Consumer Tip Of The Day

Wawa, the convenience store chain that Philadelphians appreciate deeply when staying in other parts of this great nation, has begun selling barrista-type hot drinks and has a promotional offer of $1.99 for a 16-ounce one.

Yes, this replaces the crappy machine dispenser ones.
Yes, they are better than Starbucks albeit the variety seems a little lacking.

Thoughts On Tonight’s Debate

Two words: President Romney.

“We’ve gone through a tough four years”
— Barack Obama
Kudos to Candy Crowley for a fine job as moderator. 
Albeit she did let the President speak for about three minutes more.

Weird Science Of The Day

Psychologist Clarence Leuba banned tickling in his household when his son was born. 

Except during certain experimental periods.
He wanted to to see if laughing when being tickled is instinctive or something learned.
So during these experimental periods he would put on a cardboard mask so his son wouldn’t see his face and tickle him. The baby laughed anyway.
Leuba, however, felt the experiment was ruined because his wife later confessed that the boy saw her laughing when she bounced him on the knee.

Bill Would Make Bars Post Sex Trafficking Hotline Number

The House has voted to send to the Pennsylvania Senate legislation aimed at extending help to those forced or coerced against their will into labor or sexual exploitation, reports State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129). 

House Bill 235 would require advertisement of the National Human Trafficking Resource Hotline in various establishments across the state. The hotline directs individuals to a national, 24-hour, seven-day-a-week, toll-free call center that refers callers to local agencies that can provide a range of comprehensive services, including crisis intervention. 

Under the bill, the hotline would have to be advertised in establishments where victims are most likely to be found, such as: massage parlors, spas, restaurants, bars, taverns, hotels, airports, train stations and bus stations. It would also apply to adult entertainment enterprises and clubs that hold a valid liquor, malt or brewed beverage license. Establishments that fail to post the signs would be subject to civil penalties. 

Human trafficking is the second largest criminal industry in the world, with an estimated 27 million victims around the globe. 

 

500 Hear Archbishop Call Biden Wrong; Warn Catholics To Vote

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput told a packed crowd of 500 at Saint Elizabeth Church in Chester Springs, Pa. they better vote Nov. 6, reports Catholic Online.

“It’s a sin if you do not vote in the upcoming election,” he said, and he warned them not to vote the party but the policy.
“What if you had to choose between our country and Jesus?” he asked. “What would you choose? He noted that they have not had to make that choice. “Yet”.
He was too polite to call Vice President Joe Biden a liar but did say he was “wrong” about the claims he made during the vice presidential debate regarding the impact the mandates would have on church institutions.
“He should not get away with saying that in the public square,” the Archbishop said.
He said, yes, the mandates could lead to closing of schools and other institutions.
He told the crowd to shun labels.
“I call you as a Catholic, to forget about labels. Be a liberal sometimes, a conservative sometimes, but a Catholic first,” he said.
He then asked for a show of hands as to those who were “more serious about being a Democrat than being a Catholic.” None were raised. He repeated the question for Republicans. Again no hands were raised.
“All of us should be more serious about being Catholic than a Democrat or Republican,” he said.
He made a observation as to why many Catholic clergy are outspoken liberals. He noted that they came of age in the civil rights struggle and remain locked in the era.
“It’s an emotional thing for many (clergy) and this is why you have nuns attacking Paul Ryan”.
He noted that the demand for social justice and human dignity includes a “right to health care but not the right to the government providing health care”.
He noted if a political party is for abortion the attempt must be made to change the party, and that abortion on demand was the rule in America because of the failure to impress pro-life policies on both parties.
He said Jesus was killed “because he spoke the truth”.
Hat tip Cathy Craddock

House Has Hearing On School Bully Law

The State House Education Committee held a hearing last week  on legislation aimed at strengthening state law to protect school students from various forms of bullying while in school, at school-sponsored activities or in school vehicles, such as buses, says State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129). 

House Bill 2464 would require schools to include prohibitions for harassment, intimidation and cyber bullying, in addition to the current required prohibition against bullying. 

In addition, the bill would require schools to enact a policy that must identify by job title the appropriate school staff person to receive reports of incidents of alleged bullying, and the school officials responsible for ensuring the policy is implemented. In formulating the policy, the school would be responsible for including several interested parties in the process, including: students, parents, administrators, school staff, school volunteers, community representatives and local law enforcement agencies.

Something to ponder: why are the well-paid pencil pushers who run our public schools now so completely ineffective in dealing with bullying?

Arlen Specter Dies

Former Sen. Arlen Specter died today, Oct. 14, at his Philadelphia home.

He was 82.
Sen. Specter represented Pennsylvania from 1981 until 2011. He served as a Republican until 2009 switching parties after former congressman Pat Toomey announced a primary challenge. Specter would go on to lose to former congressman Joe Sestak in the Democrat primary who would go on to lose to Toomey in the 2010 general election.
As senator, he was best known for his grillings of Supreme Court nominee Robert Bork and of Anita Hill, who testified against Clarence Thomas’ Supreme Court nomination;  for his citing of “Scottish law” as a reason not to remove Bill Clinton from the presidency; and for his last minute support of the Patient Protection And Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) which got the bill through the Senate.

Before his senate career, Sen. Specter was a private attorney whose clients included the murderer Ira Einhorn, who he managed to get free on bail and who then fled the country spending 20 years in luxury in France before being brought back to justice in Pennsylvania.
Before that, he was Philadelphia’s district attorney winning on the Republican ticket in 1965 while a registered Democrat. He subsequently switched parties. He held the post until 1974.
Before that he was an assistant Philadelphia district attorney and worked on the Warren Commission where he conceived of the “single-bullet theory” as an explanation to account for the number of wounds on President Kennedy and Texas Gov. James Connally.
All in all, he certainly made his mark on America.

Christmas Kielbasa, Pierogie Sale

Orders are being taken for kielbasa and pierogies — delights that are part of the Slavic Christmas tradition — at Saints Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church, 100 S. Penn St., Clifton Heights, Pa.

The kielbasa is $11  per ring or three rings for $30.  

The potato-cheese pierogies, which are made fresh by members of the congregation, are being sold for $7 per dozen or three dozen for $20.  

To place an order  please email at SSPeterandPaul@verizon.net or call Kathy at 610-328-4731.  

Pickup will be at noon, Sunday, Nov. 18. 

Please place your orders early

Secret Service Impressions Of Presidents

We couldn’t confirm or debunk this missive that is flying around the internet.
If you want to know what a rich man is like, ask his servants.
If you want to know what a President is like, check with the Secret Service (after their retirement)
Here are snippets from a book of “Impressions & Observations” of Secret Service personnel assigned to guard U.S. Presidents/First Ladies, and Vice Presidents.
JOHN & JACQUELINE KENNEDY
*A philanderer of the highest order. *
*She ordered the kitchen help to save all the left-over wine during State dinner, mixed with fresh wine and served again during the next White House occasion.*
*LYNDON & LADYBIRD JOHNSON
*Another philanderer of the highest order. In addition, LBJ was as crude as the day is long. Both JFK and LBJ kept a lot of women in the White House for extramarital affairs, and both had set up “early warning systems” to alert them if/when their wives were nearby. Both Kennedy & Johnson were promiscuous and oversexed men. *
*She was either naive or just pretended to “not know” about her husband’s many liaisons. *
*RICHARD & PAT NIXON
*A “moral” man but very odd, weird, paranoid, etc. He had horrible relationship with his family, and in a way, was almost a recluse.*
*She was quiet most of the time.*
*SPIRO AGNEW
* Nice, decent man, everyone in the Secret Service was surprised about his downfall. *
*GERALD & BETTY FORD
*A true gentlemen who treated the Secret Service with respect and dignity. He had a great sense of humor. *
*She drank a lot!*
*JIMMY & ROSALYN CARTER
*A complete phony who would portray one picture of himself to public and very different in private, e..g., would be shown carrying his own luggage, but the suit cases were always empty; he kept empty ones just for photo op’s. Wanted the people to see him as pious and a non-drinker, but he and his family drank alcohol a lot. He had disdain for the Secret Service, and was very irresponsible with the “football” nuclear codes. He didn’t think it was a big deal and would keep military aides at a great distance. Often did not acknowledge the presence of Secret Service personnel assigned to serve him.*
*She mostly did her own thing.*
*RONALD & NANCY REAGAN
*The real deal — moral, honest, respectful, and dignified. They treated Secret Service and everyone else with respect and honor. Thanked everyone all the time. He took the time to know everyone on a personal level. * One “favorite” story which has circulated among the Secret Service personnel was an incident early in his Presidency, when he came out of his room with a pistol tucked on his hip. The agent in charge asked: “Why the pistol, Mr. President” He replied, “In case you boys can’t get the job done, I can help.” It was common for him to carry a pistol. When he met with Gorbachev, he had a pistol in his briefcase. Upon learning that Gary Hart was caught with Donna Rice, Reagan said, “Boys will be boys, but boys will not be Presidents.” [He obviously either did not know or forgot JFK’s and LBJ’s sexcapades!]*
*She was very nice but very protective of the President; and the Secret Service was often caught in the middle. She tried hard to control what the President ate, and he would say to the agent “Come on, you gotta help me out.” The Reagans drank wine during State dinners and special occasions only; otherwise, they shunned alcohol; the Secret Service could count on one hand the times they were served wine during their “family dinner”. For all the fake bluster of the Carters, the Reagans were the ones who lived life as genuinely moral people.*
*GEORGE H. & BARBARA BUSH
*Extremely kind and considerate Always respectful. Took great care in making sure the agents’ comforts were taken care of. They even brought them meals, etc. One time Barbara Bush brought warm clothes to agents standing outside at Kennebunkport; one agent was given a warm hat, and when he tried to nicely say “no thanks” even though he was obviously freezing, President Bush said “Son, don’t argue with the First Lady, put the hat on.” He was the most prompt of the Presidents. He ran the White House like a well-oiled machine.*
*She ruled the house and spoke her mind.*
*BILL & HILLARY CLINTON
*Presidency was one giant party. Not trustworthy — he was nice because he wanted everyone to like him, but to him life is just one big game and party. Everyone knows of his sexuality.*
*She is another phony. Her personality would change the instant cameras were near. She hated with open disdain the military and Secret Service. She was another one who felt people are there to serve her. She was always trying to keep tabs on Bill Clinton.*
*ALBERT GORE
* An egotistical ass, who was once overheard by his Secret Service detail lecturing his only son that he needed to do better in school or he “would end up like these guys” — pointing to the agents.*
*GEORGE W. & LAURA BUSH
*The Secret Service loved him and Laura Bush. He was also the most physically “in shape” who had a very strict workout regimen. The Bushes made sure their entire administrative and household staff understood to respect and be considerate of the Secret Service.
*She was one of the nicest First Ladies, if not the nicest; she never had any harsh word to say about anyone.*
*KARL ROVE was the one who was the most caring of the Secret Service in the administration.*
*BARACK & MICHELLE OBAMA
*” Clinton all over again” – hates the military and looks down on the Secret Service. He is egotistical and cunning; looks you in the eye and appears to agree with you, but turns around and does the opposite—untrustworthy. He has temper tantrums.*
*She is a complete witch, who hates anybody who is not black; hates the military; and looks at the Secret Service as servants.*
A taxpayer voting for Obama is like a chicken voting for Col. Sanders.
Secret Service Impressions Of Presidents
Secret Service Impressions Of Presidents

Dont’ Forget The State Treasurer Race

Diana Irey Vaughan, the GOP candidate for state treasurer, will be having a meet-and-greet at the offices of Fox Rothschild LLP in Blue Bell, Monday evening.

It’s being sponsored by the Republican Jewish Coalition Philadelphia Chapter and the Montgomery County Council of Republican Woman.
Mrs. Vaughan has served as a Washington County Commissioner since 1995 and is the only woman to have been elected to that post. The county has had seven balanced budgets with no tax increases.
RSVP is required and can be made by emailing Kathy Kelly at KathyKelly3@verizon.net or Scott Feigelstein at pasnj@rjchq.org
Tea Party activist Bob Guzzardi notes that the row office races are sleeper races and that polls show that 31 percent of public are undecided concerning the state treasurer race.