News Brief

Three thousand one hundred and twenty-three members of America's Armed Forces have died in Iraq as of today. Sadly, the day is not yet over.

President Bush's budget includes increasing fees/charges/co-payments for medical care to Veterans. Amazing. Disgraceful, shameful, but amazing. How does one justify cutting medical benefits and care to Veterans during a time of war?

(if only)Georgie Porgie had a pie(chart)...

King Georgie never seems to tell the truth. Thankfully, there are still some who will.

“To help pay for nearly $2 trillion in tax cuts over the next ten years, the budget cuts Medicare by $252 billion over ten years without reinvesting those savings in Medicare or other health program improvements, and imposes net legislative cuts of $28 billion over ten years to Medicaid. Meanwhile, appropriated funding for the Department of Education is cut by $1.5 billion below the 2007 level, the budget for the Environmental Protection Agency is cut by $509 million, and the budget imposes $4.9 billion over ten years in new fees on veterans.”
(Source: Congressman Mike Honda - 15th District - California)

Teaching an old dog new tricks

I have to take a moment to say a word of thanks to someone I'm sure most Vloggers know, or know of - Ryanne Hodson. When I first discovered Vlogging, I was amazed and in awe. What a powerful new medium this is. I wanted to be involved, but - alas, I'm a Barney Rubble in a George Jetson world! Blogging, shmogging - I didn't know a thing. But after reading "Secrets of Videoblogging" [Michael Verdi, Ryanne Hodson, with Diana Weynand and Shirley Craig] and watching a vlog on compression Ryanne had posted on the web, I was able to start a website, upload video, and link to the videos. Amazing. Guess you can teach an old dog new tricks after all. Thanks Ryanne! It's always a blessing when someone takes the time to share themselves, and what they know, with the world.

Worth a thousand words

Will the real George Bush please stand up - and go away.

"We have to control spending." he said. "Give me $2.9 Trillion Dollars. Plus, $285 Billion more for the war."

Perhaps Chicken Little was right. The sky is falling. Time will tell. Meanwhile, it's becoming painfully obvious that the Emperor (Georgie Bush) truly has no clothes - or scrupples, honor, integrity, honesty - *Heavy sigh* Alas, what would Jesus say?

Florida - The tragedy may be yet to come.

The destruction in Florida was startling; almost unbelievable. Mother Nature can be merciless. One can only hope the citizens of the four counties in central Florida will receive the assistance they need. I say 'hope' with just a touch of sarcasm. The State is still waiting for the assistance it requested back in December.

Of course, the Govenor spoke with President Bush - who assured Jeb's replacement that federal help would be provided. Hmm... If the Floridians are standing in line behind the citizens of New Orleans, they could be in for a very, very long wait.

You remember New Orleans, right? Katrina? (If only the Fed's did.) Of course, in defense of the Government, we are busy destoying/rebuilding/destroying/rebuilding Iraq. I guess America will just have to wait. Hmmm... It's the 'compassionate consevative's' way, I guess.