Insanity

Enough Said

Rush on Treatment of Soldiers

He's got it right here!!!

Just a little something I would pass on to you all in regards to the where the ones in harms way fall.

Those of you who know me , know how I feel bout this issue......"some gave all, those come 1^st"

Love him or loathe him, he nailed this one right on the head.......... By Rush Limbaugh:

I think the vast differences in compensation between victims of the September 11 casualty and those who die serving our country in Uniform are profound. No one is really talking about it either, because you just don't criticize anything having to do with September 11. Well, I can't let the numbers pass by because it says something really disturbing about the entitlement mentality of this country. If you lost a family member in the September 11 attack, you're going to get an average of $1,185,000. The range is a minimum guarantee of $250,000, all the way up to $4.7 million.
If yo u are a surviving family member of an American soldier killed in action, the first check you get is a $6,000 direct death benefit, half of which is taxable.

Next, you get $1,750 for burial costs. If you are the surviving spouse, you get $833 a month until you remarry. And there's a payment of $211 per month for each child under 18. When the child hits 18, those payments come to a screeching halt.

Keep in mind that some of the people who are getting an average of $1.185 million up to $4.7 milli on are complaining that it's not enough Their deaths were tragic, but for most, they were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Soldiers put themselves in harms way FOR ALL OF US, and they and their families know the dangers.

We also learned over the weekend that some of the victims from the Oklahoma City bombing have started an organization asking for the same deal that the September 11 families are getting. In addition to that, some of the families of those bombed in the embassies are now asking for compensation a s well.

You see where this is going, don't you? Folks, this is part and parcel of over 50 years of entitlement politics in this country. It's just really sad. Every time a pay raise comes up for the military, they usually receive next to nothing of a raise. Now the green machine is in com bat in the Middle East while their families have to survive on food stamps and live in low-rent housing Make sense?

However, our own US Congress voted themselves a raise. Many of you don't know that they only have to be in Congress one time to receive a pension that is more than $15,000 per month. And most are now equal to being millionaires plus. They do not receive Soc ial Security on retirement because they didn't have to pay into the system. If some of the military people stay in for 20 years and get out as an E-7, they may receive a pension of $1,000 per month, and the very people who placed them in harm's way receives a pension of $15,000 per month.

I would like to see our elected officials pick up a weapon and join ranks before they start cutting out benefits and lowering pay for our sons and daughters who are now fighting.

from an email circulating throughout the web

Last Ice Fishing of the Season

Well, several of us went back to Fish Lake, yesterday, to try our hand one more time this season. This trip there were five (5) of us. The weather was warm and we didn't need our shelter or heater.


We didn't get skunked, either. Yet another great day on the lake. We hope to get out on the ice more often next season.

Record Setting Photo

Andreas Gursky's diptych sold for more than $3.3 million dollars at a London auction topping Edward Steichen's previous record of $2.9 million dollars. Yes, I said million! The piece entitled "99 cent II, Diptych," is shown in all it's glory here. Now, I know you can't get a real feel for this amazing piece of art from this tiny view on the left but, am sure you can still appreciate it's value.


How much would you pay to have this unique piece adorning your living room or den wall? If I am guessing right - many of you are sorry for having missed your opportunity. Alas, who knows what the future may bring? Someday any one of you may have the chance to invest millions in another piece of art just as worthy as this photo.

Slik SBH Ball Heads

While searching the internet for a suitable quick release system for my camera supports, I was reminded how happy and impressed I was with my tripod ball head. So, I decided to do a little review of the head to assist those who may be looking for a stout, reliable, easy to use ball head.

I use the Slik SBH Ball Heads and am extremely happy with their build and performance. These heads are part of Slik's professional series. They come in three (3) sizes. The SBH-280, SBH-320, and the SBH-550 the largest of which will carry a load of up to 22 pounds. I currently use the 550 on my main tripod and I have a 320 on order for a window pod I got last Christmas. I can't wait until it gets here. Now if I could only decide on a suitable Quick Release for these amazing heads. If anyone has experience with a reliable quick release system, please, let me know. Whatever the QR system used (if any), I am convinced these heads are the best value for your dollar.

Besides being extremely well built and reliable what I really love is their design. They all operate flawlessly with a SINGLE oversized knob. When the head is released, not only does the ball portion of the head move freely, the main body encasing the head can turn on its base for quick and easy movement as well. This design makes it the most easy to use ball head ever! I highly recomend one of these great heads.

I'm still leaning towards a Mac. I'm simply waiting on their new OS to come out. I am extremely tired of Microsoft problems! I believe Leopard (the new OS) is due sometime in June. Unless something drastic changes my mind between now and then I will convert to Macintosh.

Good Times

After last month's ice fishing contest we just had to get out again. This time we went to Fish Lake and managed to catch a couple of real nice croppies.

Of coarse I had to take these babies home and taste test 'em. Yup, they passed the test!

Al Gore’s Personal Energy Use

Al Gore’s Personal Energy Use Is His Own “Inconvenient Truth”
by Drew Johnson, Tennessee Center for Policy Research
posted February 26, 2007

Last night, Al Gore’s global-warming documentary, An Inconvenient Truth, collected an Oscar for best documentary feature, but the Tennessee Center for Policy Research has found that Gore deserves a gold statue for hypocrisy.

Gore’s mansion, located in the posh Belle Meade area of Nashville, consumes more electricity every month than the average American household uses in an entire year, according to the Nashville Electric Service (NES).

In his documentary, the former Vice President calls on Americans to conserve energy by reducing electricity consumption at home.

The average household in America consumes 10,656 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year, according to the Department of Energy. In 2006, Gore devoured nearly 221,000 kWh — more than 20 times the national average.

Last August alone, Gore burned through 22,619 kWh — guzzling more than twice the electricity in one month than an average American family uses in an entire year. As a result of his energy consumption, Gore’s average monthly electric bill topped $1,359.

Since the release of An Inconvenient Truth, Gore’s energy consumption has increased from an average of 16,200 kWh per month in 2005, to 18,400 kWh per month in 2006.

Gore’s extravagant energy use does not stop at his electric bill. Natural gas bills for Gore’s mansion and guest house averaged $1,080 per month last year.

“As the spokesman of choice for the global warming movement, Al Gore has to be willing to walk to walk, not just talk the talk, when it comes to home energy use,” said Tennessee Center for Policy Research President Drew Johnson.

In total, Gore paid nearly $30,000 in combined electricity and natural gas bills for his Nashville estate in 2006.

(The Tennessee Center for Policy Research is an independent, nonprofit and nonpartisan research organization committed to achieving a freer, more prosperous Tennessee through free market policy solutions.)