Category: government

Posted on

Crazy weather

There has been such crazy weather across the country this year. For many parts of the country they had a mild winter with no freezing or snow, just a lot of rain. There are parts that have had more snow dumped on them then they have had in years and yet others who never get snow but had flurries in spite of their southern clime. I can imagine the weather people are going nuts about now, unsure of what to report next. That doesn’t count the tornadoes that are getting stronger and stronger.

I am not a scientist, but I am starting to believe the reports of Global warming, never mind what the government says. The obvious changes planet wide are becoming a real concern for anyone smart enough to pay attention. Between the polar caps melting and the extreme weather, I don’t see how people can say that Global Warming isn’t happening. I suppose that when it is too late, they will finally admit that something isn’t right. Of course we may be going into an ice age at that point but hey, at least they will finally get it. Kinda makes me want to smack people in the back of the head and ask them if they are just plain stupid.

Posted on

Eight Measures for Transportation Security

In the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks, the federal government established additional government measures to safeguard American travelers from terrorism. Several new security measures were added, and existing measures were improved or enhanced. Today, these eight measures protect Americans as they travel.

  1. Federal Air Marshals – These law enforcement officials ride aboard commercial flights in order to provide protection to air passengers and to prevent terror in the air.
  2. Enhanced Airport Screening – Security measures in US airports have been significantly upgraded since 9/11. Beyond mere metal detectors, travelers are screened with backscatter x-ray and millimeter wave detection machines that help security officers detect metal and non-metal weapons. In addition, passengers can be singled out for additional searches of their person or their belongings if deemed necessary.
  3. Luggage Search – The Transportation Security Administration has the authority to search any luggage passing through American airports. In addition, they have the authority to cut, disable or otherwise destroy locks in these searches.
  4. Border Patrol – While the primary responsibility of border patrol is to prevent terrorists and weapons from entering the country, border patrol also helps protect travelers as they leave and enter the US, by performing searches of passengers and cargo as deemed necessary.
  5. Port Security – Passengers boarding vessels in the US are subject to port security searches and checks to ensure their safety once onboard.
  6. Coast Guard Patrols – The US Coast Guard patrols US coastlines and waterways to protect all Americans on any sort of water transportation in American controlled waterways.
  7. Security measures abroad – Newer TSA requirements went into effect in January 2010 regarding international flights bound for the US. Enhanced screening is required for all passengers bound for the US who are traveling from or through countries that are state sponsors of terrorism.
  8. The Transportation Security Administration also oversees security for general aviation in the US. These measures protect private and business small aircraft to ensure protection for travelers. Measures regarding security for general aviation are highly dependent upon the nature of each individual flight and airport.

Protecting American travelers is no easy feat, particularly with the number of commercial flights and the thousands of miles of land borders and coastline around the country. In its efforts to increase security in the aftermath of 9/11, the TSA has come under some criticism for invasion of passenger privacy and for making the process of traveling through US airports too time consuming and cumbersome. There have also been criticisms that, in spite of tougher measures, not all terrorists are weeded out.

However, it is certain that air, land and sea travel in the US is safer today than it was ten years ago. Despite its faults, the American government has clearly demonstrated that the safety of American travelers is taken very seriously, and that all necessary measures will be taken to thwart terrorists who aim to harm travelers or to use transportation as a terror device.

Phyllis T. Zerkle enjoys blogging in order to help students find the information they need about online homeland security degrees.

Posted on

School Reform

One of the hot topics in the news is education reform. I realize our schools are not meeting the needs of the students in today’s world and they are not producing the future employees that tomorrows companies are going to want to hire and pay well. This worries me quite a bit. Today’s children are tomorrows doctors, teachers and auto mechanics. Let’s all make sure we help these children achieve better educational goals.

Posted on

Labor Day – No Pay

The Labor Day holiday was supposed to be something nice for all the people who work hard in America. I work damn hard and could use a holiday. The only problem is that I don’t get paid if I don’t work. So a holiday is no good for me unless I’m working and collecting overtime pay. The company has cut out all over time pay, so there you go – it’s not much of a holiday for this working man.

Posted on

It’s the last weekend before school starts

One things for sure, I’m not going to the beach this weekend.  With it being the last weekend before school starts back, everyone will be headed for the beach for what might be their last visit.  I’m sure that Labor Day weekend will be worse but I’ll just be glad for everything to get back to normal with the children back in school.

There have been too many kids running around unsupervised because the parents have to work but can’t afford someone to watch out for their children.  Sure there are all types of activities they could get involved in like summer camps but that too takes money.  Hopefully the economy will turn around soon and people won’t have to struggle so hard.

Posted on

This is what Memorial Day is all about

I’m sure lots of you have probably seen this in an email but I feel it is very important for everyone to see this and know what is going on.  God bless our service men and woman that have passed and those that are still with us!!!!

What’s wrong with this picture?

image001

If you look closely at the picture above, you will note that all the Marines pictured are bowing their heads. That’s because they’re praying. This incident took place at a recent ceremony honoring the birthday of the corps, and it has the ACLU up in arms.

“These are federal employees,” says Lucius Traveler, a spokesman for the ACLU, “on federal property and on federal time. For them to pray is clearly an establishment of religion, and we must nip this in the bud immediately.”

When asked about the ACLU’s charges, Colonel Jack Fessender, speaking for the Commandant of the Corps said (cleaned up a bit), “Screw the ACLU.” GOD Bless Our Warriors.. Send the ACLU to France !

What’s wrong with the picture? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING

image002

Posted on

It came through!!

I was absolutely amazed that I got the building permit.  I figured they would come up with some sort of ordinance or something but they didn’t.  Then what came next was even more surprising.  I don’t know how it got all over town like it did but there are churches that have called with volunteers to help with the construction and even donating some money to buy the supplies.  Several people in the community are donating used refrigerators, stoves, furniture and just about anything else you can imagine.  I can’t explain what that has felt like.

I have a long list of supplies and will be heading out to Lowe’s Home Improvement Stores to make the purchases I’ll need.  I was told that if you talk to the manager and they have things that have a scratch or whatever and it’s going to a good cause, they will cut the price a lot.  I just hope what I heard is right.  Man do I have a list of building supplies!!!  But you know, even if they don’t give me big discounts on damaged items, they still have the best selection and prices in this town.

Posted on

It’s going to take awhile

Well I went down to the permit office and you know how slow the government works.  They aren’t sure if I can do that or not because of the zoning and all sorts of bull like that.  All we want to do is help those less fortunate than we are.  We have been blessed an just want to pass that blessing along.

Until they figure out if I can do this or not, I’m going to get a jump start on it for when they say I can do it.  All I’m going to do is put a floor in the upstairs part and put a regular set of steps in the end.  They can’t say anything about that.  Then I’ll go ahead an make the separations for each upstairs room.  I just won’t close them in until I get the go ahead.

I have a friend that owns a saw mill that has already donated the 2×4’s I’ll need to do the framing in.  My wife is going through the house to see what we don’t need anymore that could be put in the apartments or sold in yard sales to make the money to help pay for the supplies we don’t have on hand.  I sure hope they don’t drag their feet too long.

Posted on

It’s been a busy week

I did not realize how hard it was going to be to find the seeds or plants that I wanted to put into my garden.  There seems to be a shortage of seeds and plants.  Why?  Well my guess would be that there are more people planting gardens now for the first time or for the first time in a long time anyway.

Something has to give with the economy soon or we’re going to see more and more homeless and hungry people.  It breaks my heart to think of all of the children that don’t have a warm bed to sleep in.  Some at least have their car to sleep in but some don’t have anything at all.  There are tent cities going up everywhere because the homeless shelters are too full as it is.  I will be donating some of what I grow to the local homeless shelter to help them feed the people there.  They need all of the help they can get.  Now all I have to do is find the seeds.

Posted on

Here’s something to help our own

I received this in an email and I had no idea until I read it.  This is what I keep talking about when it comes to helping our own instead of everyone else in the world.  This makes sense!

In our current economic situation, every little thing we buy or do affects someone else and perhaps even their job. So, after reading this email, I think this lady is on the right track… Let’s get behind her!!

My grandson likes Hershey’s candy. It is marked made in Mexico now. I do not buy it anymore. My favorite toothpaste, Colgate is made in Mexico now. I have switched to Crest. You have to read the labels on everything.

This past weekend I was at Kroger. I needed 60W light bulbs and Bounce dryer sheets. I was in the light bulb aisle and right next to the GE brand I normally buy was an off brand labeled, “Everyday Value”. I picked up both types of bulbs and compared the stats – they were the same except for the price. The GE bulbs were more money than the Everyday Value brand but the thing that surprised me the most was the fact that GE was made in MEXICO and the Everyday Value brand was made in – get ready for this – the USA in a company in Cleveland, Ohio.

So throw out the myth that you cannot find products you use every day that are made right here. So on to another aisle – Bounce Dryer Sheets….yep, you guessed it, Bounce cost more money and is made in Canada. The Everyday Value brand was less money and MADE IN THE USA! I did laundry yesterday and the dryer sheets performed just like the Bounce Free I have been using for years and at almost half the price!

So my challenge to you is to start reading the labels when you shop for everyday things and see what you can find that is made in t he USA – the job you save may be your own or your neighbors! If you accept the challenge, pass this on to others in your address book so we can all start buying American, one light bulb at a time!

Stop buying from China. . . . . (We should have awakened a decade ago……)  Let’s get with the program….Help our fellow Americans keep their jobs and create more jobs here in the U.S.A. !!!