Affordable Care Act - Deadline at Midnight!

As you know, the deadline was extended to midnight tonight!   It's not too late...but you're about to run out of time!   Good Luck!

Sign up at: healthcare.gov
Video from Alicante.   Brilliant!

Nate Silver & GOP 2014 & GOP voter suppression!

Nate Silver's midterm (2014) Senate projections scare the sh*t out of me.   I hope he's wrong because there's too much at stake.   Then I read an article in today's New York Times about on all the tactics that the GOP is using to thwart the turnout across several states targeting communities that typically vote Democratic (black and Latino) and I see the ugliness behind their efforts.   Now I'm really scared.

From today's New York Times:
"Pivotal swing states under Republican control are embracing significant new electoral restrictions on registering and voting that go beyond the voter identification requirements that have caused fierce partisan brawls.

The bills, laws and administrative rules — some of them tried before — shake up fundamental components of state election systems, including the days and times polls are open and the locations where people vote.

Republicans in Ohio and Wisconsin this winter pushed through measures limiting the time polls are open, in particular cutting into weekend voting favored by low-income voters and blacks, who sometimes caravan from churches to polls on the Sunday before election.

Democrats in North Carolina are scrambling to fight back against the nation’s most restrictive voting laws, passed by Republicans there last year.   The measures, taken together, sharply reduce the number of early voting days and establish rules that make it more difficult for people to register to vote, cast provisional ballots or, in a few cases, vote absentee.

In all, nine states have passed measures making it harder to vote since the beginning of 2013.   Most have to do with voter ID laws. Other states are considering mandating proof of citizenship, like a birth certificate or a passport, after a federal court judge recently upheld such laws passed in Arizona and Kansas.   Because many poor people do not have either and because documents can take time and money to obtain, Democrats say the ruling makes it far more difficult for people to register."

More details from the Times article here.

'Soup Ladies' are making a difference!

"We just thought it was wrong that the First Responders were just left out there to fend for themselves with MREs and whatever they could stuff in their pockets. So we wanted to find a way we could serve First Responders. We wanted to do it right. So we all got our Incident Command System training through FEMA and we're all background checked and fingerprinted. We know how to conduct ourselves on an incident."

The Soup Ladies have been serving about 250 people a day, on average, since Saturday's mudslide.

More detail about this good news story at: mynorthwest.com

Evolution versus Creationism!

Source: itsokaytobesmart.com

Bachmann Batsh*t!

Didn't you know that God blessed and formed America!   Just ask Bill Maher.   To think that this wacko ran for the presidency of the United States and is actually an ELECTED member of the United States Congress continues to leave me dumbfounded!

Swiffer and the Rukavinas...Nice!

Wow...loving this ad!

However, similar to the original Cherrios inter-racial ad, the comments on YouTube have been disabled.   Why?   Based on the racist/hatred comments posted on the original Cherrios ad, I'm sure YouTube knew this would/could get ugly responses from the wackos in America!

Below is more background/info on the Rikavina's family.

I've posted other entries about inter-racial couples before and I'm proud to have so many of them within my immediate and extended family and close circle of friends!   I wish I could be around 20 or 30 years from now to see their offspring and witness (hopefully) how America may have changed!

12 Minutes of Happiness! London & Moscow too!

Just posted my first venture into Pharrell William's "Happiness" videos yesterday.   After a few more hours viewing even more videos today, I found this 12 minute "Supercut" video.   It brings it all together and fuels my curiosity to try and view ALL the "Happy" videos!

#HAPPYDAY Supercut

As I posted earlier, my youngest daughter is visiting her sister in London!   My daughters are happy and, apparently, so is London!

LONDON is Happy!

With all the sh*t that's going down in Russia, Crimea and the Ukraine, even some younger folks in Moscow appear to be happy too!   I know John McCain ain't happy!

MOSCOW is Happy!

I don't know 'bout you...but these make me happy!

Pharrell: Spread the Happiness!

I stumbled upon this beauty earlier this week.   It is part of a collection located at happyinnyc.com.   I thought I had discovered a new found wonder!   (I guess I've been hiding under a rock?)   Then I went to Youtube and clicked on similar videos and discovered that Pharrell William's "Happy" is a world-wide phenomenon!   Since then, I have spent several hours watching these "Happy" videos from around the world!   We're talking Japan, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Poland...and on and on!

Each of the videos provide a unique and creative view of hope & happiness and offer an escape from all the sh*t that's going on in this world.   But more than anything else...Pharrell's work and all these videos, related to "Happy", definitely prove that music is a universal language!   Again, I've spent hours looking at these and I'm determined to post all of them here on my little space in the blog-o-sphere!   They're awesome.   I'm addicted!

Bleeding Edge Baby Boomer!

I received an e-mail from a friend (and fraternity brother)...the title was "The Back Nine".   At first glance I ignored it because I assumed the piece was about golf.   I don't do golf!   I've been on a golf course three times.   Yes...it's addictive...but I'm not good at it!

Anyway...as it turns out, "The Back Nine" is a metaphor for the stage of life baby boomers now find themselves in.   Most boomers probably liked their front nine more than they are liking their back nine, but partaking in the second half of life's links does have advantages.   As someone said, chiefly among them...of course, is that you are not deceased.   As one's generation ages, not being deceased becomes more and more of a perk.

The original transcript talks about all the downsides of getting older:

• retired and getting gray with all your friends
• moving slower
• taking naps (not me...yet anyway)
• things that you wish you had done, but didn't!
• things that you did...but wish you hadn't!

But then "The Back Nine" goes into some more positive thoughts...

"So, if you're not on the "back nine" yet... let me remind you, that it will be here faster than you think.   So, whatever you would like to accomplish in your life please do it quickly!   Don't put things off too long!!   Life goes by quickly.   So, do what you can today, as you can never be sure whether you're on the "back nine" or not!

You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of your life... so, live for today and say all the things that you want your loved ones to remember... and hope that they appreciate and love you for all the things that you have done for them in all the years past!!

"Life" is a gift to you.   The way you live your life is your gift to those who come after.   Make it a fantastic one.   LIVE IT WELL!   ENJOY TODAY!   DO SOMETHING FUN!   BE HAPPY!   HAVE A GREAT DAY!

Remember it is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.

LASTLY, CONSIDER THIS:

• Your kids are becoming you... but your grandchildren are perfect!
• Going out is good... Coming home is better!
• You forget names... but it's OK because other people forgot they even knew you!!!
• You realize you're never going to be really good at anything... especially golf.
• The things you used to care to do, you no longer care to do, but you really do care that you don't care to do them anymore.
• You sleep better on a lounge chair with the TV blaring than in bed.   It's called "pre-sleep."
• You miss the days when everything worked with just an "ON" and "OFF" switch.
• You tend to use more 4 letter words ... "what?"..."when?"... ???
• What used to be freckles are now liver spots.
• Everybody whispers.
• You have 3 sizes of clothes in your closet... 2 of which you will never wear.

But Old is good in some things:
Old Songs, Old movies, and best of all, OLD FRIENDS!!

TODAY IS THE OLDEST YOU'VE EVER BEEN, YET THE YOUNGEST YOU'LL EVER BE, SO ENJOY THIS DAY WHILE IT LASTS."

London: One daughter visits another! Awesome!

My younger daughter is visiting her older sister (who resides in London) and below is her latest e-mail to us!   I think this is the epitomy of sisterhood!

"I'm getting comfortable now.   It's felt like home away from home before but now, a full week has passed and we are enjoying every bit of what it means to have family abroad.

Monday we enjoyed the house, some laptop time and a yummy English Chinese takeout lunch.   After a break of trashy tv, we tackled tidying the house and daydreamed about your visit and what you guys might like to do when you come.   My brother-in-law came home and we enjoyed leftover stew and cocktails and more cocktails.   We started to think of crazy day and weekend trips and how we'd take advantage of our childless-sisterly freedom and the amazingly unique opportunity to be here together for the next two weeks.

Today was a strange perfect.   We woke up to a delicious breakfast at a small local restaurant and plotted on our plans for the day.   Of course between giggles, we became excited about how similar our desires were.   Back at home we fixed some small but big to-dos.   Feeling overly accomplished, we set out to the Tate Museum and St. Paul's Cathedral.   So cool and perfect and effortless are all under statements.   Perusing through famous works of art, we found the upstairs cafe to be our final resting place.   Perfection!   Overlooking the river and London skyline, we talked art and design and vacationy plans.   Tea and scone as we watched people and river boats pass.

Now we're waiting on Indian food and basking in the simple pleasures of the day."

Bryan Fischer versus Bill Maher

People...you just can't make this sh*t up!   But I love me some Bill Maher!

Studies on Hysteria!

Studies on Hysteria
...the naked truth about life, the universe, everything!

I stumbled upon this German beauty during my normal daily jaunts through cyberspace!   It blew me away.   It is DEFINITELY NSFW (not safe for work)...at least not in the greatest country on earth!   It includes full frontal (male/female) nudity, and I mean FULL...but as stated in the tag line...I believe it speaks the truth!   Just brilliant beyond words!

Make sure you view the full 7.47 minutes (including the credits) for an awesome twist @ 7:41!

Footnote:
What's equally...if not more amazing...is that this is apparently an AD for a German (?) jeans company named Colorado Denim!   I don't think the Grahams will be buying these jeans!

Franklin Graham Loves Him Some Putin!

"America’s response to Putin’s law was sadly predictable.   President Obama intentionally included homosexuals in his official U.S. delegation to Sochi.   Then his attorney general stole headlines from the opening weekend with an announcement to the Human Rights Campaign (a major gay-rights group): As far as the federal government is concerned, there is no longer any difference between traditional and same-sex marriage—even in the 33 states that outlaw those marriages.

It’s obvious that President Obama and his administration are pushing the gay-lesbian agenda in America today and have sold themselves completely to that which is contrary to God’s teaching.

In my opinion, Putin is right on these issues.   Obviously, he may be wrong about many things, but he has taken a stand to protect his nation’s children from the damaging effects of any gay and lesbian agenda.

Our president and his attorney general have turned their backs on God and His standards, and many in the Congress are following the administration’s lead.   This is shameful."

Franklin closes out his post (at his Decision Magazine) with the following:

"But the Bible makes it clear that one day, “all nations will be gathered before [God]” (Matthew 25:34) for judgment, and that “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow” (Philippians 2:10). Now is the time to repent of sin and place our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ."

The comments posted there scare the hell out of me and, I'm sure, Bill Maher as well!   As the saying goes..."like father...like son!"

Bill Maher - "America is Stupid"

Genesis 5:32
After Noah was 500 years old, he became the father of Shem, Ham and Japheth.

Genesis 7:11
In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, on the seventeenth day of the second month--on that day all the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened.

Genesis 8:13
By the first day of the first month of Noah's six hundred and first year, the water had dried up from the earth. Noah then removed the covering from the ark and saw that the surface of the ground was dry.

Footnote:
Nicolaus Copernicus (1473–1543) was a mathematician and astronomer who proposed that the sun was stationary in the center of the universe and the earth revolved around it.   Learn more about Copernicus here.

Kevin Bacon Explains the '80s to Millennials

) But...I still love me some Millennials!

"First Kiss" versus Syria's Children and MH370!

) Already 8 million views of the "First Kiss" in the last 48 hours!   Wow!   What a nice diversion from all the sh*t that's going on in this world!

From the CPAC wackos to the children of Syria...

) to the missing Malaysian Flight # 370...

I can only take but so much...so the "First Kiss" was a nice respite!   So was this Honey Maid ad.

Helps make me see a postive light and get through the day and all this other bullsh*t!

High school wrestler's amazing gesture

Saw this on the Today show this morning.   With all the crap going on in this country/world...this was really heart warming and a breath of fresh air!

As reported in USAToday:
"It was a heartwarming moment of sportsmanship humanity following a tough defeat.

High school wrestler Malik Stewart squared off against Mitchell McKee in the Minnesota state wrestling championship at the 120-pound weight class and after a hard-fought match, he was eventually pinned by McKee. The match itself wasn’t the story, though — it was what happened just after.

Instead of storming off, angry at the loss, Stewart shook McKee’s hand and then walked over to McKee’s father, who was watching from the sidelines. Stewart knew McKee’s father was suffering from cancer, so he shook his hand, gave him a hug, and told him to keep fighting. He then congratulated him on his son’s victory.

The fans in attendance cheered the moment, and there were more than a few tears shed."

More detail of this heart warming story at Minnesota's NBC affiliate kare11.

“Towel Dance” by Cirque du Soleil performers

Funny and ingenious!   This literally takes a set of balls!   Perhaps they'll be asked to perform at the 2014 RNC Convention?

CPAC: Compliments of John McCain

47% of the Americans that voted in the 2008 election thought that this wack-job was qualified to be the Vice President of the United States!   A heartbeat away from the Presidency!

Let me take the gun out of my mouth!   Oh wait...I don't own a gun!

"Today was amazing!"

"I've never been in a place like this or in weather like this."
My daughter's words from Bessheim, Norway.   I think the photo above (of my son-in-law) captures it all!   Yes...amazing!

Love Me Some Millennials...and Gen Xers too!

As reported in The New York Times, a fascinating new survey by the Pew Research Center finds that millennials (defined by Pew as Americans ages 18 to 33) are drifting away from traditional institutions — political, religious and cultural.

Now we just need to get these folks to vote during the midterm...and America will be a better place!

CPAC: The Crackpot Craziness Continues!

And we haven't even heard from Ms. Palin yet!   Nevermind!

Mitch McConnell Brings A Gun to CPAC!

Unbelievable!   Just unbelievable!   There are definitely two Americas!

American Jews 'Sold Out Israel' To Help Obama

"I just believe that as believers in Jesus Christ who see the authority of scripture, I believe that the Lord and his strong right arm will have Israel’s back and will be her protector.   The question is, will we as the United States cooperate in standing with Israel and blessing Israel, or will we join those nations that come against her?   We are definitely on the wrong side.   It is jaw dropping, it is stunning, it’s breathtaking.   The Jewish community gave him [Obama] their votes, their support, their financial support and as recently as last week, forty-eight Jewish donors who are big contributors to the president wrote a letter to the Democrat senators in the U.S. Senate to tell them to not advance sanctions against Iran.   This is clearly against Israel’s best interest.   What has been shocking has been seeing and observing Jewish organizations who it appears have made it their priority to support the political priority and the political ambitions of the president over the best interests of Israel.   They sold out Israel."

Source: The Right Wing Watch

Lindsey Graham's Eye Roll over Obama's handling of Ukraine

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) blamed President Obama’s handling of the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi for the Russian invasion of Ukraine, tweeting Tuesday afternoon that it somehow emboldened the Russians to attack.

Though the Russian incursion into Crimea was motivated principally by Russian strategic concerns after the fall of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, Graham blamed American conduct in North Africa:

You just can't make this sh*t up!   And he's still in the Senate?   I have many dear/close friends that live in South Carolina.   I just assume they don't support this right wing wacko!