December 1, 2017

I returned from my trip to the Falklands, South Georgia, and Antarctica on Nov. 15th.

Here are a couple of pictures.

Antarctic Peninsula
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/141503339@N07/23890250997/in/album-72157666952626009/" title="IMG_0870"><img src="" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_0870"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

King Penguins and ship

<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/141503339@N07/38723643932/in/album-72157666952626009/" title="IMG_0424"><img src="" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_0424"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Adelie Penguins
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/141503339@N07/38038531344/in/album-72157666952626009/" title="IMG_1000"><img src="" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1000"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Blue Iceberg

<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/141503339@N07/37868276065/in/album-72157666952626009/" title="IMG_0752"><img src="" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_0752"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Now, can anybody tell me how to eliminate all the extra stuff from Flickr?

December 1, 2017

Hatch, leading the fight for $1.5 trillion deficit-boosting tax cuts, says we can't afford CHIP

https://m.dailykos.com/stories/2017/11/30/1719944/-Hatch-leading-the-fight-for-1-5-trillion-deficit-boosting-tax-cuts-says-we-can-t-afford-CHIP

On the Senate floor Thursday, while arguing that the $1.5 trillion tax cuts bill that his committee has shepherded to the floor is good policy, Sen. Orrin Hatch said the nation can't afford the Children's Health Insurance Program unless other spending cuts are made. The invaluable Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio pressed Hatch on the fact that CHIP funding lapsed 31 days ago, and that states are now having to start informing CHIP clients that their coverage is going away, and asked why it wasn't the top priority of Republicans.

Hatch resorted to his favorite trick: feigned outrage at what he turns into a personal affront. "I invented it," he said of CHIP. "I was the one who wrote it. Kennedy came over and helped to put it through." But then you get the real Hatch, what he really believes

But let me tell you something. We're going to do CHIP, there's no question about it in my mind. It has to be done the right way. But we—the reason CHIP is having trouble is because we don't have money anymore. We just add more and more spending and more and more spending, and you can look at the rest of the bill for the more and more spending.
Get that? We can afford permanent tax cuts for the rich and corporations, but we can't afford to take care of 9 million children. Oh, but it gets much worse.

November 24, 2017

I just had to release my 16 year old tri-paw dog, Sugar. It's a beautiful

morning here, the day after Thanksgiving. He got up, as normal, and I helped him down the stairs. Let him outside while I fixed his breakfast. When I went to let him in, I knew something was terribly wrong. He had collapsed and wouldn't even try to stand. I rushed him to the vet's where xrays showed a tumor near the liver and spots on lungs. His tummy was enlarged and extremely sensitive to touch.
He was 16, so they did not recommend surgery and believe the tumor had ruptured.
I will miss him terribly. He had an extra 5 years since his leg was amputated due to cancer. His 'brother' will be lost without him. He's 15 and they spent their lives together.
R.I.P. Sugar Bear.