"ASTROMANIA"

IT'S VERY EXCITING TO SEE THE HOUSTON ASTROS GOING TO THE WORLD SERIES. AS A LITTLE BOY I USED TO LIE IN BED AND LISTEN TO THEM ON THE RADIO AT NIGHT. FOR OLD ASTRO FANS LIKE ME THIS IS GREAT!! GO ASTROS, WIN IT FOR ALL OF TEXAS!!

QUALIFIED OR NOT

THE PRESIDENTS CHOICE FOR SUPREME COURT JUDGE HAS STARTED A FLURRY OF DEBATE ABOUT HER AND THE QUALIFICATIONS ONE SHOULD HAVE TO HOLD THE TITLE. SOON SENATORS WILL BE GRILLING HER IN THE CONFIRMATION HEARINGS ASKING QUESTIONS THAT WERE WELL CRAFTED BY THEIR STAFF UNDERSTANDING FULL WELL SHE (OR ANYONE ELSE) WILL NOT GIVE SPECIFIC ANSWER. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF CAMPAIGNING FOR REELECTION AND FUND RAISING THE SENATORS WILL VOTE AND I PREDICT SHE WILL BE CONFIRMED.

HOWEVER, THESE HEARINGS ,AS WELL AS, OUR DEBATE WILL NOT ANSWER THE QUESTION OF QUALIFICATION. THIS QUESTION WILL ONLY BE ANSWERED OVER THE COURSE OF HER CAREER AS WE EVALUATE HER ACTIONS.

SINCE I HAVE NOT HEARD OR SEEN A LIST OF THE EXACT QUALIFICATIONS ONE NEEDS TO SIT ON THE SUPREME COURT THEY MUST BE FEW. MAYBE SOMEONE WILL LOOK THOSE UP AND FILL ME IN. ALL THAT I HEAR IS WHAT PEOPLE THINK SOMEONE NEEDS AND MUCH OF THAT COMES WITH BIAS. FOR INSTANCE, MOST PRO- CHOICE INDIVIDUALS WOULD NOT WANT A PRO -LIFE JUDGE (AND VICE VERSA) NO MATTER HOW THEY FELT ABOUT ONE'S QUALIFICATIONS. THOSE THAT DON'T LIKE BUSH WILL PROBABLY NOT SUPPORT ANY CANIDATE. IF THEY FEEL BUSH IS STUPID ANYONE HE PICKS MUST BE STUPID TOO. FOR ME A CANIDATE MUST BE SMART, A GOOD LISTENER, FAIR MINDED, A GOOD RESEARCHER, WILLING TO SACRIFICE, AND ABLE BODIED. I THINK MANY PEOPLE COULD FILL THE BILL.

THE SUPREME COURT IS CHARGED WITH DETERMINING THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF ACTIONS AND IF CITIZENS CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS HAVE BEEN VIOLATED. THEY ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS BY EXAMINING AND DEBATING THE CONSTITUTION. SINCE ORDINARY ( BUT SMART) MEN WROTE THIS DOCUMENT IT STANDS TO REASON THAT A ORDINARY (BUT SMART ) WOMAN COULD EVALUATE IT.

SHE IS MOST LIKELY NOT THE BEST CHOICE FOR THE JOB. NEITHER IS THE PRESIDENT THAT CHOSE HER OR THE SENATORS THAT WILL DETERMINE HER FATE BUT OUR SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT THROUGH ELECTION HAS PLACED ALL THESE INDIVIDUALS IN POSITION TO MAKE THIS CHOICE AND OUR NATION WILL CONTINUE NO MATTER WHAT THE OUTCOME.

HURRICANES VS. SUICIDE BOMBERS

IN TWO EARLIER POST DURING SEPTEMBER I POSED THE QUESTION ,DOSE AMERICA'S PREOCCUPATION WITH MAJOR NEWS STORIES (KATRINA AND RITA) HAVE ANY EFFECT ON SUICIDE BOMBERS AND THEIR ACTIVITY?

OF COURSE WITH ONLY ONE MONTH OF STUDY IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DRAW ANY CONCLUSSIONS BUT THERE HAS BEEN ENOUGH ENTERESTING FACTS TO MAKE ME WONDER. I WILL BE KEEPING AN EYE ON THE SITUATION AND WILL RELATE ANY FINDINGS OF ENTEREST. THE FOLLOWING IS A DAY BY DAY LIST OF AMERICAN CAUSULTIES STRARTING AUGUST ,25 (THE DAY KATRINA ENTERED THE GULF) THRU SEPTEMBER, 28.


DATE DEATHS COMMENTS

AUGUST 25 3
AUGUST 26 0 KATRINA BECOMES CAT. 4
AUGUST 27 1 STORM GETS BIGGER
AUGUST 28 1 STORM HITS
AUGUST 30 1
AUGUST 31 3 ONE NON COMBAT CAR ACCIDENT
SEPTEMBER 1 2
SEPTEMBER 2 1
SEPTEMBER 3 1 NON COMBAT GUN ACCIDENT
SEPTEMBER 4 0
SEPTEMBER 5 3 ONE DIED NON COMBAT ACCIDENT
SEPTEMBER 6 3
SEPTEMBER 7 2 TWO NON COMBAT ACCIDENTS
SEPTEMBER 8 0 AMERICA STILL GLUED TO NEWS
SEPTEMBER 9 0
SEPTEMBER 10 0
SEPTEMBER 11 2 FEWEST ONE WEEK TOTAL
SEPTEMBER 12 0 TWO DEATHS BETWEEN
SEPTEMBER 13 0 SEP 8 AND SEP 14
SEPTEMBER 14 0
SEPTEMBER 15 1
SEPTEMBER 16 3 TWO WEEKS AFTER STORM
SEPTEMBER 17 1
SEPTEMBER 18 0 RITA COMES ON SCENE
SEPTEMBER 19 5
SEPTEMBER 20 2
SEPTEMBER 21 2 ONE ACCIDENT RITA HEADS FOR TEXAS
SEPTEMBER 22 3
SEPTEMBER 23 3 RITA HITS
SEPTEMBER 24 1
SEPTEMBER 25 1
SEPTEMBER 26 6 ONE NON COMBAT GUN SHOT
SEPTEMBER 27 0 VERY LITTLE RITA COVERAGE
SEPTEMBER 28 5

SEPTEMBER WITH 49 DEATHS HAD THE SECOND LOWEST TOTAL IN THE PAST YEAR . MARCH 05 HAD 35. SEPTEMBER 05 ALSO FOLLOWED THE THIRD HIGHEST MONTH SINCE THE WAR BEGAN. (AUGUST 05 HAD 85)

LESSONS IN THE WIND

WOW!!! AFTER FOUR WEEKS OF HURRICANES I FEEL LIKE THERE IS ONE SPINNING AROUND IN MY HEAD. THERE HAS BEEN MANY ACCUSATIONS, MUCH MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACKING AND A LOT OF POLITICAL JOCKEYING.

MUCH TALK HAS CENTERED AROUND WHAT WENT WRONG, THINGS LIKE
1. WHY DIDN'T BUSH FORTIFY THE LEVEE SYSTEM OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS
.
2. WHY DIDN'T BUSH IMMEDIATELY HAVE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TAKE OVER THE SITUATION .

3.BUSH'S TAX CUTS TO THE RICH CAUSED THE POVERTY IN NEW ORLEANS WHICH MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THOUSANDS TO GET OUT.

4. BUSH SIMPLY DOSE NOT LIKE BLACK PEOPLE.

5. BUSH CAUSED GLOBAL WARMING CREATING THE HURRICANES IN THE FIRST PLACE.

6.A WEATHER MACHINE OWNED BY THE RUSSIANS CAUSED THE STORMS.

7.THE MAYOR OF NEW ORLEANS IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE.

8. GOD IS PUNISHING AMERICA..

LOOK PAST IDEAOLOGS AND NUT CASES AND DRAW YOUR OWN CONCLUSIONS. IF WE DON'T LEARN FROM THESE TERRIBLE STORMS WE WILL NEVER LEARN. HERE'S A LITTLE OF WHAT I HAVE LEARNED.

1.TRUSTING IN GOVERNMENT(NO MATTER WHO'S IN CHARGE) IS NOT A SAFE BET.
ALL LEVELS FAILED. THE CITY, STATE AND YES THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION.
THIS CRISIS DISPLAYED HOW TOTALLY INEPT GOVERNMENT REALLY IS. I CAN'T BELIEVE MILLIONS OF AMERICANS WANT TO TURN EVEN MORE OF OUR LIVES OVER TO IT. THESE DISASTERS SHOWED HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO BE AS SELF SUFFICIENT AS POSSIBLE. IT DEMONSTRATED THAT IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE MEANS TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF YOU NEED TO GET INVOLVED WITH NEIGHBORS, CHURCH OR CIVIC GROUPS THAT WILL BE ABLE TO HELP YOU. DO NOT DEPEND ON GOVERNMENT.

2. IF NECESSARY, WELL RUN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE THE BEST BET TO GET THINGS DONE. CITIES SUCH AS DALLAS, HOUSTON, FORNEY ,GARLAND AND MANY OTHERS ALL DID REMARKABLE JOBS HANDLING THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE .

3.FREE SOCIETIES GIVES PEOPLE THE CHOICE TO MAKE BAD CHOICES. I'M A FIRM BELIEVER IN THE FREEDOMS WE ENJOY. I BELIEVE THESE FREEDOMS ARE WHAT MAKE US SO PROSPEROUS AND SO ENVIED AROUND THE WORLD. FREEDOMS ALSO GIVE PEOPLE THE CHANCE TO FAIL OR IN RECENT HISTORY DIE BECAUSE OF POOR DECISIONS. AS THE FLOOD WATERS RECEDED HUNDREDS OF CARS WERE REVEALED. WE WERE LED TO BELIEVE THAT ALL THE PEOPLE STRANDED IN NEW ORLEANS HAD NO WAY OF ESCAPING. NOT ALL BUT,MAYBE NOT EVEN MOST BUT MANY PEOPLE CHOSE TO STAY EXERCISING THEIR RIGHT TO MAKE BAD CHOICES.

4. SO MANY PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE LIVING ALONG OUR GULF COAST. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ATTRACTS SO MANY PEOPLE TO HIGH TEMPERATURES, SALT WATER, SAND AND THE SMELL OF DEAD FISH BUT IT DOSE. ENTHUSIASTICALLY REBUILDING NEEDS TO BE EXAMINED. WE SHOULD NOT PUT HOSPITALS, SCHOOLS, NURSING HOMES AND VITAL INDUSTRIAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN SUCH DANGEROUS PLACES. I'M ALL FOR FREEDOM BUT NOT TOTAL FREEDOM. PEOPLE CAN'T LIVE ANYWHERE THEY CHOSE AND EXPECT THE REST OF US TO SAVE THEM AND REBUILD THEIR LIVES. LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CAN'T CARELESSLY ALLOW THEIR CITIES TO EXPAND IN AREAS THAT POSE SO MUCH DANGER. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS RISK EVERYWHERE BUT IT'S HARD TO HAVE OUR OIL REFINERY INDUSTRY DESTROYED BY A HURRICANE IN WEST TEXAS.

5.WE MUST DEVELOP OUR CAPACITY TO PRODUCE OIL AND REFINE GASOLINE WHILE WE COME UP WITH ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES. WE ALL DEPEND ON FUEL. NEW REFINERIES MUST BE FUNDED AND BUILT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AWAY FROM THE GULF COAST. CRISIS LIKE THESE LEAVE US TOO DEPENDENT ON OIL PRODUCING COUNTRIES, SOME OF WHICH CARE VERY LITTLE FOR US.

6. WE NEED TO REALLY START CONSERVING. CAR POOLING, CUT DOWN UNNECESSARY TRAVEL, TAKE A LOOK AT LARGE VEHICLES. PRESIDENT BUSH NEEDS TO START A CAMPAIGN OF CONSERVATION. NOW IS A GREAT TIME BECAUSE SO MANY ARE FOCUSED ON THE ISSUE. THIS WILL BE AN ISSUE IN 2008 SO HE SHOULD TAKE THE LEAD NOW. ANY MEANINGFUL SOLUTIONS WILL TAKE TIME TO TAKE EFFECT. BUSH NEEDS TO LEAD NOW!

7.TO MANY ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE MORE INTERESTED IN GAINING OR MAINTAINING POWER THAN TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS . THEIR CONDUCT REINFORCES MY BELIEF IN THE NEED FOR TERM LIMITS .. MANY CAREER "PUBLIC SERVANTS" HAVE NO IDEA WHAT LIFE IN AMERICA IS ALL ABOUT. THEY HAVE SPENT THEIR ENTIRE ADULT LIFE RAISING MONEY , SHAKING HANDS AND PLANNING FOR THEIR NEXT ELECTION. WE NEED PEOPLE TO COME AND SERVE AND THEN GO BACK TO PRIVATE LIFE.

8.. FINALLY, HAVING TO EVACUATE A LARGE METRO AREA QUICKLY IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. MANY NEWS TYPES HAVE POSED THE QUESTION "ARE WE READY TO EVACUATE A LARGE CITY IN CASE OF A LARGE ATTACK?" ALL THAT HAVE BEEN ASKED THIS QUESTION HAVE AVOIDED THE ANSWER. THEY AVOID IT BECAUSE THE ANSWER IS NO AND NO ONE WANTS TO HERE THAT. THIS REALITY GOES BACK TO MY FIRST LESSON. CONTRARY TO WHAT MANY PEOPLE SAY GOVERNMENT CAN'T COMPLETELY TAKE CARE OF US AND DOSE NOT HAVE A PLAN FOR EVERYTHING. ANY POLITICIAN THAT SAYS GOVERNMENT CAN ,ESPECIALLY IF THEIR IN OFFICE IS A LIAR.

MAYBE FARE MINDED PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO DEBATE AND BEGIN TO SOLVE THESE DIFFICULT ISSUES . I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO OTHER OPINIONS AND HOPE THAT WE ALL MIGHT BE PART OF THE SOLUTION.

Missing from action

i overloaded myself with all the hurricane coverage and have not taken time to share my insight. there are many topics to discuss but little time to discuss them. i do plan to take a final look at the news and how it might have effected casualties in iraq. if you haven't read my previous blogs about this topic you should to catch up. this will come shortly as the month ends.

the hurricanes unveiled much about our country, it's politicians and citizens and i know i will be plunging into that also. i have had several comments about blogging in all caps. i've been told its like i'm yelling or talking loud. being a computer novice i had never heard that before but i hope those that mentioned this ARE HAPPY!! that i got in step with everybody else AT LEAST FOR THIS POST.

GENIUS TOPS 1000"

SOMETIME IN THE EARLY HOURS OF SEPTEMBER , 17 MY FLEDGLING BLOG SITE RECORDED IT'S 1000 HIT. ( OF COURSE, MAYBE 200 OF THEM WERE ME)

IF YOU HAVE READ MY BLOGS (AND YOU SHOULD) YOU HAVE NOTICED I'VE FOCUSED ON MORE SERIOUS TOPICS AND HAVE NOT REVEALED MUCH INSIGHT ON MY PERSONAL LIFE. PERHAPS IN TIME , MY GROWING BLOG FANDOM WILL ALSO BENEFIT FROM MY GREAT WISDOM CONCERNING LIFE AND IT'S MANY PATHS.

FOR NOW I HAVE TO GO. THERE'S MUCH TO DO........... LAUNDRY, FIX A BED, FIX A CEILING FAN, HANG SOME MINI BLINDS AT MY MOM'S, CHANGE THE CAT LITTER, MOW THE YARD......................................................MAYBE MY PERSONAL LIFE ISN'T THAT INTERESTING.

DID KATRINA IMPACT IRAQ PART TWO

IN MY PREVIOUS BLOG I EXAMINED THE POSSIBILITY OF THE ENORMOUS NEWS COVERAGE OF KATRINA AND IT'S POSSIBLE EFFECT ON DEATHS OF AMERICAN SOLDIERS. I STATED THAT I WOULD CONTINUE TO KEEP AN EYE ON THE SITUATION AND KEEP THOSE INTERESTED INFORMED WITH MY FINDINGS. I BELIEVE NEWS STILL RULES.

COVERAGE OF THE STORM HAS OBVIOUSLY WANED BUT COVERAGE OF THE AFTERMATH AND WHO'S TO BLAME IS STILL GOING STRONG. TELEVISION NEWS,AS WELL AS, THE PRINT MEDIA ARE STILL DEVOTING MUCH TIME AND ENERGY ON THIS ASPECT OF THE DISASTER. THE THURSDAY DALLAS MORNING NEWS IS A GOOD EXAMPLE.

TWO OTHER DEVELOPING STORIES HAVE CAPTURED MUCH OF AMERICA'S ATTENTION. THESE STORIES ARE THE HURRICANE ON THE EAST COAST AND THE CONFIRMATION HEARINGS FOR JOHN ROBERTS

DEATHS AMONG US SOLDIERS REMAINS LOW WITH THIRTEEN TOTAL FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER ( FOUR NON- COMBAT) WITH ONLY FIVE SINCE KATRINA. THIS FOLLOWS AUGUST, THE THIRD DEADLIEST MONTH SINCE THE WAR BEGAN.
(AUGUST, 2005 85 CASUALTIES)

THE BOMBERS HOWEVER , DO NOT SEEM TO LETTING UP WHEN IT COMES TO CIVILIANS. THE LAST FEW DAYS HAVE BEEN SOME OF THE BLOODIEST OF THIS CONFLICT WITH MANY KILLED. THESE RECENT BOMBINGS HAVE RECEIVED COVERAGE BUT NOTHING LIKE THOSE THAT INVOLVE MILITARY PERSONAL.
THESE BOMBINGS SHOW THERE ARE STILL MANY WILLING SUICIDE KILLERS.

I BELIEVE THEY ARE STILL BIDING THEIR TIME TO MAXIMIZE THEIR NEWS COVERAGE. WHAT DO YOU THINK?

DID KATRINA IMPACT IRAQ?

AT THE END OF LAST WEEK I SUDDENLY NOTICED I HAD NOT SEEN REPORTS OF US SOLDIERS DEATHS. I THOUGHT MOST LIKELY THE UNFOLDING KATRINA STORY HAD JUST DOMINATED ALL NEWS. AS I READ THE FRIDAY PAPER I BEGAN SCANNING TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY STORIES CONCERNING AMERICAN SERVICE PERSONAL AND COULD NOT FIND ANY.

NOT SATISFIED, I TURNED TO THE NET AND AGAIN FOUND NOTHING. I CONTINUED SEARCHING AND FOUND A WEB SITE CALLED CASUALTIES OF WAR. THIS SITE CONTAINS UP TO DATE ACCOUNTS OF ALL DEATHS . I RECOMMEND VISITING THIS SITE ,IT HAS VERY INTERESTING DATA CONCERNING IRAQ BUT ALSO AMERICA'S HISTORY OF WAR FARE AND RELATED DEATHS.

I SCANNED THIS DATA BACK FOR SIX MONTHS AND COULD FIND NO OTHER TIME PERIOD THAT COMPARED WITH THE PAST TWO WEEKS WHERE SO FEW AMERICAN CASUALTIES HAD OCCURRED. A THEORY STARTED TO COME INTO MY MIND BUT I NEEDED MORE EVIDENCE.

I BROKE DEATH RATES DOWN BY DAYS OF THE WEEK AND DISCOVERED THAT FRIDAY HAD THE FEWEST NUMBERS OF DEATHS. SUNDAY, MONDAY AND TUESDAY ALL LED THE WAY ABOUT EQUAL.

I PROPOSE THE HANDLERS OF THE SUICIDE BOMBERS WANT TO GET MAXIMUM EFFECT FROM EACH BLAST. BY EFFECT, I DON'T MEAN JUST THE DESTRUCTION ITSELF BUT THE MORE IMPORTANT NEWS COVERAGE . THEY DON'T WANT TO WASTE A PERFECTLY GOOD VOLUNTEER IF THEY FEEL AMERICA WONT HEAR ABOUT IT.

PRIOR TO KATRINA I BELIEVE FRIDAYS HAVE REMAINED LESS DANGEROUS BECAUSE MANY AMERICAN'S ARE PREOCCUPIED WITH THE WEEKEND MAKING IT A LESS DESIRABLE NEWS DAY. I BELIEVE WE ARE ENGAGED WITH SOME VERY CRAZY PEOPLE BUT NOT AT ALL STUPID. THERE ONLY HOPE OF VICTORY IS TO WIN THE WAR IN THE MEDIA.

AS THE COVERAGE OF KATRINA BECOMES LESS DOMINATE I WILL BE CLOSELY WATCHING TO SEE IF BOMBINGS INCREASE. I BELIEVE THEY WILL.