SeniorJunior

Tough to Find, But Definitely Worth It! A tool made in the USA! And at a Big Box store (Home Depot) to boot. In these times when it's harder and harder to find that "Made in U.S.A." note - especially on tools - this was a great find. And it's a great tool. Super stripper, bolt trimmer, etc. Klein Tools. The default store for tools, "Harbor Freight" is the big chain that is basically a Chinese manufacturing outlet. I challenge you to find "Made in U.S.A." there. I think I'm becoming a protectionist. Horrors. Pretty soon, I will propose a boycott of S. Korean cars. But I'll wait 'til I research it a bit more.

...About Climate Change If you are casting a dragnet for clarifying info on the (apparently to some) confusing facts about the REALLY BIG MESS we are heading into with our dosing the atmosphere with our carbon refuse, try this site . Like weekly. It's on my new favorite web site, Architecture 2030 . Give it a shot. pix credit

...Years Old! My Mom. Today. This is that sweet girl at 17. And she still looks good. Not many dudes my age can still go see their moms in person. Happy birthday, Jimmie Duff. love, scooter

Here Come the Republicans! Oct. 1 ( Bloomberg ) -- U.S. House Republicans’ pledge to cut $100 billion from the federal budget next year would slash spending for education, cancer research and aid to local police and firefighters. A 21 percent cut in Pell Grants would take almost $5 billion from student tuition. A 21 percent cut across the board would take about $15 billion from education. A 21 percent cut at the National Institutes of Health would take about $6 billion from health research. A 21 percent cut would take $400 million from police. I could go on, but it makes me cry, and you don't want a sobbing blogger. Especially when letting the tax cuts for those making over a quarter million bucks a year expire would save all that and have about the same impact as those cruel cuts on the budget. You know I don't think the Democrats are always right, but I agree with their statement about all this cutting into the hearts of our citizens: “It will have a serious impact

YEA G R A P H I C S !!! Not since Ross Perot has a major politico used graphics to "draw" the facts. Finally, Austan Goolsbee gives it a shot. 'Tain't perfect, but it's pretty good. [ NOT Austan Goolsbee ] Check it out. I reiterate my many-times-recommended-to-Prez-Obama plea: "Use graphics; Use video; Use stills; USE VISUALS to make your points.

Geometric Growth! "Modern science is advancing at an unprecedented rate, and the amount of scientific data is doubling every year ." And that's the biggest story I can find anywhere. The quote is from the 27 August issue of Science Magazine, but their reference is back to a 2005 paper. If you Google (or any other search engine) " Scientific data doubles every year " you'll see what I mean . It's enough to make you optimistic. Pix credit: http://www.maricopacomputer.com/

Ever Heard of Edward Bernays? Forget about (well, you know...) Hitler's guy Joseph Goebbels or Stalin's guy Molotov. They just gave propaganda a bad name. But Bernays basically invented it. CHAPTER I From his 1925 book ORGANIZING CHAOS, the first paragraph: THE conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in democratic society. Those who manipulate this unseen mechanism of society constitute an invisible government which is the true ruling power of our country. Bernay's first task was to drag the screaming isolationist U.S.A. into World War I. ... with stuff like this: Then he parlayed his techniques into a big P.R. business. His first biggy account was a ciggy account - Chesterfield. This dude convinced women is was cool and sexy to smoke. ... with stuff like this: All rights reserved by Christian Montone But Propaganda wasn't "bad" until the Nazis and the Commies used it to brainwash