March 26, 2015

I must thank you for declaring it a day to celebrate the Daily Holidays crew, too!

Thank you for all the work you put into the Daily Holidays. It's the first place I check in the morning! It makes my day to have something to contribute here.

March 23, 2015

Heard back from Toomey re: letter to Iran.

>>>Here it is, if anyone is interested:


March 20, 2015

Thank you for contacting me about negotiations with the Iranian government on its nuclear weapons program. I appreciate hearing from you.

The Iranian government is probably the most dangerous regime in the world. They pose a very serious threat to the U.S. and our allies. The Iranian regime has been killing Americans since 1979 and is a destabilizing force in the Middle East through its support of terrorist organizations such as Hezbollah and Hamas. It has propped up hostile regimes - such as Syrian President Assad who has slaughtered hundreds of thousands of his own people - and has helped topple friendly governments that are critical to our nation's counterterrorism efforts. Iran has a significant arsenal of long-range offensive missiles and an aggressive development program designed to extend their range and sophistication. Iranian leadership refers to America as "the Great Satan" and has called for the destruction of Israel, one of our closest allies. Iran's acquisition of nuclear weapons would give it the means to do so.

I am very much in favor of a negotiated agreement that would prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. I am convinced, however, from public statements and administration leaks, that the Obama Administration has offered Iran a deal that would allow the Iranians to acquire nuclear weapons. Specifically, administration officials have confirmed that Iran could retain an industrial scale uranium enrichment capability. This capability can easily be converted from commercial use, to weaponized form. Such a dangerous agreement would be a huge setback for our own security and, ultimately, increase the likelihood of a nuclear arms race and military conflict in the Middle East. Given Iran's continuing unconstrained missile capability and development program, a nuclear armed Iran would soon be a direct and grave threat to American homeland security. This is an unacceptable outcome.

It is for these reasons that I believe that three things should be done. First, Congress should pass a bill imposing more stringent economic sanctions on Iran. Second, any deal should forbid an Iranian uranium enrichment capability. Lastly, Congress should have a vote on any agreement signed.

As you have noted, I also signed an open letter, authored by Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR), to the Iranian government with 46 of my colleagues on March 9, 2015. The letter makes two main points. First, it observes that for any agreement to be enduring, it should have the force of law, which necessitates a congressional vote. Second, it points out that Senators serve 6-year terms that are unlimited. The issues addressed in the Cotton letter are an extension of my long and active record of engagement in the effort to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. The alternative to a bad deal is not war, but a better deal. I will continue to try to achieve an agreement that will actually prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

Thank you again for your correspondence. While we may not agree on this issue, I value having your input and knowing your concerns. Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future if I can be of assistance.

Sincerely,

Pat Toomey
U.S. Senator, Pennsylvania

March 19, 2015

St. Joseph's Day prayer

The Prayer to St Joseph

Oh, St. Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God. I place in you all my interests and desires. Oh, St. Joseph, do assist me by your powerful intercession, and obtain for me from your Divine Son all spiritual blessings, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

So that, having engaged here below your heavenly power, I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of Fathers. Oh, St. Joseph, I never weary of contemplating you, and Jesus asleep in your arms; I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart.

Press Him in my name and kiss His fine head for me and ask him to return the Kiss when I draw my dying breath. St. Joseph, Patron of departing souls - Pray for Me.

Amen

- See more at: http://www.prayers-for-special-help.com/prayer-to-st-joseph.html#sthash.uH4nLDHZ.dpuf

March 17, 2015

Happy St. Patrick's Day to the Lounge!

I will have corned beef and cabbage in the crock pot before long! \

Some vintage Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem for your enjoyment:

March 17, 2015

Today's Google Doodle: Happy St. Patrick's Day!

May the Irish hills caress you;
may her lakes and rivers bless you;
may the luck of the Irish enfold you;
may the blessings of St Patrick behold you

http://www.st-patricks-day.com

March 16, 2015

Today's Google Doodle: (Thank you, niyad!)

Honoring Anna Atkins, photography pioneer.

More at: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026371586

Article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2015/03/16/anna-atkins-google-celebrates-pioneering-photographic-author-with-blue-birthday-doodle/

March 15, 2015

Awwww...... you didn't say it was such a tiny dog!

It sure is cute. It doesn't seem malnourished, unless you can see its ribs (which I do not in the picture). If you can just feel the ribs, that is perfect. Puppies tend to be skinny when they are out of the roly-poly stage. The older ones don't seem obese from the photo. But your vet is the best judge of that.

Why didn't the people want it anymore? Isn't it housebroken?

Hard to tell if the older ones will come around as they seem inseparable. They might learn to tolerate the newbie, but it might never be part of their tight-knit circle. (That is what happened with my third one.) Be prepared for some assertive behavior from one of the older dogs and some shyness from the baby. It's a pack dynamic. You can't do much about that except keep alert that no one gets injured if it gets too quarrelsome.

Such a tiny pup should not be in a home with young children. It will definitely get hurt. This baby is going to need lots of very precious attention.

Good luck!

March 15, 2015

Find a friend or helper who won't mind coming to the door repeatedly.

Have that person knock or ring the bell. Make Puppy SIT. If she gets up, make her sit again. Keep repeating it until she "gets it". Reward her. Then allow the person to enter, but do not let the puppy jump up. You will have to repeat this exercise over several days or weeks, but keep at it. It takes lots of repetition.

Oh, and do not permit the visitor to fuss over the puppy. Our family members know to just walk right past the dogs and to say "hello" to them later.

Our front door opens on to a staircase, so we taught ours to wait on the steps. The youngest one never quite got the hang of it though, because we have so few visitors.

Good luck!

March 12, 2015

"I want to believe."

It would be nice if the universe worked that way, but I have seen too many rotten b*sturds get away with "murder" (think Cheney), while decent, good-intentioned people suffer endlessly. There is no sense to it except that it is all random.

March 12, 2015

My results:

You are boisterous, explosive and sentimental.

You are assertive: you tend to speak up and take charge of situations, and you are comfortable leading groups. You are empathetic: you feel what others feel and are compassionate towards them. And you are intermittent: you have a hard time sticking with difficult tasks for a long period of time.

Your choices are driven by a desire for prestige.

You consider independence to guide a large part of what you do: you like to set your own goals to decide how to best achieve them. You are relatively unconcerned with tradition: you care more about making your own path than following what others have done.

_______
Meh. I do have a hard time sticking to tasks, but otherwise pretty much the opposite of what they offered as an "analysis". LOL