Walking the line.... How do you like your eggs?

If you are out and about on Friday morning and want to share a meal with Billy Long, he'll be at the University Plaza for a breakfast fundraiser benefiting Greene County Republican Women.

Appearing with Billy will be Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers. She's from Washington state, District 7, and she enjoys playing the piano, swimming, and reading American history. Cathy says she lives by former President Ronald Reagan's motto (quoting Harry Truman's remark about his Marshall Plan): "There's no limit to what a person can do or where one can go if one doesn't mind who gets the credit."

Tickets are $20. If you have any questions or to RSVP call Nick Maddux at (417)883-3387 or Nick.Maddux@BillyLongforCongress.com

Nick is one of Congressman Long's paid congressional staff. Legistorm lists Maddux as one of Long's Field Representatives for the first quarter 2011. Knowing that the Hatch Act has guidelines for federal employees and their involvement in political activities, we will have to trust that Maddux is keeping time logs as to when he is on the government payroll acting as Long's Field Representative and when he is engaged in political activities such as this event. We think Maddux is pictured in this photo below, but we are not sure which one is he.


NOT PRINTED AT GOVERNMENT EXPENSE

Aiken's breaking my heart

November 1864. Aiken's Landing, Virginia. "Army of the James. Convalescent colored troops at Aiken's Landing. A.M. Aiken's house at right."

Transient Ishchemic Attack

On March 21, 2008, my mother started having Transient Ishchemic Attacks. A TIA is a "warning stroke" or "mini-stroke" that produces stroke-like symptoms but no lasting damage. Recognizing and treating TIAs can reduce your risk of a major stroke.

Most strokes aren't preceded by TIAs. However, of the people who've had one or more TIAs, more than a third will later have a stroke. In fact, a person who's had one or more TIAs is more likely to have a stroke than someone of the same age and sex who hasn't.

TIAs are important in predicting if a stroke will occur rather than when one will happen. They can occur days, weeks or even months before a major stroke. In about half the cases, the stroke occurs within one year of the TIA.

What causes a transient ischemic attack?

TIAs occur when a blood clot temporarily clogs an artery, and part of the brain doesn't get the blood it needs. The symptoms occur rapidly and last a relatively short time. Most TIAs last less than five minutes. The average is about a minute. Unlike stroke, when a TIA is over, there's no injury to the brain.

What are the symptoms of a TIA?

It's very important to recognize the warning signs of a TIA or stroke. The usual TIA symptoms are the same as those of stroke, only temporary:

Muscle weakness of the face, arm, or leg (usually only on one side of the body)
Numbness or tingling on one side of the body
Trouble speaking or understanding others who are speaking
Problems with eyesight (double vision, loss of all or part of vision)
Changes in sensation, involving touch, pain, temperature, pressure, hearing, and taste
Change in alertness (sleepiness, less responsive, unconscious, or coma)
Personality, mood, or emotional changes
Confusion or loss of memory
Difficulty swallowing
Difficulty writing or reading
Lack of coordination and balance, clumsiness, or trouble walking
Abnormal sensation of movement (vertigo) or dizziness
Lack of control over the bladder or bowels
Inability to recognize or identify sensory stimuli (agnosia)

On March 22, 2008, Mother suffered a major stroke and died on March 26, 2008.

I started experiencing the same symptoms last year, sparodic at first but graduallyu increasing in frequency and severity.

Since 2000, I have experienced three distinct episodes of severe chest pressure and severe pain radiating up my neck. The last episode occurred the latter part of April, right before I went for my annual physical.

I mentioned the episode to Stephen Reeder, my doctor. He sent me for test: carodid artrery ultrasound, abdominal aorta ultrasound, and a stress test. I had some blockage in my carodids but not severe enough for surgery. The stress test showed an artifact on the film in the same place as an artifact on the film from the stress test I took in 2005. Reeder sent me to cardiologist who ordered cardiac ultrasound-- which showed some leaking valves and an enlarged aorta.

Which lead to another test this morning whera tube is shoved down my throat and the doctor takes a look around.

He found something. A hole in the heart.

I'm getting it fixed.

Next stop, Dr. Otto, the neurologist on Friday

Good Humor

I'm in a good humor frame of mind today!

When I cleaned out underneath the B's Nest last week, I hauled some old gutters and copper pipe to the scrap metal yard in the B's Nest truck. I made $88.45 for my efforts!

I missed the Studebakers.

I did see one long extended white Studebaker pick up on North Glenstone earlier this week as I was hauling a load of mulch to my sister's house up by Pleasant Hope. What a great name for a town, Pleasant Hope!

Austin and Trey were in an all day baseball tournament yesterday at Ewing park on South Scenic. I remember when that was the dump. This is Austin on deck. He plays third base and right field. The boys played three games yesterday.

This is Trey pitching. He also plays first and third. I enjoy watching my grandsons play baseball. I sit in my lawn chair with a big straw hat on and an umbrella to block the sun. Yesterday, after Trey hit the triple, my heart monitor went off. I don't know if the two events were connected.

When my son's father-in-law returned from St. Louis last night, he brought a case of White Castle hamburgers! He eight ate and I matched him!

Neat old garage photo for Longrooffan.

No photo, but last night as Sophie was heading home from playing in our backyard, she gave me her last kiss to me as a 3 year old because tomorrow she is going to be four. This morning, as I went over to visit, she met me at the door and gave me her first kiss as a 4 year old.

Like Ida May Fuller, the first Social Security recepient, I am eagerly awaiting my first check from the Social Security. It is supposed to arrive on July 15!

Ain't life grand

Billy Long: Auction business sold piecemeal

Billy Long doesn't like it when people start nosing around into his affairs, financial or otherwise.

Roseann Moring, News-Leader political writer, has this story in this morning's News-Leader: Long: Auction business sold piecemeal:

Q: When Billy Long was campaigning for Congress last year, he told constituents that federal law would require him to dissolve or sell his auction business. Earlier this year, Long told the News-Leader he had done so.

But several readers have pointed out that the Missouri secretary of state's website lists Billy Long Auctions, LLC and BILLY LONG, INC. as "active" and "in good standing," respectively.

They wanted to know whether Long actually had dissolved his business.

A: Here is what Long had to say, through a spokesman: "We consulted with the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, also known as the Ethics Committee, on what I had to do with my business before I was sworn in. The ... property was sold off piecemeal to various individuals and on July 31st it will be administratively dissolved for not filing the yearly paperwork."

A spokeswoman for the secretary of state said that is a common and legal way to end a business license.

It should be removed from the website at that point.

According to the Congressional Ethics Committee website, Congress members are banned from owning or participating in some kinds of businesses, including law practice. That is intended to prevent lobbyists from avoiding reporting requirements by funneling gifts through a politician's personal business.

Frequent bus riders will recall that earlier this month, when Long released his financial disclosure forms, the bus stopped here: million-dollar-billy-part-duex, Hot Diggity Dawg. Here's what Long reported to the FEC on his financial disclosure statement:

1. Sole Proprietor- Billy Long Auctioneer- this business was terminated on December 31, 2010- no business after that date.
2. Member- Billy Long Auctions, LLC - resigned this position on January 1, 2011, no longer a member after that date.
3. President- Billy Long Auctioneers, Inc -- resigned this position January 1, 2011, no long an officer or shareholder.
4. President- Billy Long, Inc -- resigned this position January 1, 2011, no longer an officer or shareholder"

Which Billy Long Auction business was sold piecemeal? #1? #2? #3? #4? Which one is Bob Kollmeier running. Why is Kollmeier on Billy's payroll as "Ag advisor" making $60,000 plus a year?

Remember when Billy said, “You have to sell your business. If you have a fiduciary business, you have to sell that, so I’ve gotta walk away from a business I built up for 30 years. Who’s gonna buy it without me there? Answer: Nobody. Whoever I sell it to has to take my name off of it. Now, what’s it worth? Absolutely nothing."

Despite his protesting "Who’s gonna buy it without me there?" Well, someone apparently did. As of 04/30/2011 Billy Long, Inc was still in business with a new president, treasurer and secretary: Barbara Long, Billy's wife.

"What's it worth?" We don't know because the transfer of ownership didn't show up on Billy's financial disclosure statement. We know who bought his hay and how much Billy got for selling his tractor and brush hog. What did Billy do with his shares of Billy Long, Inc? If he sold them or gave them away, shouldn't that have been reflected somewhere in his financial disclosure? If he put those shares in a blind trust, shouldn't that have been reflected somewhere in his financial disclosure? If he gave them to his wife, shouldn't that have been reflected somewhere in his financial disclosure?

I've been busy

So here's a couple of blasts from the past:

03/31/2008 10:28 PM, 22222 People have ridden the bus this far

06/25/2011, 11:47 AM, 239664 bus riders have boarded the bus. Thanks for riding and no need to tip the driver!

Million Dollar Billy -- A blast from the past from the guy who voted to kill Medicare: Billy LONG! (Get out the crying towel!)

Counting Billy Long jokes in a speech is like counting stars in a clear summer night sky: After awhile, you're doing to lose track. Long pretty much delivered the same stump speech he gave at his announcement. "I'm not from the government, but I'm here to help," will surely show up in Long's television ads next year. This time, the hulking Long opened with: "Can you all see me behind this mic stand?" And when KSFG staff instructed him to move the microphone to the right to avoid interference with the speaker, Long quickly delivered, "I knew you wouldn't want to move it to the left." It took just 20 seconds for Long to win the crowd over.

He bashed Obamacare, skewered earmarks and out-of-control spending and lambasted career politicians. He also was the only candidate to mention his pro-life and N.R.A. credentials. Oh, and he's for tax cuts too.

But throughout his humorous and off-the-cuff repertoire, Long has a tendency to make some statements that could come back to haunt him. He mocked the plight of the uninsured ("Get out the crying towel") and claimed that 26 million people under 35 probably don't want health insurance anyway. Claiming that President Obama's healthcare plan might have taken his mother's life back in March of 2008 is also quite a strong charge. It's all done in the loving-aw-shucks Long way...those statements may rub some the wrong way.

Ky3 Political Notebook, August 16, 2009.

On April 15, 2011, Congressman Billy Long for "AYE" in favor of the Paul Ryan Budget Bill which replaces Medicare with a 'voucher system', essentially "Killing Medicare as we know it."

57% of the American people think the Ryan plan is bad for America.
From Politico:

The issue has already tripped up numerous leading Republican Senate contenders who can’t help but notice national polling that shows a majority of voters oppose the Ryan budget plan.

In Missouri, former State Treasurer Sarah Steelman said she “would love to be able to” vote for the plan — an unconvincing answer with plenty of wiggle room.

A representative for Steelman, who faces Rep. Todd Akin in the Senate primary, explained, “Her answer is very explicit. She liked almost everything about the Ryan plan. The Medicare plan, in her view, is that it can’t work. She will stand up before the false vote and point out what’s wrong with it.”

Meanwhile, Billy Long thinks that for those 26,000,000 people under 35 with no health insurance --- we ought to just 'get out the crying towel'.