As U.S. Weakness Leads To Global Rearmament, Can War Be Far Behind?

As U.S. Weakness Leads To Global Rearmament, Can War Be Far Behind? - Investors.com:
"Deja Vu:
As the U.S. defense posture continues to slump, several onetime allies are getting nervous about growing threats and starting to rearm.
Not to be alarmist, but isn't that what happened just before World War II?

It's no exaggeration to say that President Obama, by slashing defense spending, is encouraging other nations to step up their arms programs to fill the growing void left by a shrinking U.S. military.

The numbers are stark. According to a recent report by the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, U.S. defense outlays hit a post-World War II high in 2010.
Since then, after inflation, they've fallen 21%."

WeMOG Wednesday

Wednesday 2/12/14, Muskegon State Park, Snug Harbor:  

Ski / hike/ snowshoe

Gather at 4:30 for a couple hours of outdoor fun followed by dinner and live music by the Oat Bran Boys at the Red Rooster Tavern, 2998 Scenic Dr.

Details:  Enter the park at the Snug Harbor entrance off Memorial Drive. Skiers turn left after entering and meet Dawn for skiing. Hikers/snowshoers go right after entering and meet Kathy. We will play in the snow-that-never-ends for a couple of hours then move on to Red Rooster just a short drive up Scenic Drive for food & fun. 

Bring or meet friends/spouses about 6:30- 6:45 for dinner & music if they don’t want to ski or snowshoe. I will make a reservation so PLEASE RSVP by Wed. noon.  

Dawn Berry cycleberry@yahoo.com   or call 231-865-3919.  See you there!

History for February 11

History for February 11 - On-This-Day.com:

Birth anniversary of Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931).

 

Happy Birthday! Tina Louise, Sarah Palin, Burt Reynolds

1808 - Judge Jesse Fell experimented by burning anthracite coal to keep his house warm. He successfully showed how clean the coal burned and how cheaply it could be used as a heating fuel. 


1812 - The term "gerrymandering" had its beginning when the governor of Massachusetts, Elbridge Gerry, signed a redistricting law that favored his party. 


1943 - General Dwight David Eisenhower was selected to command the allied armies in Europe. (Today in World War II History) 

1945 - During World War II, the Yalta Agreement was signed by U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet leader Josef Stalin. (Today in World War II History) 

1975 - Margaret Thatcher became the first woman to head a major party in Britain when she was elected leader of the Conservative Party. 


1979 - Nine days after the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returned to Iran (after 15 years in exile) power was seized by his followers. 


1993 - Janet Reno was appointed to the position of attorney general by U.S. President Clinton. She was the first female to hold the position. 


2006 - In Texas, U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney accidentally shot and wounded a companion during a quail hunt. 

2009 - John Dingell of Michigan became the longest serving member of the U.S. House of Representatives. He had more than 53 years of service.

Liz Hurley denies Clinton affair, we reveal her remarkable likeness to Monica Lewinsky

Liz Hurley denies Clinton affair, we reveal her remarkable likeness to Monica Lewinsky | Mail Online:
"This week Liz Hurley's ex-boyfriend Tom Sizemore made sensational claims that the actress had a secret affair with former President Bill Clinton.

Sizemore has now dismissed the allegations as drug-induced ramblings, saying that he has never met Clinton and never gave him Hurley's phone number.

But while the claims may have proven false, the Daily Mail can reveal a striking resemblance between Hurley and Clinton's former lover, Monica Lewinsky."

Snyder wants pandas, touts economic gains to Detroit Regional Chamber

Snyder wants pandas, touts economic gains to Detroit Regional Chamber | The Detroit News:

"Detroit — In his third State of Michigan Business address delivered Friday at the MGM Grand, Gov. Rick Snyder revealed that trade missions to China have prompted him to mount an effort to bring Chinese pandas to Detroit."

Obama: “What will you do when I’m gone?” Allen West's reply is EPIC!

Obama: “What will you do when I’m gone?” Allen West's reply is EPIC!:
"On Sunday, President Obama on Fox asked Bill O’Reilly, “what are you (Fox News) going to do when I’m gone?”
Read Allen West’s epic reply:
From AllenBWest.com:
Well, I can’t answer for Fox News but America will celebrate Obama’s departure.
We’ll begin to repair our broken economy and get Americans back to work. 
We’ll reverse his welfare nanny-state expansion, regardless of his insidious comparison to the GI Bill and dismissal of his policies.

We’ll work to develop our energy independence, not just on state and private lands.
We will restore our defense capability and regain our global respect and regard that has been so tarnished by his weakness.
Lastly, we’ll find a statesman and leader who can respect our Constitution."

Robert Gibbs: 'Hard To Overestimate The Real Damage' Inflicted on President Obama's....

MSM Whitewashes CBO Obamacare Report

MSM Whitewashes CBO Obamacare Report | The American Spectator:

"Samuel Butler once observed, “The most important service rendered by the press and the magazines is that of educating people to approach printed matter with distrust.”

Anyone who wishes to confirm the accuracy of Butler’s assessment of the Fourth Estate need look no further than its Orwellian coverage of the recent report from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) concerning the economic effects of Obamacare."

Leisure studies professor rebukes Republicanss liking jobs

Leisure studies professor rebukes Republicanss liking jobs | The Daily Caller:
"A professor of leisure studies at the University of Iowa has written a 1,278-word essay excoriating Republicans for criticizing both unemployment caused by Obamacare and unemployment generally.

Also, there is such a thing as a leisure studies major at taxpayer-supported American universities.

The essay by Benjamin Kline Hunnicut, entitled “Why Do Republicans Want Us to Work All the Time?” appears in Politico

Look up marijuana-related arrests in your county | MLive.com

Look up marijuana-related arrests in your county | MLive.com: "LANSING, MI -- Van Buren County had the highest rate of marijuana-related arrests among Michigan's larger counties in 2012, followed closely by Berrien and Saginaw counties, according to statistics reported to the Michigan State Police.


Van Buren had 3.5 marijuana arrests per 1,000 residents in 2012, which comprised two-thirds of the county's total drug arrests and 8 percent of arrests for all offenses.

The Kalamazoo Gazette calculated the arrest numbers and arrest rates for the 36 Michigan counties with a population over 50,000. Those counties account for almost 88 percent of Michigan's population.

The analysis found that urban areas tended to have much higher arrest rates than rural and suburban communities. "

Obama's Loafer Nation

Articles: Obama's Loafer Nation:

"President Obama has broken many promises. 

One that he has not broken is his boast that he would "fundamentally transform America." 

He and his fellow Democrats are on the verge of doing just that by turning us into a nation of loafers.

A loafer is an idle person who lives off others.  

Barack Obama seemingly has no problem with such people. 

He might even relate to them.

He does have a serious problem with his own work ethic, and finds work boring.

He also denigrates the work of others who build businesses through dint of hard work and risk-taking ("You didn't build that");

talks incessantly of "fat cats" on Wall Street; embraced the Occupy Wall Street Movement of squatters  and pumped up their own inflated self-importance by telling them "You are the reason I ran for office";

and accuses doctors of running up the tab by, among other evils, taking tonsils out for money instead of  diagnosing problems as allergies).

He has yet to speak critically of union leaders, class action lawyers and others who run up the tab for all Americans because they are, after all, the Democratic Base."

CFACT to EPA: Proposed power plant regs nothing less than industrial sabotage

CFACT to EPA: Proposed power plant regs nothing less than industrial sabotage:
"CFACT testified today at EPA’s hearing on proposed emissions regulations for new power plants. 
These regulations will make it nearly impossible to create a new coal-fired electricity plant in the United States at a time when China, India and even Germany are expanding their use of coal."

Russian Olympic announcers root for Russians, pull against Americans

Russian Olympic announcers root for Russians, pull against Americans:
"As the young Olympic gymnast competed in the all-arounds, the TV announcer said:
"She messed up really well. 
This is so good, she got another deduction of points." 

 Not the type of attitude you'd normally expect from a TV sports commentator.
Unless the announcer is Russian, and the athlete is an American.
 Though every country's commentators undoubtedly want their respective nations to win, nowhere is that more clear than in Russia—the host country of this year's Winter Olympic games in Sochi.
 If the London Olympics are any indication, not only do the Russians want their athletes to win—just as importantly, they want the Americans to lose."

Schumer’s latest scheme

Schumer’s latest scheme | The Daily Caller:
If they can wait 3 years …: If Republicans don’t trust President Obama’s implementation of an immigration law, suggests Sen. Schumer,, why not a compromise that postpones the effective date until after Obama leaves office?
“Let’s enact a law this year, but simply not let it actually start till 2017, after President Obama’s term is over.”
 I assume Schumer’s talking about delaying the amnesty parts of “reform.”**
But if today’s illegal immigrants can wait three years for their instant work permits, why can’t they wait five--until the essential enforcement mechanisms like E-verify, a border fence and a visa tracking system are not only in place but have survived the inevitable ACLU-style assault in the courts? 
Then we wouldn’t have to trust Obama or the next president.
The legalization wouldn’t happen unless and until the enforcement happened."

Pension Mess the Result of Union Fantasy Politics

Pension Mess the Result of Union Fantasy Politics - Mark Baisley - Townhall Finance Conservative Columnists and Financial Commentary - Page 1:

We only have to look as far as Detroit to see the results of statism carried out to its tragic mathematical folly. Not only do the neighborhoods look like General Rommel just marched through, the bank accounts also look like they have been victimized by Nazi plunder. Detroit’s public employee pension plan is about $20 billion in the hole.

Several other large American cities are facing similar crises in unfunded pension liabilities, with Chicago leading in debt as tall as its skyscrapers. The state of Illinois, along with all of its city governments, combine for more that $200 billion in unfunded retirement promises to its public employees.

This national mess is purely the outcome of fantasy politics. Liberals vote liberals into office who promise liberals that they will liberally fund their pensions. The sum of all unfunded public employee pension liabilities across the country is now pushing $1 trillion. It’s just not funny anymore.

While less dramatic, Social Security is facing a similar demise. The insolvency date keeps officially moving closer and is now predicted to arrive about 18 years from today.

The United States Treasury withholds money from our paychecks during our working years with the good intent of making payments back to us during our retirement years. But the moment that our withheld dollars arrive in Washington, they are immediately borrowed by an out-of-control Congress to fund the dreams of the president’s father.

History for February 10

History for February 10 - On-This-Day.com

Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show begins at Madison Square Garden, New York, NY (Feb 10-11). 138th annual. See www.westminsterkennelclub.org

Birth anniversaries of Boris Pasternak (1890-1960) and Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956).

Happy Birthday! Donovan, Roberta Flack, Mark Spitz

1763 - The Treaty of Paris ended the French and Indian War. In the treaty France ceded Canada to England. 


1846 - Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints began their exodus to the west from Illinois. 


1863 - In New York City, two of the world’s most famous midgets, General Tom Thumb and Lavinia Warren were married. 


1863 - The fire extinguisher was patented by Alanson Crane. 


1962 - The Soviet Union exchanged capture American U2 pilot Francis Gary Powers for the Soviet spy Rudolph Ivanovich Abel being held by the U.S. 


1992 - Mike Tyson was convicted in Indianapolis of raping Desiree Washington, Miss Black American contestant. 


2005 - North Korea publicly announced for the first time that it had nuclear arms. The country also rejected attempts to restart disarmament talks in the near future saying that it needed the weapons as protection against an increasingly hostile United States.

CHANGE OF PLANS FOR MONDAY'S SKI

Let's make Monday's ski a loop returning to Coast Guard Park, with the goal to make it to the Hoffmaster picnic shelter.  For those who don't wish to ski that far, some can turn back at any point.  There will be no automobile transportation from Hoffmaster as originally planned.

See you there.--

Norway Deports Record Number Of Muslims To Reduce Crime

» Norway Deports Record Number Of Muslims To Reduce Crime:

"Norway Deports Record Number Of Muslims To Reduce Crime
Record number of foreigners deported.

Record number of foreign citizens were deported from Norway last year, after country’s police stepped up the use of deportation as a way of fighting crime."

10 Travel Mistakes That Will Ruin Your Life

10 Travel Mistakes That Will Ruin Your Life - Airfarewatchdog:

"Contracting Parasites 
 You can't see them, and you might not know you have them until months or even years later, but parasites can ruin your health.

Microscopic parasites can be contracted by drinking contaminated water, by eating undercooked meats or improperly washed fruits and vegetables, or through a bug bite.

One SmarterTravel staffer experienced the trauma of a parasite, and his story gives us chills:
"I don't know where I contracted [leishmaniasis].
They think most likely when I was in Crete, since that timing seemed to fit and that was the only place I'd been where this disease occurs, although it's still pretty rare there.
If it was Crete, the symptoms didn't appear until almost a year later.
I was on and off sick for about four months until they figured out what it was.
Went through lots of doctor's visits and tests.
They were going to remove my spleen for diagnosis but found out what it was right before that."

The Full Putin

The Full Putin :: SteynOnline:

"MARK STEYN:

Well, if that's what it's come down to, Hugh, I picked up the Union Leader this morning, and there is Scott Brown topless on the front page of the Union Leader [RIGHT].

I think he's the first Republican to appear, Republican candidate to appear topless on the front page of the Union Leader since Elizabeth Dole in 1999. 

I can't remember, my memory may be playing tricks.

But I can assure you, I'm running a serious, sober campaign, and I intend to remain fully clothed, at least until the focus groups reveal that there is some advantage to me disrobing."

‘Work is a beautiful thing’: Powerful 60 second video renews Americans’ pride

‘Work is a beautiful thing’: Powerful 60 second video renews Americans’ pride - BizPac Review

“Dirty Jobs” host Mike Rowe teamed up with Wal-Mart to make a compelling video describing the most basic commodity of humankind — labor, and the dignity it provides.

Whether it’s digging a road-side ditch or solving a problem in quantum physics, the nobility of labor offers a satisfaction and fills a need that can’t be replaced by free health care or an EBT card.

‘Hypocrisy Much?!’: What Leaders of N.C. Rally Against Stricter Voter I.D. Laws Tell Marchers to Carry Just Might Make Your Head Explode

‘Hypocrisy Much?!’: What Leaders of N.C. Rally Against Stricter Voter I.D. Laws Tell Marchers to Carry Just Might Make Your Head Explode | TheBlaze.com:

"You have to wonder how many among the thousands who participated in Saturday’s “Moral March on Raleigh” in North Carolina, angry with GOP policies approved in 2013 — including a stricter voter I.D. law — heeded one peculiar warning from march organizers:"