Sarah the Serial Liar

I'm supporting...

This aught to get a rise from any Twit worth their salt!

Fey Friends has the video...OOPS!

OBAMA IS RIGHT-McCain IS WRONG

The Great Schlep!

The Great Schlep from The Great Schlep on Vimeo.

McCain's Economic Plan

McCain�s Economic Plan For Nation: 'Everyone Marry A Beer Heiress'

MY BACKYARD

Socialism For Some, Not For You Though

How do you like the GOP mantra of deregulation now?!

That worked real well for the Airline industry didn't it!

Energy trading and Enron. Ring any bells?

How about the GOP led effort to allow commercial banks morph into security brokerage houses? That's worked out just fine! Just think of the names. Lehmen Brothers and Merrill Lynch. Gone!

We can't forget about the worlds biggest insurance company, AIG. Congratulation fellow taxpayer, you and I now own 80% to the tune of 85 BILLION dollars. Here's an idea, since we now own the worlds biggest insurance company, maybe we should insure some of the 47 million Americans who go without and tax our ER's! Nah, just kidding, that would be socialism.

Really though, unregulated free markets go bad. Anyone remember the Savings and Loan bailout? How about John McCain and the Keating 5? Seems ironic that McCain spent this whole past week talking about greed and corruption on Wall Street doesn't it?

Speaking of free markets, I hope you Republicans realize that oil pumped from any U.S. Territory belongs to the company that pumped it, not the taxpayer. They paid for the lease and the mineral rights that go with it. They will put this oil on the World market. That is the free market. By the way, the 5 biggest oil companies in the world already have thousands of unexplored leases on the Outer Continental Shelf.

What should we let the free market control next? The military? Too late. Traditional military jobs are now being contracted to Haliburton. Everything from cooks to laundry is being outsourced at exorbitant rates to the taxpayer. Those profits are funding the election of Republicans.

Kinda funny how the free market works huh? Is that putting Country first or politics before honor?

It's your choice.

THE BUSH YEARS

The SIgn in My Yard

Compensation Issues?

TROPHY VEEP!
TROPHY WIFE!

OK Twits....How Many?

Just in Case some one reads this...

Maybe you've noticed I'm trying a new tack with Jenny4hate @ PB.

Obviously, ignoring her isn't working. So I started my 867-5309 campaign of love and adulation. I bet that pisses her off. HeHeHe...

Besides, I would probably get kicked off if I wrote what I really think.

McCain vs Obama

The "Pretty Good" Generation!

Renegotiate NAFTA

Remember when Obama and Clinton were talking about renegotiating NAFTA during their campaigns in Ohio and Texas? Let's push Obama to keep his word! The best thing (IMO) about Obama's candidacy is the popular movement behind him, which largely replaces corporate lobbyists. That means that we have a voice and can influence policy through him, in principle. Have a look at this website to learn more about why NAFTA needs to be renegotiated, and sign the petition to push our candidate to commit to doing so.

Briefly, NAFTA lacked enforceable and effective labor and environmental protections. Its shortcomings are evidenced by the migration of manufacturing jobs across the border and the stagnation of wages and occupational safety legislation in Mexico. Read more about it here. If you feel inclined, sign the petition to pressure our future president to work on renegotiating NAFTA.

Friday's Child is Loving and Giving

At 4:40 PM (EDT) on June 1, 1990, Kenneth Charles Thompson entered the world, not screaming. In fact, not breathing. The delivery room doctor was panicked, the attending nurse was not. As parents, we made the mistake of paying attention to the doctor and began to cry. A moment later, Kenneth took a breath. A moment after that, the medical staff took Kenny someplace. For an hour, we were left alone without information about our new son. So we cried.

Finally, Kenny was brought to us, hair parted, looking all rosy and happy. And we cried.

Ken was unusually quiet. He hardly said anything for his first two years. He was clearly intelligent, but he chose not to speak. His first complete sentence, after some coaching by Dad, was said to Mom: I love you. Again with the tears.

On February 6, 2003, at approximately 5:45 PM (EST), Ken was a passenger in a car involved in an accident. He was officially pronounced dead late on the morning of February 7, 2003. We were crying again.

His last words spoken to me as I dropped him off at school that morning were "I love you, too."

We were in a room provided by the hospital, with food provided by The Gift of Life, when the official results of a series of tests were delivered. We cried – hard. Then, one by one, we left the room to gather at his bedside. Only two of us remained in the room, my brother-in-law and me. He said, "You have to be strong… for Billy." What he really meant was that he was uncomfortable with my tears. My son was lying dead two rooms over and he wanted me to stop crying. I didn't say anything to him but decided, there and then, that I would be strong enough to allow the world to see my tears shed for my son.

To this day, any tears I cry for Kenny stay on my cheeks and air-dry. I do not wipe those away. Anyone uncomfortable with that will just have to become stronger.

But between all those tears, we had so many happy moments. I cannot recount them all but, if you'll bear with me, I’ll mention a few (in no particular order).

Early in kindergarten, Kenneth started signing his papers as "Ken." Everyone called him "Kenny" but he preferred "Ken." We finally figured out that his preference had two characters less. He wanted it short so he didn't have to write so much on the homework.

When he was about 9 or 10, he and I were at a McDonalds. I was wrestling with a salt packet whose perforation was particularly uncooperative. I had the packet long-end down, so the salt wouldn’t spill out once the perforation broke. Ken told me to turn it over and try it that way, so the salt would provide support to the packet and it would break easier. That worked immediately. Ken was 9 or 10 at the time, I was 45 or so. He understood how things worked so much better than I.

Kenny was one of two grandchildren that my father-in-law trusted with his farm equipment. Ken was allowed to operate man-sized equipment at the age of 10. His older cousins were not. He was running 75 HP tractors, skidsters, lawnmowers. He had an instinctive understanding of machinery.

Imagine his rage when he was told he could not operate a simple golf cart because he was too young. We were at a course in Houghton Lake, Michigan, and I had to break the news to him. He was not happy (evidenced in the picture on the right).

However, once we were clear of the clubhouse, I let him drive. They were none the wiser.

Kenny had his own golf style, a combination of Arnie Palmer and Happy Gilmore. He wasn't good at the game but he loved to play with his brother and me.

Ken had a budding political awareness. He had seen a Saturday Night Live skit, portraying a debate between Al Gore and George Bush and, from that point on, whenever he saw Dumbya on TV he would yell, "Strategery! Strategery!" and then he would laugh. His was a wonderful laugh.

At his funeral, several classmates told us that, once he'd finished his assignments, he would help them with theirs. He would tutor them in English, science and math. We didn't know that he did that.

When Kenny was 4 years old, we were given tickets to a Detroit Lions football game. Annette, Billy, Kenny and I went to the Silverdome as a family. There, much to my surprise, Kenny cheered every time the San Fransisco 49ers did something right and booed when penalties were called against them. Here we were, in a sea of Honolulu Blue and Kenny was ranting like a 49ers' fan of old. His hero was Steve Young. He remained a fan for life. This picture is of Kenny on Christmas, 2002, wearing the Jeff Garcia jersey he was given that morning. He wore it whenever he could. Kenny was buried in that jersey.

On Monday, January 26, 2003, I attended a Boy Scout committee meeting. When I got home, Ken greeted me at the door. "Guess what I had for dinner," he said. Not knowing, I let him go on. "I had my favorite: mashed potatoes, corn, and filet mignon." He had found my stash of filets and cooked one up. He was a good cook and baker. We observe that day – the first of The Anniversary Dates – by having his favorite meal. By the way, he preferred mashed potatoes from a box. Filet mignon and Potato Buds. Quite the combo.

In the summer following his death, instead of going to summer camp with the Scout troop, I sent his favorite meal along. There were 48 Scouts and adults in camp, and each ate well and remembered their mate. I was told it was a moving experience. I am extremely grateful to the Troop for all they have done for me since Kenny died.

Kenneth's taste in expensive steak first appeared in 2nd grade. My children attended a Montessori school that held an annual Fathers' Night. On that night, dads attended the school with their children to see what the kids did during the day. Beforehand, I would always take my children to dinner at the restaurant of their choice.

Billy preferred Burger King. Becky always chose McDonalds. Kenny chose The Apple Orchard, a local mid-scale place. Ken and I were seated and given menus, he looked his over and pointed at the filet mignon, although he didn't know what it was. He did, however, understand that it was the most expensive item on the menu (so it had to be good, yes?). I had one as well.

But today is Kenny's birthday. Today he turns 18. He hated being 12, since he wasn't considered a teenager – even though he was over 10. It was patently unfair to him and he had a strong sense of fairness. So, in my mind, he has grown older every year. I imagine him as a young man, today, not the boy who left our side too soon.

For the first time since he was born, I will not be with him at 4:40 PM on June 1. Today is the day his classmates are graduating from high school. We'll be in attendance at the ceremony, missing our son but wishing his friends well.

He would want that.

Find peace, Kenneth.

Paul
Kenny's dad

Hedy Lamarr is dead

That's Hedley...






My favorite Hedley Lamarr scene:

Lamarr: "Meeting adjourned. Oh, I am sorry, sir; I didn't mean to overstep my bounds. You say that."

Governor Le Petomane: "What?"

Lamarr: "'Meeting is adjourned.'"

Le Petomane: "It is?"

Lamarr: "No, you say that, governor."

Le Petomane: "What?"

Lamarr: "'Meeting is adjourned.'"

Le Petomane: "It is?"

Lamarr: "Here, sir; play with this."
(hands the governor a paddleball)


Rest in peace, Harvey Korman

My garden was green, now it's brown

And it took me 7 hours to make it that way. I spent the day roto-tilling my garden, knocking down the weeds and leaving a smooth, fluffy plane of brown.

Tomorrow, I will begin planting. I'm putting in asparagus to start. We won't be able to pick any until 2009, at earliest. But, once we begin picking, the wait will be worthwhile.

We'll also plant some spinach, radishes and cukes. My daughter likes seedless cukes, so we're trying those this year. Fingers crossed.

I'm ordering some sweet corn and pumpkins, too. Those should be here sometime next week.

This is the time of year when promise is abounding. I hope to keep the promise this year.

MY WET TEE SHIRT ENTRY