Posts on astronomy, news, politics, poetry, lots of crazy humor, health and food.
From Denny: The past month I've been busy rounding up what the readers enjoyed throughout the year on all the blogs. It's amazing what people find intriguing - like the crazy humor post about the sloths over at Dennys Funny Quotes. The sloth post has gone past 30,000 views. People just love the cute little guys in the video. It's for a good cause too - a sloth sanctuary in Costa Rica.
Thanks, all of you, for visiting, commenting, subscribing in feeds and email updates! Your support is much appreciated!
From Denny: What a week! Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords has improved dramatically over the past two weeks since she was shot at a public meeting. Giffords still has a breathing tube down her throat so she is not able to speak yet. She speaks with her hands, her facial expressions, her eyes: her intent.
She also has a piece of skull bone flap missing that will be reintroduced later after the doctors are sure her brain is no longer swelling even a little bit. There is always the risk of infection for this kind of surgery so keep praying for her. Your prayers by the thousands are a testament as to her unusual and astounding recovery.
Rep. Giffords is out of critical care and been moved to Houston, Texas for the next phase of her rehabilitation. She is doing remarkably well, again surprising her doctors. With assistance she is now up on her feet briefly (good to keep the blood clots at bay). She will be relearning basic physical tasks we all take for granted every day we wake up in the morning. If anyone has the grit and determination to succeed it's this woman.
Meanwhile, other struggles go on in the world like in Tunisia where the grassroots people finally rid themselves of a corrupt government. Anyone feel like importing a horde of Tunisians to help us rid ourselves of Washington lobbyists? Works for me.
The struggle to survive goes on in Haiti as well. It is shameful how our own American Red Cross took millions of dollars and withheld over 75 percent from the Haitians. Instead the Red Cross is continuing its wrong practice like it did in the 911 emergency and Hurricane Katrina: keeping the majority of the monies for later emergencies rather than spending it on the cause for which it was donated.
Check out the funny opinions from the national cartoonists since China came to town.
From Denny: China - America's banker and proud owner of a sizable amount of our national debt- came for a visit this week. You know how it is when you just happen to own a trillion dollar investment? You just have to "check on your things."
China is known for being an extreme introvert when it comes to international responsibility. They still are not convinced to be an international joiner to the level of being accountable for heinous or illegal actions.
Every time China is challenged to grow its mindset it invokes "national sovereignty." This mental obstruction of theirs prevents them from stepping over the line to adopt healthy agreements like trade rules that every country adopts as a standard.
Of course, the Republicans enable China to continue in this obsessive attitude by agreeing with their argument that their country - and ours - should be free to do as we please in the world without consequences or being taken to task. Even if we don't make these rules legally binding it's high time the world community get together and agree on a culture of behavior and attitude so we all can trust each other.
Currently, China stinks at human rights abuses, continuing to be arrogant toward its own citizens that challenge China's government to do better. China is still caught up in the Emperor mentality, not allowing political discourse and arguments to help thrash out some practical solutions to national problems. The Communist Chinese like their government neat and orderly, squashing dissent.
Where China has improved is in the area of nuclear nonproliferation. They recently stepped up and played a constructive role in dealing with their backyard neighbor North Korea. They have also talked with the crazies in Iran about the wisdom of their nuclear program. How far they have gotten with both countries remains to be seen but at least China is willing to take on the odious job. For that they can be commended.
One thing is for sure since this state visit, there is a new saying in town: "Hu's your Sugar Daddy, America?!"
From Denny: "Got Palin fatigue?" You have plenty of company, like 56 percent of the rest of America, according to a new CNN poll. How is Palin's unpopularity among women? It's gone up 10 points.
How does she poll among Independents? They sure don't like her either. That score has risen rapidly in the past few months a stunning 14 points to 59 percent against Palin. Independents tend to prefer civility and bipartisanship of which Palin does not subscribe.
Her unfavorable rating is up three points among men. Her overall unfavorable rating is up seven points since the last poll two weeks before the midterms.
Reasons for her upticked unfavorable rating
What has contributed to her increased negative rating in America? Palin handed her fellow Americans a long laundry list of reasons: her tone deaf attitude after the Tucson shooting when people cited her for placing bullseye targets on Democratic politicians and telling fellow GOP to "reload." People are most turned off by her reaction to her cross-hairs website she had up last year during the health care debate where she targeted Democrats, notably Rep. Gabrielle Giffords who was shot in Tucson two weeks ago.
She's hawked ghost-written books as if they were her own, stiffing her fans who waited for hours at book signings. Her reality TV is just TMI (Too Much Information - for our second language friends outside of the USA).
Then there's the constant family psycho-dramas that play out incessantly, giving fodder to the tabloids. Mindless tweeting on Twitter. She tweets without much consideration that millions of people read it - and maybe some things should not be said publicly - because of those persons who are not mentally stable enough to realize she was just being outrageous and obnoxious.
Obnoxious is the word to accurately describe Sarah Palin. She started out as this cute hockey mom with a love of family, children and her conservative values. Then she morphed into this greedy multi-media extravaganza whirlwind, picking up $100,000 fees just to "speak" at this conservative event or that. Her speeches often ramble and make little sense, sprinkled with "You betcha!" and "reload" and other catchy phrases, tossed out with a wink and a nod.
Palin is now this pushy annoying snake oil saleswoman constantly knocking on your door no matter how many times you yell through the door, "Go away!" Yet she continues to accost us without ever being invited into our living rooms. Gee, "do ya think?" she has overstayed her welcome in the public eye?
GOP worries about 2012 election
Most Republicans are getting nervous about her indecent exposure in the public eye. In fact, the GOP circles are now talking about how toxic she could be in any presidential race. Well, they created this monster it's up to them to solve the problem. Be careful what you wish for, GOP.
Of course, GOP hopefuls in the 2012 election are already circling like vultures over the Palin carcass. They see those unfavorable poll numbers over 50 percent and know it's virtually impossible to come back from that toxic level.
Former Speaker Newt Gingrich, known for his outrageous rhetoric of the "Don't do as I do, do as I say" hypocrisy - and several wives later - tells Palin to dial it back and be more careful about what she is saying. While that may be true consider the source. Gingrich, a former history professor, also has compared himself to Emperor Napoleon. Strange but true. I told you that politics should be classified as a sport.
These GOP wannabees know they cannot directly attack Palin because of her weirdly loyal followers. Talk about strange. When she gets criticized her followers actually believe she is more right. Other Republicans who have tried to sideline her were demonized savagely. The new guys vying for the GOP nomination in 2012 are treading lightly for the moment. Even the GOP is getting the message to quit going so negative as evidenced by the Palin example. What the entire GOP is hoping is that Palin will tweet herself right out of existence. Now there's some bipartisanship to which maybe we all can agree.
On a more positive note: Today is the 50th anniversary of John F. Kennedy's inaugural address. This president was one of our most inspiring among us. That day he called for national service and civility. He believed in a dedication to human rights. He wanted our country to make a commitment to arms control. "Eloquent" is the one word to describe President Kennedy for he defined the aspirations of a generation of Americans.
We prefer our leaders inspire us to show us the way to what we are capable of becoming. President Obama was elected with this kind of Kennedy speech-making. He should not allow the toxic atmosphere of those who would tear down this country to deter him from following his original course he set in the 2008 election. President Obama has been feeling his way through this tough times presidency, with many a misstep - and wrong alliances - with coddling Big Business over meeting the needs of the middle class.
He still has a small amount of time to recapture American confidence as a positive and inspiring leader for there is no guarantee that his GOP opposition will be so obviously easy to beat like a Palin. At this snapshot in time, two years out, President Obama is six points higher than GOP Mitt Romney, the only real contender among the Republicans. That isn't enough of a gap to produce favorable results for a reelection and is too close to call.
**** The CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll was conducted Jan. 14-16, with 1,014 adult Americans questioned by telephone. The survey's overall sampling error is plus or minus 3 percentage points.
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Check out the amusing history of our American House Speakers and the gavels they wield like weapons in the political chamber.
Outgoing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California addresses the House after giving newly elected House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio the gavel.
From Denny: Talk about funny. Remember when outgoing Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi gave her last speech as Majority Leader and handed over that outrageously large whacking gavel to incoming GOP Speaker John Boehner? Remember that huge honking gavel that looks more like a croquet mallet, a veritable weapon? Does Boehner plan to play Whack A Mole on the House floor? If terrorists attacked the House Chamber all the politicians would have to do is slam them with that huge gavel to get some order in the House.
The Senate Gavel
So where does the tradition of these huge honking gavels come from anyway? In the Senate from 1789 up until the mid-1950's they used a very unique looking ivory gavel. The Senate was steeped in tradition for centuries. That gavel was more of a knocker as it was possessed no handle. The original Senate gavel was carved from a single elephant tooth, shaped into an ivory cube.
So, why did the Senate quit using the famous tradition ivory gavel? It held up well over the centuries until a heated debate in 1954 involving Vice President Richard Nixon. They were arguing about civilian nuclear power. Nixon got so angry that he crashed down the gavel so forcefully that it smashed into several pieces. Some might say it was an omen of things to come when later President Nixon resigned from office, the first President to do so in American history, rather than face impeachment for his crimes.
When India first became a newly independent nation they gave America a Senate gavel replacement in 1954. It is not identical for it has a floral band carved around its center. This replica stands four-inches tall like the original. Here's to slamming your desk with a fancy elephant tooth. Government sure has some weird ideas about governing.
Currently, the Senate gavel is a bit of an odd duck because it has no handle either. It looks more like an hour glass or a weird egg cup straight off the breakfast table. Yes, now you know what the Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has had in the palm of his hand, slamming hard on the podium. I'm glad someone finally explained it to me as it sure looked odd.
Where did the House and Senate's big gavels come from? Many have been made in the House carpenter's shop, usually crafted from lacquered maple. The huge whacking hammer of a mallet that Speaker Boehner possesses was given to him by an Ohio constituent who crafted it for him. It does make a person wonder if they plan to use it to whack about $100 million out of the budget or maybe just slam to pieces the President's agenda. Either way it has the tone of the bully about it.
Turns out there have been many a House gavel created, often because they were shattered by enthusiastic Speakers. Makes you wonder how many podiums have been replaced as well over the centuries. Check it out. In 1906, Speaker Joseph Cannon - what a perfect name for this story that is true - hit his desk so forcefully that the gavel's head took flight, coming in for a landing between the clerks on the lower tier of the rostrum. Yes, those autocratic types sure know how to show the House a good time. So much for a gavel living the life as a professional politician's tool.
Not to be outdone there was Speaker Champ Clark who managed to break two gavels - and that was just during the opening session! Speaker Nance Garner also broke his fair share of gavels. Garner broke three gavels during the first week of the 1931 session. Guess that Speaker was a bit embarrassed by his vigor as he ordered an "unbreakable" gavel to be made from sturdy black walnut after that congressional session.
Speaker Sam Rayburn was the longest serving House Speaker. He enjoyed collecting gavels, one of which was made from the timber of the burning of the White House back in 1814.
Not to be outdone is the comedy crowd: SNL
SNL Skit: Nancy Pelosi Demonstrates What Makes John Boehner Cry
Comic Kristen Wiig played Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Bill Hader played Speaker Jon Boehner, pretending to be guests on Weekend Update on Saturday Night Live. The skit goes that Nancy presents John with the Speaker's gavel, you know the outgoing Speaker gives over the political symbol of the gavel to the incoming Speaker.
Of course, the fake Boehner decides he will reciprocate a gavel to now Minority Speaker Pelosi, so he gifts her with a teeny, tiny girly pink gavel. Of course, not to be outdone on that one, Nancy makes a decision of her own: She gives John Boehner something to really cry about since weeping is for what he is so famously known. They don't call her Competition Nancy for no reason. Tiny gavel but Big Mind. I want her on my team!
Photo of Speakers Pelosi and Boehner by Charles Dharapak from AP images
Photo of Speaker Boehner and huge gavel by Getty Images
*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!
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* * * Please support Warriors Pearl Foundation - helping homeless female military veterans come home. Visit Denny Lyon Gifts @ CafePress.com - - see what's new! (yes, my new charity - why stand on the sidelines when you can actively do something about a problem?)
* Check out Dennys News Politics Comedy Science Arts & Food - a place where all my other 20 blogs link so you can choose from among the latest posts all in one place. A free to read online newspaper from independent journalist blogger Denny Lyon. *
*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!
From Denny: At the moment, most politicians seem to have gotten the message that the public is not happy with the toxic political atmosphere. Now will someone please inform the media to also tone it down?
There are calls to gun reform in America and it's about time. How comforting is it to know that your neighbor owns 20 assault weapons and high capacity gun clips among other "goodies"? Hunters don't require assault weapons they just need a rifle. Taking an assault weapon to a deer hunt is like taking dynamite to a fishing party.
Why does America continue to allow Big Business and the National Rifle Association to own our politicians, compromising our everyday safety? The NRA and Big Business are in The Business of Selling Fear in order to make billions of dollars annually, talk about depraved indifference. The NRA and Big Business have repeatedly fought any kind of gun reform, especially in the area of selling to the mentally ill. There should be psychological profile tests people have to take before being allowed to own guns - and periodic retesting every year or so.
There should be a national limit as to how many guns a person can own or sell. As it is there is a brisk trade of Americans buying guns and reselling them to the million man army of drug cartels in Mexico. Those guns are used to kill thousands of innocent Mexican citizens, police and military opposing the drug cartels. Now those same guns are coming back over our border states and killing our police and citizens. When will it end? When will anyone stir up the political will and courage to address this insanity?
American style of toxic political discourse that has been going on for 30 years now, reaching a crescendo when Rep. Giffords was shot in the head at a public open-air political meeting with her constituents:
Christina Green, age 9, was her class president and the only girl on the boys baseball team. She was killed at the Giffords political meeting. She was interested in politics and went to view her American democracy in action:
Congresswoman Giffords survived a point blank range shot to her head and is still responding well to her doctors:
Republicans still working to repeal health care for all of America:
I love this silly cartoon play on words - and ideas...
Arrogance of the current Congress:
Arrogance of a past Congress: former Republican Speaker of the House finally goes to jail if only for three years:
Obama:
Republicans have got it stuck in their heads they don't have any free speech rights. They parade around with their opinion signs in political rallies, post their opinions on Twitter and Facebook and give opinionated interviews - completely devoid of the true facts - on Fox News - but hey they don't have free speech?
Big Business as usual:
The economic recovery of America:
The economic recovery of Haiti:
The shame of not dealing with immigration in America:
*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!
*** Come by for a visit and check out my other blogs:
* * * Please support Warriors Pearl Foundation - helping homeless female military veterans come home. Visit Denny Lyon Gifts @ CafePress.com - - see what's new! (yes, my new charity - why stand on the sidelines when you can actively do something about a problem?)
* Check out Dennys News Politics Comedy Science Arts & Food - a place where all my other 20 blogs link so you can choose from among the latest posts all in one place. A free to read online newspaper from independent journalist blogger Denny Lyon. *
*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!
