"What if a crippling attack struck the country's digital infrastructure?" Current and former national government officials tackled the question in a Washington hotel ballroom on Tuesday, February 16, 2010. The results, which will be broadcast on a special CNN report soon, were not comforting.

Michael Chertoff served as the national security advisor in the exercise. The Bipartisan Policy Center sponsored the exercise. The scenario was developed by Georgetown University and companies such as PayPal developed the cyber-attack scenario. Participants did not have knowledge of the scenario beforehand.

For me, the most alarming statement was the last sentence in the Los Angeles Times story: "In the end, no grand plan emerged, but the group did agree to advise the president to federalize the National Guard, even if governors objected, and deploy the troops -- perhaps backed by the U.S. military -- to guard power lines and prevent unrest."

To read the full Los Angeles Times article, go to:
http://www.latimes.com/news/la-na-cyber-attack17-2010feb17,0,803757,full.story

Get Ye to the Alhambra Theatre in Jacksonville

Today, I enjoyed an absolutely delightful afternoon at the Alhambra Theatre & Dining here in Jacksonville, Florida. After a delicious luncheon buffet, I saw "High School Musical." The food was plentiful and excellent. The play was fun and full of youthful enthusiasm.

The Alhambra Theatre is the oldest professional dinner theatre in the country. After 42 years of continuous operation, it closed its doors briefly in 2009 due to the economy. Thankfully, a group of investors quickly reopened it in December 2009.

They recruited one of Jacksonville's premier chefs, Matthew Medure, to revamp the menu. The luncheon buffet today featured baked chicken, seafood newburg, baked ham, and a variety of sides. An absolutely fresh salad with an assortment of greens and vegetables was served at the table beforehand. Two desserts are offered: bread pudding and chocolate mousse. Both were good, but the mousse was to die for.

The group of twelve seniors I was with included four in electric wheelchairs and several others who use walkers or canes. Physical improvements to the theatre helped, especially a new fully accessible restroom. The staff could not have been more helpful in accommodating our needs. They made trips to the buffet to bring our food.

The Alhambra has always offered wonderful theatre productions. Fortunately, founder Tod Booth, Sr. continues to be involved. The actors and actresses today were excellent with strong voices and seemingly endless physical vigor for the strenuous dance routines.

I encourage everyone to support the Alhambra Theatre in Jacksonville. Coming shows here in 2010 include:
42nd Street: March 10 – April 25
Cinderella: June 16 – August 8
Amorous Crossing: August 11 – September 5
The Wedding Singer: September 8 – October 10
The King and I: October 13 – November 28
It’s a Wonderful Life: December 1 – December 24

The Alhambra Theatre is located at 12000 Beach Blvd. on Jacksonville's Southside. Their phone number is (904) 641-1212. Go to www.alhambrajax.com for current ticket prices or to make reservations online. You will be glad you did.

Bah Humbug to Political Correctness

It's that time of year again when liberals who worship at the altar of diversity and political correctness attack Christmas. They do it by convincing retailers to reject terms like "Merry Christmas," "Christmas trees," "Christmas shopping," "Christmas gifts," etc. Instead, everything should be generic, such as "Happy Holidays" or "Season's Greetings." The reason for the season is to be avoided at all costs.

The latest example is at St. John's Town Center in Jacksonville, Florida. Instead of a "Christmas tree," they lit "The Great Tree." Funny, it's decorated like a Christmas tree, but evidently Druids manage this shopping mall owned by Simon Management Group.

Now, the St. John's Town Center is one of my favorite places to shop and dine. I was really looking forward to spending a day there in the next month now that I have my electric wheelchair. I was going to explore from one end to the other and end with dinner at The Cheesecake Factory.

However, I have a strict policy that my Christmas dollars do not go to malls and retailers where Christmas is not acknowledged or is disguised. Let them rely on non-Christians and pagans to move them into the black at the end of their financial year. So, instead of St. John's Town Center, I will go to the Jacksonville Landing where they still have a "Christmas" tree.

Here's the complaint I sent to Simon Property Group from their website's feedback form: http://www.simon.com/about_simon/contact_spg/default.aspx

St. Johns Town Center in Jacksonville, Florida has fallen victim to the silliness of political correctness. Instead of having a "Christmas" tree, someone decided to call it "The "Great Tree." I can only guess this person was afraid to offend believers of other religions by calling what is clearly a Christmas tree by its proper name.

However, as a Christian, I am offended when people refuse to acknowledge with its correct name the Christmas holiday I am celebrating and for which I am shopping for presents and decorations. I am not celebrating just any holiday or season. I am buying Christmas presents, I am putting up Christmas decorations, I am sending Christmas cards, etc.

This silliness and discrimination against Christians needs to stop. If you had a Hanukkah Menorah, would you call it "The Great Candle Display"? I doubt it.

I was looking forward to going out to St. Johns Town Center to do some Christmas shopping and enjoy dinner at The Cheesecake Factory in the next few weeks. However, I refuse to spend my Christmas shopping dollars at malls or stores that refuse to recognize the season for which I am shopping. I will go where I hear and see "Merry Christmas," not just the generic "Happy Holidays" and "Seasons Greetings." You can keep your "Great Tree." I plan to shop where they still have Christmas trees.

Another way to contact Simon Property Group, owner of St. John's Town Center, is:

Corporate Headquarters
Simon Property Group, Inc.
225 West Washington Street
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
(317) 636-1600

Are the Brownshirts on Order Yet?

Several years ago, I told an audience that I considered it child abuse to send children to our public schools. The reason was the humanistic, socialistic propaganda that has become endemic to the public school curriculum. I advised parents who kept their children in public schools to watch like hawks what was being taught in the classroom and the textbooks.

Then, I saw the You Tube clips of New Jersey school children singing the praises of Barack Hussein Obama. The B. Bernice Young School in Burlington Township is for grades K through 2. The video, which came to light in the media last week, dates back to February 2009, a few weeks after Obama's inauguration. It features a class of children in a Black History Month school assembly singing a song that virtually worships Obama. Here are the words:

Mmm, mmm, mmm, Barack Hussein Obama
He said all should lend a hand to make the country strong again.
Mmm, mmm, mmm, Barack Hussein Obama
He said we must be fair today, equal work means equal pay.
Mmm, mmm, mmm, Barack Hussein Obama
He said take a stand, make sure everyone gets a chance.
Mmm, mmm, mmm, Barack Hussein Obama
He said red, yellow, black and white, all are equal in his sight.
Mmm, mmm, mmm, Barack Hussein Obama.
Yeah! Barack Hussein Obama.
...Hello, Mr. President, we honor you today
For all your great accomplishments, we all do say hooray.
Hooray, Mr. President, you are No. 1
The first black American to lead this nation.

Proof that Obama is being portrayed as though he was God is in the stanza: "He said red, yellow, black and white, all are equal in his sight." These words are taken from the hymn "Jesus Loves the Little Children." In addition, the children sang "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" and included the refrain, "Hooray, Mr. President." (Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090926/ap_on_re_us/us_obama_school_song)
At the end of the video, it appeared as though the children raised their right arms in a stiff-armed salute. Although their hands were clinched, it was chillingly reminiscent of the "Heil, Hitler" salute of the Nazis.

Michelle Malkin said it best, "Out: readin', writin' and 'rithmetic. In: rappin', revolution and radicalism. Mmm, mmm, mmm." (Source: "The three R's in the age of Obama: Rappin', revolution and radicalism" http://www.onenewsnow.com/Perspectives/Default.aspx?id=697234)
Has the White House ordered the brownshirts for our youth, yet?

Email Response to Senator Bill Nelson

Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) sent an email entitled "Taking Action on Health Care Reform." Before his senate career, Nelson was Florida's Insurance Commissioner; he was fiercely protective of consumers. He brings a great deal of knowledge of the economic realities of and experience working with the insurance industry. He is a moderate Democrat for whom I have voted in the past. Nelson invited constituents to respond with their concerns regarding health care reform. Below is mine:

Dear Sen. Nelson:

Thank you for the email regarding your position on health care reform. I am happy you are on the Senate Finance Committee because I know you will bring your experience as Florida's Insurance Commissioner to this issue.

My biggest concerns are:

1. Adding enforcement procedures to bar illegal aliens from receiving benefits. Without those, the law forbidding it will be a toothless tiger.

2. Assuring that taxpayer funding of abortions will never be allowed under this legislation. Again, without explicit language regarding this, the legislation might be used to undermine or overturn current restrictions.

3. Reliance on Medicare "savings" to fund a large portion of insurance coverage for the uninsured. Even the CBO, along with many other health insurance experts, doubts there is enough "fraud and abuse" in Medicare to add up to the savings estimates. Even if all fraud and abuse in Medicare is eliminated, the reality is Medicare costs will escalate in the next decade. It is unrealistic to expect "cuts" in these expenditures at the same time enrollments will grow by 30% as more baby boomers become eligible. The result can only mean a reduction in benefits or rationing of care or long delays in services. All of these are unacceptable.

Thank you for your continued work on this issue. Please reach across the aisle and help our country solve the problems in our healthcare system without destroying it.

Sincerely,
Susan M. Lamb

You Rock, Rep. Joe Wilson

Here's the text of an email I just sent to South Carolina's Representative Joe Wilson:

RE: HR 3200.
Dear Rep. Wilson,

Although I am not a constituent, I just want to let you know I support your efforts to get the truth told about the proposed health care reform legislation, especially H.R. 3200. I have read all of it.

The other night when President Obama proclaimed that illegal aliens would not get health care under it, I was shouting at the T.V., "That's a lie." Ditto when he said it wouldn't cover abortion, wouldn't result in benefit cuts in Medicare, and wouldn't increase the deficit.

You apologized to President Obama for shouting out, "You lie." It may have been rude, but you told the truth. Now, I am waiting for the President's apology for lying to you, your colleagues, and the American people.

Best wishes,
Susan M. Lamb

Let Your Children Listen to President Obama's School Speech

Parents, I encourage you to allow your children to hear President Barack Obama's speech to school students scheduled tomorrow, September 8, 2009. I just finished reading the text of his speech, which was released earlier today.

Now, anyone who reads this blog, knows I am no fan of Obama. I oppose his idealogy, his policies, and most of his associates with vigor.

However, there is nothing objectionable in this speech. In fact, it is a speech that every student needs to hear and take to heart. It instructs each student to take responsibility for his or her education and to overcome obstacles. Obama urges them to work hard for their sake and for the good of the country. He uses examples from his own life as well as other students.

Parents should keep a close eye on any follow-up homework assignments. The teacher's guide was revised that asked students to write the President on how they could help him achieve his goals. Instead, the assignment now focuses on how the students can achieve their goals.