67% Say States Should Be Able To Enforce Immigration Laws If Feds Are Not

2 to 1, a slam dunk!

67% Say States Should Be Able To Enforce Immigration Laws If Feds Are Not

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43% Say Government Policy Mistakes Created Great Depression of 1930s, 26% Disagree

The breakdown by party is interesting. It is no surprise that Republicans, largely conservative, by majority feel that the Keynsian steps taken to combat the great depression, augmented it. That democrates are evenly divided on the topic is more informative. No doubt that most voting citizens have real doubts that government fixes are ineffective.
Perhaps effectiveness doubts are centered on the pet programs of others, lets hope we aren't all so cynical as that.

43% Say Government Policy Mistakes Created Great Depression of 1930s, 26% Disagree

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Bloomies?

Forwarded to me by Dustin..
I have bought guns at this store, plan to buy more.

The Marietta Daily Journal - Smyrna gun shop owner expanding business

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21 Years Ago Today

Charles Westover committed suicide on this day in 1990.
In April 1961 he had the number one hit in the United States.
Twenty-nine years later, he was rumored to take the place of the departed Roy Orbison in the band "The Taveling Wilburys".
Better known as Del Shannon, his song Runaway is one of the seminal songs in pop music.
For me, after watching the movie American Graffiti, this haunting song my favorite of the era leading up to the British invasion.

RIP Del Shannon.

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Most Americans Go for Girl Scout Cookies

Every year when a niece and nice neighbor comes round, I am a sucker for buying these cookies.
Every year the packages get small and the price goes up.
Will not stop though, can't disappoint our little loved ones.

Most Americans Go for Girl Scout Cookies

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MegaVote: GA 13th, 1/31/2011

Not that it matters, because the vote passed anyway, but why would a Democrat vote against abolishing matching funds when inthe last election the Democratic candidate refused the matching funds in favor of accepting unresticted bequests. David Scott's president raised more money than any candidate before him, proving that the skill , experience or ability hold little sway over a person willing to contribute to the man on their side.

Doesn't make any sense at all, this is a vote that would have made him look concilliatory at the least, and fiscally prudent at most.

Congress.org (congress.org) presents: M E G A V O T E  January 31, 2011

In this MegaVote for Georgia's 13th Congressional District:

Recent Congressional Votes -
* Senate: Secret Holds Elimination
* House: Non-Security Discretionary Spending Limit
* House: Presidential Campaign Fund Termination

Upcoming Congressional Bills -
* Senate: FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act

Editor's Note:
The House is in recess until Tuesday, February 8, 2011.

Recent Senate Votes:
Secret Holds Elimination
http://capwiz.com/congressorg/issues/votes/?votenum=2&chamber=S&congress=1121
Vote Agreed to (92-4, 4 Not Voting)

The Senate spent much of the week debating procedural rules.  One of the rule changes the chamber passed was this one that ends the practice of secret holds, where a senator anonymously blocks legislation or a nomination.  The rule change requires a senator to notify his or her party leader within 2 days of placing a hold.
Sen. Saxby Chambliss voted YES
Sen. Johnny Isakson voted YES

Recent House Votes:
Non-Security Discretionary Spending Limit
http://capwiz.com/congressorg/issues/votes/?votenum=20&chamber=H&congress=1121
Vote Passed (256-165, 13 Not Voting)

The House approved this resolution directing the chair of the Budget Committee to reduce non-security spending to 2008 levels for the remainder of the 2011 fiscal year.  The Budget Committee sets spending levels but does not appropriate funds.  The continuing resolution currently funding government operations expires on March 4, 2011.
Rep. David Scott voted NO

Presidential Campaign Fund Termination
http://capwiz.com/congressorg/issues/votes/?votenum=25&chamber=H&congress=1121
Vote Passed (239-160, 35 Not Voting)

The House voted to end a program put in place in 1976 that provides taxpayer funds to presidential candidates and the major parties for their nominating conventions.  The bill's future in the Senate is unclear.
Rep. David Scott voted NO

Upcoming Votes:
FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act - S.223
The Senate is scheduled to take up this bill reauthorizing the Federal Aviation Administration.

MegaVote is powered by the CQ-Roll Call Group (http://corporate.cqrollcall.com)
Copyright (c) 2011.

Georgia Joins Arizona

Now it will our turn to be called ignorant and racist.
These are meant to play to emotional issues, the law's intent is meant to focus law enforcement's actions.
I am all for it.

New Ga. bill targets illegal immigrants and government officials who hire them ajc.com

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It Could Have Happened

When Steve Jobs was out on medical leave. Yeah right! This is just the kind of thing that the smarmy turtle necked geek would be up to his eyeballs in.
In this article found at Computer Dealer News, details explaining how a class action suit has been filed against Apple for alleged privacy violations.

"Apple's privacy policy is opaque and confusing but one thing is clear: it does not inform mobile device users that by providing application developers with their UDID, Apple enables them to put a name to highly personal and in many cases embarrassing information derived from app downloading activity and usage, and Internet browsing history, that would otherwise be anonymous,"

Apple may be selling the download information to other businesses.  Say my brother downloads a fart app, Apple could be selling that information to brown nosers. 

My aversion to Apple products is at least twenty-five years old.  I feel dirty after I've used my Shuffle.  The products may be good but Jobs' attitude to the market and failure to open up the architecture, put them behind Microsoft and the PC.  For engineers, the Apple products merely emulate the Microsoft, there is no advantage to their use, no reason to spend the extra money.

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Florida Judge Strikes Down ObamaCare

An opening salvo in the argument about health care law.
At least the tide is headed in the correct direction.
I am not excited because I fully expect the elected government will find some way to weasel in what they want.
No matter if most of the people don't want it.
No matter if the Supreme Court strike it down.
No matter that it doesn't address tort reform.
No matter that it adds to the federal deficit.
They'll have it because they want it.

Fla. judge strikes down Obama health care overhaul ajc.com

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Sausgage Gravy Biscuits

Was an odd day for me.

After picking up some stuff at Home Depot I decided to treat myself to breakfast at Martin's.  I waited in line behind a young man holding up the works trying to talk on the phone with one hand and an hold up his pants with the other.  Being an irritable sort, it was a struggle to hold my tongue, paid for my sausage gravy biscuit, small grits with extra butter and coke no ice.  When I sat down in the dining area there was an argument going on, the same young man was barking at an older man about being a racist and to mind his own business.  Apparently, the old man had made a derogatory statement about the young man's pants being a disgusting thing to look at, something his wife shouldn't be exposed to.  Soon three of the young man's friends were chipping in with their comments and woman with her child in the same seat started loudly cursing the old man.  The old man who was probably sixty-five or so stood his ground and repeated what he found offensive.  The whole scene really pissed me off.  In the escalation the manager came in and I stood up and made a gesture for them to cool it, which they did.  Soon after one of the young men said he wanted to see blood, I think he was full of crap though, a skinny little thing never budged an inch.  The woman never stopped barking until the old man was gone, no regard for the other people in the restaurant, no regard for what her toddler was learning.

I am left wondering, I know that the pants lower than the buttocks is fashion statement with its origin in penal system, inmates not being given belts.  Because the inmates had no belts, they had to hold up their pants and they could droop.  So there you have it, young men find it fashionable to look like criminals, not rational, but it is what it is.  Additionally, standards of decency are formed as a manner of protecting members from offensive language, and offensive dress.  These same standards serve to teach members to treat other with respect.

The old man and the young men broke standards of decency.  Both would have a fair argument that their actions were reactions.  The young men probably don't realize that they are copying the appearance of men who should not be copied.  They do realize however, and in seeming defiance, that their appearance does offend, they choose assign that offense taken as racism. From the old man, no doubt racism was contributor in making the willingness to return the offense flow more easily from angry thoughts.

My own opinion is conflicted, men should be allowed to dress as they wish, but it is not decent to intentionally offend.  Any young man willing to hang his pants lower than his buttocks, is either too stupid to understand his fashion mimicry, or has selected for himself, a station in life that will not likely produce, anything.  Like tattoos on the face, neck and hands, pants around the butt will keep you from getting a good job.

For me, breakfast wasn't the treat I'd hoped.