Greets and Huggers.  Posted the evening of February 17, 2012.  Isn’t it amazing, how when you have something you don’t want to do or think about/deal with, you come up with a BUNCH of other things to do or focus on, (after convincing yourself, they are more important)?  No one wants to deal with, focus on death.  Other things are more important.  Also true on a global scale  …   isn’t it?  For example:   the headlines on the evening news, all week  …  the facts surrounding the death of Whitney Houston.

(The Envelope) — Whitney Houston: Radio, flag controversies precede funeral.  “With Whitney Houston's funeral looming Saturday in her home state, controversies surrounding her death bubbled up on both coasts, one involving New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and the other involving Los Angeles talk-radio hosts John Kobylt and Ken Chiampiou, who were suspended Thursday after insensitive comments about the dead singer. Christie found himself defending his Tuesday decision to have state government buildings' flags lowered to half-staff on the day of Houston's funeral   …  "I am disturbed by people who believe that because her ultimate demise — and we don't know what is the cause of her death yet — but because of her history of substance abuse that somehow she's forfeited the good things that she did in her life," the governor said ata news conference briefing Thursday. "I just reject that on a human level."  …  The DJs on Wednesday had called Houston a "crack ho" and referred to her as "cracked out for 20 years" — she'd publicly denied smoking crack — with Kobylt saying, "Then you find out she's dead and it's like, really, it took this long?'"  It isn’t her death that is newsworthy   …  it is the facts surrounding her death.  Really important stuff, in the great cosmic scope of things   …  isn’t it? 

While elsewhere in the world   …  reported on the same news, a few comments about the 6,000, (and counting), people killed in Syria, by it’s government:  (Al Jazeera) –  Bombardment of Syrian city continues  “Syrian troops have shelled the central city of Homs for a 10th day, opposition activists say, amid suggestions by the UN's human rights chief that the UN Security Council's failure to pass a resolution condemning Syria has encouraged the government to intensify its attacks on civilians. At least seven people were killed and more than 20 injured on Tuesday in the city's Bab Amr neighborhood, which endured relentless barrage of heavy machinegun fire, tank shells, mortars and rocket-propelled grenades, according to the activists.”  6,000 people murdered,  more being murdered as you read this   …  and the response? NEW YORK — UN condemns violation of human rights, calls for Assad to resign.  “The United Nations General Assembly has voted overwhelmingly for a resolution backing an Arab League plan calling for the Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad, to step down and strongly condemning human rights violations by his regime.” Again, it isn’t death/murder that is newsworthy   …  it is the facts surrounding death.  Share with me  …  where is the world outrage?  I suppose it will come a few years down the road   …   maybe when it becomes the BACKGROUND for a love story.

Course, this is not a new phenomenon.  What was/is public interest focused on after/during the Holocaust, 1938 – 1945, with 6 million Jews killed? It wasn’t on 6 million persons, but how they were murdered.  Or the public interest about the  1.7 million people killed in Cambodia 1975 – 1979.  Was the movie “Killing Fields” about death, or the facts surrounding it?    Was it newsworthy,  when during the Rwandan Genocide in 1994, an estimated 800,000 people were killed?   But I must admit   …  the 1995 Bosnian Genocide, during which 8,000 people were killed   …  did make the news and caused NATO to intervene.   The news?  Not the killing/death    …   but the thousands of refugees crossing European boarders to escape death.  Was the outrage about the murder  …  or having to deal with refugees?

I suppose it is easier, more comfortable, to think about A DEATH and the facts surround it, than come to grips with 6,000 people, killed/dead.  And what you have just read only proves the point.  I wrote a bunch of cr*p   …  because sitting here, I could not bring myself to just focus on the fact, that as I write this, there are people being massacred in Syria  …  and the world/news is focused on Whitney Houston’s funeral tomorrow.  

Sitting here editing these Ramblings and looking forward to playing with some sunset images I captured just West of Holden on Highway 58, earlier.  I will post them on my artist Facebook page:  KarlT, Digital Artist, in an album called  “58 Pond”.  It is easy not to focus/think about the pain and suffering of others, when you just shut them/that out.  Perhaps we have gotten way too good at doing that.  10 years of war does have an impact on how we view things.  What is left to say?

Time to post these Ramblings and work on some images. Tomorrow, I will take Susan to the new Mexican Restaurant we have in Holden, for lunch, then Mass at 5:00 pm.  Sunday “Dinner and a Movie”?  I have never done a “Prime Rib”  …  it is time to try.  The movie?  “Underworld Awakening”. Later, when I say my “Thank You’s” for the many blessings in my life, and Susan to share them with   …  I will also pray for the people of Syria, knowing there will be many more who will be killed, just because they are there. Of course, also a prayer for the safe and soon return of our men and women in uniform,  and torn between wanting them ALL home and at the same time knowing,  if ordered to,  they could save the lives of innocents in Syria.  Be and sleep well, the best we have is on watch and hopefully packing their duffle bags, preparing to come home.  If my post offends, I apologize, that is not my intent.  As always  …  a warm brotherly hug.

KarlT  (the dumb old country lawyer from Holden, Missouri  …  and the Editorial Staff.)

Greets and Huggers.  Posted the evening of February 10, 2012.  On the news all week,  the Syrian Government, suppressing an antigovernment insurrection or defending itself against terrorists, (depending on who you believe/listen to).  (Los Angels Times) — Syria opposition reports more than 100 deaths in Homs. “Diplomats on Thursday were seeking new approaches to remedy the worsening conflict in Syria as opposition activists reported that government shelling and attacks had killed more than 100 people, most of them in the embattled city of Homs.  After almost a weeklong siege, residents of Homs' Bab Amro neighborhood described scenes of blood-spattered field hospitals, bodies left unburied, terrified families staying in their homes to avoid gunfire and shortages of medicine, food, water and electricity.”   …  and  …  (AP)  –  Russia signals continued shielding of Syria at UN.  “MOSCOW – A senior Russian diplomat signaled Friday that Moscow will again use its veto power at the United Nations to block any resolution aimed at ousting Syrian President Bashar Assad from power. Last weekend, Russia voted "no" at the U.N. Security Council for a second time in four months to block a resolution urging Assad to step down over his crackdown on an 11-month-old uprising. The move came as Syrian forces intensified their crackdown, which has killed thousands of people and drawn strong international condemnation. Russia said it would block any U.N. resolution that could pave the way for a replay of what happened in Libya. In that case, Russia abstained from a vote, which cleared the way for months of NATO air force attacks that helped Libyans end Muammar Qaddafi's regime and kill the Libyan leader.”

So, while the Obama Administration condemns the Syrian Government for killing it’s citizens, the UN and the Arab World does nothing   …   and    …  once again, the rest of the World looks to our America to step in and save innocents, (Syrian civilians).  Why is that?  Why is it, in the film clips you see on the evening news, you see Syrian civilians begging for American help?  Weren’t these the same folks dancing in the streets after 9/11? Why aren’t they calling for the Arab League to help?  The Palestinians, Iranians, Saudi’s or Chinese? The reason is simple. As a people, we forgive   …   we do care   …   and historically   …  we have helped.  We are Americans.  We will see how this plays out.

A lot of debate this week about the Obama Administration’s HHS, (Health and Human Services Administration), mandating that all employers who provide health insurance, provide birth control coverage.  Not reported in the news, the birth control inclusion, also mandated the “morning after pill”.  The Catholic Church objected.   Washington (CNN) — Obama announces contraception compromise.  “President Barack Obama announced a compromise Friday in the dispute over whether to require full contraception insurance coverage for female employees at religiously affiliated institutions. Under the new plan, religiously affiliated universities and hospitals will not be forced to offer contraception coverage to their employees. Insurers will be required, however, to offer complete coverage free of charge to any women who work at such institutions.”  Interesting.  Sure makes it look like the objection wasn’t an adamant moral stand based on faith   …  but instead,  who picks up the tab.  Further, perhaps there is some moral ambivalence about “birth control” among practicing Catholics    …  but providing the “morning after pill” is also mandated.  So share with me   …  is the “morning after pill” viewed as a form of birth control  …  or preemptive abortion?  Where is the moral line?  Isn’t that the same as arguing we are only paying for the gun   …  but   …  the bullets are free? 

Since it is about the buck, I have no doubt vending machines, (and the profits they generate), will soon become available at Catholic Institutions, as well:   (CNN) — Vending machine dispenses emergency contraception.  “Vending machine offerings at a Pennsylvania university are expanding beyond the world of junk food and into the world of contraception. Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania now offers the emergency contraceptive Plan B One-Step in a vending machine in the school's Etter Health Center, according to Peter Gigliotti, Executive Director for University Communications and Marketing  …  Plan B is an emergency contraception that can be used to prevent pregnancy if taken within 72 hours after unprotected sex, according to the FDA. It is available over the counter without a prescription for woman over the age of 17 and according to Gigliotti, all current Shippensburg students are 17 or older.”  Understanding it is about the Buck, certainly clarifies some things I used to wonder about.     Gambling is immoral   …   but Bingo Night is not.

The plain, old fashioned, “How Stupid Is This” news?  WINONA, Minn. (WCCO) — 9-Year-Old Suspended After Michael Jackson Dance.  “A 9-year-old boy was suspended last week after he mimicked Michael Jackson’s crotch grab during a rendition of “Billie Jean” at school.  Lenny Boberg was performing at a St. Stanislaus lip-sync fundraiser on Thursday and imitated the dancer’s signature move several times.  The principal, Pat Bowlin, then approached Boberg and his mother after the performance, allegedly saying it was inappropriate and the boy was now suspended.”  What would a rendition of Michael Jackson performing “Billy Jean” look like without a random crotch grab, or two?  Rumor has it, the Reverend Al Sharpton was going to lead a protest march at the school   …  until he found out the 9 year old kid was not African American.  Perhaps, if the kid had the rhythm of a Michael Jackson, he could have gotten away with a modest crotch grab?

In the legal news:   (CNN) –  PETA's killer whale 'enslavement' lawsuit goes to court.  “Lawyers for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals will face off against those with SeaWorld in a Southern California federal court Monday after the animal rights group filed a lawsuit to declare that five killer whales are being held in slavery or involuntary servitude in violation of the 13th Amendment. SeaWorld has called the lawsuit a baseless publicity stunt by PETA, which is known for provocative advertisements and public demonstrations on behalf of animal rights.”  I don’t understand why these lawyers would represent Killer Whales.  It would have made more sense to me, if they had brought this action representing Sharks.  I can understand “Professional Courtesy”.

And in potentially wonderful scientific news   …  (CNN) — Skin cancer drug reverses Alzheimer's in mice. “Scientists say they "serendipitously" discovered that a drug used to treat a type of cancer quickly reversed Alzheimer's disease in mice. "It's really exciting," said Maria Carrillo, senior director for medical and scientific relations for the Alzheimer's Association. "They saw very positive and robust behavior effects in the mice." In the study, researchers at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine gave mice mega-doses of bexarotene, a drug used to treat a type of skin cancer called cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Within 72 hours, the mice showed dramatic improvements in memory and more than 50% of amyloid plaque — a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease — had been removed from the brain.  In footnotes to the study, the researches noted that the restoration of memory didn’t enhance the subject mice’s quality of life.  Apparently, the male mice discovered female mice and remembered the joys of “mingling”   …  but due to their physical condition, (old age),  they just couldn’t “rise” for the occasion.  Future studies will include a paradigm to gauge drug interaction between bexarotene and sildenafil citrate.

Sitting here editing these Ramblings, the “Editorial Staff” at my feet and Susan home, safe, sound, and warm.  A cold wave hit earlier this afternoon and the wind-chill is down to 3 degrees.  Not a night to be out for man nor beast.  Women probably wouldn’t care for it either.  I turned the Pellet Stove on earlier after having turned off when the daytime temps were 50 and above.  So far, it has been an unusually mild winter. 

Listened to the speeches made by Santorum, Romney and Gingich today,  Based on their “stage presence” and speaking ability,  I still think the only one who has a shot at winning against Obama is Gingrich.

I have been learning the “quirks” of my new NEX 7:  fabulous camera!!  I bought the Zeiss 24mm, F1.8 lens for it   …  but, after shooting with it, sell it on Ebay.  It is an incredibly sharp lens, with crisp color rendition and has a “character” all it’s own  …  but just too “wide” for my purposes, (portrait)  …  and like all “wide” lenses suffers from barrel distortion which makes stitching images for panorama’s together difficult and time consuming.  You can do it, of course, but for me, not worth the time and effort when I can shoot my Nikon 35mm, F1.4, AI’s on the NEX.  The NEX 7 is NOT cheap,  $1,199.00 for the body   …  but there is NOTHING, (24.3 megapixel sensor) in it’s class.  Most important, I can use all of my Nikon glass with it.

Nikon announced the successor to my D700 this week:  Nikon D800E.  After making arrangements to sell my D700, I preordered the D800.  It will not be available until May or June.

Tonight, I have some images to process and a Photoshop Tutorial to work:  the “Color Substitution Brush”.  Tomorrow?  Susan is off work, so we will work around FT Timmerman, cleaning, then Mass at 5:00 pm.  Sunday “Lunch and a Movie”?  Thinking about fried rice and ginger marinated, pecan chick breasts and steamed broccoli.  The movie?  “The Girl With a Dragon Tattoo”.  

Time to post these Ramblings   …  and later, when I go to sleep,  say my “Thank You’s” for the many blessings in my life and Susan to share them with   …  and of course, the safe and soon return of our men and women in uniform, (care to join me?).  Be and sleep well, the best we have is on watch so you can.  If my post offends, I apologize   …  that is not my intent.  As always  … 

A Warm Brotherly Hug

KarlT  (the dumb old country lawyer from Holden, Missouri  …  and the Editorial Staff, Willie, (who is not doing well  … down to skin and bones, but not in pain and a bagful of wagging tail), Dinker, Karly, my L’l Buddy  …  and Floyd, the copy boy).

Greets and Huggers.  Posted the evening of February 3, 2012.  Posted the following to the SFIG, (Solo and Small Firm Internet Group of the Missouri Bar), this past week.  (CBS NEWS)  –  White House defends birth control coverage policy as conservatives push back.  “Amid strong pushback from the Catholic church and conservatives, the Obama administration on Tuesday defended its decision to require most religiously-affiliated employers cover the cost of birth control in their health insurance plans  …  The HHS announced earlier this month that all employers would be required to provide full coverage for a range of preventive health services for women, including the cost of contraception. The rule exempts houses of worship like churches or synagogues, but other nonprofits with religious affiliations — for instance, like a Catholic university — will have to comply. Most employers will have until August 1, 2012 to meet the rule, but religiously-affiliated nonprofits will have an extra year.”   In response, a Dear Friend responded in support of making birth control coverage in health insurance mandatory for all employees, even if the employer is a religious institution with a core belief against artificial birth control, (the Roman Catholic Church):

“I enjoy going to mass at the College Church at St. Louis University. It makes me feel good to spend time with God and to thank God for all that I have been given. I believe that if there really was a gospel of Jesus, it would not preach that the Pope should live in a palace and horde so much gold and other jewels. Jesus would have preached that we should be spending our time and money helping the poor. Not closing the door on them.”

I responded:  "Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, THY Kingdom come, THY WILL BE DONE  …" is the prayer ALL Christian denominations teach.  What that "will" is, has been a bone of contention among all religious paradigms because they all suffer from a common shortcoming:  they are "organized" by men.  The Roman Catholic Church is no different.

ALL religions teach charity, only differing as to whom is worthy of it. Hypocrisy is a common human trait, not just a catholic one.  Further, although there has been bad press about “pedophile priests”, I have no doubt, there are just as many pedophiles in trusted positions in non catholic religious institutions/churches/synagogues, as there are in catholic ones.  Pedophilia is a SEXUAL preference, not an orientation or a religious preference.

The Roman Catholic Church has a 2,000 year history of monumental "good" works, (orphanages, hospitals, schools)  …  and no doubt, an equal number of "bad" works. Like the evening news, only the bad is news worthy, remembered.  St Patricks Food Pantry, as part of the Ministerial Alliance in Holden, provides food assistance to over 300 families, locally   …  and like all parishes, support other charitable organizations. I don't know of any church that does not do the same.

So share with me   …  if the Federal Government mandated that all clinics or hospitals who accept Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement perform abortions  …  would you reach the same conclusion?  What would stop it from doing so by “Executive Order”? What if the clinic/hospital was owned and operated by the "Church of Right to Life", whose core belief included a strong antiabortion stance?  Philosophically, you can feather it down  …  come up with more extreme examples, couldn’t you?  Perhaps, Federal Mandates to provide services, deemed necessary by the Federal Government, are not an "easy button" solution to perceived problems.  A question to ask because under Obamacare, health insurance  will become mandatory for all persons.

I converted to Catholicism, not because I believe the Roman Catholic Church is the road to redemption.  I converted because I wanted to go to and participate in Susan's Church Family gatherings. As my Dear Friend Vic P, (a Hindu), noted:  "All rivers flow into the sea."   …  for me, this river provides a wonderful float, with a wonderful partner to share and enjoy the ride.

In other religious news:  (CNN MONEY) — Obama: Jesus would back my tax-the-rich policy. “President Obama offered a new line of reasoning for hiking taxes on the rich on Thursday, saying at the National Prayer Breakfast that his policy proposals are shaped by his religious beliefs. Obama said that as a person who has been "extraordinarily blessed," he is willing to give up some of the tax breaks he enjoys because doing so makes economic, and religious sense. "For me as a Christian, it also coincides with Jesus's teaching that for unto whom much is given, much shall be required," Obama said, quoting the Gospel of Luke.”  In keeping with the religious reference voiced by our President,  Bank of America launched a new advertising campaign today, with the slogan:  “Jesus Saves  …  open a new savings account at any of our branches.”

The environmental news?  SALMON, Idaho (Reuters) – Snowy owls soar south from Arctic in rare mass migration. “Bird enthusiasts are reporting rising numbers of snowy owls from the Arctic winging into the lower 48 states this winter in a mass southern migration that a leading owl researcher called "unbelievable."  Thousands of the snow-white birds, which stand 2 feet tall with 5-foot wingspans, have been spotted from coast to coast, feeding in farmlands in Idaho, roosting on rooftops in Montana, gliding over golf courses in Missouri and soaring over shorelines in Massachusetts.”  Democrats, (using the Chicago Model), immediately mobilized “Community Activists” to register the owls for the up coming Presidential Election.  Republicans just assumed they had their vote, they are after all, white owls.  Libertarians are still arguing among themselves, trying to reach a consensus as to what to do. As for the “Tea Party”?  They started researching owl recipes, (for the owls that are not deported).  I have it on good authority, owl tastes just like chicken.

Well, since we are out of one war and winding down another  …  we have one on the horizon.  I think we may remember the phrase, “Weapons of Mass Destruction”   …  Tehran, Iran (CNN) —  Iran's leader: War would be detrimental to U.S.  “The supreme leader of Iran issued a blunt warning Friday that war would be detrimental to the United States — and that Iran is ready to help anyone who confronts "cancerous" Israel.  "You see every now and then in this way they say that all options are on the table. That means even the option of war," Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said during Friday prayers in Tehran. "This is how they make these threats against us. "Well, these kinds of threats are detrimental to the U.S.," he said. "The war itself will be 10 times as detrimental to the U.S."   …  U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said he feared Israel could attack Iran sometime this spring in an effort to destroy its suspected nuclear weapons program, according to a senior administration official  …  A new report from the Bipartisan Policy Center said the United States needs to put more teeth into its threat to use military power against Iran. The Washington think tank recommended in its report that Washington should undertake visible, credible military preparations to go along with more intense sanctions and diplomatic efforts. The military activities could include naval deployments, military exercises and positioning supplies in the region.”   …   Should there be an Israeli first strike on Iran, no doubt, in the name of National Security,  to protect us in our homes, we will need to further “redefine” our civil liberties:   (Washington Post) — Iran, perceiving threat from West, willing to attack on U.S. soil, U.S. intelligence report finds. “An assessment by U.S. spy agencies concludes that Iran is prepared to launch terrorist attacks inside the United States, highlighting new risks as the Obama administration escalates pressure on Tehran to halt its alleged pursuit of an atomic bomb  …  U.S. officials said they have seen no intelligence to indicate that Iran is actively plotting attacks on U.S. soil. But Director of National Intelligence James R. Clapper Jr. said the thwarted plot “shows that some Iranian officials — probably including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei — have changed their calculus and are now more willing to conduct an attack in the United States in response to real or perceived U.S. actions that threaten the regime.”  Bottom line?  We are going to engage in a “Police Action” with Iran  …  we don’t call it war any more   …  do we?

Sitting here editing these Ramblings, the Editorial staff in my chair and laying on the floor, next to my feet.  Susan is hunkered down, in bed, reading a “Throat Biter Romance Novel”,  (Eternal Pleasure (Gods of the Night, Book 1), by Nina Bangs) …  with her babies surrounding her.  When Susan walked in earlier, she was chuckling.  I asked her why.  She replied, “I heard a joke”.  “What is it?”  “Can’t tell you  …  it’s a girl joke.”  “Common, you can tell me!”  Laughing, she replied, “No  …  you won’t think it’s funny.  It’s a girl joke.”  “Common, common, tell me!”  “No.  You won’t think it’s funny.”  “Common, tell me!”  “Ok, Ok.   …   You know why little girls don’t fart?”  …  “No. Why?”  …  “Because they have to grow up and get married before they get an asshole.”  I laughed politely. She was right.  I didn’t think it was funny.

I received my Sony NEX 7 yesterday and sold my NEX 3.  I have the Sony/Zeiss 24mm, F1.8 lens, (36mm in 35mm equivalent terms), on it and it is the sharpest lens I have ever seen  …  but a bit wide for my purposes.  I would prefer the Sony 50mm, F1.8 due to be released in April.  From the sample images I have seen, the Sony 18 – 200mm, F3.5 – 6.3 is not that sharp nor fast enough for my purposes. Zoom lenses seldom are.

Time to post these Ramblings and settle in for a quiet evening at Ft Timmerman.  Have my mini-studio set up for some macro shots of police badges for a Website I’m working on.  Later, when I say my Thank You’s for the many blessings in my life and Susan to share them with,  I will say a prayer for the safe and soon return of our men and women in uniform, (care to join me?)  …  and a prayer that we don’t engage in another “Police Action”.  Be and sleep well, the best we have is on watch, so you can.  If my post offends, I apologize  …  that is not my intent.  As always …  a Warm Brotherly Hug.

KarlT  (the dumb old country lawyer from Holden, Missouri  …  and the Editorial Staff, Dinker, Willie, Karly, my Lil Buddy   …  and Floyd, the copy boy.)

Greets and Huggers.  Posted the evening of January 27, 2012.  Just a quick note to the few folk that have an interest:  no Friday Night Ramblings this week.  Really don’t have anything to share, that I haven’t shared in prior Ramblings   …  and have no interest in repeating myself nor bore you to death, doing so.  In the news this week?  In the State of the Union Address  …  President Obama wants to encourage jobs/growth with tax credits, spend more money and increase taxes.  In response, the Republicans want to encourage growth by cutting taxes.  Doesn’t appear to be any common ground, so the deadlock will continue.  The Republican Presidential Candidates are gutting each other in their debates, much to the delight of the Democrats.  Seals rescued a couple kidnapped in Somalia and killed their captors. Wasn’t there a time that “due process” for pirates captured at sea, consisted of deciding how many strands the rope used to hang them, should have? Not the first time that has been debated:  the Marine Corps Hymn references the “Shores of Tripoli”.  The pirates didn’t participate in that debate.

Susan is walking through the door. Enjoy your weekend.

Huggers

KarlT  (the dumb old country lawyer from Holden, Missouri  …  and the Editorial Staff, who frankly, could care less.)

Greets and Huggers.  Posted the evening of January 20, 2012.  Even though I’m a Republocrat, I watched the Republican debate last night.  My impression?  Each candidate made points I could agree with.  But, frankly, looking at the ability to think on the hoof and coherently respond to a question, (irrespective of the answer),  the only candidate who has a snowball chance in hell winning an eyeball to eyeball debate with President Obama is, Newt Gingrich.

Dr Paul came across to me as the rambling , crazy grandfather we all love.  Some stellar ideas we can all agree on   …  but impossible to implement and worse, the consequences not well thought out, if they were.

Mitt Romney came across to me as gee wiz, golly gee, boy scout wholesome. From what I understand, a devout Mormon:  honorable, hard working, a staunch family man and a vulture capitalist who has played the system, paying income tax on his millions earned at the same rate as a person earning $40K a year. But, maybe not.  He has refused to make his financials public.  I certainly don’t fault him for that.  But as President, wouldn’t he would set the operating rules for the various departments of the Executive Branch.  Implement oversight and regulation of business in our America?  Do I want a vulture capitalist driving this cart?  Worse, his debating skills are de minimus. Don’t need them as a CEO, so I suppose he never developed them.

Rick Santorum came across to me as a give no ground conservative.  I strongly respect his beliefs and his unwillingness to compromise.  Unfortunately, that is a kiss of death trait in a President.  You can not refuse to compromise when you are the Chief Executive Officer of a government based on compromise.

That bring us back to Gingrich.  I have no doubt he can hold his own in a one on one debate with President Obama.  In my mind, he is the brightest candidate running.  He is also a lose cannon and in the past, a He-Whore, (course, so was John Kennedy and Bill Clinton).  That said, he is also VERY articulate and based on his past experience as Speaker of the House, quite capable of playing our Congress like a cheap piano.  Perhaps, that is what we need at this point in time to deal with our economy, two wars and our place in the world community.

Speaking of our place in the world community   …  without a doubt, this is a MUST READ article:  (BBC NEWS)  –  How China is advancing its military reach.  “As the US shifts its focus to Asia, Alexander Neill, head of the Asia Security Program at the Royal United Services Institute, sets out the Chinese military advances challenging the regional balance. At the Pentagon recently, US President Barack Obama announced deep cuts to the US military and set out a shift in attention towards the Asia-Pacific region, in a thinly-veiled message to China.”  Keep in mind   …  this article is an analysis prepared by our British friends and correctly points out that our defense strategy and weapons systems are based on GPS satellites and carrier Groups. ‘Nuff said.

“Pro Choice” and “Pro Life” is an on-going debate, with reasonable, honorable people of good will and faith on opposing sides.  The crux of contention is  …  when does a human life begin?  At conception or some point in time thereafter?  There is no possible compromise.  That said, abortions will be performed.   (BBC NEWS) — Dangerous abortions 'on the rise', says WHO.  “A rising proportion of abortions worldwide are putting women's health at risk, researchers say. The World Health Organization study suggests global abortion rates are steady, at 28 per 1,000 women a year. However, the proportion of the total carried out without trained clinical help rose from 44% in 1995 to 49% in 2008. The Lancet, which carried the report, said the figures were "deeply disturbing". Unsafe abortion is one of the main contributors to maternal death worldwide, and refers to procedures outside hospitals, clinics and surgeries, or without qualified medical supervision.”  With all due respect to my “Pro Life” friends, do we really want to go back to “self help” abortions?  I believe abortions are immoral, but if abortions are criminalized, wouldn’t “self help” be the net result?  Obviously, there is no easy answer/solution.

In other news   …   (BBC NEWS)  – Study suggests ancient Peruvians 'ate popcorn'.  “A new study suggests that people living along the coast of northern Peru were eating popcorn 1,000 years earlier than previously thought. Researchers say corncobs found at an ancient site in Peru suggest that the inhabitants used them for making flour and popcorn. Scientists from Washington's Natural History Museum say the oldest corncobs they found dated from 4700BC. They are the earliest ever discovered in South America.”  An interesting and politically correct interpretation of the find   …  never mind, the corncobs were found in an ancient latrine,   next to a petrified Sears and Roebuck catalogue.

Parts of the Internet went dark this week to protest proposed and pending Internet regulation, to protect our film and music industry from online piracy.  (BBC NEWS) — Who supports the anti-online piracy bills in the US Congress, and why? “The two anti-piracy bills being debated in the US Congress have the backing of some of the largest film, television, music recording and book publishing companies and trade associations in the US. The companies say their industries are under threat from online piracy, and they have turned to the US Congress for protection. The bill's backers hope the measures in the legislation will stem the tide of piracy. "It's a non-market strategy for making money," said Scott Ainsworth, a political scientist at the University of Georgia who has studied lobbying. "Think about a firm that says we can make better widgets and that will make us money, or we can lobby to protect the widgets that we produce from competition, and that will make us money."”   States their argument in a nutshell, doesn’t it? And to prove the point that this legislation is unnecessary:  (USA TODAY) — Government takedown of Megaupload leads to new fears. “The government takedown of Megaupload, a popular file-sharing site, has stoked simmering fears that hard-line enforcement of copyright infringements could profoundly disrupt Internet commerce   …   Federal authorities shut down Megaupload.com, [try clicking on the link:  http://www.megaupload.com.]   one of the world's most popular file-sharing sites, Thursday and accused it of costing copyright holders more than $500 million in lost revenue from pirated films, music and other content.  Four executives arrested in New Zealand appeared Friday in an Auckland courtroom to begin extradition proceedings that could take more than a year. Three others remain at large.”   Fact remains, law enforcement already has the tools it needs to prosecute online piracy and there is a civil remedy in place called “DMCA”, (remember the music industry suing some putz kid who illegally downloaded a ringtone?).  Better if they can get the Federal Government to do it   …  isn’t it?   

Sitting here editing these Ramblings, the Editorial Staff hunkered down in front of the pellet stove, sucking up heat!  Susan is home, nestled down in bed, covered by her babies   …  and reading one of her “Throat Biter Romance Novels”, while watching football game reruns on the NFL Network.   I don’t understand either.  Tomorrow, we will go to Cabela’s to look for a purse for Susan, (she wants a nice purse to CCW).  I bought her a S&W Bodyguard, .380.  Nice weapon, but I prefer my S&W .38 Stainless Chief Special.  We are both Lectors at Mass tomorrow  …  then in for the rest of the weekend.  Sunday “Lunch and watching Susan watch football”?  I’m going to make a pizza from scratch.

Time to post these Ramblings, then spend a quiet evening reading up on the new Sony NEX 7 I ordered.  I managed to download the manual for it   …  then later as I drift off to sleep, say my Thank You’s for the many blessings in my life and Susan to share them with, and of course a prayer for the safe and soon return of our men and women in uniform, (care to join me?).  Be and sleep well, the best we have is in watch so you can.  If my post offends, I apologize, that is not my intent.  As always  …  a warm brotherly hug.

KarlT  (the dumb old country lawyer from Holden, Missouri  …  and the Editorial Staff, Karly, Dinker, Willie, my Lil Buddy   …  and Floyd, the copy boy)