Bump's Stump

I received your e-mail re:  A "Message for the Tea Party Activists" Generally, I don't agree. So far, I think the Tea Party is composed of patriotic Americans concerned about the recent left-liberal trend in politics. They are, for the most part, not stupid people. Perhaps Tea Party members are better described as "a loose confederation of politically conservative citizens who believe America would be better off if our politicians honored the founding documents".  These laws, traditions and values have served us quite very well for several centuries.  And I have a few more specific comments: (1) Bush/Cheney disaster. I would add Rumsfeld and agree that the troika got many (most?) decisions wrong. I don't know any Conservative that approved the 2nd Bush term. It was a disaster. (2) Supreme Court /Al Gore Won. This could have gone either way but with hindsight I suspect Gore was robbed. At the same time I have no doubt whatever that electin...

N on-Muslims (infidels) are concerned. Today is the anniversary of the 9/11 attack and the memory still hurts. Muslim fanatics drove airplanes into American buildings full of innocent people. The event graphically unfolded (as it occurred) on television for the entire world to see. Television also showed Muslims  celebrating  the horrific tragedy. What kind of person would celebrate? What kind of person would actually drive an airplane into i nnocent people? The same evil radical Muslims that burn our flag.  The same anti-American fanatics that murder by blowing themselves up.  The same evil idiots that explode bombs in the midst of non-Muslims.   Islam has a  bloody history - and so does Christianity.  But, there is a difference. Christians left that part of their history behind them centuries ago, and some  Muslims did not.  Today, we are asked to blame a few Muslim fanatics for 9/11 and not the entire r...

Ed . . . . Perhaps you would like to add these to your scrapbook? 1937 Dixon Sr.& Jr. Need help to identify kids Dixon Jr.

MARK TURNER.   I'm an interested ex-corporate exec., now retired, and have little to contribute to this. Perhaps you can help? At first I thought Mark's story was so complicated it couldn't be true. I discovered later that  Mark's business may indeed have  generated as much money as he said it did. His story is long and complicated, but regardless of his guilt or innocence, there is definitely  something wrong with the legal process he encountered. Maggie Thornton says his business dealings were honest. I'm not thoroughly convinced, but she may be right.  There is no question that he was improperly sentenced in one court, and deserves an appeal process in another.  I have received several comments from a blogger named "Anonymous". He (or she) has chosen to remain unknown but clearly has an inside track to information about Mark's problems. I have removed my original speculations from thi...

I started writing about  Mark Turner a few weeks ago. I attempted to sort out Mark's complicated problems but had incomplete information. I have since erased my attempt. Mark's  past used car business needs to be examined by a court appointed accountant. The Trial Judge and Prosecutor did not have the background to make a decision in Mark's case. They accused hims of money laundering and, he was found guilty, and they wrongly sentenced him and denied him an appeal. Florida has it's own laws and rules, but regardless, Mark's case was not handled correctly.  He should be granted a re-trial.  Three things stand out: 1. Mark Turner has been wrongly sentenced     to 3 terms of 12.5 years each in prison. 2. He (Mark) brought a $36,000,000 civil lawsuit     against Pete Moore in 2002 and it is still pending. 3. Pete Moore is a very slippery fellow.

The Kiwanis Club of Santa Ana has an outstanding monthly bulletin. It's full of news, projects, planning, and sometimes even a column by Amazing Clint.  Because it is such a good communicator I want to use it to start a converstation about membership.  Churches, Service Clubs and other Non-profit charitible organizations have experienced membership problems recently. Their influence has gradually eroded and for some the result is not good. The reasons why this is happening are not crystal clear but there is one characteristic that appears common to the problem:  A DECLINE IN RELEVANCE. Such organizations usually have  dwindling but committed core of ageing members. As they get older they find it increasingly difficult to participate and contribute, and  realize that their organization is not attracting new and younger members, and at some point they find themselves with a serious membership...

Acceleration Explained This was sent to me as an email, not sure on the total truth to it all, but interesting any way.  Even if you're not a motor head, this is impressive. * One Top Fuel dragster outfitted with a 500 cubic-inch replica Dodge (actually Keith Black, etc) Hemi engine makes more horsepower (8,000 HP) than the first 4 rows at NASCAR's Daytona 500. * Under full throttle, a dragster engine will consume 11.2 gallons of nitro methane per second; a fully loaded Boeing 747 consumes jet fuel at the same rate but with 25% less energy being produced. * A stock Dodge Hemi V8 engine cannot produce enough power to merely drive the dragster's supercharger. * With 3000 CFM of air being rammed in by the supercharger on overdrive, the fuel mixture is compressed into a near-solid form before ignition. Cylinders run on the verge of hydraulic lockup at full throttle. * At the stoichio metric 1.7:1 air/fuel mixture for nitro methane the flame front temperature measure...