Online story: "Don Rickles told a racial joke Thursday night at the American Film Institute’s tribute to Shirley MacLaine that may have been more appropriate half a century ago at the Friar's Club. This time, though, the object of Rickles' mockery wasn't Sammy Davis Jr. -- but the first African-American President of the United States. * "I shouldn’t make fun of the blacks," Rickles, 86, said according to The Hollywood Reporter. "President Obama is a personal friend of mine. He was over to the house yesterday, but the mop broke." -- Hmmmm, even in Hollywood, the elite are turning on each other, even on political correctness...don't you love it! Of course the real story here is that if Kanye West said the same thing, the laughs would have been louder, and the media would be silent. --- Online headline: "Prosecutors to Investigate White House Leaks" -- About time.. the stench has gotten worse. Online headline: "Neutrino Subatomic Particles Don't Travel Faster Than Light--Einstein Was Right, Physicists Say" -- God is right, too, but the mainstream media will always question that. --- Online quote source: "All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them." - Walt Disney " -- Updating this for today's world, we must add, "and the government leaves us alone." --- From L-E story: "Tasers fire prongs that pierce clothing and skin to deliver an electrical charge that immobilizes a person through “neuromuscular incapacitation.” But law enforcement officials say the device often is an effective deterrent as soon as it’s unholstered. * “Most people that are confronted with the possibility of having the Taser deployed on them generally don’t want any part of it,” Collins said. “But given the jail environment, there are several issues that make deploying a Taser in a jail problematic. " -- Hmmm, " the device often is an effective deterrent as soon as it’s unholstered. * “Most people that are confronted with the possibility of having the Taser deployed on them generally don’t want any part of it". Looks like another good argument for revamping the death sentence appeals quagmire so carrying out the 'death sentence' in a speedy way can be fully utilized as a deterrent for future criminals. We win! --- The Wisconsin vote was very revealing. The fact that over 40 % voted against Scott Walker's union reforms just demonstrates how too many are now so dependent on government jobs, and how dangerously close they are to being 50+% of us. --- L-E headline: "Karzai: U.S. failed to consult on airstrike " Well,Karzai, let this be a reminder that we won't be telling/warning you should your name pop up on the 'next list'. --- John Darr has my support! --- L-E story: "DENVER — The nation’s rapidly growing Latino population is one of the most powerful forces working in President Barack Obama’s favor in many of the states that will determine his contest with Mitt Romney. But Latinos are not registering or voting in numbers that fully reflect their potential strength, leaving Hispanic leaders frustrated and Democrats worried as they increase efforts to rally Latino support. " -- The 'rapidly growing" part of Latino growth is still illegal , and still ineligible to vote. Of course, potUS Arpege is trying to rectify that. --- Karl Douglass has written before checking all the facts. The MCSD was granted additional local millage rate equivalent to a 25% boost over other counties in the state because the Columbus Museum was placed under its authority. In addition, our local homestead exemptions are only for the portion of our property taxes that the City collects; the MCSD does not honor our exemptions. Also, the Columbus L-E still fails to inform the local population that Karl Douglass is a paid political advisor of Congressman Bishop. --- While George Will's commentary today would have been better if he 'exampled' problems in any other state but California, one paragraph stands out: "The Manhattan Institute’s Heather Mac Donald notes that sinecures in academia’s diversity industry are expanding as academic offerings contract. UC San Diego, while eliminating master’s programs in electrical and computer engineering and comparative literature, and eliminating courses in French, German, Spanish and English literature, added a diversity requirement for graduation to cultivate “a student’s understanding of her or his identity.” So, rather than study computer science and Cervantes , students can study their identities — themselves. Says Mac Donald, “’Diversity,’ it turns out, is simply a code word for narcissism.” -- As Mel Allen would have said, "Well, how about that." --- DIM&DUMBERats rail against Florida's current voter purge campaign seeking to remove Constitutionally ineligible person from its voting lists created by the pretty-much-intentional problem of not properly screening government assistance. Even in Georgia, D&Ds tried their hardest to pass a law allowing illegals to obtain GA drivers' license's that would not be marked differently than legal Georgians. That would have opened a floodgate of illegals getting added to the voter lists when they renewed their licenses. --- Notable purchase request in City Manager's Council Agenda: BUCKET TRUCK WITH 100+ FOOT VERTICAL REACH: It is requested that council approve the purchase of one bucket truck with 100-plus foot vertical reach (Terex Utilities Hi-Ranger TCX65/100) from Terex Utilities, Inc. (Watertown, SD)/Genie Industries, Inc., in the amount of $298,773, via National Joint Powers Alliance (NJPA). E-mail to Thomas, Davis, Henderson, and Tomlinson: Ladies and Gents that I can vote for: This item intrigues me as to why we need such in the City asset inventory. Since our inventory of buildings in Columbus that exceed 10 stories is limited to two, what make ownership of such a bucket truck reasonable? Surely, the amount of expected usage would be better served by occasionally renting such equipment as the real need arises. Will be on lookout for why any of you deem this to be a worthy use of such tax dollars. --- Another questionable purchase request on City Manager's agenda" ELEVATOR MAINTENANCE SERVICES (ANNUAL CONTRACT): It is requested that council approve the execution of an annual contract with Mowrey Elevator Co. of Florida Inc., (Marianna, FL) to provide elevator maintenance services for the estimated annual contract value of $49,500. -- Why are we contracting with a Florida concern with an Atlanta office rather than a local service company. Surely one of our locals can undercut this contract merely by being local and not having to drive from Florida or Atlanta every time service is needed. ---