Obama’s National Health Care=Our National Health Catastrophe
May 15, 2011 Leave a comment
Strike an Arc
May 12, 2011 2 Comments
Several years ago, actually, many years ago, I worked as a welder. In those days I was doing everything that I could to make myself valuable in the work force. Sitting and doing the same thing over and over again day after day was not for someone like me. I tend to get bored very easily. And receiving the same paycheck every week wasn’t helping things either. I was motivated.
The company I was working for at the time was a manufacturer of heavy equipment. They hired me as an electrician and a nuts and bolts person. At that time I did whatever I had to do to earn a living for my kids and myself. Data entry and accounting type jobs wouldn’t pay enough. Welding, on the other hand, would make me more valuable to my employer so I went to a local technical school and enrolled in a welding course.
The welding class met Tuesday and Thursday evenings in the summer. Borrowing a welding mask and some welding gloves from work, I set off for class each week. It was after a couple of sessions that I was able to strike an arc and create a puddle of metal at the end of the welding rod.
Soon, I could tack weld and stitch seams: Square butt joint, V butt joint, Lap joint and T-joint. I learned oxyacetylene welding, brazing, arc welding, MIG welding and TIG welding. And, I learned how to handle a blow torch (oxyfuel cutting). To cut through slabs of metal: turn the acetylene on, ignite and then turn the oxygen on, adjust the flame and then slowly pull the torch though the metal. When I was done cutting, I shut off the oxygen first and then the acetylene. Blowing through 1” thick metal plate made me feel like superwoman with super heated vision.
After my first night of class I came home and looked in the mirror. The area of my skin that was not covered by my welding mask, the gauntlet gloves and my shirt was lobster red. I was terribly sunburned from the light of the arc welding corona. I went back to class covered up.
Later, on the job, I wore coveralls, leather sleeves and a welding cap, turned backward. When one of those hot sparks went down my shirt I would jump up and down trying to get it out of my clothes. Even though I did cover up, I still have small white burn spots on my arms and neck from welding spatter that found its way around my protective gear.
Welding had its difficult moments. Imagine arc welding metal plating on a 90 deg. Chicago summer day completely covered head to toe. Yet, as a welder I was paid more. I had more negotiating power in my hand’s muscle memory. This brings me to the reason why I am reminded of my welding days.
Riding on the train to my current job, I am reading a compilation of short stories titled, New Stories from the South, 2009: The Year’s Best edited by Madison Smart Bell, copyright 2009. The first story I come across is Muscle Memory by Katherine Karlin.
It surprised me that someone was writing about welding and describing the process so accurately. It also surprised me that it was a woman who wrote the story from her own experience.
You don’t have to be a welder to enjoy the story of Destiny becoming a welder (and not just a tacker). Its also a personal story about victims of Hurricane Katrina – a story about challenging yourself in the midst of challenging circumstances. A good read and a good work ethos for anyone.
The Osaminator: Guns Not (Waterboarding)Hoses!
May 9, 2011 Leave a comment
The leader of the free world takes his best shot.
Click here for more details on the 11/2012 release:
Legal Insurrection Films Presents –
Cloak and Swagger
May 7, 2011 Leave a comment
Spy stories, whether via book or movie have always drawn me into their cover. I love the spies, the intrigue; the secretive chess game of espionage. Maybe it is the Mata Hari in me. (Mata Hari: the Dutch exotic dancer accused of spying for Germany)
In the sixties as a teenager, I read John le Carré’s The Spy Who Came in From the Cold. Later, I would watch the movie version with Richard Burton. I thought the book better than Burton’s sulky performance.
Also during the sixties, I watched the TV series I Spy. The show was different in many exciting ways by including cold war topics and the first black man in a major starring role: Bill Cosby. Robert Culp and Bill Cosby portrayed CIA agents under the guise of tennis player and tennis pro. As I recall, it was the first serious attempt at portraying espionage on TV.
Of course there are Ian Fleming’s James Bond series of novels. Dr. No was the first book I read in the series. Casino Royale with David Niven was the first Bond movie I viewed. Having seen all of the Bond movies along the way I would say that Daniel Craig’s James Bond is the best version of James. In my opinion, the latest version of Casino Royale starring Craig is the best Bond movie ever. (Quantum of Solace, the next Craig-Bond movie was good but not as good as the unforgettable Casino Royale (remember the high-stakes poker game?).
The rest of the Bond movies were for me just farcical romps and self-indulgent commercial spoofs – kitsch. I take my Bond seriously (I do give a damn). Daniel Craig, with his rugged good looks, has the cocky swagger of a worldly wise man and the wild abandon of a boy look in his eyes. He plays the role on target.
Besides the le Carré book mentioned above I have read his A Perfect Spy. I met Magnus Pym in those pages. Later, I would meet George Smiley in LeCarre’s Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. From these stories I learned about moles, safe houses, cryptograms and some of the jargon used in covert operations including “circus” (the in house name for MI6) and “the cousins” (the CIA).
The Bourne Identity is a great spy series. Matt Damon fits the Jason Bourne part exactly. I enjoyed all three of the movies until I learned of Matt Damon’s Boston-liberal politics and his affinity for the acknowledged Communist Howard Zinn and his book The People’s History. I don’t watch these movies any more because of Matt Damon’s politics.
Robert Ludlum’s Bourne Identity series reminded of a book I read several years ago: Secret Weapons : Two Sisters’ Terrifying True Story of Sex, Spies and Sabotage. In this true account the Hersha sisters claim that before the age of seven they were inducted into a covert, government-authorized, mind-control program designed to spawn spies and assassins.
These days I am watching a TV series about a spy who came in from the cold. Actually, the agent was dropped out of the sky and into the ocean near hot steamy Miami. The spy has been burned (taken out of service), hence the title Burn Notice. Michael Westen, played by Jeffrey Donovan, is the burned spy.
The series has Michael looking for information about who burned him and why. In the mean time Michael has to “pay the bills” so he reluctantly works as an unlicensed private detective. In doing so he deals with all types of rogues and scoundrels and their illegal business, helping others in difficult situations. He goes after the bullies of the world. His real desire, though, is to go back to the life as a full time CIA operative.
Burn Notice is a refreshingly cool TV series and not the typical law and order, crime scene banality of so many other TV dramas, including the Chicago Code. And, Burn Notice doesn’t take itself seriously. It is a treat to watch for spy junkies like me.
Burn Notice characters are interesting and likable. There’s Sam (ex-Navy Seal and Michael’s friend), Fiona (ex-IRA operative and Michael’s ex-girlfriend) and Michael’s mother played by Sharon Gless (of Cagney and Lacey fame). There’s also a host of despicable and undercover characters who are given on-screen descriptions as they appear in the story. Smart, sexy and funny.
The writing is crisp, simple and often tongue-in-cheek funny. Michael’s voice over provides the viewer with a description of the situation at hand and the methods and devices a smart operative would use to rectify the situation. That, in itself, is soooo cool.
The series was voted as a Favorite TV Obsession at the 37th Peoples Choice Awards. I watch it every week and have never been disappointed. And, what can I say? Jeffrey Donovan is … hot. But, I was talking about spy stuff in this blog so…
Each week Sally Paradise (my nom de guerre) covertly watches Burn Notice and dreams of Michael Westen as The Spy Who Loved Me.
Defense of Sanity Act
May 1, 2011 Leave a comment
In light of recent protectionist bills MASSBill H1728 in the state of
Massachusetts, An Act Relative to Gender-Based Discrimination and Hate Crimes and its Canadian counterpart, Bill C-389, to extend legal protection to “sexual minorities”, I propose the following bill – The Defense of Sanity Act.
The Defense of Sanity Act would
1. declare gender-specific categories of Male, Female and Sexual Minority (SM). The SM category would include homosexuals, transsexuals and basically all sexual minorities.
2. provide each category with its own bathroom facility: Male, Female and SM. Each person would receive a magnetized strip card – Gender Category Card (GCC) – given out by the SS department. Specific bathrooms would only be accessible with the specific card. The card’s sole purpose would be to identify the person’s name and gender category. The category would be based on a birth certificate declaration of gender and could not be altered. (The exception being documentation of sex-reassignment surgery). Each SM – homosexual,transsexual and ‘other’ – would have to register their homosexuality or trans-sexuality at the time of the card’s issuance. Each categorized person would be penalized if attempting to use a different bathroom than what is stated on their card. (With homosexuals and transsexuals being so openly proud of their choice, I see no problem with them making this declaration to receive their Gender Category Card (GCC) card. Their card, in fact, can have a picture of an upside down rainbow on the face of it.)
3. provide that all armed forces members serve in gender category specific regiments: Male, Female or SM.
4. declare that anyone calling someone a “homophobe” or “homophobic” would be charged with a hate crime. The offending person would be punished under the law.
5. declare that Natural (or Standard) marriage and Non-natural (or Non-Standard) marriage as two separate and distinct legal relationships. Natural marriage would be a legally defined relationship of a male and a female. Non-natural marriage would be a relationship between homosexuals, transsexuals and ‘others’.
Such a bill would give the homosexuals what is due them. This bill also defends Males and Females from SMs who are often antagonistic towards natural sex individuals. Diversity is maintained. Sanity restored. It is a just bill for everyone
If anyone wants to add to this bill I am open to suggestions. Let’s hear them.
*****
Just a footnote: Funding for the Sexual Minority Bathrooms (SMBs) would come from Rosie O’Donnell and the Hollywood Left. They could have a telethon at the Hollywood Bowl. Obama could also appoint a Sexual Minority Bathroom Czar – Kevin Jennings (He might be in over his head, though.)
Nyuk Nyuk Nyuk
April 30, 2011 Leave a comment
I bought my son a joke book the other day. Here are just a few of the jokes:
Bert: I bought a lousy AM radio.
Gert : AM? Why didn’t you buy one you play at night, too?
Jeff: Last night I came home to a family that gave lots of love and sympathy.
Steph: That must have been nice.
Jeff: It was, except it was the wrong house.
Mutt: Why are you cutting the block of ice into small chunks?
Jeff: So it will fit into the ice cube trays.
What do elephants take when the have insommia?
Trunk-ulizers.
What disease do cows get?
Moo-laria.
What do you get when you cross death and a pager?
The Grim Beeper.
What position did the mouse serve in Congress?
Squeaker of the House.
What do you get if you cross a pig and a red light?
A stop swine.
What is a woodpecker’s favorite joke?
A Knock-knock.
What goes “baaa-baaa-ka-boom”?
A lamb mine.
What do computerized bears do in the winter?
They cybernate.
Art teacher: Did you like the sculpture made out of magnets?
Art clown: No, actually I was repelled.
What do you call it when two seeded bagels fall in love?
Poppy love.
Why did the waiter get excited when he served asparagus?
Because asparagus tips.
Knock-knock!
Who’s there?
Pudding.
Pudding who?
Pudding your pants on before your underwear is a bad idea.
What superhero loves French pancakes?
The Crepe Crusader.
“Doctor, doctor, I was at the store and a box of frozen fish fell on my head.
“I bet you had a splitting Haddock.”
How do Arabian princes dance?
Sheik to sheik.
What do you call a whales’ favorite magazine?
Spouts Illustrated.
What did Pinocchio say to the barber?
“Just a whittle off the top.”
Dill: I hooked my microwave to my computer.
Will: Why did you do that?
Dill: Now I can get my homework done in half the time.
Sign at the microbiology lab: “Staph only.”
Chic: What don’t you like about your job at the Goose Feather Company?
Mick: There’s nowhere to go but down.
Bumper sticker: “Clones are people, two.”
Jokes: Greatest Jokes On Earth by Matt Rissinger & Philip Yates
Hanging in the Balance (Caveat Emptor)
April 29, 2011 Leave a comment
Hanging in the Balance
Coal mine-Users of electricity
Oil drill-automobiles
Deforestation-Wood & wood pulp products
Commodity farming-Paper shopping bags full of corn based products & corn syrup
Corporate America-American Consumers
Job creation-Jonesian covetousness
Profit-Consumption
Drugs-Drug users
Non-directive-Directive
Supply-Demand
Who’s to blame?
Earthquake Day
April 24, 2011 Leave a comment
Earthquake Day
Tremor was always, before ex Nihilo showed up out of nowhere.
Tremor was there when man finally noticed Big Bang and all of
the little Bangs including mathematics, quantum mechanics, knot theory, string theory, radio pulsars, genetics, music, phi, art and poetry.
Tremor was in the apple bite’s rude awakening.
Tremor showed red when murderous Cain fled.
Tremor, as Plumber, called Noah and told him to ship out. Later, when things were settled, Tremor threw a palette of watercolors at the sky indicating a watershed moment.
Tremor used a slingshot against incredible bull’s-eyes.
Tremor gave the startled stars something to blink about.
Tremor was magnified in the womb of Mary, there was room for Him there.
Tremor sat in the temple teaching Rabbis everything a Father has said before.
Tremor whipped up a tempest, the Sea of Galilee provided support.
Tremor caused a stir at the local water fountain by saying, “I am He who is to come.”
Tremor gave the blind a new outlook and the lame a leg to stand on.
Tremor received a farewell gift of pure nard and a woman’s tears.
Tremor stood at the death’s door and said “Lazarus, come out.”
Tremor did an exposé on white-washed tombs.
Tremor broke the loaves, divided the fishes, according to old math.
Tremor broke the bread, drank the cup of sorrows and poured itself out.
Tremor was nailed down, pierced, forsaken and crushed. Violent insurrectionists like me were set free.
Tremor tore a curtain from top to bottom under orders from the Weaver.
Tremor woke up those staying in catacombs.
Tremor angels shook the rug under a rocky patch of earth, happy to find nothing there.
Seismic joy and fear were recorded that day.
Tremor decided to walk through walls and then tell everyone not to be afraid.
Tremor walked out to sea and back again for a fresh fish lunch with his friends.
Tremor had to move on but did send Another Tremor for everyone who loved Tremor.
Tremor will one day separate the wheat from the chaff and the sheep from the goats. Tremor will make the lion and the lamb see eye to eye. Hold on, Tremor is beginning again.
© Sally Paradise, 2011, All Rights Reserved
Tornado
April 23, 2011 2 Comments
Tornado
I stand at the edge of suddenness,
Hair on high alert:
Brazen edged clouds huddle
Agonizing over the fixated land,
Until, as one, they dispatch
A turbo-quill,
Scrawling graffiti onto
Parchment earth’s thicket.
Abruptly, the signing ends
Dissipating into
Further thought and
Exhalation.
Annotation fully noted,
The air is shocked by the news.
© Sally Paradise, 2011, All Rights Reserved
Cindy Wity 