Today is Superman's Birthday! Feb. 29th

February 29 is traditionally the day we celebrate Superman's birthday.

Why February 29? DC Comics (who create and publish Superman comics) Editor Julie Schwartz declared that Superman's birthday was on February 29th in a number of letter pages during the Silver Age. Supposedly this is how Superman stays looking so, after all he only has a birthday every four years!

In 1985's "Superman Annual #11" his birthdate is mentioned as being February 29 in an actual story. While "Time" magazine published a story in 1988 that also stated this date as being Superman's birthday.

Oddly enough, Clark Kent celebrates his birthday on a completely different day. Clark's celebrates his birthday on the day Jonathan and Martha Kent pulled him from the Kryptonian rocketship that landed in Smallville, Kansas. This was established in "Action Comics #241" in 1958, and was specified in "Action Comics #263" in 1973 as being celebrated on June 18th.

CONTENT courtesy of the Superman Homepage: http://www.supermanhomepage.com/news.php?readmore=10982

ARTICLE: More Americans believe in climate change: poll

People are Getting Educated!
ARTICLE: More Americans believe in climate change: poll
AFP - Nearly two-thirds of Americans believe that climate change is real -- the highest level in two years -- as the public trusted its own observations of rising temperatures, a poll said Tuesday. The growing acceptance of global warming comes despite fierce political division over the issue in the world's largest economy, with proposals to mandate cuts on carbon emissions failing in Congress.
Sixty-two percent of Americans agree that there is solid evidence that the Earth's average temperature has been getting warmer over the past four decades, according to the survey by the University of Michigan's Gerald Ford School of Public Policy and the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion. FULL STORY: http://www.france24.com/en/20120229-more-americans-believe-climate-change-poll?ns_campaign=editorial&ns_source=RSS_public&ns_mchannel=RSS&ns_fee=0&ns_linkname=20120229_more_americans_believe_climate_change_poll
WANT PROOF? check NASA's research at www.nasa.gov/earth 
- Here's a research story recently issued:

NASA Finds 2011 Ninth-Warmest Year on Record

01.19.12

The global average surface temperature in 2011 was the ninth warmest since 1880, according to NASA scientists. The finding continues a trend in which nine of the 10 warmest years in the modern meteorological record have occurred since the year 2000. FULL STORY/IMAGES:http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/2011-temps.html

While average global temperature will still fluctuate from year to year, scientists focus on the decadal trend. Nine of the 10 warmest years since 1880 have occurred since the year 2000, as the Earth has experienced sustained higher temperatures than in any decade during the 20th century. As greenhouse gas emissions and atmospheric carbon dioxide levels continue to rise, scientists expect the long-term temperature increase to continue as well. (Data source: NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies. Image credit: NASA Earth Observatory, Robert Simmon)

FACT CHECK: Who Made the Most Political Recess Appointments?

Here's another interesting political fact for people who think that President Obama has the corner of the market on making recess appointments. If you don't believe it, fact check it and let me know- I'll print it.
President Obama and President Clinton made a total of 26 Recess Appointments. President Reagan ALONE made 30 Recess Appointments. Add that with Bush Senior's19 Appointments, and the younger Bush's 22 recess appointments. Since 1980, Republicans made 51 Recess Appointments, Democrats made 26.

To Conservatives Screeching About Obama's Recess Appointments:

What Texting Did on This Highway

Tom gets photos every week at work of "Unsafe Act of the Week." This one was just titled, "Are you still texting?" - Apparently this truck driver was sending a text message while driving on the fast lane of this highway (not sure of the location). Put down the cell phone!

News Stories You May Not Have Heard

Here are some news stories that you may or may not have heard, but I'm sure you'll find interesting or appalling. Take your pick.

GOP Rep Says “Killing a Couple” of Democrats Only Way To Pass Ryan Budget 

OKLAHOMA CITY — An Oklahoma congressman apologized on Friday for suggesting that "killing a couple" of U.S. senators may be the only way to get a budget passed through Congress.U.S. Rep. John Sullivan made the comments Wednesday during a town hall meeting in Bixby. When asked about federal spending, the Tulsa Republican expressed his frustration with the Senate for its failure to approve a budget. "I'd love to get them to vote for it," Sullivan said at the event. "Boy, I'd love that, you know. But other than me going over there with a gun and pointing it to their head and maybe killing a couple of `em, I don't think they're going to listen unless they get beat." The congressman's spokesperson Vaughn Jennings later said that "the congressman offers his sincere apologies to anyone he offended and for using a poor choice of words to make his point – which was that Senate Democrats are refusing to pass a budget or even vote on the 28 House-passed jobs bills." SOURCE: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/24/john-sullivan-gun-comments_n_1299751.html

Virginia Shelves Personhood

In a 24-14 vote the Virginia Senate shelved H.B.1, the state’s personhood bill, sending it back to committee to be taken up again in 2013. The bill had been expected to pass the full Senate and be signed by Gov. Bob McDonnell (R). The House had already passed its version.Virginia was the third state this year to have a personhood measure pass at least one chamber, behind North Dakota and Alabama.
It was the second victory for women’s health in as many days in the state as Republicans walked back their transvaginal ultrasound bill just a smidge. But lets be clear, these victories, as satisfying as they are, pale in the continued assault on women’s rights. Virginia Republicans still may pass an ultrasound law, and they continue to attack poor women’s health care. And for the victory in Virginia comes the sobering reminder that mandatory transvaginal ultrasounds are already law in Texas (and really any state covered by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, so add Louisiana and Mississippi to that list).  States like Pennsylvania and Illinois are pushing similar measures. The fight is far from over.  Read more: http://www.care2.com/causes/virginia-shelves-personhood.html#ixzz1nIzILp6r/ and http://leesburg.patch.com

Texas taking health care away from 130,000 poor women to punish Planned Parenthood
Texas Gov. Rick Perry's imagined war with the federal government unfortunately has real casualties—poor women (as usual). In this instance, the Texas government has decide to write Planned Parenthood out of the state's Women's Health Program, a Medicaid-waiver program providing basic health and family planning services to low-income and uninsured women who would not otherwise be eligible for Medicaid unless pregnant. The Department of Health and Human Services warned the state that this rule would not meet requirements for funding, because it violates the Social Security Act. They informed the state that some $40 million in funding would be pulled if Planned Parenthood, which provides 44 percent of the program’s services, was blacklisted. putting $40 million in federal funding at risk. SOURCE: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/02/24/1067970/-Texas-taking-health-care-away-from-130-000-poor-women-to-punish-Planned-Parenthood- 

Virginia Senate Approves Anti-Gay Adoption Bill
(They just can't seem to stop attacking gay people and women in Virginia, can they?)
By Associated Press, Published: February 21
RICHMOND, Va. — Private adoption agencies could deny placing children with prospective parents who are gay under a bill that received final approval in the Virginia General Assembly on Tuesday.The Senate voted 22-18 to pass the bill and send it to Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell, who has said he will sign it. Virginia will become just the second state with such a law, which proponents said was modeled after North Dakota’s statute. The legislation allows agencies to deny placements that conflict with their moral or religious beliefs, including opposition to homosexuality. SOURCE: Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/bill-allowing-discrimination-by-private-adoption-agencies-sent-to-va-governor/2012/02/21/gIQArkGURR_story.html

Why Are Young People Leaving Evangelical Christianity?

But why? The Barna Group has identified six major factors that are driving young people away from religion:

1. Young adults and teens see their churches as overprotective, saying “Christians demonize everything outside of the church,” and that their churches ignore “the problems of the real world.”
2. Many find their connection to Christianity to be shallow, saying that church is boring, or that their faith “is not relevant” to their career or interests. 20% even stated that God seemed to be missing from their church experiences.
3. Reason number three is a big one – many young adults feel a strong conflict between their religion and science. A full quarter of those surveyed believe “Christianity is anti-science,” and 23% have become frustrated with debating creationism vs. evolution. Three out of ten believe that their churches are out of step with the modern, scientific world. The research further goes to show that young Christians interested in science are struggling to reconcile their religious beliefs with their profession.
4. Many also see their church’s views on sexuality as simplistic and judgmental. Most young Christians are just as sexually active as their non-Christian peers, despite holding more conservative attitudes regarding sexuality.

Read more: http://www.care2.com/causes/why-are-young-people-leaving-evangelical-christianity.html#ixzz1nIzwmEEH

Play time for the dogs!

Franklin loves tearing into toys

Dolly removing stuffing from a new toy

Sprite just watches. With 6 teeth left, he doesn't play with toys

Disproving Another Stupid Email Chain: The 3.8% Real Estate Tax /Health Care

 There's a new LIE going around on E-Mail. My mother-in-law got it and sent it to me to investigate.
Here's the LIE: The National Health Care Law that goes into effect in 2013 " Imposes a 3.8 percent tax on home sales and other real estate transactions. Middle-income people must pay the full tax even if they are "rich" for only one day — the day they sell their house and buy a new one.   "

WRONG!!! - The truth is, is that the TAX is not for home buyers OR on Real-Estate, it's a "3.8% transaction tax on profits over the capital gains threshold" .
   Whomever wrote that email didn't read and understand the law. IDIOTS.
  - Basically, it's a higher tax on RICH PEOPLE.
So, no one making under $250k will likely pay it, unless they make megabucks on investments and breach the Capital Gains Income threshold allowed by tax law. 
  If people would  take a couple of minutes to EDUCATE themselves instead of blindly following others, then they would learn the truth and not be fooled into voting for someone.  

HERE'S THE EXPLANATION:

This is a complicated section of a complicated piece of legislation, and the 3.8% Medicare tax has been frequently misreported as amounting to a 3.8% "sales tax" on all real estate transactions. This is incorrect: the Medicare tax is not a sales tax, nor does it apply to all real estate transactions; it is a tax on investment income (income which may or not derive from the sale of property) for persons who earn more than the amounts specified in the bill: As Sara Orrange, Government affairs director of the Spokane Association of Realtors noted in response to a repetition of the "sales tax" rumor in the Spokane Spokesman-Review:

In his recent guest column regarding the impact of the health care bill, Paul Guppy of the Washington Policy Center claimed that a 3.8 percent tax on all home sales was a part of the recently passed legislation. This is inaccurate and needs to be corrected. The truth about the bill is that if you sell your home for a profit above the capital gains threshold of $250,000 per individual or $500,000 per couple then you would be required to pay the additional 3.8 percent tax on any gain realized over this threshold.

FULL EXPLANATION: http://www.snopes.com/politics/taxes/realestate.asp

TRUTH: MIXTURE OF TRUE AND FALSE INFORMATION:

FALSE: Health care legislation imposes a 3.8% tax on all home sales.

TRUE: Health care legislation imposes a 3.8% transaction tax on profits over the capital gains threshold.

A Political Cartoon for you

Here's a political cartoon from an interesting blog: J. Miller Rampant! http://jamillerrampant.blogspot.com/
I believe the source is the Daily Kos

FACT CHECK: Where the Deficit Actually Came From

Here's a look at where the deficit came from- and the sources are legitimate. 

From the Ghost Blog: What is an Orb?

Tom and Rob are official investigators in the Inspired Ghost Trackers group, and we've been on several investigations over the last year. We recently investigated an old mill turned art colony. In some photos, orbs appeared, which led me (Rob) to write the following blog on my ghost book blog:

What is an Orb?

Recently a friend from Florida sent me a photo of an orb that appeared in a photo taken outside his house. What's interesting is that he's had paranormal activity in his house -including footsteps, movement of doors and objects, and he's seen shadow figures. So, I sent the photo to the Inspired Ghost Trackers of Maryland to analyze it.
   That leads me to this week's blog: What is an orb? 
Wikipedia says: Orb (optics), an unexpected, often circular photographic artifact
- I've noticed orbs appear in photos whenever I'm sensing a ghost. Orbs are a simple form of light, and may or may not be the entity.
  There were several instances when orbs have appeared in photos when I sense a ghost nearby. In Riversdale Mansion, Riverdale, Md. I sensed a woman and a little girl in a large room. At the time, one of the members from Inspired Ghost Trackers was taking photos, and in one of them, several orbs appeared in front of a window.
  During a private investigation, I sensed a lot of emotional energy and distress in a furnace room that turned out to be where two women were murdered. In a follow-up investigation days later, an orb appeared with the face of a woman behind it! (It will be in my 2nd book coming later in 2012 called "Lessons Learned from the Dead.").
   So, what do others say about orbs? 

Orbs appear in Riversdale Mansion room when I sensed 2 ghosts.

Dave Juliano of Shadowland.net, a ghost hunter, defines an Orb this way: The orb is the energy being transferred from a source (i.e. powerlines, heat energy, batteries, people, etc) to the spirit so they can manifest.   This may not even be a conscious thing the spirit is doing, just a natural way they get their energy.  This would explain why the orbs are round balls.  According to the laws of Physics energy being transferring like that would assume is natural shape of a sphere.   This theory can also be tied into the EMF readings we get during spirit activity. Source: http://theshadowlands.net/ghost/orbs.htm
   Dave brings up a good point about Camera Processing errors: The digital cameras can't have film-processing errors.  I am aware that some people feel that the orbs on a digital camera are an error in the digital processing of the image.  When that error does occur in digital photos, the objects tend to be square in nature, not round and they cannot be semi-transparent, the pixel behind would have to be corrupted also.  

Rob Mentioned in "Paranormal Underground" Magazine

I'm (Rob) mentioned in an Article about INSPIRED GHOST TRACKERS in this Month's Issue of Paranormal Underground Magazine. I'm honored to belong to INSPIRED GHOST TRACKERS. Check it out, The mag. charges $1.00 for an on-line look at the magazine and it's worth the download. There's a lot of great stuff in the magazine. -  

December 2011 Paranormal Underground Magazine

 http://www.paranormalunderground.net/site/

To order printed copies of this issue of Paranormal Underground, visit http://paranormalund...nd.magcloud.com.
To view Paranormal Underground Magazine's archived issues, visit http://www.paranormalunderground.netcategory/magazine-archive.

PHOTO FAIL: Not following Instructions Properly

A new fuel tanker arrives on location somewhere in the Middle East.

The HSE manager tells the Pakistani fleet supervisor to ensure that the tanker is clearly labeled “Diesel Fuel” and “No Smoking” in Arabic.This is what he got…

(and, they even mis-spelled "Arabic" once!) :)

Photos: Another Vet Visit

Dolly watching Franklin get examined

Franklin the Dachshund had to get a check up to see how he was healing from the extraction of a split molar, and the vet said he's doing great. He's got a great appetite (what Dachshund doesn't?), squirrel chasing, playing and sleeping. Back to normal!  Here are two pictures from taking him

Franklin waiting for the vet to check his mouth.

to see the vet for the check-up.
Dolly came along, too, as she always does for support. Sprite stayed home with Daddy
Tom, because Sprite was too tired for all the drama!

Funny Photo: Senior Signs

Our friend Cathy sent this to us- a road of signs to seniors! :)

Santorum: What Does he stand for? - More Madness

Learn More about the Right-wing candidate: Rick Santorum
Last month I posted a blog exposing the story where presidential candidate Rick Santorum and his wife took their dead baby from the hospital (it lived a couple of hours) and brought it home to show their other children.
- Hospitals don't release corpses to people anymore, thankfully. In fact, you can't even take a pulled tooth home. Regardless, showing the corpse of a dead infant to children, mentally and emotionally  scars them for life.(Source: TIME MAGAZINE)

BTW- If you don't believe what I write- take it from fellow Republican Ron Paul on his blog:
http://www.dailypaul.com/204354/the-violent-world-of-rick-santorum-warmongering-fraud-pedophilia-and-more


1) ANTI-SCIENCE/ ANTI-CLIMATE CHANGE: Santorum rejects the mainstream scientific opinion on climate change, having referred to it as "junk science"; he also embraces common threads of the global warming conspiracy theory, believing that global warming is a "beautifully concocted scheme" by the political left and "an excuse for more government control of your life." (Source: http://www.whodoyoulike2012.com/article/Santorum/RickPlatform/12761/)

2) DRILL EVERYWHERE "OIL FOR CENTURIES" : He has stated a policy of "drill everywhere" for oil and that there is "enough oil, coal and natural gas to last for centuries". (Source: http://www.whodoyoulike2012.com/article/Santorum/RickPlatform/12761/)
(BTW- International Energy Agency chief economist, Fatih Birol, claimed that the world's crude oil production peaked back in 2006) 

2) WANTS TO REMOVE GAY MARRIAGE FROM STATES THAT HAVE IT:  If he's elected president, he will sponsor a constitutional amendment which will ban gay couples from getting married anywhere in the country.  How in the world can such hate be written into a person's platform that is running for president?


3) PRO-LIFE/ANTI-ABORTION/ ANTI-CONTRACEPTIVE: He also wants to ban birth control for all women!  Is this what women want??

QUOTE OF THE DAYSantorum super PAC backer Foster Freiss downplaying Rick Santorum's remarks about birth control:"You know, back in my days, they'd use Bayer aspirin for contraceptives. The gals put it between their knees and it wasn't that costly."

Source: WASHINGTON POST: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/foster-freiss-santorum-backer-jokes-about-using-aspirin-as-birth-control/2012/02/16/gIQA5yoAIR_blog.html?hpid=z3&wpisrc=nl_pmpolitics
4) PRIVATIZATION OF SOCIAL SECURITY: He supported partial privatization of Social Security, and following President Bush's re-election, he held forums across Pennsylvania on the topic.(SOURCE: http://www.whodoyoulike2012.com/article/Santorum/RickPlatform/12761/) *NOTE: It would have been broke because of the recession if that had happened*

5)  ANTI-SCIENCE: Wanted to Eliminate the National Weather Service - In April 2005, Santorum  introduced a bill that would prohibit federal meteorologists from competing with companies such as AccuWeather and The Weather Channel, which offer their own forecasts through paid services and free ad-supported Web sites. Santorum argues that the NWS shouldn't "duplicate" the daily weather reports sold in the private sector. Nevermind that these forecasts are based largely on information gathered at taxpayer's expense.  (NOTE: I worked for the Weather Channel and other private forecast companies- all of them use the model runs done by the National Weather Service.) (SOURCE: http://majikthise.typepad.com/majikthise_/2005/04/santorum_vs_nat.html)
 
6) ANTI-SCIENCE: Denies Evolution/Wants "Intelligent Design" Taught in Schools  In 2001, Santorum sought to amend the No Child Left Behind bill to include a provision affecting the teaching of evolution. According to Santorum, his goal was that students studying evolution should hear "competing scientific interpretations of evidence," including "such alternative theories as intelligent design." (SOURCE: http://www.whodoyoulike2012.com/article/Santorum/RickPlatform/12761/)

7) HIS BOOK:  In his 2005 book, It Takes a Family, he advocates for a more family values oriented society centered on monogamous, heterosexual relationships, marriage, and child-raising. He is strongly pro-life and opposes same-sex marriage saying the American public and their elected officials should decide on these "incredibly important moral issues", rather than the Supreme Court, which consists of "nine unelected, unaccountable judges.”

7) WARPED: Equates Pedophiles with Gay People: An interview Santorum gave to the Associated Press erupted in controversy when it outlined his views on homosexuality. The interview, dated April 20, 2003, had asked him his views on the sexual abuse of children by Catholic priests. Santorum said the priests were engaged in "a basic homosexual relationship." 

8) FOREIGN POLICY: Santorum is a supporter of the War on Terror and shares the views of neoconservatives and the Bush Doctrine in regards to foreign policy. He says the war on Terror can be won and is optimistic about the U.S. occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan for the long-term.


9) IRAN NUCLEAR CAPABILITY: In 2012, Santorum criticized Obama for not doing enough to block Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Santorum said that, if elected, he would call upon Iran to open its facilities to international inspection and begin to dismantle them, and that if Iranian leaders did not comply, he would bomb the weapons sites.


11) RON PAUL SAYS SANTORUM WAS CONNECTED TO THE PENN STATE SANDUSKY SCANDAL! (I really don't know if I believe this...)
Ron Paul wrote: Santorum is directly connected with a pedophilia ring headed by ex-football coach Jerry Sandusky. The founder of a Pennsylvania-based charity purporting to aid troubled juveniles, Second Mile, Sandusky used the facility for far different reasons than purported. The orphaned, troubled, and vulnerable children/teens he took in were, in fact, raped. Sandusky himself had sex with at least 8 of them. It gets even worse. As reported originally by Wayne Madsen Sandusky and his vile ones farmed numerous of these children out to be used as sex objects. This was by the mighty and rich, including U.S. Congressmen and Senators. Like Sandusky, Santorum housed these juveniles as pages, making them ultimately available to both the wealthy and Washington, D.C.-based politicians.Yet, what was Santorum's position on Sandusky? He regarded him so highly that he personally gave him an award, the Congressional Angels in Adoption Award.  FULL STORY: http://www.dailypaul.com/204354/the-violent-world-of-rick-santorum-warmongering-fraud-pedophilia-and-more


10) EQUATES GAY PEOPLE WITH HAVING SEX WITH ANIMALS: - From the Associated Press and GOP candidate Ron Paul's Blog!! (http://www.dailypaul.com/204354/the-violent-world-of-rick-santorum-warmongering-fraud-pedophilia-and-more)
“SANTORUM: In every society the definition of marriage has not ever to my knowledge included homosexuality. That’s not to pick on homosexuality. It’s (that is homosexuality) not, you know, man on child, man on dog, or whatever the case may be. It is one thing (only).” A righteous mind doesn’t even go there. Nor does any normal mind, as seen by how the reporter responds:
“AP REPORTER: I’m sorry, I didn’t think I was going to talk about “man on dog” with a United States senator, it’s sort of freaking me out.”
What did he mean? Did he mean that acts other than homosexuality are acceptable, like a man having sex with a female dog or a female with a male dog? He surely implied that while homosexuality is one way only it is different than a man having sex with a child. Regardless, these are not appropriate statements to make in public, especially from a high-ranking public official.

11) NOT VERY CHARITABLE IN COMPARISON:  Romney and Obama vie for title of most charitable; Santorum gave least to charity

SOURCE: Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/romney-and-obama-vie-for-title-of-most-charitable-santorum-gave-least-to-charity/2012/02/16/gIQA3YPyHR_blog.html?wpisrc=nl_pmpolitics

This is NOT a guy that represents America. I sure as hell hope he's not. If he is, there are a lot of sick, twisted people. 

Short Simple Video on Nat'l Weather Service's New "Dual-Pol Radar" - how it benefits YOU

All National Weather Service offices in the U.S. will upgrade their Doppler radar to dual-polarization radar. Here’s why that will provide better forecasts. 
1) With the dual-pol upgrade, meteorologists will be able to transmit and receive information in both horizontally and vertically in the atmosphere.
2) These upgrades will improve the accuracy and identification of precipitation types, precipitation estimates, and even be able to view tornadoes better.
3) These upgrades will continue across the United States and all offices should have the dual polarization technology installed by May 2013.

Credit: EARTH and SKY.com: http://earthsky.org/earth/nws-upgrades-to-dual-polarization-radar-for-better-look-at-precipitation-tornadoes

Happy Valentines Day

Tom sent these to Rob on 2-13-12. Sweet!

Happy Valentine's Day. If you're married or dating you have someone specific that you can celebrate with, but if you're single, divorced or widowed, you may not some ONE person to celebrate the day with, you have many. Valentines Day to me (Rob) has always been about love. Not necessarily being "in love" but loving someone, whether a friend, relative or someone special. Today is a day to let everyone whom you love in some way, know that they're important to you.

  Today I celebrate the day thinking of all of those I love, and especially Tom and our canine kids. In my early 40s I never thought I'd ever find someone that I would enjoy every day with, until I met Tom. We're alike and we're different, and we complement each other very well. We've learned to laugh every day, even for a minute. When either of us gets grumpy, we eventually laugh it off and ask if the grumpy one has "changed clothes out of his grumpy pants."  We know when we need quiet time, and enjoy doing so many things together. Tom is quiet, and I am not. :) Tom is super-neat and organized and I try. I can cook and Tom can attempt it. We balance each other out. Relationships are about finding your strengths and using them to create a balance. It's learning to laugh over things and not let little things get to you- whether it be with a partner or with friends. So,  I say to the love of my life, Tom, how truly thankful I am that we're together.
I wish you a happy Valentine's Day!

Truthful Answers To the email "12 REASONS TO VOTE DEMOCRAT"

Below is the kind of WARPED stuff that SOME Republicans have been emailing to people to get their vote. It's both interesting and SAD to see what garbage people are being fed (and YES, I'm sure there's one of these from the Democratic side of the aisle, too - but I haven't seen it yet).  Regardless,this is WARPED, wrong and rude in so many ways. I've given responses to this stupidity. -
and it should say "vote FOR a Democrat".
Rob

12 REASONS TO VOTE DEMOCRAT

When your family or friends cannot explain why they voted Democrat, give them this list.

Then they can then pick a reason from this "TOP 12"

1. I voted Democrat because I believe oil companies' profits of 4% on a gallon of gas are obscene, but the government taxing the same gallon of gas at 15% isn't.

RESPONSE/TRUTH: Oil companies make HUGE profits, and Exxon, Shell and others paid ZERO taxes for the last several years because of GOP rules. Further, taxes on gas are necessary to maintain the roads, bridges and highway infrastructure. The GOP thinks we can magically keep up these things.

2. I voted Democrat because I believe the government will do a better job of spending the money I earn than I would.RESPONSE/TRUTH:   WRONG. The government doesn't spend all of everyone's money, but it does spend money on infrastructure, social programs, science and medicine that have provided our country with amazing technology and benefits for everyday life.  The Bush administration put this country in record deficit with an unjust war and Lower taxes on the Rich. YOU and I pay  20% more tax than people making over a million dollars. How stupid is THAT? the wealthy need to pay the same percentage of taxes.


3. I voted Democrat because Freedom of Speech is fine as long as nobody is offended by it.RESPONSE/TRUTH: Democrats try to ensure the protection of ALL people. Not just fat, white, rich people who want to bash minorities.  Did you know that the Republican party in Tennessee think its acceptable to bully and hate gay people and asked for a "RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION" from the bullying law? The GOP says people of "religion" that don't like gay people can bully gay people into suicide without being prosecuted for the crime. 

4. I voted Democrat because I'm way too irresponsible to own a gun, and I know that my local police are all I need to protect me from murderers and thieves.


RESPONSE/TRUTH: : - I'm too irresponsible to own a gun?  Wrong.. . Murders happen because irresponsible people own guns and the laws need to be in place to keep them out of the wrong hands. There's nothing wrong with owning a gun if you're mature, decent and don't use it to freely kill others. Many Democrats OWN guns.



5. I voted Democrat because I believe that people who can't tell us if it will rain on Friday can tell us that the polar ice caps will melt away in ten years if I don't start driving a Prius.RESPONSE/TRUTH: SO , SO, SO WRONG!!! - The National Weather Service has the most accurate forecast models in the world and continues to enhance them. NASA and NOAA create amazing technology that provides better weather data all the time. The NWS forecasts are some of the best in the world.  -AS FOR CLIMATE CHANGE- It's a reality. We've proven it by looking at ice cores, sea level, carbon dating, and more. Anyone that doesn't believe it is simply a FOOL and uneducated.

6. I voted Democrat because I'm not concerned about millions of babies being aborted so long as we keep all death row inmates alive.RESPONSE/TRUTH: WRONG AGAIN. Democrats DON'T WANT people to have abortions. That's a STUPID Republican ploy. Democrats want abortion to be legal for the health of a mother, in the case of rape or incest. Poor people that can't afford babies but accidentally get pregnant will find a way to abort if they want. This ensures safety and leaves the choice to the WOMAN, not some fat, white, rich, so-called "God lover." - As for death row inmates, I find it ironic that the GOP, who claims to be the "party of life" wants to kill inmates with or without DNA evidence.   

7. I voted Democrat because I think illegal aliens have a right to free health care, education, and Social Security benefits, and we should take away the social security from those who paid into it.RESPONSE/TRUTH: FALSE- Illegal immigrants get NO health care under the President's health plan. Another Republican LIE. They don't have social security numbers either, so that's a LIE. Democrats want to KEEP social security. Republicans have voted to abolish it, calling it a "ponzi scheme."

8. I voted Democrat because I believe that business should not be allowed to make profits for themselves. They need to break even and give the rest away to the government for redistribution as the Democrats see fit.RESPONSE/TRUTH: SIGH- More lies. Of course democrats want businesses to make profits. The President has put in place small business loans, extensive tax breaks and ways to help businesses hire. His bailout of the auto industry is what SAVED the U.S. auto industry, and they've paid 80% of it back.

9. I voted Democrat because I believe liberal judges need to rewrite the Constitution every few days to suit some fringe kooks who would never get their agendas past the voters.RESPONSE/TRUTH: Democrats stand for the rights of ALL PEOPLE, not just the rich and the majority. If it were not for Bobby Kennedy Blacks and Whites couldn't marry. If it were not for democrats, Blacks, Jews, Irish, Italians, Polish, Asians, etc. would still be discriminated against in ALL ways .  It is proven that the MAJORITY cannot vote on rights for the minority- they never want them to be equal.


 On the other side of the coin, Republicans want to re-write the Constitution to deny gay people of equal rights.



10. I voted Democrat because I think that it's better to pay billions to people who hate us for their oil, but not drill our own because it might upset some endangered beetle, gopher or fish.RESPONSE/TRUTH: WRONG- the President has been funding and encouraging alternative sources of Energy, and opened more coastal areas to drilling. The GOP's claim that building the pipeline from Canada as a job creator is about creating TEMPORARY JOBS.. Then they'll go away. No one understands that. Not only that, people like the GOP Speaker of the House, John Boehner, has a financial interest in getting that pipeline built.

11. I voted Democrat because while we live in the greatest, most wonderful country in the world, I was promised "HOPE AND CHANGE."RESPONSE/TRUTH: WE have Hope and Change. We're finally crawling out of the hole created by President Bush.

12. I voted Democrat because my head is so firmly planted up my butt, it's unlikely that I'll ever have another point of view.RESPONSE/TRUTH:
THIS IS RUDE. Republicans USE "God" as a way to manipulate people of faith, who don't know any better about their policies to let wealthy Americans pay less, to give breaks to big business, and destroy or remove social programs that help the poor. Programs like Medicare, Medicaid, The President's Health Plan, and Social Security are all at risk under GOP.  The GOP wants to give seniors $8000 annual health vouchers.
If you have cancer, heart issues, diabetes, $8000 a year doesn't go very far. 

New Spiderman Movie Trailer

Here's the movie trailer from the NEW upcoming Spiderman movie starring Andrew Garfield. I didn't think I'd like it, but it really does look good. Check it out!

IN THE NEWS- Miscellaneous stories you may not have heard

Here's some news that you may not have heard about, and that you may find interesting.

FEDERAL EMPLOYEES: House bill prohibits within-grade increases in 2012

A bill in the House would prohibit within-grade pay increases through 2012 for federal employees.
The provision is part of a larger piece of legislation — the Honest Budget Act of 2012 — to root out "budget gimmicks," according to a statement by bill sponsor Rep. Martha Roby (R-Ala.)
Federal employees are currently in year two of a two-year pay freeze. The freeze does not affect within-grade pay increases.
STORY: http://www.federalnewsradio.com/722/2736148/Bill-prohibits-withingrade-increases-in-2012

 Virginia House Passes Anti-Gay ‘Conscience Clause’ Adoption Bill

AP-The Virginia state House voted 71-28 to pass the legislation Friday. Earlier in the day, a Senate committee endorsed its version of the Republican-backed measure on an 8-7 party-line vote. Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell is expected to sign the bill.The measure, sponsored by Delegate Todd Gilbert and Senator Jeffrey McWaters, both Republicans, allows religious agencies to discriminate based on their ethos and is being billed as a measure to protect religious freedoms.  Others have called out the legislation as, simply, anti-gay discrimination. Read more: http://www.care2.com/causes/virginia-house-passes-anti-gay-conscience-clause-adoption-bill.html#ixzz1lhavl4gU

MORE ON THE SUSAN G KOMEN FUNDING PULL:  Handel Was Behind Planned Parenthood Attack All Along
Emails released over the weekend to Huffington Post’s Laura Bassett directly contradict earlier denials by The Komen Foundation that controversial anti-Planned Parenthood crusader and Vice President of Public Policy Karen Handel was the force behind the decision to strip the group of funding. In short, the group has been lying this whole time.
According to Komen staffers, Handel has been looking for a reason to de-fund Planned Parenthood and even coordinated messaging and efforts with former Bush administration staffer Ari Fleisher. Handel said, “If we just say it’s about investigations, we can defund Planned Parenthood and no one can blame us for being political.”
   Handel and Fleisher crafted the strategy which included a change in guidelines that would prevent Komen from funding any organization that was under investigation by local, state or federal authorities. This was then used to justify the funding decision, and despite the fact that several other Komen beneficiaries are also under investigation, Planned Parenthood was the only organization that saw its funding jeopardized.
   After a tidal wave of public pressure that spanned gender and political affiliations Komen relented and announced it would continue funding Planned Parenthood for the remaining of its grant cycle. The decision was celebrated as a reversal, but a close look at the language shows there’s plenty of reason to think the announcement was more PR spin to make the bad press die down than an actual policy change. And given this latest news there is really no reason to take the charity’s word on anything.
Related Stories:
Susan G. Komen’s Cozy Relationship With Anti-Choice Groups
Susan G. Komen Foundation Also Stops Funding Embryonic Stem Cell Research

Read more: http://www.care2.com/causes/komens-lie-handel-was-behind-planned-parenthood-attack-all-along.html#ixzz1lhcG34Lg

Franklin Recovering from Dental Surgery

Our (almost) 8 year old Dachshund Franklin is recovering from dental surgery that he had yesterday. I (Rob) noticed that he wasn't allowing me to brush his teeth on one side and he ate on the other side, so I checked his teeth (he's good about letting me do that). Turned out his tooth was cracked. When we took him to the vet she looked more closely and saw it was split in half and had to be removed. SO, Thursday he went in for surgery.  - He did okay, but his little heart slowed while under anesthesia, so we have to be mindful of that next time. He was really groggy when he came home, but still managed to run out in the backyard to check for squirrels when he came home, ate some soft food and zonked out.  Here are some pictures from his adventure from start to finish.

Giving kisses to the Vet tech who brings Franklin to prep

Sprite and Dolly wait anxiously for Franklin to come home

Tom holds Franklin as they pose next to one of our fav vet techs, post-surgery

Sprite says "welcome back" to Franklin when he comes home.

Franklin resting at home under a blanket post-surgery.

Birth-control rule riles religious leaders, GOP

I (Rob) just read this article:  Birth-control rule riles religious leaders, GOP. They say insurance mandate is unjust, infringes on rights.

I say TOO BAD. These religious hospitals are businesses and NOT religious institutions. Churches are ALREADY EXEMPT.

- I want to hear from our female friends on their opinions of using birth control. What do YOU think?

Why don't these politicians ask WOMEN?

DID YOU KNOW: CBS News reported that 98% of Catholics AGREE to use birth control. 

Besides- the people that work in these "religious" hospitals  DON'T NEED TO USE birth control if they don't want it. It's just that it needs to be made available. Period. 

   Conservative Republicans and Some Churches (Sadly, the Catholic Church that I USED to be a part of and have now gone OVER the political fence to Conservative wackos)  have gone TOO FAR. It seems that the GOP and churches would rather give people NO health care and see them suffer and die- as a crowd in one of Ron Paul's gatherings yelled. That crowd chanted "let people die!"

On another note- There are more than enough children around without parents. - Go watch Judge Judy for a couple of days. People on there have 2,3,4,5,6, 7 children with DIFFERENT fathers!!!  These kids are sentenced to a life of poverty. Birth control is a good answer in my opinion. 

  I would like to Hear from friends and find out how many of you used birth control or believe in it.

WASHINGTON — Angry Republican lawmakers and religious leaders say they’ll fight a controversial federal requirement that church-affiliated employers offer benefits covering birth control.
TN Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander this week signed onto a bill by Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida that would exempt employers from providing health-insurance coverage for contraceptive services if they oppose such services on religious grounds.

Day in Pictures of the Life of a Dog

Just like any parent, we love taking pictures of our kids. So here are some recent ones we like!

Franklin, Sprite & Dolly (back)

Dolly and Franklin cuddle

Sprite and Franklin resting head to head

Sprite likes "braking" often during walks- about 10-20 times in a 20 minute walk~