Trying To Get It Right: Be it Life Love or Liberty

NEW BLOG: My Husband's Cuisinier

2011-07-08T11:57:00.001-04:00

After much resistance, over several years, I’m finally giving in to demands from family and friends. So here you are you people – you know who you are – “untidy recipes from a busy wife”. Hope your satisfied! (pun intended)

And yes, I know the difference between a book and a blog...just live with it and be happy!

http://myhusbandscuisinier.blogspot.com/

Posted via email from Denise Scott Jackson

Shaggy and Rayvon Outdoor Concert

2011-06-10T15:04:00.000-04:00

T-BALL

2011-06-01T10:15:00.000-04:00

Starring 6 year old Brody Lenger

Decoding Senior Texting Acronyms

2011-04-29T17:10:00.002-04:00

ATD: At The Doctor's
BFF: Best Friend Fainted
BTW: Bring The Wheelchair
BYOT: Bring Your Own Teeth
CBM: Covered By Medicare
CGU: Can't get up
CUATSC: See You At The Senior Center
DWI: Driving While Incontinent
FWB: Friend With Beta Blockers
FWIW: Forgot Where I Was
FYI: Found Your Insulin
GGPBL: Gotta Go,Pacemaker Battery Low
GHA: Got Heartburn Again
HGBM: Had Good Bowel Movement
IMHO: Is My Hearing-Aid On?
LMDO: Laughing My Dentures Out
LOL: Living On Lipitor
LWO: Lawrence Welk's On
OMMR: On My Massage Recliner
OMSG: Oh My! Sorry, Gas.
ROFL-CGU: Rolling On The Floor Laughing - Can't Get Up
TTYL: Talk To You Louder
WAITT: Who Am I Talking To?
WTFA: Wet The Furniture Again
WTP: Where's The Prunes?
WWNO: Walker Wheels Need Oil
GGLKI: Gotta Go, Laxative Kicking In

Posted via email from Denise Scott Jackson

Mandy Babies - South Carolina Mantis Nymphs Hatching

2011-04-02T13:12:00.001-04:00

Our beloved mantis "Mandy" left us many ootheca's (egg sacs) to watch over. This one Mandy left on a beam high above our courtyard. The nymphs have been hatching the last couple of days.

Outrageous Pumpkin Carvings

2010-10-30T16:15:00.001-04:00

Four of the country's best amateur pumpkin carvers square off to put a new face on a Halloween classic. There are three rounds of competition: round one is the classic Jack-o-lantern, round 2 is 3D pumpkins, and in round three the carvers must create their own pumpkin masterpiece. The winner will take home ten thousand dollars.

All of these awesome pumpkins were done by a man named Ray Villafane and he’s going to be on the “Food Network Challenge: Outrageous Pumpkins” October 30 and 31.

See the full gallery on posterous

Posted via email from Denise Scott Jackson

William Shatner on Gun Control - It's How Well You Aim the Gun

2010-06-16T22:28:00.000-04:00

U.S. Border Security

2010-05-31T13:03:00.001-04:00

U.S. Border Security under investigation by Channel 2 WSBTV's Justin Farmer, Atlanta, GA. What he uncovers is a revealing look into who is crossing our southern border - OTM's (other than Mexicans).

View Video - Part 1

Part 2 can be obtained by cllicking "Channel 2 Investigates U.S. Border Security Part 2" listed on the Part 1 page. (I would have added the URL here but it's embedded in Flash.)

Read...Border Threat List Surprises Georgia Congressman

LIST: People Captured In The Last 2 Years- download pdfs

Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4

Posted via web from Denise Scott Jackson

U.S. reverses stance on treaty to regulate arms trade

2010-05-28T22:53:00.001-04:00

(Reuters) - The United States reversed policy on Wednesday and said it would back launching talks on a treaty to regulate arms sales as long as the talks operated by consensus, a stance critics said gave every nation a veto.

The decision, announced in a statement released by the U.S. State Department, overturns the position of former President George W. Bush's administration, which had opposed such a treaty on the grounds that national controls were better.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the United States would support the talks as long as the negotiating forum, the so-called Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty, "operates under the rules of consensus decision-making."

"Consensus is needed to ensure the widest possible support for the Treaty and to avoid loopholes in the Treaty that can be exploited by those wishing to export arms irresponsibly," Clinton said in a written statement.

While praising the Obama administration's decision to overturn the Bush-era policy and to proceed with negotiations to regulate conventional arms sales, some groups criticized the U.S. insistence that decisions on the treaty be unanimous.

"The shift in position by the world's biggest arms exporter is a major breakthrough in launching formal negotiations at the United Nations in order to prevent irresponsible arms transfers," Amnesty International and Oxfam International said in a joint statement.

However, they said insisting that decisions on the treaty be made by consensus "could fatally weaken a final deal."

"Governments must resist US demands to give any single state the power to veto the treaty as this could hold the process hostage during the course of negotiations. We call on all governments to reject such a veto clause," said Oxfam International's policy adviser Debbie Hillier.

The proposed legally binding treaty would tighten regulation of, and set international standards for, the import, export and transfer of conventional weapons.

Supporters say it would give worldwide coverage to close gaps in existing regional and national arms export control systems that allow weapons to pass onto the illicit market.

Nations would remain in charge of their arms export control arrangements but would be legally obliged to assess each export against criteria agreed under the treaty. Governments would have to authorize transfers in writing and in advance.

The main opponent of the treaty in the past was the U.S. Bush administration, which said national controls were better. Last year, the United States accounted for more than two-thirds of some $55.2 billion in global arms transfer deals.

Arms exporters China, Russia <http://www.reuters.com/places/russia> and Israel abstained last year in a U.N. vote on the issue.

The proposed treaty is opposed by conservative U.S. think tanks like the Heritage Foundation, which said last month that it would not restrict the access of "dictators and terrorists" to arms but would be used to reduce the ability of democracies such as Israel to defend their people.

The U.S. lobbying group the National Rifle Association has also opposed the treaty.

A resolution before the U.N. General Assembly is sponsored by seven nations including major arms exporter Britain. It calls for preparatory meetings in 2010 and 2011 for a conference to negotiate a treaty in 2012.

(Editing by Eric Beech)

KEY IN ON THIS: “The proposed legally binding treaty would tighten regulation of, and set international standards for, the import, export and transfer of conventional weapons”.

The import, export and transfer of conventional weapons is key to what our government is talking about. Conventional is not military. The firearms that we use are for personal protection, hunting and sport!

I for one am not willing to give up the numerous firearms I own.

Posted via email from Denise Scott Jackson

Maxine Waters Uses the "S" Word

2010-05-09T19:44:00.001-04:00

(2477 KB)
Watch on posterous

This video clip shows Congresswoman Maxine Waters discussing drilling for new oil reserves. She explains, in a slip of the tongue, what this whole discussion is all about. (Take note of the reaction of the people around her.)
This is about as blatant as a Liberal can get. What she said was the truth, accidentally, but notice that when she realized what she revealed to the public and the news media, it stopped her dead in her tracks – for a very long period of time. Unfortunately it was too late.

Posted via email from Denise Scott Jackson

RED WINGS vs COYOTES GAME 7

2010-04-29T18:24:00.001-04:00

I've been to lots of games before and have loved them all, but Game 7 last Tuesday was really special. Seeing my Wings win a deciding game on the other team's home ice, well it just doesn't get any better than that! The Wings broke a 46 year draught by beating out the Coyotes. The Red Wings haven't won a Game 7 on the road since their 1964 victory at Chicago in the opening round.

Cheers to my Wings...looking forward to this second round of play beginning tonight in San Jose. GO WINGS!

All my photos from Game 7 can be found here > http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2061573&id=1268443501&l=bf1d1a9a55[[posterous-content:pid___0]]

Posted via web from Denise Scott Jackson

GET THE SPAM OUT

2010-04-14T14:06:00.001-04:00

Steps to preventing spam:

Keep your PC's anti-virus software up-to-date and install a firewall. Unprotected high-speed Internet connections are vulnerable to infection by viruses that are programmed to open gateways, also known as proxies, to relay spam. By not keeping your PC secure, you may unwittingly be a courier for spam.

Give your primary e-mail address to friends and family only. Give a different e-mail to others on the Internet. Although this second address will likely receive unwanted e-mails, it is more disposable and can allow you to better control the e-mails you receive.

Do not post your primary e-mail address in newsgroups, bulletin boards or chat rooms. Spammers use software programs, often referred to as spiders or bots, to search for and harvest e-mail addresses on public forums. To prevent this, use a secondary e-mail address or alter the primary address so that it is not deliverable in that format. For example, if your e-mail address is test_account@comcast.net, you could post it as test_account@NO.SPAM.comcast.net or "test _ account at comcast dot net".

Do not post your primary e-mail address on a Web site. Spiders also scan Web sites for e-mail addresses. You can alter your e-mail address to help protect it but remember that e-mail harvesting software can read HTML code, so be sure to remove the "mailto:" tag.

Do not reply to unsolicited e-mails. If the e-mail does not appear to be from a trustworthy or legitimate source, delete it without replying. A federal anti-spam law called The Can Spam Act, went into effect January 1, 2004, requiring a functioning "opt out" link or a legitimate "reply to unsubscribe" e-mail address. Some unscrupulous spammers have ignored this law and continue to trick recipients into unwittingly responding to a fake "opt out" link, which actually verifies their e-mail address as a valid one. Therefore, it is still strongly recommended that recipients of unsolicited e-mail carefully consider whether an "opt out" or "reply to unsubscribe" seems legitimate and act accordingly.

Consider using an alternate e-mail address when signing up for services, filling out forms or taking surveys on the Internet. Read the privacy policy of these sites. Keep in mind, if the service is "free" they often need to generate revenue in some manner and advertising is often used to do this.

When signing up for a mailing list, read the terms and policies. Signing up should result in wanted or solicited e-mail, but the list provider should disclose whether signing up will result in the sale or trade of your e-mail address to other parties.

Let friends and family know that you do not wish to have them share your e-mail address.

Make sure your e-mail address is difficult to guess. Don't use a common name or common words. It is not uncommon for spammers to use software programs to generate random user names based on common names and words in the dictionary. In addition, common e-mail addresses may have been used previously and my still be on old mailing lists.

Check "sent mail" folders for suspicious messages. Take responsibility for your PC by checking your "sent mail" folder regularly to ensure that all sent mail is really being sent by you and not by a spammer using an open gateway (proxy) on your computer.

Posted via email from Denise Scott Jackson

THANK GOD WE STILL HAVE OUR BITS AND PIECES

2010-01-26T12:49:00.004-05:00

After decades of hanging stuff on walls, knocking out walls and repairing walls, the inevitable happened: drilling into a "live" electrical wire!

Deciding to hang the window treatments in the living room yesterday, I was perched on top of a bar stool in order to reach the top of the wall. Placement was critical because I wanted the illusion of our ceiling being very high and the functionality of being able to pull the drapes away from the windows.

So after careful consideration I marked my first holes and began to pre-drill for the drywall anchors. I made it through the drywall easy enough only to be stopped dead. I was elated, thinking "better yet...a stud!"

I pressed ahead with the project pulling out a couple of wood screws. I began to screw one in, only to be met with more resistance. Trying to brace myself while looking for some leverage, I was gaining NO ground. That's when Jolan said, "can I help you with that?"

Usually I don't like people getting in my projects...cuz I like doing this stuff...but I wasn't getting anywhere.

When I pulled back and looked, it was actually metal I was trying to break through. So then I thought, "this must be corner bead". But that seemed odd. Anyway, I set out to help Jolan accomplish what this shorty couldn't...drill through the metal, then into the wood.

Jolan pre-drilled three holes through the metal with a 3/16 metal drill bit, then we went to the big boy bit to finish up. Two holes down and one to go, then all hell broke loose, literally! Flames shot out, followed by the electricity.

The good news is that neither of us were hurt. The only fatality being the electrical supply to our living room. The bad news was that we drilled through a main electrical wire which tripped the breaker "Red Rum" - marked by the previous owner - so we weren't sure what we had on our hands.

The saga continued today as one hole lead to two and two splices (to code) were added; one in the wall and another in the ceiling. There wasn't enough wire to pull in order to achieve just one splice. So Jolan had to go fishing in the ceiling for more wire to make a clean splice and position a box there, then another at the original entry point. I'll have some patching to do...but I've done that before : )

I'm now two days off schedule...but pleased that we both have our "bits and pieces" still in ONE piece!

NINE WORDS WOMEN USE

2010-01-25T14:29:00.002-05:00

(1) Fine: This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.

(2) Five Minutes: If she is getting dressed, this means a half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.

(3) Nothing: This is the calm before the storm. This means something, and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with nothing usually end in fine.

(4) Go Ahead: This is a dare, not permission. Don't Do It!

(5) Loud Sigh: This is actually a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about nothing. (Refer back to # 3 for the meaning of nothing.)

(6) That's Okay: This is one of the most dangerous statements a women can make to a man. That's okay means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.

(7) Thanks: A woman is thanking you, do not question, or faint. Just say you're welcome. (I want to add in a clause here - This is true, unless she says 'Thanks a lot' - that is PURE sarcasm and she is not thanking you at all. DO NOT say 'you're welcome' . That will bring on a 'whatever').

(8) Whatever: Is a woman's way of saying F-- YOU!

(9) Don't worry about it, I got it: Another dangerous statement, meaning this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now doing it herself. This will later result in a man asking 'What's wrong?' For the woman's response refer to # 3.

Posted via email from Denise Scott Jackson

Martin Luther King Jr. Helped Recommit Our Nation To Its Founding First Principles | The Foundry: Conservative Policy News.

2010-01-18T12:35:00.000-05:00

On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. stood at the Lincoln Memorial and admonished America to return to its First Principles. In his I Have a Dream Speech, he announced his dream that “one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.’” He longed to see a day when all “would be guaranteed the ‘unalienable Rights’ of ‘Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.’” Dr. King did not talk about remaking America. His dream was one which, in his words, was “deeply rooted in the American dream.” It hearkened back to the principles upon which our country was founded. It was not a rejection of our past, but a vision of hope based on the principles of our past.

Dr. King held firm to the truths of the Declaration of Independence in a time when the situation of African Americans appeared hopeless. Based on a series of arbitrary and unjust policies, African Americans were denied basic protections of the rule of law. Segregation prevented access to public accommodations, and many were reduced to poverty as a result of these injustices. Dr. King did not ask African Americans to be satisfied with their condition, nor did he denounce America as an unjust nation. Instead, Dr. King assured his listeners that their circumstances were contrary to America’s creed. He used the central principle of the Declaration – natural human equality – as a rallying cry for civil rights.

Dr. King held that the principle of human equality is the foundation of the Declaration’s statement of natural rights. We are all equal because we all participate in a common human nature. Since we are all equal, we are all entitled to the basic rights that are derived from human nature. From these First Principles, Dr. King understood that all Americans—regardless of skin color—should have access to the rule of law, public accommodations, and thereby have the ability to pursue economic opportunities and, ultimately, happiness.

But Dr. King did not think that the principle of equality meant that everyone should be treated the same. He sought equality of rights and equality before the law, not equality of outcomes or equality as a result. For Dr. King, justice was when a person is judged “by the content of their character” rather than by arbitrary considerations such as skin color. Dr. King did not mean that we should treat people of good character and bad character the same. Actual equality is achieved when arbitrary standards are replaced by meaningful criteria such as talent and virtue. A just country, in Dr. King’s vision, is one in which people are rewarded for acting well.

As Americans, we should take this lesson from Martin Luther King Jr. to heart: we should look to our First Principles to guide us through our current political problems. In his latest book, We Still Hold These Truths: Rediscovering Our Principles, Reclaiming Our Future, Matthew Spalding articulates ten core principles of America that define our national creed and explain our common purpose: These principles are equality, natural rights, consent of the governed, religious liberty, private property, rule of law, constitutionalism, self governmentand independence. Spalding writes:

Only when we know these principles once again can we renew America. Only when we understand the significance of these principles can we grasp the nobility of our accomplishments as a people and see how far we have strayed off our course as a nation. Only then can we realize the societal choices before us and begin to develop a strategy to reclaim our future.

The future of America rests on returning to its First Principles. We face an unprecedented expansion of government power and a new kind of tyranny – a softer, bureaucratic tyranny. As we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, let us rely on our First Principles as a guide for the challenges we face ahead.

Quick Hits:

“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” – Martin Luther King Jr. August 28, 1963
“If a man hasn’t discovered something that he will die for, he isn’t fit to live.” – Martin Luther King Jr. June 23, 1963
“One day the South will know that when these disinherited children of God sat down at lunch counters they were in reality standing up for the best in the American dream and the most sacred values in our Judeo-Christian heritage, and thusly, carrying our whole nation back to those great wells of democracy which were dug deep by the founding fathers in the formulation of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.” – Martin Luther King Jr. April 1963
Martin Luther King’s Conservative Legacy
The Conservative Virtues of Dr. Martin Luther King

Tags: consent of the governed, constitutionalism, Declaration of Independence, equaliy, First Principles, independence, Martin Luther King Jr., Morning Bell, natural rights, private property, religious liberty, Rule of Law, self government

Author: Julia Shaw

STANDING GUARD

2009-11-11T15:06:00.001-05:00

When I was growing up my father taught me the meaning of respect. Being a Marine, he had a different perspective then some of the other father's – it was "his way" or the "highway." And, although I never tested him, I think he may have given me the boot if I had dared to disrespect the flag or our great country.

My father was an outstanding man; stern but loving. I lost him to cancer 9 years ago after a 6-month battle. He was head-strong to the end, determined to have the dignity he deserved and was sure he had earned!

I have many fond memories during the time I took care of him, but one morning, just before he died, really stands out. I walked into his room that morning and he looked up at me, signaled toward the end of his bed and stated, "Denise, make sure those two Marines have everything they need." I said "which Marines daddy?"..."the two standing guard at the end of my bed!" Although I did not see them, I'm absolutely sure my father did.

It wasn't long after that the Lord took my dad home. I think of this story from time-to-time and smile, knowing it would be just like God to send two Angles who looked like Marines in Dress Blues, to escort him home.

I guess I remember this story for a couple of reasons; not just because of the "Angel Marines" but because they were "standing guard." This is something I remember from a family trip to Arlington – the Old Guard standing watch over the graves of the Unknown Soldiers.

Those soldiers who stood guard amazed me. They epitomized what my father tried to instill in us, his children. Beyond their training, what fascinated me, and left such a lasting impression, was their dedication to duty. I began to research the Tomb and its guardians.

The Sentinels for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier are hand picked and rigorously trained. They come from across the country and from every walk of life: they are men and women. For some it's their first unit in the Army, for others they have served many years. This duty is not for everyone, over 80% of the soldiers who tryout fail.

Each soldier has a strong military bearing, is disciplined, possesses great stamina and presents an outstanding soldierly appearance in the Army Blue Uniform. Each Sentinel must be able to flawlessly perform seven different types of walks, honors and ceremonies. They must retain vast amounts of knowledge concerning the Tomb, Arlington National Cemetery, the United States Army and their unit.

There are many urban myths circulating about the Tomb Guards. For instance they must commit 2 years of life to guard the Tomb, live in a barracks under the Tomb, and cannot drink any alcohol on or off duty for the rest of their lives. Nor can they watch TV or talk to anyone for the first six months of duty as a guard.

Actually there is NO set time for service. The average tour at the Tomb is about a year. The Sentinels live either in a barracks on Ft. Myer (the Army post located adjacent to the cemetery) or off base if they like. They do have living quarters under the steps of the amphitheater where they stay during their 24 hour shifts. But when they are off duty, they are off, this includes being able to watch TV and drink if they are of legal age.

My personal favourite myths are that the Sentinels cannot swear in public for the rest of their lives. And they cannot disgrace the uniform (i.e. fighting) or the Tomb in any way - were they to do so the Wreath lapel pin (awarded after two years of service) would be revoked. All off duty time is spent studying the 175 notable people laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery.

The truth is that the Tomb Guard Identification Badge is awarded after the Sentinel passes a series of tests. The Badge is permanently awarded after a Sentinel has served 9 months as a Sentinel at the Tomb. Over 500 badges have been awarded since its creation in the late 1950's. And while the Badge can be revoked, the offense must be such that it discredits the Tomb. Revocation is at the Regimental Commander's discretion. (You can drink a beer and even swear and still keep the Badge.) The Badge is a full size award, worn on the right pocket of the uniform jacket, NOT a lapel pin.

All this information is significant to those who serve(d), perhaps their family, and fewer yet, civilians. For me, I wanted to emphasize a point, that to those who "Stand Guard" - whether it be Soldiers, Marines or Angels - you make a difference. Your commitment IS significant.

Thank you dad for your many years of service to your Country; to the wonderful upbringing you provided me, and for all the mentoring. I feel blessed to have known you and, doubly blessed to have been able to call you "father".

On this Veterans Day I want to remember and thank, our serving and retired military men and women for their service. And offer my deepest, sincere, gratitude to those who gave their lives. I thank God for them and their remarkable commitment to their jobs – keeping the United States of America and its citizen's safe. I thank God for my freedom afforded to me by these men and women, may I never take the freedom I hold so dear for granted. May I never disregard the great sacrifice these soldiers and Marines make – both in their service and with their lives.

Posted via email from Denise Scott Jackson

NO IMPACT MAN

2009-11-09T23:16:00.001-05:00

NO IMPACT MAN

Author Colin Beavan (No Impact Man, Fingerprints, Operation Jedburgh), in research for his new book, began the No Impact Project in November 2006. A newly self-proclaimed environmentalist who could no longer avoid pointing the finger at himself, Colin leaves behind his liberal complacency for a vow to make as little environmental impact as possible for one year. No more automated transportation, no more electricity, no more non-local food, no more material consumption…no problem. That is, until his espresso-guzzling, retail-worshipping wife Michelle Conlin and their two-year-old daughter Isabella are dragged into the fray. Filmmakers Laura Gabbert and Justin Schein provide a front row seat into the familial strains and strengthened bonds that result from Colin's and Michelle's struggle with this radical lifestyle change.

Directed by: Laura Gabbert & Justin Schein
Running Time: 90 minutes
Origin: USA
MPAA Rating: Not Rated

Posted via web from Denise Scott Jackson

HALLOWEEN FUN - Geisha Style

2009-11-01T12:28:00.002-05:00

I haven’t dressed for Halloween in years, it hasn’t really been my thing. But when I received a text from my niece inviting me to her daughter Victoria’s 10th birthday celebration I couldn’t resist. Especially since the party fell on Halloween.

So I arrive, fashionably late, to house full of screaming, bouncing-off-the-walls 10ish year olds, some even younger. The house was filled with so much estrogen it nearly cured my premature hot flashes! Lol.

Based on the response I received I gather my Geisha outfit was a hit. And an easy choice since a have a veritable plethora of authentic silk Kimonos, cotton Yukatas and several pair of Gettas and Toris. Since this was a casual affair I did wave off tying the Nagoya Obi sash– they take quite a bit of doing to tie. I mean I was in the mood to play dress up but not that much of a mood! So I choose a tsukuri obi, much easier.

We had a fab time...and I even enjoyed playing Geisha for a couple of hours. Although I will admit, I was eager to get home and wash the makeup off!

See the full gallery on posterous

Posted via email from Denise Scott Jackson

BAYSIDE INN - brand spanking new website is launched

2009-10-05T16:37:00.002-04:00

http://www.baysideinn.net

Posted via email from Denise Scott Jackson

LIVE: New Web Development Project was born today

2009-08-18T20:59:00.001-04:00

http://www.beachwayresort.com

Posted via email from Denise Scott Jackson

DEADLY DOCTORS: Obama Advisors Want to Ration Health Care

2009-08-06T22:58:00.003-04:00

OMG this is getting out of control!!

Please, please, please give me a doctor who is totally dedicated to the Hippocratic Oath they took! Sorry, but I want to be a doctor’s main focus when they are treating me and/or considering options...not some other guy on the street, for “social justice” sake. Call me selfish.

What I’d like to see is the government tightening up regulations and cutting some fat out of (translate: stop being lazy asses and do your job screening) the social hand outs and wanton spending; like generational welfare, outrageous pork in bills, the old boy network that forks over government contracts to their buddies – who charge “We The People” up the wazoo 300, 400, 500% or more what WE would pay for the same item.

If this new ObamaCare is so fantastic, why aren’t the Senators and Representatives made to fall in line? Why should they have a separate health care program? Apparently their program has worked great for them over the years. Perhaps Obama and his advisors are going at this all wrong, they should be looking at nationalizing the program currently in place for this select group.

It seems ludicrous that these morons don’t get it: if Americans don’t live long productive lives, who’s going to pay for all their friken programs? And to say that seniors shouldn’t have access to hip replacements, or angioplasty is to to say, we don’t need you around anymore or you’re no longer contributing to society. Where would the mentors be? Where would the volunteers be? They gonna count on a 25 year old for that? Doubtful.

Blumenthal is a blithering idiot. When has slowing technology down ever been a good thing. Okay, go ahead and forget the medical aspect for seniors argument for a second, all that new technology EMPLOYS PEOPLE! Something apparently he’s not concerned with – but should be with record high unemployment.

So they want to put the squeeze on the automakers – one of our countries greatest industries – I’ve seen the health care program with GM drop from full medical, dental and optical to only medical. Co-pays shot up 34% (used to be $10 for a doctors visit) and prescriptions jump between 4-34% depending on the medication. The UAW and automakers have already made concessions, why should they have to kowtow to a government just to get help. I didn’t see those deep of demands with the airlines, wall street, or the bankers.

I’m livid about this. What’s happening to our country? Is there no one left with a conscientious or a heart? Are all our TRUE intellects gone?

Read this post from Betsy McCaughey, it will explain my outrage.

DEADLY DOCTORS
OBAMA ADVISERS WANT TO RATION CARE

By BETSY MCCAUGHEY
July 24, 2009

THE health bills coming out of Congress would put the decisions about your care in the hands of presidential appointees. They'd decide what plans cover, how much leeway your doctor will have and what seniors get under Medicare.

Yet at least two of President Obama's top health advisers should never be trusted with that power.

Start with Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, the brother of White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel. He has already been appointed to two key positions: health-policy adviser at the Office of Management and Budget and a member of Federal Council on Comparative Effectiveness Research.

Emanuel bluntly admits that the cuts will not be pain-free. "Vague promises of savings from cutting waste, enhancing prevention and wellness, installing electronic medical records and improving quality are merely 'lipstick' cost control, more for show and public relations than for true change," he wrote last year (Health Affairs Feb. 27, 2008).

Savings, he writes, will require changing how doctors think about their patients: Doctors take the Hippocratic Oath too seriously, "as an imperative to do everything for the patient regardless of the cost or effects on others" (Journal of the American Medical Association, June 18, 2008).

Yes, that's what patients want their doctors to do. But Emanuel wants doctors to look beyond the needs of their patients and consider social justice, such as whether the money could be better spent on somebody else.

Many doctors are horrified by this notion; they'll tell you that a doctor's job is to achieve social justice one patient at a time.

Emanuel, however, believes that "communitarianism" should guide decisions on who gets care. He says medical care should be reserved for the non-disabled, not given to those "who are irreversibly prevented from being or becoming participating citizens . . . An obvious example is not guaranteeing health services to patients with dementia" (Hastings Center Report, Nov.-Dec. '96).

Translation: Don't give much care to a grandmother with Parkinson's or a child with cerebral palsy.

He explicitly defends discrimination against older patients: "Unlike allocation by sex or race, allocation by age is not invidious discrimination; every person lives through different life stages rather than being a single age. Even if 25-year-olds receive priority over 65-year-olds, everyone who is 65 years now was previously 25 years" (Lancet, Jan. 31).

The bills being rushed through Congress will be paid for largely by a $500 billion-plus cut in Medicare over 10 years. Knowing how unpopular the cuts will be, the president's budget director, Peter Orszag, urged Congress this week to delegate its own authority over Medicare to a new, presidentially-appointed bureaucracy that wouldn't be accountable to the public.

Since Medicare was founded in 1965, seniors' lives have been transformed by new medical treatments such as angioplasty, bypass surgery and hip and knee replacements. These innovations allow the elderly to lead active lives. But Emanuel criticizes Americans for being too "enamored with technology" and is determined to reduce access to it.
Dr. David Blumenthal, another key Obama adviser, agrees. He recommends slowing medical innovation to control health spendin
Blumenthal has long advocated government health-spending controls, though he concedes they're "associated with longer waits" and "reduced availability of new and expensive treatments and devices" (New England Journal of Medicine, March 8, 2001). But he calls it "debatable" whether the timely care Americans get is worth the cost. (Ask a cancer patient, and you'll get a different answer. Delay lowers your chances of survival.)

Obama appointed Blumenthal as national coordinator of health-information technology, a job that involves making sure doctors obey electronically deivered guidelines about what care the government deems appropriate and cost effective.

In the April 9 New England Journal of Medicine, Blumenthal predicted that many doctors would resist "embedded clinical decision support" -- a euphemism for computers telling doctors what to do.

Americans need to know what the president's health advisers have in mind for them. Emanuel sees even basic amenities as luxuries and says Americans expect too much: "Hospital rooms in the United States offer more privacy . . . physicians' offices are typically more conveniently located and have parking nearby and more attractive waiting rooms" (JAMA, June 18, 2008).

No one has leveled with the public about these dangerous views. Nor have most people heard about the arm-twisting, Chicago-style tactics being used to force support. In a Nov. 16, 2008, Health Care Watch column, Emanuel explained how business should be done:

"Every favor to a constituency should be linked to support for the health-care reform agenda. If the automakers want a bailout, then they and their suppliers have to agree to support and lobby for the administration's health-reform effort."

Do we want a "reform" that empowers people like this to decide for us?

Betsy McCaughey is founder of the Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths and a former New York lieutenant governor.

Posted via email from Denise Scott Jackson

The People Spreading “Disinformation” About Obamacare

2009-08-06T13:21:00.001-04:00

Posted August 5th, 2009 at 9.29am in Health Care

The White House is losing the health care debate. Polls from National Public Radio, Wall Street Journal/NBC News, The Washington Post, Gallup, and Pew all show that the American people do not support President Barack Obama’s health care plan. The White House wants people to believe they are losing the health care debate because “scary … videos are starting to percolate on the internet” that are spreading “disinformation” about Obama’s health care plan. The White House is even encouraging Obama supporters to help them identify people spreading this “disinformation.” The official White House blog now asks Americans: “If you get an email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy, send it to flag@whitehouse.gov.”

In the interest of honest debate, we would like to flag the White House about some prominent people that are directly contradicting the President about what his health care plan would do to the American people. As White House Health Reform Office communications director Linda Douglass points out in a video released by the White House yesterday, President Obama has repeatedly assured Americans that under his plan “if you like your insurance plan, your doctor, or both, you will be able to keep them.”

The problem the White House faces, however, is that much of President Obama’s base does not want the American people to keep their current insurance plan or doctor. Activists on the left prefer a single-payer system where private health insurance companies have been eliminated. So how can the White House both appease its leftist base, which wants single-payer/government-run health care, and mollify the vast majority of Americans, who want to keep their current health insurance providers? By creating a government-run “public option” designed to slowly eliminate private insurance over time.

The President has explicitly said that the public option will not eliminate private insurance. He told the American Medical Association on June 15th: “What are not legitimate concerns are those being put forward claiming a public option is somehow a Trojan horse for a single-payer system…So, when you hear the naysayers claim that I’m trying to bring about government-run health care, know this - they are not telling the truth.” So the President SAYS the public option will not lead to single payer health care … but a number of prominent people are saying the exact opposite:

Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) at a Health Care for America Now rally: “And next to me was a guy from the insurance company who argued against the public health insurance option, saying it wouldn’t let private insurance compete. That a public option will put the private insurance industry out of business and lead to single-payer. My single-payer friends, he was right. The man was right.”
Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) told Single Payer Action: “I think that if we get a good public option it could lead to single-payer and that is the best way to reach single-payer. Saying you’ll do nothing till you get single-payer is a sure way never to get it. … I think the best way we’re going to get single-payer, the only way, is to have a public option and demonstrate the strength of its power.”
Washington Post blogger Ezra Klein at the Democratic National Convention last year: “They have a sneaky strategy, the point of which is to put in place something that over time the natural incentives within its own market will move it to single-payer.”
Noble Prize winning New York Times columnist Paul Krugman: “[T]he only reason not to do [single-payer] is that politically it’s hard to do in one step…You’d have to convince people completely give up the insurance they have, whereas something that lets people keep the insurance they have but then offers the option of a public plan, that may evolve into single-payer.”

Americans deserve an honest debate about health care. President Obama, Barney Frank, and Jan Schakowsky cannot all be right. Either the President is wrong when he says his plan will not lead to government-run health care, or Frank and Schakowsky are spreading disinformation when they tell their single payer advocate base that it will. So let’s help the White House out. Do email flag@whitehouse.gov and let the White House know you’ve seen something “fishy” on the web about health care reform.

Posted via web from Denise Scott Jackson

I Want A Ride!

2009-08-04T17:48:00.001-04:00

Looks like too much fun....blowing things up.

Click here to download:

video.mov (5134 KB)

Posted via email from Denise Scott Jackson

Just When U Thought

2009-08-04T14:11:00.001-04:00

Newcastle couldn’t get any better, they came out with it in a can. And to think I’ve been a bottle-only kind of girl, but this is a “must try”! Next best thing to a draft.

Posted via email from Denise Scott Jackson

An Open Letter To My Representative Vern Ehlers

2009-07-29T11:28:00.001-04:00

I am vehemently opposed to the proposed socialized medicine bill, and call upon you to vote NO when the time comes.

The full horror of ObamaCare - when the government takes over the financial responsibility for our health-care - is when the money needed for our health-care is in direct competition with all the other governmental financial responsibility's.

Or more succinctly, the money used for a heart-bypass operation is in competition for money for the congressional vote buying schemes. We know who is going to lose that competition.

But we'll look on the bright side, death's due to governmental neglect will pay for a new bike path in Yellowstone National Park or an obscene art exhibit.

I echo the words of a dear friend:

“Clearly "parts" of our current system need to be repaired, everyone needs medical care, but it is beyond idiocy to dismantle our entire health care system and give the government control over life and death decisions that affect every member of our families. HOW have we become such a lethargic, apathetic, easily manipulated populace? Why have we lost our voices except to silently pass along emails....good grief folks pick up the phone and call your congressmen and your senators! Tell them a problem of this magnitude needs a careful, thoughtful solution NOT a hasty political "slam dunk" to rack up two more points for the President....”

Americans need to wake up. We have a man in the Oval Office that isn't even trying to disguise his attempt to destroy this country. I pray that we will stop him before he has accomplished his mission.

I believe our congressmen are part of the problem in that they only seem to represent themselves and not us. One has to ask oneself why aren't congressmen required to participate in the programs they pass? Term limits would solve the problem. I'd love to throw everyone out and start over. (If only we could.) I've made an effort by not voting for anyone who currently holds office.

Posted via email from Denise Scott Jackson

Measure to Expand Gun Rights Falls Short in Senate

2009-07-22T14:56:00.001-04:00

Yet another example of ignorance, on the part of a few, that strips law-abiding citizens of their right to protect themselves.

I echo Mr. Vitter’s comment who dismissed assertions that this measure would aid criminals. Were it not for the legal gun ownership of many citizens and our law enforcement, our country would be run over by organized crime, thugs, and petty criminals.

Allowing citizens - who have taken legal steps to buy firearms and procure a carry permit for self defense – that are licensed in their own state to carry in other states that allow concealed carry should be a no-brainer.

To state that “Lives have been saved with the defeat of this amendment...”, as Mayor Bloomberg from New York did, is remarkably naive – unless of course he was referring to the lives of criminals.

Measure to Expand Gun Rights Falls Short in Senate

By BERNIE BECKER and DAVID M. HERSZENHORN
Published: July 22, 2009

WASHINGTON -- The Senate on Wednesday turned aside the latest attempt by gun advocates to expand the rights of gun owners, narrowly voting down a provision that would have allowed gun owners with valid permits from one state to carry concealed weapons in other states as well.

A group comprising mostly Republicans, along with some influential Democrats, had tried to attach the gun amendment to the annual defense authorization bill, a must-pass piece of legislation. But the provision got only 58 votes, two short of the 6o votes needed for passage under Senate rules.

Two Republicans, Senators Richard Lugar of Indiana and George Voinovich of Ohio, joined with 37 Democrats to reject the amendment, which was bitterly opposed by a number of big-city mayors, including Michael R. Bloomberg of New York. “Lives have been saved with the defeat of this amendment. The passage of this amendment would have done more to threaten the safety of New Yorkers than anything since the repeal of the assault weapons ban,” Senator Charles E. Schumer, Democrat of New York and a leading opponent of the amendment, said in a statement.

The provision was pushed by Senator John Thune, Republican of South Dakota, but was co-sponsored by several Democrats from states where gun rights are broadly supported, like Montana, where Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester both favored it. The Senate’s majority leader, Harry Reid of Nevada — who is up for re-election in 2010 — also supported the amendment.

Going into Wednesday’s vote, gun rights supporters seemed to have the momentum in the Senate, with a group of Democrats looking to block the amendment but acknowledging the vote would be close. Under a parliamentary agreement, proponents needed 60 votes for passage.

This was the latest attempt by gun advocates to push new firearms rights through Congress, where they hold increasing sway.

In May, Congress approved a measure that allowed gun-owners with proper permits to carry their loaded and concealed weapons into national parks. And Mr. Thune, Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma and other pro-gun lawmakers had said they intended to bring many provisions expanding gun rights to the Senate floor over the rest of this year.

The amendment would have let a gun owner carrying a valid permit from a state that allows concealed weapons to take guns into other states that allow concealed weapons, without a separate permit, as long as any local gun control restrictions were obeyed.

After the vote, Mr. Thune signaled his disappointment: "Today, overheated rhetoric and fear mongering overcame common sense,” he said.. “My amendment would allow responsible firearms owners to protect themselves while obeying the firearms laws of the states they visit. The individual right to self-defense should not end at the state line.”

The gun provision prompted impassioned debate on the Senate floor on both sides before the vote.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Democrat of New York, and generally a supporter of gun rights, said she opposed Mr. Thune’s amendment because it infringed on states and cities. “The Thune amendment would invite chaos in our cities,” she said. Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey and Senator Dianne Feinstein of California, as well as Mr. Schumer, also took the floor with speeches railing against the amendment.

Senator David Vitter, Republican of Louisiana, countered that the provision would not undermine state and local laws. And he quoted a letter from a constituent who said she felt safer carrying her concealed weapon when she goes out at night with her family.

“Specific state laws must be followed by the visiting individual,” Mr. Vitter said.

Mr. Vitter dismissed assertions that the provision would aid criminals. “At the end of the day, this is really again a fundamental debate in terms of what is the problem in terms of violent crime,” he said. “Is the problem law abiding citizens who follow the law and take all the time and all the trouble need to get conceal and carry permits?”

Or, he asked, is the problem criminals who will violate all laws to obtain weapons.

Posted via email from Denise Scott Jackson

Say a Prayer

2009-07-11T17:35:00.001-04:00

We put in an offer for a condo in Tucson yesterday. It’s located in the Catalina Foothills. This will be a winter home for my husband and I. Eagerly awaiting a response from the seller.

See the full gallery on posterous
Posted via email from Denise Scott Jackson

Man-Morph-O-Rama

2009-07-06T11:13:00.001-04:00

(7395 KB)
Watch on posterous

Well done Philip Scott Johnson
Posted via email from Denise Scott Jackson

In Memory of Allan

2009-07-02T10:25:00.001-04:00
Col. Bacon you will be missed but not forgotten. Thanks for all your mentoring, positive reinforcement and unselfishness in instructing a new bullseye shooter.

Until we meet again, Denise

Posted via email from Denise Scott Jackson

GM's Re: invention Website

2009-07-01T14:10:00.001-04:00

Worth checking out: http://www.gmreinvention.com/

Posted via email from Denise Scott Jackson

Michael Jackson

2009-06-27T00:16:00.001-04:00

Posted via web from Denise Scott Jackson

Nouveau State of Mind; why drinking and shooting don't mix

2009-06-23T17:04:00.005-04:00
For those of us who have been shooting awhile—and I mean really competing and working on technique and honing skills—there comes a time when you feel like you’re in a bloody rut you can’t quite seem to get out of. I believe that’s the perfect time for review.

Although I haven’t been shooting as long as most competitors, I’ve sure done a ton of shooting in the time I’ve been involved in the sport. So I do know how the “rut” feels. I’ve felt frustrated, pissed-off, discontent, discouraged, and out-of-gas. But, never, ever, have I felt like giving up.

Oh sure, there’s been days I’d rather throw my guns down range instead of shoot them. But it wasn’t because my equipment didn’t bring its “game.” It was because I failed. Failed to get my head into it, or failed to follow the system I mapped out for myself, or I failed physically. The point is, I didn’t quit! And to me, that says volumes.

So here I am, searching for answers, trying to find that “thing” that’s going to get me over the hump. I decided to pull out my notes from a shooting clinic I went to in Richmond, VA, sponsored by the NRA and instructed by no less than GySgt Brian Zins (9-time National Champion), Larry Quandahl (National Instructor Trainer), and Andy Moody (former USMC Shooting Team Chief Instructor). Each guy brought something different to the table.

In the two days I sat at their feet, soaking up all they were spilling out, I felt encouraged, motivated and built-up. I had a “can-do” attitude. Heck, I even had Andy Moody tell me that based on what he saw I was going to be a 2650 shooter—sounded good to me. Funny, but it didn’t register at the time what that really meant. I was just a Sharpshooter when I attended that clinic and couldn’t see that far down the road.

Things are different now, I got a taste for 2600 in my mouth I can’t get rid of. And, like a newly released Beaujolais Nouveau, I’m ready to gulp, not sip! Forget the notion of "aged over time", I want an expeditious harvest for all my time and effort!

So as I poured over my notes, I thought some were just too good not to share...with perhaps someone else that’s feeling a bit like me.

Getting Started
We all know the saying “practice makes perfect.” This is not necessarily true, if you practice something incorrectly it will never be perfect nor will you ever improve. It’s “perfect practice makes perfect.” So as you move into your practice time remember that you’re looking for that perfect execution of repetitive and consistent behavior. Analyze what you’re doing right to get those perfect shots and forget the bad, do not reinforce the negative. Questions to ask yourself are: What did I learn? What did I do right? What problem am I looking for a solution to? And start journaling!

Goal Setting and Performance
Experience has shown that the most rapid development will be achieved when a shooter both practices and shoots a match with a specific goal in mind. Since two-thirds of our shooting is done at the 25 yard line, it can be said that a pistol match is won at the long-line and lost at the short: mastering sustained fire would be a critical “performance goal” to set. Performance not scores are the goals we should train toward. Set a performance goal for each practice session and every match.

Are you Mental?
“Visualize perfect performance” it sounds so elementary, but how many of us do it? Mental concentration is the key. If you can control your mind you’ll have it all. The Corps trains their shooters like they train their Marines: they’re given directives. They’re instructed to establish a mental program and they don’t deviate:
1. Visualize perfect performance of upcoming stage.
2. “LOAD”.......................load and verify N.P.A.
3. “is the line ready”.........restate stage...rapid fire
4. “the line is ready” ........start breathing cycle
5. “READY ON THE RIGHT”...raise gun, image of perfect sights, continue breathing cycle
6. “READY ON THE LEFT”...let gun/body settle, image of centered shot group
7. “READY ON THE FIRING LINE”...start trigger pressure, focus on dot, “patience”
8. TARGET TURNS.............let first shot break, recover and continue your string

There’s so much more to share, but not enough time. However, I will leave you with this: Andy Moody couldn’t have put it more perfect when he said, “It’s as easy as this; pick up gun, shoot gun, put gun down. We’re the ones that make it more complicated.”

You Suck at Photardshop

2009-06-10T18:39:00.003-04:00

Jungle Drunks

2009-06-10T17:18:00.001-04:00

Click here to download:
Jungle_alcolo.wmv (5850 KB)

I know they make a really tasty liqueur from this fruit - apparently what fruit they can get away from the animals.
Posted via email from Denise Scott Jackson

HAPPY B-DAY ZAIRE!

2009-06-10T12:41:00.000-04:00

My Personal Saint

2009-06-09T19:16:00.002-04:00

I miss my Dad.

But he wasn’t just my Dad, he was my business partner for 16 years, and my best friend. At the time we were both single – well he was married but basically estranged from his wife since she lived in a home he provided for on Long Boat Key, FL, I digress, we were single.

We never really “hung out”, but we were buds. I called him, he called me; over morning coffee at work we'd regurgitate our “cooking coups” from the night before. AND, we always called each other when our team was beating the crap out of the other team – be it basketball, football, hockey or baseball. It didn’t matter what sport it was.

We lived sports. We went to the games, we watched them on TV and we listened to them on the radio. We had our favourites; I loved the Redskins, he loved Detroit (God love him)...we were both Bears fans. I favoured the Bulls (back in the day) and he was Pistons all the way. My driver was Tony Kanaan, his...Jeff Bucknum. College hoops, don’t even go there...I was State, he was Michigan...se la vie.

Boxing was the best...only it had to be old school...yeah we loved the flamboyance of Roy Jones when he did his “drunk monkey” thing, but there was nothing like Ali, Holyfield or Frasier...on this my father and I always agreed. And you know we loved our hometown boy, Pretty Boy Floyd.

I miss my Dad.

Just the other night I dreamt of him (as I often do), he was integrated into my dream of the NRA / CMP National Matches somehow...it’s foggy now, but the feeling lingers on. The dream was so strong that when I was in Cabela’s shopping last Sunday with my husband (I’m married now) I saw a sign that read “fresh fudge” and thought “I need to take some home to Dad.” He loved sweets and especially fudge.

I miss my Dad.

My father passed away 8 years and 9 months ago...and I’ve thought about him EVERY day since. He never saw me compete (heck, he died before I had ever shot a gun), but every time I pick up my .22, .45, or hardball gun I think of him. I remember him because I see him...I see him in me. When I grasp my gun and work it into my grip I see my father’s hand...yes, a smaller version, but still a remarkable resemblance. And I just know he’d be proud of his little Marine Corps brat, especially since he earned an “expert weapons qualification badge” during his time with the Corps.

So from time-to-time I wonder if he’s looking down on me...and perhaps smiling. And, although it’s not basketball, football, hockey, or baseball it's still SPORTS for bloody sure and I’m fairly confident he’s cheering me on.

2009-06-08T21:29:00.000-04:00

The Washington Post's Mensa Invitational once again asked readers to take any word from the dictionary, alter it by adding, subtracting, or changing one letter, and supply a new definition.

It just doesn't get any better than this! Here were the winners:

1. Cashtration (n.): The act of buying a house, which renders the subject financially impotent for an indefinite period.
2. Ignoranus: A person who's both stupid and an asshole.
3. Intaxication: Euphoria at getting a tax refund, which lasts until you realize it was your money to start with.
4. Reintarnation: Coming back to life as a hillbilly. (my personal favourite)
5. Bozone (n.): The substance surrounding stupid people that stops bright ideas from penetrating. The bozone layer, unfortunately, shows little sign of breaking down in the near future.
6. Foreploy: Any misrepresentation about yourself for the purpose of getting laid.
7. Giraffiti: Vandalism spray-painted very, very high.
8. Sarchasm: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it.
9. Inoculatte: To take coffee intravenously when you are running late.
10. Hipatitis: Terminal coolness.
11. Osteopornosis: A degenerate disease.
12. Karmageddon: It's like, when everybody is, like, sending off all these really bad vibes, right? And then, like, the Earth explodes and it's like, a serious bummer.
13. Decafalon (n.): The grueling event of getting through the day consuming only things that are good for you.
14. Glibido: All talk and no action.
15. Dopeler effect: The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly.
16. Arachnoleptic fit (n.): The frantic dance you perform just after you've accidentally walked through a spider web.
17. Beelzebug (n.): Satan in the form of a mosquito, that gets into your bedroom at three in the morning and cannot be cast out.
18. Caterpallor (n.): The color you turn after finding half a worm in the fruit you're eating.

HUNTING MICES

2009-06-08T21:23:00.002-04:00
Phoenix and Coffee (the cat not the drink) on the hunt.