Cao’s Blog – WOW

sky-flag.jpgWe decided to select Cao’s Blog as our Weblog of the Week (WOW). Cao’s Blog is a very popular site and is always a good read. Today, on the eve of Independence Day, there is a guest post by Raven about the Grand Ole Flag.

From “About Cao’s Blog:”

My name, “Caoilfhionn” (key-lin) was given to me on a discussion forum a few years ago. It’s Irish Gaelic (and means slender and fair) and was shortened by my friends to “Cao”, which is pronounced “key”. People have pointed out that the name “Cao’s blog” could be “Chaos blog”, and in a sense that is apropos because what I write causes chaos in the minds of liberals, and for some reason what I write causes them to work themselves up into a rabid frenzy.

We’re pleased to select Cao’s Blog as Weblog of the Week. For the week, a link to Cao’s Blog will ride along with the Never Forget Tribute, seen on hundreds of websites worldwide.

How Not To Name An Immigration Bill

Last week the reanimated shamnesty bill finally bit the dust (at least this time around). While pundits analyze the bill’s defeat as being due to this or that reason, I contend that you can’t tack weasel words on the title like a glaring earmark:

Bill before the Senate – S.1639

Title: A bill to provide for comprehensive immigration reform and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Kennedy, Edward M. [MA] (introduced 6/18/2007)

bush-kennedy.jpg“And for other purposes?” What the hell does that mean? Now, if that doesn’t set off alarms in the wheelhouse, I don’t know what would.

In the real world, when you set out to establish a contract with a customer (or the people of America), you must, at the very least, make the intent of the language in the contract abundantly clear and succinct. Tacking words like “and for other purposes” at the end of the title should either cause fear, or uproarious laughter, depending on your position. Ain’t that right Dubya? Teddy?

Thank God that enough Americans got in contact with the Senate and raised enough hell that this bill was soundly rejected. Now, all we need to do is keep an eye on the House of Representatives and make sure that they get the message as well when their own bills emerge.

This Day in History – Amelia Earhart Disappearance

It was 70 years ago today that aviatrix Amelia Earhart and co-pilot, Fred Noonan disappeared over the Pacific Ocean.

From WikiPedia:

amelia_earhart.jpgAmelia Mary Earhart (24 July 1897 – missing 2 July 1937, declared deceased 5 January 1939) was a noted American aviation pioneer and women’s rights advocate. Earhart was the first woman to receive the Distinguished Flying Cross, which she was awarded as the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic. She set many other records, wrote best-selling books about her flying experiences and was instrumental in the formation of The Ninety-Nines, a women’s pilots’ organization.

Earhart disappeared over the central Pacific Ocean during an attempt to make a circumnavigational flight in 1937. Intense public fascination with her life, career and disappearance continues to this day.

Old Guys Rule

old-guys-rule.jpgWhen we visit Catalina Island (once or twice a year) we always shop along the main drag (Crescent Avenue) and some of the side streets and mini-malls. I like to get “Old Guys Rule” merchandise, since I pretty much identify with that thought process. OGR stuff is sold throughout Southern California, but is especially abundant on the island. damsel-ogr.jpgThere are Old Guys Rule t-shirts, license plates, coffee mugs, beer mugs, picture frames, towels, boxer shorts, hats and more.

Once in a while, an “Old Guys Rule” article will shrink (a lot of my stuff seems to shrink in the closet these days) and Damsel will appropriate it ’cause she likes the stuff too. It makes me feel good when she wears it since she lets me rule sometimes and I think it looks cute on her.

Whirligig

Whirligig is the nickname given to this Trailing African Daisy (osteospermum fruticosum). I snapped this picture last week at the Botanic Garden.

african-daisy.jpg

The Whirligig is a member of the Aster family, closely related to other mums and daisies with a single-tier of petals. It propagates well from cuttings and does well in the Southwestern United States. According to the Desert Tropicals website (Phoenix, AZ) this flower suffers in hotter climates like Phoenix, but is hardy when it comes to tolerating frost.