Last night, Bill O'Reilly was hot under the collar about MSNBC's coverage of McCain's Sarah Palin VP pick. Here is the YouTube clip.

MSNBC really crossed the line by adding the caption, "How many houses does Palin add to the Republican ticket?" under their breaking news bulletin of the event. I also agree with O'Reilly that Tom Brokaw and Brian Williams bear some responsibility here too. By appearing on MSNBC, they lend credence to this type of snide reporting.

Any wonder MSNBC isn't watched by conservatives?

I used to get all my news from NBC; I've watched ever since the Dave Garaway years! The Today Show used to be the first thing I turned on in the morning and I prepared dinner with Tom Brokaw. But over the years, NBC became so biased (and fluffy), I couldn't take it anymore.

In Googling this topic, I came across a new acronym for NBC: New Barack Channel 

By the way, I think it's odd that MSNBC would even raise the house question since Sarah Palin seems so very mainstream American and working class. There doesn't appear to be an elite bone in her body--she loves moose stew and probably doesn't even know what arugula lettuce is! 

UPDATE: Sept. 8, 2008 MSNBC just demoted their anchors Olbermann and Matthews to commentators. "The change reflects tensions between the freewheeling, opinionated MSNBC and the impartial newsgatherers at NBC News."

Links: 

Brookfield7, Fairly Conservative, Betterbrookfield, Mark Levin,   Vicki Mckenna

"She's a female Teddy Roosevelt" a caller told Jay Weber today, as I was listening for the latest VP news. That sums it up well.

Sarah Palin seems a perfect complement to McCain: Young, energetic, a governor, pro-marriage, passionately pro-life. She is a life long member of the NRA, hunts and ice fishes.

McCain and Palin have the potential to get our budget under control and end waste. Palin's nickname was the barracuda in high school.

I heard she cleaned house in Alaska, leaving a trail of bodies in her wake. (Many of them good ole boy republicans!)  It sounds like she won't tolerate corruption or waste regardless of whose party it comes from. That is what we need.

I think Ronald Reagan would be pleased. I know I am breathing a sigh of relief. I will feel even better when I hear John McCain say it himself. (I am a bit of a Doubting Thomas at times.)

Links: 

Brookfield7, Fairly Conservative, Betterbrookfield, Mark Levin,   Vicki Mckenna

(See updates at bottom of post)

The word is, John McCain will declare his running mate tomorrow. I have come to terms with voting for McCain. To quote a colorful little saying of my father's, "He's a little better than the average...but the average ain't so good these days." The more I find out about Obama, the better McCain looks.

I think as long as he doesn't pick a real loser of a running mate, most conservatives like me will take a deep breath and vote for McCain on election day. The fact that a number of pro-choice candidates have been hinted at however, such as Tom Ridge and Joe Lieberman, to me destroys all the positive ground McCain gained since he became the Republican's candidate.

If McCain picks Lieberman or any other pro-choice running mate, I guess I will need an oxygen tank to keep me going on Election Day!

There is one V.P. possibility that excites me: Alaska's governor Sarah Palin. She is young, energetic, pro life, pro gun, pro small business, very pro oil...what's not to like? I doubt Democrats will bring up her lack of foreign policy experience because that would just point to Obama's lack of experience too. She's a mother of 5, her oldest son enlisted in the Army; her youngest was born with Down's Syndrome. So unlike Romney, who has changed his position, she truly believes in the sanctity of life and has demonstrated that by her actions. (Just so you know, I would be just as excited by her if she were male.)

Mitt Romney would be OK with me too. His speech on faith and his concession speech last spring were outstanding. He is pro-life enough for me and I know he would defend our freedom of religion, even though I don't share his faith. Many people do not see Romney in a favorable light however.

Tim Pawlenty's name has been out for a while. He would be good. He is young, pro life, and fairly conservative, but he is hook, line, and sinker an ethanol promoter. (What can you expect in Minnesota?) He comes from humble roots, so that would be a nice contrast. Since Pawlenty was for McCain all along, there would not be the 180 degree flip flops on McCain being a good president as Biden has had to do with Obama.

Another name tossed out there is Kay Bailey Hutchinson, Senator from Texas. She does not excite me, but at least she isn't a Lieberman or Ridge.

Paul Ryan or Bobby Jindall would be great too, but they are just a little on the young side for most people. (Next time?) 

Any of the above would be better than a pro-choice pick.

What I don't understand is why McCain would even flirt with the idea of a pro-choice running mate? It is pretty obvious that the pro-life issue is important. To many voters it is the #1 criteria.

Eyebrows are still rising over Obama's vote on the Infant Protection Bill. Others agree that a Pro Choice Veep Equals Political Suicide, (My emphasis)

I hate to rain on John McCain's parade right after he trounced Barack Obama at Rick Warren's Saddleback Church forum, for which I heartily applaud him, but McCain's trial balloon consideration of a pro-choice running mate demands a response.

The prospect of an Obama presidency is so horrifying that many conservatives have temporarily put aside their misgivings about McCain to focus on defeating Obama.

They hold their noses on McCain's immigration record, his campaign finance reform zealotry and his newfound acquiescence to the propaganda narrative of environmental extremists. But they are profoundly appreciative of his tougher stance against tax increases and mindful of his undeniable superiority over Obama on foreign policy and national defense. Recent world events, including Russia's naked aggression against Georgia, magnify this already-glaring contrast.

But while national defense necessarily occupies the front burner, McCain would make a fatal mistake to assume that social issues, especially abortion, are ever off an equally blazing front burner for an inestimable number of social conservatives, the Republicans' most reliable voting bloc over the past three decades.

The pro life issue still has traction. Why give it away?

Because of McCain's age, the running mate becomes an even more important issue. Plus, wouldn't it be great to have a strong V.P. candidate that could step up when McCain fulfilled his term/s? 

In the meantime, I'm holding my breath and thinking, don't make a colossal blunder, McCain! 

UPDATE: After Barack Obama's speech tonight, the word on Fox News was that Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, and Tim Pawlenty would be meeting with McCain in Ohio tomorrow. Other sources had a longer list of VP possibilities. Ugh, I hate waiting.

Friday morning UPDATE: Mitt Romney will be in Ohio, Tim Pawlenty is not the pick and is not coming to Ohio, Mike Huckabee said he was not vetted (phew), but there is mention of a private charter flight to Ohio from ALASKA! (Jay Weber) Drudge has a campaign button mock up with McCain Palin on it big as life. 

2nd Friday update: Fox News says it is not Mitt Romney. 

3rd Friday update: My hopes are dashed. Rumors of Palin being in Ohio are said to not be true. ABC says she is in Alaska and set to visit their state fair today. I suppose she could still be the pick? They could be wrong? I hope? There are other rumors that Palin has been spotted in Ohio--that a woman and 2 teens got off that Alaskan charter flight last night. The announcement will come at 11am today--at least I can exhale then.  

Links: 

Brookfield7, Fairly Conservative, Betterbrookfield, Mark Levin,   Vicki Mckenna

They come from all over the country; people from all walks of life--from Rich Urban BikerS (RUBS) to hardcore bikers. The one thing they have in common is that they love their machines. Customizing is part of the love affair. I snapped this picture near Sturgis, South Dakota early in August. Many bikers, just like this couple, are coming to the Milwaukee area for the 105th anniversary celebration of Harley-Davidson. (Yes, that is a coffin shaped trailer.)

I found out about HOT TOPPERS from my Brookfield friend. She is a friend of Elm Grove residents Maureen Denney and Bob Lundquist, the owners of HOT TOPPERS. They needed my son the techno-doctor to pay a house call to HOT TOPPERS, to repair their 2 Harley themed pinball machines. When he returned, I asked him, What do they sell there?  He really could not tell me. Hmmm. I had to check this out for myself, and I am really glad I did! What an interesting place.

The HOT TOPPERS shop is located at 255 N. 121st Street, just a few blocks south of Bluemound Rd. and 121st St. What do they sell there? Why, HOT TOPPERS of course! Triple chrome plated ABS plastic covers for the various bolt heads on Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

The caps come in various styles and sizes and are easy to apply. Their hours are Monday - Friday, 9-5 (often earlier and later.) They are also open by appointment on the weekends.

How can chrome caps be that interesting? Because their bolt covers and chrome accessories shop also is home to their extensive collection of vintage motorcycles and motorcycle themed collectibles.

Everything from vintage toys to antique and collectible promo items, T-shirts, lunch boxes, collector plates and mugs are neatly displayed in their shop's garage. (This represents about 1/3 of their collection.) 

Their oldest bike is a French 1901 Clement. They also had a 1907 Triumph.

I believe this one is a 1914 Excelsior. They welcome visitors, and as their brochure states, it is a "Fun Place To Visit."

For more information on their attractive alternative to stainless steel bolts shown here on the HOT TOPPERS bike, see their website: hottoppers.com, call 414-282-5858, or email HOTTOPPERS@aol.com 

"Still the best bang for your buck when it comes to chrome!"

 Happy 105th Anniversary Harley-Davidson

You can also see their products at Hal's Harley-Davidson in New Berlin.

Links: 

Brookfield7, Fairly Conservative, Betterbrookfield, Mark Levin,   Vicki Mckenna

I caught some of the Democratic convention last night. It was Hillary's big night. The video before she spoke was very well done and I think candidates will be using that medium more and more.

Finally it was Hillary's turn. Would she unify the party? She opened with,

I am honored to be here tonight. A proud mother. A proud Democrat. A proud American. And a proud supporter of Barack Obama.

(As she went down her different identities list, I wondered if she would say, A proud wife too.) 

Hillary has improved her delivery style; she seemed very enthusiastic and energetic in speaking of her (and Bill's) accomplishments and experiences. If Obama wins, more than likely, she will finally get her health care plan--maybe even a Cabinet post too?  (Transcript my emphasis)

And when Barack Obama is in the White House, he'll revitalize our economy, defend the working people of America, and meet the global challenges of our time. Democrats know how to do this. As I recall, we did it before with President Clinton and the Democrats. And we'll do it again with President Obama and the Democrats.

Just think what America will be when we transform our energy agenda by creating millions of green jobs and build a new, clean energy future. Barack Obama will make sure that middle-class families get the tax relief they deserve. And I cannot wait to watch Barack Obama sign into law a health care plan into law that covers every single American.

She promised Obama would end the war--responsibly. (No longer do they talk of immediate troop withdrawal.) This issue is rather moot at this point since President Bush and the Iraqi leadership are talking the same line.

Barack Obama will end the war in Iraq responsibly and bring our troops home a first step to repairing our alliances around the world.

Best zinger of the evening: 

Now, with an agenda like that, it makes perfect sense that George Bush and John McCain will be together next week in the Twin Cities. Because these days they're awfully hard to tell apart.

I don't agree that Bush and McCain are hard to tell apart, but then, to someone on the outside, we all look alike. Most conservatives will be holding their noses in voting for McCain. They are hardly the same. It was a good line just the same.

She talked about the women's suffrage movement and other strong women. I thought she should have mentioned Geraldine Ferraro though. After all, Geraldine was the first female V.P. candidate, making her a potential president should she be needed. 

And after so many decades 88 years ago on this very day the 19th Amendment guaranteeing women the right to vote would be forever enshrined in our Constitution.

My mother was born before women could vote. But in this election my daughter got to vote for her mother for president.

Maybe it is just because I am a mom too, but I truly did appreciate how special it must have been for her to have her mother, who was born before women had the right to vote, and her daughter both able to vote for Hillary on the presidential primary ticket. This does show how far we have come as a nation, as does having an African American as one choice on the ticket.

I can't help but wonder if Hillary's convention speech will leave attendees and Democrats wondering if they nominated the wrong candidate, just as Republicans thought after Ronald Reagan spoke at Ford's convention. The pressure is on Obama to deliver the speech of his lifetime on Thursday.

Former President Bill Clinton's speech tonight should be interesting. Will he stick to the topic assigned? Just heard on an afternoon news blurb that he has also been instructed to keep his speech to 10 minutes! 

P.S. Hillary even made light of her infamous pantsuit with a reference to The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants-suit! You can tell she is a gutsy woman by her clothing selection last night. Anyone who can carry off a tangerine-coral colored pantsuit is no shrinking violet. She has been criticized about her fashion choices, but speaking as a former fashion design major, it is not the worst choice for her. She is not a size 12 or even 14. Heavier women, looking for business attire, have a very difficult time of it. If they wear a suit jacket with a skirt, they come off rather Janet Reno-ish. The pants give a more vertical line--especially if teamed with a monochromatic blouse and jacket. She is a summer in her coloring, so yellows and oranges look good on her. OK, enough of the fluff.

Links: 

Brookfield7, Fairly Conservative, Betterbrookfield, Mark Levin,   Vicki Mckenna

So, Why do we need change? 

I listened to Michelle Obama last night. She spoke about how she and Barack came from humble roots. No trace of her for the first time I''m really proud of my country attitude. She did a nice job, but her persona last night was quite different from the Michelle of the campaign trail.

It was very clear she had wonderful parents. She spoke passionately about how they were hard working and dedicated to their family. When she spoke about them, I believe it was from her heart. From the transcript: (My emphasis throughout)

He [My dad] and my mom poured everything they had into me and Craig. It was the greatest gift a child can receive: never doubting for a single minute that you're loved, and cherished, and have a place in this world. And thanks to their faith and hard work, we both were able to go on to college. So I know firsthand from their lives — and mine — that the American dream endures.

She then spoke of Barack's background and how even though he was raised by a single mom and grandparents, they shared those same values: that you work for what you value. 

And you know, what struck me when I first met Barack was that even though he had this funny name, even though he'd grown up all the way across the continent in Hawaii, his family was so much like mine. He was raised by grandparents who were working class folks just like my parents, and by a single mother who struggled to pay the bills just like we did. Like my family, they scrimped and saved so that he could have opportunities they never had themselves. And Barack and I were raised with so many of the same values: that you work hard for what you want in life; that your word is your bond and you do what you say you're going to do; that you treat people with dignity and respect, even if you don't know them, and even if you don't agree with them.

I could relate to her speech. I was raised in a blue collar family. My parents did not go to college; my father did not even attend high school. I was the first in the family to go to college and they scrimped and saved to make that possible. God blessed me with fantastic parents who instilled in me the very same values that Michelle extolled.  

And Barack and I set out to build lives guided by these values, and pass them on to the next generation. Because we want our children — and all children in this nation — to know that the only limit to the height of your achievements is the reach of your dreams and your willingness to work for them. 

Hard work is the common thread to achievement. She then goes on to talk about how she and her husband have made sacrifices to serve their country, a country which she admits has given her much.

And in my own life, in my own small way, I've tried to give back to this country that has given me so much. That's why I left a job at a law firm for a career in public service, working to empower young people to volunteer in their communities. Because I believe that each of us — no matter what our age or background or walk of life — each of us has something to contribute to the life of this nation.

Very nice. It is good to give back. But that life of public service is hardly on the same plane as joining the Peace Corps or something. The Obama's live very comfortably serving the public and are considered rich by most American people's standards. Don't get me wrong, they have every right to make money--I am all for it. I guess I just take exception to the idea that they somehow are living sacrificially now. I suppose all things are relative.

She concludes with, 

And as I tuck that little girl and her little sister into bed at night, I think about how one day, they'll have families of their own. And one day, they — and your sons and daughters — will tell their own children about what we did together in this election. They'll tell them how this time, we listened to our hopes, instead of our fears. How this time, we decided to stop doubting and to start dreaming. How this time, in this great country — where a girl from the South Side of Chicago can go to college and law school, and the son of a single mother from Hawaii can go all the way to the White House — we committed ourselves to building the world as it should be. (Then a pitch to vote for Barack.)

But if an African American blue collar worker (without a college education) from the south side of Chicago could produce a Princeton schooled lawyer, who is now a potential First Lady of the land, and a single mom on food stamps along with dedicated grandparents can send a son to private school, and that son goes onto Harvard and is the Democrat's candidate for president, doesn't this prove America already is the land of opportunity? There is room for improvement, of course.

Michelle acknowledged the "American Dream endures." As she summed up the reason for their success, notice that it was the simple principle of HARD WORK that got both of them to this unique moment in history.

Michelle Obama did a good job with her speech--it just did not ring true to me. I don't think what she said last night supported the need for the kind of "Change" her husband's campaign promotes.

Campaign signs of Common Values/Common Purpose abounded in the audience. I share the values of hard work and sacrifice Michelle spoke about. What I don't share is Obama's vision for our nation's future.

Links: 

Brookfield7, Fairly Conservative, Betterbrookfield, Mark Levin,   Vicki Mckenna

I am a little puzzled by this statement, since the Democrat's presidential candidate and platform are pro-abortion too.

The Roman Catholic group, Fidelis, says Barack Obama's selection of pro-abortion Catholic Joe Biden to be his V.P. running mate "is a slap in the face to Catholic voters" and poses a major challenge for American Catholics.

In a press release sent out overnight, Fidelis president, Brian Burch, declared that Barack Obama has "re-opened a wound among American Catholics" by picking a pro-abortion Catholic politician like Joe Biden.

According to Burch, the American Catholic bishops have made it clear that Catholic political leaders must defend the dignity of every human person, including the unborn. 

The article goes on to state Joe Biden's "steadfast support for legal abortion" in the US Senate. 

This same issue came up in the 2004 election when John Kerry "sparked a nationwide controversy over whether Catholics who support legal abortion can receive communion." 

The Catholic group's president, Brian Burch stated, "Selecting a pro-abortion Catholic is a slap in the face to Catholic voters."

According to Burch, "The American bishops have instructed Catholic voters to consider many issues, but have characterized the defense of human life as foundational and have explained that the issue has a special claim on the conscience of the Catholic voter. This means that a political candidate like Biden, because of his strong support for abortion rights, forfeits any claim for support despite his views on other issues like health care and the economy."

I would agree with Mr. Burch that this issue is foundational.

What I don't quite understand is why would a pro-life Catholic (or a pro-life voter from any other religion) be voting for Barack Obama--the most anti pro-life candidate? 

Links: 

Brookfield7, Fairly Conservative, Betterbrookfield, Mark Levin,   Vicki Mckenna

Last night I caught a bit of the July school board meeting on cable TV*. The board was discussing Elmbrook's coming budget woes and the difficult decisions our district needs to make to keep our schools operating within budget. (Unfortunately, I missed at least the first half of the meeting, but I will watch again and take better notes.)

Glen Allgaier had created a list of cost saving possibilities--none of them an easy choice. The list included the unpleasant prospects of closing a school and increasing class sizes. The idea was we needed to dramatically cut spending in order to meet our financial obligations. There seemed to be agreement that drastic measures were necessary.

Then Dr. Gibson chimed in that we could also look at increasing revenue producers to solve our money problems as well as implementing cost savings measures. That was when he mentioned 4K as well as looking at nonresident students. Gibson acknowledged that we had decided to forgo 4K but it seemed the state aid dollar potential was still tempting him.

Another "revenue producer" would be to go to the taxpayers with a referendum to raise the spending cap!

The idea of coming at taxpayers on the heels of our $62mil high school referendum would be very distasteful to me--especially considering our budget shortfalls are nothing new.  While I had suggested a referendum to raise the spending cap to increase the maintenance/capital improvement budget as a way to deal with the high school improvements and needs, that spending cap referendum was to be instead of not in addition to the high school referendum!

4K was mentioned not as an improvement to education but solely as a cure for budget woes--as in increasing the school budget, not decreasing the taxpayer's burden. Our board decided last fall to eliminate 4K because it was not shown to improve student performance in the long run. But here we are again mentioning 4K as a possibility.

Universal 4K is also a subject of the presidential election. Both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama support the idea of nationwide 4K. The Democrat party believes in pre-K as it is sometimes called.

Today, the Wall Street Journal's Protect Our Kids From Preschool summed up much of what I wrote last fall when Elmbrook was deciding their 4K question. In a nutshell, there is no longterm evidence that 4K is beneficial in the long run:

Barack Obama says he believes in universal preschool and if he's elected president he'll pump "billions of dollars into early childhood education." Universal preschool is now second only to universal health care on the liberal policy wish list...

But is strapping a backpack on all 4-year-olds and sending them to preschool good for them? Not according to available evidence.
...
Mr. Obama asserted in the Las Vegas debate on Jan. 15 that every dollar spent on preschool will produce a 10-fold return by improving academic performance, which will supposedly lower juvenile delinquency and welfare use -- and raise wages and tax contributions. Such claims are wildly exaggerated at best.

In the last half-century, U.S. preschool attendance has gone up to nearly 70% from 16%. But fourth-grade reading, science, and math scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) -- the nation's report card -- have remained virtually stagnant since the early 1970s.

The piece concludes with:

If Mr. Obama is serious about helping children, he should begin by fixing what is clearly broken: the K-12 system. The best way of doing that is by building on programs with a proven record of success. Many of these involve giving parents control over their own education dollars so that they have options other than dysfunctional public schools. The Obamas send their daughters to a private school whose annual fee in middle school runs around $20,000. Other parents deserve such choices too -- not promises of subsidized preschool that they may not want and that may be bad for their kids.

Jay Weber talked about 4K in his 8am hour today too. A man whose wife taught in Elmbrook's kindergarten program called in. He said his wife presented 25 reasons 4K was beneficial at the board meeting, but the board voted to discontinue. The caller then added, he wouldn't send his children for 4K! (He must have had his own 26 reasons it wasn't beneficial?)

Finland was again mentioned as a standard. Finland doesn't start school until age 7. Their students do better than the rest of the world.

Taxpayers are asked for more and more money each year, whether at the local or national level. Can we at least narrow down the wish list to programs that actually work?

Past post: Does 4K deserve tax dollars? 

If you wish to read other past postings on this subject, just click the tag 4K and they will come up. 

*Our venture in to cable TV was short lived. We signed on with TimeWarner for a special deal that wasn't delivered as promised. Now to get the package that was presented would cost $30 more per month. Too much for television! Monday the cable TV will be shut off. 

Links: 

Brookfield7, Fairly Conservative, Betterbrookfield, Mark Levin,   Vicki Mckenna

Last May I told you about Randy Melchert, candidate for the Wisconsin State Assembly--24th District.  Although that is not my district, his "Melchert Plan" to lower area gasoline prices by 10% is appealing. I don't have to live in the Menomonee Falls/Germantown area to be in favor of that! 

From his website:

...[His] three-part plan would eliminate the Minimum Markup Law, lower the state Gas Tax to the national average, and end the forced use of Reformulated Gas.While gas prices have risen nationwide, gas in Wisconsin has risen more than other states because Wisconsin has one of the ten highest gasoline tax rates in the nation! The Tax Foundation shows how gas taxes in Wisconsin are 3 cents higher than Indiana, 5 cents higher than Ohio, almost 11 cents higher than Minnesota and Iowa, almost 15 cents higher than South Carolina and Kentucky, and 19 cents higher than New Jersey

Now I could understand if the gas tax was used for highway maintenance and road repair, but when Governor Doyle can steal $240 million from the transportation fund to cover the rest of his budget, we're paying too much in gas taxes.

On his website, Melchert includes a series of interesting charts, graphs, and lots of statistics that illustrate how Wisconsin drivers pay more for gasoline than most other states. There is also a savings calculator where you can punch in your numbers to see how the minimum mark up, reformulation, and higher gas taxes affect you. On average, I probably would save $300 a year, but if I would calculate the savings for our entire household, we would be saving somewhere around $900 a year.

Since we just returned from a trip out west, I can confirm we found gas prices elsewhere much cheaper. The added bonus was that we could get non-ethanol gasoline in other states, giving us more miles per gallon.

For example: in a 2 day period on Aug. 16th and 17th, regular gasoline in Sioux Falls, SD was $3.49/gal, Willmar, MN was $3.62/gal, but in Wisconsin, reformulated gas (the only kind available) in Black River Falls was $3.79/gal. 

Check out the information on Melchert's website, and if you would like to save 10% on your gasoline bills, contact your representatives and senators and ask them to implement the Melchert Plan!

If I lived in the 24th District, I would be voting for Randy Melchert come Sept. 9th. But I live in the 14th District, so my vote happily goes to Leah Vukmir.

Links: 

Brookfield7, Fairly Conservative, Betterbrookfield, Mark Levin,   Vicki Mckenna

According to Wednesday's USA TODAY Money section, the slight fall in gas prices has already influenced the type of car people are looking at.

It seems that now that the heat is off, rising gas prices wise, so is the interest in small cars.

The article, Hot ;small-car sales simmer down - Falling gas prices pull reins on stampeding buyers, stated that, "Car shoppers who panicked in June and July about gas prices are losing intrest in small cars and hybrids as fuel prices have declined."

This drop in interest was based on Edmunds.com users searching for certain types of cars--compacts and hybrids. A chart showed that although gas prices rose from $3.33/gal in April,  to a peak of about $4.10 in July, and have fallen to $3.81 now, the percentage of compact and hybrid searches is now just about where they were in April.

"In June, 31.4% of recent new car buyers surveyed said the purchase was motivated by a desire for better gas mileage, Acxiom says. That is up from 21.1% in February, but still less than a third of buyers. there is 'not this huge flood to one segmennt in the auto industry," says Tim Longnecer of Axiom's automotive practice. 'There's still going to be this hughe desire for utility.'" 

The article concluded with a quote from Jeremy Anwyl of Edmunds "At the end of the day, people need space."

We too toyed with the idea of trading in my PT Cruiser, which does not get great gas mileage, but concluded the cost to upgrade to a better gas mileage model was not worth it. We figured we could purchase a lot of gas, at a higher price, for the difference in sticker cost for that more efficient model.

The other influencing factor for us, just as Amwyl stated, was size. We needed a vehicle at least PT's size to use for a vacation car, so we did nothing. (Plus I still have 2 more years of warranty left.)

How about you?

Links: 

Brookfield7, Fairly Conservative, Betterbrookfield, Mark Levin,   Vicki Mckenna

You see a lot of bumper stickers on cars. Some are quite funny; some cruel. This one isn't a bumper sticker yet, but I suspect I will see it: I thought it was a clever play on a campaign slogan. (It was an email post script tag.)

NObama 08, Keep the Change!

This next slogan actually was a bumper sticker, and it was bipartisan!

DON'T STEAL, THE GOVERNMENT HATES COMPETITION

My son spotted this email tag on a VW car bullitin board site.

My carbon output feeds the trees the liberals love to hug!

Any one see a funny McCain bumper sticker?

Links: 

Brookfield7, Fairly Conservative, Betterbrookfield, Mark Levin,   Vicki Mckenna

Growing up, one of our favorite summer meals was sweet corn, Italian bread, maybe some tuna fish, and tomatoes and garlic salad. It was a very simple supper, but it sure tasted good!

I still make this marinated salad just like my Italian grandfather did--with homegrown tomatoes (or from the farmer's market), garlic, and extra virgin olive oil. It is very simple to prepare. If you like tomatoes and garlic, give it a try.

Put all ingredients into a salad bowl.

Use at least one tomato per person. Wash it, core it, and cut into wedges--about 1/2 inch by 1 1/2 inches.

Peel and slice 1 clove of garlic per 3 tomatoes--more or less to taste.

Pour on about 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil per tomato.

Some people might want to add a pinch of salt. 

Let sit at room temperature for a few hours and stir a few times. DO NOT REFRIGERATE!!!

When ready to serve, you can pick out the garlic slices if you like, or leave in.

Serve with Italian bread. The juice from the tomatoes mixed with the oil and garlic is delicious. Grandpa would break off pieces of the bread to soak up the juices with. That is how we eat it too.

I like the Italian bread from Angelina's Deli on North Ave. just east of Pilgrim. They also have the best Italian sausage in town, in my opinion. The sausages would make a nice addition to this meal, instead of the tuna.

We get our sweet corn from Simon's on Greenfield Ave. and Vista View--between Mooreland and Sunnyslope. It is excellent.

So give this simple summer supper a try soon.

Links: 

Brookfield7, Fairly Conservative, Betterbrookfield, Mark Levin,   Vicki Mckenna

One of the first things we purchased when we moved here was a utility trailer. What do we need that for? I asked my husband. He said we would need to to haul brush to the dump. (Back then we still called it the dump.) He did use it for that purpose...a lot.

In 1995 I became the one to go to the recycling center. We were remodeling and in 1995 the center still allowed residents to bring in their used building materials.

Every week I would make at least 3 trips with trailer fully loaded. I was a bit of a novelty, because there were not too many women who would drive a car with a trailer. (I got to know the guys pretty well--a few were nice.)

I've made a few trips since then, but I always needed my husband's car since he had the hitch.

But this summer, I got a trailer hitch put onto my car. That might not seem like a big deal to you, but it made me happy. Now I can go to the Recycling Center whenever they are open.

On a recent trip, my son and I watched other residents struggle shoveling mulch and dirt into their trunks and mini vans. I happily forked the mulch into my little old red trailer.

The Recycling Center has changed a great deal since my earlier visits. The new facilities for Public Works are pretty impressive. (Our tax dollars at work.) 

I must say I miss the piles of stuff and scrap lumber though. It was always fun to check those out. (Once a nice worker even let me retrieve a plaid metal lunch box from the scrap metal heap!)

Kids loved the idea of bringing home wood for a fort or tree house. It was truly a Recycling Center back then!

If you like to garden or if you have a lot of mature trees on your lot, may I recommend the humble trailer and hitch. They have more than paid for themselves at our homestead. 

Links: 

It sure took long enough. I planted earlier than other years, and my tomato plants looked great. Yet those green tomatoes just would not ripen!

I suspect cool night temperatures are to blame--tomatoes need it warm at night to ripen properly.

But today, TODAY, I found 2 ripe Lemon Boy tomatoes out in my garden they became my first tomato mayo sandwich of the season. The Mortgage Lifter looks like it will be next.

Now I can say I broke even on that plant. If I would have bought 2 yellow tomatoes at the store today, they would have probabaly equalled the plant purchase price. All the rest I harvest from this point forward will be free!

How is your garden growing?

Links: 

The Obama Nation, a book by Jerome R. Corsi Ph.D., comes out today.

The author was on Sean Hannity last night plugging it. Corsi mentioned Obama being marketed as the next Neo from the Matrix movies--you know "The One." I thought that was an interesting idea since his campaign "borrowed" slogans from other celebrities.

Interestingly, Corsi said he has been researching this book in 2006. He figured the Democratic party would fall for Obama as their candidate without really knowing much about him. Boy, was Corsi right about that!

The Obama Nation includes topics such as Barack's connection with Rezko in Chicago, Obama's anti Israel stance, and his very anti pro life stance. It is over 380 pages long--I'm sure there is lots more.

While I am on the topic of getting to know more about Obama, this is the link to Barack Obama's Stealth Socialism editorial My Two Cents mentioned yesterday in the comments from Properly inflate your tires. Be sure to read the list of socialist programs he is pushing for.

Links: