Theodore's World

An armed Indonesian policeman stands guard in front of a U.N. Climate Change Conference billboard in Nusa Dua, Bali island December 2, 2007. Delegates from about 190 nations gathered in Bali on Sunday to try to build on a “fragile understanding” that the fight against global warming needs to be expanded to all nations with a deal in 2009. REUTERS/Murdani Usman (INDONESIA)

BALI, Indonesia for complete article
World powers meeting at a UN climate change conference in Indonesia this week won’t be able to craft a meaningful plan to address global warming without co-operation from the United States, the top emitter of greenhouse gases, the UN’s climate chief said Sunday.
The United States refused to sign the last major international treaty on reducing greenhouse gases, undermining its effectiveness.
Delegates from 190 countries will gather on the resort island of Bali on Monday for one of the largest global warming conferences ever, bringing together about 10,000 people including Hollywood luminaries, former vice-president Al Gore, fishermen and drought-stricken farmers for two weeks of marathon discussions.
World leaders will attempt to launch negotiations that could lead to a replacement for the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012. Among the most contentious issues will be whether emission cuts should be mandatory or voluntary and how to help the world’s poorest countries adapt to a warmer climate.

Yvo de Boer, general secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, said the role of the United States “would be critical” in the discussions and that delegates must come up with a roadmap that’s embraced by Washington.

“To design a long-term response to climate change that does not include the world’s largest emitter and the world’s largest economy just would not make any sense,” he told reporters

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The United States, which along with Australia refused to sign the Kyoto Protocol, said ahead of the Bali talks that it was eager to launch negotiations, but has been among industrialized countries leading a campaign against mandatory emission cuts.
But now the United States finds itself isolated at the conference, given that Australian Prime Minister-elect Kevin Rudd, whose party swept to power in general elections just one week ago, immediately put signing the Kyoto pact at the top of his international agenda.
President Bush, trying to fend off charges that America is not doing enough, said this week that a final Energy Department report showed American emissions of carbon dioxide, a leading greenhouse gas, declined by 1.5 per cent last year while the U.S. economy grew.

“Energy security and climate change are two of the important challenges of our time. The United States takes these challenges seriously,” he said.

Wild Thing’s comment……..
I want Bush to give then the single finger salute. Islamonazis want to cut folks heads off and impose Sharia law everywhere and all some can do is wring their hands about climate change.. What a bunch of ninnies!
China, which will become the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases in 2010, has no requiremnt to reduce emissions until some vague, unspecified period in the future.
They are all flying to Bali, in jet aircraft, which consume fossil fuels, and once there plan to tell us what to do? They should have decided to conduct this meeting through tele-conferencing or TV if they want us to take them seriously even a little. And what are they gonna do if we say no? Sanctions against us. Let me /cry some. Oh noes.
Molon labe, buddy. And by the way, you will NEVER make it meaningful, because it is Bogus Science and it does not MEAN anything.

AL QA’IM, Iraq – Cpl. Robert Jordan, the armory’s senior custodian for Company L of Task Force 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2, stands with the M-249 semi-automatic weapon in the Company L armory at Camp Gannon, Husaybah, Iraq. Nearing his 40th birthday, Jordan craved the opportunity to once again wear the uniform of a United States Marine after leaving the Marine Corps almost 10 years ago.

Once a Marine, Always a Marine
By Cpl. Billy Hall, 2nd Marine Division
AL QA’IM, Iraq (Nov. 29, 2007) — The phrase, “Once a Marine, always a Marine,” implies the title of U. S. Marine lasts a lifetime after serving your country as one of the few and the proud.
For one Marine, the memory of his years in the service was not enough to satisfy his devotion to duty and love for the Marine Corps.
Nearing his 40th birthday, Cpl. Robert Jordan, the armory’s senior custodian for Company L of Task Force 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2, craved the opportunity to once again wear the uniform of a United States Marine after leaving the Marine Corps 10 years ago.
Jordan graduated from Chester W. Nimitz high school in Irving, Texas, and shortly thereafter stepped on the infamous yellow footprints at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, Nov. 27, 1987.
Jordan took on the now non-existent military occupational specialty of dragon gunner and received orders to Marine Corps Barracks, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. After several years, Jordan was up for voluntary separation due to the downsizing of the Marine Corps.
Longing to work with Marines and weapon systems again, Jordan volunteered to help drill a reserve unit in Shreveport, La., from 1993-1995. He decided working with Marines was not as good as actually being one, so Jordan ended up signing a three-year contract as an active-duty field wireman from 1995-1998.
Jordan, again, left the Marine Corps in 1998 to give civilian life a chance. Five years later, he realized that serving his country is his calling.

“Everyone was meant to do something: cooks, doctors, lawyers” Jordan said. “I believe God created me to be a war fighter.”

At the age of 34, Jordan entered a Marine Corps recruiting office with full intentions of re-enlisting, but the recruiter told him that it was not possible.
Heartbroken yet not defeated, the maturing veteran ran into a Coast Guard recruiter who went to his church. The Coast Guard offered Jordan a four-year contract as a gunner’s mate. Because of the increased role of the Coast Guard after 9/11 and Jordan’s past military experience, he had little trouble joining.
Ironically, the Coast Guard sent Jordan to Marine Special Operations Command at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., to help train Marines from 2003 to 2007. Working as an instructor for Marines and utilizing his knowledge of weapons, Jordan developed a passion for teaching.

“My students have told me that I have a way of breaking things down, so they can understand,” said Jordan. “If it’s a Mark-19 or smaller, I can teach you how to shoot it.”

Jordan enjoyed his time in the Coast Guard, but when presented with the option of re-enlisting and a promotion to petty officer first class, he had something else in mind.

“Some people asked if it was a mid-life crisis,” Jordan said. “It was just devotion to duty and being a Marine at heart.”

With the full support of his wife, Jordan took the opportunity to re-enlist as a corporal in the Marine Corps in 2007. He was assigned to Company L, 3rd Bn., 2nd Marines and is proudly working as senior custodian of the armory at Camp Gannon, Husaybah, Iraq.
Jordan continues to look to the future and hopes to one day become a Marine Corps recruiter to help others appreciate the Marine Corps as much as he has.

Wild Thing’s comment……..
I love this story, the way the various things happened to bring him back to the Marines. When things are meant to be thingis like this will happen. I am constantly in awe of what awesome men and women we have defending our country now and our Veterans. We truly are a blessed Nation and I pray more and more people will never let a day go by they do not realize who gave us our freedom and who fights for others to have it as well.
Thank God for the Coast Guard as well, We have an fantastic and dedicated Coast Guard and too little is written about them.
My best wishes to Cpl. Robert Jordan and thank you sir for serving our country.

Five members of Cathy Hammack’s family are serving in Iraq. Her husband, two sons, brother-in-law and son-in-law all are serving with the 111th Engineer Brigade. They are Sgt. Maj. Keith Hammack, husband (second from right); Capt. Keith Hammack, Jr. , son (second from left); Spc. Casey Hammack, son (top); Sgt. Roy Hammack, brother-in-law(right), and Sgt. Casey Phalen, son-in-law (left).

FRG Coordinator Has Five Family Members Deployed
US Army News
BY Staff Sgt. Jim Greenhill
This West Virginia National Guard family readiness assistant ought to know a thing or two about her job: five members of Cathy Hammack’s family are serving in Iraq.
Her husband, two sons, brother-in-law and son-in-law all are serving with the 111th Engineer Brigade. That’s Sgt. Maj. Keith Hammack, husband; Capt. Keith Hammack, Jr., son; Spc. Casey Hammack, son; Sgt. Roy Hammack, brother-in-law, and Sgt. Casey Phalen, son-in-law.

“Working with family programs helps me,” Mrs. Hammack said. “It’s the only thing that keeps me sane. I have a good support network with my real family, my military family and my work family.”

She assists Family Readiness Group leaders across the state of West Virginia.

You could say military service is a Hammack family value, but Cathy Hammack also says the family has reaped rewards. “The three oldest are benefiting from that Guard [college] tuition,” she said.

She married into the National Guard when she was 17. “It’s always been a part of my life, my whole married life,” she said. “I’ve been married three-quarters of my life, so it’s always been there.”

The multiple deployments weren’t an accident. Some of the family volunteered when they heard others were going. “If I want to go, I want to go with dad,” Spc. Hammack told his mother. “I’m going to have to go eventually.”

The Hammacks use e-mail and Webcams to stay in touch. “The Webcam’s nice,” Cathy Hammack said. “You can see their faces, and you can see their rooms – and the five boxes of stuff that I sent them that are still unopened.”

Her daughter, Christina Phalen, isn’t deployed – but she hasn’t broken the family tradition. She’s a full-time staff sergeant in the Air National Guard.
Military service is a long-standing Hammack tradition. Sgt. Maj. Hammack’s father was in the Air Force and National Guard; Cathy Hammack’s father was in the Air Force.

“I’m really proud of all of them,” she said. “We’re just patriotic people. You’ve got to have a love of country in order to go through this many deployments. I couldn’t do this without the support of my military family and my regular family. I couldn’t do it without this great support network.”

Wild Thing’s comment……..
A big thank you to Cathy Hammack and her family.

LAKEWOOD, Wash.
At first she couldn’t get the furniture she paid for, but now, thanks to a call to the Problem Solvers, she has a living room full of new furniture and even more.
KOMO 4 News was there as a local military wife got a welcome home surprise for her soldier husband who’s on leave from Iraq. It’s the perfect surprise for his aching back.
Friday was delivery day at Alycia Anderson’s home. A big mattress and box spring arrived. And the best part — it was free. Anderson greeted the delivery with a huge smile.
But just two weeks ago, she wasn’t smiling. New living room furniture she had ordered from Home USA Warehouse to surprise her husband never arrived. When she asked for a refund, the company wrote her a check, but that check bounced.
Anderson called the KOMO 4 Problem Solvers. The company wrote her a new check, which cleared the same day. Home USA Warehouse insisted it was an honest mistake.
But Anderson had had enough. She took her business across the street to Mor Furniture, and her new living room furniture got delivered the next day. But that’s not all she got.
Mor Furniture, who advertises on KOMO 4, wanted to do something nice for Anderson, so the company contacted the Problem Solvers and offered to buy her and her husband a new bed. The company knew Alycia was getting the furniture to surprise her husband Stephen who’s on leave from Stryker duty.

“I definitely thank them for that,” said Stephen. “It’s going to be much better on my back, I’ll tell you that.”

Wild Thing’s comment……..
How wonderful it would be if more people would do things like this for our military. Every once and awhile we hear of this kind of thing and it is so great.

Where’s The Fence? National TV Ad

The President’s “comprehensive” immigration bill has failed, and now it’s time for grassroots Americans to demand President Bush, Homeland Security and Congress make good on their promise, and build the 843 miles of double layer fencing to secure our border!
To date, only 14 miles of fencing has been built in Arizona—and that fence is single layered—not the double layered that was initially promised.
This is unacceptable, and Grassfire is taking the government to task—asking “Where’s The Fence?” We’ve been promised a fence, and Grassfire is holding leadership accountable demanding they make good on their promise to build a border fence and gain operational control of our borders.
If you’re asking “Where’s The Fence?” take a moment to sign our national petition, and then alert your friends. It’s up to grassroots Americans to see to it that the promised fence is built!
Step #1 — Sign the Petition: Demand that the President and Congress uphold our constitution and defend our country by building the fence. SIGN OUR PETITION, and then rally your friends. Help us reach ONE MILLION PETITION SIGNERS this month!
The Petition
To: President George W. Bush, Honorable Members of Congress.
As a concerned citizen, I am deeply concerned about the safety and security of our nation. I believe illegal immigration poses a dire national security crisis of the highest order and a long-term threat to the American way of life. Mr. President, to win the war on terror, it is essential that the border fence—the one authorized by Congress and promised to the American people be built. I am also urging Congress to responsibly address what has become an illegal alien crisis by considering other key issues as well. I am calling on Congress and the President to:
#1 — Secure our borders. As first priority, America must stop the flow of illegal immigration by investing all necessary resources in securing our borders. Also, existing immigration laws must be enforced as an essential component of our Homeland Security.
#2 — No Amnesty. I oppose any form of amnesty for illegal aliens, including the “temporary worker” proposal or any proposals that grant legal residency status or citizenship to illegal aliens.
And:
Build The Fence. As first priority, America must stop the flow of illegal immigration by investing all necessary resources in securing our borders. The 843 miles of double-layered fencing authorized by Congress and promised to the American people is the backbone of any plan to gain control of our border and the illegal immigration crisis threatening our land.
Aggressive deportation. Immediate investment in aggressive effort to deport the 12 million illegal immigrants currently within our borders – if you’re caught, you are sent back.
No benefits. Erect a wall of separation between illegal aliens (and their children) and tax-dollar paid benefits reserved for U.S. citizens and legal aliens. I support H.R. 418 that prohibits illegal aliens from being issued drivers licenses and prevents terrorists from abusing the asylum laws of the United States.
No work. Stricter punishment of U.S. businesses that knowingly employ illegal aliens. Establish national database of legal immigrants to assist both public and private sectors in this effort.
English first. Legislation that establishes English as the required and preeminent language throughout the United States. Public and private sectors cannot be required to provide services in alternative languages.
No Birthright Citizenship. Illegals flood to the U.S. simply to have babies—which are then granted citizenship. Changing the current law is certain to curtail the illegal traffic.

The AFC and NFC South divisions have crucial clashes: The Jags visit the Colts and the Bucs invade the Saints.
Patriots undefeated 11-0 and the Cowboys No.2 with 11-1

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Philadelphia Eagles cheerleaders

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Here are the matchups for Week of Sunday, December 1st Time (EST)
DET @ MIN 1:00 PM
SEA @ PHI 1:00 PM
SD @ KC 1:00 PM
NYJ @ MIA 1:00 PM
JAC @ IND 1:00 PM
SF @ CAR 1:00 PM
HOU @ TEN 1:00 PM
ATL @ STL 1:00 PM
BUF @ WAS 1:00 PM
CLE @ ARI 4:05 PM
DEN @ OAK 4:05 PM
NYG @ CHI 4:15 PM
TB @ NO 4:15 PM
CIN @ PIT 8:15 PM
Monday, December 03 Time (EST)
NE @ BAL 8:30 PM
Byes: None
Thursday Dec. 6th Time ( EST)
CHI @ WAS 8:00 PM

These are the teams I think everyone is for. I will add to this as you tell me your favorite teams.
(Some names are those deployed in Iraq)
Lynn – Broncos, Bears, Browns
Tom – Cowboys, Broncos
Darth – New York Giants, Tampa Bay Bucs, (ABP – ‘anybody’ but Philly )
Mark – Patriots, Buffalo Bills, Bears
Bob – Buffalo Bills
Billy – Jets, NY Giants, Bears
Nick – Cowboys, Rams and Raiders
Karsten – Tampa Bay Bucs, NY Giants
navycopjoe – Chicago Bears
LindaSOG – Miami Dolphins
Jonathan – Raiders
Dawn – Seahawks, Bronco’s ….(husband USARMY delpoyed, Iraq)
Amber – Green Bay Packers …..(husband USMC delpoyed Iraq)
Cuchieddie – Raiders
Sierrahome – Colts
patrickdaniel – Chargers, Cowboys
Eve – Colts ….(husband USARMY deployed Iraq)
Beth – Bears , Saints
Chief – Seahwaks
Chrissie – Bears, Broncos and Cowboys
Deployed:
Andy ( USMC) – Colts
Mike ( USARMY) – Seattle Seahawks
Sand Man ( (USMC) – Bronco’s
Dave (USARMY) – Patriots
Tim ( USMC) – Bears
Jean ( USARMY) – Atlanta Falcons
Greg (USARMY) – Eagles
Max ( USARMY- Cowboys
Pete ( USMC) – Bronco’s
Steve – (USAF) – Bronco’s
Tony – (USARMY) – Redskins

Sunday FINAL Scores
SF 14 @ CAR 31 FINAL
JAC 25 @ IND 28 FINAL
BUF 17 @ WAS 16 FINAL
HOU 20 @ TEN 28 FINAL
ATL 16 @ STL 28 FINAL
SEA 28 @ PHI 24 FINAL
DET 10 @ MIN 42 FINAL
SD 24 @ KC 10 FINAL
NYJ 40 @ MIA 13 FINAL
CLE 21 @ ARI 27 FINAL
DEN 20 @ OAK 34 FINAL
TB 27 @ NO 23 FINAL
NYG 21 @ CHI 16 FINAL
CIN 10 @ PIT 24 FINAL

Republicans Report Much Better Mental Health Than Others
Republicans are significantly more likely than Democrats or independents to rate their mental health as excellent, according to data from the last four November Gallup Health and Healthcare polls.

Fifty-eight percent of Republicans report having excellent mental health, compared to 43% of independents and 38% of Democrats. This relationship between party identification and reports of excellent mental health persists even within categories of income, age, gender, church attendance, and education.
The differences are quite significant, as can be seen. While Democrats are slightly less likely to report excellent mental health than are independents, the big distinctions in these data are the differences between Republicans and everyone else.
One could be quick to assume that these differences are based on the underlying demographic and socioeconomic patterns related to party identification in America today. A recent Gallup report (see “Strong Relationship Between Income and Mental Health” in Related Items) reviewed these mental health data more generally, and found that men, those with higher incomes, those with higher education levels, and whites are more likely than others to report excellent mental health. Some of these patterns describe characteristics of Republicans, of course.

Wild Thing’s comment……..
Republicans are happy. Democrats wallow in misery. Conservatives enjoy life. Liberals are perpetually angry.
I have never been to the DU website/forum, but someone told me once that over at DU, they actually have an entire “Mental Health Support Group” forum dedicted to mental illnesses among their members. It’s one of their bigger forums. I guess all that hate takes it toll on a person. hahahahaha
Thus, Ann Coulter’s book title “If Democrats had brains they would be Republicans” is a pure scientific truth. heh heh
This is why:
“…for example, how it is that the left can turn a quintessential patriot such as General Petraeus into a traitor, while transforming their own treasonous beliefs into patriotism.
This is nothing new. The left does the same thing with criminals. It makes no sense to a psychologically healthy person, but to an unhealthy person, liberal victimhood is psychologically empowering, because at least it allows the self-proclaimed victim to externalize their subjugation while secretly being responsible for it.
A leftist can be a typical loser whose failure is entirely self-generated. But proclaiming yourself victim means never having to recognize that painful truth.
Does anyone have a doubt that this would be repeated all over CNN and MSNBC if it was the other way around?
“There is no peace for the wicked,’ says the Lord.”….Isaiah 48:22>>>>>

The New Observerhttp://www.newsobserver.com/politics/politicians/edwards/story/802632.html …for complete article….Below are just snipets
GRUNDY CENTER, IOWA – For many Democrats, the 1990s, when Bill and Hillary Rodham Clinton were in the White House, were the good old days.
The economy was booming before the dot-com meltdown. The Berlin Wall had fallen, and the Twin Towers were still standing. The country was more or less at peace.

“I loved them,” said Richard Hubble, a 54-year old retired career military man, at a political rally in Grundy Center. He is supporting Sen. Hillary Clinton for president. “There wasn’t any federal deficit. They were great years.”

“I just want to get back to fiscal responsibility,” Clinton told a crowd in a school in rural Vinton. “It took one Clinton to clean up after the first Bush. It will probably take another.”

The Democrats are renewing an old debate as they seek to recapture the White House after seven years out of power.

Wild Thing’s comment……..
People are nuts to want the Clinton’s back in the White House. It is amazing how they suffer from short term memory loss when it comes to their evil democrat power abusing couple.
For many Democrats, the 1990s, when Bill and Hillary Rodham Clinton were in the White House, were the good old days. I don’t think so!
1993 First World Trade Center bombing, February 26th
1994 Air France Hijacking, Dec 24,1994
1995 Attack on US Diplomats in Pakistan, Mar 8,1995
1995 Military Installation Attack, Nov 13, 1995
1995 Kashmiri Hostage taking, July 4,1995
1996 Khobar Towers attack
1996 Sudanese Missionarys Kidnapping, Aug 17,1996
1996 Paris Subway Explosion, Dec 3,1996
1997 Israeli Shopping Mall Bombing, Sept 4, 1997
1997 Yemeni Kidnappings, Oct 30,1997
1998 Somali Hostage taking crisis, April 15,1998
1998 U.S. Embassy Bombing in Peru, Jan 15, 1998
1998 U.S. Kenya Embassy blown up, 100’s murdered
1998 U.S. Tanzania Embassy blown up, 100’s murdered
1999 Plot to blow up Space Needle (thwarted)
2000 USS Cole attacked, many U.S. Navy sailors murdered