Spring is Coming!

UPDATE: SPRING IS COMING say the GROUNDHOGS!

This winter, 2010/2011, has been nothing less then TERRIBLE so far and it's only half over.

At one point this winter season there was snow on the ground in 49 of 50 states! Can anyone guess which state didn't have snow? ANSWER! 

But wait, there's hope. The end maybe coming soon. For those masters of weather prognosticators are getting ready to fortell if winter has breathed it's last flakes of snow. YES FOLKS, IT'S GROUNDHOG DAY!

The history of this day is said to have originated from ancient European weather lore in which a badger or sacred bear predicts the weather, rather than a groundhog. It also has religious origins, as it shares similarities with Candlemas Day, which is also on Feb. 2. According to an old English song, "If Candlemas be fair and bright,/ Come, Winter, have another flight."

So lets look at the starting lineup:

Since 1886, The most famous groundhog, in various forms, is Gobbler’s Knob Pennsylvania’s own Punxsutawney Phil. Yes this marmot even had a movie made about him. The 1993 "Groundhog Day" staring Bill Murray is now a cult classic. Phil has NOT seen his shadow 14% of the time indicating an Early Spring. He has been right with his forecast's 39% of the time.NO SHADOW 2011


Since 1981, Staten Island Chuck has impressed with his pronostication's. In his 29 years he has been right 22 times which gives him a 76% accuracy rate. From his home at the Staten Island Zoo, he has developed quit a reputaion in a short amount of time. All his celebraty status has gone to chucks head just ask New York City's Mayor Mike Bloomburg as Chuck tries to have his hand for breakfast in this video.NO SHADOW 2011

Since 1990 General Beauregard Lee fromYellow River Game Ranch in Lilburn, Georgia just outside of Atlanta. He has received honorary doctorates from the University of Georgia - "DWP, Doctor of Weather Prognostication" and Georgia State University - "Doctor of Southern Groundology." He has been a proclaimed accuracy rate of 94% predicting early springs or late winters.NO SHADOW 2011

Those are the three most well known, the ones we turn too with fingures crossed hoping that spring will arrive early and save us all from six more weeks of cold and snow and ice. One person every year says to me that this day should be a national holiday.

All I'm saying is that there is hope on the horizon that just maybe one of these rodent's wont see his shadow and we can all forget shovaling, scraping, bundaling up and have thoughts of baseball, planting our gardens and starting our spring cleaning. That is until February 3 when that next storm hits us. ENOUGH WINTER!

YOUR PREDICTIONS ON WHAT THE GROUNDHOG PREDICTS:

Early Spring/More Winter

The REAL State of the Union

It has been two years since Barack Obama has taken the Presidential reigns from George W. Bush. Lets take a quick look back to see where we were on January 2009 to where we are today on January 2011.

Take a look and YOU decide are things getting better, worse or the same? Are we on the right path, or headed for derailment AGAIN. Now with a split House, it will be even tougher to get anything done. Should have Obama gotten MORE done when the Democrats controlled both houses? Did his party LET HIM DOWN? I think they did!

FACTS:
Gas Prices on January 2009 $1.68 NOW January 2011 $3.11 and NO signs of stopping.

The U.S. jobless rate was 7.8% in January 2009 NOW 9.4 January 2011. A VERY slight drop from the high of 9.8% but NO real improvement in sight.


Oil prices per barrel on January 23,2009 $46.47, NOW on  January 24,2011 $87.61

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) 
BUT already In 2011 I've seen a RISE of 15% in Employers/Employees rates and the BULK of the reform hasn't even gone into effect.
Now individuals will be FORCED to get health care or pay a fine, makes NO sense.
Candate Obama was offended by the idea that every American should be forced to buy a government-approved health policy or face a fine. Candadate Obama DID campaign for a Public Option "establish a new public insurance program available to Americans who neither qualify for Medicaid or SCHIP nor have access to insurance through their employers."(but we got NO PUBLIC OPTION)

Origional est.cost, $500 billion to $650 billion. Now est.cost is $940 billion
The republicans in the house have already voted to repeal, senate will take it up next. I say, Don't repeal, but make it better. There are good and bad in this bill. Work together, PLEASE, and make it better. Stop the rise in premiums NOW. #SOTU PRESIDENT AGREES WITH ME" So instead of re-fighting the battles of the last two years, let's fix what needs fixing and move forward."

Stock Market January 20, 2009: 7,920.66 Close. Stock Market January 24, 2011 11,980.52. The greed has come back to wall street on the backs of every American.

National Debt Total: January 2009 - $10,699,804,864,612
National Debt Total: January 2011 - $14,003,420,744,930

US Troops in Iraq on January 2009 -140,000
US Troops in Iraq on January 2011 -  50,000

US troops in Afghanistan January 2009 -   34,000
US troops in Afghanistan January 2011 - 100,000*
*The Obama administration's plan to begin withdrawing U.S. troops from Afghanistan in July and NATO's agreement for Afghan forces to assume the security lead in 2014 provide transition to full Afghan lead beginning this year and concluding in 2014."

Banks have NOT started lending again, as the interest rates for savings consumers fall to all time lows. Rate is STILL at Dec 16, 2008 levels: 0.0–0.25%

List of OBAMA'S LEGISLATIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS  & APPROVAL RATINGS

2009	2010
January 29: Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act	January 27: Emergency Aid to American Survivors of Haiti Earthquake Act
February 4: Children’s Health Insurance Reauthorization Act	March 4: Travel Promotion Act
February 17: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act	March 18: Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act (HIRE Act)
March 30: Omnibus Public Lands Management Act	March 23: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
April 21: Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act	March 30: Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act
May 20: Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act	May 5: Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act
May 20: Helping Families Save Their Homes Act	May 17: Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act
May 22: Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure Act	July 21: Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act
May 22: Weapon Systems Acquisition Reform Act	July 22: Unemployment Compensation Extension Act
June 22: Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act	July 22: Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Act
October 22: Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act	August 10: SPEECH Act
October 28: Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act	September 27: Small Business Jobs and Credit Act
October 30: Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act	December 17: Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act
November 6: Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act	December 13: Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act
	December 19: Don't Ask Don't Tell Repeal Act
	December 21: Food Safety and Modernization Act
	December 22: James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act
	December 22: START Treaty Ratification

 What do you think? #UBTALKBACK
You can read the President's State of the Union Address click Picture

Which Fanbase deserves a Super Bowl More? VOTE

 There are four teams left in the 2010/2011 NFL playoffs. Four worthy cities hoping there team will be in the XLV Super Bowl at Cowboy's Stadium in Arlington,Texas. But what fan base deserves to have there team to make it their? 

Lets quickly look at the Teams:

NEW YORK JETS:

Long suffering Jets fans will say, US. Last time this team was in a Super Bowl was of course Joe "Willie" Namath and the Jan.12,1969  Super Bowl III win over the heavily favorite Baltimore Colts.   There Playoff History speaks for itself. In the 42 years since their ONLY Super Bowl win they have ONLY been in the playoffs 13 times, with a record of 10-13. I would have to rank them as the NUMBER ONE Fan Base to have there team in a SB. Long suffering the most, IT'S TIME!

GREEN BAY PACKERS:

Packers fans will say they deserve it more. A longer Playoff History dating back to the old NFL Championship Days from 1938, they have been in three Super Bowls I, II and XXXI. Winning two out of three. But since the lost to Denver Broncos in SB 31 in 1998, they have been in the Playoffs eight out of the next 13 years, with a record of 5-7. But , they also had Brett Favre! In a close call, I would have to rank them as the Third most deserving Fan Base to have their team in a SB.

CHICAGO BEARS:

THE BEARS! There fans will say they ARE! Also dating back to the old NFL Championship days from 1933, there Playoff History reflects two Super Bowl Appearances in SB XX ,Win, and SB XLI, Loss. We will always remember their key super star, Walter "Sweetness" Payton, RIP. Since there last SB win in 1986, they have been in the playoffs 10 times out of 25 years with a record of 6-9. I would rank them as the SECOND most deserving Fan Base to have their team in a SB.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS:

Steelers fans will say they are MOST worthy. There Playoff History dates back to 1947. They have been in the most Super Bowls of the four that are left, Seven. They have won a record six times, with there latest coming in Super Bowl XLIII in 2009. There Playoff Record is impressive, as are the many great players that they have had over the years. Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris, Lynn Swan, "Mean" Joe Green to name just a few. I would rank them as the FOURTH Deserving Fan Base to have their team in the SB. There history is against them.

  

NOW IT'S YOUR TURN. VOTE FOR;

Which Fanbase deserves a Super Bowl More?

In Memorandum to the ARIZONA VICTIMS

The horrific, sensless, tragic events that unfolded on the morning of January 8, 2011 at around 10:10am in front of a safeway shopping store  in Tucson, Arizona. A deraged Gunman opens fire targetting Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who is still fightining for her life in an Arizona hospital but showing signs of improvement everyday. One can only hope and pray she makes a FULL recovery.

But what about the other victums who lost there life on that day. Much has been covered abour the Congresswoman, but not much has been said or learned about the six innocent bystanders who lost their lives on that day.

This is for them! May they rest in peace and NEVER be fogotten.

 

Gabriel Zimmerman who was 30 years old and he was Giffords director of community outreach. Politico adds that Zimmerman worked for Giffords since 2007,was the man behind the "Congress on Your Corner" events, organizing them, taking down names and phone numbers of people looking for help, doing the legwork needed to follow up on their problems. He was talking with the people waiting in line Saturday to see U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords when a gunman opened fire.

Dorthy Morris76 years old was killed Saturday in the Tucson, Ariz., shooting. Her husband, George, remains in critical condition. The couple were high-school sweethearts. George and Dorthy both grew up in Reno, Nevada. Friends describe the couple who have been married for more than 50 year as "much in love." George was a former airline pilot, and Dorthy a devoted wife.The couple have 2 daughters. George was shot twice, once in the shoulder and the other through the leg. He is currently in serious condition at the University Medical Center, Tucson."To be fine one moment than she's gone in another moment and be injured himself, I can't imagine what a terrible thing it is to overcome."

Dorwin Stoddard who was 76 years old and a pastor at Mountain Ave. Church of Christ. A retired construction worker who clung to his wife to protect her from the gunfire. She was hit by three bullets in her leg, but she is recovering in a hospital. When the shooting started Saturday, he dove to the ground, covering his wife Mavy. The couple had been grade school sweethearts growing up in Tucson. Mavy talked to her husband, who was shot in the head, for 10 minutes while he breathed heavily. Then he stopped breathing. "He heard the shots and covered my mom with his own body and protected her and saved her," said stepdaughter Penny Wilson."We'd like to compliment the hero that lies in our father and we are just blessed that he's walking with the lord now." said stepdaughter Angela Robinson.

Phyllis Scheck 79 years old has spent her winters in sunny Tucson, away from her home state of New Jersey. Eventually she became an Arizona resident, taking up with the town's robust community of retirees. A widow who had been married to Edward Schneck for 56 years until his death, Schneck had been a homemaker, loved making crafts and remained devoted to her family. Schneck was not especially active politically, according to her daughter. "I don't know why she was there," Rautenberg said. According to the Wall Street Journal, another daughter, B.J. Offutt, said her mother admired Rep. Gifford for her stance on border protection. Schneck is survived by three children, seven grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.



Christina Greene 9 years old  who was a student at Mesa Verde Elementary. She was taken with 10 other critical patient to the Hospital but later died. She was born on September 11, 2001, which led to her short life being marked by tragedy. The girl had been elected to student council at her school, showing a clear interest in policy issues. For this reason she had decided listening to Representative Gifford “She was very good public speaker. I sold her engaging in politics. She was a great leader,” Christina father said to the media. "She was very patriotic and wearing red, white and blue was really special to her," Roxanne Green told the Arizona Daily Star. No stranger to fame, Christina-Taylor's grandfather Dallas Green was a major league baseball pitcher who managed the Philadelphia Phillies when they won the 1980 World Series.

John Roll  U.S. District Court Judge a native Pennsylvanian, Roll graduated from the University of Arizona of the Law School's Graduate Program for Judges, was among the victims in the fatal shooting Tucson, Ariz. Friends and colleagues recall Judge Roll as a fair-minded jurist and advocate for his court. He lived close-by and decided to drop in and say hello to Giffords -- when he was shot and killed. Roll is survived by his wife, Maureen, three sons and five grandchildren. He was a 1991 judicial appointee of George H. W. Bush after a distinguished career as an Arizona state attorney, an assistant U.S.attorney in the state, and then as a state court judge.