Thousands Show Up for "Red White and Brave" Parade in Colorado Springs (29 August)

Maj. General Perkins of 4th Inf. Divison (Fort Carson)






One photographer underneath a gigantic American flag the Navy guys were carrying.

You Can Kiss These Freedoms Goodbye

Shawn Tully, in a Fortune/CNN article, wrote that these freedoms will be wiped out under socialized medicine:

1. Freedom to choose what's in your plan.
2. Freedom to be rewarded for healthy living, or pay your real costs.
3. Freedom to choose high-deductible coverage.
4. Freedom to keep your existing plan.
5. Freedom to choose your doctors.

Another Best Buy Horror Story

The Consumerist has just put out this report:

I am writing to you because my husband and I are really getting the run around from Best Buy.

We bought a PC about 5 years ago, which has become our children's computer. It was in good condition, except the CD player in it was broken. We bought the extended warranty for the computer so we brought the tower in to the (redacted), NH store to get the CD replaced over 3 weeks ago. We declined backing up the data (a $100 charge) since replacing the CD drive is not a big deal, and does not require any work to be done to the hard drive. My husband would have replaced the CD drive himself, but then it would invalidate the warranty.

We found out this week that there was actually more work done to the computer than just what we had requested. In fact, our entire hard drive was replaced, thus all of the data is now gone! Apparently there were other things wrong with the computer than what we thought and the Geek Squad thought it would be in everyone's best interest to replace the hard drive. In fact, the Geek Squad replaced so much on the computer that the value of the work that they did is well over the amount of money that the computer is even worth!!! If we thought there was even a chance that our data was in jeopardy, we definitely would have backed it up ourselves, or paid the $100 to have it backed up.

So, to make a long story short, the Best Buy Geek Squad is asking that we pay about $1,700 in for lab fees, an external hard drive and labor in order to MAYBE aquire about 80% of the data from my computer. When we called their corporate office, after a 2 hour phone call, my husband was told that the corporate office, "does not negotiate fees". Corporate Office called the GM from the Best Buy in (redacted), NH and they are giving us a $200 gift card that we can use to pay towards the fee.

We need your help! We do not have an extra $1,500 to get our data back! We are losing thousands of photos of our children, and a lot of personal and professional files. I now know that we should always back up our data, but honestly, we were just getting the CD drive changed! We didn't want anything else done to the computer! It was working just fine! We truly feel like we are being wronged here.

I just need to know what to do next? Do we pay the fee and then sue them? We could put it on our Best Buy credit card (interest free for 18 months) although I really don't want to.

But the Japanese Lost the War!

The recently-concluded "Cash for Clunkers" program proved to be a bonanza for Japanese manufacturers such as Honda, Toyota, and Nissan, which racked up 41% of new-car sales, according to this USA Today article.

A Tacky Stunt in Denver

Rush Limbaugh read the following news report on his show, largely based on a Denver Post article:

I mentioned before the break that the Democrats have faked a vandalism crime against themselves. Hee,hee. I told you when these town halls started, when they got all raucous, I said, "Don't be surprised," after the White House says you're nothing but an unruly mob and Nancy Pelosi said that everybody's out there wearing swastikas and so forth, I said, "don't be surprised if at the next town hall meeting you go to, a Democrat shows up and tries to act like an extreme, angry conservative, to give everybody on our side a bad name," and it has now happened in Denver. A 24-year-old was arrested yesterday morning on suspicion of smashing 11 windows at the Colorado Democrat Party headquarters. "The person tried to conceal his identity while allegedly committing the crime, according to police descriptions. Maurice Schwenkler [also known as transgendered activist "Ariel Attack"] wore a shirt over his face, a hooted sweatshirt and latex gloves before he and another man fled the scene on bicycles. Maurice Schwenkler was apprehended after a short chase. The other suspect remains at large.

...State Democrat Party Chairwoman Pat Waak initially blamed the vandalism on animosity surrounding the health care debate and then she dialed back on that." The Denver cops declined to comment on motives, but the suspect is a Democrat! The Democrat went out, committed vandalism against the Democrat Party headquarters in Colorado, tried to make it look like an angry Republican over health care. And there's a picture of this Maurice Schwenkler here in the story who broke 11 windows. It's in the Denver Post. Just the sort of thing we've been talking about here, the Democrat Party faking vandalism crimes against itself.

UPDATE: The Denver Post reports that Schwnkler is free on bail.

Senator-for-Life Kennedy, 77, Dies of Brain Cancer!

Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) passed away quietly in his sleep last night. While we at "Bloodthirsty Warmonger" often disagreed with his policies and personal conduct, he was a shrewd politician with over 40 years of experience. His endosement of Sen. Barack Obama was a key element in helping him win the presidential election last year.

UPDATE: No story of Kennedy's passing would be complete without a picture of the woman who presumably had a lot of questions for him when he passed over to her side of existence - Mary Jo Kopechne.

Good News: American Generosity Survives Recession

Source: Parade magazine, 23 August 2009
http://www.parade.com/news/intelligence-report/archive/090823-american-generosity-survives-recession.html

Two new studies confirm that when times are tough, Americans pull together. A recent study from the Rand Corporation found that more people provided financial assistance than received it, with 30% of American households giving $500 or more to friends or family. Even among those who were struggling themselves, 29% came to the aid of others. The most frequent givers: parents. Likewise, a report from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) found that, despite financial difficulties, more people volunteered in 2008 than in 2007. Like the Rand study, the CNCS report said Americans are lending a hand close to home: 20 million people reported working with neighbors to solve a community problem, up from 15 million the year before.

Assistance from friends and family can have a profound psychological effect beyond the temporary impact of a few hundred dollars or a few hours of volunteerism. “The economic crisis has made us more aware of our own vulnerability,” said Robert Kenny, associate director of the Center for Wealth and Philanthropy at Boston College. “Just knowing someone is there for you can be as valuable as the assistance itself.

Contributor: J. Scott Orr

Sign of Recovery?

Follow the Money (Yawn)

The western world is in an uproar over the fact that Scotland released Abdel Baset al Megrahi of Libya, the one man convicted of the Lockerbie bombing which claimed 270 lives. His cover story was that he had terminal cancer and wanted to return to his homeland to die. Reality Check: he showed no compassion at all to the victims of that ill-fated Pan American flight, and now he received a hero's welcome. Incidentally, commercial contracts with the oil-rich North African state were riding on his release. FBI director Robert Mueller, who as a US Justice Department lawyer led the investigation into the 1988 bombing, said the decision to release Megrahi made a "mockery of justice".

New Guidelines for Treating Depression in Pregnant Women

One of the dilemmas expectant women face is conflicting advice as to when and when not to take antidepressants. ABC News posted the following story:

...Past guidance on depression during pregnancy has been mixed, with obstetricians and psychiatrists often offering conflicting advice on management. But a new report that combines recommendations from obstetricians and psychiatrists may mean that women are poised to receive better prenatal mental health care.

Today, the American Psychiatric Association and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists released a collaborative report that sums up past research and is the first to offer concrete guidelines for treating depression in pregnant women. The report was co-published in the journals Obstetrics and Gynecology and General Hospital Psychiatry....

EDITORIAL NOTE: Having lost a sister to postpartum depression, I take a personal interest in any new developments in the treatment of pregnant women or mothers of newborn children.

Is China Pushing for the Balkanization of India?

A Spero News article reported the following Chinese scheme:

The government of New Dehli made an official protest for the content of an article appeared on a Chinese site that aims to divide India in “20-30 small states” giving support to guerillas and nationalist movements present on the territory of the great nation or abroad.

Posted on April 8 on the website, iiss.cn (International Institute for Strategic Studies) the article detailed a roadmap for breaking up India. There it is stated: “To split India, China can bring into its fold countries like Pakistan, Nepal and Bhutan, support ULFA in attaining its goal in Assam’ independence, back aspirations of Indian nationalities like Tamil and Nagas, encourage Bangladesh to give a push to the independence of West Bengal and lastly recover the 90,000 sq km territory in southern Tibet.”

The Government of India made inquiries about how much this website has the support of the Chinese Government and logged a protest. The Indian media spoke of a “quasi-official Chinese website”.

This idea of balkanization of India is old as the Indian state itself. After independence, in 1947, in the political circles of Europe many observers were predicting that India, after the tragic start with partition, will not hold together. After all India had never been a single political unit. The British Empire put it together and marked the boundaries from east, north and west. India does not have a common language. Immediately after independence there were internal fighting to redraw the boundaries of the different Indian states. The criterion of division according to the different languages was accepted. But many states are still quarrelling for the boundaries and for the utilization of rivers water....

EDITORIAL COMMENT: One reader of Free Republic wrote that the Chinese government had better be careful what it wishes for, because "more than one nation can play that game."

American Liberty Tour Starts 10 September

The American Liberty Tour is a collaborative project of the American Liberty Alliance, American Majority, and Americans for Limited Government.

Join "Joe the Plumber", Lloyd Marcus (The Tea Party Song), Ned Ryun (American Majority), Eric Odom (TaxDayTeaParty.com), Ken Marrero (American Liberty Alliance), Adam Bitely (NetRight Nation) and many others at an American Liberty Tour stop near you!

Itinerary:

Sacramento - September 10th
Salt Lake City - September 12th
Denver - September 13-14th
Kansas City - September 16th
St Louis - September 17th
Nashville - September 18th to 19th
Memphis - September 21st
Little Rock - September 22nd
Dallas - September 24th
New Orleans - September 28th
Tallahassee - September 30th
Tampa - October 1st
Orlando - October 3rd
Jacksonville - October 6th
Columbia - October 8th
Charlotte - October 10th
Atlanta - October 12th to 13th

The Flash of Death: Volkswagen/Audi Recalls 16,000 Vehicles

Volkswagen and Audi are recalling not less than 16,000 (the number could rise) new vehicles due to a flaw in the DSG [direct shift gearbox] which can cause the car to stall or lose power. Although the U.S. government has been investigating this problem for the past month, ABC News' "Good Morning America" claims credit for getting this manufacturer to start recalling their cars.

The Doughnut Wars, Round 2

WJHG.com reports that Dr. Jason Newsom wants his job as director of the Bay County (Florida) Health Department back. The county commissioners failed to take any action on the request, which we interpret as a sign of indifference.

Seven Secrets of Highly Obese People

The Washington Post ran an article about this, citing another article in the journal Obesity. Here's the list:

The Seven Secrets of Highly Obese People
By David Zinczenko
August 19, 2009; 7:00 AM ET

They use larger plates. When offered two plate sizes, 98.6 percent of those with the highest BMIs took the larger of the two plates to the buffet. A bigger plate tricks your eye into thinking you're not eating as much, and stuffing more food onto your plate -- and into your mouth. Use a smaller plate, get a smaller belly.

They eat while looking at food. 41.7 percent of those with high BMIs took seats that overlooked the buffet, instead of sitting in a booth or facing in a different direction. The site of food tends to make our minds think we have more work to do, eating-wise. Keep your food stored in the fridge or the pantry, not out on the countertops.

They eat with maximum efficiency. While Chinese buffets offer chopsticks, 91.3 percent of obese patrons opt for forks. That just makes it easier to shovel in the food!

They clean their plates. Of those patrons who were heaviest, 94 percent cleaned their plates so there was nothing left. Ignore Mom's advice -- let a little linger.

They chew faster. Researchers actually monitored the chewing habits of the buffet-goers and discovered that the heaviest 1/3 among them chewed their food an average of 11.9 times before swallowing. The middle 1/3 chewed an average of 14 times, and the leanest 1/3 chewed 14.8 times.

They dive in. The leanest people in the study typically took a lap around the buffet first, to plot out what they wanted to eat. But the more overweight group charged right in; doing so means you may fill up on some less-appealing items, then have to go back to snag that one nosh you have to have, but missed the first time.

Oh, and one more habit the overweight have that we've been reporting on for years:

They skip breakfast. Doing so raises your risk of obesity by a whopping 450 percent!

David Zinczenko is the editor-in-chief of Men's Health and the editorial director of Women's Health. The Eat This, Not That! book series has sold 3.5 million copies since December 2007.

A First-Hand Account of the Grand Junction Protest

This is an abridged version of an anonymous letter written shortly after President Obama's visit to Grand Junction CO, presented on Michelle Morin's Facebook page. You will not find this in the legacy media.

For those of you that don't know Grand Junction, it is the largest town in western Colorado with a population of 48,000. It sits about halfway between Denver and Salt Lake City, both of which are about a four-hour drive. Between Grand Junction and SLC, there is basically nothing. Between Denver and GJ, there are small mountain and resort communities about every twenty to thirty minutes. In other words, there is not a huge population base from which to draw protestors.

From 10 am to 11:30 yesterday, the Grand Junction citizens held a well organized rally at a park a couple miles from the high school where the townhall was held. They asked everyone to sign a registration card so they could have an accurate count of attendance. There were 4,000. (That's huge for a town with 48,000 residents.) This is hearsay, but I later heard that out of those 4,000, only three "won" tickets to the townhall.

I did not see any reporters from the national or Denver news organizations. There appeared to be a reporter from a GJ station. There were also newspaper reporters, one of which I know was from SLC. However, the big players did not appear to be there.

After the rally, there was a break until 3:00. I went to lunch with several representatives of 912 groups from the Front Range area. Then a member of the local group that sponsored the protest invited us to her home until the protest began. On the way to the protest, we saw Air Force One land. It was a strange feeling to see this American icon while detesting the occupant inside.

It was obvious to me the way it was set up that the motorcade wasn't going to drive down a road lined with counter protestors. The thing that made me angry was they told the Central High School Band they were going to play for it. The kids sat there in the hot sun waiting, and he sneak in another entrance. Those kids were dejected. Many of them walked to their cars wit their heads hung down. It's one thing to sneak past demonstrators but to lie to those kids like that shows what type of character he has.

I don't know how many protestors were there as the rally people split up to different parts of town to protest the motorcade. I do know there were several people there from Denver that missed the earlier rally. There were lots of people filming it, but once again, I didn't see any major players from the media.

So this is where it got funny. Since the ACORN people (which is what we called the opposition) were bussed in from Denver, they didn't know the high school. Our side had the real protestors who had graduated from there, so they figured out which entrance he used. We all wanted to move to that entrance so when he left he would see us. However, we didn't want ACORN to follow us. So over a 45-minute period we slowly trickled over there. The front line of our group would keep chanting while the others left. (It was a bit like the Sound of Music.) They had no idea. We were trying to make it look like people were slowly going home. A GJ couple from our side who hadn't been informed of the plan said all of a sudden no one on our side was there. (They were smart and realized we had all moved to another location, so they went looking for us. The ACORNers were too dumb to realize what we had done.)

Anyway, after our little covert operation we had restaged ourselves with a few socialist demonstrators at the entrance. We were pretty proud of ourselves. :-) This made it perfect for when he came out in his motorcade. We shouted over and over "No you can't!" which turned into the most loud, emotional boo I've ever heard. It was great. It was such a wonderful feeling to be so close to him and to know that he could hear us booing him.

Another thing I wanted to note was a rather strange experience between the police and us. After we had restaged ourselves, the local police guarding the parking lot all of a sudden lined up in a row, riot style (legs spread apart, arms behind the back). It was odd, and the angry mob became silent and turned their bodies to look at them. The thing was we intimidated them by our reaction. They all looked at each other and you could see they realized they were us. We were not the enemy. We were their friends and neighbors. Then they quickly retreated and went into a circle.

Finally, I would like to give some hints to others who may protest BO in the future. They set us up by stating which entrance he was coming in and planting his supporters and the marching band there. They aren't going to drive a presidential motorcade down a street lined with protestors. They are going to bring him in an entrance where the entire block (including sidewalks) is blocked off. Before a protest, have organizers scout the location and see what areas are COMPLETELY blocked off from pedestrians and where there is a substantial higher amount of police. One woman I met when we restaged (who had been at the entrance the entire time) said they had done that and that's how they figured out which entrance he was using. Be in charge of the situation. We were laughing after restaging because we know (there and across the country) we are always one step ahead of them.

It was a great day, and I met a lot of wonderful people. It made me proud to be an American.

Short = The New Black

This is a story I (all 5'4" of me) can personally relate to. According to this ABC News story, "...a new University of Michigan study published this week in the journal Pediatrics suggests short people are not victimized at any higher rate than their taller peers -- at least not in the sixth grade, the period covered by the researchers."

Not so, says "Jeff," who remembered most about being short throughout school was the constant bullying and name-calling. In gym class, he was always the last one picked for the team.

"I feel embarrassed shopping for clothes, as I have to get my pants in the teen and young sections," he told ABCNews.com. "I still get carded for beer and cigarettes."

"The worst thing about being short is there is nothing I can do about it," said Jeff. "Fat people can diet and exercise, skinny people can eat and lift weights, ugly people can have plastic surgery. Being short is more akin to being disabled...."

But Could She Sing and Dance Like Michael Jackson?

The Field Museum in Chicago released this picture of a limestone Egyptian bust, not less than 3550 years old, that bears an uncanny resemblance to the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson.

The C-Word

President Obama may be forced to make some compromises on his healthcare proposal package, according to this FOX News story. A widespread grassroots movement and pressure from constituents of Blue Dog Democrats offer some hope that he may not be able to ram through his original program without modifications. Dr. Howard Dean, former governor of Vermont and recently-retired Democratic National Committee chairman, quickly issued a statement that the public option is essential to healthcare reform.

The Doughnut Wars, Round 1

MSNBC has this story:

PENSACOLA, Fla. - Dr. Jason Newsom (6 ft. tall, 167 pounds) was fired from his job as head of the Bay County health department for campaigning against fattening foods: fried chicken, sweetened iced tea, french fries, hamburgers, etc. But when he parodied the famous slogan, "America Runs on Dunkin'" to "America Dies on Dunkin'," a county commissioner, two lawyers, and some health department employees decided they had enough, and spearheaded a campaign to oust him.