Record High Visits to Hawaii in 2012

(Reuters) - Visits to Hawaii soared to a record high last year, boosted by an increase in flights and a weaker dollar, tourism officials said on Thursday.

Almost 8 million people visited the Aloha State in 2012, more than a third of a million more than the previous record set in 2006 and a rise of 9.6 percent on 2011, the Hawaii Tourism Authority said.

The surge in visitors to the tropical islands - famed for their pounding surf and lush mountains - was matched by a record $14.3 billion in spending, according to preliminary statistics.

As well as being a top holiday destination for U.S. visitors, the islands are also a popular spot for Japanese tourists who accounted for nearly 1.5 million of the state's visitors in 2012 - a 17 percent rise.

Keith Vieira, director of operations for Starwood Hotels and Resorts in Hawaii, said new direct flights from secondary tourist markets such as Phoenix and Las Vegas were a factor in the increase, along with more international flights from Australia, South Korea, and Japan.

Officials from the Tourism Authority also cited faRecvorable exchange rates. The yen is currently at a two-and-a-half year low against the dollar.

Roseann Grippo, general manager of the Kahala Hotel and Resort, said another factor was that "people have more discretionary income with the economy coming back."

In 2013 the state aims to attract 8.2 million visitors, Mike McCartney, president & CEO Hawaii Tourism Authority, said in a statement.

Ordering a Pizza in Obamacare 2015

OK, you just gotta listen/watch the attached. It is not only hilarious, but also way, way too close to the truth of where we are headed.

Just click on "Ordering a Pizza in 2015." Enjoy!

Another unforeseen benefit from Obamacare:       Ordering a Pizza in 2015

Bear walks in on a camera crew filming a commercial

SMILE, YOU’RE ON CANDID CAMERA!

http://www.angelfire.com/ak2/intelligencerreport/walking.html

Heart Touching Story

Really heart touching.........

I was walking around in a Big Bazar store making shopping, when I saw

a Cashier talking to a boy couldn't have been more than 5 or 6 years

old..

The Cashier said, 'I'm sorry, but you don't have enough money to buy

this doll. Then the little boy turned to me and asked: ''Uncle, are

you sure I don't have enough money?''

I counted his cash and replied: ''You know that you don't have enough

money to buy the doll, my dear.'' The little boy was still holding the

doll in his hand.

Finally, I walked toward him and I asked him who he wished to give

this doll to. 'It's the doll that my sister loved most and wanted so

much . I wanted to Gift her for her BIRTHDAY.

I have to give the doll to my mommy so that she can give it to my

sister when she goes there.' His eyes were so sad while saying this.

'My Sister has gone to be with God.. Daddy says that Mommy is going to

see God very soon too, so I thought that she could take the doll with

her to give it to my sister...''

My heart nearly stopped. The little boy looked up at me and said: 'I

told daddy to tell mommy not to go yet. I need her to wait until I

come back from the mall.' Then he showed me a very nice photo of him

where he was laughing. He then told me 'I want mommy to take my

picture with her so my sister won't forget me.' 'I love my mommy and I

wish she doesn't have to leave me, but daddy says that she has to go

to be with my little sister.' Then he looked again at the doll with

sad eyes, very quietly..

I quickly reached for my wallet and said to the boy. 'Suppose we check

again, just in case you do have enough money for the doll?''

'OK' he said, 'I hope I do have enough.' I added some of my money to

his without him seeing and we started to count it. There was enough

for the doll and even some spare money.

The little boy said: 'Thank you God for giving me enough money!'

Then he looked at me and added, 'I asked last night before I went to

sleep for God to make sure I had enough money to buy this doll, so

that mommy could give It to my sister. He heard me!'' 'I also wanted

to have enough money to buy a white rose for my mommy, but I didn't

dare to ask God for too much. But He gave me enough to buy the doll

and a white rose. My mommy loves white roses.'

I finished my shopping in a totally different state from when I

started. I couldn't get the little boy out of my mind. Then I

remembered a local

newspaper article two days ago, which mentioned a drunk man in a

truck, who hit a car occupied by a young woman and a little girl. The

little girl died right away, and the mother was left in a critical

state. The family had to decide whether to pull the plug on the

life-sustaining machine, because the young woman would not be able to

recover from the coma. Was this the family of the little boy?

Two days after this encounter with the little boy, I read in the news

paper that the young woman had passed away.. I couldn't stop myself as

I bought a bunch of white roses and I went to the funeral home where

the body of the young woman was exposed for people to see and make

last wishes before her burial. She was there, in her coffin, holding a

beautiful white rose in her hand with the photo of the little boy and

the doll placed over her chest. I left the place, teary-eyed, feeling

that my life had been changed for ever...

The love that the little boy had for his mother and his sister is

still, to this day, hard to imagine. And in a fraction of a second, a

drunk driver had taken all this away from him.

Please DO NOT DRINK & DRIVE.

Now you have 2 choices:

1) Forward this message, or

2) Ignore it as if it never touched your heart.

For those who prefer to think that God is not watching over us.... go

ahead and delete this. For the rest of us..... pass this on.

The value of a man or woman resides in what he or she gives, not in

what they are capable of receiving

My Retirement Plans

Sounds like a good plan to me!!!

 
Where TO LIVE WHEN YOU RETIRE! Affordable and NICE!


No NURSING HOME FOR me!!!

No nursing home for us. We'll be checking into a Holiday Inn!

With the average cost for a nursing home care costing $188.00 per day, there is a better way when we get old and too feeble.
I've already checked on reservations at the Holiday Inn.
For a combined long term stay discount and senior discount, it's $59.23 per night.
Breakfast is included, and some have happy hours in the afternoon.
That leaves $128.77 a day for lunch and dinner in any restaurant we want, or room service, laundry, gratuities and special TV movies.
Plus, they provide a spa, swimming pool, a workout room, a lounge and washer-dryer, etc.
Most have free toothpaste and razors, and all have free shampoo and soap.
$5 worth of tips a day you'll have the entire staff scrambling to help you.
They treat you like a customer, not a patient.
There's a city bus stop out front, and seniors ride free.
The handicap bus will also pick you up (if you fake a decent limp).
To meet other nice people, call a church bus on Sundays.
For a change of scenery, take the airport shuttle bus and eat at one of the nice restaurants there.
While you're at the airport, fly somewhere. Otherwise, the cash keeps building up.

It takes months to get into decent nursing homes. Holiday Inn will take your reservation today.
And you're not stuck in one place forever -- you can move from Inn to Inn, or even from city to city.
Want to see Hawaii ? They have Holiday Inn there too.
TV broken? Light bulbs need changing? Need a mattress replaced? No problem.. They fix everything, and apologize for the inconvenience.

The Inn has a night security person and daily room service. The maid checks to see if you are ok. If not, they'll call an ambulance . . . or the undertaker.
If you fall and break a hip, Medicare will pay for the hip, and Holiday Inn will upgrade you to a suite for the rest of your life.

And no worries about visits from family. They will always be glad to find you, and probably check in for a few days mini-vacation.

The grandkids can use the pool.
What more could I ask for?
So, when I reach that golden age, I'll face it with a grin.
AIDS WARNING!

To all of you approaching 50 or have REACHED 50 and past, this email is especially for you......
SENIOR CITIZENS
ARE THE NATION'S LEADING CARRIERS OF AIDS!
HEARING AIDS

BAND AIDS

ROLL AIDS

WALKING AIDS

MEDICAL AIDS

GOVERNMENT AIDS

MOST OF ALL,

MONETARY AID TO THEIR KIDS!

Not forgetting HIV
(Hair is Vanishing)


I'm only sending this to my 'old' friends.
I love to see you smile !

Statistical Impossibilities of the Presidential Election

So much corruption and dishonesty!  Allen West tried for a vote re-count but didn't get anywhere. 

Sometimes you just cannot argue with the numbers. If these numbers are correct and true, the USA has bigger problems on their hands other than who was elected President. From Bill O'Reilly's message board. Most everyone suspected fraud, but these numbers prove it and  our government and media refuse to do anything about it. As each state reported their final election details, the  evidence of voter fraud is astounding Massive voter fraud has been  reported in areas of OH and FL, with PA, WI and VA, all are deploying  personnel to investigate election results. Here are just a few examples of what has surfaced with much  more to come. * In 59 voting districts in the Philadelphia region, Obama  received 100% of the votes with not even a single vote recorded For Romney. (a mathematical and statistical impossibility). * In 21 districts in Wood County Ohio, Obama received 100% of  the votes where GOP inspectors were illegally removed from their  locations - And not one single vote was recorded for Romney.  (another statistical impossibility). *n In Wood County Ohio, 106,258 voted in a county with only  98,213 eligible voters. * In St. Lucie County, FL, there were 175,574 registered  eligible voters but 247,713 votes were cast. * The National SEAL Museum , a polling location in St. Lucie  County, FL had a 158% voter turnout. * Palm Beach County , FL had a 141% voter turnout. * In Ohio County , Obama won by 108% of the total number of  eligible voters. NOTE: Obama won in every state that did not require a Photo ID  and lost in every state that Did require a Photo ID in order to vote.   Imagine that!

Wall to Honor Those Killed in Action in the Middle East

This is the first I heard about this wall honoring the vets killed in the Middle East.  This is because it was done by private enterprise with no government involvement.  Click on the link below and watch the video about the memorial.

 Wall for Middle East Killed in Action

  

MAKE SURE YOU WATCH THIS ONE!

The Wall for Middle East Killed in Action

    (VERY IMPRESSIVE TRIBUTE)

I never knew this existed,,,, Wow ~~   never heard of this at all. Not sure any of you all are aware of this great tribute to those who have given their all to protect us in the Middle East. Click Here for the video http://stg.do/bjSc Let's hope that they can stop engraving names of American men and women soon !!!!!!!!!!

Professor's Analysis of Presidential Election

An excellent analysis.  The unfortunate thing is that those that really need to read it aren't smart enough to understand it or care to understand it!!!!

Laura Hollis is:

Current: Associate Professional Specialist and Concurrent Associate Professor of Law at University of Notre Dame.


Past:  Director at Gigot Center for Entrepreneurial Studies, Associate Director and Clinical Professor at University of Illinois at

Urbana-Champaign.


Education: University of Notre Dame Law School, University of Notre Dame.


Summary:  She has 20+ years' experience in curriculum and other program development and delivery.


#########################################

I am already reading so many pundits and other talking heads analyzing the disaster that was this year’s elections.  I am adding my own ten cents.  Here goes:

1.  We are outnumbered. We accurately foresaw the enthusiasm, the passion, the commitment, the determination, and the turnout.  Married women, men, independents, Catholics, evangelicals – they all went for Romney in percentages as high or higher than the groups which voted for McCain in 2008.  It wasn’t enough.  What we saw in the election on Tuesday was a tipping point: we are now at a place where there are legitimately fewer Americans who desire a free republic with a free people than there are those who think the government should give them stuff.  There are fewer of us who believe in the value of free exchange and free enterprise.

There are fewer of us who do not wish to demonize successful people in order to justify taking from them.  We are outnumbered.  For the moment.

It’s just that simple.

2.  It wasn’t the candidate(s)

Some are already saying, “Romney was the wrong guy”; “He should have picked Marco Rubio to get Florida/Rob Portman to get Ohio/Chris Christie to get [someplace else].” With all due respect, these assessments are incorrect.  Romney ran a strategic and well-organized campaign.  Yes, he could have hit harder on Benghazi.  But for those who would have loved that, there are those who would have found it distasteful.  No matter what tactic you could point to that Romney could have done better, it would have been spun in a way that was detrimental to his chances.  Romney would have been an excellent president, and Ryan was an inspired choice.  No matter who we ran this year, they would have lost.  See #1, above.

3.  It’s the culture, stupid!

We have been trying to fight this battle every four years at the voting booth.  It is long past time we admit that is not where the battle really is.  We abdicated control of the culture – starting back in the 1960s.  And now our largest primary social institutions – education, the media, Hollywood (entertainment) have become really nothing more than an assembly line for cranking out reliable little Leftists.  Furthermore, we have allowed the government to undermine the institutions that instill good character – marriage, the family, communities, schools, our churches.  So, here we are, at least two full generations later – we are reaping what we have sown.  It took nearly fifty years to get here; it will take another fifty years to get back.

But it starts with the determination to reclaim education, the media, and the entertainment business.  If we fail to do that, we can kiss every election goodbye from here on out.  And much more.

4.  America has become a nation of adolescents. The real loser in this election was adulthood: Maturity.

Responsibility.  The understanding that liberty must be accompanied by self-restraint.  Obama is a spoiled child, and the behavior and language of his followers and their advertisements throughout the campaign makes it clear how many of them are, as well.  Romney is a grown-up.  Romney should have won.  Those of us who expected him to win assumed that voters would act like grownups.  Because if we were a nation of grownups, he would have won.

But what did win?  Sex.  Drugs.  Bad language.  Bad manners.  Vulgarity.

Lies.  Cheating.  Name-calling.  Finger-pointing.  Blaming.  And irresponsible spending.  This does not bode well.  People grow up one of two ways: either they choose to, or circumstances forced them to.  The warnings are all there, whether it is the looming economic disaster, or the inability of the government to respond to crises like Hurricane Sandy, or the growing strength and brazenness of our enemies.  American voters stick their fingers in their ears and say, “Lalalalalala, I can’t hear you.” It is unpleasant to think about the circumstances it will take to force Americans to grow up.  It is even more unpleasant to think about Obama at the helm when those circumstances arrive.

5.  Yes, there is apparently a Vagina Vote It’s the subject matter of another column in its entirety to point out, one by one, all of the inconsistencies and hypocrisies of the Democrats this year.  Suffice it to say that the only “war on women” was the one waged by the Obama campaign, which sexualized and objectified women, featuring them dressed up like vulvas at the Democrat National Convention, appealing to their “lady parts,” comparing voting to losing your virginity with Obama, trumpeting the thrills of destroying our children in the womb (and using our daughters in commercials to do so), and making Catholics pay for their birth control.  For a significant number of women, this was appealing.

It might call into question the wisdom of the Nineteenth Amendment, but for the fact that large numbers of women (largely married) used their “lady smarts” instead.  Either way, Susan B.  Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton are rolling over in their graves.

6.  It’s not about giving up on “social issues”. No Republican candidate should participate in a debate or go out on the stump without thorough debate prep and a complete set of talking points that they stick to.  This should start with a good grounding in biology and a reluctance to purport to know the will of God.  (Thank you, Todd and Richard.)

That said, we do not hold the values we do because they garner votes.

We hold the values we do because we believe that they are time-tested principles without which a civilized, free and prosperous society is not possible.

We defend the unborn because we understand that a society which views some lives as expendable is capable of viewing all lives as expendable.

We defend family – mothers, fathers, marriage, children – because history makes it quite clear that societies without intact families quickly descend into anarchy and barbarism, and we have plenty of proof of that in our inner cities where marriage is infrequent and unwed motherhood approaches 80 percent.  When Roe v.  Wade was decided in 1973, many thought that the abortion cause was lost.  Forty years later, ultrasound technology has demonstrated the inevitable connection between science and morality.  More Americans than ever define themselves as “pro-life.” What is tragic is that tens of millions of children have lost their lives while Americans figure out what should have been obvious before.  There is no “giving up” on social issues.  There is only the realization that we have to fight the battle on other fronts.  The truth will win out in the end.

7.  Obama does not have a mandate.  And he does not need one.

I have to laugh – bitterly – when I read conservative pundits trying to assure us that Obama “has to know” that he does not have a mandate, and so he will have to govern from the middle.  I don’t know what they’re smoking.  Obama does not care that he does not have a mandate.

He does not view himself as being elected (much less re-elected) to represent individuals.  He views himself as having been re-elected to complete the “fundamental transformation” of America, the basic structure of which he despises.  Expect much more of the same – largely the complete disregard of the will of half the American public, his willingness to rule by executive order, and the utter inability of another divided Congress to rein him in.  Stanley Kurtz has it all laid out here.

8.  The Corrupt Media is the enemy! Too strong?  I don’t think so.  I have been watching the media try to throw elections since at least the early 1990s.  In 2008 and again this year, we saw the media cravenly cover up for the incompetence and deceit of this President, while demonizing a good, honorable and decent man with lies and smears.  This is on top of the daily barrage of insults that conservatives (and by that I mean the electorate, not the politicians) must endure at the hands of this arrogant bunch of elitist snobs.  Bias is one thing.  What we observed with Benghazi was professional malpractice and fraud.  They need to go.  Republicans, Libertarians and other conservatives need to be prepared to play hardball with the Pravda press from here on out.  And while we are at it, to defend those journalists of whatever political stripe (Jake Tapper, Sharyl Atkisson, Eli Lake) who actually do their jobs.  As well as Fox News and talk radio.  Because you can fully expect a re-elected Obama to try to reinstate the Fairness Doctrine in term 2.

9.  Small business and entrepreneurs will be hurt the worst. For all the blather about “Wall Street versus Main Street,” Obama’s statist agenda will unquestionably benefit the biggest corporations which – as with the public sector unions – are in the best position to make campaign donations, hire lobbyists, and get special exemptions carved out from Obama’s health care laws, his environmental regulations, his labor laws.  It will be the small business, the entrepreneur, and the first-time innovators who will be crushed by their inability to compete on a level playing field.

10.  America is more polarized than ever; and this time it’s personal. I’ve been following politics for a long time, and it feels different this time.  Not just for me.  I’ve received messages from other conservatives who are saying the same thing: there is little to no tolerance left out there for those who are bringing this country to its knees – even when they have been our friends.  It isn’t just about “my guy” versus “your guy.” It is my view of America versus your view of America – a crippled, hemorrhaging, debt-laden, weakened and dependent America that I want no part of and resent being foisted on me.  I no longer have any patience for stupidity, blindness, or vulgarity, so with each dumb “tweet” or FB post by one of my happily lefty comrades, another one bites the dust, for me.  Delete.  What does this portend for a divided Congress?  I expect that Republicans will be demoralized and chastened for a short time.  But I see them in a bad position.  Americans in general want Congress to work together.  But many do not want Obama’s policies, and so Republicans who support them will be toast.  Good luck, guys.

11.  It’s possible that America just has to hit rock bottom I truly believe that most Americans who voted for Obama have no idea what they are in for.  Most simply believe him when he says that all he really wants is for the rich to pay “a little bit more.” So reasonable!  Who could argue with that except a greedy racist?

America is on a horrific bender.  Has been for some time now.  The warning signs of our fiscal profligacy and culture of lack of personal responsibility are everywhere – too many to mention.  We need only look at other countries which have gone the route we are walking now to see what is in store.

For the past four years – but certainly within the past campaign season – we have tried to warn Americans.  Too many refuse to listen, even when all of the events that have transpired during Obama’s presidency – unemployment, economic stagnation, skyrocketing prices, the depression of the dollar, the collapse of foreign policy, Benghazi, hopelessly inept responses to natural disasters – can be tied directly to Obama’s statist philosophies, and his decisions.

What that means, I fear, is that they will not see what is coming until the whole thing collapses.  That is what makes me so sad today.  I see the country I love headed toward its own “rock bottom,” and I cannot seem to reach those who are taking it there.

Beware of Progressive (Leftist) Democrats With Guns

The 5 Worst/Recent Mass Murders in the USA (with a Firearm) Came from Democrats

The source of information for this news post came from Roger Hedgecock’s 1/17/13 radio show. Here’s the link. Fast forward to 21:13 for Roger’s comments.

The five worst mass killings, where a firearm was used, have a common thread. Hint #1: They didn’t belong to the NRA. They don’t fit the stereotype of the “red-neck” gun owner.

Check it out …

Ft Hood: Registered Democrat/Muslim.

Columbine: Too young to vote; both families were registered Democrats and progressive liberals.

Virginia Tech: Wrote hate mail to President Bush and to his staff.

Colorado Theater: Registered Democrat; staff worker on the Obama campaign; Occupy Wall Street participant; progressive liberal.

Connecticut School Shooter: Registered Democrat; hated Christians.

Common thread is that all of these shooters were progressive liberal Democrats.

Also, of the worst killings in the last several decades, only one was a female, all the rest were boys, barely men. Their role models were rappers, action movies, comics and violent video games.
Our problem isn’t weapons, it’s boys without boundaries. Who live in ‘progressive’ households.
- via Macho Slavich [facebook] h/t S. A. Lachut

Read more: http://clashdaily.com/2013/01/the-5-worst-mass-murders-in-the-usa-with-a-firearm-came-from-democrats/#ixzz2IXKWZ39h 

Get more Clash on ClashDaily.com, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

The Costco Food Guy

Be careful when getting food samples from this guy at COSTCO....                                 http://www.youtube.com/embed/-icgySC4e2c

Norwegian Atlantic Road

 How would you like the job of building this road?

 The road is built on several small islands and reefs, and is crossed by eight bridges, several roads and overpasses.  This road a view of the open sea, which is rare on the roads along the Norwegian coast.  You can see fjords and mountains near the road.

The spectacular road quickly became a tourist attraction, insofar precautions should be displayed while driving, because of the attendance of the road by the local population and visitors.

Imagine you are driving.

 CLICK   HERE

Remember The Duck

The Devil & the Duck

There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm.

He was given a slingshot to play with out in the woods.

He practiced in the woods; but he could never hit the target.

Getting a little discouraged, he headed back for dinner.

As he was walking back he saw Grandma's pet duck.

Just out of impulse, he let the slingshot fly, hit the duck square in the head and killed it. He was shocked and grieved!

In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the wood pile; only to see his Sister watching! Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing.

After lunch the next day Grandma said, 'Sally, let's wash the dishes'

But Sally said, 'Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen..'

Then she whispered to him, "Remember the duck?'

So Johnny did the dishes.

Later that day, Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing and Grandma said, 'I'm sorry but I need Sally to help make supper.'

Sally just smiled and said, 'well that's all right because Johnny told me he wanted to help?

She whispered again, 'Remember the duck?' So Sally went fishing and Johnny stayed to help.
After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally's; he finally couldn't stand it any longer..

He came to Grandma and confessed that he had killed the duck.

Grandma knelt down, gave him a hug and said, 'Sweetheart, I know. You see, I was standing at the window and I saw the whole thing, but because I love you, I forgave you. I was just wondering how long you would let Sally make a slave of you.'

Thought for the day and every day thereafter:

Whatever is in your past, whatever you have done... And the devil keeps throwing it up in your face (lying, cheating, debt, fear, bad habits, hatred, anger, bitterness, etc.)...whatever it is....You need to know that:
God was standing at the window and He saw the whole thing.

He has seen your whole life... He wants you to know that He loves you and that you are forgiven. He's just wondering how long you will let the devil make a slave of you.

The great thing about God is that when you ask for forgiveness; He not only forgives you, but He forgets.

It is by God's grace and mercy that we are saved.

Go ahead and make the difference in someone's life today.

Share this with a friend and always remember:

God is at the window!

When Jesus died on the cross; he was thinking of you!

If you are one of the 93 % who will stand up for him

Forward this with the title, 'I'm in the 93%'

Would you believe 7% of people won't forward this?

GOD BLESS YOU  

Just Saying Goodbye To Mother

We were dressed, and ready to go out for the New Year’s Eve Party. We turned on a night light, turned the answering machine on, covered our pet parakeet, and put the cat in the backyard.

We phoned the local cab company and requested a taxi. The taxi arrived and we opened the front door to leave the house.

As we walked out the door, the cat we had put out in the yard, scoots back into the house. We didn't want the cat shut in the house. Because she always tries to eat the bird.

My wife goes on out to the taxi, while I went back inside to get the cat. The cat runs upstairs, with me in hot pursuit. Waiting in the cab, my wife doesn't want the driver to know that the house will be empty for the night. So, she explains to the taxi driver that I will be out soon, 'He's just going upstairs to say Goodbye to my mother.'

A few minutes later, I get into the cab. 'Sorry I took so long,' I said, as we drove away. 'That stupid witch was hiding under the bed. I had to poke her butt with a coat hanger to get her to come out! She tried to take off, so I grabbed her by the neck. Then, I had to wrap her in a blanket to keep her from scratching me. But it worked! I hauled her fat butt downstairs and threw her out into the back yard!'

The cab driver hit a parked car.

Loyal Dog Turns Up To Dead Owners Church Every Day

A touching story . . .

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/9806326/Dog-turns-up-to-dead-owners-church-every-day.html

Should The US Pull Out Of Chicago?

Newtown happens and all of a sudden the 2nd amendment should be repealed or altered. 

Nineteen of 20 Newtown children are white.  Chicago children are mostly black.  The media

is silent about Chicago violence.  WHY???????

 Chicago:  446 school age children shot last year with strongest gun laws in country – the media is silent

   

By Clash Daily / 19 December 2012 /

The cesspool known as Chicago probably has the toughest gun laws in the country, yet despite all the shootings, murders, and bloodshed, you never hear a peep about this from the corrupt state run media.  In Chicago , there have been 446 school age children shot in leftist utopia run by Rahm Emanuel and that produced Obama, Jesse Jackson, Louis Farrakhan, etc.  62 school aged children have actually been killed by crazed nuts in Chicago so far this year.  So why isn’t this news worthy?  Is it because it would embarrass those anti second amendment nuts who brag about Chicago ’s tough gun laws?  Is it because most of the kids who were shot and killed were minorities?  Or is it because the corrupt media doesn’t want to show Chicago in a bad light?

THE LIST OF MURDERED SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN IN 2012
18 YEARS OLD- 15

17 YEARS OLD- 16

16 YEARS OLD- 16

15 YEARS OLD- 6

14 YEARS OLD- 4

13 YEARS OLD- 2

12 YEARS OLD- 1

7 YEARS OLD- 1

6 YEARS OLD- 1

446 School Age Children Shot in Chicago so Far Last Year

THE LIST OF SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN SHOT IN 2012

18 year old -110

17 year old  - 99

16 year old  - 89

15 year old  - 62

14 year old  - 39

13 year old  - 21

12 year old  - 10

11 year old   -  2

10 year old   -  3

  9 year old   -  1

  7 year old   -  3

  6 year old   -  2

  5 year old   -  1

  4 year old   -  1

  3 year old   -  1

 1 year old   -   2

So why isn’t this news worthy?

The leadership in Illinois - all Democrats.

President:  Barack Hussein Obama
Senator:  Dick Durbin
House Representative:  Jesse Jackson Jr.
Governor:  Pat Quinn
House leader:  Mike Madigan
Atty. Gen.:  Lisa Madigan (daughter of Mike)
Mayor:  Rahm Emanuel
 

Chicago school system is rated one of the worst in the country.
State pension fund $78 Billion in debt, worst in country.
Cook County ( Chicago ) sales tax 10.25% - highest in country.

A culture of corruption that would make a Louisiana politician blush with envy.

Can't blame Republicans; there aren't any!

Humidifier Protects Against Flu Virus

Turn on that humidifier . . .

http://www.newsmaxhealth.com/headline_health/low_humidity_flu/2013/01/16/492672.html?s=al&promo_code=12040-1

This is fabulous....please watch!!

This is fabulous!!!  Please watch.  GOD's Amazing Grace!!!------You got to listen to this ten year old !!! His Portuguese accent makes it sound even sweeter, really a cute fellow with talent. Enjoy it and love his confidence.  This Brazilian ten-year-old has amazed the entire world. Please share this clip with your family, friends, loved ones and specially with your kids. http://www.youtube.com/user/strongtower27

Your childrens' lives are at stake

Please take the time; your childrens' lives are at stake.   A friend forwarded this to me.  She is German from Germany and her added comments are in blue...

It is long but worth while reading...draw your own opinion...

I added some comments with my real experiences as I am all too familiar with how things work in Europe .

Perspective of a Rabbi
Please take a moment to digest this provocative article by a Jewish
Rabbi from Teaneck , N.J. It is far and away the most succinct and
thoughtful explanation of how our nation is changing. The article
appeared in The Israel National News, and is directed to Jewish
readership. 70% of American Jews vote as Democrats. The Rabbi
has some interesting comments in that regard.

Rabbi Steven Pruzansky is the spiritual leader of Congregation
Bnai Yeshurun in Teaneck , New Jersey .

The most charitable way of explaining the election results of 2012 is
that Americans voted for the status quo – for the incumbent President
and for a divided Congress. They must enjoy gridlock, partisanship,
incompetence, economic stagnation and avoidance of responsibility.
And fewer people voted.

But as we awake from the nightmare, it is important to eschew the
facile explanations for the Romney defeat that will prevail among the
chattering classes. Romney did not lose because of the effects of
Hurricane Sandy that devastated this area, nor did he lose because
he ran a poor campaign, nor did he lose because the Republicans
could have chosen better candidates, nor did he lose because Obama
benefited from a slight uptick in the economy due to the business cycle.

Romney lost because he didn’t get enough votes to win.

That might seem obvious, but not for the obvious reasons. Romney lost
because the conservative virtues – the traditional American virtues – of
liberty, hard work, free enterprise, private initiative and
aspirations to moral greatness – no longer inspire or animate a
majority of the electorate.

The simplest reason why Romney lost was because it is impossible
to compete against free stuff.

Every businessman knows this; that is why the “loss leader” or the
giveaway is such a powerful marketing tool. Obama’s America is one
in which free stuff is given away: the adults among the 47,000,000 on
food stamps clearly recognized for whom they should vote, and so they
did, by the tens of millions; those who – courtesy of Obama – receive two
full years of unemployment benefits (which, of course, both disincentivizes
looking for work and also motivates people to work off the books while
collecting their windfall) surely know for whom to vote. The lure of free
stuff is irresistible.

That is sadly all too true as evidenced by shotty workmanship that can only be afforded by a union protected worker

The defining moment of the whole campaign was the revelation of the
secretly-recorded video in which Romney acknowledged the difficulty of
winning an election in which “47% of the people” start off against him because
they pay no taxes and just receive money – “free stuff” – from the government.
Almost half of the population has no skin in the game – they don’t care about
high taxes, promoting business, or creating jobs, nor do they care that the money
for their free stuff is being borrowed from their children and from the Chinese.
They just want the free stuff that comes their way at someone else’s expense.
In the end, that 47% leaves very little margin for error for any Republican, and
does not bode well for the future.

It is impossible to imagine a conservative candidate winning against
such overwhelming odds. People do vote their pocketbooks. In essence, the
people vote for a Congress who will not raise their taxes, and for a President
who will give them free stuff, never mind who has to pay for it.

That engenders the second reason why Romney lost: the inescapable
conclusion that the electorate is ignorant and uninformed. Indeed, it does
not pay to be an informed voter, because most other voters – the clear
majority – are unintelligent and easily swayed by emotion and raw populism.
That is the indelicate way of saying that too many people vote with their hearts
and not their heads. That is why Obama did not have to produce a second term
agenda, or even defend his first-term record. He needed only to portray Mitt
Romney as a rapacious capitalist who throws elderly women over a cliff, when
he is not just snatching away their cancer medication, while starving the poor
and cutting taxes for the rich.

During his 1956 presidential campaign, a woman called out to Adlai
Stevenson: “Senator, you have the vote of every thinking person!”
Stevenson called back: “That’s not enough, madam, we need a majority!”
Truer words were never spoken.

Obama could get away with saying that “Romney wants the rich to
play by a different set of rules” – without ever defining what those
different rules were; with saying that the “rich should pay their fair
share” – without ever defining what a “fair share” is; with saying
that Romney wants the poor, elderly and sick to “fend for themselves”
– without even acknowledging that all these government programs are
going bankrupt, their current insolvency only papered over by deficit spending.

Similarly, Obama (or his surrogates) could hint to blacks that a
Romney victory would lead them back into chains and proclaim to women
that their abortions and birth control would be taken away. He could appeal
to Hispanics that Romney would have them all arrested and shipped to
Mexico and unabashedly state that he will not enforce the current immigration laws.
He could espouse the furtherance of the incestuous relationship between
governments and unions – in which
politicians ply the unions with public money, in exchange for which
the unions provide the politicians with votes, in exchange for which
the politicians provide more money and the unions provide more votes, etc.,
even though the money is gone.

Obama also knows that the electorate has changed – that whites will
soon be a minority in America (they’re already a minority in
California ) and that the new immigrants to the US are primarily from
the Third World and do not share the traditional American values that
attracted immigrants in the 19th and 20th centuries. It is a different
world, and a different America . Obama is part of that different
America , knows it, and knows how to tap into it. That is why he won.

Obama also proved again that negative advertising works, invective
sells, and harsh personal attacks succeed. That Romney never engaged
in such diatribes points to his essential goodness as a person; his “negative
ads” were simple facts, never personal abuse – facts about high unemployment,
lower take-home pay, a loss of American power and prestige abroad, a lack
of leadership, etc. As a politician, though, Romney failed because he did not
embrace the devil’s bargain of making unsustainable promises.

It turned out that it was not possible for Romney and Ryan – people of
substance, depth and ideas – to compete with the shallow populism and
platitudes of their opponents. Obama mastered the politics of envy – of
class warfare – never reaching out to Americans as such but to individual
groups, and cobbling together a winning majority from these minority groups.
If an Obama could not be defeated – with his record and his vision of America ,
in which free stuff seduces voters – it is hard to envision any change in the future.
The road to Hillary Clinton in 2016 and to a European-socialist economy – those
very economies that are collapsing today in Europe – is paved.

I can attest to that whole-heartedly. I am living it spending a lot of time these days in Germany since my Dad passed. It is was I left behind for a better life (as so many other immigrants) and now watch coming my way in my chosen country that is so dramatically changing into this direction. The spread between the Haves and the Havenots is much larger here than in the US . People work “black” meaning they collect unemployment and work for cash in their trade. Who is loosing? The taxpayer. Who else? The one who eagerly grabs work being done by a “black” worker as they think they are saving money but in fact there is no warranty on the work that was performed by a “black” worker as no company stands behind him or her. Also that kind of worker has no incentive to provide quality work. After all, he/she saved someone money – right?  It’s an endless spiral downwards and they can’t figure out anymore why that is.

For Jews, mostly assimilated anyway and staunch Democrats, the results
demonstrate again that liberalism is their Torah. Almost 70% voted for a
president widely perceived by Israelis and most committed Jews as hostile
to Israel . They voted to secure Obama’s future at America ’s expense and at
Israel ’s expense – in effect, preferring Obama to Netanyahu by a wide margin.
A dangerous time is ahead. Under present circumstances, it is inconceivable
that the US will take any aggressive action against Iran and will more likely thwart
any Israeli initiative. The US will preach the importance of negotiations up until
the production of the first Iranian nuclear weapon – and then state that the world
must learn to live with this new reality.

But this election should be a wake-up call to Jews. There is no permanent empire,
nor is there is an enduring haven for Jews anywhere in the exile. The American
empire began to decline in 2007, and the deterioration has been exacerbated in the
last five years. This election only hastens that decline. Society is permeated with sloth,
greed, envy and materialistic excess. It has lost its moorings and its moral foundations..
The takers outnumber the givers, and that will only increase in years to come.
The “Occupy” riots across this country in the last two years were mere dress rehearsals
for what lies ahead – years of unrest sparked by the increasing discontent of the
unsuccessful who want to seize the fruits and the bounty of the successful, and do not
appreciate the slow pace of redistribution.

If this election proves one thing, it is that the Old America is gone.
And, sad for the world, it is not coming back.

My final comments: Even while here for a short visit right now, I hear of more privately owned businesses shutting down. The Mom/Pop shops that I knew are long gone and newer family operated businesses that opened up later are now also shutting down because the taxes kill them. The butcher, the baker (and perhaps the candlestick maker) are a rare find anymore leaving the consumer having to purchase from China or a huge company which produces things packaged with less quality. Currently thousands of people are ill with a virus that came from imported fruit from China . The Germany bread all too famous has turned into a glob of baked doe. Personally I don’t eat it anymore. When there is no pride in producing anything anymore and/or the incentive to start and build a business is gone, the end result is not favorable.

I do disagree with the Rabbi, as I have not given up that we can turn things around in the US . We do need a major attitude overhaul, however.  I hope that it will as my grandson deserves to enjoy the freedom that I elected by leaving Europe and found in the US . I do so want for him not to have to pay for what the insanity of spending tax dollars like a bunch of drunken sailors is doing to us and the worst is still ahead of us. The health care system, while in Germany reasonably good is shocking overall. If you are in the hospital and it is a holiday or weekend, forget getting care. One just lays around on weekends till the doctor shows up again Monday. I could go on with more true examples but if you still think that the direction we are headed is positive, more examples will not help.

 Don’t vote party going forward, both parties have major flaws. Involve yourself and invest by becoming knowledgeable and active starting with your local representatives. Speak up and make your educated opinion known. Most baby boomers still know the difference of right and wrong, moral and immoral, just and unjust, fair and unfair. The younger generations may already have tainted views or a newcomer to this country simply doesn’t know because of the background from which they come.

You had a choice reading this and your computer as mine has a delete button. You were not forced to read this. Agree or disagree.

Welcome to Sodom

Pastor’s Letter

Welcome to Sodom. Yes, that is what Maryland has now become. Sodom with its neighbor Gomorrah was a city of antiquity whose disregard for the natural law of human love led to its destruction. That same disregard is now written into state law. The distinctive physical and life-cultivating complimentarity of woman and man has been dismissed as a basis for marriage. Additionally, those who cannot honor this diluted definition in their personal and business activities will be held legally liable for discrimination and punished accordingly.

Already, the owner of a trolley service in Annapolis seeing this coming announced he will no longer offer wedding ser- vices. By doing so he will lose much of his business, but he cannot in good faith go along with treating as normal what is not, neither can we.

It is a great sadness that many of Satan’s helpers in ushering in this demonic distortion of marriage were Catholics, such as our governor. In promoting this desecration they have not only brought dishonor to our holy faith and shame to all Catholics, but invite the real possibility of damnation on them- selves. We must pray that they recognize this error, repent and make reparation.

Some may interpret my words as an unfair disregard for individuals who bear same-gender attraction. It is not. Such brothers and sister must be loved and embraced. Indeed, we must make greater efforts of proper inclusion and support. At the same time true love is not allowance for any activity. It has no authority to overlook what is written in nature. Love cannot comply with a lie. It first honors what God has de- signed, and then encourages all to live in authentic love that leads to true fulfillment.

Nothing changes for us, because God defines marriage. This has not changed. The purposeful union of man and woman was the crown of God creation. Anything else by that name mocks what God has created, and therefore mocks God.

Maryland is our home. It is where we are placed, and it is where we will continue to live. But especially now we must live upholding in word and honor the truth of marriage with clarity. We cannot betray what God has created without betraying God. This means never placating or playing along with a false notion, no matter how “well intention” some may be. It will not be easy. We do so at the risk of the ire and even legal sanctions this will invoke.

Our beloved state is now a modern-day Sodom. We should not be surprised at the coming of confusion, conflict, and even catastrophe. We reap what we sow.

May God have mercy on us.
Msgr. Edward J. Filardi
Our Lady of Lourdes, Bethesda, MD

Flash mob Italian style - phantastico

Please enjoy –

It would be so great if every day had a moment like this and smiled with one another

 http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=GBaHPND2QJg&feature=youtu.be

Pearl Harbor After Visiting Hours

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgE2KiPd3xg&feature=youtube_gdata_player

URGENT! Please Watch & Forward

This woman should be heard by every American.  This is a brutal Eye Opener. Please watch and listen. Very frightening, infuriating, and informative. Click here: TaboolaArticle

Anyone with children and grandchildren need to watch this video with both eyes and ears open. It is that important!

The Afghan Quarterback

The coach had put together the perfect team for the Chicago Bears. The only thing that was missing was a good quarterback. He had scouted all the colleges and even the Canadian and European Leagues, but he couldn't find a ringer who could ensure a Super Bowl win.

 

Then one night while watching CNN he saw a war-zone scene in Afghanistan . In one corner of the background, he spotted a young Afghan Muslim soldier with a truly incredible arm. He threw a hand-grenade straight into a 15th story window 100 yards away.

 

KABOOM!

 

He threw another hand-grenade 75 yards away, right into a chimney.

 

KA-BLOOEY!

 

Then he threw another at a passing car going 90 mph.

 

BULLS-EYE!

 

"I've got to get this guy!" Coach said to himself. "He has the perfect arm!"

 

So, he brings him to the States and teaches him the great game of football. And the Bears go on to win the Super Bowl.

 

The young Afghan is hailed as the great hero of football, and when the coach asks him what he wants, all the young man wants is to call his mother.

 

"Mom,"he says into the phone, "I just won the Super Bowl!"

 

   "I don't want to talk to you, the old Muslim woman says."You are not my son!"

 

    "I don't think you understand, Mother," the young man pleads. "I've won the greatest sporting event in the world. I'm here among thousands of my    
     adoring fans."

 

    "No! Let me tell you!" his mother retorts. "At this very moment, there are gunshots all around us. The neighborhood is a pile of rubble. Your two    
    brothers were beaten within an inch of their lives last week, and I have to keep your sister in the house so she doesn't get raped!" The old lady pauses,  
    and then tearfully says, "I will never forgive you for making us move to Chicago !!!!