Scattershooting Again / Two Points Of Climate Change

My goodness, is it time to do some scattershooting again?? Well, for me, I believe it is, so if you've got the marshmallows, we'll start our own computer campfire and I'll supply the coat hangers. And somebody bring a water hose to spray profusely around the campfire area..........

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That's because my state still has burn bans going on, particularly in West Texas. High fire dangers still loom large, especially if the weather forecast involves much wind and low humidity. Other parts of my state are not really out of the woods yet, despite some decent rains in Dallas-Fort Worth not too long ago. It will take a major rain event to put this stuff out, but even if the almanac said we'd have a rainier month than normal, that may not be enough. Makes you want to do an Indian rain dance. I'd be crazy to do just that if that is what it takes to bring significant amounts of needed precipitation to the state of Texas. Summer does not look to be record-breaking, but the heat will still be on. Before that happens, it's time for more than a few more raindrops. As I've shared previously, Possum Kingdom and Wichita Falls have had their share of wildfire damage and I pity each family as all of them try to rebuild from the craziness of these fires.

Mother Nature ought to just go crazy, don't you think?

This is only Part One. I'll share Part Two shortly.

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I've got a link to a search involving Hollywood folks who have dealt with mental illness. You might be amazed. Search: Stars who

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Need some help with growing things organic?? Here are some tips just for you green thumbs out there.

Organic Fruit Trees - The Helpful Gardener

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Speaking of little rain, the dryness hasn't exactly helped with bluebonnet blossoms this year in Texas. So, if you're looking for places to take pictures with your significant other or your kids, you might have to look a little further. They aren't as abundant everywhere as they normally are.

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For all you burger aficionados (and yes, I am one of them), California-based In-N-Out Burger is opening their first two Texas locations this week, in the Dallas suburbs of Frisco and Allen. In other restaurant tidbits, Del Taco and Carl's Jr are both re-entering Texas and will aggressively expand. To be fair, Carl's Jr already had locations around the Wichita Falls area for years and are still there, so locally, they've had some success.

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Here, now, is Part Two. I'll preface by saying that it's been my mantra when I began my blog about three years ago that I would speak what is on my mind. I've purposefully tried to avoid controversial topics even though you'd think this place would be perfect for such. Well, as you know by now, I've been here to mostly make friends, not enemies. I'm your good neighbor. But sometimes when we speak our minds, there will always be an opinion so strong that it will ruffle the feathers of some. Since my subject for this Scattershooting is climate change, I've hit on one aspect. Here I go with the next one. I'll try to keep it short and sweet as best I can, but definitely to the point.

America has always been a great country. For 235 years, this nation has enjoyed the benefits of freedom as set forth by our founding fathers. If only they could see what is happening now. The United States, as we all know it, are in great trouble. Two and a half years ago, we elected a President that many thought would be a "savior" or a "Messiah". Hope and change was this guy's theme. In the years that followed, we've had unneeded change and have very little hope. Debt is through the ceiling as never before, as Democrats have done nothing but carelessly spend on things not needed rather than prioritize what truly is, and it take will more than eight years to fix once a Republican gets put back in. President Barack Hussein Obama offers a reflection worse than what even some within his own party possess. He's a Socialist with a hidden agenda to destroy America, and he's clearly been on a mission. How does anyone in their right mind elect someone who apologizes for this country's success and wealth? Or one who does not salute the American flag? Or one who will not honor the U.S. Constitution? We've seen exactly what can happen when people vote Democrat. Lies, cheating, and covering up just to get what you want. That's not the American way, but they've certainly been the Democrats' way, and that won't be the thing that helps solve anything. This president has done more to help other countries and not help his own. And the Dems are loving it!

Even worse, a Democrat-controlled Congress showed us why they really don't care about Americans: They didn't put together the budget for 2011 last year when they were supposed to. Congress is constitutionally bound and obligated to put a budget for the next fiscal year together every year. The reason the Democrats didn't? Posturing. They just wanted to play politics with an election on the horizon. The angry, tax-and-spend left wants to do just that: tax and spend until there is nothing left in the pot. The media certainly hasn't helped, as I've seen more left-wing bias in the news reporting than this writer has ever seen.

Enough with the games. In 2010, Americans came to their senses and voted Republicans back into Congress, although they only got the House straightened out. Not enough seats went to the Senate, so we're waiting for 2014 for sure, though a third of the seats will be voted on in 2012. Even before that is to take place, Republicans and Independents need to start bonding together as never before. Now is the time to get our country back and get it on the right track once and for all. If we drop the ball, then we're doomed. 2012 will be the important presidential year to date, and Barry Obama must be voted out. He's easily the worst president I've ever seen and the worst in the history of America. Republicans will need to get busy, and fast. I know that there will be much discussion about the candidates and the quality of those candidates, but it's important that someone stand up and say that enough's enough. Let's vote out the Dems, as they hate America, the Constitution, and prosperity. We don't need to become another Europe. We don't need our lives run by the government. We don't need to all become poor. There's too little space and way too much to deal with right here and we can't be here all day. What must we do? Repeal and revise the health care plan and lower the deficit. Drill for oil here (Remember how gas prices are through the roof??) and create more real jobs, not unneeded government jobs that will serve zero purpose. And bring integrity back to the White House, something which Barry knows nothing about.

Folks, let's work together to bring back America and we can once again become the number one world power. Let's act now before the angry, tax-and-spend left takes every freedom we have away from us.

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Good news if you folks have an Apple computer. Apple Tops Google to Become World's Most Valuable Brand - DailyFinance

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I've got an update for you that I haven't shared on this blog, and that's a follow-up to last year's body scan results (which were good). Your blogger-in-residence will be getting another one this Friday, but not before I receive more nuclear iodine two days prior. What's important here is that no new cancer cells would form in places they previously have. Let's have a good report! The worst part, of course, is this diet I'm on for two weeks. I'm craving steak, hamburgers, meat loaf, cheese enchiladas, biscuits, and cream gravy. Guess what? It'll all have to wait until this coming Friday afternoon (May 13, at this writing). Holy cow. Friday the 13th??!! Well, actually, my luck's been pretty good on that day the last few times out.

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It was thought that Detroit righthanded pitcher Justin Verlander was on a slide. A recent outing, I think, has sought to dispel such an idea. Alden Gonzalez: Justin Verlander not a fluke | MLB.com: News

By the way, we've had two no-hitters in the past week, both in the American League.

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And now, it's time once again for our Word Of The Day. Today's word is refresh. Every now and then, I like to refresh with a cool glass of iced tea or lemonade. When you do things on City-Data, you often use the refresh icon to look at changes to your forum list in case new posters have posted. If I don't finish this column real soon, I'll fail to refresh myself with needed sleep!

And there you are.