James Raymond Reese

Those of you who know me well know that I'm looking for more land in Texas. It just seems like a good time to take advantage of the low real estate prices.

Whenever I ask about the availability of mortgage money, I get the same few answers everywhere across the state. "The banks aren't lending." "Private investors aren't interested in real estate right now." "There's just no money out there." Over and over and over I heard the same things until a mortgage broker in Dallas told me the real story.` It is very true that no one is investing in mortgages...and for good reason.

It seems that Obama decided that mortgage investors are making to much money so he ordered a maximum percentage they could take of any deal.

That sounds good to the ignorant.

What really happened is the percentage he allows them to take isn't enough to cover the fixed costs associated with small mortgages. So they just won't even look at them.

So, now, when you find a great deal like the $175,000 house you can pick up for $60,000 in a short sale, you'd better have cash in your pocket because you're not going to get a mortgage.

Just another lesson in how to destroy the economy.

And now you know whom to thank.

As the Obama administration sets its sights on overweight Americans, demanding obesity ratings for all citizens by 2014, the White House has just promoted Obama's personal cook to a senior advisory position.

Sam Kass, a 20-something Chicago chef who had the title "Food Initiative Coordinator," reportedly was upgraded last month to "Senior Policy Adviser for Health Food Initiatives."

This all happens as the Health and Human Services announced this week that, under the stimulus law, health care providers must establish "meaningful use" of electronic health records to qualify for federal subsidies or risk seeing their Medicare and Medicaid payments slashed. The electronic health records must include Americans' body mass index, or BMI, height and weight.

So, now your doctor won't get paid unless you lose weight? I'll bet you didn't know this was in that so-called "stimulus" package.

People, you need to fear what is happening.

Link: http://bit.ly/anolxO

Some years ago, I came in contact with the results of a study showing that a fluctuation of certain hormones at a certain period during pregnancy would produce a homosexual child, if that child was male.

Armed with this peculiar piece of information, scientists set off to see if the same results could be repeated. It could. But only with male babies.

A little later, about 20 years ago, a scientist named LeVay discovered from autopsies on gay men that a certain small clump of neurons was only half the size of that in non-gay men. This particular neuron clump (of the anterior hypothalamus, for those of you who care) was already believed to control sexual behavior and was known to be linked to prenatal hormones.

In 2000, it was discovered that sexual orientation can often be outwardly assessed by noting the relative length of the fingers. This is a physical trait also controlled by pre-natal hormones.

Now, there are some amazing things coming from a study in Europe (Royal Netherlands Academy) adding to the knowledge that hormones are deeply involved in homosexuality.

It turns out that a child's sexual organs are determined by relatives hormone levels at a specific period of pregnancy. The blockbuster piece of information is that the sexual orientation of the brain, which is also determined by hormonal levels, OCCURS AT A TIME AFTER THE DETERMINATION OF THE SEXUAL ORGANS.

If the hormone levels are sufficiently different at the two times of determination, a child can easily have male organs with a "female" brain.

It also appears to be much easier to create male homosexuality than female. At this point in our knowledge it seems that androgen levels are important in female homosexuality.

And, we have learned, it is possible for a woman to increase her chances of delivering a lesbian baby by smoking and/or ingesting methamphetamines during pregnancy.

Link: http://www.hua.org

We flew into Des Moines on Friday, rented a car and drove to Auburn. It was an uneventful 3-hour ride across mid-America.

There was one major change in the view of the landscape from I-80 since we traveled that road across Iowa a year ago. Hundreds and hundreds of beautiful, new windmills. A bit smaller than those I've seen in California but still huge by any definition.

We arrived in Auburn a little before 4 pm. That allowed some time for visiting before heading for dinner at Wheeler Inn. (Tip: Good food if you ever have reason to be in Auburn, Nebraska.)

After a good night's sleep we awakened to partake of the reason for the trip in the first place: spend some time with the rescued puppy-mill dogs at a shelter named Hearts United for Animals, known to all of its friends simply as HUA.

That was the very same Saturday morning I met Kid Rock.

Ah, but I am getting ahead of myself. First, let's back up a bit.

Several weeks prior to our arrival in Auburn, a man and his son pulled into the shelter's small parking area in their pickup truck. They had a small puppy with them. It seems the little fellow had been thrown from a speeding car in rural Nebraska the night before and the son saw the dog in a ditch. They wanted to know if HUA could, maybe, help the little guy.

If you know the people at HUA at all, you know the response was an immediate "yes."

They had no idea what was ahead.

They spent a few minutes with the puppy and noticed that his breathing was raspy and labored. He could take some water and small bits of wet food but was obviously in great pain. They soon realized that the little guy needed some serious vet care and a few minutes later were on an hour-plus drive to an emergency vet clinic in Omaha.

What they found was a traumatized eye, broken ribs and a jaw badly crushed in a place that rendered surgery to be not an option. All they could do was tape up the muzzle and hope the jaw healed itself.

Through the pain of it all the puppy tried to show his happiness. His tail would wag on the approach of people. At least as well as it could with broken ribs. He obviously didn't connect our species with his hard landing in a rural Nebraska ditch.

When I first saw the puppy, he was happy, running and jumping and wagging his tail at humans like they were his best friends. The only remaining signs of his ordeal were several 1- and 2-inch scars on his head, face and neck.

He is absolutely a charmer and should have no problem being adopted by a loving family.

Oh, I guess I had better get back to Kid Rock.

The volunteers at HUA started calling the puppy Kid Rock on the ride to Omaha when he showed signed of actually enjoying a song playing on the radio. Go figure.

And that's how I met Kid Rock in Auburn, Nebraska.

If you've made it this far in the story, please click on the link above. There is a picture of Kid Rock on the front page. At least there is as of the date of this posting.

If you have a few minutes more, please take a look at some of the other stories.

Thanks.

The latest pronouncement from our (insert-your-own-term-here)-in-chief is that he wants to know more about the continued construction on the West Bank.

I'd like to know just what business this is of his. This is ISRAELI territory now. Period. He just doesn't get it. Come to think of it, he doesn't get much.

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Dear Numb Nuts:

Here's all you need to know. Israel won this territory in a war. A war, by the way, that was started by the losers.

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Pundits on the left, and their water-carrying journalists, all around the world call this land "Israeli occupied." Let's put this in a more realistic light:

Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California and parts of other places were once Mexican territory. By Obama's tortured reasoning (and that of the rest of the Marx' "useful fools"), Phoenix is U.S. occupied land. The simple building of a post office or federal office building in any of that part of the country could be called into question by any other arrogant third-party without standing.

Does Obama think this land should be handed back to Mexico?

In fact, the original thirteen colonies won their independence via a war. Is this "occupied territory" that needs to be returned to Britain?

Does Puerto Rico have to go back to Spain, et cetera?

But, wait! All American territory, acquired by whatever means, from any European nation is of questionable parentage. By Obama's reasoning, isn't the U.S. guilty of receiving stolen property?

This is stupid. Just stupid.

And, as one comedian is famous for saying, "You can't fix stupid."

To that I would add, "But you can vote them out of office."

November is coming.

Link: http://www.vimeo.com/9131842

Louis Armstrong once recorded a song titled "Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans." Unless you have lived there, and please trust me with this, you cannot even remotely conceive how this city tugs at your very heart and soul.

New Orleans is a city completely without pretense. What you see is what you get. There is none of the haughtiness of the northeast, none of the overly-reserved character of the mid-west, none of the absurd political correctness that is being shoved down the rest of the country's collective throat.

If you have a friend there, he is a friend who will die for you. If you love food, this city is your Mecca. If you allow yourself to absorb the culture, you will realize just how boring the rest of the continent is.

Hurricane Katrina cut this town off at the knees a few years ago. For a long time I was convinced that New Orleans, as I knew it, would never come back.

The last of my many visits was in August and I was surprised at the differences from just a few months earlier. Something in New Orleans had awakened. There were people in the streets again. And they were smiling. Stores and shops were opening back up. Help Wanted signs were everywhere. There was construction going on all over Orleans and the neighboring parishes. The heart of the city I love so much was beating again.

And then a friend passed along a link to a short video. More than anything else I have seen since Katrina, this video shows me that even the horrific forces of Mother Nature have not be able to destroy New Orleans' joie de vivre.

Before clicking on the link to the video, please read the explanation below:

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This is for those of you who don't know the story.

Buddy D was a local sportswriter/broadcaster/radio personality in the New Orleans area for years and, when the Saints went 5-0 in 1993, everyone was calling in to his show saying the Saints were going to the Superbowl.

Buddy said he would wear a dress and parade down Bourbon if they made it and, since he was so-o-o big, he would need a tent maker to make his dress (this is where Abdul D Tentmakur came from).

Well, after Buddy passed away, Bobby Hebert decided to keep the promise and it came to pass that we MADE IT!

So, WWL plans this Buddy D/Bobby Broads Dress Parade and expected about 500-1000 guys to dress up with Bobby and the crew to parade from the Superdome to Bourbon Street. And much like EVERYTHING they do in New Orleans, they did it to excess!

There were over 5000 men (and a LOT of young boys) dressed, and over EIGHTY THOUSAND folks that came out to watch. It was a sight to behold.

Now that you know the background of what you're about to watch, click on the link and Laissez les Bon Temps Rouler!

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(I know. I know. If you speak the 'real" French, the phrase in the last sentence above is sending you up the wall. We all know that no Frenchman would utter that phrase. We know that "bon" should be "bons" but it isn't. No particular reason for that, it just is. Centuries ago, somebody took an English phrase and transliterated into Cajun French. Well, sort of. Just accept that the phrase IS New Orleans, click on the lick and enjoy!

Miami, FL – U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio issued the following statement regarding Monday night’s Pinellas County Republican Executive Committee straw poll victory (106-54):

“I continue to be humbled by the outpouring of support for our campaign. Pinellas County Republicans joined a growing chorus of Floridians voicing their support for our vision built on the timeless conservative principles of limited government, traditional values, free enterprise and individual freedom.

“Like Republicans all over this state who have stepped forward to stand with us, Pinellas Republicans understand that the way to rebuild a united, strong and expanding Republican Party is to stay true to the mainstream values all Republicans and most Americans share. Tonight’s vote reaffirms what I believe to my core: principled conservatism doesn’t just win elections, it provides a proven and successful path for governing and policy-making.”

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Marco's comments are much more restrained than mine. It looks like another RINO is going to bite the dust.

Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law were told by Prime Minister John Howard to get out of Australia as the government targeted radicals in a bid to head off potential terror attacks.

Separately, Howard angered some Australian Muslims by saying he supported spy agencies monitoring the nation's mosques. Quote: 'IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT. Take It Or Leave It. I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Bali, we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Australians.'

'This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom'

'We speak mainly ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society . Learn the language!'

'Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, right wing, political push, but a fact, because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture.'

'We will accept your beliefs, and will not question why. All we ask is that you accept ours, and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us.'

'This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs, or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great Australian freedom,

'THE RIGHT TO LEAVE'.'

'If you aren't happy here then LEAVE. We didn't force you to come here. You asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted.'

Link: http://bit.ly/5wOS4i

Polling results released over the weekend by Rasmussen show a declining number of Americans who feel good about the long-term effects of the so-called "stimulus" plan. And the slide in support, for the first time, indicates more people feel the "stimulus" plan is hurting the economy more than helping it.

The percentage who believe the "stimulus" plan has hurt the economy stood at 28% in September, went to 31% in October, climbed to 34% in November, before jumping to 38% this month.

Only 30% now say all of that spending has helped any at all.

Click on the link above to go to Rasmussen Reports.

Link: http://bit.ly/6imCMo

Can you actually believe this statement came from a far left professor regarding Obamacare? "I mean, if Democrats were searching for legislation less likely to win them votes, why didn’t they just bring back slavery...?"

That statements came in a scathing article titled "Now I'm Really Getting Pissed Off" by leftie Hofstra University Professor David Green.

It is being spread around the country by the National Black Republican Association.

I have left attached to both the commentary and it's preface the contact links in case you'd like to get in touch with either party.

Click on the link above to acquire a whole new definition of the word "scathing."

Wow!!!

Santa Claus is making steady progress and appears to be on track for a late-night arrival in the United States.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, has tracked Santa's progress every Christmas Eve since 1955. 2009 is no different. By this morning, New York time, the Colorado military installation showed Santa having visited parts of Asia and Australia and moving westward.

As I write this, Santa is in Mina Jabal Ali, United Arab Emirates. His next stop will be Sur, Oman.

NORAD usually monitors threats against the United States and Canada, but turns its radars on Santa each Christmas Eve to follow his trip around the world.

NORAD's tradition started quite accidentally 54 years ago when Sears, Roebuck and Co. ran a newspaper ad telling kids to dial a certain phone number if they wanted to talk to Santa.

Only one problem. The number printed was one digit off and the kids were calling NORAD's predecessor organization during the height of the cold war.

The very first Santa Tracking occurred that day when a military colonel told an eager child on the phone Santa hadn't arrived yet but he would check the radar units to see where Santa and his sleigh were.

A very big tip of Big Jim's red and green Christmas hat to the fellows in Colorado Springs who have kept this tradition alive for so long.

Checkout www.noradsanta.org

Link: http://bit.ly/6zyQHR

If you ever questioned if that dangerous clown in the White House is a communist, this should settle it for you. That inappropriate bastard actually has a tree ornament featuring a picture of Chairman Mao on the White House Christmas tree.

Click on the link about to see a picture of the ornament.

How much longer are we going to put up with this un-American, totalitarian asshole before someone gets smart and charges him with treason. He took an oath to protect and uphold the Constitution. Instead, he and his whack job lefties are tearing it apart, article by article.

Merry Christmas, America. How's this change working out for you?

Link: http://bit.ly/6hBGik

Many of us have been too busy with our normal lives to comment on the bizarre events in Copenhagen this week. But just look at it: Thousands of demonstrators gathered in the freezing cold to protest that it’s too hot. How bizarre is that?

The UN and the EU, originally conceived to represent a spirit of fairness, openly demonstrating that in reality they are the most one-sided and corrupt of the lot; Politicians from all sides competing to see who can have the most devastating effect on the world by pledging to give their people’s money away and voluntarily run down their own economies; and the world’s media whipping up the greatest propaganda froth we have ever known based on a scrap of unproven scientific theory which has been seen to be backed up by systematically, deliberately, massaged data.

In other words a complete crock. What a totally bizarre story.

Gerald Warner has a great column in the Telegraph (London) about what has happened this week in Copenhagen. (I wonder if Shakespeare was foreseeing this when he made his "rotten in Denmark" comment.)

Click on the link to read it. Typically great British humor and vision.

Link: http://bit.ly/6NlvNY

Democratic congressmen from what have become known as "purple" districts are beginning to make their retirement announcements. At least four have already said publicly they are not interested in running for re-election next November in the face of the hostility of American voters toward government increasing on a daily basis.

Republicans will need to pick up 41 seats in the lower chamber in November to take control of the House. That's fewer than the Republican increase which gave them the House in 1994.

Click on the link above for an excellent column from Michael Barone.