each other better and each man wants to nudge the other in a direction that they feel the other should be going. They remain friends to the end which involves a little twist near the conclusion of the movie that I didn't see coming. Maybe I was just too absorbed to see it, I will have to ask other who have watched the movie and see if they did.

The casting for the picture is first rate. Other than Nicholson and Freeman I wasn't familiar with the other actors in the film but they were just as believable as the main characters and the entire ensemble fit like a glove. The writing was first rate as was the acting. I had to go back and check to be sure and found that indeed The Bucket List had not garnered a single Oscar nomination. Hollywood wonders why people don't turn out in large number at movie theaters as the once did and for me it has always been answered by the quality of the product. Perhaps one day they will figure that out.

This movie is rated R for profanity and language with adult content. I myself prefer the days when an actor got fined fifty dollars for saying "Frankly my dear, I don't give a dam" and there are some movies that I won't go see or recommend based on gratuitous use of foul language. This one does not fall into that category. If you go to see it I think you will enjoy yourself and come away just a little changed. If you do leave me a comment and let me know.

A bit of humor.........

Why? Why? Why?



Why does the sun lighten our hair, but darken our skin?
Why can't women put on mascara with their mouth closed?
Why doesn't glue stick to the inside of the bottle?
Why don't you ever see the headline "Psychic Wins Lottery?"
Why is "abbreviated" such a long word?
Why is a boxing ring square?
Why is it called lipstick if you can still move your lips?
Why is it considered necessary to nail down the lid of a coffin?
Why is it that doctors call what they do "practice"?
Why is it that rain drops but snow falls?
Why is it that to stop Windows 95 or 98, you have to click on "Start?"
Why is it that when you're driving and looking for an address, you turn down the volume on the radio?
Why is lemon juice made with artificial flavor, and dishwashing liquid made with real lemons?
Why is the man who invests all your money called a broker?
Why is the time of day with the slowest traffic called rush hour?
Why is the word dictionary in the dictionary?
Why isn't there mouse-flavored cat food?
You know that little indestructible black box that is used on planes, why can't they make the whole plane out of the same substance?
Can fat people go skinny-dipping?
Why do you need a driver's license to buy liquor when you can't drink and drive?

Ground Hog Day 2008

Like many couples there are a number of aspects of our lives where Linda and I are on different sides of the proverbial coin. I have always been of the quiet type that much prefers an evening at home with a good book to a night on the town. Linda on the other hand is somewhat of a party animal. Just kidding, she does however like to have a much more active social life than the type that I lead.

In particular Linda likes events such as celebrations with big crowds. One of her life long dreams is to be in Times Square on New Years Eve. I on the other hand would consider being there an inhumane form of torture. Linda is the love of my life which I would gladly lay down for her but this is an adventure that she is going to have to find someone else with which to share.

Having said that my friend Henry goes every year to Gobbles Knob to take pictures and get in on the big celebration of Ground Hog Day. He called early in the week telling me to pack my sleeping bag and we could get there about 02:00 AM and party through the night until the big event at sunrise. My immediate answer was "NO WAY!" for which I was called a "kill joy" and a "party poop" a title which I shall gladly bear. When Linda overheard the phone conversation she remarked that she has always wanted to attend the Ground Hog Day celebration and I invited her to take my place on the trip.

Much to my surprise she accepted. Now part of this was based on the fact that two other friends of ours Lee and Betty were planning on making the trip with Henry so Linda would make it a foursome. Betty and Lee are both amateur radio operators like Henry and myself and they were going to stop at the Punxsutawney Air Port where the local ham club had set up a special events station to talk with other amateurs all over the world on Ground Hog Day. Linda while not licensed is very familiar with "hams" and their habits and procedures. So I knew she would be comfortable especially with Betty going.

Well the plan was to leave around 12:30 AM on Saturday morning and be one of the first ones at the site. The plan almost worked. Henry called me about midnight to tell me that the hill that Lee and Betty lived on was a solid sheet of ice and there was no way they would make the trip. I thought for sure at this point that Linda would abort the mission and stay home but she was determined to proceed. So I drove her out to meet Henry in Monroeville and the two of them were off.

I talked with Henry, on the road, and Lee at home until the wee smalls hours of the morning on ham radio and Henry was only about twenty miles from Punxsutawney when I signed off and went to bed. I had just gotten sound asleep when a friend of Linda's who also couldn't believe that she was headed for Gobblers Knob called to ask me it they had arrived safely. By this time the sun was up and I had expected Linda to call and let me know what Phil's prognostication had been but no word from the travelers. I tried a quick call on the radio to no avail so I said that we would just have to wait until we heard something from them.

Well the call came latter in the afternoon when they were well on their way home. Turns out there was no cell service at Gobblers Knob, at least not for T-Mobile users, so Linda had just turned her phone off. She said she had a great time and even though she basically stood in one spot for over four hours it had been a grand party.

I've heard some real horror stories in the past about the revelers at the Ground Hog Day celebration so I was glad to hear that the crowd had behaved themselves. It seems that the local officials declared that this was not going to be turned into the winter equivalent of spring break. From what I understand there are strictly enforced rules about no alcohol on the grounds.

As a matter of fact Linda told me that it has turned into quite a family affair. She spent the most of the night next to a lady from Hagerstown Maryland with her five year old son. The lady from Maryland had been on her way to her honeymoon when they passed the sign for Punxsutawney and had her husband stop and take he picture next to it. That was seven years ago and now she had brought her first born a son back to see the celebration. Her husband was home with their second child a baby girl.

As Henry had predicted with the event falling on a weekend they had a record crowd. Linda said that she had never seen so many people in one small place at one time. Literally packed in wall to wall people. She said they danced and sang song and bounced around large beach balls through the crowd. Evidently a great time was had by all.

Linda took a number of photos which I don't have loaded on my computer yet. Once I have them I will create a Google album and post a link so you can see the event as Linda did. The photo with the blog entry was shot by Henry who in his retirement has turned professional writer / photographer doing free lance work. Matter of fact he took some shots and is in the process for writing an article for one of the ham radio magazines.

Perhaps as I continue on my program to lose weight next year I will be in a more social mode and make the trip myself. Naw, I doubt it! For those into that scene though I wish them much enjoyment.