JAPANESE REACTORS: Misinformation and Disinformation

Just one day after revealing that the worst radioactive leak so far had bellowed forth from reactors, Japan is now saying they made a mistake and it wasn’t that bad. The entire episode has been one of stories told and stories retracted or modified. No one in the world knows what to believe.

COMMENTS:

Believe this: It is a very, very serious problem and the Japanese don’t like to be embarrassed. I hate to say it this way, but even I don’t have a yen to go there.

TODAY’S QUERIES & ANSWERS:

Q. Donald Trump is leading a renewed demand for Obama’s birth certificate. What do you think? (Myron ~ Salt Lake City, UT)
A. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. This has been smoldering for over two years now and could be simply resolved by the release of the birth certificate. Obama flatly refuses to do so. Why? I’m reasonably certain he has not had a sex change operation, so why does he refuse to release it or to discuss it? The Governor of Hawaii was going to release it and he got told he’d better stifle it, or else. Why? Why? Why?


Q. I’m so tired of politics. We just finished the mid-terms and now we’re already starting on the Presidential. When is all of this going to end? (Val ~ Redding, CA)
A. I couldn’t agree with you more. The smear campaigns, the dirty ads, the telephone ringing at all hours of the night… It’s all so sickening. But, look what happens when we don’t pay attention: We get a health care plan that we don’t want, debt that we can’t repay, a war that we don’t want, and positively the worst President this country has ever had.

Q. Who is George Soros? (Zula ~ San Francisco, CA)
A. He’s a ruthless, Hungarian-born financier with a far, far left agenda for the world, and he has made it abundantly clear that you had better not get in his way. He put up millions to try and silence Glenn Beck and is rumored to be the real power behind Barack Obama.

TODAY’S QUOTE:

“At a time when U.S. jobs are heading overseas at a record pace, and amidst increased sanctions on our manufacturers and producers from other countries, it's imperative that we do all we can to provide our businesses a climate to operate successfully.” ~ Blanche Lincoln

TODAY’S VIDEO:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYc8_eUOoEw&feature=ytn%3Amptnews

JAPANESE NUCLEAR PROBLEM WORSENS

Reuters is reporting that Japanese engineers are struggling to pump radioactive water from a crippled nuclear power station after radiation levels soared in seawater near the plant. Tests on Friday showed iodine 131 levels in seawater 30 km (19 miles) from the coastal nuclear complex had spiked 1,250 times higher than normal but it was not considered a threat to marine life or food safety, the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency said.  "Ocean currents will disperse radiation particles and so it will be very diluted by the time it gets consumed by fish and seaweed," said Hidehiko Nishiyama, a senior agency official.  

COMMENTS:

This is misleading. The closer the fish are to the plant, the more radiation they will consume. Fish swim, often great distances. Radioactive fish could be miles from the site by now, already. Evidently, the Japanese government has the same opinion of plain, ordinary people that our government does; they think we’re stupid.

TODAY’S QUERIES & ANSWERS:

Q. With all of the fears about Japan’s nuclear radiation reaching the United States, now comes the word that a lot of U.S. radiation monitoring sites are not working. What in the hell is going on? (Hank ~ Port Angeles, WA)
A. Out of 124 monitors, 20 were not operating last week. That sounds dangerous, but it also means that 104 were operating. The real question I have is, how reliable are they? They’ve been outside, exposed to the weather, for at least ten years depending on where they are located. How often are they calibrated? Still, if there was danger, at least one of them would show it, and that’s not the case so far. However, the BIG radiation has just been leaking a couple of days and it takes five days to get here.

Q. I cannot believe that Bill Maher lowered himself and his network enough to call Sarah Palin the “C” word during a live broadcast. (Jan ~ Sepulveda, CA)
A. Some people in this world are not only disgustingly vile; they seem to wallow in it. It's a shame that a network like HBO carries his show. 

Q. Supposing, with all of the unrest and riots and protests in the Middle East, radical Islam actually takes over. Is there really a possibility that radical Islamists within the U.S. would try to start a coordinated uprising here? (Don ~ Chester, CA)
A. Yes.

TODAY’S QUOTE:

“You people are telling me what you think I want to know. I want to know what is actually happening.” ~ Creighton Abrams

TODAY’S VIDEO:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6ZhL-96uOQ

CANADIAN GOVERNMENT TOPPLED

Canadian opposition parties brought down the Canadian government in a no confidence vote yesterday, triggering a new election. The opposition parties held Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government in contempt of Parliament in a 156-145 vote for failing to disclose the full financial details of his tougher crime legislation, corporate tax cuts and plans to purchase stealth fighter jets. 

COMMENTS:

I know our Constitution doesn’t allow such occurrences, but right now I sure wish it did.

TODAY’S QUERIES & ANSWERS:

Q. What do you think the chances are of Obama being reelected? (Lorraine ~ Idaho Falls, ID)
A. With this guy, it could be that the votes have already been counted.


Q. Just how many Republicans do you think are going to run for President? (Tippie ~ Santa Ana, CA)
A. All of them.

Q. How can Obama issue permits to Brazil to drill for oil in our waters when he is denying U.S. based companies such permits? (Bart ~ Sparks, NV)
A. Oh, it was all part of a big trade deal, and that makes it okay. Plus, that also helps the Brazilian unemployment problem. So, if you need a job, move to Brazil.

TODAY’S QUOTE:

“Big girls need big diamonds.” ~ Elizabeth Taylor

TODAY’S VIDEO:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NS2NlaxUAAo&feature=mpt%3Atop_stories&playnext=1&list=TLI3pGU4jjY0I

TRANSFER OF COMMAND TO NATO IS A SHAM

The uproar over the U.S. entry into joint action against Libya without Congressional approval led to a quit attempt on the part of the Administration to put command into the hands of the French and/or the Brits. Then came the “realization" that neither nation has the best experience to head up this kind of action, so the fast shuffle has put NATO in charge.

COMMENTS:

Just who do you think is the main player in NATO? Who was instrumental in forming NATO? Who led NATO actions in Kosovo? Yes, the U.S. will still be in charge, but they’ll call it NATO command. It’s just another game of smoke and mirrors on the part of Obama and his entourage.

TODAY’S QUERIES & ANSWERS:

Q. Any more word on the threat of Japanese radiation reaching the west coast? (Allan ~ Mesquite, NV)
A. Just the original above average levels last week. It’s been okay since, but we’re not out of the woods by any means. I recommend staying inside with a bottle of gin.

Q. There are really some people who say Obama should be impeached for going into Libya without Congressional approval? (Midge ~ Yuba City, CA)
A. So much ado about nothing. All he did was knowingly and intentionally ignore the Constitution. But, he’s Obama. He’s the messiah. He’s the man for change. He walks on water and drinks beer in the garden. Kiss his feet and shut up.

Q. I hear that North Korea is poking fun at Ghadafi and Libya for scrapping its nuclear program. On what basis? (Gwen ~ Dunsmuir, CA)
A. They say that, if Libya had nukes, nobody would interfere with them. In the meantime, Kim Jong-Il’s son, U-Makeme-Il, has been officially named #2 top dog in North Korea.

TODAY’S QUOTE:

“Democracy is the only system that persists in asking the powers that be whether they are the powers that ought to be.” ~ Sydney J. Harris

TODAY’S VIDEO:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Adpa5kYUhCA&feature=topvideos

TERRORIST BOMBS WRACK MIDEAST

Bombs in Pakistan and Israel punctuated the spreading protests and Libyan war yesterday. Israel immediately bombed Hamas positions in Gaza; five Pakistani police died in Hangu.

COMMENTS:

The time is drawing near when we are going to have to deal with these orangutan Muslim terrorists once and for all. And any so-called peaceful Muslim who refuses to join us should be considered to be the enemy as well.

TODAY’S QUERIES & ANSWERS:

Q. Should the President have asked Congress for permission before we went into Libya? (Juanita ~ National City, CA)
A. Only if he wants to obey the provisions of the Constitution. While he refused even to consult with Congress, he did manage to consult with the United Nations and Arab states.  Maybe he feels we should be subservient to the Nation of Islam?  I’ve said, even before he was elected, that he thinks our Constitution is in his way, and this is not the first time he has ignored it. But, thank God, even the liberals are waking up to that fact, believe it or not.

Q. Now that they have power at Japan’s nuclear sites, will everything get under control? (Wylie ~ Truckee, CA)
A. Take a look at the video below and you will have a better understanding of what they are up against. A lot of pumps are not working, and that means continued trouble. Now, even Tokyo has radiation in the water. The news, however, is being buried on page three while we pursue Ghadafi, or Gawdawful, or Meathead, or whatever you want to call him.

Q. I hear that the pressure for public employee unions to give up some pension benefits is causing more people to retire early under the theory that their benefits can’t be touched once they retire. Won’t that increase the budget strains in those states affected? (Doyle ~ Redondo Beach, CA)
A. Yes. Something has to give, and they all want it to be you and me. I don't know about you, but I gave at the office. 

TODAY’S QUOTE:

“Candy is dandy but liquor is quicker.” ~ Ogden Nash

TODAY’S VIDEO:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aprycG9mlZc&feature=ytn%3Amptnews

MUSLIM MOSQUE GETS APPROVAL

DuPage County in Illinois has approved the building of a controversial Muslim mosque. A conflict between the religious group's right to practice its faith and the local community's concern about over-development gave way to compromise when the County Board accepted a scaled-back proposal for the mosque.

COMMENTS:

It occurs to me that opposing views can come to good conclusions when those involved put forth serious effort to accomplish things. Those in New York City could learn from this example.  

TODAY’S QUERIES & ANSWERS:

Q. I know there’s a big ruckus about us being in Libya, but Obama insists that we are handing over control to the British and the French and will no longer be involved. (Evola ~ Compton, CA)
A. Wanna make a bet?


Q. I never realized that we have tons and tons of radioactive rods in storage pools in this country, like the one that is giving Japan problems. Why? (Kerrie ~ Pasco, WA)
A. Because there is no other place to store it, each nuclear reactor has to store its own spent fuel rods. There is a place in Nevada, the Nevada Test Site, that is highly radioactive, where these things could be stored without adding anything more to the danger than already exists, but you’ll have to ask Harry Reid about that.


Q. According to Yahoo.com and Forbes, three young men have become millionaires by the age of 22 through their own entrepreneurial efforts. Jason Brian, Joshua Dziabiak and Milun Tesovic all started their own businesses as early as age nine and are now millionaires. Isn’t it great to live in a country where that can happen? (Lyle ~ Auburn, CA)
A. Not according to Barack Hussein Obama. They should have been heavily taxed and given a substantial portion of their income to the poor in order to make things more equal. Why should they be able to make and keep that kind of money when you and I cannot?

TODAY’S QUOTE:

“Flaming enthusiasm, backed up by horse sense and persistence, is the quality that most frequently makes for success.” ~ Dale Carnegie

TODAY’S VIDEO:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ioa1YhEgzkk&feature=mpt%3Atop_stories&playnext=1&list=TLnHqFjNOYbCg

LIBYAN ACTION RAISES BIG QUESTIONS

Coalition forces, clearly led by the U.S., bombarded Libya for a third straight night Monday, targeting the air defenses and forces of Libyan ruler Moammar Gadhafi, stopping his advances and handing some momentum back to the rebels, who were on the verge of defeat just last week. Libyan rebels were ecstatic at the show of support and force.

COMMENTS:

In the international theater, coalition forces have a right under U.N. sanctions to take action in Libya. The U.S. has tried to downplay its leadership role, but it has the gun power and the savvy to carry on such an operation. Obama has been quick to say that we are going to turn the job over to Britain and France in short order because he lacks substantial support back home. I am ambivalent; I suppose, strictly from a humanitarian standpoint, that we are doing the right thing. I’ve heard the argument that, although Ghadafi is a horrible dictator, we might end up with someone worse in charge in Libya; does that excuse Ghadafi’s behavior or that fact that he murders and butchers? But, we cannot afford to get mired down in another Iraq or Afghanistan, either from the standpoint of available troops or money. The danger of our getting drawn into a protracted conflict is high, and we need to make known the fact to Washington that we do not want to get very deeply involved.

TODAY’S QUERIES & ANSWERS:

Q. I heard that a guy in Texas has a face transplant. I’ve never heard of such a thing. (Ali ~ Schenectady, NY)
A. He had been disfigured in a power line accident. This is the first procedure of its kind. But, I guess he won’t have to pay for it; when they go to collect, they won’t be able to recognize him.


Q. For days on end, we’ve been hearing that they are “racing to connect power” at the Japanese nuke plants. If they’re racing, what’s taking so long? (Karla ~ Redding, CA)
A. Japanese people have shorter legs. Stop and think about it. If there have been several explosions and the big earthquake shook things loose, what are the odds that pumps will work anyway? This problem is not going to quickly go away, and the danger is far from over.


Q. I hear that California Republican Party is in a shambles. Is that true? (Pete ~ Fullerton, CA)
A. That’s the understatement of the year. Party registration is at a rock-bottom 31 percent of registered voters; Republicans are divided on immigration policy; a sizable chunk of Latinos say they would never vote for a Republican; GOP state legislators are split on whether to cut a deal with Gov. Jerry Brown or stonewall his plan to balance the state's budget through a combination of tax extensions and budget cuts. No Republican holds a state office. If they are going to gain any credibility, they need Charlie Sheen to lead them.

TODAY’S QUOTE:

“I want to die peacefully in my sleep, like my grandfather. Not screaming and yelling like the passengers in his car.” ~ Unknown

TODAY’S VIDEO:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ih1zLdonis&NR=1

JAPAN HAS TWO OF SIX NUKE SITES UNDER CONTROL

Some ten days after the disastrous earthquake and tsunami in Japan, the word comes that two nuclear sites are under control. Units 5 and 6, which were not really posing much danger anyway, have their fuel rod pools covered and their reactors safe. But, they continue to struggle with the others, particularly Number 4. An unexpected rise in pressure inside a troubled reactor set back efforts to bring Japan's overheating, leaking nuclear complex under control Sunday as concerns grew that as-yet minor contamination of food and water is spreading. The pressure increase means plant operators need to deliberately release radioactive steam. 

COMMENTS:

Will this horrible tragedy ever end? It is clear that more lives will be lost, particularly if one of the sites that is loaded with plutonium explodes. Radiation is contaminating food and water as far away as Tokyo. Any precipitation there is likely to be laced with radioactivity. It’s an ugly, ugly situation, I don’t care what anybody says. 
 

TODAY’S QUERIES & ANSWERS:

Q. Do you think it is possible that we will end up in a war in Libya like we have been having in Iraq and Afghanistan?” (Sy ~ Sparks, NV)
A. Anything is possible but, if we do, Obama can kiss his Presidential fanny goodbye.

Q. What will happen to our national budget “savings” now that we’re in Libya? (Jennifer ~ Napa, CA)
A. It’s probably going to go up in smoke, pardon the play on words.

Q. What is the purpose of Obama’s trip to Brazil and other South American countries? (Myra ~ Alturas, CA)
A. You don’t know either, huh? I think it has something to do with trade; he’s run out of Brazil nuts.

TODAY’S QUOTE:

“Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.” ~ Unknown

TODAY’S VIDEO: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWgeHb19ADE

LIBYA NOW CENTER STAGE

The advent of military action in Libya has seemingly pushed the tragedy in Japan off to the wings. Major news channels yesterday focused on events in the Middle East and Libya in particular, while news about the nuclear problems and earthquake/tsunami recovery operations began to play second fiddle.

COMMENTS:

Obviously, sitting on the edge of your seat watching ongoing rescue operations and oozing radioactivity is nowhere near as exciting as the sound of gunfire and bombs. Now, suddenly, Japan no longer exists.

TODAY’S QUERIES & ANSWERS:

Q. I live fairly close to a nuclear reactor in southern Washington. Should I be worried? (Amanda ~ Chehalis, WA)
A. The event in Japan has everyone worried about that question. Let us remember that the reactors there were designed for a 7.5 quake and survived 9.0. It was the tsunami that knocked all of their backup power avenues down. I truly believe that our nuclear facilities are well-designed and well-maintained and I would not hesitate to live next to one myself. Of course, anything is better than living in a cave on top of a mountain.

Q. What kind of progress is the government making on illegal immigration? (Harvey ~ Anderson, CA)
A. None. In one statistic, out of some 447,000 illegals caught by the Border Patrol in 2010, 375,000 went free without being charged and without being deported. We have a total lack of leadership in Washington on this issue. Pretty soon, we’ll be calling ourselves the United States of Mexico.

Q. Do you think Ghadafi will give up, now that the international community is coming to the aid of the rebels? (Christopher, Laughlin, NV)
A. He might give up if the U.S. plopped another missile into his living room window; other than that, no. He will never be tried for the Lockerbie bombing; he’ll commit suicide first.

TODAY’S QUOTE:

“All the problems we face in the United States today can be traced to an unenlightened immigration policy on the part of the American Indian.” ~ Pat Paulsen

TODAY’S VIDEO:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hujvVmuLuoM&feature=email

JUDGE TRUMPS WISCONSIN’S COLLECTIVE BARGAINING CUTS

Dane County District Judge Maryann Sumi granted a temporary restraining order to keep Wisconsin’s new law that curbs collective bargaining from going into effect. The plaintiff is alleging that the legislature violated the opening meeting law by rushing the law into passage and the Judge felt there was enough merit to the argument to warrant the TRO.

COMMENTS:

It is only right and proper that there is a method to keep laws that have not been properly passed from going into effect while legal challenges are heard. That’s why ObamaCare should be on hold. Only time and court hearings will determine whether or not Governor Scott Walker and his team did their due diligence in the procedures required to pass their law. In the meantime, the taxpayers are being held hostage.

TODAY’S QUERIES & ANSWERS:

Q. Why is Obama leaving the White House on a trip when there are so many troubling things going on? Other Presidents have even given up vacations and stayed at the helm under such circumstances to show leadership and concern for the people involved. (Garth ~ Williamsburg, VA)
A. Who cares what the people think? I’m sure they have golf courses in South America.

Q. Can Congress prevent Obama from sending in air strikes against Libya? (Mae ~ Carson, CA)
A. So far, Congress has not prevented Obama from doing anything he wants.

Q. Is Donald Trump serious about running for the Presidency? (Charlene ~ Eureka, CA)
A. Apparently. If he wins, then this country will be in the driver’s seat. He'll be able to trump anything.

TODAY’S QUOTE:

“It is change, continuing change, inevitable change, that is the dominant factor in society today. No sensible decision can be made any longer without taking into account not only the world as it is, but the world as it will be.” ~ Isaac Asimov

TODAY’S VIDEO:

http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/nancy-pelosi/43752/ 

U.N. AUTHORIZES LIBYAN ACTION

The United Nations yesterday approved “all necessary measures” to protect Libyan citizens from Ghadafi’s troops. The next step is to decide who will act and what measures will be taken. This comes after several weeks of delay and the U.S. did not join France and other counties in asking for the permission until the last minute. Rebels are now in serious possibility of losing their cause and any action may come too late.

COMMENTS:

President Obama has shown an outstanding lack of leadership on the issue. He should be congratulated for his artistic shucking and ducking. I wonder what he scored on the golf course.

TODAY’S QUERIES & ANSWERS:

Q. I see that the Congress is taking away federal funding for National Public Broadcasting. Why? (Samantha ~ Redding, CA)
A. NPR has for many years had an extremely politicized format. It is wrong to use public money for purely political purposes.

Q. The White House took great steps yesterday to assure the western U.S. that they are not in danger from Japan’s radiation. What do you think? (Tess ~ Weed, CA)
A. How often during his Presidency has Obama told the truth about anything? Historically, the more people he parades out there to echo his stance, the bigger the lie is that is being told. Now, I am not calling him a liar in this case; I just don’t believe a single word the man says.


Q. With Hillary Clinton stepping down at the end of Obama’s first term, do you think she might be planning to run against him in 2012? (Ted ~ Yuma, AZ)
A. Nawwwwww. No way. She’s already said once that she has no interest in running for any future political office. But, she didn’t say it twice…

TODAY’S QUOTE:

“Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.” ~ Mark Twain

TODAY’S VIDEO:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHkVR_2953Y&feature=ytn%3Amptnews

CHINA BEGINS EVACUATIONS FROM JAPAN

The Chinese government is ordering all of its citizens in Japan to leave the country, amid fears the nuclear disaster there is unmanageable and that radiation levels are out of control.

COMMENTS:

As previously mentioned, governments are not inclined to tell the whole truth to citizens during major disasters and emergencies. China’s orders are, I believe, prudent under the circumstances. Japan continues to downplay the seriousness of the situation while the news gets worse by the hour. The U.S. military is having a difficult time trying to render assistance due to the apparent dangers of radiation. It would be interesting to find out what direction the radiation is heading toward after it leaves Japan, but that information does not seem to be forthcoming.

TODAY’S QUERIES & ANSWERS:

Q. With all of the worries facing the nation and the world right now, like in Japan and Libya, why is our President out playing golf? (Sandy ~ Santa Clara, CA)
A. Everyone had their own priorities in life.


Q. Is the United States giving up on Libya, and if so, why? (Carla ~ Tucson, AZ)
A. It would seem that way. One of the unknowns is who would take over if Ghadafi is gone; it could get worse. There is a large and looming possibility that radical Islam stands ready to fill any void in leadership anywhere in that part of the world. We are also stretched very thin from a military and financial standpoint. Moving a U.S. warship into the area is probably more for show than anything else. I think we’re going to concentrate on trying to prevent Egypt from falling into radical Islamic rule. Just as a side thought, isn’t Ghadafi one of the multitudes of foreign leaders that Obama bowed to after he first took office?

Q. I see that boxing great Ali is asking Iran to free our hostages. Do you think that will work? (Izzy ~ Detroit, MI)
A. It’s a great gesture and I hope it does work, but I have my doubts. We need to send Mike Tyson over there to chew their ears off.

TODAY’S QUOTE:

“Some people aren't used to an environment where excellence is expected.” ~ Steve Jobs

TODAY’S VIDEO:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtYq70-71RI

THREE MORE WEEKS ON BUDGET

The House passed a bill yesterday to extend temporary funding for three weeks while shaving another $6 billion in expenses.

COMMENTS:

Let’s see… They did two weeks the last go-around and cut $4 billion, so that makes $10 billion and five weeks, or $2 billion per week they can cut. That’s .0001 of the national debt. Gosh, what progress! I think I’d rather watch the grass grow.

TODAY’S QUERIES & ANSWERS:

Q. Why are they having so much trouble in Washington getting a budget passed? (Steve – Reno, NV)
A. Show me a politician who is willing to quit spending our money and I’ll show you a politician who’s been dead at least 1,000 years.

Q. Starting yesterday, we hear some scientists saying there is nothing to worry about with the nuclear power emergency in Japan. Who’s right? (Lenora ~ Susanville, CA)
A. I’ve heard comparisons to Chernobyl, that only a relatively few people were affected, maybe 1,000, and only ten deaths. If you remember back, the Russians were keeping a top secret lid on casualties and cancers. I don’t think I believe these light numbers. However, if it turned out to be a massive problem, I think that would have leaked out by now. Scientists will tell you that any radioactivity above normal has increased danger to some extent and, when a situation is bad, governments have a tendency to withhold the facts. As for me, I’m staying away from Japan; my personality is glowing enough already.

Q. Obama’s popularity keeps hitting new lows. Is he finished? (Warren ~ El Monte, CA)
A. Not yet. Snakes don’t die easily.

TODAY’S QUOTE:

California is a fine place to live - if you happen to be an orange. ~ Fred Allen

TODAY’S VIDEO:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHK-ioV8UE8&NR=1

NUCLEAR MELT DOWNS: The Real Solution

Within hours of the news that the Japanese nuclear power plants were in trouble, and within minutes after the Gore Group claimed it was all due to global warming, those against nuclear energy in this country started beating their drums against future U.S. nuclear plants. Every minute, the news becomes more ominous and the drum beating grows louder.

COMMENTS:

Coal and gas fired power plants are just as dangerous, if not more dangerous for the workers, than any other kind of plant. They spew their toxic particles into the air religiously. Only hydro plants, geothermal, wind and solar pose little danger. On the other hand, electricity itself is a very dangerous commodity. People get shocked to death every day by electricity. Fires start. Transformer explosions occur. So, the real argument should be about outlawing electricity. That would solve everything…no more pollution, no more nuke plants, no danger, no energy crisis and the price of gas would certainly come down. But then again, how could you pump it?

TODAY’S QUERIES & ANSWERS:

Q. Did WikiLeaks really cause any damage to the U.S.? (Jodi ~ Westminster, CA)
A. Absolutely, and the true damage won’t be known for several years. It could even be worse than dog leaks.


Q. Is Obama really against guns? (Shelly ~ Evanston, WY)
A. Does cherry pie ala mode taste good? Yes, I know that he issued a carefully worded diatribe in an Arizona newspaper about how we need to make sure we have more responsible gun owners, but his past track record, (read his speeches and remarks before he decided to run for reelection), indicates a deep hatred for gun owners. I think every NRA member agrees with better enforcement of the existing laws and better methods to prevent “nuts” from gaining access to guns. By the way, the criminals don’t care one way or the other.

Q. Since they are so much alike, do you think Lindsay Lohan and Charlie Sheen will ever get married? (Martha ~ Hollywood, CA)
A. That would certainly be a match made in heaven. The paparazzi would be beside themselves.

TODAY’S QUOTE:

“It wasn't about the money. I just wanted them to admit it was their fault.” ~ Barry Sheene

TODAY’S VIDEO:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YPOK_3r8Dc&feature=topvideos

JAPANESE NUKE SITES THREATEN UNITED STATES

The nuclear problems in Japan could adversely affect the United States. Radiation is being leaked into the atmosphere. The prevailing winds blow from west to east. The U.S. is in the path. Radiation can mix with rain and permeate streams and lakes and affect wildlife and humans. Radiation leaks from underground nuclear tests in Nevada are known to have caused an increase in cancers in Utah, Wyoming and points east in a widening plume, mostly through milk from cows.

COMMENTS:

Everyone is currently saying, “Don’t worry about it, it’s not radioactive enough to do any damage.” It seems to me that’s what they were saying in the 1950’s and 1960’s, at the height of the U.S. nuclear program. I don’t know that we should panic, but we certainly need to be aware.

TODAY’S QUERIES & ANSWERS:

Q. Did I hear correctly, that Bill Clinton has come out and knocked Barack Obama? (Milo ~ Des Moines, WA)
A. Yep. Former Presidents Bush and Clinton were speaking at a recent closed meeting. Bush was talking about oil policy and Clinton chimed in that delays in issuing gulf permits to drill are ridiculous, given the current state of the economy and the energy problems. You don’t suppose Hillary is getting ready to run against Barack in 2012, do you?

Q. Did I hear that the state of Illinois is going to publish the names of every gun owner in the state? (Chris ~ Alhambra, CA)
A. Yes. To legally own a gun in that state, you must have an identification card. The attorney general is asking for the list to be published, which is an outright invasion of privacy. The reason is, obviously, that they want anti-gun organizations to be able to individually go after every gun owner to intimidate them. In the meanwhile, of course, I’d be willing to bet that not one Illinois criminal has one of those identification cards. Not one.

Q. Are the Tea Parties still a viable political force? (Celeste ~ Elk Grove, CA)
A. Yes, and they’re getting stronger. Now, they’re targeting not only national issues, but state issues as well. As a matter of fact, one way to clear out a Congressional hearing is to walk in with Michelle Bachman.

TODAY’S QUOTE:

“A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him.” ~ David Brinkley

TODAY’S VIDEO:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfZg4UIuZe4

BURNEY MOUNTAIN HERMIT GETS BACK TO THE BASICS

This blog originated with a different and daily format. There came a time when my professional life demanded too much time to maintain that writing schedule, and I changed the format into being an unscheduled publication as time and circumstance allowed. I have been inundated with requests from readers to return to the highly popular format and have elected to put another blog, WE’RE NOT TO BLAME, into hibernation and to resurrect the original daily HERMIT. Here we go! Spread the word!

JAPANESE EARTHQUAKE SETS RECORD

The recent 8.9 earthquake in Japan was a record setter, being the seventh largest in recorded history and the largest ever recorded in Japan. The resulting tsunami took only moments to crash onto Japan’s seashores and crushed much of what was left standing. All of this tragedy was punctuated by the ominous threat of meltdown in at least two nuclear energy facilities; a radioactive cloud spewed from one as a containment building erupted in a massive explosion.

COMMENTS:

Mother Nature is often as explosive as segments of human societies. I can’t help but to compare it to the union demonstrations in Wisconsin… sheer, ugly pandemonium without explanation.

TODAY’S QUERIES & ANSWERS:

Q. What causes earthquakes? (Barry ~ Tehachapi, CA)
A. Although earthquakes have been around on all astrological bodies since the beginning of time, there are those in the U.S. who claim they are being caused by global warming. Makes you want to be a Democrat, doesn’t it?

Q. When you lose weight, where does it go? (Mona ~ Apache Junction, AZ)
A. Nobody likes a smart ass.

Q. Will Ghadafi stay in power? (Chet ~ Yonkers, NY)
A. He’s already said that he will not leave power alive. Therefore, he has no reason not to come down on the populace with every weapon in his possession. The people mostly don’t have guns and ammunition; what weapons they do have, they managed to steal from the army. Without international sanction, we have no legal right to intervene. It’s an ugly situation, and the rebels seem to be on the short end of the stick.

TODAY’S QUOTE:

“Apparently there is nothing that cannot happen today.” ~ Mark Twain

TODAY’S VIDEO:

http://www.youtube.com/user/comedycomedy?blend=9&ob=4#p/u/6/rnMSNawxXE4

HOOEY

That 8.9 earthquake in Japan had not even finished its first rumble before Al Gore and his pals started hollering that the quake was caused by global warming. It never ceases to amaze me how these imbeciles can take an event, any event, and spin it around to fit their own agendas. Where I come from, up here on the mountain, we generally refer to such mutterings as “pure, unadulterated bullshit.”

Those voices are the same ones who blamed gun owners and right wing extremists for the Tucson shooting rampage. Just as they were trying to make hay with their agenda over that tragedy, they now seek to take advantage of the quake. Frankly, people who make such an open display of their ignorance do not belong on this planet.

That’s bad enough. But, their contemplation that we Americans are dumb enough to fall for their statements is an outrageous assault on our intelligence. Here in Burney, we’d just laugh them out of town. The folks over there in Hat Creek would string these guys up to the nearest telephone pole. On the other hand, up there in Wisconsin they’d probably be able to join the union. 

DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN?

The Hermit took a day off.  Here's a redo of a posting Friday, November 27, 2009

HUGE NATIONAL ECONOMIC CRISIS COMING

A November 23rd front page NEW YORK TIMES report “warns that U.S. debt is rising so fast that the federal government is careening toward a ‘payment shock’ in the not-too-distant future.” http://moneynews.newsmax.com/headlines/nyt_us_debt_shock/2009/11/23/289782.html?s=al&promo_code=91C9-1 The yearly interest alone on our national debt will be over $700 billion, up from the current $202 billion. Additionally, FDIC funds used to insure failed banks is $8.2 billion in the red and the number of banks in serious trouble has increased from 416 to 552.
COMMENTS:
We cannot continue to ignore the warnings: This country is in deep, deep trouble. It is entirely possible, and growing more probable every day, that we will enter a depression next year that could surpass the “Great Depression.” If retailers start to file bankruptcies and close stores, commercial foreclosures will sap what little bank capital there is left. This sure as hell is NOT the time to be adding fuel to the fire with more massive spending. And, given the fact that this country could be brought to its knees, any member of Congress who votes for the new health care bill should be charged with treason.

TODAY’S QUERIES & ANSWERS:
Q. I heard there’s a member of Congress who is suggesting tax increases to pay for additional troops in Afghanistan and that Obama is planning on spending another eight or nine years there. I don’t understand. (Amie – Park City, UT)
A. This is an overt attempt to make Americans want to get out of Afghanistan so that more terrorists can be trained there.

Q. Where do they raise all of the turkeys? (Brette – Hanford, CA)
A. Washington, DC.

Q. Even though we could use the help, I don’t understand how they can add a $300 million payment to help Katrina victims to a health care bill. (Xavier – Morgan City, LA)
A. They can do anything they want. Shut up and get out of the way.

TODAY’S QUOTE:
“The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his.” ~ Gen. George S. Patton

TODAY’S VIDEO:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-bY92mcOdk

OBAMA AND THE SUPREME COURT SHOULD BE DISBARRED

Two major events have occurred in the last ten days or so that command my attention from the top of the mountain. One is Obama’s ruling on the gay marriage issue and the other is the Supreme Court ruling on the First Amendment and the Right to Free Speech no matter who gets hurt.

To be clear, the first issue has nothing to do with the pros and cons of gay marriage. What is really in contention here is whether or not any government official except the Legislative body, which can write and change laws, or a Judge, who interprets laws, has the authority to ignore law. I assert that Barack Hussein Obama has no right, not one, to arbitrarily refuse to uphold the law of the land. In fact, as an attorney and as President of the United States, he has sworn under oath to faithfully uphold the Constitution and, thereby, the laws of the United States. As an officer of the Court, he has no choice in the matter.

This President also flagrantly violated the Constitution of the United States by insisting on passing a law that requires citizens to purchase a product whether they want to or not, (ObamaCare). Both of these actions are grounds for stripping Obama of his license to practice law and, in actuality, impeachment charges should be brought against him. He is just as guilty of misconduct as Richard Nixon or Bill Clinton and he should be treated accordingly and no, I don’t care what color he is.

Now as to the Supreme Court. The Westboro Baptist Church has been showing up at military funerals and spewing forth with ugly hate speech. The Court ruled that the First Amendment right to free speech trumps anything the offenders might say. In voting 8-1 that Constitution protects the group’s self-expression, the court acknowledged the far reach of the First Amendment and asserted a faith in Americans’ ability, independent of any government action, to condemn loathsome speech.

Well, I’m sorry, but that is a lame excuse for exercising a poor Judgment.

As a journalist, I support the right to free speech. Joe Wilson, for example, popped off by shouting that Obama was a liar while he was giving a State of the Union speech. He had that right, as distasteful as the words were at that occasion. On the other hand, it is a settled principle of law that you can’t yell “Fire!” in a crowded theater when there is no fire, either. The reason, of course, is simple: people can get killed in trying to rush out of a burning theater.

I assert that people can get killed under the circumstances of yelling hateful speech at a funeral, too. Had one of those family members gone after and severely beaten one of the miscreants, I find it difficult to believe that a Court would send him off to jail. Inciting a riot is not protected, and this activity certainly inflames human passions.

I understand and subscribe to the theory that any infringement on the right to free speech invites further undermining of that fundamental right. I can also understand why the Supreme Court ruled the way it did, although I believe they were dead wrong. While they have a duty to interpret the law and to apply the Constitution, you would expect that the Supreme Court would also exert discretion under these circumstances. Justice Samuel Alito, the lone dissenter, said the protesters "brutally attacked" Matthew Snyder to attract public attention. "Our profound national commitment to free and open debate is not a license for the vicious verbal assault that occurred in this case," he said. I agree.

ANOTHER WILD STORY

Every Wednesday, I tell about some of my past escapades in the gaming business.  

One of my friends at the Desert Inn back in the 1970’s worked in the Accounting Department. He was a young guy of Lebanese descent and bald as an eagle, except for a little fringe around the surrey on top. He was a little porky, but not overly so. He also was one of the suave guys who didn’t wear underpants. He’d recently purchased a new toupee that actually looked halfway decent. But, in those days, it was not stitched to his scalp.

One day while in the Accounting Office, he needed something from the bottom drawer of a filing cabinet. Well, down he went and his trousers couldn’t take the sudden stretch; with a noise that could not be ignored, they ripped wide open and exposed everything he possessed for all of the world to see. And, I mean everything. And, just as all of the gals in the office focused their eyes on the event, his toupee unceremoniously plopped onto the floor. He took the rest of the day off.

The Landmark was one of the tallest and skinniest buildings in Vegas. Up on the 29th floor, we had some nice suites where we put the big rollers. There was a boxing event going on in town and only one suite remained. A good customer of mine by the name of Gunnar showed up and wanted a suite. I went to the Front Desk to secure to suite and was informed that it had been taken for a wedding party. So, I did the best I could and moved Gunnar to a suite in an adjoining building.

Gunnar was not a happy camper and, as soon as the wedding party was over, I moved him back into the tower. “Gunnar,” I told him, I’d be a little nervous up there if I were you. When the wind blows, that top portion sways back and forth and the engineers have told us that one of these days, it’s going to go all of the way over.” Of course, he laughed at that.

Unbeknownst to me, they were having an underground test at the atomic energy site north of Vegas the next morning. Went it went off, the ground in Vegas moved and the tower actually swayed back and forth. Gunnar ended up in the lobby in his shorts and with shaving foam on his face, screaming “Move me back to the room I had yesterday!”

One day when I was working at the Maxim, I had occasion to go to the top of the Dunes for lunch. On the way up the elevator, I ran across a customer of mine from Waco. “What are you doing over here?” I asked.

Of course, he was embarrassed. “Uh, I’ve got a friend who is getting married here,” he lied.

“Well, Jerry,” I told him, “Whenever you have chips to cash out at the Maxim, you always get paid, right? You never know about some of these fly-by-night hotels, and I hear the Dunes is in big money trouble.” Of course, he knew I was teasing him and he promised to come by before he left town to have dinner and play some cards.

The next morning, the Feds raided the cashier’s cage at the Dunes and Jerry, who had won $10,000 there the night before, was unable to cash in his chips. Yes, those things happened in those days, and I had made a believer out of Jerry.

More of my wild, wild tales of the past next Wednesday. See you then, but don’t forget to catch my weekend gab. 

GREAT NEWS!

The world has been so full of bad news these past few years, I thought it would be nice to brighten up your day with some good news.  Obama is going to run for re-election.  Isn't that just hunky dory?  

You know, and all kidding aside, things have been so screwed up with this President that it seems as if we're just going from day to day waiting for the next shoe to drop.  This country has been turned upside down in the last couple of years and I'd swear that Obama subscribes to the "divide and conquer" philosophy of leadership.  He's got blacks against whites, conservatives against liberals, gays against straights, rich against poor, unions against non-unions... this nation is so fractionalized that some people have been diced up and spit out a dozen times!

I think the country has been awakened to the fact that we need to pay closer attention to the qualifications of the people we elect.  Here's a guy, ensconced in the White House, who has refused all educational records, won't cough up a birth certificate, voted "present" in the Illinois Senate, and whose chief claim to fame is that he managed to shove a $1 trillion health care up our rears ends without our consent while bowing to our enemies.  

Hopefully, this tragedy will never happen in this country again. When you stop and think about it, this country has not had a decent President in 22 years.  But, we've sure had some winners as Vice President, haven't we?

THE LANDMARK

Here's another tale or two of my past. 

When I was working at the Landmark Hotel in Las Vegas, my favorite of all places I have ever worked, I was the Executive Casino Host. A very good friend by the name of Bill Hofferd was a casino host there and we got along pretty well with each other. One night, I had just heard from my girlfriend that she was on her way over from work, so I parked myself at the bar to wait for her. Along came Bill with a hooker on his arm and he gets to where I am sitting and introduces her to me, adding, “He’s a very high roller and looking for some good company.”

Well, of course, this gal was all over me like glue when my girlfriend came sauntering up to the bar, and Bill was ducking out the side door on his way home. Thank God my girlfriend knew me well enough to know that, when I told her what had happened, I was telling the truth.

The next night, I was standing in the casino when an irate woman came up to me and asked me if I worked there. “Yes, ma’am. What seems to be the problem?”

Well, she started off on this long laundry list of complaints just about the time I saw Bill walking through the casino. I called him over to where we were standing and told the lady that she was in luck, here was Bill Hofferd who owned the place and he could help her with her problems. Then I ducked out the side door.

Yes, the two of us got along just fine.

I had a customer by the name of Morry who used to come in from Denver once a year. He was a consultant for a land sales outfit operating out of Pahrump, Nevada and was semi-retired. He depended on his Social Security and consulting checks to live. One night, he came in on his annual bender to the Landmark and sat down at a blackjack table next to a very inebriated high roller from the San Diego area I’ll call Jack.

Jack was betting $200 and $300 a hand at blackjack and leaning over to the roulette wheel behind him playing that at the same time. He was really stacking up the chips, winning almost every hand. Morry, always a $5 to $15 player with a $1,500 credit line, was soon drinking and betting $25 and $50 a hand. I could see trouble coming.

And, trouble did come. In the wee small hours of the morning, the hotel called me. Morry was up in his room on the 17th floor, handing out the window and threatening to jump. He had lost all of his $15,000 annual consulting check and instinctively knew that he was going to be in deep crapola when he got home to Denver. Security was in the room and they wanted me to talk to Morry to see if I couldn’t keep him from jumping.

So, I told Morry, “Morry, if you jump, I will never let you back into the Landmark Hotel.” He came back in from the window.

One night, I had three girls who all knew me well show up at the hotel within half an hour of each other. There was Debbi, who I had ensconced at the Sky Bar on the 27th floor, Susan who was in the coffee shop, and Tonya sitting at the Main Bar in the casino. I was going from one to the other, trying to figure out how to get out of this jam, and ended up back at the Sky Bar with Debbi, my real girlfriend, when I got a tap on my shoulder.

There was my pal Bill Hofferd with Susan and Tonya. “Bob,” he said, “These girls have been looking for you.”

See you next Wednesday.

A REAL SNOW JOB

Looking out the front window, I see without difficulty that there is a lot of snow to shovel.  With a doctor nagging at me to get more exercise, I considered the situation carefully and decided that I have enough food to last until the snow melts, so screw it.  

Up there in Wisconsin where all of those state workers are protesting about losing some benefits, my first inclination is to let them secede from the Union, but I like their cheese.  I guess the union rabble-rousers really have things stirred up.  No doubt, the S.E.I.U. and ACORN and the remnants thereof are on the scene at the behest, or at least at the blessing of, Sheik Mohamed Barack Hussien Obama.   It seems that the left-wing Democrats see this issue as being a direct assault on their very existence.  

They have too many bills to pay and not enough money, but Obama, the unions are the public employees don't seem to care one iota.  Well, the alternative can't be to print money, since Wisconsin can't do that.  The only alternative is to start laying employees off and, in a Reaganesque moment, that's exactly what I would do.  Fire them... every last one of them.  There are millions of unemployed Americans ready and willing to take those jobs without the benefits, just to get food on the table.  

HELLO UP THERE you cheeseheads!  Listen up!  You CAN be replaced! And, unless you come to the table, you should be.  

TALES OF THE WILD, WILD WORST: Pillow Talk

Now, we graduate from the FLAT RABBIT PRESS to more current writings of importance.

The last time I replaced pillows in this house was back before FDR was elected President. I mean, these feather pillows were getting rather raunchy. Even the mice moved out.

So, I started looking on the Internet and found what I wanted at Amazon.com and placed the order for two pillows and two pillow covers. Ten days later, four pillows arrived and no pillow covers. So, I called Amazon and got the traditional 40 days and 40 nights of hold time before I finally got to speak to a live person. They were apologetic enough, told me to keep the extra two pillows and they would send the covers right away. “Well,” I said, in that case send me four pillow covers and I’ll use the extra pillows for company.”

About ten days later, four more pillows arrived. So, I decided to switch tactics and ordered four pillow covers from Wal-Mart.com. Now, these guys are fast with the delivery. Four days later, four pillows arrived. By now, the mice had decided to move back in.

I emailed Wal-Mart. No more phone calls for me, I decided; I want everything in writing. Back came the reply, lickety split: “I can attempt to have the manufacturer send you a replacement part. It can take up to 14 days to receive a replacement part.” How many parts does a pillow have, anyway? Or a pillow cover, for that matter.

And by the way, I just got an email from Amazon.com. It seems they’re having a sale and they thought I’d like to buy some pillow covers for my recently purchased pillows.

And people wonder why I drink.

I was working in the accounting department at the Flamingo back in 1971.  It was located on the third floor near the Sky Room.   Just inside the door sat a fat old Jewish broad named Delores. I think the boss had her sit there to scare away salesmen; her looks would intimidate a grizzly bear in heat.  And, she had the disposition to go along with her looks; she was obnoxiously grouchy and downright mean.

My wife had just delivered our second son. As it so happens, her gynecologist was also an obstetrician and he was also Delores’ gynecologist, although I didn’t know it at the time. Well, I was walking into the office after a few days off, and carrying a ton of interoffice mail in a big box.  Delores nailed me. “I hope you are happy with yourself,” she snarled.

“Why, what did I do?” I asked, as I tried desperately to shuffle past her fat butt.

“Your wife made me miss my gynecologist’s appointment,” she stated. “I do not appreciate that.”

“What do you mean?”

“Doctor Eithe is not just an obstetrician, you know. He also is my gynecologist and I had an appointment last Friday at 2:00 PM and he was out of the office delivering your son, and I do not appreciate that.”

I’d had it with this woman, and she was about to feel my wrath. “That explains it,” I said.

“Explains what?”

“All of this time, we all here thought you were just fat, but it now turns out you’re pregnant.”

Kabooom! Her feet hit the floor and she went charging into the boss’ office like a bull-elephant. I heard his office door slam shut and a whole lot of screaming going on.

After a few minutes, when I was at my desk watching the rest of the staff trying not to laugh, Delores came out, grabbed some things off of her desk and headed out the door. The boss immediately hollered for me to get into his office, right now. “Did you actually say that?” he thundered.

“Well, yes.” I copped the plea.

“Do you realize that her husband is a stockholder in this hotel? Do you realize she’s been employed here for eighteen years? Do you realize that you just pissed off a former winner of the Employee of the Year Award?”

“After all she has done to this department and her attitude, I couldn’t think of any other way to handle it,” I muttered.

“Well, you know what?” he glowered. “You might think you’re God’s gift to the casino business, but I will forever be known as the one who fired her sorry ass.”

See you next Wednesday.

BURNEY, GOD'S GIFT TO MANKIND

Well, if you didn't attend the American Legion Valentine's Sunday Breakfast at the VFW Hall in Burney, you missed one helluva bash.  The place was all decorated up with streamers and they had roses, heart-shaped pancakes in blueberry, chocolate or strawberry flavors... It was great.  It almost reminded me of that time Nancy Pelosi invited George Bush over for dinner.  

Really, you did miss something special. That's one of the many great things about living in a small community in the mountains; people get along.  I've never seen a single town resident flipping his finger off at a bad driver.  People stand on the sidewalks and talk instead of pretending they don't see each other.  The other day, a far-left liberal came through town and managed to make it from once end to the other without getting shot, which actually is a sign that most CCW Permit holders had left their guns at home that day. 

When you go into the grocery store... there's only one in town... it's so friendly even the hams are smiling.  The town is so small that there's really only one sharp looking babe around, and she's in a bassinet.  The high school is going to graduate 17 students this year and they're going to have 14 valedictorians.  The air is fresh and so are the guys.  

I am so glad that I don't live in Vegas or Reno anymore. 

WILD WILD WORST: Bad Bird Story

Back in my days as a guest writer for the FLAT RABBIT PRESS, we were all unaware of impending disaster in the form of the Avian Flu. I have taken my story on that calamity that never happened and modified it slightly to fit today’s world.

*****

Here's a horrible take on a coming future human disaster that's bigger than the West Nile Virus and Katrina combined. The more I dig into it, the more scared and the madder I get, and I definitely am not an alarmist.

I had vaguely heard the terms "Bird Flu," "Avian Flu" and "Bird Flu Pandemic" before I recently heard Dr. Gary C. Ridenour from Fallon, Nevada say, on a current affairs program on Reno AM Radio Station KKOH, (known locally as KOH 780), that there are imminent dangers to public health from "Avian Flu." This disease is currently raging through parts of China, all of North Korea, and other parts of the Asian Continent. Plus, it's extremely deadly.

Yes, it started with birds and it adapted itself very quickly to the human species. It is highly contagious when first contracted by a human, but it displays no real symptoms until two weeks after one is infected. This means that you can contract and carry the disease and infect hundreds, even thousands of people before you get sick yourself. That factor makes it very difficult to screen carriers out at airports and, in turn, that means the disease can and will travel all over the world very quickly. Although, as of this writing, there have been no reported cases in the United States, in could be only a matter of days… weeks at the most… before we're in the "bird soup," so to speak.

The Federal Government is aware of this coming horror. The flue is already in Russia and heading into other major parts of Europe. Sadly, not only are the U.S. Government and the news media ignoring "Avian Flu" but, the preparations for combating it are almost non-existent. According to the August 29, 2005 issue of U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT, this pandemic could infect 90 million Americans and kill more than 200,000. In fact, Dr. Ridenour reports that the fatality rate is running at 30% in Asia; that would tally to 30 million deaths in the United States alone!

Less than 2.5 millions doses of vaccine have been prepared, no more are in the pipeline, and it takes six months to produce. The Department of Health and Human Services has been working on a plan, not to be finished before the end of September 2005. With the coming health issues of the New Orleans area yet to be dealt with, the probability is that the bird flu plan will be pushed back into November or December.

This is tough stuff. Mass burials are inevitable. Hospitals will be unable to deal with the numbers of sick and dying. Those infected must and will be quarantined into their homes for a month or more. Food and other necessities of daily life will have to be delivered and few will want to risk the probability of infection by making such a delivery.

This story is not made up. I looked in the Internet and discovered that the Center for Disease Control and Prevention is painfully aware of what's coming. There is a whole bunch of available information to document the warning being presented here. More information is available at a number of websites; just search for "Avian Flu."

Before killing you, this disease alters your physical appearance. Below is a picture of an individual in the final stages of the Bird Flu.

THROUGH THE EYES OF A JOURNALIST

I love to write.  I've been writing since I was about ten years old.  Whatever comes to mind, I enjoy conveying it though the written word to whoever wants to read. 

When it comes to reporting the news, sports or weather, I was taught by my mentors to either tell it like it is, the way the story actually is unfolding, or to label it as an opinion piece.  The reader of news, sports or weather has an inherent right to hear the truth, and that is what the free press and journalism is all about.  I get discouraged with my fellow journalists when I see their stories being slanted, either by them or by their editors, to meet the editorial policy of the company.

There are a lot of journalists from different countries in the Middle East right now as events there have moved to center stage.  The journalist has the ability to tell us like it is really happening; yet, CNN tells a different story than Fox or MSNBC.  The stories should all be essentially the same and the opinions should be on the editorial page, where they belong. 

Our President, more than any other President in history, sees the need to control what news we get and what that news says, and the press and media seem largely to comply.  It is time that journalists got back to "telling it like it is."  Otherwise, Freedom of the Press is an absolute farce.  

There's a certain glamor in writing, but those of us who love the trade would just as soon keep the fiction on a page separate and distinct from the news.  

TALES OF THE WILD, WILD WORST: A Christmas Column

Another in a series of my old tails from the FLAT RABBIT PRESS, now defunct

Welcome back pal.

I'm in a predicament. The soup. A quandary. Perplexed. Dilemma. Damned thesaurus won't give me the right word. Okay, I'm downright stumped! You see, I've been thrown a curve ball.

The Chief Proprietor and Editor of this journal gave me a call and asked me to have a discourse about the holidays. "Tell some stories about Christmas and New Years, " he enticed. No problem there, I've got plenty. Now comes the proverbial icing on the crumpets, "Take as much column space as you want," he egged me on. Well you know and I know that's one sure way to shut a writer up. Give me a limited amount of space to fill; I can do that and more, lickety split. Tell me to write as much as I want, and I'm in a fix. A predicament. The soup. A quandary…. You get the picture. "Pass the scotch, Ernest! This column is going to be a happening!"

One thing for sure is that my promise to talk about the Prince, at least the Prince I was talking about in my last column, is out. That'll have to wait. My orders are Christmas and New Years. Who cares about any one individual who could, and would, lose $30 million or more at a single sitting, anyway?" Can you imagine how many hookers were hanging around that table? Lordy me!

This here "Scribbler" column appears to have some readers. A lot of readers. A multitude of readers. (How's THAT for taking up column space, boss?) If I've been asked once, I've been asked 1,000 times…. "Are all of those casino stories you tell really true?" Well, yes they are. The next question is, "How can that many things happen to one guy?"

I guess I've been lucky to some extent, but any one who was in the casino business in the '70's or '80's or before will tell you that it was "fly by the seat of your pants" management and a lot of spontaneous episodes. Yeah, those were the really fun days. They were exciting, and I do mean exciting. Believe it or not, for every story that I have related so far in this column this year, I have five or six more to tell.

I repeat that I have been fortunate. For example, there was the staff Christmas party at the Flamingo in 1970. The boss, Burton Cohen, issued an order that there would be absolutely no booze at the party because he didn't want anyone getting drunk and doing stupid things. Well, by now you know me. I'd just finished emptying the second bottle of vodka into the punch bowl at the party in the Sky Room when Burton showed up. He went straight to the punch, slipped in a cup, and took a sip. I was standing right next to him when he peeked under the table and viewed the empty bottles. You know what? Those damned things said "Smirnoff" on them!

"What are those?" he scowled, as he latched onto a brand new and very full bottle. I, of course, assumed at that point that I was toast.

"Water bottles?" I croaked.

"Well, the Goddam punch needs more water, then!” he thundered and emptied the jug into the punch bowl. “And you? You’re just lucky I didn’t catch you putting booze into this punch bowl!” He took a fresh sip of what was almost pure vodka by now and told me I’d better start mixing up some more because this stuff was going to go fast.

---

A fellow had dinner with his girlfriend in the Sky Room on Christmas Eve. They ran up a $350 tab, which was quite a lot in 1970. He signed the tab to his non-existent room, "S. Claus." The two came back on New Years Eve and the waiter vaguely remembered them, so he let the guy sign the tab again. This time it was "Hap E. Nuyear."

---

New Years Eve at the Sahara, December 31, 1986 was an event to remember. We had two wonderful bands in that convention area, one on each side of the room. There were almost 2,000 people there, all dancing and carousing and partying like animals, (giraffes, to be particular,). As for me, I was used to smoking like a chimney and the pack was empty. I went down stairs and paid $3.00 for a pack at the gift shop and arrived back to the New Years Party just in time for Auld Lang whatever. "What're you resolving for New Years?" one of my high-roller friends asked. "Why don't you give up smoking?"

"I do quit," I agreed, and threw the unopened pack on the table.

"Thanks," he snatched them up. "I DON'T!" By the way, after a lifetime of heavy smoking, that was my last; I quit cold turkey and I still remember almost every miserable moment of the days that followed.

---

On New Years Day, the Security Chief grabbed me and told me that one of my players had been hauled off to the hospital. "He got drunk last night and fell down the escalator."


Of course, I spent a great deal of investigation trying to identify the hapless soul, in order that I might at least offer my sympathy. Well, I came across Larry as he was checking out at the Front Desk. I knew immediately that he was the victim; he had swollen, red escalator tracks up and down his bulbous nose.

---

A very, very, very, very…. (Did I say "VERY?"), attractive looking cocktail waitress at the Aladdin came over to me at the New Years Party of December 31, 1976. They all wore very skimpy, see-through lace uniforms in those days.  She wrapped her arms around me and stroked my hair so softly as she allowed the sultry scent of her enticingly perfumed self to waft into my welcoming nostrils. Every sensory ending on my body was alive with fire as she stuck her warm tongue into my ear and whispered, "It's New Years. Don't you really want some wild, kinky sex?"

What can you say? I suppose that, being a writer of great talent, I could have responded with some eloquent, poetic verbiage. However, I just gurgled. I mean, pal, I just gurgled. "That guy over there told me to give you his room number," she cooed.

---

One last holiday story before I get into the meat of this column, no pun intended. This story is a good story. At least, I hope that you take it as a good story. It starts with a good friend of mine by the name of Ed.

Ed used to come to Vegas and let it all hang out. He'd get totally schnnnnockered and lose his $5,000 credit line and usually much more, go home with a flat wallet and with his head tucked down, and then he'd send me a check. Well, this particular holiday weekend, I wandered by the blackjack table where Ed was wrapped around his usual glass of booze, and I noticed two things. For one, he had about $15,000 in chips in front of him. As for the second, he had a face card and an ace turned up and he was scratching for a hit.

"Ed! Why are you asking for a hit? You already have a blackjack!"

"Those other guys all have more cards than I got," he explained, nearly falling out of his chair. "The more cards you got, the more you win!" Actually, his words were slurred so badly that I couldn't possibly describe them here. "Anywhoooo," as he used to say, I had the pit boss count the chips in front of him. Then, I collared two security guards, one to take Ed up to his room and one to take the chips to the cashier's cage. I placed them in a safety deposit box, for which I took the key.

The inevitable call came the next afternoon. It was Ed. "I think I got a little drunk last night," he said, as usual. "How much do I owe you this time?"

"Ed," I lamented, "You got carried away. You owe $20,000."

There was a silence. Then, there was a sucking noise, followed by a four-letter expletive starting with "F" and ending with "C." "Uhhh, Bobby. Uhhhh, I really need to talk with you. Uhhh, can we meet at the cashier's cage?" And, we met. And, he was embarrassed and so sorry and he explained to me that he couldn't pay the $20,000 at that time. He was trembling.

"You know damned well, Ed, we in the casino business don't take kindly to people who gamble more than they can pay," I said, as sternly as I could. "And, you know what happens to people who don't pay up." His eyes rolled back into his head. "Here, Ed" I said, as I handed him the key to the safety deposit box, "Have the cashier open this box."

His eyes almost popped out when he saw all of the chips inside along with a slip describing the total as being $15,160. "What's this?"

"Ed, they're yours. You don't owe us a dime. You won this last night," I explained. "Merry Christmas."

---

We weren't a financially wealthy family, by any means. My father did have his Doctorate's degree from Columbia University, but he'd spent his life working for the government in a relatively low-paying job trying to help Native Americans obtain a better education so that they could survive in the modern world. Nevertheless, every Thanksgiving and Christmas saw the house fill with 20 or so guests for dinner, most of which were single. "Everyone needs to be with friends or family for Thanksgiving and Christmas," he'd say. "That's what life is all about."

My mother was one of those rare people who saw the humorous side of everything in life. She had the ability to turn the utmost dire circumstances into something to smile about; to lighten the load, to touch some unhappy soul with the gift of love. Together, those two were awesome.

At Christmas time, we would place the tree in front of the big window so that all of the neighbors could see. That was the tree that we men, my brother and father and I, had gone into the woods to find, to chop down, and to drag home. After which the family would spend hours together, decorating that tree, talking about its shape, sipping hot chocolate during the cold winter night. Each ornament would have its special nook and cranny, each icicle had to be draped with the greatest of care. There would always be the smell of minced meat pie in the oven, and the record player would be churning out Christmas songs in the background, (often in conflict with the voices of carolers outside in the snow).

Long after the chores were done and we'd been tucked into bed, we would sneak down the hallway in anticipation of catching Santa sliding down the chimney. And, there they would be, our mom and dad, sitting on the couch in each other's arms. The lights would be out except for the tree, and there wouldn't be a sound except for the crackling of embers and the popping of fresh popcorn in the black, cast-iron kettle in the fireplace. Yeah, it was good. We'd end up sitting next to mom and dad, in their arms, one happy family, each one of us soaking in the glowing heat of Christmas love. I can almost feel it now.

Have some popcorn for me, my friend, and have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Patriotic American New Year. See you soon.