Thursday, June 28, 2012

Breaking News...Obama Care UPHELD in Supreme Court

It's NOW THE LAW...Deal With It Tea Party
In a stunning defeat for both the Tea Party, and the Republican Party Obama Care was upheld in the Supreme Court by a five to four vote with Chief Justice Roberts being the swing vote.  Some might see Robert's being the deciding vote as shocking, yet if you look at his track record as a judge, he has always been reluctant to interfere with Congress's right to regulate interstate commerce.

The bad news...this will energize the radical right wing of the Republican Party like never before, and money will be flowing into Mitt Romney's campaign coiffures in unprecedented amounts.  Hopefully, this stunning Victory for Obama and the Democrats (who paid a heavy price in the 2010 elections by passing Obama Care) will also ignite the base of the Democratic Party, as the worst thing America can do is put Romney in the White House.

From a personal perspective, my biggest problem with Obama Care was never even at issue in the court battle that ensued after the bill's passage.  I have a problem with the section of the bill that allows young adults to stay on their parents insurance until the age of 26.  Fact is, that part of the bill now sees all of us who do not have children subsidizing those young adults through increased rates on us.  The bill is not perfect, and hopefully over time Congress can improve it, but Obama Care is a step in the right direction.  Now, people with pre-existing  conditions can get affordable health insurance.  Now, with the life time cap eliminated, people with serious health issues will have their medical costs covered, and now everyone will have to contribute to the whole...there is no more waiting till you are sick to get insurance.

The one big change I would like to see moving forward...would like to see Congress allow all citizens to shop ACROSS STATE LINES!  If I live in New York, but can get better rates by buying my health insurance from a company in say Indiana I should be allowed to do so...we are routinely told that a World Economy is the way of the future, and that protectionism is the proverbial road to hell...well, if protectionism is the road to hell, why then is protectionism within the health insurance industry a good thing?

Hopefully, the Supreme Court's decision today will end this debate, and the nation as a whole can move on to worrying about more important problems.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Josh Fox's "The Sky Is Pink"...Let's End Debate and Ban FRACKING


THE SKY IS PINK from JFOX on Vimeo.
Those who regularly read this blog know I am against fracking, are aware of my efforts to get Steve Veglianti and the Town Board to BAN FRACKING in the geographical/political footprint of Fallsburg.  Further, I support a state wide ban on fracking, and know the best way to ban fracking is not at the state level, but at the local level, with individual town, villages and cities banning fracking by changing their zoning laws to make fracking an unacceptable land use...such a move is not trying to regulate the industry, but instead uses a political subdivision to (as is allowed by state and federal law) to regulate land use.

Problem is, the (un)Natural Gas industry keeps everyone including our elected officials on the sidelines through multimillion dollar propaganda campaigns, and false counter claims in the media, thus creating what should be considered as FALSE DEBATE...this is a trick used by industry to keep concerned citizens on the sidelines.  After all, if the facts are in dispute, if their is a debate, people tend to wait for the debate to be resolved, and while this supposed debate (FALSE DEBATE) ensues, the (un) Natural Gas industry in this case pushes government to have as few regulations of their industry as they can get.

Enter Josh Fox, and  his newest video on fracking, "The Sky is Pink".  Every New Yorker needs to watch this movie, and study the documents (links provided) so that we can end the FALSE DEBATE, and move to an immediate ban of fracking in every community here in New York.

Earlier this year, the Town of Fallsburg Supervisor, and all of our town board members stated that they were opposed to fracking.  Now, some three months later, we are still waiting for the promised "Public Informational Meeting" and still waiting for them to PASS A BAN ON FRACKING.  If you live in the geographical footprint of Fallsburg, please contact your board members, the town supervisor, and demand that a ban on fracking be passed into law now, before our window of opportunity to protect our community is missed...which will happens once the state APPROVES FRACKING REGULATIONS.

The Sky is Pink  Document Cache

Industry Documents
Affirming GASLAND- Our responses to industry charges against GASLAND
gaslandthemovie.com/whats-fracking/affirming-gasland
1trickpony.cachefly.net/gas/pdf/Affirming_Gasland_Sept_2010.pdf
Flaming Faucets
foxnews.com/story/0,2933,509857,00.html
hcn.org/blogs/goat/flaming-water/
cbsnews.com/2100-201_162-4879509.html
planetsave.com/2009/03/20/flammable-water-pours-from-faucets-in-colorado-home/
propublica.org/series/fracking
ecopolitology.org/2009/03/19/leaking-gas-well-causes-flammable-water-to-pour-from-faucets-in-colorado-home-video/
Well Failures/Gas Leaks
youtube.com/watch?v=fjaRwh4xRiM&feature=player_embedded
gasdrillinginbalcombe.wordpress.com/2012/03/14/44-of-wells-leaking-at-australian-gas-field/
nytimes.com/1992/05/03/us/abandoned-oil-and-gas-wells-become-pollution-portals.html?src=pm
bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-17656307
frack-off.org.uk/gas-wells-leaking/
telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/oilandgas/9168645/Total-admits-it-could-take-six-months-to-stop-gas-leak.html
Well Construction/Integrity
slb.com/~/media/Files/resources/oilfield_review/ors03/aut03/p62_76.ashx
boemre.gov/tarprojects/008/008DE.pdf
naturalgaswatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/well_integrity_failure_presentation.pdf
ptil.no/news/new-report-well-integrity-challenges-on-the-norwegian-shelf-article2762-79.html
spe.org/ejournals/jsp/journalapp.jsp?pageType=Preview&jid=EDC&mid=SPE-106817-PA
Climate Change
youtube.com/watch?v=XXyTpY0NCp0
Breast Cancer
texassharon.com/2011/09/02/big-gas-mafia-irony-burnsta-tas/
dentonrc.com/local-news/special-projects/gas-well-drilling-headlines/20110831-breast-cancer-rate-climbs-up.ece
damascuscitizensforsustainability.org/2011/09/breast-cancer-rates-jump-in-the-barnett-shale/
dallasdrilling.wordpress.com/2011/09/01/breast-cancer-rates-jump-in-the-barnett-shale/
abcalliance.org/?p=1725
nbc11news.com/home/headlines/85259117.html
Pittsburgh Fracking Ban
groundswell.gs/2011/10/28/city-councilman-doug-shields-on-the-success-of-pittsburghs-rights-based-fracking-ban/
Water Contamination
propublica.org/article/colorado-study-links-methane-in-water-drilling-422
bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-08/gas-fracking-chemicals-detected-in-wyoming-aquifer-epa-says.html
pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2011/04/19/gas-drilling-industry-makes-stunning-admission/
static.ewg.org/reports/2011/fracking/cracks_in_the_facade.pdf
pnas.org/content/early/2011/05/02/1100682108.full.pdf+html?sid=bde16321-e169-437d-a59c-798e7f65c479
grist.org/article/2011-02-28-pittsburgh-drinking-water-radioactive-fracking-natural-gas-times/
nytimes.com/2011/02/27/us/27gas.html?_r=1&ref=drillingdown
essentialpublicradio.org/story/2011-12-01/salts-drilling-drinking-water-danger-still-showing-rivers-9616
postindependent.com/article/20100813/VALLEYNEWS/100819931
Profiles/Contacts
cee.cornell.edu/people/profile.cfm?netid=ari1
history.ucsd.edu/people/faculty/oreskes-naomi.html
‘Drilling Down’
nytimes.com/interactive/us/DRILLING_DOWN_SERIES.html
PR/Hill and Knowlton
prwatch.org/spin/2009/11/8680/hill-knowltons-carbon-two-step
sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Hill_%26_Knowlton
prwatch.org/books/tsigfy10.html
prwatch.org/search/node/knowlton
naturalgaswatch.org/?p=939
csmonitor.com/2002/0906/p25s02-cogn.html
State Government Documents
mines.industry.qld.gov.au/assets/petroleum-pdf/tara_leaking_well_investigation_report.pdf
cogcc.state.co.us/Library/WQCC_WQCD_AnnualReports/WQCC09_10RPT.pdf
‘Reality Tour’ Marcellus Shale
youtube.com/watch?v=iPM64kseP30
Merchants of Doubt
bloomsburypress.com/books/catalog/merchants_of_doubt_hc_104
Colbert Report
mnn.com/earth-matters/politics/blogs/stephen-colbert-and-tom-ridge-get-awkward-over-fracking
desmogblog.com/tom-ridge-claimed-i-m-not-lobbyist-colbert-report-facts-prove-otherwise
keystonepolitics.com/2011/06/tom-ridge-shills-for-fracking-on-colbert-report/
Gas Industry Conference:
naturalgaswatch.org/?p=970

Monday, June 25, 2012

Free Summer Gardening Workshop

Master Gardeners to Demonstrate ‘Hands-in-the-Dirt’ Techniques

[LIBERTY] – Here’s a chance for first time enthusiasts to try their hand at gardening – and for seasoned planters to learn a few new techniques from master gardeners – at a free “Summer Gardening” workshop on Wednesday, July 11 at 7:00 p.m. at the Gerald J. Skoda Extension Education Center, 64 Ferndale-Loomis Road, Liberty.
Sullivan Renaissance and Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) of Sullivan County are co-sponsoring this “hands-in-the-dirt” gardening workshop for residents – including summer and part-time visitors.
The workshop will feature a look at the Cooperative Extension’s perennial teaching garden, the newly designed and planted Catskill Edible Garden, and new composting and watering equipment.
CCE Master Gardener Coordinator Susan Dollard and instructors from the master gardeners program will lead the demonstrations and discussion.  “We will ask each of you to discuss your present garden (or your hopes for a garden) and the needs you may have to make improvements.  Then we’ll let the master gardeners find the best way to handle these issues,” she said.
A class of 20 master gardeners completed an intensive 15-week program on May 8.  A second master gardener training class will be held this fall. 
Everyone is welcome.  Space is limited, pre-registration is requested.  Refreshments will be provided.  To register, contact Sullivan Renaissance at www.sullivanrenaissance.org or 845-295-2445 – or Cornell Cooperative Extension at http://blogs.cce.cornell.edu/sullivan/ or 845-292-6180. 
Sullivan Renaissance is a beautification and community development program principally funded by the Gerry Foundation.  Sponsors include Bold Gold Media Group/Thunder 102, FisherMears Associates, Robert Green Dealerships, Sullivan County Democrat, The River Reporter, Thompson Sanitation and WSUL/WVOS. 
Cornell Cooperative Extension is a statewide educational organization funded by national, state and county governments – that helps New York residents put research-based knowledge to work. 

Supreme Court Sides With Illegal Aliens

In a 5-3 vote, the Supreme Court sides with Illegal Aliens, trashes Arizona enforcement law.

The Supreme Court says states do not have a right to interfere with the Federal Government when it comes to illegal aliens, and the enforcement of our laws.  So, if the federal government wants to pick and choose which parts of our laws to enforce, if our federal government wants to allow illegal aliens to stay in America illegally, there is nothing the states can do about it.  

What happened to America being a NATION OF LAWS?  Illegal Aliens can steal a persons identity, and that is OK, but lets arrest American Citizens for say smoking a dubbie, lets put a mother in prison because you stole a loaf of bread to feed her children, but illegal aliens breaking our laws, stealing our jobs...THAT IS FINE.

Perhaps it is time for states to consider leaving the union?  Perhaps it is time for states like Arizona to enforce their immigration laws as written, and tell the federal government to bring in federal military troops if they want them to stop...yes, I am one American who is tired of illegal aliens having SPECIAL RIGHTS because our federal government is not doing its job.  One ray of hope...Arizona can demand that illegal aliens prove they are here legally if they are stopped for other criminal activity.

Meanwhile, wanting to soak in the limelight a few days longer, the Supreme Court is not going to tell us the fate of Obama Care until Thursday.

Friday, June 22, 2012

HEADS UP...Watch Out For Ticket Trap In South Fallsburg

Just an FYI to all of our local readers...seems that the local police are getting fond of setting up a Safety Check (Ticket Trap) just as you come into South Fallsburg on 42.  So, seat belts on folks, and make sure that you have your registration and inspection stickers in order.  I know our police officers need to make a living, but these Safety Checks seem like a low ball way of going about it...So as you are out and about on these beautiful summer days, keep in mind that BIG BROTHER is watching.

Friday "News on The Run"...Saving Train Garden

Greetings Sports Fans...another blast furnace day outside, the temperatures again slated to be up into the ninety's as the weather gives us a June taste of August and its sweltering temperatures.  Look for rain to move back into the hamlet later this evening, with a chance of some rain every day this weekend...that will cool things down a bit.

We have a lot of local goings on with Saturday a day which will provide folks with lots of choices of things to do.

Starting at 10 AM tomorrow morning there is the Rock Hill Farmers Market...was there last weekend for the official season kick off, and OMG...some serious goodies can be had.  I need to run over and get some more organic yogurt.  Hours are every Saturday from 10-1 PM.  A little bird told me that the meat guys chicken is INCREDIBLE cooked on the grill.  Get there early, as quantities of some items are limited.

Our own local belly dancer, Ahleana, is hosting Godiva Nights at Nadia's in Hurleyville...the fun starts at 6:00...come in your best festive garb for a chance to win a basket full of Godiva Chocolates.  Yours truly will be reading Lord Tennyson's Poem about Godiva's exploits.

Also Saturday night, come celebrate the Solstice at the "Church of Little Green Men"...yes, there is such a place, and a lot of talented musicians and performance artists perform.  The doors open for this event at 8:00 PM.

As many of you know, last year's Hurricane Irene saw our award winning "Train Garden" just inside the Trail entrance take a serious hit...plans are underway to save and restore this garden...look for an article on this subject in the coming days...we will be looking for some volunteers...one day of serious gardening should be all it will take if we can make arrangements to keep the garden watered for a few weeks while the plants adapt.

*Special Thanks to the reader that pointed out I put up the wrong day in title...nice to know people are paying attention.


Thursday, June 21, 2012

Kowtowing To Special Interests in Presidential Election...What About us White Voters?

Let us be clear....last week Obama gave out back door Amnesty to some 800,000 plus illegal aliens in the name of politics...he pandered to a special interest voting block.  Turn on any network news show, and you will hear about this special interest group or that...just now CNN ran a report on the important role that "Latino Mom's" will play in this election, and why the candidates should be paying more attention to them and their concerns.  Business owners, the uber rich and religious special interests all get attention.  Latino's and their various camps get special attention, so forth and so on, and story after story talks about the special role each of these groups can/will play in deciding who wins the White House this fall.

Meanwhile, there seems to be a block of voters who are being taken for granted...WHITE PEOPLE.  In the last Presidential Election, over 70 percent of votes cast were cast by white voters...so where is our attention, and why aren't the politicians pandering to us, listening to our concerns.  The gays saw "Don't ask don't tell" abolished, saw Obama state publicly that he supports gay marriage.  The Republicans are extending and deepening the recession by holding up any legislation that would increase taxes on the rich, and Obama tossed out an executive order that back door defacto passed the Dream Act, and yet there seems to be NOTHING for the largest voting block in America, and someone needs to ask why.

Obama and Romney rarely come to New York for anything other than fund raising, making appearances at events that cost $40,000 a seat...what about an event for us average Joe's and Jane's where we could sit down and talk with the candidates over a burger and a beer at say $25 a plate...oh wait, silly me, the American Electoral process is controlled by BIG MONEY, manipulated by big corporations who are after all people too...just ask Mitt, he'll tell you that it's true.  We the people have been usurped by a new phrase, We the well heeled, the uber rich having access, while the rest of us find ourselves accepting edicts from on high that most of us do not support.

People from all 50 states elect a president, people from every walk of life, and from every ethnicity elect the president, yet the largest voting block in America, the white voter, is being ignored, our interests taking a back seat to the interests of small special interest groups...just because keeping taxes low on the uber rich is good for the uber rich does not make it good for us average folks, and granting Amnesty to 800,000 illegal aliens may be good for the Latino voting block, but is it good for the MAJORITY OF AMERICANS, and is that Amnesty what the largest voice in America wants? 

Perhaps it is time for the white voters to find our voice, time for us to demand a place at the table.  It is simply unfair to have a situation where elections are won and lost on the edges, unfair for the fringe to move their agendas forward at great detriment to the larger whole because politicians know they can take the white vote for granted, know it will split its voting block along given fault lines, and so can be ignored, taken for granted...maybe it is time that we form a super pac, time for us to choose one man for president, go to the voting booths, and write that name down, ignoring both Obama and Romney, throwing down the gauntlet that says, "No longer can you take our vote for granted, no longer will we the true majority be ignored.

Let us throw the two party system into disarray, let us push a third candidate into the spotlight, a candidate who will speak our voice while putting both parties and all politicians on notice...ignore us, take our votes for granted at your own peril...let us end the days when a small handful of states and a few special interest groups get all of the attention.

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Mubarak Clinically Dead...Egypt Imploding

Deposed Dictator/President Mubarak is clinically dead....just reported on CNN.  Meanwhile, as two candidates both claim victory in Egypt's presidential election, the nation slides every closer to its own civil war as the Middle East  implodes.

Meanwhile in Syria the Holocaust continues...question...Should Israel come to the aid of the Syrian people and topple the government there?  It is apparent that none of Syria's other neighbors are going to do anything, and the UN has its hands tied by Russia and it's dictator president, "Putin".  Sure Israel could establish a no fly zone over all of Syria in a matter of hours.

BREAKING NEWS...(un) Natural Gas Industry Hiding Methane Release Truth

FRACKING CAN KILL YOU!
In what is not surprise, seems that the (un) Natural Gas industry's Methane Gas Emissions Study is fatally flawed...actually, that is being overly generous...in my opinion, the (un) Natural Gas Industry's Methane Gas Emissions Study is a document deliberately filled with false and erroneous estimates aimed at hoodwinking the EPA, politicians and members of the general public.  At every step of this report which would never pass muster if the API/ANGA had submitted it for peer review, these self serving buffoons went to great lengths to under estimate methane gas emissions from UNCONVENTIONAL Horizontal Hydraulic Fracturing, or FRACKING.  

After careful analysis, the nonprofit "Physicians Scientists & Engineers for Healthy Energy (PSE)" slammed the report, labeled it as fatally flawed, framing their remarks in a much more politically correct fashion than is the style of this blog...straight out, the report is BUNK, and the industry is flat out COOKING THE BOOKS to create numbers they want to see, rather than presenting stakeholder communities with the truth, and the actual risks associated with REAL NUMBERS verse the manipulated and false data presented in the report.  Some of the fatal flaws include:

  • The survey pretty much coached those being questioned, indicating/suggesting what answers were sought, led the respondents down the proverbial garden path to the industry's much sought after Garden of Eden where they can rape the earth while claiming it was not them. 
  • API/ANGA's survey targeted, cherry picked their respondents, failing to follow a basic rule of surveys to have/select a random and representative sampling.
  • Furthermore, the report is highly selective in the information used, the organizations choosing data that is outdated and understated. 
  • Report fails to do a cradle to grave accounting of methane emissions,  instead compiling a report that only accounts for a part of the picture, while presenting said report as a full accounting of methane emissions.

As the PSE so eloquently pointed out, the (un)Natural Gas Industry's report is a scam, the report fatally flawed, holding no value, representing no reliability in its supposed facts.  What the report does do, is once again proves to the stakeholder communities that the industry will use any means (including fraud) to get their way, to get  states to allow them to FRACK our neighborhoods and communities.

See Industry's BOGUS FACT SHEET

One of Howard Feldman's BIG LIES....

This emissions information is critically important because it allows the companies, citizens, and regulators to gauge the industry’s impact on the environment and allows companies to measure continued efforts to reduce their environmental footprint.  In reality, the industry COOKED THE BOOKS, and crafted the sampling group to give them the results they wanted, cooked the books to skew the numbers in their favor while wrongfully giving stakeholders false assurances about this every present danger in and around Horizontally Fracked wells.

It is time that a report is done by an INDEPENDENT, UNBIASED group of scientists, rather  than having a survey/report done by a organization who has a VERY VESTED INTEREST in hiding the true environmental and health costs of a dangerous industrial practice.


Sunday, June 17, 2012

Sunday News On The Run...Immigration Editorial

Grateful Illegal Aliens Under 30
First, this author supports LEGAL IMMIGRATION to the United States of America.  Secondly, there is a world of difference between immigration and migration, a world of difference between a legal immigrant, and an ILLEGAL ALIEN.  Secondly, think we need to take a look at just what DHS considers a law abiding person...illegal aliens, regardless of age, regardless of how they came to America are criminals, most of them guilty of multiple violations of our laws.  Secondly, the overwhelming number of serious crimes committed by illegal aliens are committed by those under 30 years of age.

Watching CNN's coverage of Obama's policy change, listening to the pundits go on about how this is a game changer for so many young immigrants I found myself amused at one of the illegal aliens they trotted out to the camera as a person who stands to benefit from this policy change, is likely to get a deferment.  Let's look at some facts that became readily apparent as she and the reporter had their little interview:

A)  It was not readily clear that this person had brought herself over, or her parents had brought her here.
B)  As if often the case, her immigration status (illegal alien) became apparent when she was in a traffic accident, and was cited for a violation by the police...whoops, make that MULTIPLE violations.  First, she disobeyed basic traffic laws meant to keep everyone on the road safe, which led to the accident.  Furthermore, she HAD NO LICENSE...ignoring anything and everything else, that is multiple misdemeanors right out of the door.
C)  She was and has been working...with a false ID, or under the table, both are crimes.  How many Americans have faced serious fines, probation or even prison time for failure to pay our Federal Taxes?

President Obama wants to paint these young ILLEGAL ALIENS as just people like the rest of us who are wanting to live the American Dream, and perhaps a small handful of them are in sincere...however, a great many of the illegal aliens thwart our system of laws routinely, knowingly and deliberately while pundits falsely tell us that the crimes of being and illegal alien and doing what they need to do to get by are victimless crimes. Some facts to ponder.

1.  Identity theft   happens all the time in the illegal alien communities...this is not a victimless crime, and if you have had the misfortune of having your identity stolen by an illegal alien, you know the costs and trouble of trying to get it back.  Many Illegal Alien Advocates try to push this crime under the proverbial rug by saying the illegal aliens did not STEAL THE ID, but merely purchased it from somewhere else.  Hello, purchasing and using a ID you know is FAKE is a SERIOUS CRIME.  Recommend you read the GAO report on the serious problem of illegal aliens stealing/use false identification to STEAL AMERICAN JOBS.
2.  A dark side of the illegal alien population our government does not want you to be aware of...a large number of illegal aliens are A) involved in serious criminal behaviors, and B) are sexual predators.  If you are robbed by an illegal alien, have your car hit by an unlicensed uninsured illegal alien, or you or one of your family members is violently raped by an illegal alien, it is a serious matter.  Yet, Obama and the DHS want to simply ignore our laws and hand out what amounts to Amnesty to over 800,000 people that DO NOT BELONG HERE.
3.  From killing cops to raping innocent citizens, illegal aliens are involved in a plethora of criminal activities including such crimes involving cocaine, methamphetamine, home invasion, auto insurance fraud, life insurance fraud, food stamp fraud, mortgage fraud, auto theft, drug trafficking, prostitution, more prostitution, and, of course, counterfeiting documents to name a few...and court records would show us that most of these crimes by illegal aliens are being committed by illegal aliens UNDER THE AGE OF 30...the very group being granted AMNESTY.
*note-27% of all prisoners in Federal custody are criminal illegal aliens and the majority (63%) of those are Mexican citizens.
*note-in fiscal 2004, the Federal govt. spent $1.4 billion to incarcerate criminal aliens. This total included $280 million of reimbursements made to state and local governments under the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program [SCAAP] - a Department of Justice program managed by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) - but SCAAP funds cover less than 25% of the full cost of incarcerating criminal aliens, leaving the balance of 75% to be picked up by the local jurisdiction.

We do not need an executive order granting a blanket AMNESTY to 800,000 to over a million illegal aliens, we do not need the dream act...what we need is ENFORCEMENT OF OUR CURRENT LAWS, what we need is criminal illegal aliens being held to the same standards as everyone else.  The girl on the news who was involved in an accident, who was driving without a license, and probably driving without insurance does not deserve a deferment leading to eventual citizenship, she needs to be DEPORTED.  Any illegal alien who has worked off the books and avoided federal taxes needs to be DEPORTED, and any illegal alien who has used a FAKE ID to get a job should be deported.  Couple these three enforcement actions with harsh penalties for anyone hiring and illegal alien here in America, and you will have your Immigration Reform, as most illegal aliens will self deport if America cracks down hard on them, and shuts down the jobs magnet.

So, lets stop playing games, lets stop trying to rebrand criminal as immigrants looking for a break, and call these criminals what they are...ILLEGAL ALIENS, and lets take the steps to see that they are rounded up and deported...trust me, as much as the media tells you it cannot be done, it can be.  If we can put our own young adults in prison for possessing pot, surely we can deport illegal aliens who are breaking our laws every day they are in America unlawfully...ENFORCEMENT, NOT CODDLING!

Some Facts On Hard Working HONEST ILLEGAL ALIENS

GAO released a report on a study of 55,322 illegal aliens incarcerated in federal, state, and local facilities during 2003. It found the following:

Of the 55,322 illegal aliens studied, researchers found that they were arrested a total of 459,614 times, averaging about 8 arrests per illegal alien.
  • They were arrested for a total of about 700,000 criminal offenses, averaging about 13 offenses per illegal alien.
  • 49% had previously been convicted of a felony, 20% of a drug offense; 18% a violent offense, and 11%, other felony offenses.
  • 81% of the arrests occurred after 1990
  • 56% of those charged with a reentry offense had previously been convicted on at least 5 prior occasions.
  • Defendants charged with unlawful reentry had the most extensive criminal histories. 90% had been previously arrested. Of those with a prior arrest, 50% had been arrested for violent or drug-related felonies.
Note the last two points – they mean the perpetrators were "previously deported." Regardless, ALL those crimes would have never happened, i.e. were preventable, with serious deportation of the illegal aliens already here and proper border security to prevent both entry and re-entry.

In reviewing those numbers, note that the study only sampled about 21% of the incarcerated illegal aliens. To get the full extent of the collateral damage, we need to extrapolate the average number of offenses out across all 267,000 incarcerated illegal alien criminals. Doing so results in some 1,288,619 crimes!

Don't Miss Garden Tour...Saturday June 23

Don't Forget...June 23rd is Sullivan Arc Garden Tour

The now annual Garden Tour is hosted by the Sullivan Arc, in cooperation with theSullivan Renaissance, and the Roscoe-Rockland Chamber of Commerce. 
The tour features  exclusive looks at some of our areas most beautiful private gardens.  This years tour features gardens in and around the hamlet of Roscoe on Saturday, June 23, 10am – 4pm.  
You can take a self-guided tour... tickets and maps available for those who want to drive their own vehicles for just $25 per person, or for $35 per person hop a ride on the  guided bus tour, which includes travel on a Rolling V coach bus, guide, door prizes and snacks.  
Wine and cheese reception for all ticket holders and garden owners follows the tour at the Tennanah Lake Golf and Tennis Club. Tour will benefit the SullivanArc Horticulture program.
You can purchase tickets online.

Opening of Rock Hill Farmers Market Huge Success

The Full Parking Lot Says It All
Yesterday was the official opening of the 2012 Rock Hill Farmers Market, and saying it was successful would be an under statement.  The parking lot was filled to capacity, patrons were treated to a wonderful array of tasty, healthy, organic food and beverage products (including wine and hard cider), and there seemed to be something there for everyone as the new location took on the feel of a mini festival, a Farmers Market taken to the next level.

I came home with some serious yummies in my short visit there...amazing how a serious sun burn sends you back home for much needed rest.  My own favorite vendor would come down to A)  Tonjes Farm Dairy who makes some wickedly tasty organic yogurts....the Wild Blackberry and Raspberry are ummm ummm good if I do say so myself, and B)  artist and musician Deborah Anne Fisher...I picked up two really nice canvas pieces of hers that I will frame and hang up somewhere in my apartment.  

There was live music under a K-D canopy, and cannot wait till the new gazebo is on site.  There were homemade organic soaps, fresh raised organic meats and treats, even pony rides for the kids.  They say one picture is worth a 1,000 words, so rather than keep typing, let me share a few photographs of the grand opening event.  Make sure you visit every Saturday...it is a great way to support our LOCAL FARMERS.
Yes, Even The Kids Got In On The Act


































Pony Rides...Some Need Convincing






Fresh Organically Grown Produce
Even Otto Was Having Great Time

Campaign to Save Pond Eddy Bridge Sputtering?

Calling all activists, and lovers of historic places...the campaign to "Save the Pond Eddy Bridge" needs some help...specifically, they need people to sign their petition to save the bridge...the goal is 5,000 signatures, and right now they are standing at just 538 signatures....they really need to get closer to the 5,000 signature goal before their big public outreach event at the bridge on August 4th, 2012.  So, from the "Save the Pond Eddy Bridge" blog, sharing this article with the link to the petition....please go sign onto the cause, and email, Facebook and Twitter your friends asking them to do the same.

You Cannot Save a Bridge With 538 Petition Signers

Summer is here, and all of us find ourselves involved in other activities, such as camping out, going on vacation, and taking care of both home and family.  Perhaps that is why we only have 538 Petition signatures so far.  Problem is though, to keep momentum, to keep the Preservation of Pond Eddy in the news, all of us who love the bridge, all of us who want to see the bridge saved and preserved have to due better than barely ten percent of our goal of 5,000 Petition Signatures.
So, am asking everyone who has so far signed the petition, asking all those involved in the campaign to "Save the Pond Eddy Bridge" to send out an email to all your friends asking them to sign the petition, asking you to put the petition link on your Facebook pages, and lets see if we can take this campaign to the next level where it needs to be.  If the NYDOT and other principles believe their is not enough public interest in saving the bridge, they will tear it down and put up a very ugly replacement.

Friday, June 15, 2012

In Name of Winning Election, Obama Wrongfully Grants Amnesty To ILLEGAL ALIENS

In breaking news of a political nature...President Obama with the stroke of a pen is bypassing not only Congress, but the will of the people in basically using an executive order to pass the Dream Act on steroids. Get a CLUE OBAMA...you may be winning some Latino votes come November, but you will lose the vote of almost every America who's job has been stolen by illegal aliens, will lose the vote of every American in the the lower and middle class who find their wages DEPRESSED by illegal aliens to the tune of over $200 billion dollars a year.

This policy change will allow any illegal alien under 30 to stay in the country, and GET A GREEN CARD so they can start working legally.  This policy change means AMNESTY for at least 80 percent of the ILLEGAL ALIENS that are currently in America...and for what...TO BUY THE FALL ELECTION, or at least shore up his chances to win some states (Like Arizona and Colorado) that he needs to retain the White House.  This move will back fire on the president...fact, 75 percent of Americans embrace and support Arizona's tough immigration law, and there is a good chance the Supreme Court will uphold said law.  Like it or not, even if your parents brought you here, YOU ARE AN ILLEGAL ALIEN, and like it or not, the majority of illegal aliens under thirty who are in America CAME HERE ON THEIR OWN, and should be rounded up on buses and sent back to their home or origin...in most cases, Mexico.

Make no mistake...this is a political move to win states.  Furthermore, if all of the Illegal Aliens were deported, if they took their children back to their home countries with them, there would not be a significant Latino voting block to worry about.  I may be liberal, but not when it comes to GRANTING A BACK DOOR AMNESTY to CRIMINALS! 

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Wednesday Musings & "News on The Run"


OMG...the sun is actually peeking through this morning!  Don't get too excited...weather forecast does not call for partly sunny until Saturday.  So, enjoy the sun that does peek through at us today, but look for rain at some point...maybe I should get my walk in early.

Don't forget...Open Mic at the Mountaindale Inn tonight, and every Wednesday.  Doors open at five and music starts around eightish. 

Rock Hill's new Farmers Market opens next Saturday, June 16th at its brand new location across the street from the Trading Post. 

News on The Run

Sheryl Crow has been diagnosed with a brain tumor...this incredible female vocalist has already taken on breast cancer and won.  She says this latest health scare is just another bump in the road.  Let's hope so, and our prayers are with her.  The good news is that the tumor is benign.

Walker and out of state robberbarrons steal recall election, but I reported on this last night.  We have witnessed the end of democracy here in America unless we amend the constitution to take money out of elections...especially corporate money.


Tuesday, June 5, 2012

American Democracy DIED in Wisconsin Tonight

Devil Incarnate BUYS GOVERNORS MANSION
Let us be clear....Governor Walker with the help of out of state money BOUGHT THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION in Wisconsin tonight, out spending his opponent 8 to 1 (32 million dollars compared to 4 million) with almost all the money coming into the state from outside the state rapid right wing Republicans millionaires and billionaires.  What we have witnessed tonight is the DEATH OF DEMOCRACY, proof that the Supreme Court decision that makes corporations people too has killed the United States of America as we have known it for over 200 years.

What we have also witnessed tonight, is the end of workers rights, the beginning of SLAVE LABOR here in America.

Tuesday "News on The Run"...The Queen's 60th Year

OMG...can someone give CNN a call and tell them "ENOUGH on the Queen and her 60th year celebration, Diamond Jubilee!" I understand a lot of folks at CNN (Piers Morgan) call England home, but the queen is NOT THAT BIG OF A DEAL here in America...here is a clue CNN, England LOST the war to America.  Get to some real news, and stop showing wall to wall coverage of some old hag waving from this and that vehicle.

In political news...look to Wisconsin today as citizens there decide the fate of scum bag union buster Governor Walker...guessing you know which way I would vote.  Taking away workers rights to collective bargaining should be just cause for impeachment and imprisonment of any politician...and for the record, I do not belong to a union.

Syria kicks out US diplomats as Holocaust continues...my question...how long are we going to allow Putin and Russia to be complicit in said Holocaust.  Russia is selling Syria arms, providing the tools of death,  Russia and Putin are refusing to go along with UN Sanctions, will oppose any outside intervention using UN troops....in short, Putin has blood on his hands, and it is time for the world and the UN to act regardless of a Russian veto on the security counsel, and if China follows Russia, same thing.  Lets do right by the people of Syria and forget political correction and politics.

Here in New York, Governor Cuomo is WRONG ON FRACKING, but right on marijuana!...Seems he and the mayor of New York city want to decriminalize pot.  If they get their wish, New Yorkers could soon legally carry around almost one ounce without worry of prosecution.  Here is a thought....60 percent of the Mexican drug lords profits come from shipping pot into America...how about legalizing it, letting our farmers grow it as a cash crop, and TAX IT...think how much money we would save, and maybe, just maybe with pot legalized we could win the war on drugs by taking away the drug cartels largest profit maker.  Just and FYI...if the law change comes, you can openly carry, but you still cannot smoke in public.

Warren Buffett NEEDS TO GET A CLUE...and a heart.  Seems he is auctioning off a power meal with himself...you have to be per-qualified, and bidding starts at $25,000!  Here is your clue BUFFETT...how about having a lottery of some sort where an average Joe (or Jane) gets a chance too sit down to a power meal with you?  Sell tickets at a buck a piece, or six for five dollars and have a drawing...then EVERYONE has a shot at sitting down to dinner with you and having a chance to pick your brain as it were.

Weather...overcast, but the sun is trying to peek through.


Monday, June 4, 2012

Judge Kenneth Lester...GET A CLUE...Zimmerman Not A Flight Risk

The judge in the Zimmerman case needs to get a clue...the purpose of a bond is too guarantee a defendant shows up for his court date.  The amount of the bond should be directly correlated to the flight risk of the defendant.  Well, here is a clue that the judge may not like...ZIMMERMAN IS NOT A FLIGHT RISK.  He turned himself in when charges were brought against him, even though he could have tried to leave the country...not that hard of a task, illegal aliens enter America every day.  Once he was out on bail and his bond was rescinded, he again voluntarily surrendered to the police, allowed himself to be arrested and incarcerated.

In short, though people may not like it, Zimmerman has shown he is not a flight risk, nor is he a danger to the community...if anything, his bond should be reduced.

Rainy Day Monday "News on The Run"

Not quite ten in the AM, and it is one of those dismal rainy days best suited to lounging on the sofa with a good book and a hot cup of coffee.  I know we had some sunny days in the month of May, but sure seems like all it has done is rain, rain and then rain some more.  June seems to be following suit with rain in the forecast THROUGH FRIDAY!  OMG....enough already, can we just get some sunshine for a string of say 8-10 days? I need to work on my tan, and need to go out for a walk without getting soaked.

Looking for a FUN volunteer opportunity?  This upcoming Saturday, June 9th there is a work day in Rock Hill as they work on their Category C Sullivan Renaissance project.  If you are a Mountaindale resident who has enjoyed working on Sullivan Renaissance projects in the past and are looking to participate in one this year, come down to Rock Hill this upcoming Saturday and get involved.  We will be meeting in the parking lot across the street from the Trading Post...the new home of the Rock Hill Farmers Market!

Adopt a tree...click here.

News on The Run

This is something I could see myself doing...taking a 727 aircraft and turning it into a house, though think I would have it looking more attractive...still, like the idea.

Will the growth in green electric cars see our in house electric costs increase....PROBABLY!  Seems that electric vehicles will consume upwards of 7 percent of grid electricity by the year 2025 which in turn will PUSH UP RATES as electricity becomes the new gasoline...look for Exxon to start building plants soon.

Largest forest fire ever in New Mexico has claimed the lives to two firefighters so far.

Romney, Republicans Raping Middle Class To Win White House?

Romney...Rapist and Chief?
Let us be clear about this...the Republicans CONTROL House of Representatives, and have acted in a very obstructionist fashion when it comes to moving legislation through Congress that could put Americans back to work.  It would be easy to say the Republicans and Democrats have a different view of where our country should go, have a difference of opinion on how to solve America's problem...it would be easy to say that, but it would be a lie.   Let us put the ugly baby out on the living room table state the simple truth.

Romney and Republicans have one shot at the White House...stop the economy from taking off until after the fall presidential campaign is over...recovering economy, Obama is elected too a second term, a sputtering economy, and Romney might be our next president.   This basic reality sees Republicans led by Boehner being OBSTRUCTIONIST and in holding the economy back they are DEFACTO RAPING THE MIDDLE AND LOWER CLASS in the name of winning an election.

In trying to win the White House Republicans are refusing to pass any legislation through Congress that would put people back to work, refusing to stimulate the economy, refusing to pass the president's job bill is once again CRASHING THE STOCK MARKET, thus destroying the value of average Americans 401 K's, thus ruining the retirement funds of some 79 Million Baby Boomers.  This in turn means these Baby Boomers have to stay in the work force far longer than they planned, which in turn means NO ENTRY LEVEL JOBS for graduating college students.

So ask yourselves America...are you willing to vote for a person (Romney) and a party (Republicans) that are willing to rape you to get elected?

Back From Time Out

Hello Readers:

Sorry for my absence this past week, but between the Memorial Day Weekend Holiday and various real life responsibilities this past week, just could not get time to put up articles, though there was plenty of news deserving of commentary.

So, I am back, and look for some interesting commentary as the week unfolds.

Walking back from getting the mail this morning could not help but notice as we move into the second week of June that Mountaindale's trademark flower boxes are missing in action.  The good news...Ed's flower pots in front of the Mountaindale Inn are looking quite spectacular.  Speaking of the Mountaindale Inn, don't forget that EVERY WEDNESDAY is Open Mic night, so stop by, hear some great music, or share your own.  

Picture taken yesterday.