Tempus II from Philip Heron on Vimeo.

FROM TIME.COM – One of the most contentious issues in the vast literature about alcohol consumption has been the consistent finding that those who don’t drink actually tend to die sooner than those who do. The standard Alcoholics Anonymous explanation for this finding is that many of those who show up as abstainers in such research are actually former hard-core drunks who had already incurred health problems associated with drinking.

But a new paper in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research suggests that — for reasons that aren’t entirely clear — abstaining from alcohol does actually tend to increase one’s risk of dying even when you exclude former drinkers. The most shocking part? Abstainers’ mortality rates are higher than those of heavy drinkers.

Daily Total for 8/29/2010
0     Black Vulture
0     Turkey Vulture
0     Northern Goshawk
5     Sharp-shinned Hawk
2     Cooper’s Hawk
0     Unidentified Accipiter
6     Red-tailed Hawk
0     Red-shouldered Hawk
45     Broad-winged Hawk
0     Rough-legged Hawk
0     Unidentified Buteo
0     Golden Eagle
2     Bald Eagle
0     Unidentified Eagle
1     Northern Harrier
1     Osprey
0     Peregrine Falcon
0     Merlin
4     American Kestrel
0     Unidentified Falcon
0    Unidentified Raptor
66     DAILY TOTAL
676     SEASON TOTAL

17 species of warblers, 5 species of flycatchers, and 4 species of vireo in the morning, also 68 ruby-throated hummingbirds

Click here to view season total or search hawk count database

	2010 Autumn Hawk Count Daily Total for 8/29/2010
	0	Black Vulture
	0	Turkey Vulture
	0	Northern Goshawk
	5	Sharp-shinned Hawk
	2	Cooper’s Hawk
	0	Unidentified Accipiter
	6	Red-tailed Hawk
	0	Red-shouldered Hawk
	45	Broad-winged Hawk
	0	Rough-legged Hawk
	0	Unidentified Buteo
	0	Golden Eagle
	2	Bald Eagle
	0	Unidentified Eagle
	1	Northern Harrier
	1	Osprey
	0	Peregrine Falcon
	0	Merlin
	4	American Kestrel
	0	Unidentified Falcon
	0	Unidentified Raptor
	66	DAILY TOTAL
	676	SEASON TOTAL

Counter’s Comments:
17 species of warblers, 5 species of flycatchers, and 4 species of vireo in the morning, also 68 ruby-throated hummingbirds

Click here to view season total or search our hawkcount database

”Those who are most commonly creditors of a nation are, generally speaking, enlightened men; and there are signal examples to warrant a conclusion that when a candid and fair appeal is made to them, they will understand their true interest too well to refuse their concurrence in such modifications of their claims, as any real necessity may demand.”

Alexander Hamilton
Report on Public Credit, January 9, 1790

9,111 Retired California Government Workers Receive Pensions In Excess Of $100,000 from CalPERS
Top person on the list makes over $500,000
3,090 Retired Teachers And Administrators Receive Pensions In Excess of $100,000 from CalSTRS
Top person on the list makes over $285,000

This may be the propaganda of pink lefty liberals or it may be the wave of the future, I really don’t care. I just like watching it.

Spoon in spoon
Stirring my coffee
I thought of you
And turned to the gate
On my way came up with the answers
I scratched my head
And the answers were gone
From hand to hand
Wrist to the elbow
Red blood sand
Could Dad be God
Crosses cross hung out like a wet rag
Forgive you why
You hung me out to dry
Maybe I’m crazy
But laughing out loud
Makes the pain pass by
And maybe you’re a little crazy
But laughing out loud makes it all subside
Holding I’m holding
I’m still falling
Spoon in spoon
Stirring my coffee
I thought of this
And turned to the gate
But on my way
Crack
Lightning and thunder
I hid my head
And the storm slipped away
Well maybe I’m crazy
And laughing out loud
Makes it all pass by
And maybe you’re a little crazy
And laughing out loud
Makes it all alright
Laughing out loud
From time to time
Minutes and hours
Some move ahead while
Some lag behind
It’s like the balloon that
Rise and then vanish
This drop of hope
That falls from his eyes
Spoon in spoon
Stirring my coffee
I think of this
And turn to go away
But as I walk
There’re voices behind me saying
Sinners sin
Come now and play

Wow, how can there be such a difference between European and American news? I love America but how can we have such a great country with so many people getting airtime with nothing to say? Just compare this clip to the average MSNBC cheerleading session.

This really helps people understand the debt of the world. This even shows the US debt broken into what each US citizen “owns” as their part of the national debt.

The coming (already here?) crisis for pensions for public employees in our state is worse than the media is generally reporting. Here are some good links for information:

• July 1, 2010 – Increased Public Pension Contributions Could Spike Property Tax Bills
• June 30, 2010 – State Pension Could Prompt Tax Increases – State Bill To Rise To $6 Billion

I’ll add more as I find them. The thing that is amazing is how the politicians kick the can down the road. In 2000 or 2001, they mandated that the pensions be funded – then pushed the mandate out to – wait for it – 2010.