Electro Library

Electronic Liberry All you need is a library card and you're in business. Sign in  with your number, and  have access to the books, magazines, newspapers, audio books, tapes, etc.  available in your local library.  Find a book you like, and you're sent to Amazon (there are other outlets) where they  send it to your Kindle (or tablet).  If the library's copy is out on borrow,  you can put a hold on it and be notified when it's available.  Just like the real deal. The first book I borrowed was 50 Shades of Gray  because it was displayed in the popular book section, and I recognized it as a hot topic a few years ago.   Other than that, I had no idea what it was about.  It is a girl Oh My book, which means-given the contents-  it's a bloke book too.  Similar to the Nightstand pulp sex books of  your yoot.   Not particularly well written (IMO), but extremely graphic and full of ... well, everything.  I went through about three hundred pages pretty quick, then suddenly lost interest.  Evidently women today dream of being subjected to all things that are largely man fantasy to begin with.  Who knew? The book I really like though is American Sniper (I borrowed the audio book (sample listen available). Gripping, eye-opening, and powerful, American Sniper is the astonishing autobiography of SEAL Chief Chris Kyle, who is the record-holding sniper in U.S. military history. Kyle has more than 150 officially confirmed kills (the previous American record was 109), though his remarkable career total has not been made public by the Pentagon. It's narrated by John Pruden.  He has the Texas thing down pat (Chris Kyle is a Texan),  and has perfect pitch for manly men characters, and Chris Kyle is that.   I stuff my iPad into my sweatshirt and earphone it  every time I take a walk.  Doing a lot of walking because of it, and trouncing MoSup in Fit Bit (had 6400 steps by 7AM today).   Helluva book.  I'll be sorry when it ends.  Aside.  I went to the library to find out how it all worked. The lady gave me 2 sheets (typed both sides)  of various procedures and directions.  Couldn't get it done without them.

Fish out of the pool, and one in it, that oughtn't

Two Sorry—ass Scenes

A Sorry State of Affairs

Acid rain my ass

WHAT GUMMINT DOES      Capitol Dome damage is so bad, 'We're going to lose it,' warns Senator Shaheen (D NH).     “ Guess what?  The real value of the Capitol building is as a symbol of our nation's committment to honest government.  Sen. Shaheen.  Y'all have destroyed that almost entirely. Lawmakers are rallying around the 150-year-old U.S. Capitol Dome, weather-whipped and torn open by acid rain, worried that if an 11th-hour restoration isn’t fully funded, its most important traits could be lost forever. “If this work isn't done,” warned Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., “we're going to lose the dome, we're going to lose it as it truly, historically is.” A big fix, added Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., is needed, “so that we don't lose these treasures forever.” The two Senate appropriators are joining to help Architect of the Capitol Stephen T. Ayers secure the money needed to complete the $60 million restoration projection, set to go into final stages next month with the erection of scaffolding to surround the whole dome, just like that done recently at the Washington Monument. The interior is also in need of restoration, and the Capitol Rotunda is temporarily closed as interior safety netting is installed to begin that $21 million project. Didn't we just repair the dome?  What? Oh.  Just the statue atop of the dome?   Wow, seems like yesterday, but it was ca. 1993, when  "the United States Capitol Preservation Commission provided $780,000 in privately raised funds, which covered all project costs." Quaint, that. Kind of a slap in the face today though, to hear Democrats like Shaheen fuss about finding $81 Mil to restore the dome inside and out.  Hell, that's vacation pocket money for the Obamas, ain't it?  But this is what really pisses me off about Bedard's article. "Capitol Dome, weather-whipped and torn open by acid rain ... ." In the 1980's Congress authorized the most extensive (and expensive) study ever on the effect of "acid rain."  That issue was the linchpin of what became the "1990 Clean Air Act." In January of that year, I read in a science magazine that the study had been completed, with no evidence of acid rain. I kept waiting for this paper to be introduced during the debate, but it wasn't, and congress blithely passed that abortion of a bill, and Bush 41 signed it.  That Fall, 60-Minutes aired a show on the myth of "acid rain," as though the results had just been released.  And here it is again.  Pass the red whiskey and an ammunition belt.. ”

Support

Oh My

Brier Patch

State Department gets second chance to list Hillary Clinton accomplishments; it doesn't go well “ The State Dept. "Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review, known around the Department by the clunky acronym QDDR, was created by Secretary Clinton in 2010 to "provide a sweeping assessment of how the Department of State … can become more efficient, accountable, and effective(serve as a chronicled paen to her Sec/State accomplishemnts,  in the runup to her presidency)" [...] When ( State Department spoke-ette)Psaki announced that the 2014 edition of the QDDR is now underway, to "build on the foundation established by the 2010 review," Associated Press reporter Matt Lee asked: "Off the top of your head, can you identify one tangible achievement that the last QDDR resulted in?" "Were there any of these that didn’t simply involve rearranging of the bureaucratic deck chairs or shuffling responsibilities between one bureau to another or creating a new level of bureaucracy?" Psaki could not. "Well, Matt, obviously it’s an extensive, expansive process," she began. Noting that she came to the State Department after the first review was finished, Psaki said, "I am certain that those who were here at the time, who worked hard on that effort, could point out one." "So I’m sure there are a range of things that were put into place that I’m not even aware of were a result," Psaki concluded. "I won't hold my breath," said Lee. Psaki's non-answer created an obviously embarrassing situation for the Department, and on Wednesday Psaki came to the briefing with an answer ready to go. "After the 2010 QDDR," she began: [Full Horror] Next:  In his best "Drown me! Roast me! Hang me! Do whatever you please... Only please, Brer Fox, please don't throw me into the briar patch." voice, Byron York explains "Why Elizabeth Warren should run for president." ”

Non est pax dixit Deus meus impii

“ Washington's Farewell Address Every year since 1896, the Senate has observed Washington's Birthday by selecting one of its members, alternating parties, to read the 7,641-word statement in legislative session.  Delivery generally takes about 45 minutes.  In 1985, Florida Senator Paula Hawkins tore through the text in a record-setting 39 minutes, while in 1962, West Virginia Senator Jennings Randolph, savoring each word, consumed 68 minutes.  At the conclusion of each reading, the appointed senator inscribes his or her name and brief remarks in a black, leather-bound book maintained by the Secretary of the Senate Here are 209 words from that address. Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked: Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice ? And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle. It is substantially true, that virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government. The rule, indeed, extends with more or less force to every species of free government. Who, that is a sincere friend to it, can look with indifference upon attempts to shake the foundation of the fabric? ”