In Memory of Steven Harris Russin - Project 2996

"He was a child at heart.", said of Steven Harris Russin by his wife Andrea. In my mind this is one of the greatest compliments a person can have. She speaks of his sociable nature and inquisitive childlike mind, with a unique way of looking at things. During a casual stroll through a Florida art gallery she fondly recalls his questions resulting in the sales staff taking them to a special backroom and the sharing of a champagne treat, thinking they must be serious buyers to display such an interest.

Steven Harris Russin lived for 32 years. When our country was attacked on September 11, 2001, Steven was at work at Cantor Fitzgerald where he was a partner. His offices were located 20 floors above where the plane hit in the World Trade Center.

I came across an interview done through PBS which was conducted with two family members who had lost a loved one on 9/11, regarding how their loss, their grief was impacted by their faith. During the interview Steven's widow mentions a desire to have a playground made in his memory because it would be "a living monument rather than a headstone in a cemetery", a beautiful sentiment I thought.

I was able to find the announcement at the synagogue where the family attends, for the dedication for the playground, in October 2004. From everything I have been able to find out about Mr Russin, he would be delighted in this remarkable way to be remembered.

Besides going to work to provide for his young family, his last act of love for his wife was to get her a drink of water before he left for work, she being four days away from delivering twins.

Steven is survived by his wife Andrea, his son Alec (who was two at the time his father's death), his twin daughters Arielle and Olivia (born four days after the towers fell).

Our thoughts and prayers, on this 8th anniversary of 9/11 are, and should be, focused on those family members who the 2,996 left behind on the fateful day of September 11, 2001. Mine will especially be with the Russin family at this time of memorial.

My sources for this article are all linked above. They include pbs.org, nytimes.com, and cnn.com

My gratitude to Dale C Roe for taking on the Project 2,996. Click here to see the full link list and read about more of our fallen. And my additional thanks to Michelle Malkin, who alerted me to this project. Thanks to you both.

"Whoever will humble himself therefore and become like this little child [trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving] is greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:4

Why Did The State Department Lie in Congressional Hearings on Behalf of ArmorGroup North America ?

Fox News is reporting that in Congressional hearings this past June, the State Department stated that numerous serious and vile allegations against ArmorGroup North America, a contractor for security services at our embassy in Afghanistan were "shortcomings which had been remedied" and that security at the embassy" is effective". As a result of the State Department's blatant untruth, their lucrative contract was extended through 2010.

Besides disgusting, servile, forced (by supervisors) homosexual behavior and drunkness, there are also problems with two-thirds or more of the work force "being Gurkhas from Nepal and northern India who don't speak adequate English, a situation that creates communications breakdowns". This results in pantomime for what passes for communications at times. Not real secure, huh?

I saw the headline over at Drudge on this indicating Hillary is oh so upset and going to get to the bottom of this. All I can say is how typical. Deflect. The wrong done is that these facts have been on-going for a number of years now, and the State Department has been well aware. And the State Department has not held the contractor to account for it. Not when Rice was in the post and not while Hillary was there. Further under Hill's watch they lied to congress and got the contrat extended...who are these people who own ArmorGroup North America? And why have we allowed them to profit from us while they make a mockery of us? Anyone? Please enlighten me.

I Heard...

I heard a good idea today, well several, but one really struck me...we have all heard these by now...but we need to focus on what we want as much as what we DON'T. Because the whole lot of them up in D.C. want so bad to pass something...it'd be good if we had some smart solutions which are conservative in nature, (i.e. putting power in the hands of individuals and NOT the Federal Government) front and center in their view.

High points:

• Let the market for health insurance be national. Not hindered by state line. It's ridiculous and intrusive in it's current state and removing the current state lines barriers would make competition between the insurance companies stronger and improve our choices.
• TORT Reform! How hard can it be?! You know, I don't even buy the stupid Howard Dean argument that they can only tackle making ever so many groups angry at one time, and they just choose to put off the fight with trial attorneys for the time being. Not buying it, because this is so achievable if they voted with their integrity and spines. Because their focus isn't truly getting costs down, so much as it is to have control over not only our coverage, but our very life and death choices, they choose to ignore it. We already KNOW that when this bunch of progressive in Democrat clothing want to fight, they don't mind it...
• Health care insurance in our hands and not our employers. THIS is the one that got me today. It would take some education and informing of voters, but it makes sense to me. If we get health care insurance into the hands of us, the individuals, and away from our employers. This arrangement would GREATLY increase competition and the laser surgery for eyes is a great example. Because most insurance policies didn't cover this or provided minimal coverage, it was something we the customers paid for out of our own pockets. Prices came down over these years...nothing else in medicine that I can think of has done that. Insurance companies are not the evil tyrant Obama and company are portraying them as. However, they have it real good right now being able to hold businesses and city governments over a barrel, because they have to provide the benefit they have committed to, they are not left with many options. If those of who receive health care insurance as a benefit got tax exempt vouchers instead to purchase our own. And those who are tax paying citizens, but don't receive health care insurance as a benefit could receive tax credits up to whatever the standard amount is for individual or families. People who want Cadillac policies could be responsible for the difference without the additional dollar amount being tax exempt.

What do you all think?

Dr Zero Sums The Glenn Beck Situation Up - And Does it RIGHT!

To be honest I have had inspiration and motivation to blog, but not enough time to crunch it out. Working on trying to set some good boundaries with my time. SOMEtimes when I have great inspiration, I am also too ticked to want to discipline myself to post (think back to Owe-bama's opportunistic haste to jump in a local dust-up in order to bring racial tensions to the national spotlight - smart power, huh?).

Anyway, I came across this awesome article by Dr Zero, a Green-Room blogger over at Hot Air. He says what many of us feel, but fail to know how to express, with regards to the double standard the Media applies to conservatives and liberals with the goal of causing all conservatives to shut-up and just lie there and take it, while they work to re-invent our entire political and social structure.

Afghanistan! Our Marines Are on the Move!

Have been very remiss in my blogging. Lots of busy family times and that barely leaves time to catch up on news and maybe a tweet or two! ;) But today is such a special day, and I didn't want to let it go by without remarking how proud and grateful I am of our troops. This week for instance, almost every day I woke up to more news on the tremendous progress our troops are making in Afghanistan.

Via Fox News:

"As Operation Khanjar, or "Strike of the Sword," entered its second day, Marines took control of the district centers of Nawa and Garmser, and negotiated entry into Khan Neshin, the capital of Rig district, Pelletier said.

In Nawa, Marines met with about 20 Afghan men and boys, seeking to reassure them that the Americans wanted to protect them from the Taliban.

"Are you going to enter our houses?" asked Mohammad Nabi, 25, who was there with five of his younger brothers. "We are afraid that you will leave, and the Taliban will come back."

They also complained that local police were thieves not to be trusted.

Marine officers promised not to enter homes and said they would remain in the area to keep out the Taliban.

One elder with a gray beard asked the Marines whether they would prevent residents from saying Muslim prayers. The troops assured him they would not."

More blogging later today. My husband is working a long day today keeping everybody safe in our beautiful city!

Happy Fourth of July, everyone!

What's a Fascist Backstabbing President to Do?

Sowing - Once Obama's appointment of Hillary was confirmed, and Hillary began her duties as SOS, it wasn't anytime at all before Jewish supporters of hers were saying "this is not the Hillary we knew. What happened?". She was hustling around the globe anxious to show American disapproval for Israel's actions. Yeah, the ones where they just try to survive while surrounded by hostile nations, groups and people. Obama has been full of un-love for Israel as well. Through his words, tone and action he is laying the full burden of peace upon Israel to capitulate to Muslim demands. Never mind that to do so is to chum the water for sharks. Never mind that Hamas's express desire is the destruction of Israel.

Well what goes around comes around, or you reap what you sow. Only Obama sows and we all reap with him, unfair, huh? Life's not fair. We asked the U.N. to help show North Korea the error of it's nuclear seeking ways. So they created more paper to scare NK with. I am sure they are properly terrified. From Fox News:

"The sanctions are "yet another vile product of the U.S.-led offensive of international pressure aimed at undermining ... disarming DPRK and suffocating its economy," the North Korean statement said.

Pyongyang blamed Washington for the nuclear tensions, saying it was "compelled to go nuclear in the face of the U.S. hostile policy and its nuclear threats.

Washington says it has no intention of attacking the North and said its concern is that North Korea is trying to sell its nuclear technology to other nations.

Saturday's threats made clear North Korea's refusal to back down from international calls to give up its nuclear ambitions in the wake of its April rocket launch and underground nuclear test last month.

The statement also raised concerns of a military skirmish.

"An attempted blockade of any kind by the U.S. and its followers will be regarded as an act of war and met with a decisive military response," the North said.

As a precaution, South Korea has dispatched hundreds more marines to two islands near a western maritime border with North Korea that was the scene of deadly naval clashes in 1999 and 2002, officials said Friday."

So, the stage is set. We are quickly getting into a situation where a crazed leader of a nation is not only repeatedly poking his finger in our chest and telling us off, causing us to take steps back all around the global playground, but he is diligently working to get a weapon to "poke" at us.

Reaping - And China has this (via Bloomberg) to say:

“Under no circumstance should there be the use of force or the threat of use of force” in implementing the sanctions in Resolution 1874, Chinese Ambassador Zhang Yesui said in New York. Inspecting vessels carrying North Korean cargo is “complicated” and “sensitive,” he said.

The Security Council voted 15 to O to punish North Korea for its May nuclear-bomb test and missile launches. The resolution authorizes stepped-up inspection of air or sea cargoes suspected of being destined for the development of nuclear arms or ballistic missiles. The measure also calls for new restrictions on loans and money transfers to North Korea.

China’s support for the penalties may be significant given its close political and trade ties with the reclusive North Korean regime of Kim Jong Il. The U.S. is especially concerned about preventing North Korea from selling its nuclear technology to other countries.

U.S. Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice said at a White House briefing that the sanctions have “teeth that will bite.” She pointed out that the resolution doesn’t authorize the use of military force.

The U.S. is prepared to “confront” a vessel suspected of carrying an illegal shipment and attempt to board it “consensually,” Rice told reporters. If the crew refuses a boarding or to go to a nearby port for an inspection, the U.S. would make clear “whose vessel it is” and the likely cargo, “to shine a spotlight on it, to make it very difficult for that contraband to continue to be carried forward,” Rice added."

I just felt immediately safer when Rice stated the resolutions have "teeth that will bite", doesn't that just sound fierce? And how about shining that spotlight? Why didn't Bush think of that? Let's send flashlights to Susan Rice to help her out. And how about China's "support" which actually means, they are warning us to NOT force a boarding. We can only board a vessel and inspect the cargo if North Korea "consents", because as China said - boarding a North Korea vessel is "complicated" and "sensitive".

China is supporting us like we are beginning to support Israel. It's a cold, cold world.

Some Good News & Some Bad News

Good news - Sooo, hows about Palin letting Lauer (Via Hot Air & Right Scoop) know he's naive if he buys Letterman's excuse? Priceless! Made my day to see the headline. As fun as that was for me, it was even better seeing how well she did at the real grown up stuff, talking about energy and the pipeline deal. That's what really matters, and she handled all of it sharply. I saw in comments over at H/A that she did even better on a Wolf Blitzer interview. Not surprised, but definitely gratified!

Bad News - Hmmm...not liking the scent of more, varied and higher taxes I smell in the wind due to Dumb-o-crats-r-us thinking they need to make decisions for everyone about health care, them being so crafty and all at getting the best deal, and us being well, the dummies who put them in office. Via Bloomberg Charlie Rangel gives the sucker punch news that the health care plan they are cooking up for us will cost over a TRILLION dollars. That's over 1,000,000,000 - over that. How good does THAT make you feel? Is it just me or does some of the stuff they say just make no sense whatsoever? I guess that's the point, baffle us with bulls*#t. Here's the part that stumped me:

"Health-care overhaul legislation being drafted by House Democrats will include $600 billion in tax increases and $400 billion in cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel said. "

Increase in taxes are surely a given for a Democratic program. For our OWN good they are going to make it mandatory that we purchase insurance, and if we are so fortunate as to have insurance through our employer, they are gonna tax us on that so's they can better afford to give us and those less fortunate (and probably those illegal as well, knowing how Ted Kennedy and Nancy Pelosi feel about that ICE stuff (Pelosi used words like "unAmerican")). Just love how we have such civic minded socialists deciding what just overwhelms the rest of us, like what to do with that extra $25-$55 per month! That was really worrying me. Thanks ya'll! I got a better idea though. How about we choose the Patients Choice Act 2009 instead and keep our money and our power to choose?? How about we also throw out all the taxes and replace it with the Fair Tax. But who are they kidding about CUTTING Medicare and Medicaid? Yeah that's got to be some sort of shell game. No way.

Good News - Even Bill Maher (a thoroughly unpleasant person in my book) who is a noted Obama fan, gets tired of seeing Obama on TV. Maher treat 'bama like a mere mortal, 'tis refreshing! It's a fun read, from the LA Times. Of course he IS Bill Mayer, so there are parts you will strongly disagree with from a conservative standpoint.

Well, there's lots more bad news, and you heard enough of that already. Let's end on a good note!

Have a great weekend!