I am channel surfing, stopping at Fox News and seeing what O'reilly is covering and I saw an ad for Fancy Feast appetizers for cats. Don't believe me? Check it out here.
Hey - if folks can afford the equivalent of nachos for their cats (such as the Steamed Wild Alaskan Salmon) then the economy is doing better than I thought.
Maybe the President can use this as an example of the economy turning the corner and his stimulus plan kicking in.
Outspoken Roman
Monday, August 3, 2009
New TSA Rule - are we getting secure yet?
Ok - so news flash. The TSA wants more information listed on the boarding passes because its a .."way of better checking passenger names against terror watch lists". This quote is attributed to TSA officials at a story on the NewsWest 9 website.
The additional information being listed on the boarding pass will include your full name, birth date and gender. It is only a matter of time before the boarding passes will only care about our social security number (TSA Officials will be quoted as saying "It's the only way we can be sure of the identity of the passenger and not someone on the terror watch list"). Along with the SSN, we will have to fly in the nude as an additional security precaution. Why don't we just ban airflight all together? I mean that is the only way to truly be safe.
You laugh now but there will be more silliness coming from the TSA as they continue to work on making us safe. I for one am worried about the amount of information on these boarding passes. Does anyone else forgetfully leave these things stuck in their paperback book in their airplane seat? What sort of information are exposing to a potential criminal element?
What is the solution you ask? Well what do this group of men have in common?
Too obvious? Why not start with patting down those in our society that are associated with those who wish to do us harm? Or at a minimum pat down those people that offer a threat more so than say my mother in law. I know it is not politically correct but wasn't that one of the lessons of 9/11? The planes weren't hijacked by invalids right but by a individuals of a certain segment of the world's population. I am not saying single them out but focus on the threats rather than on say the grandmothers.
Also don't we have armed marshalls on flights now? Is that making us safe?
Finally, how about educating the workforce rather than just throw a whole bunch of bodies as a solution.
Update - I got a suggestion from a friend. We won't travel nude but in Government issues diapers so we don' t have to get up. It is all about safety.
Let me end here with the same friend suggesting this quote from Ron Paul (found here).
Amen brother - Amen.
Outspoken Roman
The additional information being listed on the boarding pass will include your full name, birth date and gender. It is only a matter of time before the boarding passes will only care about our social security number (TSA Officials will be quoted as saying "It's the only way we can be sure of the identity of the passenger and not someone on the terror watch list"). Along with the SSN, we will have to fly in the nude as an additional security precaution. Why don't we just ban airflight all together? I mean that is the only way to truly be safe.
You laugh now but there will be more silliness coming from the TSA as they continue to work on making us safe. I for one am worried about the amount of information on these boarding passes. Does anyone else forgetfully leave these things stuck in their paperback book in their airplane seat? What sort of information are exposing to a potential criminal element?
What is the solution you ask? Well what do this group of men have in common?
Too obvious? Why not start with patting down those in our society that are associated with those who wish to do us harm? Or at a minimum pat down those people that offer a threat more so than say my mother in law. I know it is not politically correct but wasn't that one of the lessons of 9/11? The planes weren't hijacked by invalids right but by a individuals of a certain segment of the world's population. I am not saying single them out but focus on the threats rather than on say the grandmothers.
Also don't we have armed marshalls on flights now? Is that making us safe?
Finally, how about educating the workforce rather than just throw a whole bunch of bodies as a solution.
Update - I got a suggestion from a friend. We won't travel nude but in Government issues diapers so we don' t have to get up. It is all about safety.
Let me end here with the same friend suggesting this quote from Ron Paul (found here).
While millions of Americans undoubtedly welcome any TSA indignity under the guise of "preventing terrorism," millions more are not willing to give blind obedience to arbitrary authority. TSA creates only a false sense of security, at great cost not only financially but also in terms of our dignity. How we as Americans react to authoritarian agencies like TSA is an indicator of how much we still value freedom over our persons and effects.
Amen brother - Amen.
Outspoken Roman
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Trip to Nauset
Just got back from a good weekend at the cape. Although the last day (today) was the best day of the lot, with 4 hours spent in the 64 degree weather of Nauset Light House beach (part of the Cape Cod National Sea Shore). Although cold, we had a great time (me and the little Valkyrie spent a lot of time in the surf while the young viking spent his time digging holes and burying things).
Was happy to see the traffic die down on the way home across the Sagamore Bridge. It looks like leaving at 630 was pretty good as far as fighting the off cape travel. But it is good to be home.
Was happy to see the traffic die down on the way home across the Sagamore Bridge. It looks like leaving at 630 was pretty good as far as fighting the off cape travel. But it is good to be home.
Friday, July 31, 2009
The cost of healthcare reform
Ok - so if I understand this correctly, the cost of healthcare reform will not balloon the deficit and of course the debt. As CNS News reports Obama stated "I have also pledged that health insurance reform will not add to our deficit over the next decade, and I mean it."
Anyone with half a brain must know that this claim is pure fantasy. The Government does not save money or run things efficiently. The Government just prints more money or raises taxes instead of making the sacrifices that real people have to make and never tightens its belt. Why should it as the Government would lose some of its control over the lives of its citizens?
For those of you that think the Govt health care system is the way to go because costs will go down, there won't need to be rationing and it will be Shangri-La I submit a story I first saw on Drudge.
The story entitled "Govt to suspend 'cash for clunkers'" noted that:
What a surprise. The Government offers rebates (which is money coming out of the citizens' pockets) and the response is so overwhelming that they might need to shut the program down due to the money being all used up.
Remember this when you hear the health care stuff coming from the White House. The minute there is 'free' health care, there will have to be limits set as the Government cannot afford to have everyone at the drop of a hat, sign of a sniffle, ache in the back run to the doctor. It can't. There isn't enough money to cover that sort of scenario and there will have to be rationing (i.e. the Government will have a limit on when you can go to the Doctor).
As the saying goes, if you think Healthcare is expensive now...wait till its free.
Also from the CNS News story, the President said "Can I guarantee that there are going to be no changes in the health care delivery system? No. The whole point of this is to try to encourage changes that work for the American people and make them healthier."
What is next - mandatory Neighborhood Physical Education. Maybe we should have a government official come into our house and monitor our diets?
We are losing some freedom every single day.
Outspoken Roman
Anyone with half a brain must know that this claim is pure fantasy. The Government does not save money or run things efficiently. The Government just prints more money or raises taxes instead of making the sacrifices that real people have to make and never tightens its belt. Why should it as the Government would lose some of its control over the lives of its citizens?
For those of you that think the Govt health care system is the way to go because costs will go down, there won't need to be rationing and it will be Shangri-La I submit a story I first saw on Drudge.
The story entitled "Govt to suspend 'cash for clunkers'" noted that:
Congressional officials say the government plans to suspend the popular "cash for clunkers" program amid concerns it could quickly use up the $1 billion in rebates for new car purchases.The Transportation Department called congressional offices late Thursday to alert them to the decision to halt the program, which offered owners of old cars and trucks $3,500 or $4,500 toward a new, more fuel-efficient vehicle.
What a surprise. The Government offers rebates (which is money coming out of the citizens' pockets) and the response is so overwhelming that they might need to shut the program down due to the money being all used up.
Remember this when you hear the health care stuff coming from the White House. The minute there is 'free' health care, there will have to be limits set as the Government cannot afford to have everyone at the drop of a hat, sign of a sniffle, ache in the back run to the doctor. It can't. There isn't enough money to cover that sort of scenario and there will have to be rationing (i.e. the Government will have a limit on when you can go to the Doctor).
As the saying goes, if you think Healthcare is expensive now...wait till its free.
Also from the CNS News story, the President said "Can I guarantee that there are going to be no changes in the health care delivery system? No. The whole point of this is to try to encourage changes that work for the American people and make them healthier."
What is next - mandatory Neighborhood Physical Education. Maybe we should have a government official come into our house and monitor our diets?
We are losing some freedom every single day.
Outspoken Roman
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Check out this Glenn Beck video
Glenn Beck nails it! He asks the question 'When Will We Take Obama at His Word?!'
Why can't we look at the President's words and take them at face value? Why is anyone surprised by his attempt to remake so much of the country? Why does his inexperience draw incredulity? Why does his obvious inherent bias against white policemen shock anyone?
Video of Beck driving home the point is here. This is required watching. Preach on brother Glenn!
Update - The AP is reporting that "Fox's Glenn Beck says he believes Obama is racist"
Why would the President even comment on something like this (and default to the usual politically correct line) when he didn't know all the facts?
"I don't know all the facts but the new Health Care reform project is socialism".
"I don't know all the facts but cutting the planned F-22 deliveries is moronic".
"I don't know all the facts but Henry Gates was having sex with a squirrel during his arrest".
"I don't know all the facts but Michael Jackson is a freak".
Interesting approach.
Outspoken Roman
Why can't we look at the President's words and take them at face value? Why is anyone surprised by his attempt to remake so much of the country? Why does his inexperience draw incredulity? Why does his obvious inherent bias against white policemen shock anyone?
Video of Beck driving home the point is here. This is required watching. Preach on brother Glenn!
Update - The AP is reporting that "Fox's Glenn Beck says he believes Obama is racist"
Why would the President even comment on something like this (and default to the usual politically correct line) when he didn't know all the facts?
"I don't know all the facts but the new Health Care reform project is socialism".
"I don't know all the facts but cutting the planned F-22 deliveries is moronic".
"I don't know all the facts but Henry Gates was having sex with a squirrel during his arrest".
"I don't know all the facts but Michael Jackson is a freak".
Interesting approach.
Outspoken Roman
Sunday, July 19, 2009
I am back and thoughts on Beer
So it has been awhile since I had posted but I had taken a long vacation (well deserved?) and reviewed some of the comments I had gotten from readers. One of which was don't you ever do anything fun? So as we all focus on the crap that is coming out of Washington, I will also take some time to look at the lighter side of life and the various things happening in and around the Bay State. One fun thing we did was to tour the Anheuser-Busch brewery up in Merrimac, NH. We had a very good time although the weather wasn't the greatest and I sampled some of the new brews (favorite was the Beach Bum Blonde) that both me and Mrs. Roman liked. She also was partial to the Michelob Ultra brew that came (in one choice) flavored with fruit (Grapefruit and Orange I think). Definitely not the ultimate man's brew but I admit it was a pleasing summery type drink. I also sampled the BL Lime. I remember a beer that was out a while ago called Tequiza that was also a Budweiser product which has since been discontinued. I recall liking that product a lot more than BL Lime but again, a good summer brew I suppose.
A good time though and of course I really enjoyed the free brew. BTW my favorite was the Amberbock by Michelob.
A shout of thanks to the folks at Merrimac for having a great tour. Head over to the Michelob website to play the "foam game". A game I am sorry to say I have never played before.
More to come. It is good to be back.
OS
A good time though and of course I really enjoyed the free brew. BTW my favorite was the Amberbock by Michelob.
A shout of thanks to the folks at Merrimac for having a great tour. Head over to the Michelob website to play the "foam game". A game I am sorry to say I have never played before.
More to come. It is good to be back.
OS
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Obama and gas prices
In my most recent random thoughts column I asked "Why isn’t the public clamoring for Obama’s intervention the way they were for Bush’s back when gas prices were on the rise? Why no investigations into “big oil” and their profits?"
Well my friends at Newsbusters have a great post by Noel Sheppard that is titled "Oil Prices Doubled Since Inauguration, Will Media Blame Obama?". The column (posted on 6 June) states that :
Great question Noel? Where is the press on this issue? BTW - Noel Sheppard has some great charts accompanying his column (found here) that show that the US has never seen "..'such a fast doubling as what we've seen since Inauguration Day." in oil prices.
We sit here waiting for the press to catch up. Or even scarier, does the mainstream press even care? And if so, what else are we not getting told?
Among us, the crickets are the only sounds we hear.
Outspoken Roman
Well my friends at Newsbusters have a great post by Noel Sheppard that is titled "Oil Prices Doubled Since Inauguration, Will Media Blame Obama?". The column (posted on 6 June) states that :
Virtually every time oil and gasoline prices rose when George W. Bush was in the White House, his policies and/or his connections to folks in the oil industry were blamed by newsrooms from coast to coast.Yet, even though oil has doubled in price since Inauguration Day, with retail gas prices up $0.75 a gallon, you'd be hard-pressed to find reports blaming these spikes on President Obama or anything he's done since taking office.
Why?
Great question Noel? Where is the press on this issue? BTW - Noel Sheppard has some great charts accompanying his column (found here) that show that the US has never seen "..'such a fast doubling as what we've seen since Inauguration Day." in oil prices.
We sit here waiting for the press to catch up. Or even scarier, does the mainstream press even care? And if so, what else are we not getting told?
Among us, the crickets are the only sounds we hear.
Outspoken Roman
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