Japan - Before and After Pictures

Drag your mouse over the pictures to the after effects of the tsunami ... devastating ...

ABC News - Japan Earthquake: before and after

USA Migration Map

Cool map that shows migration in/out of whichever county you select ...

Map: Where Americans Are Moving - Forbes.com

Observations of the Japanese Reaction to the Disaster

Very interesting contrast to other disaster locations, including New Orleans ....

Stiff upper lip « AMPONTAN

Obama Tells GOP: Nice Try on Health Care Records

I wonder what his definition of "open" is ....

President Obama once promised that negotiations over his health care overhaul would be carried out openly, in front of TV cameras and microphones. Tell that to the White House now.  Republican congressional investigators got the brush-off this past week after pressing for details of meetings between White House officials and interest groups, including drug companies and hospitals that provided critical backing for Obama's health insurance expansion.....

Obama Tells GOP: Nice Try on Health Care Records - FoxNews.com

Jesus's Death is a Historical Fact

Where Do We Start When Considering the Death of Jesus? Some Basic Facts - Mark D. Roberts

Positive Press for Chevron

Given Obama's record, I don't want him tainting our legal successes.  He would just mess it up.  We've done just fine without Democratic Party interference ....

EDITORIAL: Stopping the Chevron shakedown - Washington Times

Picture of the Day: Old Cromarty Church

Several years ago, Lauri and I went to Inverness, exploring the country side.  We drove up to Cromarty on Blacke Isle and saw this ruins of a church ...

A European's Warning to America

Interesting viewpoint from a member of the European Parliament of 11 years ...

"He is not pursuing a set of random initiatives but a program of comprehensive Europeanization: European health care, European welfare, European carbon taxes, European day care, European college education, even a European foreign policy, based on engagement with supranational technocracies, nuclear disarmament and a reluctance to deploy forces overseas.

No previous president has offered such uncritical support for European integration. On his very first trip to Europe as president, Mr. Obama declared, "In my view, there is no Old Europe or New Europe. There is a united Europe.""

Daniel Hannan: A European's Warning to America - WSJ.com

More Communist Rhetoric - Shows Moore Stupidity

Michael Moore's National Resources | Mary Katharine Ham Examines Michael Moore's Solution For America (VIDEO) | The Daily Caller - Breaking News, Opinion, Research, and Entertainment

Busting Retirment Myths

Interesting info on retirements ...

busting-retirement-myths: Personal Finance News from Yahoo! Finance

Another Piece of Star Trek Is Possible

Tractor this ....

Laser-Powered Tractor Beam Could Move Tiny Particles | Wired Science | Wired.com

Why is K Used for Strike Out

Source: Today I Found Out

Obama Blames Oil Companies For Lack Of Drilling

Obama demonstrates his slight of hand again, but the industry response demonstrates his stupidity ... from the industry

“The process of looking at an area that might have oil and gas potential and narrowing your search over time and over a sequence of steps to actually producing oil and gas involves kind of casting a big net first and over time through geologic work,” Ranger said. “[Y] You prioritize some over others, you may be lucky on those first ones you drill, you may not — then you drill prospects further down your priority list.”

Ranger also explained it’s not always a cut-and-dried situation. Some areas will have oil and gas, some won’t and some might have it, but it may not be economically feasible to pump it out of the ground.

“When you drill, you have results that are either sufficient oil or gas to allow production or a dry hole or somewhere in between where you think we may have production but we may need some further work to determine whether this formation, this target, is economic to produce. Those steps consume several years from the point of leasing to a point of decision.”

Having worked for a major oil company for 30 years, I can assure you we vigorously pursue the profits. We rank the prospects as best where to spend our capital and human resources. By the way, it take a 100 wells onshore to equal one well offshore - that's how prolific the Gulf of Mexico is.

Obama Blames Oil Companies For Lack Of Drilling

Heat Hampers Colombian Coffee Crop, Jeopardizing Supply - NYTimes.com

This is more serious than rising gasoline prices ....

Heat Hampers Colombian Coffee Crop, Jeopardizing Supply - NYTimes.com

America is still No. 1 in manufacturing Rex Nutting - MarketWatch

Interesting numbers on USA manufacturing capability ...

America is still No. 1 in manufacturing Rex Nutting - MarketWatch

NPR’s Self-Defense: We Didn’t Think the Check Would Clear - By Jonah Goldberg - The Corner - National Review Online

A bit more clarification on WHEN NPR decided not to accept the check. This is an example of most of our society that looks to spin and to blame others ... slight of hand that got slapped.

NPR’s Self-Defense: We Didn’t Think the Check Would Clear - By Jonah Goldberg - The Corner - National Review Online

The Bullet Train to Bankruptcy - Lou Dolinar - National Review Online

Sure fire way to bankrupt California - train with insufficient ridership to pay the way. Think about other public works projects (Boston's big dig tunnel, the Chunel). Which one ever met budget projections ... go ahead California, seal your doom (I know, you are expecting the rest of us to bail you out - those of us who balance OUR budgets) ...

The Bullet Train to Bankruptcy - Lou Dolinar - National Review Online

Harry Reid | Republicans | Harry Reid blasts 'mean-spirited' Republicans who want to cut taxpayer funded poetry festival | The Daily Caller - Breaking News, Opinion, Research, and Entertainment

Yep, Nevadans missed a REAL opportunity in the election in November. Jobs or poetry, jobs or poetry, I'll go for jobs ...

Harry Reid | Republicans | Harry Reid blasts 'mean-spirited' Republicans who want to cut taxpayer funded poetry festival | The Daily Caller - Breaking News, Opinion, Research, and Entertainment

NPR Executives Caught On Video | The Daily Caller - Breaking News, Opinion, Research, and Entertainment

It is supposed to be National Public Radio ... defund them, it's a no-brainer ...

NPR Executives Caught On Video | The Daily Caller - Breaking News, Opinion, Research, and Entertainment

Cantor asks White House: 'Where's the president's proposal?' - TheHill.com

"Present", yeah right. I thought the office of president was supposed to LEAD the nation ....

Cantor asks White House: 'Where's the president's proposal?' - TheHill.com

Aul Ridge Hike

Went on my first KZ hike yesterday ... Aul Ridge.  This is a circular walk of about 5 miles (8k), 2600 feet in elevation change.  Lauri and I went with the International Women's Hiking group - lots of fun.  In KZ, they have a fun way to come down snowy hills - with plastic sledges.

I've included a music video of the hike (first one - give it a few moments to load, then click play -then double click for full screen mode) or the plain, vanilla slide show (second one).

Best Letter Ever? Top Wis. GOP Senator Responds to Missing Dems - By Katrina Trinko - The Corner - National Review Online

These Dems are as stupid as ever ... offering to meet in Illinois to conduct Wisconsin business ... this just adds to the cowardice and dereliction of duty to the list of reasons for a recall vote ...

"Thank you for your hand-delivered letter with an offer to meet, in Illinois, about the business and future direction of Wisconsin. Let’s set aside how bizarre that is for a moment...."

Best Letter Ever? Top Wis. GOP Senator Responds to Missing Dems - By Katrina Trinko - The Corner - National Review Online

THE HILL POLL: US future depends on cutting debt, voters say - TheHill.com

Michael Moore doesn't get it like a small minority, BUT the rest of the country does ...

Likely voters overwhelmingly believe deficit reduction is crucial to America’s future, but generally oppose raising revenue through tax reform to cut those deficits, a new poll conducted for The Hill found.  A full 95 percent of likely voters believe that lowering the debt is either very or somewhat important, the poll found, with only 2 percent finding the issue not at all or not very important.

Not surprisingly, respondents had a more nuanced take on tax reform, with likely voters saying they prefer spending cuts to tax increases to shoulder the brunt of lowering the country’s debt......

THE HILL POLL: US future depends on cutting debt, voters say - TheHill.com

U.S. sets $223B deficit record - Washington Times

The not only the budget needs some serious cutting, but Congress habit of SPENDING needs some serious cutting ... The federal government posted its largest monthly deficit in history in February, a $223 billion shortfall that put a sharp point on the current fight on Capitol Hill about how deeply to cut this year’s spending.

That one-month figure, which came in a preliminary report from the Congressional Budget Office, dwarfs even the most robust cuts being talked about on the Hill, and underscores just how much work lawmakers have to do to get the government’s finances in balance again.

U.S. sets $223B deficit record - Washington Times

GOP Praises Obama's Decision to Bring Back Military Tribunals at Guantanamo Bay - FoxNews.com

On the job training does work .... "

President Obama announced Monday that military trials will resume for detainees at the Guantanamo Bay prison camp, a move that won praise from Republicans, who say the president has finally "seen the light" on the value of trying such detainees at the facility. Obama, saying he wants to "broaden our ability to bring terrorists to justice," issued an executive order outlining the changes Monday afternoon,..."

GOP Praises Obama's Decision to Bring Back Military Tribunals at Guantanamo Bay - FoxNews.com

Picture(s) of the Day: Edinburgh

We always enjoyed spending the day in Edinburgh.  Funny that old town was created in the 1200's and new town in the 1700's.

America must escape the doomed path of EU-style decline – Telegraph Blogs

America must escape the doomed path of EU-style decline – Telegraph Blogs: "there is a reason why Americans have for decades been richer and more economically productive than their European counterparts – less bureaucracy, lower spending, lower taxes, faster growth, and fewer people out of work. Between 1980 and 1992, excluding the UK, “the EU failed to produce a single net private sector job,” a staggering statistic. In addition, as Dan notes, Western Europe’s share of world GDP fell from 36 percent in 1974 to just 26 percent in 2011, with a projected fall to 15 percent by 2020. In contrast, the US share has remained steady at about 26 percent of world GDP.
But America’s long-term economic success is under threat from a towering federal debt, increasing government intervention in the economy, and a significantly more expensive and regulated health care system. In short, economic freedom is declining in America"

Government Unions: Restore Voter Control and a Nonpartisan Civil Service | The Heritage Foundation

Interesting story on unions in the public sector ...

Government Unions: Restore Voter Control and a Nonpartisan Civil Service | The Heritage Foundation

10 Things You Need to Know About High Gas Prices | The Foundry: Conservative Policy News.

Obama and oil don't mix ... and it's costing you, me, and the next generation money ...

10 Things You Need to Know About High Gas Prices | The Foundry: Conservative Policy News.

Follow the Dues - By Rich Lowry - The Corner - National Review Online

Why not freedom of choice so that teachers can receive a pay raise, if they want to ...

Follow the Dues - By Rich Lowry - The Corner - National Review Online

A peek under the hood of the NYT/CBS poll « Hot Air

The same slanted "reporting" or should I say story-telling from the Grey Lady ... I wouldn't call anything the NYT does as journalism. Journalism is about the facts, not fiction. If there's interpretation or slanting, it belongs on the OpEd page, not the front page ... no wonder she is financially in trouble. Wonder if their unions are giving in ...

A peek under the hood of the NYT/CBS poll « Hot Air

Boehner shames Obama into engagement? « Hot Air

Talk about disengaged ... it's the economy stupid and his highness has difficulty returning phone calls ...

Boehner shames Obama into engagement? « Hot Air

Obamacare’s Gift to the States: Huge, Unfunded Medicaid Mandate - By Katrina Trinko - The Corner - National Review Online

Obamacare and fiscal irresponsibility ... if you think the budget isn't balanced now, read this ... each of the States becomes shackled with another federal program ...

Obamacare’s Gift to the States: Huge, Unfunded Medicaid Mandate - By Katrina Trinko - The Corner - National Review Online

President, Hillary Clinton flub Mideast--Michael A. Walsh - NYPOST.com

... Once again, President "Present" has signally failed to lead, preferring instead to hide behind a fog of "consultations with allies." True, on Saturday he finally -- in a phone call to German Chancellor Angela Merkel -- called for Khadafy to step down, and also took diplomatic action against the beleaguered regime, issuing an executive order that blocks property and other transactions.

President, Hillary Clinton flub Mideast--Michael A. Walsh - NYPOST.com

Picture of the Day: St Andrews Cathedral

Headquarters of the medieval Scottish Church
St Andrews Cathedral dominated the history of the medieval church in Scotland from its construction in the 12th century until the Protestant Reformation in 1560.

Scotland’s largest and most magnificent medieval church, the cathedral was the seat of Scotland’s leading bishops (and from 1472 archbishops). It occupied a site used for worship since the 8th century AD, when the relics of St Andrew, Scotland’s patron saint, are said to have been brought here.

The cathedral buildings are surrounded by a graveyard, and encircled by the most complete and imposing monastic enclosure walls in Scotland. Even in its ruinous state the cathedral remains a prominent landmark, the focus of the three medieval streets of St Andrews, and highly visible from the sea.

Libyan Arms Pact Reduced Qaddafi’s Power - NYTimes.com

Look back to 2003 for a visionary effort that is paying dividends now ...

.... Today, with father and son preparing for a siege of Tripoli, the success of a joint American-British effort to eliminate Libya’s capability to make nuclear and chemical weapons has never, in retrospect, looked more important.

Senior administration officials and Pentagon planners, as they discuss sanctions and a possible no-flight zone to neutralize the Libyan air force, say that the 2003 deal removed Colonel Qaddafi’s biggest trump card: the threat of using a nuclear weapon, or even just selling nuclear material or technology, if he believed it was the only way to save his 42-year rule. While Colonel Qaddafi retains a stockpile of mustard gas, it is not clear he has any effective way to deploy it.

“Imagine the possible nightmare if we had failed to remove the Libyan nuclear weapons program and their longer range missile force,” said Robert Joseph, who played a central role in organizing the effort in 2003, in the months just after the invasion of Iraq ....

Libyan Arms Pact Reduced Qaddafi’s Power - NYTimes.com

Power Line - AWOL Democrats Will Cost Wisconsin $165 Million--Tomorrow

These Dems now have an interesting choice ....

Power Line - AWOL Democrats Will Cost Wisconsin $165 Million--Tomorrow