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Have you noticed how much the Deepwater Horizon oil trouble is NOT in the news lately. I thought there were thousands of animals dying or getting coated in oil, fish were being exterminated and our environment was in peril. All that’s been in the news the last day or two is Lindsay Lohan. That’s where the conspiracy theory comes in. When PBO’s regime  needs a distraction, they have a list of ‘celebrities’ that are available to make headlines, taking the heat off of the regime for as long as they can. I can picture this: PBO and Rahm talking when PBO asks who’s available that can take the heat for 3 days. Rahm looks down the spreadsheet (which has names and numbers, potential news headline time, price for their services and the last time used) and chooses the best fit for the need. The phone call is made (on a secure, private phone), details are discussed and the deal is made. Then, wait for implementation of the plan and the regime gets some relief.

In order to play the same game, the GOP needs to implement a similar plan, but with a twist. The Republicans have a list of ‘celebrities’ that have a conservative/libertarian viewpoint (I know, that’s asking a lot -but there are some out there) that have the same ‘headline potential’ and are contacted in the same manner as the regime. Everything is the same, but when the ‘celebrity’ gets into the headlines, they start talking about the issue that PBO and the regime is trying to side-step, or just failure in general of PBO and the regime. Wouldn’t that be cool? The regime would be getting negative press in the press – in a roundabout way. Now, I realize this is not really a good idea, but maybe Vince Flynn or some novelist can put it in a book and we can at least read about it.

Back to reality….
I picked up an ATV sprayer a little while ago. It was a spot sprayer until I made a DIY broadcast sprayer for it. It works pretty good, but could be a little more user friendly. It would be nice to make some sort of quick-connect way to attach the broadcast sprayer part to the ATV. Right now, it’s attached with hose clamps, not the easiest or fastest way to install/remove.

There is a lot of crabgrass in the yard. I don’t know when it showed up, but it seems like it was overnight. I guess it’s too late in the year to get rid of it, but I’m hoping to get rid of the creeping charlie, clover, dandelions and other weeds I don’t know the names of. There are many opinions on what chemical is best for creeping charlie, and I don’t know what one I’ll use. Two that I’ve heard of are Trimec and any brand of 2,4-D (Forefront or Amine 400, etc.). Trimec costs a little more, but not so much I won’t get it. I’ve also planning on using an insecticide at the same time – due to many ants and mounds in the yard. I’m also expecting that the insecticide will also keep mosquitoes away.

Today, July 3rd is Erika’s (aka Pinky) birthday. She is 11 years old today. This, being an even year, all the children are odd numbered ages (Holly 17, Jessica 15, Mitch, 13, Erika, 11). Erika liked being called Pinky (or is it Pinkie?) – I think it was because she likes the color pink…but I didn’t think of asking her why she liked that name when I had the opportunity to ask her. I miss her and Jessica.

When we played games, Erika would cheat – but not in a bad way. She’d cheat to her own detriment, wanting to help you out. Erika would ask to see your cards, or ask what you wanted her to play and have no problem doing that, even if it made her go backwards. It made it hard at times when I would try to do the same thing for her. She is a very thoughtful girl and was good at giving compliments and nice words. I have a nice note on my Palm™ that she made for me. Sure, it was probably more of a challenge or just fun for her to write something on the Palm™, but she did write something encouraging instead of just her name or something about herself.

In January of 2009, the kids were in a play. Erika had a small part and was wearing sort of a fancy dress. It was either before the play started or during Intermission I was talking to my dad when Erika came to see us. I remember saying something like “they don’t make ‘em any cuter than that.” It’s nice memories like this that I never want to forget.

Erika ususally had a smile on her face. I’m not so sure it was always a genuine smile from really being happy, but a smile none the less. I can still ‘hear’ that unique voice of hers, though it’s getting harder to remember exactly what it sounded like as time goes by. But, watching a short video with her talking brings it right back. Here’s a very short video of  Erika back in 2008. I don’t remember exactly what was being discussed, but it sounds like she’s talking about how old she will be when something happens.

I hope and pray that she is happy where she’s at, but also pray for a miracle.
Happy birthday, Erika. I love you!

I’m not the first to come up with this idea, nor have I really investigated anything related to this idea….but someone should do the research. Maybe we need to find Darby Shaw (writer of the Pelican Brief).

Have you wondered why there’s still oil slick trouble in the Gulf of Mexico? Why has this not been taken care of in the last 61 days since the explosion of the oil well? The rig exploded on April 20th, 2010.

Now, I don’t go to the extreme position that our government had anything to do with the explosion, yet we’ve all been heard about the Obama regime’s policy of not letting a good crisis go to waste.  It would not surprise me if they have been deliberately delaying the resolution and oil cleanup efforts to promote an environmental agenda, including stopping off-shore drilling altogether and implementing the ‘cap and trade’ idea of a carbon tax. The crazy thing is; creating a bigger crisis by sabotaging the oil spill cleanup attempts and causing delays should have the ‘true’ environmentalists screaming at the tops of their lungs. Why don’t we hear much criticism of the lack of clean-up efforts by ‘true’ environmentalists? Oh yeah, I almost forgot. Obama is their guy – they can’t criticise him. If this is truly the case, it shows how environmentalists are not really for the environment, but only for political power and against business.

If the oil was immediately cleaned up, there would be no urgent call for immediate and swift action taken by a SWAT team that PBO appoints to address the matter. These academists which PBO appoints usually have no real-world experience in the urgent matter at hand, but are able only to give advice based on their desired political outcome which must line up with PBO’s agenda. Can you imagine if one of these blue ribbon panels would come up with a solution that goes against the PBO dream of a “fundamentally transformed America”?

Obama needs the disaster to promote his environmental agenda.  He did not immediately waive the Jones Act to let non-US, non-union member employed ships to help in the cleanup. We had offers of help from Canada, Croatia, France, Germany, Ireland, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Republic of Korea, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United Nations – but they were all turned away.

I have an idea to stimulate the economy of the gulf states. The Obama regime needs to start an ad campaign with PBO (President Barak Obama) on the beaches in the area. You know that PBO won’t go anywhere he’ll be questioned or second guessed. If it’s a guaranteed win for him, you can bet that it’s safe for you to go there. The beaches are open for business! Don’t pay attention to the devastation of the economy, private business, personal liberty and freedom.

It’s Bush’s fault!

I was listening to talk radio today, and think I got this idea while listening to Jason Lewis. He was talking about the government trying to help people by giving them some sort of handout or benefit, and how that obviously comes at the expense of others – those who work hard get their success taken away from them. Government can not give to someone what it does not take away from someone else. What I was thinking is this: What really levels the playing field for people is when government does NOT get involved. I know, that’s not very earth shattering. But, if you think about it, that’s a little different than the typical conservative or libertarian talk. What you usually hear is that government should not be in the ______ business (fill in the blank). We often talk about the negative part of government – the over-reaching arm of the government either through regulation, un-Constitutional laws, taking over companies or industries, rewarding failure and downright socialism.

Let’s adjust our thinking a little bit here. Instead of thinking about what the government does that is negative (at all levels, local, state and especially federal), let’s think about what can they do that would be a positive thing to level the playing field for everyone? Well, it’s not really what can the government do….it’s more what they would NOT do to level the playing field. The best thing that government can do to help it’s citizens, is to stay out of the business of trying to make things fair and stop trying to make it so people cannot fail. But really, that’s not the whole story, either. Existing un-Constitutional laws need to be repealed, un-Constitutional departments need to be closed down, taking their regulations that were not voted into law with them. The less government does, the more even the playing field is for everyone. No more corporate welfare and regulations that benefit just a few companies. Level the playing field by not punishing people and business, and by not taking away what they have earned to give to someone else that has not earned anything. Give everyone an equal opportunity to succeed or to fail. When government attempts to take away the chance to fail, it also takes away opportunity to succeed.

Time and time again in history, there have been examples how socialism/communism has not worked. Why do we have to keep repeating these failed ideas over and over? Capitalism has proven to be the best way to prosperity for all. Property rights, political and personal freedom, liberty, hard work, personal charity – all together, these have been proven to be our best hope to become and stay a great nation. Many of the most recent presidential administrations have forgotten this principle. Growth of governmental powers should frighten us. More and larger government means less freedom and liberty. As in one of my previous blog entries, we need to get back to the basics.