James48
James48's JournalMerry Christmas to our military men and women
Around the world, they are there for us.
This year I am blessed to be home in the U.S.A.
For that, I thank my Commander in Chief.
For my fellow veterans who serve today around the world, I say....Merry Christmas, and know that I am thinking about you tonight. God bless and keep you safe, no matter where in the world you are today.
Christmas in Wisconsin
WI Protests--Solidarity Sing Along
"I'm Dreaming of a New Governor"
Attack in Belgian city leaves 5 dead, 122 wounded
LIEGE, Belgium (AP) — Summoned for questioning by Belgian police, a man with a history of weapons and drug offenses left home armed with hand grenades, a revolver and an assault rifle. Stopping at a central square filled with holiday shoppers, he lobbed three grenades into the crowd, then opened fire.
Four people were killed, including an 18-month-old toddler, and 122 were wounded in the assault Tuesday that brought tragedy to the pre-Christmas season of students reveling in exam results and preschoolers enchanted by brightly lit trees and holiday stalls.
Authorities said the shooter also died, but they were at a loss to explain the reason for the onslaught. The prime minister said it was not related to terrorism.
More @ Associated Press:
http://news.yahoo.com/attack-belgian-city-leaves-5-dead-122-wounded-225544271.html
VETO- please!
Rep. Sander Levin of Michigan, senior (D) lawmaker on the Ways and Means Committee, displayed a placard that said:
"Seniors sacrifice: $31 billion. Federal workers sacrifice: $40 billion. Unemployed Americans sacrifice: $11 billion. Millionaires and billionaires sacrifice: $0."
As a federal employee, I am not happy that this bill:
#1. Freezes my and other employees pay AGAIN for the third year straight;
#2. boosts the employee contribution from 0.8% of pay, to 4% of pay towards the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) pension;
#3 reduces the pension calculation of FERS from a High-3 to High-5 calculation, meaning a cut, on average of about 10% in the value of the pension payment;
#4. A reduction of 1% per year credit for years worked to 0.7% per year credit (pension becomes 21% of high-5 years pay, instead of 30% of high-3 pay)
#5 the elimination of the FERS supplement for retirements before age 62. (Currently, if you work over 30 years, you could retire as early as age 57, and receive 30% of your high-three years pay, plus a small supplement until Social Security kicks in at age 62.)
Sure, make me pay. And don't go bothering those millionaires and billionaires. They already pay enough, right?
What about "shared sacrifice?"
Ethanol
OK- so I'll just come out and say it. I'm an ethanol supporter.
Not a supporter of the major corporations that are now running the huge ethanol plants- but rather a supporter of the small farmers who grow the input products, and a supporter of the fueling station small businesses who are selling it.
Because to me, gasoline represents death.
You see, I'm a U.S. Army retiree, and to me, every time I see an oil tanker, I can't get out of my mind the 22 fellow soldiers of my local National Guard unit- the 1462nd Transportation Company-- who were wounded in their year tour in Iraq.
They were wounded by small arms or IED's while hauling petroleum, for the most part.
So for me, every single gallon of gasoline comes at a price I do not want to pay.
Give me ethanol, and that will satisfy my needs.
I don't want to hear about false studies saying ethanol takes more energy to produce that it gives (that's wrong.)
http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/ethanol/balance.html
I just want the USA to use LESS oil. Period. Whatever it takes to use LESS oil.
So my friends won't keep getting killed.
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Member since: Sun Jan 3, 2010, 01:16 AMNumber of posts: 4,435
