Every single day
I get a phone call from a computer at the VA. It wants to know my vital signs, which I take every morning with a cool little blood pressure machine. During those last few frantic days leading up to April 15th, the readings were fluctuating and a little alarming. If they'd bounced back to normal in a day or two I would have given it no more thought. This morning's readings are the best yet, but I'm still concerned. I'm also taking into account that an incident on Tuesday night may be influencing the readings. I'm concerned, but no longer really worried. I'm more bothered by the fact that according to yet another VA computer, I no longer have a doctor's appointment next Wednesday afternoon. I have left a message with the clinic to find out what's going on.
The people who are considering the failure of a background check proposal in the U.S. Senate yesterday to be a victory for gun rights are sadly mistaken. I am a strong proponent of the 2nd Amendment, but criminal and mental health background checks are not an infringement of the right to bear arms. They are prudent actions to try to prevent weapons from ending up in the hands of those who should not have them. If someone can tell me why there is a logical reason to require the owner of a gun store to submit criminal background checks to comply with the law, but a private sale of a gun shouldn't have to meet the same standard, I'll be happy to listen. I suspect that logic will be more twisted than any pretzel I've seen of late.
Apparently the moron in Mississippi who sent out ricin-laced letters didn't do a very good job of making the ricin. Speaking of morons, while I'm normally a big fan of Iron Chef Cat Cora, this video of her after an accident that resulted in her being cited for DUI (she blew a .19 on the breathalyzer) doesn't make her look anything but smashed: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EvYLnIjzvw I'm thinking of opening a new business. Drivers for Drunk Celebrities. They can call our 800 number and we'll pick them up discreetly in vehicles with darkened windows. Naw, cabs are faster and just as easily used.
The sequestration is now reaching into the pockets of the long-term employed in California. Those receiving their initial 26 weeks worth of benefits will not be impacted, but those who are in the 47 week phase of benefits that follow the exhaustion of the initial benefit will see payments from the Federal government reduced by 17.7%.
I just finished doing a little research on a tax issue and I have a major headache. But it will pass.
A privately owned business that was losing $25 million every day would be in the middle of a re-tooling, re-organization or shut-down when that scale of loss was uncovered. But the U.S. Postal Service, which is losing $25 million daily, is doing little to try to change its business model. Yes, part of the problem is that Congress is forcing the USPS to make advance payments of future retiree health benefits. But that isn't the only problem.
Brandon O'Brien is a Marine who was angling to play in the NFL as a special teams player. He's big, strong, and has decent speed and might have made it. But he decided to re-enlist instead, and go back to serving his country. We should salute his choice, and the choice that others make to volunteer and serve.
And an open note to a certain woman I will probably not encounter again for a good while. I shouldn't have used that epithet. I'd have apologized if you'd returned. If I ever see you again, you'll get that apology. And then not another word from me as long as you live, except "leave me alone". I was provoked, and I'm not making excuses. I was in the wrong. So were you.
This Date in History:
On this date in 1025, Boleslaw Chrobry becomes the first King of Poland.
On this date in 1506, the cornerstone of St. Peter's Basilica is laid.
On this date in 1775, Paul Revere did something. Ask Sarah Palin, she knows the details.
On this date of 1831, the University of Alabama was founded. The first academic department was the Department of Racism.
On this date in 1881, Billy The Kid escaped from jail in New Mexico.
On this date in 1906, an earthquake and fire destroyed much of San Francisco.
On this date in 1923, Yankee Stadium, the "house that Ruth built" opens.
On this date in 1942, Lt. Col James Doolittle leads a bombing raid on Tokyo, Kobe and other Japanese cities, using land-based bombers that were launched from aircraft carriers.
On this date in 1981, the longest-ever pro baseball game begins. It ran until 4:00 a.m. and was continued and concluded on June 23rd.
On this date in 1981, a homicide-bomber destroys the U.S. embassy in Beirut.
Famous Folk Born Today:
Lucrezia Borgia
Clarence Darrow (even he couldn't have gotten OJ off in Nevada)
Henry Hyde
Haley Mills
James Woods
Rick Moranis
Conan O'Brien
Maria Bello
Eli Roth
Haile Gebrselassie
Melissa Joan Hart
America Ferrera
Rachel Smith (Miss USA 2007)
Alia Shawkat
The people who are considering the failure of a background check proposal in the U.S. Senate yesterday to be a victory for gun rights are sadly mistaken. I am a strong proponent of the 2nd Amendment, but criminal and mental health background checks are not an infringement of the right to bear arms. They are prudent actions to try to prevent weapons from ending up in the hands of those who should not have them. If someone can tell me why there is a logical reason to require the owner of a gun store to submit criminal background checks to comply with the law, but a private sale of a gun shouldn't have to meet the same standard, I'll be happy to listen. I suspect that logic will be more twisted than any pretzel I've seen of late.
Apparently the moron in Mississippi who sent out ricin-laced letters didn't do a very good job of making the ricin. Speaking of morons, while I'm normally a big fan of Iron Chef Cat Cora, this video of her after an accident that resulted in her being cited for DUI (she blew a .19 on the breathalyzer) doesn't make her look anything but smashed: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EvYLnIjzvw I'm thinking of opening a new business. Drivers for Drunk Celebrities. They can call our 800 number and we'll pick them up discreetly in vehicles with darkened windows. Naw, cabs are faster and just as easily used.
The sequestration is now reaching into the pockets of the long-term employed in California. Those receiving their initial 26 weeks worth of benefits will not be impacted, but those who are in the 47 week phase of benefits that follow the exhaustion of the initial benefit will see payments from the Federal government reduced by 17.7%.
I just finished doing a little research on a tax issue and I have a major headache. But it will pass.
A privately owned business that was losing $25 million every day would be in the middle of a re-tooling, re-organization or shut-down when that scale of loss was uncovered. But the U.S. Postal Service, which is losing $25 million daily, is doing little to try to change its business model. Yes, part of the problem is that Congress is forcing the USPS to make advance payments of future retiree health benefits. But that isn't the only problem.
Brandon O'Brien is a Marine who was angling to play in the NFL as a special teams player. He's big, strong, and has decent speed and might have made it. But he decided to re-enlist instead, and go back to serving his country. We should salute his choice, and the choice that others make to volunteer and serve.
And an open note to a certain woman I will probably not encounter again for a good while. I shouldn't have used that epithet. I'd have apologized if you'd returned. If I ever see you again, you'll get that apology. And then not another word from me as long as you live, except "leave me alone". I was provoked, and I'm not making excuses. I was in the wrong. So were you.
This Date in History:
On this date in 1025, Boleslaw Chrobry becomes the first King of Poland.
On this date in 1506, the cornerstone of St. Peter's Basilica is laid.
On this date in 1775, Paul Revere did something. Ask Sarah Palin, she knows the details.
On this date of 1831, the University of Alabama was founded. The first academic department was the Department of Racism.
On this date in 1881, Billy The Kid escaped from jail in New Mexico.
On this date in 1906, an earthquake and fire destroyed much of San Francisco.
On this date in 1923, Yankee Stadium, the "house that Ruth built" opens.
On this date in 1942, Lt. Col James Doolittle leads a bombing raid on Tokyo, Kobe and other Japanese cities, using land-based bombers that were launched from aircraft carriers.
On this date in 1981, the longest-ever pro baseball game begins. It ran until 4:00 a.m. and was continued and concluded on June 23rd.
On this date in 1981, a homicide-bomber destroys the U.S. embassy in Beirut.
Famous Folk Born Today:
Lucrezia Borgia
Clarence Darrow (even he couldn't have gotten OJ off in Nevada)
Henry Hyde
Haley Mills
James Woods
Rick Moranis
Conan O'Brien
Maria Bello
Eli Roth
Haile Gebrselassie
Melissa Joan Hart
America Ferrera
Rachel Smith (Miss USA 2007)
Alia Shawkat
posted by me at 1:50 PM
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