...

"Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them.' ~ Dalai Lama

...Today's Twittering Tweet...

"Christmas is a time when kids tell Santa what they want and adults pay for it. Deficits are when adults tell the government what they want - and their kids pay for it." ~ Richard Lamm

Letter of Resignation Sent By Bush to Rifle Association

Following is the letter of resignation was sent by former President George Bush to the National Rifle Association on May 3, 1995: 

Dear Mr. Washington,

I was outraged when, even in the wake of the Oklahoma City tragedy, Mr. Wayne LaPierre, executive vice president of N.R.A., defended his attack on federal agents as "jack-booted thugs." To attack Secret Service agents or A.T.F. people or any government law enforcement people as "wearing Nazi bucket helmets and black storm trooper uniforms" wanting to "attack law abiding citizens" is a vicious slander on good people. 

Al Whicher, who served on my [ United States Secret Service ] detail when I was Vice President and President, was killed in Oklahoma City. He was no Nazi. He was a kind man, a loving parent, a man dedicated to serving his country -- and serve it well he did.

In 1993, I attended the wake for A.T.F. agent Steve Willis, another dedicated officer who did his duty. I can assure you that this honorable man, killed by weird cultists, was no Nazi. 

John Magaw, who used to head the U.S.S.S. and now heads A.T.F., is one of the most principled, decent men I have ever known. He would be the last to condone the kind of illegal behavior your ugly letter charges. The same is true for the F.B.I.'s able Director Louis Freeh. I appointed Mr. Freeh to the Federal Bench. His integrity and honor are beyond question.

Both John Magaw and Judge Freeh were in office when I was President. They both now serve in the current administration. They both have badges. Neither of them would ever give the government's "go ahead to harass, intimidate, even murder law abiding citizens." (Your words)

I am a gun owner and an avid hunter. Over the years I have agreed with most of N.R.A.'s objectives, particularly your educational and training efforts, and your fundamental stance in favor of owning guns. 

However, your broadside against Federal agents deeply offends my own sense of decency and honor; and it offends my concept of service to country. It indirectly slanders a wide array of government law enforcement officials, who are out there, day and night, laying their lives on the line for all of us. 

You have not repudiated Mr. LaPierre's unwarranted attack. Therefore, I resign as a Life Member of N.R.A., said resignation to be effective upon your receipt of this letter. Please remove my name from your membership list. 

Sincerely, [ signed ] George Bush

The Death of the Twinkie?

Now what will we eat after the zombie apocalypse?

Rachel Maddow offers Republican Voters 3 Minutes of Political Sanity

Mitt Romney holds retirement party in Switzerland?

Before the 2016 election season, Mr. Karl "Kingmaker" Rove and Rush Limbaugh might want to read Nate Silver's best selling book: 
The Signal and the Noise: Why So Many Predictions Fail-but Some Don't [Hardcover]

"Imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were. 
But without it we go nowhere." ~ Carl Sagan

Example of Media Wars?

"The food that enters the mind must be watched as closely as the food that enters the body." 
~ Pat Buchanan

...wisdom...

...reflections...

"You must be the change you want to see in the world."
~ Mahatma Gandhi
The Words of Gandhi (Hardcover)

Street Scene, Changsha, P.R.C. (February 2009)

"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts." 
~ Bertrand Russell

Politics 101?

"Donald Trump is redundant evidence that if your net worth is high enough, your IQ can be very low and you can still intrude into American politics."
~ George Will

Watching Faux News Lowers Student Math Scores?

What you know depends on what you watch?
Read More...

59 + 35 + 26 = 100%

Confirmed: Fox News makes people dumb
Read More...

Fenghuang, P.R.C. (April 2009)

Photo by Peter Rimar.

Joke of the Day?

GE introduces the Mitt Romney limited edition light bulb. Old ideas made new again. Burns out quick. 95% inefficient. Wastes all it's energy making hot air.

Photos by Peter Rimar

Obama spending binge never happened?
Read More...

Hatred only breeds more hatred.

North Carolina pastor calls for death of gays, lesbians by trapping them inside electric fence? Read More...



First they came for the communists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for me
and there was no one left to speak out for me.

~ Pastor Martin Niemöller

“When fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.” ~ Sinclair Lewis