Recurring Nightmare

"On each landing, opposite the lift-shaft, the poster with the enormous face gazed from the wall. It was one of those pictures which are so contrived that the eyes follow you about when you move. BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU, the caption beneath it ran...(narrative contines...)The Ministry of Truth -- Minitrue, in Newspeak -- was startlingly different from any other object in sight. It was an enormous pyramidal structure of glittering white concrete, soaring up, terrace after terrace, 300 metres into the air. From where Winston stood it was just possible to read, picked out on its white face in elegant lettering, the three slogans of the Party: WAR IS PEACE, FREEDOM IS SLAVERY, IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH. " 1984, George Orwell. I fear that one day this blog will not exist. Or, if it does, that each letter entered will be scrutinized--and each word that speaks blasphemy of Barack Obama will be subject to punishment. Yet, I fear more, that my fear is becoming reality. That it is ok for the Hollywood types to speak treason of our nation, but God forbid, a college kid say something wrong about B.O. That it is ok for people to call us "whitey" but God forbid anyone mention Barack's preacher's animosity toward the nation. College kids...it's not safe. Civil servants (i.e. POLICE OFFICERS, not O's Civil Army)...it's not safe. Bloggers...well, we all know where we're going. Just pray it's not like Germany in the 30s/40s. Someone pinch me.

The Day Journalism Died.

I grew up adoring journalism and everything it represented. I loved Murphy Brown and wanted to be her one day. Now, I duck my head and quite often am ashamed to admit that I received my B.A. in Journalism. A co-worker and I were discussing the Palin issue yesterday ...the conversation went like this: Me: "I like this quote: "Kudos to the inventor of this whole thing," Stein wrote. "My only consolation is that if I had as much time on my hands as he clearly does, I probably would have figured this out and saved myself a fair amount of embarrassment." –Jonathan Stein I like this quote because Journalism 101 is CHECK YOUR FACTS before you publish a story. And...isn't that his JOB...to check the facts? Where does all his time go if he's not doing his job correctly? Seriously. Learned that day #1." Co Worker: "I haven’t been in journalism since 10th grade but I think I remember that you’re supposed to have two reliable sources. Sometimes the real news is too boring or not scandalous enough so the “drive-bys” create it." Me: "JOUR 1023--Media and Society…”always check your sources and cover all aspects of the story.” Worse class ever? JOUR 3333—don’t remember prof’s name, former New York Times reporter, “Ethics in Journalism”…took it in Spring 2003—my father is in the military (that is the same time as the Iraq war "kick off"). Needless to say, I stirred the pot quite a few times. Only 2 other “conservatives” in the entire class besides me. Ha. The prof LOVED me, though! I challenged him each and every class. Yeah—we’re really required to take this class. Too bad no one pays attention." hmmm... Then good ol' Treacher posted this on his blog later in the day...seems I'm not alone in my thoughts of (hatred) toward the media these days... (summary): Journalism has been sick for months, years...little hope for recovery, but still hope (ME: loving that word "HOPE"). "Some Republican governors tell CNN they were not particularly happy with the way the Republican Governors Association press conference was executed Thursday, saying that they agreed to go as a show of GOP governors' unity -- but they ended up feeling like silent Palin supporters, since it was clearly a press conference called for her. The GOP governors spoke to CNN on condition of anonymity." Think about this last sentence for a minute. It shouldn't take you nearly that long. Think about what it says about the person who wrote it. Think about what it says about the person who allowed it to be published. Think about the entirety of the institution they belong to, which says things like this 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, without batting an eye. An institution that, in fact, blames us for noticing. I wonder if some musician will compose a song about the day the news died? But of course, we won't drive any Chevys to the levies...unless they're hybrid.

Gun Sales Rise on Heels of Democrats Taking D.C.

PROTECTING GUN RIGHTS Respect the Second Amendment: Millions of hunters and shooters own and use guns each year. Barack Obama believes the Second Amendment creates an individual right, and he respects the constitutional rights of Americans to bear arms. He will protect the rights of hunters and other law-abiding Americans to purchase, own, transport, and use guns.

In contrast to the above statement, President Elect's voting record is below: Barack Obama's Gun-Related Votes The U.S. Senate Debated: ObamaVoted: Supporting concealed carry for citizens Anti-gun Banning many common semi-automatic firearms Anti-gun Disallowing self-defense in towns where guns are banned Anti-gun Imposing one handgun a month restrictions Anti-gun Requiring lock up your safety trigger locks Anti-gun Protecting gun dealers from frivolous lawsuits Anti-gun Outlawing gun confiscations during a national emergency Pro-gun Squelching the free speech rights of gun owners Anti-gun Restricting the interstate sales of firearms Anti-gun Repealing the gun ban in Washington, DC Anti-gun RIDDLE ME THIS...if gun owners were not so concerned about their 2nd Amendment right--why have guns sales increased DRAMATICALLY in a time of recession...when the average Joe can barely afford his groceries? ...sure hope Biden gets this violence thing under control...scary thought, huh? 26 year old females with guns. *gasp* Gun sales rise in state on heels of Democrats taking reins in D.C. BY NOEL E. OMAN AND BILL BOWDEN Posted on Tuesday, November 11, 2008 Sales of handguns and semiautomatic assault-style rifles have been up sharply in recent weeks, according to the proprietors of area gun stores. The rise in gun purchases in Arkansas mirrors increases seen in the rest of the nation, fueled by anxiety and uncertainty over what limits might be placed on future gun purchases in the wake of last week’s election that gave the Democratic Party control over the White House and Congress for the first time in more than a decade. “People are nervous,” said Charles Lawson of Don’s Weaponry at 4116 E. Broadway in North Little Rock. “It’s a substantial increase: Personal protection, handguns, shotguns, rifles. You name it — people want to buy it.” At 12: 30 p.m. Monday, the counter in front of the handgun display wall at Fort Thompson, 5802 Warden Road in North Little Rock, was lined with people, who after a few minutes had handguns picked out and forms completed before heading to the cashier. A longer counter in front of the hunting rifles and shotguns on the other side of the store was empty. “We’ve had a tremendous increase” in sales, said Tom Denniston, Fort Thompson owner for the past 24 years. “It’s probably up 60 to 70 percent.” The wall display holds up to 250 handgun models, including three different barrel lengths for some models. Still, about 50 display slots were empty, the models sold out. A smaller wall display for military-style assault weapons was missing some models, which had sold out as well. “Middle-class America is arming itself,” said Gordy Oates of Lonoke, a professional hunter who allowed that he had “personally ordered two cases of buckshot.” A woman from Vilonia who declined to give her name walked out of the store with a new Springfield XD semiautomatic pistol. “I needed a weapon for protection,” she said. “I just never got around to it before now. I didn’t have one I needed for carry. It’s our right, fortunately.” Benny Arego of Arego Guns in Hot Springs said sales are up significantly at his store. “I’d say it’s gone up 250 percent,” said Arego, who ships guns all over the nation. “If it’s black and it holds a lot of bullets — black, high-cap [capacity ] anything, mostly assault weapons.” Gun dealers in Northwest Arkansas have seen the same thing. “My handgun sales — and especially the clip guns like AK-47, AR-15 and the Sega big-clip shotguns and rifles — are up probably 30 percent,” said Clint Cornett, owner of C&S Gun & Pawn Shop in Springdale. “Our sales would be up even more, but we can’t get the product. It’s a problem nationwide.” Cornett said shoppers tell him they want to buy handguns and semiautomatic tactical weapons now because they think a Democratic president and majority Democratic Congress will ban those weapons. He said ammunition has jumped in price by about 20 percent over the past two weeks. Cornett said he stocked up on rifles for deer season, which began Saturday, and he still has some of those guns in stock. John May, sales manager for Wilson Combat and Scattergun Technologies of Berryville, said hunting guns are not selling well nationwide, but stores can’t keep tactical weapons on the shelf. May said Wilson Combat, which manufactures custom guns, saw orders for tactical weapons jump by about 60 percent last week. Orders for handguns are also up, he said. “If they hold a lot of rounds and they’re a tactical gun, then they’re selling well,” he said. “We deal with dealers mostly.... From what I hear, there’s no ammo anywhere.” Wilson Combat was having a record year before last week’s election, May said, but since then, “It’s significantly more crazy than it was.” It takes Wilson Combat about three months to make a custom handgun, which can range from $ 2, 800 to $ 8, 000, May said. Building a tactical rifle, such as an AR-15, takes four to six weeks, and the cost is usually around $ 2, 000. Wilson Combat specializes in handguns, manufacturing about 250 handguns a month. Darinda Sharp, communications and research director for the Democratic Party of Arkansas, suspects something more cynical might be fueling the gun sales. “I can’t think of a single lawabiding citizen who has lost their gun as a result of a Democratic or Republican administration,” she said. “It sounds like a good marketing ploy.” Not all recent gun purchases were about the election. Another factor locally has been the slaying of Anne Pressly, 26, morning news anchor for Little Rock television station KATV, Channel 7. Pressly was found beaten inside her Heights neighborhood home on Oct. 20. She died five days later. “That’s been a big [factor ] in the increase in sales,” said Kevin Lloyd, manager of Bullseye Guns & Ammo at 205 N. Shackleford Road in Little Rock. “A lot are people in the Heights, who lived close to her or who knew her.” As a result of the slaying, people also are purchasing “pepper sprays and stun guns like crazy,” he said. Arego agreed that Pressly’s death has fueled some sales. The weekend before Tuesday’s vote, Arego participated in a gun show in Little Rock and said he’d never had so many first-time gun buyers. “This time it’s more fear,” he said. “Dads bringing their 26-year-old daughter to buy a handgun out of fear. That had nothing to do with the election.”

TWO PHRASES

What two phrases do NOT belong in the sentence below: “…it’s important that President Elect Obama is prepared to take power and begin to rule day one.” --Valerie Jarrett, on Meet the Press, 11/9/08

When did the President of the United States stop governing?

Apparently, according to Ms. Jarrett...the Prez is "ruling" January 21, 2009.

BLOG UPDATE

well guys...please excuse the mess...as the saying goes. I'm in the process of working on my blog layout and it is taking more time than I had expected. Sorry about the LEFT focus of the layout. I am working on correcting this. As for this blog--I believe I'm going to take it on another route these days. As a true lover of history, I intend to post blogs related to events of the past--and how now they are similar to events of our present and future. I'm sure I'll still post rants and raves from time to time, but I would like this to be a more structured blog. Of course, that takes more time...so again. Please excuse the mess. Bless Our Hearts will be updated as soon as humanly (and "computerly") possible. AS OF 11/14/08: Still working on it...but apparently, I will never get away from that stray thought. THIS is my haven for stray thoughts...for all those that never want to listen, this is MY release. So, the blog may not change too much--but it will always be ME. Ms. P. (Big Brother IS watching...)

Happy Veterans Day!!

THANK YOU...from the very bottom of my heart...to each and every Veteran--that have protected this nation in both peaceful and non times. Without you--where would I be today? THANK YOU!!!

My 401K

...may become a thing of the past. My IRAs ...may become a thing of the past. My Social Security ...is already a non-existent entity for someone my age And the government... is wanting to control my personal retirement funds AND my social security (which they've done such a great job on thus far)... So, essentially what will happen? I will not have any Social Security (ok, I've accepted that) and NOW I won't have a 401K...because all the money I have and I will set aside will be able to be used like the money in Social Security. I'll have nothing. Brilliant. http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=79168 http://www.investmentnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081012/REG/310139971 http://www.plnewsforum.com/index.php/forums/viewthread/43528/ http://www.nd.edu/~tghilard/ MORE TO COME...