7.1 Million and 0

In the news yesterday, the President of the United States announced that 7.1 Million Americans, including this blogger, signed up for health insurance through Healthcare.gov. That number actually exceeded the original projection made last year the CBO (the Congressional Budget Office). For myself, I did receive the tax credit for my monthly premium which reduced it by a whopping 92.7% for the plan I selected and I am grateful for having health insurance for the first time in nearly 11 years.

It was also reported yesterday that for only the third time during the past 12 years of war in Afghanistan there were 0 (zero) American combat deaths last month. My hope is that there are none for the rest of the war and every single soldier returns home.

Last but not least, Major League Baseball began its 2014 season on Monday (March 31) and the St. Louis Cardinals won their first game of the season beating the Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati 1-0 on a solo home run hit by Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina.

Live Long and Prosper

A New Year...

Eight days into 2014 and nine months since the last post. Ouch! I'm not going to review any of those last nine months; too much has happened. As for the last eight days that's other story.

For most of the last eight days, most of the country has been in a huge deep freeze including Southwest Missouri. Records lows were shattered across the country. Three days ago on Jan. 6 Springfield, MO reached -10 F. Not a record for the day but pretty close. On the same day, Rolla, MO reached -12 F, breaking a 46 year old record. But the deep freeze, at least for SW MO, has come to an end. Tomorrow, rain then upper 40's and 50's for the weekend. YAY!

The University of Missouri football team did very well this year ultimately winning the Cotton Bowl. That university's men's basketball team has been doing well so far this season as well. As for Missouri State's men's basketball. I think they are 2-1 in conference play but I don't know where the team is at overall. I haven't been paying attention to much. Nor have I been paying to much attention to MO State's women's basketball team either. Oh well.

I could switch to commenting about political things going on but I'm not. With that said I'm going to end this post with "Live Long and Prosper". :)

The nightmare is over

For the citizens of the Boston suburb of Watertown and the entire Boston area the nightmare is over. The living Boston Marathon bomber is in custody after a small standoff this evening in Watertown.  Not only are my thoughts and prayers still with the victims of the Marathon bombing but to the family of the MIT police officer who lost his life in the line of duty last night.

Live Long and Prosper.

A Super Anniversary

  Despite all of the heartache that has been suffered in the last few days in Boston, MA and West, TX there is a significant anniversary today. In the world of the comic book, one of the greatest heroes debuted on this day 75 years ago. Superman and Lois Lane were "born" on this date, April 18th, 1938 in the pages of Action Comics #1. Bleeding Cool.com has a story about the diamond anniversary. And in a few months from now on June 14th, the newest Superman movie, "Man of Steel" will premiere in theaters. So, Happy Birthday Superman and Lois Lane and many, many more!!!

Live Long and Prosper.

A Rambling Anniversary

I realize that virtually no one reads this but I feel the need to keep it going and also acknowledge the passage of time. It's been nearly six months since my last post and tomorrow marks the Seventh (7th) Anniversary of "The Chaotic Ramblings of a Half-Mind". Happy Birthday, "Chaotic Ramblings"!

In the past six months SW MO has had a mild winter for the most part and recently it seemed we would skip Spring and go right into Summer with temperatures reaching the low 80s last week.

The race for the Republican Presidential Nomination began in January at the Iowa Caucus which Mitt Romney, former Governor of Massachusetts, won initially but Iowa's state GOP changed that decision; awarding the caucus to former U.S. Senator for Pennsylvania, Rick Santorum and it has been crazy ever since. Even here in Missouri it's been a little nuts. There was a non-binding primary in early February which didn't count and having begun on March 15th until the 24th are the official Missouri Republican county caucuses at least according to the Wikipedia article regarding Missouri's Primary and Caucuses.

On Saturday, March 17th (St. Patrick's Day) the largest (supposedly) number of delegates in the state were to be selected at the caucus in St. Charles County. However, the caucus got out of control relatively quickly with local law enforcement being called to re-establish order. Law enforcement officers shut down the caucus with absolutely no delegates being selected. That is where the stands right now for St. Charles County; no delegates and no one has any idea if, when or how delegates for that county will be selected. It's crazy but, the world rolls on.

There is still more to mention but I'm going to leave it there for now. Live Long and Prosper.

History was made tonight

In one of the most improbable runs in Major League Baseball history; coming from behind the Atlanta Braves 10 and a half on August 25 in the National League wild card race to clinch a playoff berth on the last day of the regular season, beating the two best teams in the National League, the Philadelphia Phillies and the Milwaukee Brewers, to become the National League Champions, and then playing hard against the two time American League Champion Texas Rangers for seven games...
Winning Games 1, 3 and, in dramatic fashion, 6,

History was made tonight.

Winning Game 7, 6 to 2,

For the eleventh time in franchise history... the Saint Louis Cardinals are... WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!!

Live Long and Prosper.

Osama Bin Laden is Dead

The President of the United States, Barack Obama announced at approximately 10:35 PM CDT that the leader of the terrorist network Al-Qaida, Osama Bin Laden is dead. He was killed during a special US military operation that took place in Pakistan based on intelligence gathered over the previous eight to nine months. The military operation was able to retrieve the body at the end of the operation. More to come in the coming days.

It is a very historic night for the United States. Osama Bin Laden is DEAD.

25 Years Ago...

Twenty-five years ago on a cold January morning at Cape Canaveral on the Atlantic coast of Florida one of America’s Space Program’s greatest and most complex engineering feats was about to go into space with seven brave souls. Among those seven souls, the first teacher to head into space. The clock ticked until T-minus six seconds; the great Space Shuttle Challenger’s main engines ignited and six seconds later, the Solid Rocket Boosters(SRBs) unleashed their powerful thrust, allowing Challenger to lift off the launch pad at 11:38:03 AM Eastern Standard Time (EST) on 28 January 1986. As the shuttle began to pass over the Atlantic rising higher and higher into the sky, a plume of flame appeared between the right-hand SRB and the External Tank (ET). The flames grew, burning through the strut connecting the SRB to the ET and into the ET’s lower, liquid hydrogen tank. As the bottom end of the lower tank blew off, thrusting the lower tank into the upper, liquid oxygen filled tank, the top of the right-hand SRB rotates into the ET’s intertank structure dramatically increasing aerodynamic forces. Those forces sealed Challenger’s fate, tearing the orbiter and the ET apart at 11:39:06 AM EST.

It is unknown when the seven brave travelers; Ellison Onizuka, Michael Smith, Gregory Jarvis, Francis "Dick" Scobee, Judith Resnik, Ronald McNair, and Christa McAuliffe on board perished. The crew cabin survived the break-up but was destroyed when it hit the ocean two minutes later at 200 miles per hour. If any of them were alive after the break-up they were killed when the cabin slammed into the ocean. The remains of the crew would be recovered in early March and those that could be identified were returned to their families. The remains that could not be identified were buried together on 20 May 1986 at the Space Shuttle Challenger Memorial in Arlington National Cemetery, just outside Washington, DC.

Officially known as the Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident, the Rogers Commission investigated the accident that claimed the lives of the seven crew members. In the commission’s report, published 9 June 1986, the commission determined that the loss of Challenger was caused by the failure of the two rubber gaskets, known as O-rings, at the joints of the SRBs to seal in the hot pressurized gases burning in the right-hand SRB allowing the gases to escape, burn through the ET and ultimately destroying the Shuttle. The commission also determined that contributing causes of the accident included NASA & Morton Thiokol’s (manufacturer of the SRBs) failure to fully address the design flaws in the O-rings, which the two organizations had been aware of since 1977, NASA’s decision-making process in launching the shuttle in such abnormally cold conditions and NASA’s overall cultural organization.

NASA would follow through with some of the commission’s recommendations, particularly those regarding the redesign and re-engineering of the O-rings for the SRBs. The O-ring redesign and other changes to the Space Shuttle allowed it to return to space after more than a two and a half year absence in 1988. However, some of the “culture” and “decision-making” recommendations made by the commission were either partially followed through or not at all.

The knowledge-seeking spirit of Challenger’s crew lives on through the Challenger Center for Space Science Education founded by the families of the crew in April 1986. The Challenger Center is a nonprofit educational organization that promotes education in general and education in science and technology specifically through its’ network of Challenger Learning Centers spread across the globe. The members of the crew have been honored in numerous ways since the tragedy. Amongst these honors, all seven, known as the Challenger 7, were awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor in 2003 by President George W. Bush.

Today is a day of remembrance and reflection. A day in which all citizens of our world should take a moment to remember and reflect not just on the crew of Challenger, but on the crews of Apollo 1 and Columbia as well. The men and women of these spacecraft made the ultimate sacrifice for the sake of expanding our knowledge and exploration of the final frontier. To paraphrase Dr. Leonard McCoy in Star Trek II; ‘They really aren’t dead. As long as we remember them.’

Live Long and Prosper.

2011 has arrived

Well, Well. One year has gone and a new one has begun. Will 2011 be as interesting as 2010 was? We'll just have to wait and see, won't we? I need to acknowledge the fact that it has been nearly a year since I posted on the blog. 2010 seemed to have flown by with so many events taking place; the earthquake in Haiti along with the current Cholera outbreak there, the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, the trapped miners in Chile, the passage of Health care reform, the 2010 mid-term elections, the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and the ratification of the new START treaty with Russia, here in the United States.

Today, January 1, 2011, Northwest Arkansas and Missouri,a long with a few other states are dealing with the aftermath of yesterday's outbreak of severe storms and tornadoes which passed through. The National Weather Service confirmed a number of tornado touchdowns, including one at Fort Leonard Wood, categorized as a EF3. Unfortunately, seven people have lost their lives because of these tornadoes and the Governor of Missouri, Jay Nixon, declared a State of Emergency in the areas that were hit. Once the storms passed, the clean up began and continues today.

Also yesterday, I discovered that the free web host for my personal website has gone offline. Since I can't remember which email address I gave when I originally signed up I've looked at all of them and haven't found any notices from the host that it was going offline. I decided, "to hell with it", found and signed up with a new free web host. I've spent part of the day today changing the links with the pages of my site with the new URL. Some of the pages are up, but it may be tomorrow or Monday before the site is up online fully. I'll just keep at it. That's all for now. "Live Long and Prosper", and of course, Happy New Year!!!

A Baseball Player's Confession

This is my first post in many, many months and a lot has happen since that last post, but I need to post about the events of earlier today. Former baseball star, Mark McGwire confessed to using steroids while playing the game. Specifically he mentioned in publicly released statement that he used during the 1998 season.

That season was the Home Run Race season, that pitted then St. Louis Cardinals First Baseman Mark McGwire against Chicago Cubs player Sammy Sosa to break Roger Maris' Single season Home Run record of 61 home runs which had been standing since 1961. McGwire would break the record on 8 SEPT 1998 at Busch Stadium II in St. Louis. Many fans, who had become disillusioned after the 1994 baseball strike, returned to baseball because of this race. It was a monumental moment for baseball and St. Louis.

And now nearly 12 years later he confesses to using steroids. Even though for years there was speculation that he had been using while he played it was never proven. When I first heard about and read his confession I had a knee-jerk reaction, feeling he should be fired from his hitting coach job with the Cardinals for his past sins. However after reading the Cardinals statement about the situation and the passage of a few hours, I felt he, like everyone, should be given a second chance. I feel many people, many Cardinals fans, will forgive him yet many won't. Will I forgive? In time, maybe. We will see. "Live Long and Prosper".

The passing of two cultural icons

Today, June 25 2009, is a day of great sadness. Today two cultural icons passed into the memory of millions of people and into history.

For many, Farrah Fawcett was the sex symbol of the 1970s after that famous picture of her in the red bathing suit came out in the mid-70s and for her stint on the TV show "Charlie's Angels". Earlier today at 62, Miss Fawcett passed away from cancer and she will be missed.

For millions around the world he was considered "The King of Pop". His music influenced two if not three generations of music fans around the world. Micheal Jackson's sudden passing at the age of 50 has shocked not just the music world but the world-at-large. His music,influence and success may never be topped in the years and decades to come. Mr. Jackson will be remembered by millions for years to come.

Rest in Peace, Farrah and Michael. You will be missed.

Live Long and Prosper.

A few words about 'Star Trek'

I realize that it has been more than three months since my last post and a lot has occurred around the globe but I want to focus on one thing: Star Trek.

I've had the chance to see it twice; once Thursday night and second earlier today. I have to say I enjoyed it both times. Not just because it's Star Trek but because it had a good story and great characters. Even if I had not been a fan before this I think I would become one now. It is a good action packed movie and it doesn't hurt that it made more than $75 million in it's opening weekend and since opening last Thursday, more than $79 million. I want to thank the cast and crew for making a movie worthy of the name Star Trek.

A Big Day for (American) Football but also a Day Of Rememberance

Today, most in America will be watching one of the country's biggest sporting events of the year; the National Football League's Championship Game, better known as the Super Bowl. Today will mark the 43rd time that the game has been played and the game's competitors are the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Arizona Cardinals. Many will watch the game for the half time show, others will watch it for the commercials that will air and other still will watch it for the actual game. If push came to shove. I'll have to go with the Steelers eventhough I'm not a a big football fan.

For some in this country, today is a day of remembrance. Six years ago today on February 1, 2003 six Americans and one Isreali were on their way home from the stars only to remain among them for eternity. The men and women of the Space Shuttle Columbia are remembered by family, friends, all of the people who worked with them at NASA, and those people who have great respect and pride for the sacrifices they made; which are not in vain, to expand humanity's knowledge of space.

I have great respect and pride for all of those men and women who have had the opportunity to go to to the stars and for those who make those journeys possible. I am humbled by the sacrifices they all make to expand humanity's knowledge through space exploration especially those that give the ultimate sacrifice.

The US Space Program has a special place in my heart and the loss of any astronaut pains me. I remember where I was and what I was doing when I heard the news on the radio. I remember running into Sears at the local mall to find a TV and watching with great shock and sadness, not believing that such tragedy and loss could befall the Space Program twice in my life time. I don't remember any thing from the rest of that day but I honor their memory as long as I live.

To all of you out there, "Live Long and Prosper"

Safe Plane Landing in the Hudson River

I just got home about a half hour ago and learned of the safe landing made by US Airways Flight 1459 in the Hudson River between New York City. My understanding is that the flight took off LaGuardia Internat'l Airport and was heading to Charlotte, NC when both of the plane's engine failed. Kudos to the pilot for landing the plane safely in the river. Kudos to the flight crew and to all the emergency rescue people for getting all of the passengers off the plane.

2009 Arrives

In most areas of the world, 2008 has ended and 2009 has begun. In my corner, '09 will arrive in about 27 minutes. With a new year may come new uncertainties as if the worlds needs more of those right now. There is one certainty that many Americans and many around the world wait for with baited breath--the inauguration of Barak Obama to the office of President of the United States. January 20th will be a great day but for now let us all usher in a new year with peace and hope in our hearts.

Happy New Year!

A New Era Begins

This is an historic night. The senator from Illinois, Barack Obama, has been elected the 44th President of the United States of America. I have no words for this night... no words.

Creative, Inspired Art in Uninspired Denver and other stuff

This image is part if a story from latimes.com and you can read the story by clicking here. Paul Trujillo, the young man to the left in black, and two of his friends created the mural on his grandparents' fence, with their permission and support, in Denver CO. When the mural was brought to the attention of Denver city officials and city officials examined it, they sent a letter to Paul's grandparents saying it had to be removed or they would face a $150 fine, which would increase over time.
I found this story this morning and once I read it here's what I thought: "How stupid of Denver officials.", "Since when is the word, 'VOTE' illegal?", and "It's on personal property!". These were the first thought I had. Another thought I've had in regard to this story is: "Are Denver trying to stomp out creative art?" Because it is creative and inspired, at least in my opinion. However, please click the link above, read the story and form your own opinion.

As for other events, Wall Street apparently still hasn't gotten the message from Washington that the $700 billion bail out bill passed, was signed into law and that there was a "rate cut", I think refers to the interest rate, because the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell another 189 points today. Well maybe Wall Street will get the message tomorrow

Also I just saw a headline on cnn.com that the New York Federal Reserve Bank is going to lend AIG another $37.8 BILLION of TAXPAYERS' MONEY!!!!!!! WTF!!!! The money the Fed is giving to AIG isn't even a loan! My understanding of the article, which you can read here, is AIG will give the Fed something called 'investment-grade fixed-income securities', which AIG originally gave other instutions for a fee, who are now giving them back to AIG for refund on the fee they were charged. GGRRRRR!! All of this, on top of the fact, which we the public just learned from a congressional committee, that within days of the initial $85 Billion bailout for AIG, some of their executives went to a resort and spent over $400,000!!! Those executives should be FIRED on the spot and the people at the New York Fed should be bitch-slapped!!! Geez, I'm pissed!

Ok, I'm going to quit before I write something that I'll regret. Everyone out there that is eligable to VOTE, should VOTE on Nov. 4 and "Live long and Prosper".

A Day of Financial Horror

I'm not sure what to say about this disasterous day in the US financial system. Millions of Americans have lost thousands of dollars or perhaps even every single penny they had invested in the markets after the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 777.68 points, nearly 7%, or $1.2 trillion(according to a CNNMoney.com article), of its value today. Today's plummet, the largest in history, is a continuation of the financial system's meltdown which, has a long and complicated past. The huge loss is, in part, the result of the U.S. House of Representives' rejection of legislation that potentially would have assisted corporations with large amounts of troubled assets so they would be able to get more credit. This legislation entitled "The Emergency Economic Stablization Act of 2008", better known as "The $700 Billion Bailout Plan" was devised by Henry Paulson, the U.S. Treasury Secretary, and other financial personnel in the Bush Administration. With the defeat of the legislation and the huge loss on the Dow, I think no one has any idea what will happen next. I guess we'll all have to wait and see with baited breath.

It is also worth noting in this post the passing of an acting legend. Paul Newman, known for his role in "Cool Hand Luke", "The Sting" and "The Color of Money", died this past Friday (9-26-08) after a long battle with cancer at the age of 83. Not only was he a legendary and Oscar-winning actor but he was also a great philanthropist. The company that bears his name, "Newman's Own", has donated all of it's profits, more than $200 million, to various charities around the world. He will be sorrily missed.

Finally, with the financial crisis that is going on, the outlook for many in this country is bleak, but remember that there is HOPE. To quote Tim Allen's character in "Galaxy Quest", "Never give up! Never surrender!" To all of you out there, Remember to VOTE on November 4th, at least in the USA, and "Live long and prosper".

The DNC comes to a superb close

After four days, tonight at Invesco Field in Denver, CO, the 2008 Democratic National Convention came to an end with the U.S. Senator from Illinois, Barack Obama accepting the nomination for President of the United States of America. Senator Obama accepted the nomination on an important anniversary.

On this very same day 45 years ago, in 1963, a young preacher from Georgia named Martin Luther King, Jr. stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and spoke to thousands in the National Mall in Washington, DC, speaking of a dream... a dream where his children were not "judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."

I watched Senator Obama's acceptance speech and was impressed. I am impressed with him even more so now then when I voted for him in the Missouri Primary. However, regardless of party, a man or woman who is elected President can make all the promises he or she wants and state what he or she intends to do during his/her campaign but Congress creates our laws via legislative bills. In order for the goals of an Obama (or McCain) presidency to be fulfilled the Democrats (or Republicans) must have very strong majorities in both houses of Congress. Bipartisanship helps but will not always work.

I end this post with a simple word: VOTE.

The Passing of a Comedic Icon

First I need to acknowledge the fact that this the first entry that I've made in more than two months and that a lot of events have occurred in that time. In very early May, a cyclone hit the country of Myanmar (Burma), resulting in great loss of life. The aftermath and the lack of response and interferance by its government for aid to reach the victims angered the world. In mid-May a massive and destructive earthquake hit central China also resulting in a great loss of life. These two events have been very tragic. Between the two more than 100,000 to 150,000 people have died.

Here in the US, particularly in the middle of the country, there has been huge amounts of rain which has caused rivers to rise. The Cedar River in Iowa flooded more than 400 blocks of Cedar Rapids. This river and the Iowa River flow into the Mississippi River. As the Mississippi rose, it broke levees protecting several towns in Illinois and Missouri. The Mississippi is expected to crest in St. Louis Wednesday morning at 37.2 feet, which is 7.2 feet above flood stage. These flood waters, which have already caused more than $1 billion in damage in Iowa have a long way to travel and will affect many more towns and cities in the days and weeks to come as it makes its way to the Gulf of Mexico.

I also need to acknowledge the death of Tim Russert of NBC, who died on June 13, 2008 at the age of 58. As the host of NBC's Sunday news program, Meet the Press, he conducted no-nonsense interviews with many political figures from across the country and was well known also for his analysis of issues and elections. He leaves behind his wife and son and extended journalism family.

Now that I've gotten caught up, in a manner of speaking, this post is written to acknowledge the passing of a comedic icon. George Carlin died yesterday in Los Angeles from heart failure at the age of 71. You can read about his passing at the websites of the major news organizations by following the links below:

cnn.com
cbsnews.com
msnbc.com
abcnews.com
foxnews.com

George Carlin was not your ordinary comedian, he was a Grammy award winning, Emmy nominated comedian. He was an author and an actor. His comedic commentaries on politics, religion and society made people think.
But of course he is known for saying "Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television". He said these words at a show in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for the first time, which led to his arrest and being charged in 1972. The charges were dropped but that was not the end of it. Eventually a legal case involving the Federal Commmunications Commission and the owner of a New York City radio station went to the US Supreme Court. The Court's 5-4 decision basically stated that the language in George Carlin's "Seven Words" routine were indecent but not obscene and the FCC could determine what was indecent and what wasn't. Earlier this year, the Associated Press quoted Mr. Carlin saying, "So my name is a footnote in American legal history, which I'm perversely kind of proud of." You can read more about George Carlin's life and the court case involving the seven words at Wikipedia. George Carlin will be sorely missed.