Busy Morning

So today was a busy Saturday. 1st I took my dog Trigger the the vet to get his heart worm shot (they give them one shot that covers them for 6-months vs a pill ever month.) Turns out he also has an minor ear infection. He seems to enjoy going to the vet. He gets to ride in the car, get doted on by the vet techs and gets to see other dogs.

After that I dropped him off at home and took my wife to get her blood work done. For the 1st time since I've known her her blood did not poor out and the tech let her go with only a 75% full vile. Afterword we treated ourselves to Tijuana Flats.
So now I am paying our bills and about to get to work on SEO for a web client of our little web business.

God Bless!

Old People are so funny

Government Shutdown Threat Prompts Obama, GOP To Scramble To Strike Budget Deal

Government Shutdown Threat Prompts Obama, GOP To Scramble To Strike Budget Deal

WASHINGTON -- A deadline looming, the Congress' top Democrat accused Republicans on Friday of risking a government shutdown because they want to make it harder "for women to get cancer screenings."

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid unleashed his attack as his main antagonist in long-running negotiations, Speaker John Boehner, said spending cuts -- not social issues-- were blocking agreement to prevent a shutdown at midnight.

"Most of the policy issues have been dealt with and the big fight is about spending," Boehner said Friday afternoon.

The maneuvering unfolded as President Barack Obama canceled a trip to Indianapolis and spoke in separate phone calls with Reid and Boehner.

"Discussions between the leaders and the White House aimed at reaching a budget agreement are continuing," White House press secretary Jay Carney said in a written statement.

"I assure you, these are not unresolvable issues," added Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.

Obama, Reid and Boehner met at the White House on Thursday evening for the third time in two days, and their aides struggled without success to reach agreement in middle-of-the-night talks in the Capitol.

For a nation eager to trim to federal spending but also weary of Washington bickering, the spending showdown had real implications.

A closure would mean the furloughs of hundreds of thousands of workers and the services they provide, from processing many tax refunds to approving business loans. Medical research would be disrupted, national parks would close and most travel visa and passport services would stop, among many others.

DEA Agent Accidently shoots himself in the foot

United States Dedicates New Embassy Compound in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

United States Dedicates New Embassy Compound in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

In an important symbol of America’s commitment to an enduring friendship with Ethiopia, as well as our bilateral relationships with the Government of Ethiopia and the African Union, Deputy Secretary of State James B. Steinberg dedicated the new U.S. Embassy facility in Ethiopia today. Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hailemariam Desalegn and African Union Deputy Chairman Erastus Mwencha attended the ribbon cutting ceremony, as well as Deputy Director of the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations, Lydia Muniz; U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia, Donald E. Booth; and U.S. Ambassador to the African Union, Michael E. Battle.

The dedication of the New Embassy Compound (NEC) in Addis Ababa marks the 77th diplomatic facility to be completed by the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) since the 1999 enactment of the Secure Embassy Construction and Counterterrorism Act. In the last twelve years, OBO has moved more than 22,000 people into safer facilities. OBO has built 30 new facilities in Africa and has an additional seven projects in design or construction on the continent.

The New Embassy Compound, located just below Entoto Mountain and overlooking Addis Ababa, was designed to maintain much of the plant and wildlife that has existed on the site for many years. The building design integrates green building techniques and was one of the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) registered facilities in Ethiopia.

The multi-building complex provides more than approximately 1,000 U.S. embassy direct hire and locally employed staff, including the U.S. Mission to the African Union, with more than 19,000 square meters of working space.

B.L. Harbert International of Birmingham, Alabama, under a design/build contract, constructed the NEC; the architectural firm of Page Southerland Page of Arlington, Virginia designed the facility. The total approximate cost of the project, which generated jobs in both the United States and Ethiopia, is $157 million. The new facility was completed in August 2010, with, at times, more than 1,200 workers involved in the construction.

For further information, please contact Christine Foushee at FousheeCT@state.gov

So today I am headed to the dentist with Kim. I do not like the dentist and I would much rather stay and work but at least I get to be with Kim

Dinner salutes Dr. Hodes' work with Ethiopian kids

http://www.denverpost.com/lifestyles/ci_17121147

By Joanne Davidson
The Denver Post

It was a real gamble, in this economy, to add one more event to Denver's already crowded fundraising scene, especially one where the least expensive ticket was $250 and the money would go to a medical mission half a world away.

RestaurateurNoel Cunninghamis used to taking chances, though, and in his heart he felt that his friends and customers would come through, opening their hearts and pocketbooks to hit the $500,000 goal he and co-chairsElaine Gantz BermanandJennifer Kraftset for the inaugural Dinner of Unconditional Love.

The event would honor Dr.Rick Hodes,and the money raised would support his work at the Mother Teresa Mission in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. For the past 20 years, Hodes, medical director for the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, has treated Ethiopian children with congenital and rheumatic heart disease, spine disease and cancer — youngsters who otherwise most likely would have died.

Hodes, who was at the dinner with two of the five Ethiopian children he has adopted, was saluted by the JDC's executive vice president,Steve Schwager; Marilyn Berger,whose book, "This Is a Soul," describes his work in one of the world's poorest countries; and Regis University PresidentMichael Sheeran,who conferred an honorary doctorate of humanitarian medicine degree on him.

RabbiSteven Fosterrecently spent two days with Hodes in Ethiopia, an experience he said vividly illustrated the Jewish mystical concept that at all times there are 36 "righteous souls" in the world and were it not for them the world would come to an end. "Nobody knows who they are, but I believe — no, I know — that two of them are right here in this room tonight: Dr. Rick Hodes and Noel Cunningham. Their dedication is unbelievable."

Find out who was at the dinner, and learn more about the contributions that Hodes, Noel and Tammy Cunningham and the JDC have made in Ethiopiaby logging onto my Seen First blog:blogs.denverpost.com/davidson.

Solomon Gobaw, left, Danny Ameha, Dejene Hodes and, in front, Mesfin Hodes

Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 orjdavidson@denverpost.com; also,blogs.denverpost.com/davidson and GetItWrite on Twitter

Ann Wilcox, left, Barbara Hughesand Faye Ganley wear some of the handcrafted scarves that were sold at the dinner.

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