Conspiracies, Cover-ups and Useful Idiots

About seven years ago, when Stalin was in process of being rehabilitated and had just been voted second in Most Important Russian in History by the Russian people, a professor at an English University in Moscow asked me,  "How do you know what is the truth?"  Not an easy question to answer as there is no set of rules or cookbook to follow, mostly just comparing every piece of information one comes across related to the subject.  There is no such thing as too much information.

I told her one solid reference and that is "If it is the official government version, it is invariably a lie".  Not 100% but so close it really doesn't matter.  I mean, have these people EVER told you the truth?

Which brings us to Alex Jones. That, of course, is also his position but then he jumps in with a ready made theory about what was lied about (covered up) and why it is a lie.

Let's take the Boston bombings.  His website raises some interesting issues, some  of which may be real, There are other questions about inconsistencies in the public story as well, not just his.  They should be followed up and explained clearly and logically, not just brushed off.  I quit following the story so some of this may have happened already.

The problem is that Jones' theory that it was a "false flag" operation (for which, sad to say, there is some precedent).  But his version that the government is looking for more excuses to "take away our guns and turn us into a police state" is patent nonsense. America already is a fascist police state, more or less, and the largest supporters of every move, regulatory or otherwise, to make it such are the people WITH guns, calling themselves Patriots.

Most Americans, I suspect, wouldn't know what "fascism" or "police state" looks like any more than they know what "communism" or "socialism" is.  They just throw the words around. Same as they do "Liberty", "Democracy" and "Patriotism"...but I digress.

The government must love crazy conspiracy theorists like Alex Jones because he makes it so easy to write off anyone who questions the official version of anything.  He is, in Lenin's words, a useful idiot. Anyone who suggests there might be unanswered questions is simply shut down for "believing in reptilian aliens coming to conquer the world".

Do you ever wonder why there are other kinds of "useful idiots" around when they are needed?  The Tsarnaev brothers were allegedly self recruited via the internet.  Others have mentioned a "newly converted Muslim" as a major influence on the older brother.  This is much more likely as research indicates there is always a recruiter. Who was he?  Anyone looking?

I could make a list of all these other kinds of useful idiots in American history possibly beginning with John Wilkes Booth but you can do that yourself.

Someone always benefits from any incident; natural (Hurricane Katrina) or man-made; deliberate (9/11) or accidental (Deepwater Horizon .  Regardless, the question is always "Cui bono?"  Who, how and why did they benefit?  The answers are rarely simple and conclusions too often jumped to. If the unanswered questions are likely to put the official story at risk you can rest assured that they will not be investigated, key pieces of evidence will disappear or it will simply be stonewalled until forgotten. JFK, MLK, RFK come to mind.

Why do American people accept the official version so unquestioningly in face of any and all evidence to the contrary?  Same reason the Soviet people readily believed that the millions of people arrested, tortured, disappeared, executed, sent to the gulag under Stalin were guilty.  Because to believe otherwise raised issues too terrible to think of and impossible to do anything about.

Believe what you want but question everything.  Get as much information as you can especially about unanswered questions and DON'T jump to conclusions, is all I can say.

And keep in mind Heinlein's Razor  Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity, but don't rule out malice.

Kitten Update; 5 Weeks; Pictures

Progress.  Krasotka is spending less time with the kittens and more time outside which is good for the sanity of all concerned.  She seems to have decided they can stay in the backroom, though the other day she hauled the rather mischievous black and white kitten upstairs and dumped him at Tanya's feet as if to say "Can YOU do something with this child?"

They are all eating solid (canned) cat food now and once in awhile will chew on the raw chicken necks we give their mother as a treat.  There is milk in a dish but they show no interest.  A couple of them have investigated the water dish and   black and white kitty put a tentative paw into it a time or two.

They have discovered the litter box.  I don't know if they actually do anything in there or just enjoy digging. They do go through the motions so I expect they are training themselves. The other day there were three in there at one time and the gravel was flying.

Black and black and white kittens can both climb in and out over the barrier into the kitchen but seem to have lost interest now that they have accomplished it.

Tanya took the pictures; she has a way with kittens.

Cleanliness is next to...impossible

Wrestling mat

Behind the cupboard is a favourite hiding place for all four

It's OK; we are just playing

Pull his sweater over his head then pound him...

Now I got him...I think

I tolded them boys not to fight

Brothers

Sisters

I've catsized

Mama just watches

The Community Service Haircut

Blessed are those that can give without remembering, and take without forgetting.

One day a florist went to a barber for a haircut. After the cut, he asked about his bill, and the barber replied, 'I cannot accept money from you, I'm doing community service this week.' The florist was pleased and left the shop.

When the barber went to open his shop the next morning, there was a 'thank you' card and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door.

Later, a cop comes in for a haircut, and when he tries to pay his bill, the barber again replied, 'I cannot accept money from you, I'm doing community service this week.' The cop was happy and left the shop.

The next morning when the barber went to open up, there was a 'thank you ' card and a dozen donuts waiting for him at his door.

Then a Member of Parliament came in for a haircut, and when he went to pay his bill , the barber again replied, 'I cannot accept money from you. I'm doing community service this week.' The Member of Parliament was very happy and left the shop.

The next morning, when the barber went to open up, there were a dozen Members of Parliament lined up waiting for a free haircut.


And that, my friends, illustrates the fundamental difference between
the citizens of our country and the politicians who run it.

Russian "Justice" on the march again; Ukrainian criminals in a panic

Russian Opposition Leader Alexei Navalny on Trial

Ukraine's Regionnaire Party Panics

The Roots of Terrorism

The tragedy in Boston this past week played out as expected.  The conspiracy theorists will wonder if the FBI didn't get tired of being accused of simply duping people then arresting them to make their stats look good and decided to go one step further and let them carry out the bombing too.  Those who have manufactured the Muslims into the current enemy have more ammunition and those who have fallen into the trap of Muslim-hating will have a heyday.

The real tragedy is that every day men, women and children are killed and maimed in "terrorist" attacks, state inflicted or otherwise.  In Iraq, in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Xinjiang, Dagestan, Mali, Nigeria... And no one hears about it until it is in Boston.

I jotted down some thoughts into a non-essay:

It is only class warfare if we fight back; it is only terrorism if they fight back.

What motivates an individual to commit acts of terrorism is highly personal; what motivates an entire societal group is almost universally a combination of bad governance and poverty.

Individuals are written off as mentally deranged and seeking attention, or ideological fanatics belonging to an inherently violent religion; whatever suits the politics of the situation and prevents examination (and acceptance) of any underlying causes.

Non-state terrorism is usually preceded by state terrorism of one kind or another.

State terrorism is about retaining power

Non-state terrorism – group or individual, state sanctioned/supported or private initiative.

Ideologically driven terrorism can be state or non-state but most ideologically driven non-state terrorism is linked in the end to bad government, poverty and an overwhelming sense of frustration and desperation.  No one is listening, no one is taking action to improve the situation.  If Islam did not exist, the same actors would still be on stage for the same reasons.

Normal people do not choose easily to kill themselves or others. 

Terrorists are like the Indians in the Westerns; they are just conveniently there; conveniently stirred to violence by bloodlust or medicine men.  No one asks why any deeper than this superficial rationalisation.

Terrorism as a form of guerilla warfare is usually engaged in by a much weaker power.

“The rebellion of the Huang Chao (875-884) had its roots in the extreme social instability and heavy financial burdens placed on the peasants however the recording of the event in official histories moralized the events as the conjuncture of corrupt or inept officials and persuasive but evil-minded bandits” (1).

The Boxer Uprising in China in 1900 (2).  The uprising backed by Imperial troops was ultimately against foreign occupation and influence.  History, written by the winners named it the  Boxer Rebellion as though they, the foreign powers owned the place.  A great deal of “terrorism” throughout history is from people who merely wanted their country back.

“We will not negotiate with terrorists”.  How stupid.  If they had been negotiated with prior to, they would never have become terrorists.

The entire Caucasus has been fighting the Russians for centuries (3), initially to retain their independence from the Empire; most recently while nominally about independence it has been about bad governance and poverty (4).

To revolt is a natural tendency of life. Even a worm turns against the foot that crushes it. In general, the vitality and relative dignity of an animal can be measured by the intensity of its instinct to revolt. – Mikhail Bakunin

The most radical revolutionary will become a conservative the day after the revolution.-Hannah Arendt

A populace never rebels from passion for attack, but from impatience of suffering.-Edmund Burke

A great revolution is never the fault of the people, but of the government.-Johann von Goethe

Most commonly revolt is born of material circumstances; but insurrection is always a moral phenomenon. Revolt is Masaniello, who led the Neapolitan insurgents in 1647; but insurrection is Spartacus. Insurrection is a thing of the spirit, revolt is a thing of the stomach.-Victor Hugo

(1) Ending an Era: the Huang Chao Rebellion of the Late Tang Adam Fong
(2) Besieged in Peking: the Story of the 1900 Boxer Rising Diana Preston
(3) Caucasus: Mountain Men and Holy Wars Nicholas Griffin 
(4) A Dirty War, Putin's Russia and A Russian Diary Anna Politkovskaya

In Memory of Rita MacNeil 1944-2013

  Taken from her website:

Sydney, NS (April 17, 2013) It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Cape Breton’s first lady of song, Rita MacNeil. Rita died last evening (April 16th) from complications following surgery, at the age of 68.

A gentle soul with a heart of gold and the voice of an angel, Rita’s music spoke of her love of home and family, the courage to rise above life’s challenges and the hardworking men and women that tie this country together. “Working Man”, “Flying on Your Own”, Reason to Believe”, “I’ll Accept The Rose Tonight” and “Home I’ll Be”, are just a few of the songs that endeared Rita to fans in Canada, the U.K and Australia.

Born in Big Pond, Cape Breton on May 28th, 1944 to Neil and Catherine (Rene) MacNeil, Rita was one of eight children. It wasn’t an easy life, as depicted in her autobiography “On A Personal Note”(released in 1998), but with determination and a passion for writing songs and singing, Rita pushed beyond a profound shyness and found her way to a stage at Expo 86 in Vancouver. It was here that the world discovered Rita MacNeil.

In 1987 she won her first Juno Award for Most Promising Female Vocalist. She was 42. “Flying on Your Own” followed in 1987 and in 1989, her Juno performance with Cape Breton’s Men of the Deeps of “Working Man”, brought the house down.

Over the course of her career, Rita recorded more than 24 albums which sold in the millions. She won 3 Juno’s, as well as numerous East Coast Music Awards, Country Music Awards, and a Gemini for her CBC variety show 'Rita & Friends' that ran from 1994 to 1997. She was a Member of the Order of Canada, was awarded the Order of Nova Scotia and is the recipient of five honorary doctorates. In 1986 she opened up Rita’s Tea Room in her hometown of Big Pond, which in the past few years enjoyed frequent visits from Rita herself.

Rita’s quick wit and sly sense of humour was a hallmark of her live shows and was in evidence when she was featured in an episode of the Trailer Park Boys.

A mother to Laura (Dana) and Wade (Lori), a grandmother, a dear friend, and a sister, Rita was a Canadian icon – a woman who had a dream that became a reality - who brought joy and inspiration to so many.

And you never let the hard times

Take away your soul

And you stopped the tears from falling

As you watched the young ones go

You’re as peaceful as a clear day

You’re as rugged as the seas

I caress you, oh, Cape Breton, in my dreams

Home I’ll Be – Rita MacNeil

“Music is timeless and ageless,” noted the legendary singer, “the passion I feel for what I do can’t be put aside with a number and a year. It is a big part of my life – the concerts, the touring, the letters and the joy the audience gives back to me when the music touches a chord with them.” Rita MacNeil

Don’t Mess With Children

A little girl was talking to her teacher about whales.
The teacher said it was physically impossible for a whale to swallow a human because even though it was a very large mammal its throat was very small.
The little girl stated that Jonah was swallowed by a whale.
Irritated, the teacher reiterated that a whale could not swallow a human; it was physically impossible.
The little girl said, 'When I get to heaven I will ask Jonah'.
The teacher asked, 'What if Jonah went to hell?'
The little girl replied, 'Then you ask him'.

A Kindergarten teacher was observing her classroom of children while they were drawing. She would occasionally walk around to see each child's work.
As she got to one little girl who was working diligently, she asked what the drawing was.
The girl replied, 'I'm drawing God.'
The teacher paused and said, 'But no one knows what God looks like'.
Without missing a beat, or looking up from her drawing, the girl replied, 'They will in a minute'.

A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds.
After explaining the commandment to 'honor' thy Father and thy Mother, she asked, 'Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?'
One little boy (the oldest of a family) answered, 'Thou shalt not kill.'

One day a little girl was sitting and watching her mother do the dishes at the kitchen sink. She suddenly noticed that her mother had several strands of white hair sticking out in contrast on her brunette head.
She looked at her mother and inquisitively asked, 'Why are some of your hairs white, Mom?'
Her mother replied, 'Well, every time that you do something wrong and make me cry or unhappy, one of my hairs turns white.'
The little girl thought about this revelation for a while and then said, 'Mummy, how come ALL of grandma's hairs are white?'

The children had all been photographed, and the teacher was trying to persuade them each to buy a copy of the group picture.
'Just think how nice it will be to look at it when you are all grown up and say, 'There's Jennifer, she's a lawyer,' or 'That's Michael, He's a doctor.'
A small voice at the back of the room rang out, 'And there's the teacher, she's dead.'

A teacher was giving a lesson on the circulation of the blood. Trying to make the matter clearer, she said, 'Now, class, if I stood on my head, the blood, as you know, would run into it, and I would turn red in the face.' 'Yes,' the class said.
'Then why is it that while I am standing upright in the ordinary position the blood doesn't run into my feet?' A little fellow shouted, 'Cause your feet ain't empty'.

The children were lined up in the cafeteria of a Catholic elementary school for lunch. At the head of the table was a large pile of apples.. The nun made a note, and posted on the apple tray: 'Take only ONE. God is watching.'
Moving further along the lunch line, at the other end of the table was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies. A child had written a note, 'Take all you want. God is watching the apples'. 

Kitten Update

Finally sent off a not bad draft of a consulting report I have been working on for months.  Maybe now I can have enough energy at day's end to blog again.  I call it War and Peace though Tanya reminded me W&P is over 1000 pages while my report is only about 140 with over 100 tables and 60 odd charts.  Trend analysis is such fun.  Client is happy so far and already I have thought of a few more revisions to make.  Poems, love affairs and consulting reports are never finished, merely abandoned.

The kittens were a month old yesterday.  The little black kitten figured out how to climb in and out of their bed last Thursday and went exploring every chance she got.  She is littlest, but not from lack of food, as she is as aggressive as any of them.  And smarter and braver.

Black and white kitten climbed out the next day or fell out on his head more like and fell back in again.  So graceful.  By Saturday both of them were jumping in and out.  B&W is quite sturdy and has learned how to run already.

The two tiger (three colour) kittens (is this 'tortoise shell' pattern?) never had the gumption to climb out until Sunday morning.  They looked over the edge lots but wouldn't make the leap. But they loved to run around inside their big bed and wrestle each other.  All four of them are into the wrestling stage now.  Black kitty will tackle both tiger kittens at the same time.

Sunday noon, we moved them from the bedroom to the back room.  It is a 6'x14' room with a door from the kitchen in one wall and one into the garage on one end and the passageway to the out-building at the other. It has several pantry cupboards  and tables and is where the litter box and feeding dishes are located at opposite ends of the room.

Krasotka wasn't pleased but the kittens love it.  Lots of places to explore and if we aren't careful that includes the kitchen.  We wanted them near the food dish so they would learn to eat and near the litter box so they would learn to...never mind.

Tanya fed Krasotka some canned cat food on a saucer and the little black kitten was right in there eating along with her.  She must have figured it was not very good as she has shown no interest in it since.  But they are curious and it won't be long before they all go to investigate what their mother is doing.

Krasotka still goes to the attic every day to "hunt birds and mice" get away from her children.  She sometimes forgets she is a mother with responsibilities and thinks she is just a young cat.  She went out one night at 10:00 pm and wasn't home by midnight.  At 1:00 am she banged on the window to be let in. At least she was sober.

Many Ideas, Many Thanks

My thanks to those who emailed, Face Booked and commented on my last blog post requesting ideas:

I liked several of them...well, OK, all of them...

Outdoor School when the kids were in Grade 7 and 8 was a good time and I have some good pictures if I can find them.  It was predigital in those days.

Cows, or as MayB would say ABC "Another Bloody Cow".  There are lots of interesting things to say about cows and I have pictures from several countries, possibly even Iran.

More on places I have visited c/w pictures - that got a couple of votes and I have several ideas: such as Traditional felt-making in Mongolia

Remembering the Farm - my kids like that.  I am not close enough to BS them in person so blogging is next best.  I can blog about bad winters, bad cows and good horses, for example.

Everyday life in Ukraine (not just Tanya's and mine) got several votes.  Why the roads are bad; dealing with the reality of poverty in the economy; the insanity of traffic laws; traditional foods and food traditions...

Random idea generating - other blogs, dictionary etc.  Worth a try

GMOs.  This is close to getting into the rant area but if I can avoid that, I do have several subjects on which I may have an opinion if pushed hard enough.

More Signs of the Times

Sign over a Gynecologist's Office:

"Dr. Jones, at your cervix."

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In a Podiatrist's office:

"Time wounds all heels."

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On a Septic Tank Truck:

Yesterday's Meals on Wheels

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At an Optometrist's Office:

"If you don't see what you're looking for, you've come to the right place."

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On a Plumber's truck:

"We repair what your husband fixed."

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On another Plumber's truck:

"Don't sleep with a drip. Call your plumber."

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At a Tire Shop

"Invite us to your next blowout."

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At a Towing company:

"We don't charge an arm and a leg. We want tows."

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On an Electrician's truck:

"Let us remove your shorts."

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In a Non-smoking Area:

"If we see smoke, we will assume you are on fire and take appropriate action."

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On ao Maternity Room door:

"Push. Push. Push."

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At a Car Dealership:

"The best way to get back on your feet - miss a car payment."

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Outside a Muffler Shop:

"No appointment necessary.  We hear you coming."

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In a Veterinarian's waiting room:

"Be back in 5 minutes. Sit! Stay!"

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At the Electric Company

"We would be delighted if you send in your payment.

However, if you don't, you will be."

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In a Restaurant window:

"Don't stand there and be hungry; come on in and get fed up."

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In the front yard of a Funeral Home:

"Drive carefully. We'll wait."

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At a Propane Filling Station:

"Thank heaven for little grills."

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At a RADIATOR SHOP:

"Best place in town to take a leak."

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On another Septic Tank Truck:

"Caution - This Truck is full of Political Promises"

from my friend Robert

I need ideas

My brain is running low on ideas to keep this thing running.  Not much happening day to day that can't be handled in one blog a week, mostly of kittens for the time being anyhow.

No rants about the latest stupidity of  (pick a country), please.  If you need some I can give you a list of e-zines and bloggers.

More travel blogs about places I have been and unusual pictures related to it?

More "Remembering the Farm" trying to recall some things about my youth?

I don't do humour.  Except by accident. Though I do steal from the best and have a marvelous collection of (mostly unpublishable) stuff.

Other ideas?

  

Of Paint and Pussycats

Spring yard work is well underway.  Tanya has the front and side flower beds well in hand.  Spring flowers are coming up all over, including places where she thought she had dug up all the bulbs last summer.  A few small blue snowdrops are already blooming.  And violets.  They grow everywhere.  Tough as nails.  Grow out of cracks in the sidewalk even.  Must be a different breed than the ones that grow indoors and just look for an excuse to die.

I raked under the apple trees and hauled the last of the rotten apples to the "compost" pile. Just the back yard left.  Well manicured lawns are not a big thing here as they cost money to maintain while flowers take only work. We bought some grass seed a couple years back and spread it in the back yard.  Slender wheat bunch grass as it turned out.  But better than weeds.

The guy who was supposed to come and work the kitchen garden over may have found his way to a bottle of vodka but he didn't find his way here.  Maybe next week.

Tanya bought 8 litres of light grey paint for $40 and today she grabbed a wallpaper paste brush and painted ALL the masonry trim around the house.  I did it last time, five years ago and it took me a week.  Rome wasn't built in a day but Tanya wasn't in charge.  She may have added some water to the paint as it seemed to go a long way.  I only hope she doesn't have to repaint for all her thinning.  At least this time she didn't spill any down her front so I didn't have to help her make a clean breast of it.

The kittens continue to grow and are becoming a drain on their mother.  We noticed today, she got them to sleep and then she slept outside their bed on the carpet to get away from them.  One little guy has an infected eye so we are treating it with tetracycline ointment.  The first time we took all the kittens to the kitchen and washed their eyes with a disinfectant.  Krasotka just stayed in their bed and waited until we brought them back.  Next time we took only two kittens and she came with us to keep an eye on them.  Today Tanya just brought the one to treat and the cat jumped on the counter, grabbed the kitten out of Tanya's hands and took off for the bedroom with it.

They are getting quite playful, though still a little wobbly on their legs. They will be climbing out of their bed tomorrow I am sure.

Little grey kitty is most brave

B&W kitty climbed back in with help from his mother.

Dumb Things TEApublicans Have Said

Found this and didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
The first list is from here. The second one from a comment below the article.

1. “People now don’t die from prostate cancer, breast cancer and some of the other things.”  – Chris Collins, New York GOP State Rep.
2. “You would be giving off more CO2 if you are riding a bike than driving in a car.”  – Ed Orcutt, Washington GOP State Rep., stating that bicycles pollute the environment more than cars do.
3. “Oh, no, we’re not going to have any casualties.”  – George W. Bush discussing the Iraq war with Christian Coalition founder Pat Robertson in 2003, as quoted by Robertson.
4. “So Miss Fluke, and the rest of you Feminazis, here’s the deal. If we are going to pay for your contraceptives, and thus pay for you to have sex. We want something for it. We want you post the videos online so we can all watch.”  – Rush Limbaugh
5. “I think the right approach is to accept this horribly created — in the sense of rape — but nevertheless a gift in a very broken way, the gift of human life, and accept what God has given to you… rape victims should make the best of a bad situation.” – Rick Santorum
6. “If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways of shutting that whole thing down.”  -Todd Akin
7. “When a physician removes a child from a woman, that is the largest organ in a body. That’s a big thing. That’s a big surgery. You don’t have any other organs in your body that are bigger than that.”  – Mary Sue McClurkin, Alabama GOP State Rep.
8. “To redefine marriage is discriminatory towards those who hold the sincerely held religious belief that it is a sacred institution between a man & a woman.”  – Illinois state Sen. Kyle McCarter (R), in response to the state Senate approving same-sex marriage in Illinois.
9. “I struggled with it myself for a long time, but I came to realize life is that gift from God. I think that even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something that God intended to happen.”  – Richard Mourdock, Indiana GOP U.S. Senate candidate.
10. “There is no one who doesn't have health care in America. No one. Now, they may end up going to the emergency room. There are better ways to deal with people that need health care than this massive new program.”  – Phil Bryant, Republican governor of Mississippi.
11. ”Feminism was established so as to allow unattractive women easier access to the mainstream of society.”-Rush Limbaugh
12. “[America has to import so many workers because] for the last 35 years we have aborted more than a million people who would have been in our workforce.”  – Mike Huckabee
13. ”The feminist agenda is not about equal rights for women. It is about a socialist, anti-family political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians.”  – Pat Robertson
14. “He is purple – the gay-pride color, and his antenna is shaped like a triangle – the gay pride symbol.”  – Jerry Falwell’s warning to parents that Tinky Winky of Teletubbies, may be gay.
15. “Some girls, they rape so easy”  – Roger Rivard, Wisconsin GOP State Rep.

1. “If this were a dictatorship, it’d be a heck of alot easier, just so long as I’m the dictator.” ~ George W. Bush
2. ”We need to uptick our image with everyone, including one-armed midgets.” ~ Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele.
3. “When the President does it that means that it’s not illegal.” ~ Richard M. Nixon
4. “Exercise freaks … are the ones putting stress on the health care system.” ~ Rush Limbaugh
5. ”Feminism was established so as to allow unattractive women easier access to the mainstream of society.” ~ Rush Limbaugh
6. “Rarely is the questioned asked: Is our children learning?” (sic) ~ George W. Bush
7. “Good Christians, like slaves and soldiers, ask no questions.” ~ Jerry Falwell
8. “As yesterday’s positive report card shows, childrens (sic) do learn when standards are high and results are measured.” ~ George W. Bush
9. “Grown men should not be having sex with prostitutes unless they are married to them.” ~ Jerry Falwell
10. “Facts are stupid things.” ~ Ronald Reagan
11. “How did [the Holocaust] happen? Because God allowed it to happen… because God said, ‘My top priority for the Jewish people is to get them to come back to the land of Israel.’” ~ Rev. John Hage
12. “Our guys are more macho than their straights.” ~ Ann Coulter, commenting in 2005 on Jeff Gannon, the conservative plant in the White House press corps who turned out to be a male escort
13. “This foreign policy stuff is a little frustrating.” ~ George W. Bush
14. “Trees cause more pollution than automobiles.” ~ Ronald Reagan
15. “[America has to import so many workers because] for the last 35 years we have aborted more than a million people who would have been in our workforce.” ~ Mike Huckabee
16. ”I even accept for the sake of argument that sexual orgies eliminate social tensions and ought to be encouraged.” ~ Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia
17. “I would not say that the future is necessarily less predictable than the past. I think the past was not predictable when it started.” ~ Donald Rumsfeld
18. “My grandmother was not a highly educated woman, but she told me as a small child to quit feeding stray animals. You know why? Because they breed. You're facilitating the problem if you give an animal or a person ample food supply. They will reproduce, especially ones that don’t think too much further than that. And so… what youve got to do is you've got to curtail that type of behavior. They don’t know any better.” ~ Andre Bauer
19. ”Well, I learned a lot….I went down to (Latin America) to find out from them and (learn) their views. You’d be surprised. They’re all individual countries.” ~ Ronald Reagan
20. “We have a lot of work to do. It’s a very hard struggle, particularly given the situation on the Iraq-Pakistan border.” ~ John McCain (the countries share no common border)
21. “The only way to reduce the number of nuclear weapons is to use them.” ~ Rush Limbaugh
22. ”Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on you.” ~ Rep. Virginia Foxx
23. “I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully.” ~ George W. Bush
24. What I don’t know is what the unexpected might be.” ~ John McCain
25. I think gay marriage is something that should be between a man and a woman” — Arnold Schwarzenegger
26. ”The feminist agenda is not about equal rights for women. It is about a socialist, anti-family political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians.” ~ Pat Robertson
27. “President Washington, President Lincoln, President Wilson, President Roosevelt have all authorized electronic surveillance on a far broader scale.”~ Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez, testifying before Congress
28. “Juarez is reported to be the most dangerous city in America.” ~ Rick Perry
29. “You can always follow me on Tweeter.” ~ Rick Perry
30. “ Don't blame Wall Street, don't blame the big banks, if you don't have a job and you're not rich, blame yourself!” ~ Herman Cain
31. “From time to time there are going to be things that occur that are acts of God that cannot be prevented.” ~ Rick Perry, on the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, in 2010
32. “I had other priorities in the sixties than military service.” ~ Dick Cheney on his five draft deferments
33. “The Holocaust was an obscene period in our nation’s history. I mean in this century’s history. But I didn't live in this century.” ~ Vice President Dan Quayle
34. “The more toppings a man has on his pizza, I believe the more manly he is. A manly man don’t want it piled high with vegetables! He would call that a sissy pizza.” ~ Herman Cain
35. “I will tell you that I had a mother last night come up to me here in Tampa, Florida, after the debate. She told me that her little daughter took that vaccine, that injection, and she suffered from mental retardation thereafter.” ~ Michele Bachmann on the HPV vaccine. (It doesn't cause mental retardation.)
36. “These are not bad people. All they are concerned about is to see that their sweet little girls are not required to sit in school alongside some big overgrown Negroes.” ~ President Eisenhower commenting on racial segregation after the Brown vs. Board of Education decision.
37. “This president, I think, has exposed himself over and over again as a guy who has a deep-seated hatred for white people or the white culture….I’m not saying he doesn't like white people, I’m saying he has a problem. This guy is, I believe, a racist.” ~ Glenn Beck
38. “I’ll be long gone before some smart person ever figures out what happened inside this Oval Office.” ~ George W.Bush
39. “I feel the best way to ensure Americans’ freedom is to tighten restrictions on that freedom in any way possible. Only through wiretaps, illegal searches and seizures, unfettered government intrusion, a controlled media and a complete crackdown on free speech can we ensure the liberties of all people.” ~ Attorney General John Ashcroft
40. “What a terrible thing to have lost one’s mind. Or not to have a mind at all. How true that is.” ~ Vice President Dan Quayle
41. “Michele Bachmann… I'm not going to say it. I’m not going to say it…. Tutti-frutti. I know I'm going to get in trouble!” ~ Herman Cain on the different flavors of ice cream to which he'd compare his primary competitors.
42. “When I see a 9/11 victim family on television, or whatever, I’m just like, ‘Oh shut up’ I’m so sick of them because they’re always complaining.” ~ Glenn Beck
43. ”I find it interesting that it was back in the 1970s that the swine flu broke out under another, then under another Democrat president, Jimmy Carter. I’m not blaming this on President Obama, I just think it’s an interesting coincidence.” ~ Rep. Michele Bachmann
44. “I love California; I practically grew up in Phoenix.” ~ Dan Quayle
45. “He is purple – the gay-pride color, and his antenna is shaped like a triangle – the gay pride symbol.” ~ Jerry Falwell’s warning to parents that “Tinky Winky of Teletubbies, may be gay
46. “The greatest threat to America is not necessarily a recession or even another terrorist attack. The greatest threat to America is a liberal media bias.” ~ Rep. Lamar Smith
47. “Carbon dioxide is portrayed as harmful. But there isn't even one study that can be produced that shows that carbon dioxide is a harmful gas.” ~ Rep. Michele Bachmann
48. “If Lincoln were alive today, he'd be turning over in his grave. ~ Gerald Ford (on Nixon and Watergate)
49. “ Isn't that the ultimate homeland security, standing up and defending marriage?” ~ Rick Santorum
50. “I should tell my story. I'm also unemployed.” ~ Mitt Romney
51. “I saw the young man over there with eggs Benedict, with hollandaise sauce. And I was going to suggest to you that you serve your eggs with hollandaise sauce in hubcaps. Because there’s no plates like chrome for the hollandaise.” ~ Mitt Romney
52. “I’m ready for the ‘gotcha’ questions and they’re already starting to come. And when they ask me who is the president of Ubeki-beki-beki-beki-stan-stan I’m going to say, you know, I don’t know. Do you know?” ~ Herman Cain
53. “They [China] have indicated that they’re trying to develop nuclear capability and they want to develop more aircraft carriers like we have. So yes, we have to consider them a military threat.” ~ Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain, warning that China could develop nuclear weapons. (They developed them in 1964.)
54. “If you've seen one city slum, you've seen them all.” ~ Spiro Agnew
55. “Capital punishment is our way of demonstrating the sanctity of life.”” ~ Orrin Hatch
56. “I went to a number of women’s groups and said: ‘Can you help us find folks,’ and they brought us whole binders full of women.” ~ Mitt Romney
57. “We have a president, who I think is a nice guy, but he spent too much time at Harvard, perhaps.” ~ Mitt Romney
58. “We need a leader, not a reader.” ~ Herman Cain
59. “How do you say ‘delicious’ in Cuban?” ~ Herman Cain
60. ”A poet once said, ‘Life can be a challenge, life can seem impossible, but it’s never easy when there’s so much on the line.’” ~ Herman Cain, using the theme song of the Pokemon movie in the closing statement of the first GOP debate in 2012

Krasotka's Kittens

Krasotka (Babe) was Roman's cat.  She came to live with us January 2nd, much to the delight of Kuchma who never met a female cat he didn't like.  Two weeks later she was pregnant and her four kittens are two weeks old today.

She likes to look out the window in my office

We made a bed for her in the closet under the stairs

Four kittens: two tiger, one black and white and one black and grey

Here they are at six days old

Today we put them on the floor for a few minutes to crawl around

Their legs are not very strong yet but they were interested in their surroundings

Krasotka watches from their bed box

The Hunter

When the babies are asleep and she needs a break, Krasotka will often come upstairs.  We have a large attic over the garage which both cats enjoy exploring because there are mice there once in awhile, so I let her in if she asks.   The roof/ceiling needs repairs as there are two holes under the corrugated panelling through which about once or twice a year a small bird will enter and need to be rescued.  Krasotka will sit motionless on that ledge by those holes for an hour or more, listening to the birds hopping and chirping on the roof just above her head. She is certain that if she waits, a bird will enter through the hole.  When I get tired of waiting for her I grab her and haul her out of there growling at me for ruining her hunting.