Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee and the Protect Life Act

Representative Sheila Jackson Lee, Let me point out two things – the Hyde Amendment and Executive Order 13535.

The Hyde Amendment prohibits the use of federal funds to pay for abortions under Medicaid, except for some very clearly defined circumstances (rape, incest, protect the life of the mother) and allows states to use their own money to fund abortions if they so choose.

Executive Order 13535 was signed by President Obama in March of 2010 to re-affirm the long-standing position of the Hyde Amendment on the Patient Protection Act (so-called “Obamacare”).

Sources:

youtube: Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) Speaks Against Pro-Life Act (10.13.11)

wikipedia: Hyde Amendment and Executive Order 13535

Round the World – Pittsburgh

Thursday, October 17

What is this? A telegram! “Belgic sails from San Francisco 24th instead of 28th.” Can we make it? Yes, travelling direct and via Omaha, and not seeing Denver as intended. All right! through we go, and here we are at St. Louis Friday morning, and off for Omaha to catch the Saturday morning train for San Francisco. If we miss but one connection we shall reach San Francisco too late. But we sha’n’t. Having courted the fickle goddess assiduously, and secured her smiles, we are not going to lose faith in her now, come what may. See if our good fortune doesn’t carry us through!

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The above is an excerpt from Andrew Carnegie’s book “Round the World,” published in 1880, documenting his around-the-world journey. I am posting the daily updates on the 143rd anniversary of their entry date.

Round the World – New York

Saturday, October 12, 1878.

Bang! click! the desk closes, the key turns, and good-bye for a year to my wards—that goodly cluster over which I have watched with parental solicitude for many a day; their several cribs full of records and labelled Union Iron Mills, Lucy Furnaces, Keystone Bridge Works, Union Forge, Cokevale Works, and last, but not least, that infant Hercules, the Edgar Thomson Steel Rail Works—good lusty bairns all, and well calculated to survive in The struggle for existence—great things are expected of them in The future, but for the present I bid them farewell; I’m off for a holiday, and the rise and fall of iron and steel “affecteth me not.”

Years ago, Vandy, Harry, and I, standing in the very bottom of the crater of Mount Vesuvius, where we had roasted eggs and drank to the success of our next trip, resolved that some day, instead of turning back as we had then to do, we would make a tour round the Ball. My first return to Scotland and journey through Europe was an epoch in my life, I had so early in my days determined to do it; to-day another epoch comes—our tour fulfils another youthful aspiration. There is a sense of supreme satisfaction in carrying out these early dreams which I think nothing else can give, it is such a triumph to realize one’s castles in the air. Other dreams remain, which in good time also must come to pass; for nothing can defeat these early inborn hopes, if one lives, and if death comes there is, until the latest day, the exaltation which comes from victory if one but continues true to his guiding star and manfully struggles on.

And now what to take for the long weary hours! for travellers know that sight-seeing is hard work, and that the ocean wave may become monotonous. I cannot carry a whole library with me. Yes, even this can be done; mother’s thoughtfulness solves the problem, for she gives me Shakespeare, in thirteen small handy volumes. Come, then, my Shakespeare, you alone of all the mighty past shall be my sole companion. I seek none else; there is no want when you are near, no mood when you are not welcome—a library indeed, and I look forward with great pleasure to many hours’ communion with you on lonely seas—a lover might as well sigh for more than his affianced as I for any but you. A twitch of conscience here. You ploughman bard, who are so much to me, are you then forgotten? No, no, Robin, no need of taking you in my trunk; I have you in my heart, from “A man’s a man for a that” to “My Nannie’s awa’.”

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The above is an excerpt from Andrew Carnegie’s book “Round the World,” published in 1880, documenting his around-the-world journey. I am posting the daily updates on the 143rd anniversary of their entry date.

Round the World – Preface

ROUND THE WORLD

BY ANDREW CARNEGIE

PREFACE

It seems almost unnecessary to say that “Round the World,” like “An American
Four-in-Hand in Britain,” was originally printed for private circulation. My
publishers having asked permission to give it to the public, I have been induced to
undertake the slight revision, and to make some additions necessary to fit the
original for general circulation, not so much by the favorable reception accorded to
the “Four-in-Hand” in England as well as in America, nor even by the flattering
words of the critics who have dealt so kindly with it, but chiefly because of many
valued letters which entire strangers have been so extremely good as to take the
trouble to write to me, and which indeed are still coming almost daily. Some of
these are from invalids who thank me for making the days during which they read the
book pass more brightly than before. Can any knowledge be sweeter to one than this?
These letters are precious to me, and it is their writers who are mainly responsible
for this second volume, especially since some who have thus written have asked where
it could be obtained and I have no copies to send to them, which it would have given
me a rare pleasure to be able to do.

I hope they will like it as they did the other. Some friends consider it better;
others prefer the “Four-in-Hand.” I think them different. While coaching I was more
joyously happy; during the journey round the World I was gaining more knowledge; but
if my readers like me half as well in the latter as in the former mood, I shall have
only too much cause to subscribe myself with sincere thanks,

Most gratefully,

THE AUTHOR.

“Think on thy friends when thou haply see’st
Some rare, noteworthy object in thy travels,
Wish them partakers of thy happiness.”

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The above is an excerpt from Andrew Carnegie’s book “Round the World,” published in 1880, documenting his around-the-world journey. I am posting the daily updates on the 143rd anniversary of their entry date.

Lighten up Francis

On September 22, 2011, H.R. 3011 was introduced in the House, entitled the “Transportation Security Administration Authorization Act of 2011” and there is a curious passage that is turning some heads:

Whoever, except with the written permission of the Assistant Secretary for Transportation Security (or the Director of the Federal Air Marshal Service for issues involving the Federal Air Marshal Service), knowingly uses the words ‘Transportation Security Administration’, ‘United States Transportation Security Administration’, ‘Federal Air Marshal Service’, ‘United States Federal Air Marshal Service’, ‘Federal Air Marshals’, the initials ‘T.S.A.’, ‘F.A.M.S.’, ‘F.A.M.’, or any colorable imitation of such words or initials, or the likeness of a Transportation Security Administration or Federal Air Marshal Service badge, logo, or insignia on any item of apparel, in connection with any advertisement, circular, book, pamphlet, software, or other publication, or with any play, motion picture, broadcast, telecast, or other production, in a matter that is reasonably calculated to convey the impression that the wearer of the item of apparel is acting pursuant to the legal authority of the Transportation Security Administration or Federal Air Marshal Service, or to convey the impression that such advertisement, circular, book, pamphlet, software, or other publication, or such play, motion picture, broadcast, telecast, or other production, is approved, endorsed, or authorized by the Transportation Security Administration or Federal Air Marshal Service.[emphasis added]

Source: Section 295 of H.R. 3011

Apparently, the TSA is developing a very thin skin and is engaging in behavior that reminded me of the above scene from the 1981 movie “Stripes”.

Sources:

youtube.com: Stripes – Don’t Call Me Francis

infowars.com: House Bill Would Criminalize Satire of TSA

thomas.loc.gov: H.R. 3011 and Section 295

Videos from Occupy Wall Street protest – 10-9-11

I shot these videos to try and capture a bit of the “flavor” of the protest – there are no outlandish demands as many have already been posted elsewhere, I just wanted to share what I saw in the two acre park just off of Wall Street.

Videos:

Dancing iPod girl

Drummers

Eviscerates

Hipster Protesters

iPhone protest supporters

Jersey protest family packs it in

Kitchen (rear shot)

Long shot of protest & Handing out Occupied WSJ

Long shot of sitting protesters

Walking past sitting protesters with signs

Tri-corner hat man

The Crowd and Their stuff

Sleeping Men

Sleeping Bags & Infirmary

Signs

Princesses make T-Shirts

Long shot from across street

Panning long shot

Poorman’s Nation, t-shirt creation, “protester” with Mac PowerBook

Biden warns of increased Rapes and Murders

Vice President Joe Biden said the following this week in Flint Michigan:

“In 2008, when Flint had 265 sworn officers on their police force, there were 35 murders and 91 rapes in this city,” the vice president said. “In 2010, when Flint had only 144 police officers, the murder rate climbed to 65 and rapes–just to pick two categories–climbed to 229. In 2011, you now only have 125 shields. God only knows what the numbers will be this year for Flint if we don’t rectify it.”

Seems to me, right before the 2010 elections didn’t the Democraticly-controlled House & Senate pass a bill that the President signed to ensure that 319,000 teachers, nurses, and first-responders would be able to stay on the job?

Apparently the last bill, approved in August, did nothing for the Flint, Michigan police department – why should they believe the next bill will do anything to put more officers on the beat in Flint?

Sources:

youtube.com: In Flint, Michigan, Biden Warns Of More Rapes And Murders If Jobs Bill Not Passed

democraticleader.gov: House Passes Bill to Keep 319,000 Teachers, Police, Firefighters & Nurses on the Job and The Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act

thomas.loc.gov: Bill Summary & Status 111th Congress (2009 – 2010) H.R.1586

senate.gov: Vote Summary H.R. 1586

whitehouse.gov: Statement by the Press Secretary on H.R. 1586

Book Review: OneNote 2010 Quick & Easy

If you are reading this review, you most likely fall into one of two camps – either you are fan of Microsoft OneNote 2010 and use it on a regular basis, or you are more likely one of the countless millions of Microsoft Office users that have installed, but never used, OneNote 2010 along with the rest of the Microsoft Office Suite – this book, Microsoft OneNote 2010 Plain & Simple
is aimed squarely at both groups.

For those who have occasionally worked with OneNote 2010, there is typically a sense that you are only scratching the surface of it’s capabilities – this book will expose you to all the significant features of the product in a quick, “Let me show you how to do that” manner that I find very useful. Those with a bit more experience with the product will find new ways to accomplish tasks, and find useful introductions to features in the product you might not be aware of.

If you are new to OneNote 2010 this book provides a great overview of the many ways you can use OneNote 2010 to collect and organize your notes and research items. OneNote 2010 is tightly integrated into all the other Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, etc.), and once you get a handle on working with OneNote 2010 you’ll find yourself wondering how you ever got along without it.

There are a few notable chapters that really stand out in my opinion – the chapters on using the research tools included with OneNote 2010 (such as the dictionary, thesauruses, and translation tools), on sharing OneNote 2010 with others co-authors, and on working with the Office Web App version of OneNote 2010. What I didn’t find coverage of was the iPad OneNote “app” Microsoft has made available – but I’m not certain this “app” is anything more than a proof of concept exercise, rather than a fully supported Microsoft offering, so it’s omission may have been for good reason. Failing to include coverage of this “app” doesn’t detract from the book in anyway.

As I understand it, OneNote was developed originally as an in-house project for Microsoft employees, and once it gained widespread use inside Microsoft it was included in the Office Suite, but finding any books that cover this program has typically been challenging. With the release of Microsoft OneNote 2010 Plain & Simple you now have a great resource available to you.

The author Peter Weverka previously authored a book on OneNote 2003, and his latest effort builds on his knowledge and experience with the product over the years – I found this book to be very accessible, comprehensive, and well-written. Highly recommended for anyone either just starting out with OpenNote 2010 or for those hoping to learn more about it.