And the wolf laughed sneeringly ... - by TPO

And the wolf laughed sneeringly ...
by TPO
~~~~~~~ *** ~~~~~~~

Michael J. "Mike" Rogers is the U.S. Representative for Michigan's 8th congressional district, serving since 2001. He is a member of the Republican Party and Chairman of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

The Michigan Republican and former FBI agent is running the hearings charged with reviewing the National Security Agency's mass-surveillance programs. Rogers reportedly plans to introduce legislation that would keep those surveillance programs largely intact, while adding a little more transparency. It can safely be surmised that his heart will not be too much in it as far as the transparency part goes.

At a recent hearing, the House Intelligence Chair declared: "You can't have your privacy violated if you don't know your privacy is violated."

In other words, NSA's rampant spying doesn't violate your privacy unless you find out about it! And that's that.

Funeral? ... again?! - by Hénock Gügsa

What Now? Funeral? ... again?

by Hénock Gügsa

~~~~~~~ *** ~~~~~~~

Today, November 1st, 2013.

It is a gorgeous Fall day in the Twin Cities.  Sunny, 54-degrees warm, and harmony and joy everywhere!

I've been out and about taking care of a few things like buying my to-go ethnic (Ethiopian) lunch, and getting gas for my car.

Driving home, I happen to be following one of those omnipresent delivery trucks - this one belonged to a local furniture store called Dock 86. I was, as usual, in my normal state of trance when I read the store's logo and catchy slogan.  It said: "Dock 86 - Never pay full price for furniture again!"

I was befuddled, I could not believe what I read! My old eyes were telling me outrageous, shocking lies again. My brain had just registered: Never pay full price for funeral again!

Of-course, an immediate double-take corrected the near-discombobulation, and I have since recovered my composure.  Imagine the thought of your own repeated final trips to the funeral home!  God forbid!