Aloha Daze

What is it lately? What’s happened? Why does there seem to be a rash of deaths all of a sudden?

I’m not sure. I have not got a clue.

For my family and friends, it started with the loss of Curt Elbert Mitchell (seen at right). One of my life-long friends that I considered a brother.

Then a slew of other deaths followed.. Farrah Fawcett. Michael Jackson. And today, of all people, Billy Mays.

Here’s my personal opinion of what happened… (more…)

It’s been a very long month.

The office sent me to California - Irvine, to be exact - to do some software training. Out for a week.

Then came back. For a week.

Then went back to Irvine. For a week.

Then came back.

Then I had to work like mad to make up for the last 3 weeks that I wasn’t able to get office projects done.

And then I get the sad news that a close, long-time friend of mine passed away last weekend.

Somehow puts everything else in perspective all of a sudden.

Everything else is just clutter.

RLR

The new movie has been out for just over a week.

Me? I’m an old-school Trek fan. From waaay back.

If you’re a fan… if you’re not but like a good science fiction movie… go see the new Star Trek. This isn’t the same, old, tired attitude and script. This new imagining of Star Trek is an absolute roller coaster ride from JJ Abrams.

Absolutely amazing. Seeing it once was great, but there was so much going on, that I’ll definitely have to own this one when it comes out on DVD/Blu-Ray/Whatever.

Nevermind Star Trek. This is one of the most fun rides I’ve had at the movies in a very long time. I think a sequel is a no-brainer, but it’ll have a hard time living up to this first outting from Abrams.

RLR

I’m fed up with the pinheads that claim that there is no media bias.

This is what constitutes a story from the Associated Press? What kind of crap is this?

Obamas take a walk, holding hands in the evening

May 3, 3:40 PM (ET)
By CHRISTINE SIMMONS

WASHINGTON (AP) - The first couple took full advantage of the cool spring night.

After a date night out on Saturday evening, President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama decided to take a stroll when their motorcade arrived back at the White House.

So they began walking on the driveway of the White House South Lawn while holding hands. First they passed the West Wing, then their children’s swing set. They kept walking, swinging their hands together.

There were no Secret Service agents right behind them - the agents stood off, in one of the rare moments that the Obamas had private space outside the White House walls.

As the Obamas walked behind shrubbery and out of sight, the unscripted moment left reporters guessing where they were going. To the vegetable garden? The basketball court? No final word, but they eventually came back the same way from where they started, rounding out their 8-minute walk.

The walk wrapped up one of their first date nights in the District since they’ve lived at the White House. Before arriving home and taking the stroll, the president and first lady dined out for nearly two hours at a posh Georgetown restaurant.

The stroll was a quiet contrast to their dinner outing. The Obamas’ visit to Georgetown attracted thick crowds of onlookers who were held back by police tape, while sirens occasionally wailed and a protester chanted outside the restaurant.

Give. Me. A. Break.

RLR

Just amazing.

Yeah, I know… everyone else and their momma has posted a link to this. But you know what? It’s just that dang good. I’ve listened to it about 5 times, and it’s still that dang good.

If this doesn’t put a smile in your heart, nothing will.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

RLR

And the media/government/clueless ones wonder why we, the people, are having tea parties.

Well, here’s a good example of why.

Hawaii To Test Taxing By The Mile

Hawaii lawmakers are hoping to pass legislation that would determine the viability of taxing drivers by the mile. Legislators say as more people purchase hybrid vehicles and driving habits change, fuel tax collections will likely suffer.

“We have to make sure that the highway fund is properly funded because if it isn’t, then we simply stop putting in the infrastructure,” said Sen. Kalani English, chair of the Transportation Committee and the lead sponsor of the bill.

The pilot program, known as Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT), would be administered by the State Transportation Department as part of the Hawaii’s Highway Modernization Plan. Transportation Director Brennon Morioka told Khon2 a variety of methods would be looked at to determine the best way of tracking driving habits.

“Monitoring your odometers by going into service stations…or using GPS or whatever other form of tracking device,” said Morioka.

I think I should invest in more tea.

RLR

Yeah, that’s right. I’m one of those crazy right wing conservative people that is going to a Tax Day Tea Party here in Honolulu.

In. Honolulu.

How bad has it gotten, when even a liberal state such as Hawaii, thinks the spending and the taxes have gone too far?

I’ll be at the State Capitol Building [yes, they have a permit for this "festival"].

http://www.overtaxedhawaii.com

From 4PM to 7PM on Wednesday, April 15, 2009.

Hopefully, I’ll have somewhere to park.

I’ll probably have to pay a parking tax.

RLR

Joe Biden. The gift that keeps on giving.

Oh, That Joe! (No. 48 in a Series) — Gimme a Break
March 13, 2009 5:40 PM

At an event at Union Station today where Vice President Joe Biden was heralding the $1.3 billion in investments in rebuilding train stations and passenger rails, a microphone picked up one of the former senator’s myriad Senate colleagues addressing him, formally, as “Mr. Vice President.”

That met with Vice President Biden’s standard reply.

“Gimme a f*&$#ing break,” he said, apparently unaware that the microphone was on.

-Jake Tapper
ABC News’ Senior White House Correspondent

RLR

Hey, it just gets better doesn’t it?

Bill Seeks to Let FDIC Borrow up to $500 Billion

WASHINGTON — Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd is moving to allow the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. to temporarily borrow as much as $500 billion from the Treasury Department.

The Connecticut Democrat’s effort — which comes in response to urging from FDIC Chairman Sheila Bair, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner — would give the FDIC access to more money to rebuild its fund that insures consumers’ deposits, which have been hard hit by a string of bank failures.

Oh Obama, why do you hate us so?
You promised us recovery,
but the market doesn’t grow.

RLR

Not everyone has lost their mind:

Former astronaut speaks out on global warming:

SANTA FE, N.M. - Former astronaut Harrison Schmitt, who walked on the moon and once served New Mexico in the U.S. Senate, doesn’t believe that humans are causing global warming.

“I don’t think the human effect is significant compared to the natural effect,” said Schmitt, who is among 70 skeptics scheduled to speak next month at the International Conference on Climate Change in New York.

RLR