Happy New Year!!!

A safe and Happy New Year wish for all my friends and family. Things will be getting worse before they get better. At least it will not be dull.




"An historically unprecedented mess has been created by compromised central bankers and inept economic advisors, whose interference has irreversibly altered and damaged the world financial system, urgently pushed after the removed anchor of money to gold. Analysis features Gold, Crude Oil, USDollar, Treasury bonds, and inter-market dynamics with the US Economy and US Federal Reserve monetary policy.
Many people are very confused these days. They should be. Slowly the nation is coming to grips with a harsh reality that a garden variety recession has not dug its roots inside the body economic of the United States. This is much worse. This is an economic and financial system horribly plagued by insolvency, with vicious cycles causing severe momentum in the damage, where the entire system is facing potential ruin in a disintegration sequence during a virtually unstoppable liquidation process. The broken credit clutch cannot disengage. This is not a deflation episode as portrayed, but rather a broad powerful liquidation phase. As a veteran contact put it, “Cyclical change is easy to understand. What people don't get is that fact that we have systemic change and a paradigm shift of epic proportion. All these idiotic analysts try to find the future in the rear view mirror. Good luck.” "


http://www.financialsense.com/fsu/editorials/willie/2008/1226.html

Pakistan is a mess and will get worse.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081229/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan_valley_of_fear

Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas to all family and friends, may you have a blessed and special day. We celebrate the only gift that really matters, God's gift of a saviour for the world.

Gators Overs Sooners

I will make my national title game pick early and go with the Florida Gators over Okiehoma Sooners. It may be high scoring, but I believe Florida and Tebow are the best. Should be a good game. I just wish they could play it in two weeks from now instead of January 8 with a bunch of hype in between.

SOMALI PIRATES

* SOMALI PIRATES APPLY TO BECOME BANK, AIM TO ACCESS TARP.

* PAULSON: TARP PIRATE EQUITY IS AN ‘INVESTMENT’ - WILL PAY OFF

* KASHKARI SAYS ‘SOMALI PIRATES ARE ‘FUNDAMENTALLY SOUND’ ‘

* MOODYS UPGRADES SOMALI PIRATES TO AAA

* SOMALI PIRATES IN DISCUSSION TO ACQUIRE CITIBANK

* FED OFFICIALS: AGGRESSIVE EASING WOULD CUT SOMALI PIRATE RISK

* FED AGREED NOV 2 TO TAKE ‘WHATEVER STEPS’ NEEDED FOR SOMALI PIRATES.

Defend Yourself

You have the right to defend yourself.

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=82366

Which Came First, The Chicken Or The Road?

WHY DID THE CHICKEN CROSS THE ROAD?

SARAH PALIN: Before it got to the other side, I shot the chicken and her moose friend, cleaned it, and had chicken burgers for lunch.

BARACK OBAMA: The chicken crossed the road because it was time for a change! The chicken wanted change and he heard her say "We can DO it"Yes !

JOHN MC CAIN: My friends, that chicken crossed the road because he recognized the need to engage in cooperation and dialogue with all the chickens on the other side of the road but waited for a call to join them

HILLARY CLINTON: When I was First Lady, I personally helped that Little chicken and its friend to cross the road. This experience makes me Uniquely qualified to ensure right from Day One that every chicken in this country gets health care and the chance it deserves to cross the road. But then, this really isn't about me.

GEORGE W. BUSH: Hell, we don't know and don't give a damn. We have a Mission Accomplished sign over there and told him to tell them all to "Bring it on!" We just want to know if the chicken is on our side of the road, Or not. Chickens are either against us, or for us. There is no middle Ground here.

DICK CHENEY: Shoot the damned thing and say there were hundreds of them.Where's my gun?

COLIN POWELL: Now to the left of the screen, you can clearly see the satellite image of the chicken and moose crossing the road.

BILL CLINTON: I did not cross the road with that chicken. What is Your definition of chicken?

AL GORE: I invented the chicken and the moose benefits the world now.

JOHN KERRY: Although I voted to let the chicken cross the road, I am now against it! It was the wrong road to cross, and I was misled about The chicken's intentions. I am not for it now and will remain against it.

AL SHARPTON: Why are all the chickens white? We need some black chickens.

DR. PHIL: My TV analysis reveals that the problem we have here is That this chicken doesn't realize that he must first deal with the problem on this side of the road before it goes after the problem on the other side Of the road. What we need to do is help him realize how stupid he's acting by not taking on his current problems before adding new problems and watching our TV show.

OPRAH: Well, I understand that the chicken is having problems, which Is why he wants to cross this road so bad. So instead of having the chicken learn from his mistakes and take falls, which is a part of life, I'm going to give this chicken a car so that he can tie the moose behind, just drive across the road and not live his life like the rest of the chickens.

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN: We have some reason to believe there is a chicken, but we have not yet been allowed access to the other side of the road.

NANCY GRACE: That chicken crossed the road because he's guilty! You can see it in his eyes and the way he walks; can't you see it now.

PAT BUCHANAN: To steal the job of a decent, hard working American.

DR SEUSS: Did the chicken cross the road? Did he cross it with a moose? Yes, the chicken crossed the road, but why it crossed I've not been told.

ERNEST HEMINGWAY: To die in the rain, alone, of course!

GRANDPA: In my day we didn't ask why the chicken crossed the road. Somebody told us the chicken crossed the road with a moose, and that's all there was to it.

ARISTOTLE: It is the in the fundamental nature of chickens to lead mooses across the road.

ALBERT EINSTEIN: Did the chicken and his moose friend really cross The road, or did the road move beneath them?

COLONEL SANDERS: Did I miss one, that big brown thing isn't one !

Zimbabwe Now, US Later?

The US Treasury and Federal Reserve have printed more than

$7 TRILLION dollars

in the last 3 months to quote "stabilize and bailout" the financial system. They have in fact engineered they largest theft and scam in the history of the world and Paulson has rewarded his criminal buddies on Wall Street while watching the real economy fall off of a cliff (we are still like the coyote in the Road Runner cartoons, legs moving fast, not falling yet, but soon to crash to earth). Below is a story about Zimbabwe. Don't think that it can't happen to us.



If you think that the current economic crisis is something that has never happened in history before, you may be wrong! After the collapse of the agriculture sector in Zimbabwe in 2000, the inflation in that country skyrocketed to 231 million percent a year! Just think about it - 231 000 000%! Unemployment went up to 80% and a third of country’s population left it.
Zimbabwe’s inflation rate has soared in the past three months and is now at 11.2 million percent, the highest in the world, according to the country’s Central Statistical Office.

“While our case has been aggravated by the illegal sanctions imposed by the Western powers, rising food prices are a world phenomenon because of the use of bio-fuel,” said Samuel Mumbengegwi. “But we will continue to fight inflation by making sure that prices charged are realistic.”
In February, the price of a loaf of bread in the country was less than 200,000 Zimbabwe dollars. On Monday, that same loaf of bread cost 1.6 trillion Zimbabwe dollars.”
Let`s now have a look at the photos that you may not be able to see anywhere else in the world.



Here is a boy getting change in 200 000 dollar notes!

One 200 000 dollar note equals less than $0.10 cents.

December 22nd, a new note of 500 000 dollars introduced to the market!

Next - 750 000 dollars.

January - new note of 10 million dollars.

This US $10 dollar note is 10 times worth more than the 10 million dollars Zimbabwe note.

A case worth 65 billion Zimbabwe dollars which equals to $2000 US dollars.

This guy is going to a supermarket. The exchange rate is 25 million Zimbabwe dollars for 1 US dollar.

This mountain of cash is worth $100.

50 Million note is then introduced!

Next is 250 million dollars note!

Sorry, how much is this t-shirt?
- It`s cheap, only about 3 billion dollars!

May - a note of 500 million dollars is introduced!

June - note worth 25 and 50 billion are printed.

And finally - 100 billion dollars note!

What can you buy for it? Well, these 3 eggs for example.

Thats how people went to restaurants!

And the bills:


In August, the government devalued Zimbabwe dollar by removing 10 zeros from notes.

However, inflation kept going up and in September for this amount of cash you could only buy 4 tomatoes.

And for this - some bread.

And then it started again: 20 000 dollars note in September.

50 000 a couple of weeks ago!

They`ve got a pretty good chance of hitting billion dollar notes again by the end of this year!

Mumbai Attacks

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7751160.stm

I stayed at the Oberoi Hotel during my two trips to India, May 1997 and September 1997. It is a very nice hotel, excellent service, pancakes were very good, a steak not so good. I guess it was good to get a room service steak, but it made a Ryan's Family Steakhouse steak seem like something from Outback.

I have been watching CNN and they are still saying "potential terrorist". I think at this point they can drop the "potential". And since they are too PC to say "Muslim" as the responsible group, they could at least give a possible range of terror groups like, radical Mormons, Hindus, Buddhist, Norwegians, vegans, or Texas Tech fans. Just kidding about all but the Tech fans. They are a pretty rough group but no offense to Jenny, she is the nicest Tech person I know.

Two Sunsets and Two Dogs

Two dogs

Livingston

Key West

She Promises To Be A Good Lawyer

Panda and her mock trial team from University of Houston won a tournament in Washington DC this week-end , defeating a team from SMU in the finals.


Way to go Panda!!!

The Fabulous Key West Catman

You don't have to be crazy to live in Key West.......

........but it helps to fit in.

Falling Leaves

Fall Colors

On the Michigan State University campus

At a church near Okemos

Potter Park Zoo

For bonus points, how many asses are in the picture?

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.
Correct answer is FOUR.

A very nice early fall week-end in East Lansing. Sunny weather with highs in the 70's, lows in low 50's.

Go Spartans!!!!!

Walrus Sighting

I was in HEB on Monday evening and saw a man who looks exactly like golfer Craig Stadler. Now, I normally would look and think, wow, he looks just like Stadler. But since the Champions Tour is in town this week for a tournament, I am 99.99% sure that was the Walrus and his wife.

Your observant blogger at work.

It Is Always A Good Time To Post A Few Key West Pics

Pirate ship at sunset

The Fabulous Catman!!

The Southernmost Point in the Continental U.S.

I am ready to go back to the Keys.

University of Kentucky Debate Results

The MSU EL team was 5-3 in the prelims and made it to the octafinal round or round of 16 teams.

"L" was 1st speaker, his highest ever finish in college.

We have been told that this is the first time in the 50+ year history of the tournament that a sophomore has taken 1st speaker.


One other MSU team made it to the quarter final round.

This tournament also had a round robin before the week-end regular tournament, with 8 of the most highly regarded teams in the country being invited to compete against each other. The going was a lot tougher and they did not do very well, but it was an honor to be invited and you get better by debating the best.


Way to go, Boy!!

Debate Results - Georgia State

Cross examination or policy debate is conducted by two person teams debating a single topic all year against other two person teams. In each round one team is Negative (Neg) and one team is Affirmative (Aff). Usually 16 or 32 teams break from the preliminary rounds (8 rounds in college, 5-6 in high school) and debate in finals or elimination rounds. It is like the NCAA basketball tournament brackets. Style points are awarded to each speaker in every preliminary round with 30 being the maximum and 25 being on the low side. Awards for speaker positions are given along with the awards for finishing place. Multiple teams from a school are distinguished by initials composed of the first letter of their last names. For example, debaters Mr. Smith and Ms. Jones from Michigan State University would be listed as "MSU SJ".



Semi final rounds:
Northwestern defeats Michigan State EL
Emory defeats Kansas

Finals:
Emory defeats Northwestern


The "L" in the MSU EL team was 10th speaker.
MSU EL takes 3rd place.

A very good start to the year. I will post how the other MSU teams did when I find out.

Congratulations "L", aka the Boy.

Some Ike Pictures

Remnants of destroyed boat house and boat floating in our cove.

Tree down on Research Forest Drive.

Flooding near TWHS.

Some Interesting Pictures of Ike Damage

http://www.tpicks.com/pictures_people_have_sent_me.htm

Let There Be Light...at 11:15 pm

Phone starting working at about 8 pm, light came on at 11:15 pm. Yea!!!

Entergy Power Restoration Update

Ike restoration update for Texas: These are current restoration estimates for customers who can take power. These will be updated as more is known.

Area
Date for 100 Percent Restoration

Orange, Vidor
9/21/2008
Navasota
9/22/2008
Port Arthur, Port Neches, Nederland, Groves
9/23/2008
Winnie, Anahuac
9/25/2008
Dayton, Ames, Daisetta, Batson, Saratoga
9/25/2008

The Woodlands
9/25/2008

Woodville
9/29/2008
Silsbee, Lumberton, Kountze
9/29/2008
Conroe
9/29/2008
Huntsville, Madisonville
9/29/2008
New Caney
10/5/2008
Cleveland
10/5/2008

Beaumont, Bevil Oaks, Sour Lake
10/6/2008

Country Club Estates near Port Arthur
Flooded – no date determined
Bolivar Peninsula
Flooded – no date determined
Sabine Pass
Flooded – no date determined

3 Days and Counting Without Power

No damage to the house or to the lake house. Others on Lake Livingston not so lucky with trees on houses and destroyed boats/boathouses. Lots of trees down all across The Woodlands. Rumors that it may be 3-4 weeks before Entergy restores power.

Back at work today with power, water, and Internet. The Valero station at Clay and Gessner has power, gas, and short lines (10 minute wait).

We passed a literal mile long line for gas in Conroe yesterday.

Crystal Beach, where I went as a teenager to enjoy the beach, is basically wiped out (aerial before and after above).

My Dad had the one remaining tree in his yard hit the master bedroom of his new house, which was completed in November last year. He spent over two years in a trailer after Rita destroyed his old house. My sisters rent house she is in while building a new house had roof damage and big leaks.

Friends and family that are having trouble communicating can leave comments here to get news to each other.

God bless everyone and good luck recovering.

Bad, But Could Have Been Worse

Not much excitement in The Woodlands until about 3:30 am. It was windy when I went to bed at 10:30 pm, but not any rain. The eye made landfall on Galveston at 2:10 am and the storm was so big that by 3:30 am we had high winds and heavy rain. No thunder or lightning, but I would say we were having sustained winds at 50-60 MPH with gusts to over 75 MPH. I half slept/watched KHOU Channel 11 until 6:00 am when the power went out. We must have been on the western edge of the eye wall because it calmed down some for a while in the morning, but kicked back up with heavy winds and rain. This afternoon we drove around and there are many trees downs. There was flooding in place that I have never seen water before, even during Alison. Between the flooding and downed trees, it is hard to get around now. I will post some pictures and link some video soon (as long as the Honda generator holds out).

No damage to the house, just a mess in the pool.

One memorable birthday.

Not Looking Good.....

It may turn back south, but this is a very, very bad track for all of the Houston area.


This is not the birthday present I wanted.



http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/storm_graphics/AT09/refresh/AL0908W5+gif/144313W_sm.gif

The Great Train Robbery

From Mike Morgan on the Fannie/Freddie "bailout". Bailout?? how about biggest crime/theft since 1913.



Monday, September 8, 2008

Paulson Meets BombleGok
"The Fannie-Freddie bailout is one of the great political scandals of our age, all the more because it was so obviously coming for so long." - The Wall Street Journal Editorial Page

http://realestateandhousing2.blogspot.com/

A Good Pick For VP

http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/2008/08/29/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-sarah-palin.html


I listened to her speak today and I like her. Too bad she is not at the top of the ticket or that the ticket is not "Paul/Palin".

Sunsets

Tuesday, Westin Sunset Deck

Wednesday from the "Motion on the Ocean"

Thursday from Mallory Square

Clouds over Sunset Key after sunset

Absolutely incredible sunsets all three nights.

Key West Birds

Parrot on Duval Street

Key West Chicken at Mallory Square

Mama hen herding her chicks under the car as I tried to take their picture

Flying Over The Conch Republic

We flew on Thursday and Friday morning, at altitudes from 200 to 1000 feet. We took off and flew west, avoiding the Navy base to the north. We flew over Ballast Key, about 9 miles west of Key West, which is now owned privately and has a nice house/compound on it. In the 70's it was a destination for Jimmy Buffett and friends to party on. They would get in various sized boats filled with ice chests, charcoal grills and other fun stuff and they would head to Ballast Key for a jumbo sized beach party.

I saw a shark on each trip and also saw several sea turtles, dolphins, and rays. It was the start of the lobster mini season so there were a lot of lobster fishermen along with the sailors, divers, and snorkelers. Incredible shades of blue, green, and turquoise were seen as I looked down upon the ocean.

The Cessna 172 felt much more powerful and smooth compared to a Cessna 150. I guess I was the First Officer to Captain Matt, only because of sitting in the right seat. In the event of any trouble, the only thing I would know to do would be pray and scream.

For less than the cost of renting a boat for 1/2 a day we spent about 1 hour and twenty minutes in the air above some beautiful ocean and islands. A good deal, but next time I want to go out in a boat also.

South Florida Vacation Overview-Key West, the Conch Republic

A brief overview to be followed by several posts with lots of pictures, stories, restaurant reviews, and impressions.

We flew to Miami on Monday, arriving early in the afternoon. Drove around Miami Beach, had dinner at Medi's on Ocean Drive, and walked along the beach.

Tuesday morning we got up and headed down US 1 towards the Parrothead homeland, Key West. With perfect timing, "Margaritaville" started playing on the CD player just as we crossed the last bridge onto the island. We drove to the Westin, checked in, and headed to Duvall Street for a late lunch. There are a lot of good choices for lunch, but how better to start than at Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville? The cheese burgers, fries, and frozen margarita's were excellent!! Atmosphere and music were great also.

We watched the sunset Tuesday night from the Sunset Deck of the Westin and could see and hear the "Catman" and other street performers. More later, but I don't if I can really explain the crazy catman fully. Dazzling sunset and then off to Duvall to take a stroll. We had a late snack at Jack Flats, a comfortable sport bars with a lot of locals and a friendly staff.

Wednesday morning we rented bikes to ride around the island. We went down Simonton Street to the Atlantic Ocean, then left on South Street to the Southernmost Point in the Continental US. We rode down along the beach and then down A1A to the Key West International Airport. Since my son-in-law Matt is an airline pilot (a very good one), we wanted to see if we could rent a Cessna 172 (four seater) to fly around the islands. We reserved a plane for the next morning and after a nice lunch in the airport cafe, The Conch Flyer, we rode the bikes back to the hotel in the hot tropical sun. It was a good work out. We then went (drove the car) to Higgs Beach for a swim in the Atlantic Ocean. After an afternoon swim, we had a sunset cruise on Fury's Motion on the Ocean catamaran (we did not know when I signed up for the cruise it would be us and 40 German tourists). Quite an interesting and fun night, some details later, and some things that stay known only to those on Duvall Street that night.

The next morning at a terribly early time of 9:30 am (well, very early considering the night before) we took off in the Cessna with Matt at the controls. I felt much better with the fresh air from the open window at 100 mph and 500 feet above the ocean. Incredibly beautiful shades of blue, turquoise, and green below us along with sailboats, speedboats, sharks, sea turtles, and dolphins. After the flight, we had lunch at Caroline's Cafe (310 Duvall). It was excellent. Amanda and I shared a cuban pork sandwich which was great, and their key lime pie was fantastic. The seafood buffet later (221 Duvall) for dinner was a disappointment. Not bad food, but very average and overpriced.

Before dinner Matt and Amanda took a jet ski ride while the old folks rested. Early that evening I "went down to Captain Tony's, just to get out of the heat" and had a beer while listening to the singer do his song about the German tourists that are "invading" Key West. I saw Captain Tony, who must be quite old since he bought the bar in 1958. And what better way to make the last stop on Duvall Street than by having a Landshark at the bar in "Margaritaville".

Friday morning we checked out of the hotel and went to the Key West airport for another Cessna ride before driving to the Miami airport. Again, the views were awesome. Great people at Island City Flying, very nice. We ended up cutting it a little close on getting to the airport on time for the flight back home, but I did my best Ricky Bobby imitation on US1/Dixie Highway and we made it with 30 minutes to spare.

A great and memorable trip, more to come. Some pictures here, more to follow.

Later Parrotheads.

Key West Here We Come!!!

We are on our way to Margaritaville USA (aka Key West FL). Pictures and semi true stories next week.


"I just want to live happily ever after, every now and then... "


COWBOY IN THE JUNGLE
Jimmy Buffett

There's a cowboy in the jungle
And he looks so out of place
With his shrimp skin boots and his cheap Cheroots
And his skin as white as paste
Headin' south to Paraguay
Where the gauchos sing and shout
Now he's stuck in Porto Bello
Since his money all ran out
So he hangs out with the sailors
Night and day they're raisin' hell
And his original destination's just another
Story that he loves to tell.
With no plans for the future
He still seems in control
From a bronco ride to a ten foot tide
He just had to learn to roll.
Roll with the punches
Play all of his hunches
Made the best of whatever came his way
What he lacked in ambition
He made up with intuition
Plowing straight ahead come what may.
Steel band in the distance
And their music floats across the bay
While American women in muumuus
Talk about all the things they did today
And their husbands quack about fishing
As they slug those rum drinks down
Discussing who caught what and who sat on his butt
But it's the only show in town.
They're tryin' to drink all the punches
They all may lose their lunches
Tryin' to cram lost years into five or six says
Seems that blind ambition erased their intuition
Plowin' straight ahead come what may.
I don't want to live on that kind of island
No, I don't want to swim in a roped off sea.
Too much for me, too much for me
I've got to be where the wind and the water are free.
Alone on a midnight passage
I can count the falling stars
While the Southern Cross and the satellites
They remind me of where we are
Spinning around in circles
Living it day to day
And still twenty four hours, maybe sixty good years
It's still not that long a stay.
We've gotta roll with the punches
Learn to play all of our hunches
Makin' the best of whatever comes your way
Forget that blind ambition
And learn to trust your intuition
Plowin' straight ahead come what may.
And there's a cowboy in the jungle.

Three US Navy Ships (Thanks Captain John)

USS REAGAN

Seeing it next to the Arizona Memorial really puts its size into perspective... ENORMOUS! BEAUTIFUL! When the Bridge pipes 'Man the Rail' there is a lot of rail to man on this monster: shoulder to shoulder, around 4.5 acres.. Her displacement is about 100,000 tons with full complement. Capability Top speed exceeds 30 knots, powered by two nuclear reactors that can operate for more than 20 years without refueling 1. Expected to operate in the fleet for about 50 years 2. Carries over 80 combat aircraft 3. Three arresting cables can stop a 28-ton aircraft going 150 miles per hour in less than 400 feet Size1. Towers 20 stories above the waterline 2. 1092 feet long; nearly as long as the Empire State Building is tall 3. Flight deck covers 4.5 acres 4. 4 bronze propellers, each 21 feet across, weighing 66,200 pounds 5. 2 rudders, each 29 by 22 feet and weighing 50 tons 6. 4 high speed aircraft elevators, each over 4,000 square feet Capacity 1. Home to about 6,000 Navy personnel 2. Carries enough food and supplies to operate for 90 days 3. 18,150 meals served daily 4. Distillation plants provide 400,000 gallons of fresh water from sea water daily, enough for 2,000 homes 5. Nearly 30,000 light fixtures and 1,325 miles of cable and wiring 1,400 telephones 6. 14,000 pillowcases and 28,000 sheets 7. Costs the Navy approximately $250,000 per day for pier side operation 8. Costs the Navy approximately $25 million per day for underway operations (Sailor's salaries included).

US Navy welcomes the USS Bill Clinton Sunday, July 2, 2006 Vancouver , BC . Headed for Seattle, WA., the US Navy welcomed the latest member of its fleet today. The USS William Jefferson Clinton (CVS1) set sail today from its home port of Vancouver, BC. The ship is the first of its kind in the Navy and is a standing legacy to President Bill Clinton 'for his foresight in military budget cuts' and his conduct while president. The ship is constructed nearly entirely from recycled aluminum and is completely solar powered with a top speed of 5 knots. It boasts an arsenal c ompris ed of one (unarmed) F14 Tomcat or one (unarmed) F18 Hornet aircraft which, although they cannot be launched or captured on the 100 foot flight deck, form a very menacing presence. As a standing order, there are no firearms allowed on board. The 20 person crew is completely diversified, including members of all races, creeds, sex, and sexual orientation. This crew, like the crew aboard the USS Jimmy Carter, is specially trained to avoid conflicts and appease any and all enemies of the United States at all costs.! An onboard Type One DNC Universal Translator can send out messages of apology in any language to anyone who may find America offensive. The number of apologies are limitless and though some may seem hollow an d disi ngenuous, the Navy advises all apologies will sound very sincere. The ship's purpose is not defined so much as a unit of national defense, but instead in times of conflict, the USS Clinton has orders to seek refuge in Canada . The ship may be positioned near the Democratic National Party Headquarters for photo-ops. The Clin-toons Should be very proud.

USS Barack Obama sailing in from Cuba

Well I Guess I Could Have Done A Little Research First

Answers to when and where. I would love to have this even if it was VHS.

Live by the Bay is a live video by American popular music singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. It was initially released in 1985 by MCA Entertainment. The 87-minute video was recorded on 17 August 1985 at Miami Marine Stadium and is the first concert video released by Buffett.
The Stadium was originally built for powerboat racing and utilized a floating stage in front of the grandstand that allowed additional concertgoers to listen from their boats in the water behind the stage.
Live By The Bay was originally released on VHS and LASERDISC. As of 2007, the video is out-of-print only available used, on either VHS videotape or LASERDISC and has not been released on DVD. It occasionally airs on VH1 Classic as part of its Classic In Concert series.

[edit] Track list

Live by the Bay opening titles
Introduction / "Gypsies in the Palace"
"Door Number Three"
"Grapefruit-Juicy Fruit"
"We Are the People Our Parents Warned Us About"
"Stars on the Water"
"Coconut Telegraph"
"Come Monday"
"Ragtop Day"
"Who's the Blonde Stranger"
"Volcano"
"Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes"
Intermission / Interview
"One Particular Harbour"
"If The Phone Doesn't Ring, It's Me"
"Why Don't We Get Drunk and Screw"
"Cheeseburger in Paradise"
"Fins"
"Last Mango in Paris"
"A Pirate Looks at Forty"
"Margaritaville"
End titles / "Son of a Son of a Sailor"

Parrotheads Party in Margaritaville

Based on "Last Mango In Paris" as the new album, this was probably 1985-1986. I can't tell exactly where, but everyone is having a hell of a good time. Great video and almost as much fun as being there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUTf5qvS0Lo
margaritaville

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oq69l32DCKs&feature=related
chesseburger in paradise

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxuaUaS4rU0&feature=related
volcano

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhCD6FtHbqo&feature=related
fins

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9-nfDLxI3w&feature=related
coconut telegraph

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWRFSgTQUh0&feature=related
grapefruit juicy fruit

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wFpvRMIIEM&feature=related
why don’t we get drunk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jw7qzpSwucc&feature=related
a pirate looks at 40

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzRQyt0aTHA&feature=related
changes in latitudes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dT-2P031WJA&feature=related
last mango in paris

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9liAK2uUUA&feature=related
if the phone doesn’t ring

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPClFIzH4hE&feature=related
stars on the water

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7Wfw7nk3Rs&feature=related
ragtop day

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LF6nBeSdzd0&feature=related
whose the blonde stranger

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhiTsLr29XA&feature=related
come monday

The Guy with the BEST SUMMER JOB Ever

Wouldn't you like to have a summer job like Jimmy's? Party on Parrotheads!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wFpvRMIIEM

No Inflation, Great Economy

If you believe what you hear on bubblevision (Cramer, Kudlow, Squawk Box, Bernanke, Paulson, etc..) about the low inflation rate of 4% and unemployment at 4.5% and the economy growing at 1%, avert your eyes now and run away with your fingers in your ears.

Oil is $145 a barrel, Starbucks is closing 600 stores, GM closed below $10 a share, house prices are down 25% in a year in FL, CA, and NV and going lower.
The big commercial and investment banks are all INSOLVENT.

You may now return to watching CNBC on your 7000" flat screen you bought with a third mortgage on your $750,000 , 800 ft2 house in LaLa land.

Chickens

Why DID That Chicken Cross The Road?

BARACKOBAMA:The chicken crossed the road because it was time for a CHANGE! The chicken wanted CHANGE!

JOHN MCCAIN:My friends, that chicken crossed theroad because he recognized the need to engage in cooperation and dialogue with all the chickens on the other side of the road.

HILLARYCLINTON:When I was First Lady, I personally helped that little chicken to cross the road. This experience makesme uniquely qualified to ensure - right from Day One! -- that every chicken in this country gets the chance it deserves to cross theroad. But then, this really isn't about me.......

GEORGE W.BUSH:We don't really care why the chicken crossed the road. We just want to know if the chicken is on our side of the road, or not. The chicken is either against us, or for us. There is no middle ground here.

COLINPOWELL:Now to the left of the screen, you can clearly see the satellite image of the chicken crossing the road...

JOHNKERRY:Although I voted to let the chicken cross the road, I am now against it! It was the wrong road to cross,and I was misled about the chicken's intentions. I am not for it now, and will remain against it.

PATBUCHANAN:To steal the job of a decent,hard working American.

ALGORE:I invented the chicken!

DICKCHENEY:Where's mygun?

ALSHARPTON:Why are all the chickens white? We need some black chickens.

COLONELSANDERS:Did I miss one?

Why You SHould Be Careful Around Water

At the end of March we were at the lake with my wife's sister and her husband. The brother-in-law was gone to get something and I was inside the house while the women were fishing on the boat house. I heard yelling and assumed they had caught a catfish and needed me to unhook it. I ran down to the boat house and they pointed to the "6 foot" long snake that swan up to the bank 30 feet from the boat house and climbed out onto the land. It was not 6 feet, but it was a big ass water moccasin, and I ran full speed back inside for my 12 gauge. I grabbed the Ithaca Model 66 single shot and three 000 shells. I had the girls stand back, and took careful aim. The first shot caught it in the lower third of it's gut and blew it apart pretty good. It still was moving on the upper half and was trying to get to the water, even though the shot would be fatal. I fired a second shot, hit it again, but not close enough to the head to kill it. I finished it off with a shovel. It measured 57 inches, which is quite big. I have read that the record is about 75 inches. A dead snake is a good snake.

Aggie & Penny

Two bad dogs.

Bad Dogs

Penny is a good girl.

Hello Texas

I've got a Caribbean soul I can barely control and some Texas hidden here in my heart. The Buffet concert on April 21, 2008 at The Woodlands Pavillion was Fantastic!! Probably the best concert ever. More later.