Oregon #3 in umemployment - Nothing to brag about

The Oregonian--

We have made it to No. 3 in Oregon in unemployment with a 12.1% unemployment rate, however that is nothing to be proud of because the numbers have not dropped really, 12.2% last month, the only reason that we are third now is that we got passed by Rhode Island who is now challenging Michigan for first place.

In the mean time, Oregon is working on helping to economy locally by...
Zzzzzzzzzzzzz

oh sorry, I was trying to think of something.

News man Walter Cronkite

CBS News--
Walter Cronkite, the legend of CBS died Friday in his New York home after a long illness.

He was 92

"--And that's the way it is.--"

I remember watching Cronkite on the nightly news. I have never really been a regular watcher of TV news, especially nowadays where they are mostly sound bites and non-informative waste of time. however back in Cronkite's day, there was at least some investigative reporting.

Rest in peace, Walter.

is Russia slapping the United States in the face? You be the judge

This is a video that has been circulating around the Internet about Obama's recent trip to Russia.

What I find very interesting, is two things.
1)I'm having difficulty finding the source of the video
2) no major news services are reporting on this, or at least any that I can find.

However, the whole point is that whether or not a leader of another country approves or disapproves of who the president of the United States is, there is a thing called common courtesy.

When I watched this video, I could not believe what I was seeing. These Russian leaders were more focused on greeting an ambassador then a leader of a nation.

Lane County Board of Commissioners : "feed the pig"

The Register Guard --

Lane County commissioners, once again, it's time for more creative ways of getting money out of taxpayers to pay for [fill in the blank]

This time, we're looking at countrywide vehicle registration fee increases to help pay for local roads and the $173 million road work backlog.

The vehicles fees, that will be added on top of the registration fee now required by the state, would increase the two-year renewal for passenger vehicles from $54 to $86.

Currently, any county level registration fee in addition to state fees can be enacted in counties without voter approval if the population is at least 350,000. Lane counties population in 2008, was 346,000.

“Are we going to schedule an immediate board meeting to discuss this specific proposal? No,” said Pete Sorenson, chairman of the county board. “Will it come up in the context of regional transportation funding challenges? Yes.”

officials are saying that they can't wait forever for solutions to the gaps in road funding.

Man, these guys are totally out of touch with the economy. Of course, aren't these the same people that would rather hire administrative assistants versus using the funding for more beds at the jail?

Is this what Obama had in mind regarding the stimulus package?

My Northwest.com--
The city of Seattle and King County's cultural service agency 4culture will receive $500,000 in federal's stimulus money. Jim Kelly, executive director of 4culture said that the money will not be spent on art projects.

"This is jobs, jobs, jobs. This is not for art projects. It's for personnel and it's for artists. It's not for producing public art," said Kelly. "They're raising money, they're producing events, they're producing theatre, they're producing visual arts exhibits. They're producing them for whom? They're producing them for the community, for people who attend these organizations' exhibits."

I would sure have loved to have been at the meeting when they decided to make a enormous old-style eraser a public art project.

What's next?

A giant sheet of carbon paper?

I wonder if they have permission from the 3M Corp. for public display of one of their products? I can just see the lawsuits now.

Yep, with more examples like this one, the recession will soon be over.
picture courtesy of my Northwest.com

Sen. Chuck Schumer :Hopes to have the fundamental building blocks for comprehensive immigration reform by Labor Day

CBS news
Senator Chuck Schumer, in a recent interview, said that he expects to have by Labor Day a comprehensive immigration reform bill that would be more generous to highly skilled immigrant workers then on the lower skilled workers, and would be tougher on the future ways of the illegal immigration.

"I think we'll have a good bill by Labor Day," said Schumer,"I think the fundamental building blocks are in place to do comprehensive immigration reform...We have a shortage maybe of engineers here or Ph.D's in physics, but we probably don't have a shortage of people who can do construction work,"

Schumer encourages legal immigration, and some kind of path for the people who are already here.
amnesty by any other name is still amnesty.
And as for the lack of Ph.D.'s, I have a dog in this one,perhaps, we need look internally at our school system so we could encourage and produce more people with higher education.

Michael Jackson's ghost seen at Neverland

Yup, it had to happen soon. but during an interview on CNN a face appears and again sighted in a hallway.
go to youtube and pause at 3:34 to see the video.

Today we celebrate the anniversary of the "Declaration of Independence"

Robin's commentary -

Independence Day... otherwise known as the "fourth of July". A day of celebration, picnics, parties and lots and lots of entertaining fireworks.

However, are we celebrating the Fourth of July as a celebration of our independence, or as an excuse to have a day off, get drunk and go watch fireworks?

Personally, I would say that the answer to that question would be the latter. And I'm just as guilty. Even though I do not drink, I do look forward to the extra day off from work.

In fact, until I got older, to be honest, I took the Fourth of July for granted. What it meant and what it really stood for. It really has opened my eyes when I look and see how much my country has changed over the years. I reflect back on the freedoms and personal rights that we take for granted. As I think more about it, I wonder how many people really know what the Declaration of Independence actually is, much less who wrote it and why it came about in the first place.

Wikipedia provides an excellent summary.

The United States Declaration of Independence is a statement adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, which announced that the thirteen American colonies then at war with Great Britain were now independent states, and thus no longer a part of the British Empire. Written primarily by Thomas Jefferson, the Declaration is a formal explanation of why Congress had voted on July 2 to declare independence from Great Britain, more than a year after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War. The birthday of the United States of America—Independence Day—is celebrated on July 4, the day the wording of the Declaration was approved by Congress.

the Declaration of Independence... I'm not even sure of its taught in schools these days.

I know the government fears it. To quote, "... That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form,..."

However, the government has learned that people typically have a short memory span and are more concerned about their little lives and don't have time to get involved. Sadly, I too fall into that category, as I struggle day-to-day to maintain a roof over my head and food on the table. Except for this blog, is about the only extent that I'm able to be involved.

We have in our own way created a sense of isolation from the rest of the world. The separation and the illusion of immortality was shattered from the 9/11 attacks. Patriotism was challenged and most came to the calling as America has been known to do in a crisis.

Embarrassing however, were those who are more upset that their TV programs were preempted by the all-day coverage.

The country is under attack? No way, it could not happen to us.

"Borders, language, and culture," the words of sometimes not so popular Michael Savage. However, despite his method of deliverance he speaks the truth.

We have open borders, which threaten our freedom and security. Security for our borders are compared to someone locking the front door of your house and yet leave in the windows wide open.

Our language, which is a version of the English language, is being replaced by, "press one for English" or you must speak a foreign language as a prequalification to deliver auto parts.

Our culture, was a culture that primarily worshiped God in many different forms. One of the freedoms that we have in the United States is to worship or not worship, and to choose what we worship. However, as we see examples time and time again, those freedoms of worship are slowly being taken away and replaced with the more "PC" acceptable types of worship, while ours has become offensive. In fact was not that long ago when we as a nation started celebrating "Cinco de Mayo", which commemorates the Mexicans victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla, on May 5, 1862.

The Declaration of Independence... think about the true meaning as you pop off another beer and light off another firework.

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

— John Hancock"
-- courtesy of US history.org

Karl Malden dead at 97

Karl Malden who stared in shows like One Eyed Jacks," "Birdman of Alcatraz," "Patton, and those "Don't leave home without it" American Express commercials and 1970s TV show "The Streets of San Francisco," died of natural causes Wednesday surrounded by his family at his Brentwood home.

Rest in Peace Karl"

Picture courtesy of Karlmalden.com

Kulongoski fighting for higher taxes - no surprise there

The Statesman Journal

Ted "tax and gouge me" praised lawmakers for approving higher fuel taxes and vehicle fees for road and bridge work, higher hospital and health-insurer taxes for expanded coverage to 80,000 children and 35,000 more adults, and other items on his 2009 agenda.

Kulongoski also said that he will campaign aggressively for tax increases if opponents are successful in bring it to a vote for increased taxes on corporations and higher income individuals.

"In a time when many states I know of have gone backward, Oregon has had the courage to look to the future," he said the day after lawmakers adjourned their 2009 session..."I will be the first to tell you I do not think Oregon is California," Kulongoski said. "If it fails, I think there's a risk we are going to be like California."

and speaking about dumb...

California IOU System Becomes A Reality

Reuters--

To conserve cash, State Controller John Chiang plans to issue IOUs by Thursday to the state's vendors, local agencies overseeing health programs and various recipients of state aid -- including the elderly and disabled and college students.{More}

IOU's. what business could run on a IOU basis? Not very many.

Of course I am very sure that the state will also accept an IOU for money it is owed as well, right?

Yeah right!

Bottom line, the people really don't have a say on how government spends it's (our)money, however, it is ALWAYS the people that have to pony up to make up the difference.