With heavy heart we learn of the passing of Lt. General (RET) William B. Caldwell, III. Gen. Caldwell was a blend of honor, patriotism and servant leadership we shall continue to strive to attain.

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Online story (wish I could say it's from the "only in California"department): " ..Friday's bee at Sierra's (Shoemakers) California school district almost put the youngster out of the running this year, all due to a judging gaffe. * when Sierra spelled "braille," she knew she had it right. The judges, however, claimed the word only had one "l" in it because that incorrect spelling appeared on their answer sheet at the Selma School District spelling bee. * Sierra said even the audience caught the error, but she knew better than to make a stink about it in competition, even if it meant elimination. * "I didn't want to say anything, because... if the word master tells you [that] you got a word wrong, you don't really argue with him," * Fortunately, the school community got behind her. ABC News reports that an initial appeal on Sierra's behalf was rejected by the county, but her school "appealed the appeal" and won." -- When you look a "braile" on paper, it doesn't look right, but school officials were determined to go by what was written down as correct, even when first appealed. What a condemnation of how detached the education system has become from what's best for students.

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Our pastor's sermon yesterday was a look at the Gospel of John, chapter 12. Mary had acquired a jar of very expensive perfume, and chose to use it to wash Jesus' feet with. Judas Iscariot, yes, the one that betrayed Jesus days later, objected to her using it in such a manner when it could have been used to help the poor. Does this not describe the attitude of our current President? Does Judas 00-bama not think he knows better how to spend our money for what he deems a better use? Today, potUS 00-bama becomes Judas 00-bama.

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Those "green" electric cars may not be so green as the liberals want them to be. It seems the construction process of an electric vehicle produces twice the carbon output of a traditional car, and due to the short range of the batteries, buyers are unlikely to ever make a positive impact on carbon output during the lifetime of such vehicles. And don't even talk about replacement batteries for ones that die or go bad. Does Boeing's battery research and implementation ring a bell?

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The Congressional Barber Shop costs taxpayers over $300,000.00 in supplements. Seems like trimming anything in Washington on a balanced basis is not an option.

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The broke US Postal Service is sending 400 employees to a $2,200,000.00 conference. That's $5,500 per attendee. Of course, based on past performance of the Post Office, none of them will get there on time.

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Senator Graham has revealed that survivors of the 9-11-12 Benghazi terrorist attack have been ordered not to comment about what actually went on. He says he's going to write a letter to demand those survivors to be allowed to be questioned by the Congressional Committee. I just wish this was being orchestrated by a Senator who actually matters.

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Those 00-bama phones.... now we are finding out they are being sent to dead people. Guess they need'em to order absentee ballots.

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You know, I'm beginning to like sequester more and more. Since it began, every federal employee I've met seems to be working harder to pleas me/us. It's as though they are concerned I might report any bad behavior which might lead them to being downsized. That's a nice feeling, and good for the country.

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Knowing the Hurricane Sandy victims haven't been made whole yet is a disgrace for FEMA and Judas 00-bama to begin with, but on another subject, has GA POWER been reimbursed for the expenses incurred in helping out or are we going to have to pay for it with a rate increase?

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L-E, ooops, L-I (Inquirer) story: "We have learned a lesson this week at Inquirer Central. That being, if you’ve purchased property that has a storm-water pipe running beneath it, you are responsible not only for its repair, but for any damages it causes, should something go wrong. Unless. * Now, if the city installed the drain or has accepted some degree of responsibility by performing maintenance or repair on it, it’s the city’s problem. * Assuming that since the drain is on the street, which the city owns, and that it is performing the public service of draining said street, Weathers thought the city should handle the problem. So he called them. * The city sent out engineers to investigate and to check city construction and maintenance records. Turns out, the city did not install the drain, nor has it ever maintained it, so it’s Weathers’ problem, he was told. * “Our records also indicate that Columbus has never undertaken any repairs to the pipe on this property,” she wrote. “Therefore, Columbus is not responsible for the pipe’s current condition. Columbus will not use public funds to make any repairs to the pipe and Columbus will not be liable for any future damages caused by the functioning of the pipe.” -- Hmmm, the City took the opposite side of this when it checked out a 'believed to be' cemetery site down in the Liberty District. After paying a search team to use underground "x-ray" equipment, the team reported it had found absolutely nothing that indicated any graves had every been dug there, but the City went on with itspre-determined course of action to highlight that area as a pre-Civil War grave site. What's the difference in these two situations that the City didn't do ever any work or maintenance on?

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Thunder in the Valley... 1000's came and enjoyed even without federal government participation in the show. Boy.. that sequester sure ruined everything.... NOT!

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L-E headline: "Obama plans listening tour of Israel" -- Wow, Judas 00-bama plans to visit Israel to listen... the meeting will be over in 5 minutes.

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L-E headline: "Barbra Streisand to perform in Israel " -- Well, I guess that explains Judas 00-bama's "listening tour" in Israel.

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L-E story: "A body was taken out of the Chattahoochee River Sunday, said Chattahoochee County Coroner Travis Hancock. * Hancock said he has no information on the body. * He also said the case is being investigated by the Army’s Criminal Investigation Division at Fort Benning. " -- Hmmm, wonder if the Columbus Police Department will seek dual investigative rights to see if it can ticket the body with the newly enacted 'failure to wear a PFD (personal flotation device)" in the river?

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There's a picture on the front page of the L-E sports section featuring players from a Mizzu-Texas A&M basketball game.... be honest now, who thought of SEC?

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Who'da thunk Kentucky would not make it into the NCAA 64 team bracket?

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