We’re expecting several beautiful yellow flowers this summer from this ferocious-looking Devil’s Tongue barrel cactus. One pod near the center will be the first to bloom in a week or so. I’ll post pictures when the flowers arrive.
The “Winchester House” Immigration Bill
I’m wondering why the President and an uncomfortable number of Republican Senators want to resurrect one of the most ill-conceived and convoluted bills in the history of the U. S. Senate? The overarching complexity of this legislative monstrosity approaches, or perhaps exceeds, the nonsensical Winchester House in it’s absurdities and untenable construction.
Image: Winchester House near San Jose, California.
I advise the Senators and the President to employ the KISS principle – Keep It Simple, Stupid!
Former Majority Leader Tom Delay had this to say about the bill earlier this week:
Break up the immigration bill into smaller pieces, so that it’s actually understandable and each issue included can receive individual debate and consideration. Passing fence building, guest worker, amnesty, and border patrol increase legislation in one lump makes little sense to me. Let’s bring separate immigration bills out in order of importance and decide their fate one by one…starting with border security.
And a final note to the President of the United States who is enjoying a lunch today on Capitol Hill with Republican congressional leaders to discuss the fate of the immigration bill. I would recommend the President order his meal accordingly; border security first followed by a dessert course which includes a guest worker program not amounting to amnesty. Bon appétit!
I’m tired of these few Republicans telling seventy percent of Americans – those of us who believe this is bad lawmaking – to go to hell.
Flag Day and the Army’s Birthday
June 14th is a day to celebrate the Star Spangled Banner and also to recognize the anniversary of the establishment of the Continental Army on June 14, 1775.
Inspired by three decades of state and local celebrations, Flag Day – the anniversary of the Flag Resolution of 1777 – was officially established by the Proclamation of President Woodrow Wilson on May 30th, 1916. While Flag Day was celebrated in various communities for years after Wilson’s proclamation, it was not until August 3rd, 1949, that President Truman signed an Act of Congress designating June 14th of each year as National Flag Day.
The modern Army had its roots in the Continental Army which was formed on June 14, 1775, before the establishment of the United States, to meet the demands of the American Revolutionary War. Congress created the United States Army on June 3, 1784 after the end of the war to replace the disbanded Continental Army. The Army considers itself to be descended from the Continental Army, and thus dates its inception from the origins of that force. Hooah!
Zinnia Elegans
Newly added to our garden is this Zinnia. According to the tag, it is a ‘zinnia elegans.’ I looked up this variety on Floridata (see below the photo).
Signal 94 – WOW
Our choice this week for the Weblog of the Week (WOW) is Signal 94. Sig94 is a retired Police Lieutenant, currently serving as a law enforcement contractor in Central New York State.
Sig94 blogs about: idiots, law enforcement, celebrities, justice, carbon offsets, global warming, Australia, gun control, Israel, terrorists, Al Gore, scams, culture, lifestyle, Alexander Litvinenko, KGB, poison, polonium-120, and Vladimir Putin. Now that lineup is not only very entertaining, but aligns with core beliefs of good conservative Americans. A particularly good example is a recent article called Fatwa Free For All where Sig94 offers colorful commentary about some of the more eccentric rituals of Islam.
We’re glad to nominate Signal 94 as our pick for Weblog of the Week. Sig94’s link will hitchhike with our Never Forget Tribute for the week.
A Piece of the Wall
A little over a year ago, Damsel and I visited the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California. One of the exhibits that most impressed us was the huge chunk of the Berlin Wall in the garden west of the library building. Since this is the twentieth anniversary of President Reagan’s famous “Tear Down This Wall” speech, we will post this photo that Damsel snapped of the wall during our visit and an excerpt from the speech given by the best President of the twentieth century.
Mr. Gorbachev, Tear Down This Wall!
And now the Soviets themselves may, in a limited way, be coming to understand the importance of freedom. We hear much from Moscow about a new policy of reform and openness. Some political prisoners have been released. Certain foreign news broadcasts are no longer being jammed. Some economic enterprises have been permitted to operate with greater freedom from state control.
Are these the beginnings of profound changes in the Soviet state? Or are they token gestures, intended to raise false hopes in the West, or to strengthen the Soviet system without changing it? We welcome change and openness; for we believe that freedom and security go together, that the advance of human liberty can only strengthen the cause of world peace. There is one sign the Soviets can make that would be unmistakable, that would advance dramatically the cause of freedom and peace.
General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization: Come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall! (Click to read the entire speech.)
The Next Cactus Flowers
Late last night, just before bed, we stepped out into the patio and were greeted by two fully-open cactus flowers. I grabbed the camera and took several shots. This flower is fully open with another to the right that will open later in the night or, at the latest, tomorrow evening. It has been almost two weeks since our first flower of the season, but there will be a flurry of them over the next several days.
