Johnny we hardly knew ya and hummingbirds

I offically found out the hummingbird beats per second.

The number is 80 per second.....which adds up to 4800 per minute.

It's not as high as I thought.

And neither am I.

Yesterday John Edwards dropped out of the race for President and it looks like he will probably end up as Attorney General of the United States. Which is probably a good spot for him.

The problem with John is that we never really got to know him and with what he's been through I'm quite dissapointed.

He kept talking about his common background and the fact that his father was a mill worker and that anything is possible in America.

What he didn't talk about was how to overcome tragedy and pain. Everybody can relate to tragedy and pain but no everybody can relate to poverty. John Edwards suffered one of the greatest losses that anyone can suffer. He lost a teenage son. I happen to have personal experiences in this area and I was always waiting for him to discuss the attempt to fill a permanant hole in is heart.

If he had openly talked about the recovery and the pain I think the American public would have embraced him in a loving manner.

Maybe he just didn't want to talk about it and I fully understand that...but he was running for President of the United States and it might have been a good idea to remind people how he has suffered and moved forward. I'm pretty sure he has not recovered from the lost but he has learned to deal with the hole in his heart and it should have been something he shared with us.

Recovery seems to be a topic of conversation in millions of families across this great land and how people deal with recovery has to be an important issue.

It's not so much about CHANGE as it is about REPAIRING....and repairing a blow to the heart is fundamental to every single person in this country.

We all get hit at one time or another. How we deal with the hit is the magic question.

I think John Edwards could have helped a lot of people but talking about the greatest single tragedy of his life.

When one fails to discuss such matters...one simply ends up marveling at how many beats per second a hummingbird flaps its wings.

Life moves quickly and certain parts of life move faster than others.

John Edwards was here one day and then gone...but I think we will hear more from him in the future.

Tonight is the final debate between the remaining Democratic players and Hillary and Barack will be standing face to face for the first time.

Which one will rise up and stop attacking the other and start attacking the REAL BULLS..T that is going on in American politics....will be the one I vote for.

I'm ready to make a decision and tonight will probably seal the deal.

Michael Timothy McAlevey

Are we sick or just pill crazy

I was reading an article by Melody Petersen in Sunday's Opinion section of the LA Times and came across a number that rivals the "how many times does a hummingbird beat it's wings every second" number. I can never remember the number because it seems too high and too impossible.

But a new number appeared in Ms. Petersen's article that simply blew my mind. Her article was called Pharma's queasy feeling...and dealt with the pharmaceutical industry.

In 1980 Americans spent $12 Billion on prescription drugs.
In 2003 Americans spent $197 Billion on prescription drugs.

$197 Billion dollars.

Heck that's only 197 days in Iraq.....no big deal....which brings up another number that I always seem to forget because it seems impossible.

Do we spend a billion dollars a day?
a week?
a month?

I keep forgetting and I'm not sure why I keep forgetting....mostly likely it has something to do with my anti-war viewpoints, which aren't anti-Iraq war but anti-war...PERIOD.

I think there has been some rather fancy drugs appearing on the market since 2003 so that 197 has probably ballooned to 250.

And when they talk about the cost of the Iraq war are they including the treatment needed for soldiers after they come home?

I wonder how much the pharmaceutical companies make from the government on treatment for military personal?

When one hears that a hammer can cost $600.00 then I would imagine it is safe to assume that a strong pain killer for a wounded vet could run in the five figures.

If you add all the dollars being generated by all drug dealers...legal and illegal...which includes anything that is classified as a drug....which includes the beer in your hand and the cigarette in your grandma's mouth....is there any larger industry?

I'm going to do a little research and I'll get back to you later.

How many times does a hummingbird beat it's wings per second?

Can Barack overcome Hillary's big lead in California?

Can GW's approval rating fall into the 20's by November?

Can the Dodgers win the World Series?

Does anybody really care if New England goes undefeated?

Just some of the little things that confront some of us on a daily basis.
What are some of your important questions?

A friend asked me the other day who I prayed to......and it's taking me a few days to prepare my answer...
Maybe I should take some Plaxil or Zoloft and try to come up with a great answer.....but first I'll have to stop taking the Zantac and the Lipitor and the Viagra....

And I'm wondering how it got to $197 Billion?

Just kidding....I do have a morning coffee and caffeine is a drug.

Chavez from Venezuela has a little different dealio with his chewing on COCA leaves everyday. That could explain his energy level and his certain viewpoints.

and one more time....

Iraq....is it a billion a day, a week or a month?

I do know one number that sticks in my head.....3,940 American soldiers have died to pave George and the Real Dick's Freedom Highway in a country where roads are made of sand....and now those roads are made of sand and blood.

Couldn't we just get the drug companies involved and somehow dose the entire Iraqi population of males between the ages of 18 and 30....with something to subdue their attitudes? Maybe inject it in the dates.

Imagine the increase in revenue for that drug dispersal.


Michael Timothy McAlevey

And the Kennedy car joins the train

Yesterday it was announced that Caroline Kennedy would announce her support for Barack Obama.

I imagine there were some interesting family conversations among the Kennedy clan yesterday because today at the planned announcement, Caroline was joined by uncle Teddy and the announcement turned into a major media event.

Teddy Kennedy supporting Barack Obama is another major plus for his campaign. No matter what you think about the Kennedy influence in this country...it's safe to say that at least 20 million more people just decided who they would vote for in the upcoming primaries.

20 million might seem like an exaggerated number but it also might be a cautious number.

It could be much higher.

There's just something about Hillary that doesn't generate enthusiasm and everything about Barack generates enthusiasm...especially in the younger voter.

Barack received more votes in South Carolina than actually voted in the 2004 South Carolina primary.

THAT'S A HUGE SIGN....AND ONE THAT CANNOT BE IGNORED.

And every opportunity that Barack gets to speak...results in his rising to a new level.

And we haven't even begun to see the unification speeches...which I predict will be "legendary" and "historic."

The Obama train is moving down the track of optimism and now that train has the Kennedy car attached and it's picking up momentum along with style and substance.

This is getting very very interesting.

Michael Timothy McAlevey

YES WE CAN change

At the 2004 Democratic National Convention Barack Obama started his climb up the ladder of national politics. His speech at the convention was regarded as the highlight speech of the event but most people just figured that he was a young black man who gave good speeches. I don't think anyone, other than Oprah,, had any idea that his presence would rise so high so fast on the national scene.

I attribute the behavior of George and Dick over the last eight years as being totally responsible for Barack's rapid rise. His campaign slogans have CHANGE and YES WE CAN as cornerstones.
And thanks to George and Dick...CHANGE and YES WE CAN really do make a ton of sense.

AND NEXT HE NEEDS TO PUT THEM TOGETHER

YES WE CAN...CHANGE!
But he's obviously got some smart cookies in his corner and they probably already have it on the schedule. It would be so cool to find out that he's the smartest cookie in the Obama store of sweet political treats.

Barack absolutely pulverized Hillary and John in South Carolina today and every time he wins a Primary his speeches take on a slightly higher level of importance and elegance.

The man can give a speech and after everything is said and done...if that's a major barometer...then Hillary has no chance. John Edwards gives good speeches because he has a certain agenda that people want to hear about but when it comes to pause and inflection and tone and all the other things that make a great speaker....Barack wins hands down.

I've always said that the President just needs to be a good coach and let us know what's going on and explain it in ways we both understand and admire....and convince us to play a little harder if need be....

Barack appears to be increasing his coaching abilities. He is definitely saying the right things and whether or not he can actually do anything to improve America's global reputation is the real question.

We've now gone past the third inning and on Feb 5Th we will encounter the 4Th, 5Th,6Th and 7Th inning when Super Tuesday joins the game.

Barack Obama vs John McCain would probably be a good healthy exchange of ideas. They both appear to be nice guys and it might not get ugly.

HA HA HA HA HA

Michael Timothy McAlevey

I hate to say this

Believe me when I tell you that it pains me to say the following words

THE REPUBLICAN DEBATES SEEM TO BE MORE INTERESTING THAN THE DEMOCRATS
and
tonight I'm watching the GOP boys club conversations and I think I've figured it out why.

First off they have Ron Paul who seems like a professor...and then the other gentlemen know how to NOT attack each other.

The Republicans have a dignified style that makes it calm and interesting to watch.

NOW PLEASE NOTE.

I AGREE WITH NOTHING THEY SAY....I JUST LIKE THEIR METHOD OF CAMPAIGNING AGAINST EACH OTHER. IT'S KINDA STYLISH.

They attack the democrats not each other.

JOHN MC CAIN IS COMPLETELY WRONG ABOUT THE WAR AND IRAQ, BUT HIS ELDERLY STATESMANSHIP MAKES HIS PRESENCE WORTHWHILE ON THE GLOBAL STAGE.

It looks like he will win the nomination even though the only guy who makes any sense is Ron Paul.

The entire GOP candidate list, except for Ron Paul, thinks that America should have done what it's done in Iraq...and not one of them will admit, except for Ron Paul, that Al-Qaeda did not exist in Iraq before we invaded. None of them will even talk about no WMDs, except of course Ron Paul, and not one of them thinks the money we are spending in Iraq, except Ron Paul, is fruitless and futile.

Forget the 3900 American soldiers who have died....no one ever mentions that and no one remotely speaks about who will kill who if we leave Iraq.

It's always Al-Qaeda...and that means that no one has any confidence in anyone in Iraq who is not in Al-Qaeda. How many AL-Qaeda soldiers are there in the world, let alone in Iraq. I've never seen any actual numbers.

I realize it's a tough census to conduct but someone must have a qualified guess.

I think the numbers are extremely low compared to the people who would like a stabilized government in Iraq....and we need to start trusting that our job is done.
We've trained and taught and built and protected and 3900 Americans have lost their lives to achieve those goals.

ARE THE PEOPLE IN IRAQ INCAPABLE OF CHOOSING THE RIGHT DIRECTION?

IF SO....MAYBE WE SHOULD TEST THE WATERS OF DEPENDENCE ON AMERICAN STRONG ARM TACTICS....AND SEE IF THEY CAN ORGANIZE THEMSELVES.

Our problem is in the mountains of Afghanistan and Pakistan and we don't appear to care on anywhere near the same level as we do in IRAQ..

AND THE ONLY TRUE DIFFERENCE IS OIL

AFGHANISTAN HAS POPPIES NOT OIL...AND THAT'S JUST TOO BAD.

By the way...the odds of any talk about Global Warming at a GOP debate has just been placed at somewhere around 5000-1.

PERSONALLY I THINK THAT'S A LOW NUMBER.

I can't recall the word environment even being mentioned by a Republican...except once in a great while by Arnold....and the jury's out on whether he really is a Republican.

It would be cool to hear Arnold in one of these debates.
They could create a fantasy spot for him....someone not able to be President but someone who could probably win if allowed to run.

It's a small category and he might be the only one to qualify.

The Republicans are now discussing Global Warming and I lost my bet.

Of course they want Nuclear and Coal to be the primary types of alternative fuel supplies...and Rudy just used France as an example. I wonder if there is any other issue that he would use France as an example of how one should behave.

I dig France, except for the Nuclear dealio, so I know there's nothing else that right wing Republicans like about the country.

The Nuclear thing is simply.this.....

THERE IS NO PROBLEM UNTIL THERE'S A PROBLEM
and
then the word problem turns into other words such as...

GLOBAL DISASTER

And between France and Japan
we have Nuclear hell just waiting to happen.

And then add the antiquated facilities in the United States and I'll say it one more time....with emphasis.

THERE'S NEVER A PROBLEM UNTIL THERE'S A PROBLEM.

enough said....I've got to get back to that entertaining Republican BOYS CLUB meeting.

Michael Timothy McAlevey

I kinda had a dream of my own

All the great people we honor with a holiday don't get honored on their actual birthday anymore unless that birthday happens to fall on a Monday.

It just occurred to me that we don't have a single holiday created for a woman.

Probably haven't proved their worth yet....after all they just got the vote about 87 years ago.

But today isn't about women...it's about dreaming and wishing and hoping and remembering and cruelty and bravery and speeches and irony and 1968 and freedom and bigotry and hatred and stupidity and regret and of course for the first time since Martin Luther King was murdered...it's about a different dark skinned American male who gives good speeches.

Today's holiday is about BHO (Barack Hussein Obama)as much as it is about MLK.

The reason I say this is simply because for the first time since Martin Luther King was silenced...

and that's what it was...

....a silencing...

the people who had bigotry, as a cornerstone of an ugly belief system, in their hearts, had to silence MLK because he simply gave speeches that were awe-inspiring....and when one gives speeches that are awe-inspiring then there will be a large contingency hell bend on shutting down those speech making opportunities...and the last time I checked putting a bullet into some one's brain will generally achieve that purpose...

...for the first time since MLK was silenced another man of darker than normal skin has risen up and achieved prominence in ways that Martin Luther King could have only dreamt about in his widest dreams.

I don't call myself a Scot-Irish American and other than Native Americans I've never understood the whole title before American dealio. Native Americans are Native Americans....they had the ground before the crush and Indians are from India and I don't see any resemblance with people from India and Native Americans.....and Native Americans have a ton more casino's then the people from India. Do they even have casino's in India?

People born in America are people born in America. People who come here and become citizens are Americans. People who sneak in late at night are hopefully looking for work but they aren't Americans.

America is a land built on principles and laws and anyone who adheres to the principles and laws should be treated with equal respect.

I'm pretty sure this is what pissed MLK off....even though you could never tell he was pissed off... but that has a lot to do with his ability to shape a speech. He was truly one of the great orators of modern time and that was probably his undoing. If he had just stumbled and bumbled a few times along the way....everything would have been ok....as a reference to that theory I ask you to look toward the White House....

...but no, he had to make sense every single time he spoke and energize people to levels of hope that have not been seen since that last time he spoke on April 3rd 1968....hours before he walked out on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel...

"Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn't matter with me now. Because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land. And I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord."

I'm not about to put Barack Obama in the same category as MLK but there are similarities and I'm not talking about the color of their skin....even though that's a similarity that is hard to ignore...but really when you get right down to skin color Barack is much much much much much lighter....and that's probably going to keep him alive.

I hate to sound an alarm but after living through 1963 and 1968 I truly am gun shy when it comes to what people will do to shut down an eloquent liberal voice.

But maybe his interracial DNA structure will not be so intensely hated.

I do know a lot of people over the years that have bitched about Martin Luther King having a Holiday. I'm sure you know some people who fall in that category.

The question is....do those people who think Martin Luther King is undeserving of a holiday have any possible room in their hearts to learn about Barack Obama?

I THINK NOT....so let's just ignore them and make sure that they have no access to rifles or pistols or rockets or tanks or newspapers or radio stations or TV stations or.....WHOOPS

OBVIOUSLY IT'S A LITTLE TOO LATE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THEM....SO PERHAPS JUST A SMALL PRAYER EVERY DAY FOR THE SAFE TRAIL THAT LEADS TO 1600 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE FOR MR. OBAMA.

AND A LITTLE PRAYER EVEN IF HE DOESN'T REACH THAT GOAL THIS TIME AROUND.

I THINK A PRAYER HERE AND THERE IS SOMETHING THAT

MARTIN LUTHER KING

WOULD APPRECIATE FROM HIS POSITION IN HEAVEN'S BOARDROOM.

AND A PRAYER THAT REACHES OUT FOR THE SAFETY OF SOMEONE ELSE IS PROBABLY A PRAYER THAT GETS THROUGH THE RED TAPE....

but then again I don't have a clue what gets through and what doesn't get through....and thank God that's not my job.

I just think it makes sense when someone prays for someone else.

IF THERE IS ANYBODY LISTENING....that seems like a prayer to hear.

It seems Martin Luther King spent a lifetime saying those kind of prayers and we were fortunate to have some of them saved for prosperity.

Thank You Dr. King for sharing your prayers and Happy heavenly 79th Birthday.

Michael Timothy McAlevey

Common sense and maybe I've made up my mind

Two things happened today that seem to make sense.

1)
BARNSTABLE, Mass. - The luck keeps rolling for a convicted bank robber who won a $1 million lottery prize: Though he violated his probation by buying the ticket, a judge says he can keep the money.
A lawyer for Timothy Elliott, 55, called the violation minor, and the Massachusetts lottery commission previously has said there was no basis for withdrawing the prize.
Barnstable Superior Court Judge Richard Connon on Friday approved the probation department's agreement that he could keep the winnings. The only change is that Elliott now must pay a monthly $65 probation supervisory fee, previously waived because he had been indigent.

He said he's going to use the money to attend locksmith school. The judge didn't think that was funny.

2)
I, Michael Timothy McAlevey, have decided that Barack Obama might be the right person for America...at this time in history.

The two things that people seem to think are a problem for him being elected....being African American and having childhood Muslim ties...might be the two main reasons he should be President of the United States.

1)
The entire psyche of Africa might be lifted in ways that could never be calculated...and they need help in ways that aren't normally considered.
2)
It might be hard for pissed off Muslims to look at the United States and not think of us with slightly less "attitude." And pissed off Muslims having less attitude towards us might be the single most important thing achieved by electing

BARACK OBAMA as President of the United States.

I really didn't think it was possible for someone named Barack Hussein Obama to be President of the United States.

I now am stating that I still don't think it's possible...but it might be necessary.

SOMETHING BEING NECESSARY absolutely doesn't mean it's possible and in fact there seems to be quite a few things that are necessary which don't happen....in quite a few arenas throughout the world...

So thus while I am stating that it should happen, I'm still not convinced that he can win a general election...

but I will start voicing my opinion on the two main reasons and maybe it will unfold quietly along the path of political awareness...and reach those certain voters who aren't sure why Barack Obama would be good for America.

I look at all the other candidates and I truly don't see anyone who could galvanize people throughout the world like Barack.

I realize we are in a mode where we don't give a crap what other nations and countries think of us...but I'm fairly certain that not only will change, but should change.

And here I am using the word CHANGE...

but it is the word of the 2008 campaign.

Of course 8 months ago I suggested to Barack that he should change his last name to Russell and drop the Hussein part...but he didn't listen.

IT WOULD BE SO MUCH EASIER FOR
BARACK WILSON RUSSELL
TO BE ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

BUT...

BY CHANGING HIS NAME HE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO PLACATE THE PISSED OFF MUSLIMS.

AND I THINK THAT'S THE NUMBER ONE TASK OF ANYONE MOVING INTO THE HOUSE AT 1600 PENNSYLVANIA AVE.

Michael Timothy McAlevey

Waitress and the real story

Last night I watched "Waitress" and during the last frame I simply thought it was one of the best films from 2007. I also thought that Keri Russell deserved a nomination for Best Actress.
The next frame that appeared on the screen was....

IN MEMORIAM FOR ADRIENNE SHELLY

But before I get into the serious story I want to talk about the film.

I think the musical selections were perfect. There's a sequence, after 40 minutes, where Keri Russell is realizing that she is either in love or she is realizing that everything will be ok and she smiles for the first time in the movie. The song that was chosen for this prolonged realization was absolutely perfect for the moment.

That sequence completely altered the texture of the film and from that point on I was extremely impressed. The way the director photographed Keri during the "HAPPY" moments was an obvious tribute to her beauty and if I was Ms. Russell I would forever be grateful for those moments.

A real bonus was watching Andy Griffith. The southern older gruff guru part was perfect for him and he handled the role with grace and style. He also becomes the spiritual warrior hero with his actions.

I realize that "corny" applies to a certain genre of film that I gravitate toward.... and "WAITRESS" and "AUGUST RUSH" are winners in my "corny" world.

I believe there should be a "corny" category in the Academy Awards show.

NOW THE REAL STORY

At about 5:45 p.m on November 1, 2006, Shelly's husband found her hanging by a bedsheet[13] from a shower rod in the bathtub [11] of an Abingdon Square apartment in the West Village section of Manhattan's Greenwich Village, in what at first appeared to be a suicide.[13] Shelly, who lived in Tribeca,[11] used the apartment as an office.[11] Ostroy had dropped her off at 9:30 a.m. that day, and as the building's doorman told journalists, "He hadn't heard from her and he said it was odd not to hear from her, so he was nervous. And he asked me to go up to the apartment with him, so we went to the front door, and it was unlocked".[11]
An autopsy was performed the following day. The New York City Police Department was suspicious of sneaker prints in the bathtub that did not match Shelly's shoes (she was found wearing only socks). Shelly's husband also indicated that there was money missing from Shelly's wallet. He vigorously denied allegations that she could have committed suicide.[14]
Press reports on November 6, 2006 stated that police had arrested construction worker Diego Pillco, a 19-year-old illegal immigrant who confessed to killing Shelly after she complained about the noise he was making in the apartment below hers. Pillco said that he "was having a bad day."[15] Police said Pillco had made videos implicating himself in the murder, and as of November 7, 2006 was being held without bail for her murder.[16][17]


Shelly died before her film, Waitress, was accepted into the 2007 Sundance Film Festival.[23] The film, starring Keri Russell, Nathan Fillion, Cheryl Hines, Jeremy Sisto, Andy Griffith and Shelly herself, was bought during the festival by Fox Searchlight Pictures for somewhere between $4 million and $5 million (accounts vary), with a final box-office draw of $18 million and an 89% "fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes

Shelly, who took her professional surname after her late father's given name,[1] was married to Andrew Ostroy, the chairman and CEO of the marketing firm Belardi/Ostroy ALC.[11] They had a daughter, Sophie, who was two years old at the time of Shelly's death.[12]

Following his wife's death, Ostroy established the Adrienne Shelly Foundation, a non-profit organization that will award film school scholarships and grants to women filmmakers.[18] [19]

THIS CHANGES THE "CORNY" MOVIE INTO ANOTHER ENTIRE CATEGORY

EPIC TRAGICAL HOMAGE comes to mind as another category.

The fact that Adrienne Shelly did not get to see her film sold is tragic. The fact that she didn't get to see the film win various awards from various film festivals is tragic.

The fact that Adrienne Shelly can't write or direct any more films is tragic.

The fact that Sophie Ostroy will only know her mom through the eyes of her work is beyond tragic and becomes epic in my eyes.

WAITRESS becomes the epic tragical homage to her career and should be viewed by anyone who likes "corny" movies.

Someday Sophie will view WAITRESS and totally understand that her mom's last finished project can be easily classified as an epic tragical homage to her life.

Sophie hopefully will find some of "us" who loved her mom's work and wish to God that there could have been more. I don't suppose it will ease her pain but Adrienne Shelly did create her moment of immortailty and for that I thank her for sharing and creating a vision that left me feeling good.

What else is a should a "corny" movie do?

Hell...you are reading something by a guy who thinks every movie should make you feel good.

But that's just the "corny" in me.

Is there any "corny" left in you?

If so....rent this movie immediately.

BY THE WAY

THANKS GRACE FOR GIVING LILY THIS FILM......I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR NEXT RECOMMENDATION.

MICHAEL TIMOTHY MC ALEVEY

CLONES AND DRONES and DESIRE

The Democratic candidates are stealing the spotlight because of the built in "uniqueness" of the two major contenders but the Republican race is really interesting.

I keep talking about a first ballot locked convention for the Democrats but it's also a possibility at the Republican convention. Imagine if both parties were locked on the first ballot. Most likely it won't happen at either convention but one can also hope.

Mitt Romney got back in the mix yesterday with a primary win in Michigan. The Democrats chose not to participate due to Michigan's moving of their primary with Democratic National Committee approval. Hillary was the only candidate listed and she beat the "uncommitted."

While politicians are busy confusing the American voter the FDA announced yesterday that Cloned meat and milk are safe to eat.

Cloned politicians on the other hand are unsafe for daily consumption....and we seem to be experiencing a rash of political cloning.

Right now it costs $17,500 to clone a single cow which means that the $1.00 Double Cheeseburger at "Micky Ds" would cost $29.95.

Gregory Jaffe, director of Biotechnology Project at the Center for Science and in the Public Interest...which might be one of the longest companies names in America, says "Most consumers will never eat a cloned animal."

I think I had a cloned tuna sandwich the other day....but I can't prove anything.

I know I saw a Presidential debate the other day...with some definite cloning possibilities....but I can't prove anything.

I actually can't prove anything about anything...because I'm cloned and there was a small portion of my DNA that didn't get transferred.....

I wish they had injected a bit more of Steve Martin's DNA but that raises moral issues. Borrowing from one DNA to enhance another could be problem...but I sure wish I was a lot funnier...and taller...and insightful...and mathematical...

Is there no end to how my DNA could be improved.

I do know that I would have had Sean cloned in a heartbeat if the technology had been available so I guess that shows which side I'm on....

IN A HEARTBEAT....

Michael Timothy McAlevey

Psssh....

"Psssh....hey.....I think he's a black man."

"Really.....how can you tell?"

"Because yesterday his people starting saying that I was downgrading Martin Luther King's role in the civil rights movement.....and I'm pretty sure the only person who could say that type of thing would have to be a black man."

"Well honey, he's only 50% black....so maybe it was his wife or Oprah."

"Oh yeah....the real forces behind him.....what am I going to do?"

"Actually sweetheart you should start talking about John F. Kennedy because really the Civil Rights legislation started with his commitment in June of 1963....and in all actual realities the truth is that Civil Rights leaders needed a President to get the ball rolling."

"That's what I said."

"No.....you said LBJ was the President and just because he signed it into law has nothing to do with getting the ball rolling....start talking a lot about JFK and this will all blow over."

"Oh, thank you honey....you are so smart."

"And cute....don't forget cute."

"ok....and cute."

MIchael Timothy McAlevey

Paul's following

It used to be that St.Paul was someone who young people looked up to and followed. Of course most of those young people were Baptised Catholics. Now there's a new Paul on the scene who seems to be attracting youthful voters.

His name is Ron Paul and he's running for President of the United States on the Republican ticket. His picture is small because he has a small following.

He seems to upset the main players in his party, so of course that makes me want to know how he rolls.

The Libertarian Party was formed in 1971 and if you are interested in learning more just click on the following
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libertarian_Party_(United_States)

The idea that someone wants a strict interpretation of the Constitution is interesting but of course there is so much in present day society that the forefathers could never have imagined but the principles and goals are still the backbone of our system.

As I study the principles of Libertarian and review the Democratic and Republican platforms it seems that the country might be ready for a COMBO PARTY.

IN FACT....LET'S CALL IT THE

COMBONIC PARTY

Why are so many countries in the world able to offer health care for all citizens?

Why can't it work here in America?

The obvious answer is that it would limit the amount of money that Doctor's could make and therefore it would reduce the quality of care...because Doctor's would become something else instead of Doctors.

I find it hard to believe that people who are interested in becoming Doctors will suddenly decide to be Accountants or Lawyers.

The amount of money we seem to be spending on the FREEDOM HIGHWAY MARCH would take care of a lot of domestic issues....and where is that money coming from? The joke is that the government just prints it as George asks for it...and maybe that's not such a joke.

But if we don't care about deficit spending and balanced budgets, then why can't we just print some for Health Care issues??????

I'm thinking that civil liberties need to be addressed and Libertarians definitely agree. I'm not quite sure that they have an answer for how to pay for the infrastructure of government services because basically they don't seem to think their should be government services.

I, for one, am not about to let multi-national conglomerates determine what is good for the environment or what the prices of food and drugs should be... It seems that price regulations are important but of course when one views the current oil situation one can conclude that price regulations might have died with the Roosevelt administration.

I honestly can't support a Ron Paul for President of the United States but I'm so interested in what he has to say...because after every candidate uses the word "CHANGE" like it's water from the ocean...he truly does represent the only real change in the race.

Of course the American public doesn't really want change...they just want the people in charge to do a better job with the current system....

....and they don't want the people in power creating avenues that aren't on the road map.

Change is a word that we all will be sick of by November.

I just want one change.....and that change is in the White House and really, I think that having Dick Cheney gone will do wonders for the psyche of the country. I'm already feeling a little better just knowing he will be history by the end of this year.

There's nothing we can do to change history and the Real Dick will prove to be a thorn in our remembrances for a very long time.

Just like the First Dick that left the White House on a rail.....the Real Dick will not be highly regarded when historians start truly dissecting the Bush Administration.

Ron Paul on the other hand might be someone that gains repsect and admiration in the future.

I do know that Ron Paul should not go hunting with Dick Cheney.

Just a suggestion Mr. Paul.

Michael Timothy McAlevey

ANTI-MATTER AND OTHER STRANGE CREATURES

The relationships that are interconnected have mystery and wonder as their glue...and when something has mystery and wonder as the substance of bonding....then almost anything is possible.

KODIAK, Alaska - At least 19 bald eagles died Friday after gorging themselves on a truck full of fish waste outside a processing plant.

Fifty or more eagles swarmed into the truck, whose retractable fabric cover was open, after the truck was moved outside the plant, said Brandon Saito, a biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service who coordinated the recovery operation.
The birds became too soiled to fly or clean themselves, and with temperatures in the mid-teens, began to succumb to the cold. Some birds became so weak they sank into the fish slime and were crushed.

WASHINGTON - The deeper astronomers gaze into the cosmos, the more they find it's a bizarre and violent universe. The research findings from this week's annual meeting of U.S. astronomers range from blue orphaned baby stars to menacing "rogue" black holes that roam our galaxy, devouring any planets unlucky enough to be within their limited reach.

"It's an odd universe we live in," said Vanderbilt University astronomer Kelly Holley-Bockelmann. She presented her theory on rogue black holes at the American Astronomical Society's meeting in Austin, Texas, earlier this week.

It should be noted that she's not worried and you shouldn't be either. The odds of one of these black holes swallowing up Earth or the sun or wreaking other havoc is somewhere around 1 in 10 quadrillion in any given year.

BUT THEN THERE IS THE ROGUE CLOUD SYNDROME and other bizarre encounters that we ( it's a village) WILL have.

One example is an approaching gas cloud discussed at the meeting Friday. The cloud has a mass 1 million times that of the sun. It is 47 quadrillion miles away. But it's heading toward our Milky Way galaxy at 150 miles per second. And when it hits, there will be fireworks that form new stars and "really light up the neighborhood," said astronomer Jay Lockman at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in West Virginia.
But don't worry. It will hit a part of the Milky Way far from Earth and the biggest collision will be 40 million years in the future.

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 12 (UPI) -- San Francisco Zoo keepers say a bear and a leopard nearly escaped from their enclosures less than three weeks after an escaped tiger killed a man.

The two incidents last week renewed safety concerns about the popular zoo, The San Francisco Chronicle reported Saturday.The height of the wall in the polar bear exhibit was raised Jan. 4 after a female bear nearly scaled the wall the day before, and a snow leopard chewed through a temporary enclosure Thursday, several zookeepers told the Chronicle.The zookeepers said they feared for their safety and questioned whether visitors are safe, the Chronicle reported. Other zoo officials, however, said there was never any threat from the bear or leopard.A Siberian tiger was killed by police at the zoo Dec. 25 after it escaped and killed 17-year-old Carlos Sousa Jr. of San Jose and mauled two of his friends

Charles Q. Choi

Special to SPACE.comSPACE.com

Antimatter, which annihilates matter upon contact, seems to be rare in the universe. Still, for decades, scientists had clues that a vast cloud of antimatter lurked in space, but they did not know where it came from.

The mysterious source of this antimatter has now been discovered — stars getting ripped apart by neutron stars and black holes.
While antimatter propulsion systems are so far the stuff of science fiction, antimatter is very real.

When a particle meets its antiparticle, they destroy each other, releasing a burst of energy such as gamma rays. In 1978, gamma ray detectors flown on balloons detected a type of gamma ray emerging from space that is known to be emitted when electrons collide with positrons — meaning there was antimatter in space.

"It was quite a surprise back then to discover part of the universe was made of antimatter," researcher Gerry Skinner, an astrophysicist at Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., told SPACE.com.

These gamma rays apparently came from a cloud of antimatter roughly 10,000 light-years across surrounding our galaxy's core. This giant cloud shines brightly with gamma rays, with about the energy of 10,000 suns.
What exactly generated the antimatter was a mystery for the following decades. Suspects have included everything from exploding stars to dark matter.
Now, an international research team looking over four years of data from the European Space Agency's International Gamma Ray Astrophysics Laboratory (INTEGRAL) satellite has pinpointed the apparent culprits. Their new findings suggest these positrons originate mainly from stars getting devoured by black holes and neutron stars.
As a black hole or neutron star destroys a star, tremendous amounts of radiation are released. Just as electrons and positrons emit the tell-tale gamma rays upon annihilation, so too can gamma rays combine to form electrons and positrons, providing the mechanism for the creation of the antimatter cloud, scientists think.

The researchers calculate that a relatively ordinary star getting torn apart by a black hole or neutron star orbiting around it — a so-called "low mass X-ray binary" — could spew on the order of one hundred thousand billion billion billion billion positrons (a 1 followed by 41 zeroes) per second. These could account for a great deal of the antimatter that scientists have inferred, reducing or potentially eliminating the need for exotic explanations such as ones involving dark matter.

"Simple estimates suggest that about half and possibly all the antimatter is coming from X-ray binaries," said researcher Georg Weidenspointner of the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics in Germany.

Now that they have witnessed the death of antimatter, the scientists hope to see its birth.
"It would be interesting if black holes produced more matter than neutron stars, or vice versa, although it's too early to say one way or the other right now," Skinner explained. "It can be surprisingly hard to tell the difference between an X-ray binaries that hold black holes and neutron stars."
Weidenspointner, Skinner and their colleagues, detailed their findings in the Jan. 10 issue of the journal Nature.

Over 20,000 horses may have suffered at the hands of trader held on horror farm

By JULIE MOULT, ARTHUR MARTIN and JAMES MILLS -

Last updated at 00:05am on 11th January 20.

More than 20,000 horses could have suffered at the hands of the meat trader arrested amid grotesque scenes of animal suffering this week.
Jamie Gray, 44, has been dealing in horses, ponies and donkeys for at least 25 years, according to sources close to the investigation, who yesterday described the scene at his farm as an "equine Belsen".
Throughout much of that time, the RSPCA claims to have been looking at his case, concerned about the conditions of the animals destined for Continental dinner tables

By ROHAN SULLIVAN, Associated Press Writer Sat Jan 12, 2:25 AM ET
SYDNEY, Australia - A Greenpeace ship on Saturday confronted a Japanese whaling fleet that had initially planned to hunt protected humpbacks, the environmentalists said — setting off the latest round of cat-and-mouse in a sometimes dangerous feature of the hunting debate.

Greenpeace's Esperanza found the Japanese whalers in the Antarctic Ocean after a 10-day search, and the hunting ships immediately steamed off with the activists in pursuit, the environmentalists said in a statement.

AND THE WORLD JUST KEEPS ON SPINNING AND TURNING and the only thing I know for sure is that I am going to be extra cautious the next time I go to the Zoo and the next time I order a CONTINENTAL DINNER.

And of course I'm not going to attempt to create a mini-black hole anytime soon and the idiot geniuses working at The CERN should adopt that same philosophy.....(google CERN)

BUT THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENTS ARE NECESSARY FOR THEIR VISION QUEST OF UNIVERSAL ORIGINS.

SOMETIMES THE SOUL OF AN ARTIST CAN KNOW FOR SURE WHAT THE MIND OF A SCIENTIST WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND.

neo-illumination # 12

There's never a problem until there's a problem

( Alvin and the Chipmunks)

Which by the way......the IRRELEVANT TRUTH movie grossed around 20 million domestically. Alvin and the Chipmunks has grossed around 200 million domestically.

We (It's a village) have our priorties in order....every single day of the year.

Michael Timothy McAlevey

Chicks cry

I have no problem with tears being shed by any woman and if that woman is running for President of the United States all I can say is......what took so long?

If she changes her hairstyle and starts wearing dresses then I would say she has finally got the message.

There is one fundamental difference between Hillary and all the other candidates and it is either a strength or a weakness. And thus the internal structure of our male dominated society comes into play as we, both men and women, decide whether or not a woman can handle a job that has never even remotely been occupied by anything other than a macho man.

Perhaps macho man is an exaggeration in terms of a Jimmy Carter or perhaps Grover Cleveland and maybe Millard Fillmore, but I think you get my point.

Is the American voting public able to wrap their brains around a 230 year rejection of woman?

Suffice to say since they weren't able to vote until 1920 I doubt very much whether they even were able to run for the highest political jobs in the land. So one has to understand that it hasn't even been 100 years since woman were regarded, by the male dominated society, as even having a position or a conviction on political matters.

I'm not sure enough time has elapsed.

I will say that I personally think Hillary can do the job and I've said all along that her nearest advisor is an obvious asset.

I have not made up my mind as far as who I will vote for in the February primary. I'm looking for the candidate that can win the Novemeber election and I still lean toward John Edwards as being the most electable of the major three Democrats.

Obviously Barack has the best gift of gab and I would think his speeches over the next six months will rival anything delivered since the Kennedy boys.

And just because he lost New Hampshire by a few percentage points doesn't mean he's on his way down. On the contrary....I think he's rising faster than anyone.

Hillary needed New Hampshire or she was in big trouble. The fact that she shed a few tears in reference to people not getting her message, and the other "boys" picking on her, is not a negative thing.

She's a chick and chick's cry.

Hell I'm not a chick and I cry from time to time.....but all it does is make people nervous because I'm a dude.

A chick starts crying and someone's in trouble because someone caused her to cry.

In this case it turns out to be a good thing for about 10,000 people who happened to see the female side of her nature. She does have a male side and a female side, as do we all, but the female side seemed to be buried because of her playing a man's game.

Can this country accept that being President of the United States is not just a man's game?

I'm not sure

and

neither are

you

So we leave the second inning with John McCain and Hillary Clinton feeling victorious and we move to the third inning in South Carolina. After the third inning things really heat up and the fourth and fifth innings are really long and widespread innings.

South Carolina seems to be the state that will either bring John Edwards back into prominence or possibly send him back to the hair stylist. It's his home state and if he can't win that, then I would say he needs to be working for another VP nomination.

John Edwards seems like the perfect Vice-President.

Hillary seems more like the Secretary of Education

Al Gore seems like the head of the Department of Energy

Bill Clinton seems like the Secretary of Commerce

John McCain seems like Secretary of Defense

Joe Biden seems like the Secretary of State

Bill Richardson seems like he should have his own variety show

Mitt Romney needs to just keeping making money

Rudy Giuliani needs to be in charge of Homeland Security

Ron Paul seems to be a guy that wants to be the conscience of the country and perhaps a new position could be formed....Secretary General of Philosophical Direction

and that only leaves Barack without a job.....oh yeah, there is that one big job that everybody wants.......

OPRAH'S PARTNER

He's got the inside track and it's his for the asking.

On to South Carolina

Michael Timothy McAlevey

SECOND INNING

Today in New Hampshire the second inning of the primary process is taking place and it looks like Barack is gaining ground.

Pundits have been saying that it's hard for Hillary to talk about change with Bill standing right behind her.

It appears that the country is having a problem with the BUSH/CLINTON/BUSH/CLINTON scenario....especially in regards to the "change" campaign that seems to be dominating every candidates platform.

Barack is definitely a "change" candidate and he seems to be invigorating the youth vote. How his message will play with the independents is the real question.

The "MUSLIM" issue is starting to come into play from the groups that oppose him....which is about the only negative idea that can be thrown into play at this time.

Its obviously an important issue and one that needs to be addressed soon.

It just doesn't seem like Hillary has the "talent" to overcome her obstacles. She not a forceful speaker and great speeches are needed at this time in history.

John Edwards has the right message but he seems redundant....and most of us question his senserity regarding elimation of lobbyist. I love his point about ending poverty in America but most of those people don't vote.

On the Republican side it appears that John McCain has staged a dramatic comeback and the more we see and hear Mitt speak the more we don't seem to trust him. He might be too slick.

Rudy will do well in Florida and California but it might not be enough. The three marriage dealio is just too much for the American voter....even though one of the marriages was annulled, it still shows a certain lack of loyalty.

Fred Thompson seems to be in the race to promote his TV show and nobody seems to take him seriously.

Mike Huckabee will go as far as the Evangelical Christians can take him but that probably isn't a destination that ends up at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. It might get him his own evangelist TV station or radio show but not the White House.

Ron Paul has a unique message but it falls into the Ross Perot/ Ralph Nader category and there just aren't enough people who believe that his ideas are workable. He makes a lot of sense when he talks about fiscal responsibility but the money printing system of America just doesn't seem to care about deficits or balanced budgets.

Balancing the budget and environmental issues are taking a back seat.

It's a back seat that will end up driving the bus, but by then the bus will be careening off the road.

Michael Timothy McAlevey

FIRST INNING

And the game has finally started and the first inning goes to Barack Obama and Mike Huckabee.

There are no absolutes in regards to these two candidates being the actual nominations from each party but it "INDICATES" how the game could go and the mood of the umpires (people of America).

SOME FOOTNOTES FROM THE FIRST INNING

Barack Obama motivates young people to get involved.

Mike Huckabee motivates the religious right....even though they don't need a ton of motivation.

Hillary Clinton has the older female vote but not the younger female vote....and more importantly

Hillary is not Bill.

John Edwards has a strong message but money appears to be a problem.

Rudy Giuliani isn't quite sure where Iowa is

Mitt Romney thinks that Chuck Norris is a traitor

Joe Biden, Christopher Dodd, Dennis with the Wife and Bill Richardson will have a lot more time to spend with their families.

John McCain couldn't stay up that late to see the results.

Fred Thompson is just odd.

The fact that a predominately white state voted for a Black man means something....but before anyone thinks America has advanced to a new level of tolerance and open mindedness...it's important to remember that this was the First Inning and nobody from last night's caucus is taking up residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

I think the one factor that cannot be overlooked is the Oprah factor....and from all indications it looks like the Oprah Factor could be huge during the rest of the game. Let's see how she pitches in New Hampshire. I think her curveball might not work as well in the Northwest.

Barack's line in last nights acceptance speech was brillinat and it's amazing no one elese has ever said it before

'WE ARE NOT RED STATES, WE ARE NOT BLUE STATES....WE ARE THE UNITED STATES......."

whoever thought of that line should be given a huge raise and if it was Barack...then we are in for some wonderful speeches over the next 10 months.

It's a little early to think about running mates but Obama/Edwards would make sense....but the game has just started.....so now on to the second inning and let's see what happens.

The first inning indicates some "different" tones to the political process but so many things can change.

Being a baby boomer and having gone through "trauma" on the political front...I just want everybody to live through the experience.

Michael Timothy McAlevey

THE IOWA BOWL HAS ARRIVED

For eight months both Democratic and Republican Presidential hopefuls have been working their butts off toward this unique moment in time.

The amount of money being spent in IOWA makes this the MOST UNIQUE caucus in our 232 year history.

And as the dust settles on the subsidized corn fields of Iowa.....both parties are DEADLOCKED among their top three candidates.

I'm choosing not to mention any names because God knows we've heard them enough already, and after today it gets more intense among the ones left standing.

And anyway, November is just around the corner....and I'm not sure this country is ready for the size and scope of the final 2008 media blitz that will dominate our airwaves during September, October and the first week of November.

All of this could have a backlash effect and the voter turnout could end up being a record low.

But highly unlikely if a woman or an African American is involved in the final contest.

I'm wondering if all this energy being expended in Iowa has anything to do with oil reaching $100.00 a barrel.

Doesn't $100.00 a barrel mean that domestic drilling can resume. When oil was $20.oo a barrel, the oil companies used to say that if oil was $35.00 a barrel, then they could resume drilling closer to home.

I think $100 is higher than $35.00 and even by factoring inflation into the mix....it would seem that drilling could be once again be profitable.

I haven't heard a lot of talk in Iowa about the price of oil. Once again the oil companies have pulled an incredible public relation rabbit out of their sticky hats.

NO FOCUS ON OIL PRICES DURING PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN

HOW THE HELL DO THEY DO THAT?

I'm probably in trouble for even mentioning it.........

by the way.....

The Tatiana Tiger story in San Francisco has developed some oddities. Lawyers are currently flocking to all parties and rumors are bouncing all over the Zoo.

Stories from taunting to Vodka to slow response time from Zoo keepers, has made this into a strange soap opera. One of the weirdest parts of the story is the father of the victim called the two friends when his son didn't show up for dinner and they said...."they didn't know where his son was." And actually his son had already been mauled to death when they made that statement.

The other odd part is the 20 foot containing wall that is actually only 12 feet.

Sounds like a math problem to me.

BACK TO IOWA

I think I better fly out there and make sure everything runs smoothly....after all the caucus format can prove to be fairly unruly....especially on the Democratic side.

The two parties have entirely different methods for conducting their caucuses.

Republicans do it in a calm written vote style....while the Democrats physically team up and then if anyone person doesn't have 15% of the vote, then the people supporting those weaker candidates, have to move to stronger candidates.

IT COULD BE A VERY LATE NIGHT IN IOWA.

As I write this..... oil and gold have both reached new record highs....and by the time November rolls around we could be looking at $175.00 a barrel and $1200 an ounce.

WHAT THE HELL WOULD THOSE NUMBERS DO TO THE DOLLAR?

Happy New Year

Michael Timothy McAlevey

2008

So far so good....

TROJANS WIN ROSE BOWL

and 2008 starts the same way that 2007 did.....so far so good.

I'm looking forward to some slight improvements in certain areas of my life....

I promise to reveal more insights that are pertinent to the reality of our times....even if those times extend from Socrates to this exact moment right now......

OUR TIMES might be

the human being in an upright position

.....it's such a short time and......

It's too early to tell, even with all the cool modern toys...

and by the way....the fact that I actually know pertinent insights, might come as a surprise to some of you.......but it's not always about you.

And if it is always about you....then you need to start sharing.

Michael Timothy McAlevey