A request....

Last night, in the course of reading my usual blogs, I read a post on the Intrepid Reporter's blog that piqued my curiousity. So much so, that I dived into Googleworld to find out as much as I could about the subject. Here is an excerpt from that post:

“By executive order, President Barack Obama has ordered the expenditure of $20.3 million in migration assistance to the Palestinian refugees and conflict victims in Gaza.

The "presidential determination" which allows hundreds of thousands of Palestinians with ties to Hamas to resettle in the United States was signed on January 27 and appeared in the Federal Register on February 4.

President Obama's decision, according to the Register, was necessitated by "the urgent refugee and migration needs" of the "victims."

Few on Capitol Hill took note that the order provides a free ticket replete with housing and food allowances to individuals who have displayed their overwhelming support of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in the parliamentary election of January 2006.”

You can read the full post here. But be warned, this is a milblog... and the gentleman uses ALOT of profanity. The part of the post that most intrigued me was this:

We don’t even have the ability to take care of the fucking people in our own country, and now we’re gonna import a Whole Horde of Dirty Hajj into the States?

Ok... now, bear with me folks... here is the actual Presidential Memorandum taken directly from the White House Website.

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
­
For Immediate Release February 2, 2009
January 27, 2009
Presidential Determination

No. 2009-15

MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE
SUBJECT: Unexpected Urgent Refugee and Migration

Needs Related to Gaza

By the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including section 2(c)(1) of the Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1962 (the "Act"), as amended (22 U.S.C. 2601), I hereby determine, pursuant to section 2(c)(1) of the Act, that it is important to the national interest to furnish assistance under the Act in an amount not to exceed $20.3 million from the United States Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Fund for the purpose of meeting unexpected and urgent refugee and migration needs, including by contributions to international, governmental, and nongovernmental organizations and payment of administrative expenses of the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration of the Department of State, related to humanitarian needs of Palestinian refugees and conflict victims in Gaza.

You are authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.

BARACK OBAMA

Maybe I'm missing something but I don't see anything in the words above that indicate we are bringing refugees into this country. So, back to Googleworld I went, searching for anything official looking in regards to refugees. I was shocked! Hundreds of blog posts declaring Obama was inviting the terrorists to live in America! Yet,no official governmental documentation could be found stating this as fact? I was so disturbed by what I had read that I emailed my blog friend, Buck, who in my opinion, is very well informed on these kinds of matters, to ask him what he knew about this development. He hadn't even heard of this. So what to believe? Does anyone have any credible information about this?

Pets In Uniform?

Ok, so now I can say "I've seen it all"....Pets In Uniform

It's All About Perspective

Our National Anthem

This was at a Texas Tech Basketball game, on February 9th, 2007. The National Anthem is sung by five young ladies (ages 6-8). You have never heard it performed better than this! An entire arena remains completely silent throughout the song. You could hear a pin drop. Take a moment to listen to this.

The two young ladies on the right are six years old. The two in the middle are seven and the one on the left is eight.

I don't know about you, but I get choked up every time I hear our national anthem. Doesn't matter where I am, sporting event, sitting in front of a television... anywhere. ~Sniff~

Frosted Farm

This picture, titled Frosted Farm, was taken by a blog friend of mine Ann, who lives in the gorgeous wilds of Montana! Her blog, From the Front Porch, is a visual treat with an array of photos of her beautiful surroundings, her pets and her cozy cabin. She has a knack for writing; and shares some of her day to day adventures, experiences and happenings. Go on over and see for yourself... you'll love it! If you'd like to comment on her blog, you can send her an email at ann@beardogco.com.


I also wanted to mention that the link I made in a previous post for All My Faves , was sent to me by my good friend Whitey... who I miss terribly and hope to run into soon! He and his wife travel in an RV, (totally cool!) and as I am consumed with the love of traveling, we are kindred spirits. Thanks Whitey!

Odd Pictures for your amusement!

The world's largest bike? (For you Buck)


For all those gun loving musicians out there!


This is a unique home design!


World's Ugliest Earrings!


World's Ugliest Fish!


I'm gonna get me one of these!


A moutstache guard!!


Ha ha! The Invisible Man Show!


A DVD Rewinder for the "Intelligent" consumer!


The Cheapest BBQ in the World!


Businessman of the Year!


And for the energetically challenged....Beer Opener Slippers!

And So It Begins....

(for my friend Rhonda)


Associated Press
WASHINGTON - After the flub heard around the world, President Barack Obama has taken the oath of office. Again. Chief Justice John Roberts delivered the oath to Obama on Wednesday night at the White House — a rare do-over.

The surprise moment came in response to Tuesday's much-noticed stumble, when Roberts got the words of the oath a little off, which prompted Obama to do so, too.

Don't worry, the White House says: Obama has still been president since noon on Inauguration Day.

Who flubbed it?


(Bloomberg)-- President Barack Obama called the leaders of Israel, Jordan, Egypt and the Palestinian Authority this morning, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said.

The president “used this opportunity on his first day in office to communicate his commitment to active engagement in pursuit of Arab-Israeli peace from the beginning of his term, and to express his hope for their continued cooperation and leadership,” Gibbs said.

(16 month plan to withdraw from Iraq)

NBC News and news services
WASHINGTON - In a first-day flurry of activity, President Barack Obama on Wednesday set up shop in the Oval Office, summoned advisers to begin dealing with war and recession and ordered new lobbying rules for "a clean break from business as usual."

He also froze salaries for top White House staff members, placed phone calls to Mideast leaders and had aides circulate a draft executive order that would close the detention center at Guantanamo Bay within a year.

Unveiling ethics rules that he portrayed as the fulfillment of a major campaign promise, Obama said that "the way to make government responsible is to hold it accountable." The rules are needed, he added, "to help restore faith in government, without which we cannot deliver the changes that we were sent here to make."

Day One Rhonda.... and so it begins!

We'll Miss You

Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Bush. Thank you for your hard work, dedication, guts, perseverance, graciousness, well... I could go on and on. Thanks also to all of your administration, their loyalty, faithfulness and strength that helped you and our country through some very serious times.

May God Bless You and Your Family.

Precious Time

I've been unable to find the time to write on the blog lately. It seems every day is chock full of things to do! Those pesky chores, errands and appointments seem to never end! My daughter is back living at home and in need of Mom's Taxi, which has added to the lack of time available to blog. I can't say I mind though; soon she will again have her own car to take her back and forth to college and work. Which means, I will only see her in passing, for the most part. While life is racing by us, it's nice to have those fleeting moments; precious time.
When things are very slow at work, I do get to follow my regular reads and occasionally when I'm surfing I stumble upon something that I think should be passed along. This website - a real time saver - All My Faves is a great collection of links to everything and anything you might want or need.
Thanks for hanging in there with me folks... I'm always glad to see your comments and I appreciate the time you take to stop by!

Fire truck crash kills firefighter, injures 6

January 9th, 2009
By Donovan Slack, Maria Cramer, and Milton Valencia, Globe Staff

One firefighter was killed and another was seriously injured when a Boston Fire Department ladder truck hurtled down a hill and crashed into a building Friday on Huntington Avenue in the city's Mission Hill neighborhood, city and fire officials said. Three children were taken to the hospital with minor injuries when the truck hit the room where they were participating in an after-school program.

Fire Lieutenant Kevin M. Kelley, 52, of Quincy, a 30-year veteran of the force, was killed in the crash, said Steve MacDonald, a fire department spokesman.

The truck was carrying Kelley and three other firefighters back from a routine medical call when it went down Parker Hill Road, rumbled through the intersection with Huntington Avenue, smashed into two parked cars, and struck the building, said MacDonald. Kelley was riding in the front passenger seat when the truck rammed the building at 835 Huntington Ave. at around 2:32 p.m.

One seriously injured firefighter was taken to Brigham and Women's Hospital, said Jennifer Mehigan, a spokeswoman for Boston EMS. Two other firefighters who were riding in the truck were treated for minor injuries and were in good condition at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, said hospital spokeswoman Jaime Lyons. Five other people who witnessed the crash were taken to the hospital with emotional distress, said Mehigan.

Kelley, who had three adult daughters, was given a citation in 1997 for his work in an Oct. 26, 1996 fire in Roxbury, MacDonald said. Edward A. Kelly, president of Local 718 of the International Association of Firefighters, said Kelley was "a true veteran who served the city with distinction."

"Many questions remain as to why this horrific accident happened," he said. "Tonight we ask the people of Boston to stand with us as you always have. Pray for the Kelley family. Pray for three firefighters who are in the hospital right now, for the other people who were hurt today."

Officials refused to speculate on the cause of the accident. "We won't be commenting on the accident or vehicle. ... The cause of the accident will be investigated by the Boston Police Department," MacDonald said.

Click here for the full story.

Rest in peace, Lieutenant Kelly.