I get to own a dog park!

This guy wants to create a dog park in the Twin Cities.  And he wants me to pay for it.  

Let me explain.  MN had a constitutional amendment on the ballot this year, which asked if you would like to increase sales tax (by 3/8 of one percent) to pay for things like clean water, arts, culture, and the outdoors. Well I guess a dog park counts as one of those things, because it has been proposed down in the state legistature.  And the aformentioned legislator is the one who proposed it.

This is a perfect reason I am against more and more taxes.  Instead of doing something good, they decide to spend a million dollars on a dog park.  Real important. I can see the debate now.

House Rep 1: We need a dog park.

House Rep 2: Should we help the homeless with our illgotten tax funds?

House Rep 1: No, dogs need an environment that is less stressful and chaotic in the sustainable urban core which they can meander and sniff.  A park is necessary for dogs, for if they sniff and explore in the inner city, they may breathe in fumes and toxins.  In the long run, we will save money by not having to spend money to help the poor dogs that don't have health care.

House Rep 2: Right then. Cheerio good chap (apparently house rep 2 is from England for some odd reason).

So, anyone want to visit my dog park in 2010?

Sarah Palin enters DC politics, again

Sarah Palin is keeping her name in the news, and has started a new political action committee.  

I feel like I should not mention the name of the PAC, but I suppose I have to.

Here it goes.

SarahPAC.

I am never a fan when one includes their own name in a business/political entity. Maybe this is just my thinking, but one might as well yell 

"HEY, LOOK AT ME, I AM IMPORTANT!!!! MY NAME IS PART OF AN ORGANIZATION."

I remember thinking the same thing when Hillary Clinton formed HillPAC, the now defunct PAC.

And if you go to the link for SarahPAC, look at the logo. The continental 48 with Alaska inside. My question is "Where did Hawaii go?"  Maybe she wishes Hawaii was not a state, then she could be Vice President right now, instead of the next Dan Quayle. (after viewing that video, go here.)

Seriously, though, the signifigance of this new PAC is yet to be seen.  Palin has good ideas and a large following, but changing the party won't be easy.

Here is an excerpt from her page:

Dedicated to building America's future, supporting fresh ideas and candidates who share our vision for reform and innovation. 

SarahPAC believes America's best days are ahead. Our country, founded on conservative principles and the fight for freedom, must confront the challenges of the 21st century with integrity, innovation, and determination.

SarahPAC believes energy independence is a cornerstone of the economic security and progress that every American family wants and deserves.

SarahPAC believes the Republican Party is at the threshold of an historic renaissance that will build a better future for all. Health care, education, and reform of government are among our key goals. Join us today.

Some of the topics she is bringing up makes me a bit curious about how she is positioning herself. With health care and education being at the top of her list, I have to wonder if she is going a little to the left?  She also talks about energy independence, something most Americans agree is important, but drastically disagree with how to accomplish it.  

Not much for actual information, but it sounds like a good start.  With Ron Paul in one corner, Sarah Palin in another, the Republican party could start to get interesting.  If they keep it up, there just may be room in the party for me (but I won't be holding my breath).  As long as big city elitists control the party (for example John McCain winning the primaries) I shall happily be independent and vote for whomever I like. 

Crazy Bill

Bill Ayers was recently interviewed by an NBC affiliate in Chicago (here is the story) regarding Obama winning the Presidency. I won't go through the article, you can read it if you want, but do want to point out a few things.

Here is a direct quote from Ayers:

"I couldn't stop crying a couple of times. I found the exact spot where I was beaten 40 years ago," Ayers said. But I've never been in a crowd that large that wasn't edged with either anger or drunkenness or gluttony, and it was really an extraordinary feeling."

I think that quote would say more about Ayers himself than it does about Obama winning. The context of the quote is Ayers standing in the same place in Chicago where he lead riots and against the Democratic convention back in '68. I guess he is used to being with angry drunks.

Then there is this quote by his wife:

"Without the struggles of the 60s ... there would be no President Obama," Dohrn
said.

I guess they figure that if it wasn't for their terrorism (which they call "activism"), Obama would not be President today. The ends justify the means, it appears. How they never went to jail I will never understand.

Obama tests new powers

Spike Lee claimed Bush destroyed the dikes in New Orleans that wiped out the 8th Ward.

Obama has promised change, and he has delivered. Instead of attacking the south, Obama has decided to flood the north.

This unedited photo is proof Obama tried to flood our daughters room at approximately 11:00 central time tonight. There he is, in the water, planning to shut down Guantanamo Bay and flood an innocent child's room. If this is not proof enough, I don't know what is.

Disturbing? Yes.
If Spike Lee can blame the flooding of an entire city on Bush, I figure a rookie President is probably up to flooding the room of my 3 year old and almost two year old.

Kardelen sleeps underwater

About 45 minutes ago, I was sitting in the living room and I heard splashing. Curious, I went to find the source of the sound. In the girls room I noticed that the ceiling had sprung a leak, and water was flowing freely. Kinda like a room flowing with milk and honey, only it was warm water instead of milk and honey. And it was 11:00 or so at night. Antics ensued.

Heather may post on this later. I think she took a picture or two. I don't remember.

Luckily, the girls themselves were never hit with water. Sofia is asleep, but Kardelen seems a little too awake. We have moved her mattress to our room. We shall see if anyone sleeps much tonight. More antics may ensue. Kardelen is asking to play games right now. I am sleepy, as it is almost midnight.

Heather wants the computer, so I had better go. It sounds like we may be without water for a day or so. I think I am getting used to that.

Islamic public school in MN?

Ever have one of those moments where you find yourself agreeing with an organization that normally you detest?

That has just happened to me.  The ACLU of Minnesota is going after a charter school in MN that is called the Tarek ibn Ziyad Academy.  They argue that this school is using taxpayer money to promote religion.  The academy disagrees, but has yet to make any public statements.  I say that they disagree because they are careful to not promote Islam on their website.  They are trying to just be an "Arab" school, or so it appears to me.

In Minnesota, every charter school is required by the state to have a sponsor.  This school's sponsor is an organization called Islamic Relief Worldwide.  I don't know much about them, but I will be looking at their website, as many likely have already.

Not too many public schools in Minnesota that I am aware have time off for eid al fitr (the end of Ramadam) or eid al adha, which occurs during the hajj and is a time to remember Abraham and his almost sacrificing Ishmael before a ram appears.  In Islam, it is stated that Ishmael, not Isaac, was the one to be sacrificed. Anyway, this school year the students got September 26 to October 3 off for eid al fitr, and December 8-12 off for eid al adha.  Back in school I just may have agreed to be a Muslim if I could have gotten 12 extra days off of class.  This gives them 167 total days of school for 2008, as opposed to the 173 to 177 that most schools have and that is recommended by the state.  

Where will this case go?  Beats me.  I could easily see this going a number of directions. I will do some more reading about this on the schools site and the relief groups site and see what I learn. Personally, I am still a bit surprised the ACLU took on this case. I wonder how long it will be before Keith Ellison has something to say on this....

7mm 08

Since my wife is posting on girly things, I thought I would post something a bit more manly.

I am considering getting a 7mm 08 as my hunting rifle.  

The above gun is what I am thinking about getting.

For those that do not feel like clicking on the picture, the gun is a Savage 11G. 

That is about all I know.  It is cheaper than some other companies guns, and it comes in a 7mm o8, which seems like a good deer hunting option.  Or so other places I have read say.  

The only downside that I can see is that it is wood. I may need to get a gun with a sythetic stock to help when I am hiding underwater breathing through a reed.

But don't you realize, that's where I sail!

The above statement was uttered by Ted Kennedy. See, there has been a plan since 2001 to build a wind farm in the ocean off the coast of Massachusetts. Normally, a good democrat like Kennedy would be likely to support alternative energy. The problem is, Kennedy will be able to see this windfarm from his house. This would give him, and the other millionaire and billionaires that live in the area, a less than picture perfect view.
A group was formed to protect the "environment", but the government has just said that the windfarm would not have any major environmental impacts.
Personally, I have no problem with Kennedy being against the windfarm, except for one little thing. He is for windfarms, and has stated such. He is simply a hypocrite.
It may be time for Kennedy to get used to the idea of a windfarm, since it is likely that Obama will be for the project.  If you heard the inaugural speech today, it is likely that Cape Cod will get a new wind farm.

Will it save the world from global warming? No. 

Does the fact that Kennedy has been fighting this for years only because it is in his backyard make me laugh?  Yes.

Berets and such

My wife likes to wear odd hats.

Such as this hat.

Or this hat (scroll down to the bottom).

Or this hat.

And even this hat.

But this is her favorite hat, since she loves chihuahuas.