It is a very pleasant day in Kentucky and this little space on the planet. There is no back room deal of drugs or death or stolen elections here. No back slapping or ass kissing here.
This is just that little place where we have a few cats outside and the sound of falling water to sparkle our peace. It is a peace that I hold and promise in my heart and my mood.

Will it come down to the day when you go to vote and your name is not registered. It will be a simple typo and they will fix it but in the meantime you will not vote.
Is that the plan?

Are we becoming a country where a women can be stepped on and the world justifies it with words.
I know the big business is so smug that they know they have won the election. No Compromise was their slogan. They knew that you would blame congress and vote them out. Are they smart with that voice of no compromise.
The president wants to compromise with the conservatives and he thinks he can, we think he can, they know they will not and smile. We will blame congress.
Was it the color of his skin? Was it because of that charming smile? What is it that makes people want to cringe. Is it the bankers that are holding their money and not turning it loose.
We are turning back the clock, will women loose their vote, will the 40 hour work week disappear?
Will unions feel like crooks? Will big business give you a pension? Will the stock market rise and fall to make money for its players of your taxes, wages and pensions?
They are playing a game and they are winning, they have the army to prove it and it is not the federal government that I am talking about it is Corporate America and its hired guns.

Good Morning America

We are the home of the brave and the land of the free. We are free to move our business to China and then ask us to vote for you.
We are the home of the brave and the land of the free where taxes paid for the road in front of your home. We are the place where Bush with a smile said I will remove the tax and you can still have that road. How? He knows how to butter your bread with one hand and pick your pocket with the other.
The conservative promise is not to make you wealthy this year it is to defeat Obama.
No compromise!

Motherkitty sent this to me.

I thought this was rather appropriate and very ingenious.

It is a good morning.

It is about35 degrees outside this morning. Heavy frost it was all white out there an hour ago. Last year I bought mom the aerosol can of frost remover and I told her to use it. Well she finally did a couple of days ago and she said to me, "That stuff really works!" I knew it would because I had seen it work down at the dam. Sometimes our frost is the kind that is like a sticker that will never come off and you spend a lot of time scraping and nothing happens, with the can of aerosol something happens.

Dance Video

It was 30 degrees this morning and when the leave fall completely I have to remove some trees from against our home.
I uploaded a fine video onto Facebook but I did not notice the foul language in the Headline. So I removed it. The video was great and I did not mind the language but I have to think that some folks in society are not as open to words as I am so I removed it.
I will post it here.

My son in laws uncle died last week and they laid him to rest yesterday. I only knew him in his waning years, so I knew little of the effect this man had on his nephews. All were proud to have worked with him in his contracting business and to have hunted with him in the woods of Kentucky. He was proud and strong and he carried his hammer and rifle with authority.

When I was growing up my dad asked me to get a job. I had to go out and get one. I had a choice.
As mom and I were going through the drive-thru at McDonald's the young man giving us our change said to us, "I wonder what kind of job I'll find next year when I graduate (he was Jr in high school)?" As mom drove away, mom and I looked at each knowing that McDonald's was it in Marion. This was the best we had.

We are warm and the temperature outside is 50 degrees. The leaves are falling and the fodder shocks are up in town as well as the pumpkins. The leaves are blowing and even coming into our home when we open the door. I am sure that there are children jumping into piles of leaves and feeling wonderful.
As James Brown said, "I Feel Good".
I did get a shot at Walmart the other day.
Election day is near and I am eager to vote.
Mom is off today.

The Enrique "Kiki" Camarena Story - Red Ribbon Week

October 25th through 29th is Red Ribbon Week: This year's ribbons, once more curtesy of the KY National Guard, specifically calls for the 'remembrance of Kiki Camerena'. I sent this out last year but in case you've not heard or have forgotten the following briefly tells the reasons behind Red Ribbon Week which is celebrated across the USA. If you've received a ribbon please consider wearing it and if you haven't and want to acknowledge the event simply wear red one day and explain the significance to others."

Enrique Camarena: The hero behind the Red Ribbon

In 1985, when DEA agent Kiki Camarena was murdered by drug dealers in Mexico, they ended his life but not his dream. Here is Kiki's story.
Growing up in a dirt-floored house in Mexico, Enrique Camarena wanted to make a difference. When he was little, he begged his mother for a toy gun. "I need a gun," he said, "because I'm going to be a policeman when I grow up." At nine, Kiki moved with his family to the United States to pick fruit.
After excelling in high school, Kiki faced a critical turning point. His friends were headed for trouble, and he had to decide whether he wanted to follow them into a life of crime and drugs. The deeply engrained desire to make a difference won out, and Kiki opted to stay straight, working his way through college and earning a degree in criminal justice.
Following stints in the Marines and the police force, Kiki joined the DEA in 1974 and asked to be transferred to Guadalajara, Mexico, the center of the drug trafficking empire. While investigating a multi-billion dollar drug scam, he confiscated thousands of pounds of cocaine, and hundreds of thousands of pounds of marijuana. He suspected the drug scam involved officers in the Mexican army, police and government. Kiki was a believer that one person CAN make a difference and he sacrificed his life to prevent drugs from entering the United States. It was the best way he knew to stop drugs and to help people he cared about. His mother, concerned about dangers inherent in his job, tried to talk him out of it. "I can't not do this," he told her. "I'm only one person, but I want to make a difference."
In early 1985, the DEA sent Kiki to work undercover in Mexico. For weeks he lived among the drug cartel, gathering information and evidence. He was ready to wrap up his assignment when his identity was discovered. It was February 7, 1985 at 2:00 p.m. a warm winter afternoon in Guadalajara, Mexico, when U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent Enrique (Kiki) Camarena locked his badge and revolver in his desk drawer and left to meet his wife for lunch. Kiki unsuspectingly crossed the street to his pickup truck. While unlocking the doors to his vehicle, he was grabbed by five men who shoved him into a beige Volkswagen. One month later, his body was discovered in a shallow grave. Kiki and his informant, Alfredo Zavala Avelar, were savagely and grotesquely murdered.
In 1985, the National Federation of Parents for Drug Free Youth joined with DEA and implemented a Red Ribbon campaign that spread to places as far away as Europe. The National Red Ribbon Week is celebrated every year October 23-31, and is dedicated to Kiki Camarena and all of the people who have been wrongly killed due to the violence of drugs.
To honor his memory, and to show that they would continue his fight against illegal drugs, friends and neighbors wore red badges of satin. Then parents who had come together in local coalitions to fight the drug problem took Kiki as their model, embracing his belief that one person can make a difference, and adopting his symbol--the red ribbon--as their own.
Since then, millions of Americans have gotten involved in, and been touched by the Red Ribbon Campaign efforts. No other single drug prevention movement has had such an impact on so many lives.

A Very Nice Blog

What Am I doing?

I am placing the Kentucky Federation of Chapter Bylaws online as approved by National. What I am placing online is a copy and not the actual bylaws. They are there online to get the general idea of what we do as an Federation and Association.
Since I copied them with a reader I have to make sure as to what I copied is the same as I scanned into the computer. The reader reads the pixels of the document and determines if it is an "A" or "Z", etc.
I am proofreading what is on my computer as to what is on printed document. When I think everything is correct I will upload them into a web page for the Kentucky Federation of Chapters to view online.
Time for some coffee.
***
Our daughter is becoming or is a school teacher because she spends half or all of each day looking up or learning or teaching. She home schools. Allison and Diane you two should get acquainted. 1. is because I love both of you and 2. You are both talented in the art of teaching children.

It is a remarkable day. I have only been depressed 4 hours in the last five years. And that was for leaving my wife penniless when I went on a business trip. When I got back I gave her all I had and worked my ass off.
Like I said it is a remarkable day. I am very happy that I woke up alive. I am very happy just to look at a door knob all day or scrub a floor but I do take exception with toilets. As much as I am capable of cleaning them I mostly avoid them because if I applied for a job in this country cleaning toilets is the only job I am qualified to do. So I am not looking for work as my pension is good enough for me and if mom wants to share it with me that is fine. If she wants to live on a higher standard of living with all kinds of goodies then she will have to earn more.
Like I said I am very happy to be alive and I am happy taking care of my self and my belongings.
Have you ever seen that old man in the field slaving away and singing because he is alive well that is me. It is true that I do not like the idea of being a slave to big business and I will fight them. Society is who I work for.
I love this blogging soap box and I proudly display my name begging them to walk to my door step and ask my opinion or say it is my turn at the gavel/guillotine. I will vote.

Rand Paul volunteer admits to stomping on woman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOs1YNzBk2A

Strong winds and very warm temperatures

I tied everything on the deck together with bungee cords and I did tie my glass table to our deck post. One of our dog houses was moving so I placed it under the table and surrounded it with tied down chairs.
This afternoon he temperature will drop like a brick. Mom is on her way to work and she will be in the store when the storm hits.

To Everyone 30 to 50 Years Old

Save every penny you earn. Forget about all the extra stuff you think you need. Someone wants your money and they will never give it back to you. It is your ball so keep it in your immediate family (You and your children). Save your money until the weather is clear and sunny.
You do not have any of the benefits I earned. I may lose them but that is OK. I had a chance. You are not even given a chance.
Make the world yours. Feed your children and save your money.

NARFE Fall Roundup

Just got back from a NARFE Fall Roundup. Our health insurance is going up $30 dollars a month. That is about $15,000 dollars a year. There were 40 of us at the meeting. That is a half a million dollars worth of premiums at our meeting plus whatever we pay Medicare.

C-Span

I was watching C-Span this morning and the only ones allowed to call in were Independent Voters. At least 80 % of them were fed up with the Republicans and just sore at the Blue Dog Democrats for not helping the President. Some said they would never vote for a Republican again. Some said they were fed up with Congress in general and some said they would vote as they pleased, meaning Green Party or independently voting for the person they like and not Republican.
That may mean T-Party but most were more Independent than what we think as T-Party.

My world is failing around me. I am in good spirit and of sound mind. The influence of poverty and a way to live off the government outweigh what is right.
When the world would rather be sick than well tells me that the Walmart mentality has won over another human being.

Sodom and Gomorrah

I was watching TV this evening when a commercial came on advertising a fight between two naked fat men in their backyard ring fighting with two weed eaters and cutting each other to pieces.

The fact that it was advertised on TV just made me realize that we as a society have fallen just as " Sodom and Gomorrah" had fallen thousands of years ago.
To read about a society falling and to actually see it fall is very revealing and heart wrenching.

The rain went north and it is nice this morning in Western Kentucky. It does look cloudy so maybe those clouds will provide some fall humidity or even some frost. It is 67 degrees here at home (outside) as I speak, now that is warm for October.
Like every morning on the planet we are always confronted with a problem. I do not deal with problems because problems are always caused by want. There is no bear or wreaking ball at our door. It is peaceful and quiet where we live. Our problem is health and that is big as we age. Our insurance is going up over $30 dollars a month starting in January of next year. Do I want to ignore my health and save the 430 dollar premium per month. I will never put 430 dollars away for so called health emergencies. It has not come to that yet in this family but I know that will be a question in the future as our economy fails. I am insurance poor and our neighbors have no insurance. They beg and worry only when appropriate when it comes to health, home and auto insurance.
The haves and the have-nots of the pyramid builders.

When A Big Government Solution Worked

By Jeff Nilsson

"Imagine the outcry today. The president asks for $100 Trillion (in 2010 dollars) to upgrade the nation’s infrastructure. Congress approves the idea. Of course, the whole project takes more time and money than planned, and yet, a generation later, it is generally considered one of the country’s best investments. Unthinkable today, it happened in 1955, when Dwight Eisenhower asked for a program to build 40,000 miles of interstate highways.

Getting Congressional approval in 1955 wasn’t the political miracle it would be today. The economy was in better shape than now. Post-war America was generally more confident in its power to solve problems. Also, the project was launched by a popular, Republican president with strong bipartisan support."

Good Morning, it is dark out and it is above 50 degrees outside at the moment. I wonder if that means fall drizzles? Well today it will be nice then 3 days of rain.
I awoke with a mouth full of cotton or one of the cats slept on my head. It took a good scrubbing and brushing and a cup of coffee to feel presentable. Does this mean I am headed for a cold or sore throat?
Mom has to be at work at 0700 this morning. The deer are still out but the traffic is light at this hour of the morning, but the young are moving fast.
I washed my cloths from the trip yesterday and since I awoke with cotton in my mouth I think I will wash bedding today and fix our cat house with the heater Sandy sent us (house warming gift). We talked at great length at Jimmy and Sandy's as to how to winterize places for the cats and they came up with great solutions. Cats are finicky and independent but they sure love a winter nest and that is what we will provide.

Stimulus Funds and Health Care

Air Pollution Control by Trees

We will start real early and then go back to bed.
I had a great time seeing my sister and brother in Berea. I had a great time with them as they treated me with a great cook out and some great stories and memories. We filled in holes on our time cards which we will soon set to music.
The fall colors sure look good. The Cumberland Parkway was a nice showcase of color.

Good Morning. Times are tough in Western Kentucky. My wife works and gets bad mouthed for doing her job. That's policy and there is nothing we can do about it. If you do not like it you know what you can do. Corporate America is not governed by the United States Constitution they are governed by policy. You have heard that they would pay a lawyer $1,000,000 to settle a suit than give in to what is right in America. Corporate America thumbs their nose at law as they did in Louisiana (Katrina and Gulf Oil). They will put dummies into office before helping families heal wounds.
If you ask parents they will tell you that they had it better in their teens than today's teens. Today all teens can look forward to is minimum wages and no retirement plus a 60 hour work week at two jobs or join the military then retire as a mercenary to protect corporations.
I wouldn't have a chance today. My hard labor would only buy me social security. I am not college educated or can be. I am a rebel that wants my parents to live in peace and they never will as long as guns are shipped to Mexico by big Corporate Americans. Mexico is overrun by hard working drug lords that have more power than any nation on the planet.

Each bullet has a name of a human being on it.
How many deaths can you count just in this photo.
Who owns the factory that supplies these bullets?
Is he a Democrat or Republican or does he really care?

Trickleaway: GOP favors tax loopholes that send jobs overseas

what is NARFE?

Today is cool so I will try and make a comfortable place for some of the cats to winter if they may. The females come in if they do not spray and most of ours do not and the one that does spray she stays outdoors.
The trees will really turn today and I am sure they will drop leaves. It feels cold but come spring this warmth will be a welcome sight.
***
I have been getting ready for my Federation Board Meeting this morning. Most of the website work has been done and it is just maintenance by the day that needs to be kept up. I have been printing letters and a presentation. The web site is self-explanatory so the presentation is just highlights the year it has been up.

U.N. official: U.S. is $1.2 billion in arrears at U.N.

(Reuters) - The United States owes $1.2 billion to the United Nations, more than a quarter of the payments owed the world body by all member states, a senior U.N. official said on Thursday.

As the United Nations' single biggest contributor, Washington is responsible for roughly one-quarter of the U.N. peacekeeping budget and slightly less than a quarter of the separate U.N. regular budget.

Fall Colors in Western Kentucky

Old Kuttawa Beach as seen from Lake Barkley Drive (Old Paducah-Kuttawa Road)

Old Kuttawa Marina as seen from Lake Barkley Drive (Old Paducah-Kuttawa Road)

Old Paducah-Kuttawa Road near Swanee Road

Popular Creek as seen from Old Paducah-Kuttawa Road

Buzzard Rock as seen from Old Paducah-Kuttawa Road

Fall Colors

Geese or Ducks off of Lake Barkley Drive (Old Paducah-Kuttawa Road)

Mineral Mounds off in the distance off of Lake Barkley Drive (Old Paducah-Kuttawa Road)

Interstate Highway 24 is to the left of the homes and boat ramp in the distance.
Photo taken off of Lake Barkley Drive (Old Paducah-Kuttawa Road)

Space Shuttle Discovery

Space shuttle Discovery sits on launch pad 39 A at Kennedy Space Center on September 21, 2010 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Space Shuttle Discovery is scheduled to have its last launch on November 1, 2010 as the program winds down.

STS-133 Crew

Nicole Stott, Michael Barratt, Eric Boe, Tim Kopra, Alvin Drew and STS-133 Commander Steve Lindsey.

At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, STS-133 Commander Steve Lindsey speaks to the media gathered at the Shuttle Landing Facility. From left are Nicole Stott, Michael Barratt, Eric Boe, Tim Kopra and Alvin Drew. The crew is gathered for a practice launch dress rehearsal called the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (TCDT) in preparation for the upcoming mission. TCDT provides each shuttle crew and launch team with an opportunity to participate in various simulated countdown activities, including equipment familiarization and emergency training. Space shuttle Discovery and its STS-133 crew will deliver the Permanent Multipurpose Module, packed with supplies and critical spare parts, as well as Robonaut 2, the dexterous humanoid astronaut helper, to the International Space Station. Launch is targeted for Nov. 1 at 4:40 p.m.

Fall Colors

It is cool this morning and we did have a great storm two days ago. Yesterday is was damp in Marion and today it is cool.
Mom is off today. I never know her schedule so I just play it by ear. She did say that she was off and had something planned so that came as a surprise. I will not work on the floor.
I hear a cat crying I think she wants in to see Motherkitty in the computer room. That room is off limits to the cats. I have 3/4 of the floor prepped for carpet or wood.
Now it is time for coffee.
I will take photos today of the trees in the the area before they completely drop to the ground and offer me mulch.

I am still working on the floor in our computer room (Eli's Room). I stop progress on the room when I had to winterize the pool. While winterizing the pool I kind of cleaned up a portion of my garage. When I finished that I cleaned up the deck which was riddled with pool gear and scrapes of debris from the garage. Once the deck was cleaned I started back on the computer room. Tack strip, nails, staples, holes and old stuck hard carpet padding (very hard) are being removed or repaired.
At the moment I have to move Motherkitty's computer again. I have a spot that is clear and that is where the computer is going.

My love for Humanity

I am thankful that some good has come to pass in Chile. I know there is an inner pain in the bodies of the miners but it does not show because they are all smiles seeing the sun again.
May the planet as a whole heal their wounds.

Government workers' pensions no longer sacred

Viva the Revolution!

Another new day or another 24 hour revolution. It is partly cloudy as the earth revolves closer to face the sun (in Western Kentucky). I am the point of interest or the nail in the planet that sets my day. We all need a reference point in relation to time and movement of the planet and mine is in this home shared with Motherkitty. Here the sun is peeking on the horizon just starting our day. I was asleep and unaware of the day until I awoke then realized that another daylight gift has been presented to me and I am very happy that I awoke alive on the planet earth. To that ( the awakening) is a good morning and that is what I do each morning. Celebrate another day on the planet (my "Garden of Eden"). Viva the Revolution!

Well what are we going to do?

I remember in the 1950's and 60's the thought that robots were going to take over the country and the thought was what are we going to do?
Well they told us and I did not believe it.
I am lucky to have worked for the Federal Government. We signed a contract together. You give up some of your pay and we will plan a retirement program for you. I know that a lot of the auto industry employees did that and it worked. But I do remember company thief's that bought companies in the 1990's just to steal the retirement program money. The Federal Government put a stop to that but not before some companies were drained of any retirement funds for their employees.
Well today the companies have left the country and have left an entire population penniless. Is there any responsibility as to who cares for these human beings. Is anyone going to pay a tax to place these people on some exercise program or some pyramid to build?
Is the president going to stimulate the country as Franklin Delano Roosevelt did with his New Deal.
Or we could do what other countries have done and let them starve in the desert and go about out business and talk about it on business week.

1. Googles Self Driving Car Video

2. Story on Google Blog

Happy Birthday Megan

Power Corrupts

Sunday Morning and mom is off and wants to mow for a final time. I normally let the grass get high in the fall/winter months to hold warmth. But mom wants to keep her yard neat for the winter and over 4 inch blades of grass are out of the question. So be it.
We have not had any rain for quite a spell. Mid September was our last good rain and that really is a long time for us.
Today I get the mower ready for mom, riding a mower is hard on the back and so is vacuuming and riding a golf cart. For me lifting and walking great distances hurt me or should I say get to my nerve endings which send signals to the brain that it hurts and it does.

I got my deck ready for winter and maybe plan a warm spot for the cats. As of today there is just the sun and their fur to keep their temperatures regulated.

Topic of Foreign Money in U.S. Races Hits Hustings

I have to say that those foreign corporations have made some fancy anti-Obama campaign commercials . There is nothing we can do about it since the Supreme Court ruled that corporations could have a say in electing a President. They have been sliding money into commercials like a Dr. Seuss Balanced budget. It is time to pull together and vote.
I mentioned this some time ago and it is getting worse. We are now a universal country with no boundaries. Money flows out and in as corporate America sees fit. We are a nation a pawns with no say. Our ballot boxes are being won by corporate propaganda. They will elect anyone that will jump threw hoops and with an ego for the mighty dollar.
We are doomed to die in poverty as the minimum wage drops and we all say, "There is nothing we can do." Child labor laws and unions are next.
They have proven a point. They said that they would not do anything to help Obama and that prophecy has come true.
Maybe a gravy brown uniform for the country that wont have to be cleaned everyday. We will be able to say what we want but no one will listen and if someone does listen they will be paid to shut up.
My point of view will not change and I will continue to say that we have followed a pied piper with nice legs over the cliff.
***
I was listening to C-Span and some folks repeated what I said above and some folks were very confused. No matter what side they were facing the government was at fault even though they were the government.
***

October 8, 2010 In this MegaVote for Kentucky's 1st Congressional District: Recent Congressional Votes Senate: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Reconciliation Senate: Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act Senate: Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act Senate: Nomination of Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court Senate: 2011 Defense Authorization, Cloture House: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act House: Patrick Murphy of Pennsylvania Amendment; National Defense Authorization Act, FY2011 House: Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act House: Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act Editor's Note: This is a special pre-election edition of MegaVote, featuring some of the most-asked-about votes of 2010. The House is in recess and is expected to reconvene Monday, Nov. 15. The Senate is in a series of pro forma sessions over the next month and is expected to also return Nov. 15.

Recent Senate Votes

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Reconciliation - Vote Passed (56-43, 1 Not Voting) The Senate passed the final version of a bill to overhaul the nation’s health care system in March using a procedure known as reconciliation, which allows the Senate to bypass a filibuster with a simple majority. The bill mandates that individuals buy health insurance with exceptions for certain religious groups and those who cannot afford coverage. Those who do not buy insurance will be subject to a tax. Under the bill, beginning in 2014 insurance companies cannot deny coverage based on pre-existing medical conditions, and cannot drop coverage of people who become ill. In addition, a section of the bill makes the federal government the sole originator of student loans. Sen. Mitch McConnell voted NO......send e-mail or see bio Sen. Jim Bunning voted NO......send e-mail or see bio Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act - Vote Agreed to (60-39) The Senate passed the final version of the financial regulation reform legislation in July. The bill creates new regulatory procedures to assess risks posed by large financial institutions and facilitate the orderly dissolution of failing firms that pose a threat to the economy. It will also create a new federal agency to oversee consumer financial products, bring the derivatives market under significant federal regulation and give shareholders and regulators greater say on executive pay. Sen. Mitch McConnell voted NO......send e-mail or see bio Sen. Jim Bunning voted NO......send e-mail or see bio Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act - Vote Agreed to (61-39) The Senate passed this bill in August to provide $16.1 billion to extend increased Medicaid assistance to states and $10 billion in funding for states to create or retain teachers' jobs. The cost of the programs will be offset by changing foreign tax provisions, ending increased food stamp benefits beginning in April 2014 and rescinding previously enacted spending. Sen. Mitch McConnell voted NO......send e-mail or see bio Sen. Jim Bunning voted NO......send e-mail or see bio Nomination of Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court - Vote Confirmed (63-37) The Senate confirmed Elena Kagan to be an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court in August. The former dean of Harvard Law School, Kagan had served as Obama’s solicitor general since March of 2009 and was the first woman to hold the position. She replaced Justice John Paul Stevens, who had been appointed by President Gerald Ford in 1975. Sen. Mitch McConnell voted NO......send e-mail or see bio Sen. Jim Bunning voted NO......send e-mail or see bio 2011 Defense Authorization, Cloture - Vote Rejected (56-43, 1 Not Voting) The Senate rejected this attempt to end debate on the 2011 Defense spending bill, which would authorize $725.7 billion in discretionary funding for defense programs. The bill would have also repealed a 1993 law that codified the "don’t ask, don’t tell" policy banning military service by openly gay men and women. Sen. Mitch McConnell voted NO......send e-mail or see bio Sen. Jim Bunning voted NO......send e-mail or see bio

Recent House Votes

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act - Vote Passed (219-212) In March, the House passed this bill, which would overhaul the nation's health insurance system and require most individuals to buy health insurance by 2014. Rep. Ed Whitfield voted NO......send e-mail or see bio Patrick Murphy of Pennsylvania Amendment; National Defense Authorization Act, FY2011 - Vote Agreed to (234-194, 10 Not Voting) During the defense authorization bill debate in May, the House adopted this amendment that would repeal the "don’t ask, don’t tell" law that prohibits openly gay men and women from serving in the military. Rep. Ed Whitfield voted NO......send e-mail or see bio Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act - Vote Passed (237-192, 4 Not Voting) The House passed the final version of the financial regulation reform legislation in June. Rep. Ed Whitfield voted NO......send e-mail or see bio Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act - Vote Passed (247-161, 25 Not Voting) In August, the House passed this bill to provide $16.1 billion to extend increased Medicaid assistance to states and $10 billion in funding for states to create or retain teachers' jobs. Rep. Ed Whitfield voted NO......send e-mail or see bio

How Hard Did You Work For Your Country

The first thing you want to do is assume that this has to do with a very few select people but the answer is we the people do work for our country. Whether it be a housewife or a lawyer, a sewer worker or a field hand we all work for our country/society. We never choose up sides we just live our lives and in doing so we progress and lay our work out on the floor and in our minds, on a mural or on a shiny stainless steel tower. We do not follow the trail as in the ant but display our lives by each step we take forward. We are the colossus and we are in the garden.

Lock Number 50 on the Ohio River

We are up to 78 locks on the Ohio River 79 is being built. I think the first and most of the old wicket locks are just stories on the Internet as is this lock above, it was blown away by Federal Contract in 1980 as were so many others.
From Federal Records:
"The first Federal improvements for navigation on the Ohio River came in 1824 with the removal of snags and sandbars. These measures were effective, but they were only temporary—new sandbars would appear after every flood. They also provided no relief against low water, which stopped navigation almost every year. The construction of a dam with a stable pool and a lock bypassing the dam would have ended problems caused by low water, but the shippers who needed the full width of the river for maneuvering were opposed to a dam.
A compromise solution was a movable dam that could be raised in times of low water to create a pool and lowered when the flow was adequate for navigation. The dams finally built had a series of Chanoine wickets, invented by Frenchman Jacques Chanoine, extending across the river. A system of 50 movable dams was built on the Ohio River between 1879 and 1929, making the Ohio navigable for its entire length at all times.
Each dam actually consists of a row of 300 or more little dams, individually hinged to a foundation on the river bottom. The wickets are constructed of heavy timber about 4 feet wide and up to 20 feet long. Raising or lowering the wickets is done by a crew on a maneuver boat that moves along the upstream face of the dam. A bar is connected to the back of each wicket with the free end riding in a groove in the foundation. To raise them, a grapple hooks a wicket and pulls it from the bed of the river. The bar slides up the groove to a niche, where it catches and supports the wicket upright against the flow of the river.
The advent of the more powerful diesel tow-boat after World War II greatly increased the size of the tows operating on the Ohio River. The tows were longer than the 600-foot locks and had to be broken into two segments for locking, more than doubling the time necessary for a lockage. A modernization program was begun on the Ohio in the 1950s to replace the old dams and the undersized locks with higher dams and longer locks, making the locking operation faster and less frequent. By 1977, all but the lowest four wicket dams had been replaced. It was at these old wooden dams that ice during the winter of '77 threatened structural damage."

Wicket Lock and Dam

This is a photo of Tomas (kneeling) working at the lock and dam on the mighty Ohio River. The current is swift and dangerous. We worked in all weather conditions, our clock did not stop because of inclement weather.
It took 8 t0 12 hard physical hours to raise the dam from the bottom of the river using our strength to lift the heavy wickets from their resting area. See photo and caption below.
Raising the dam was part of the lock crew's responsibilities. The photo above give you a glimpse of the lock.