Records

I drive a 2002 Toyota Tacoma, 22 mpg city and 25 mpg highway. According to TerraPass, I contributed about 12,482 lbs of carbon dioxide (CO₂) per year based on 20K mileage. A Road Tripper TerraPass at $79.95 will help offset 20,000 lbs of carbon dioxide. They can dream on, I am not given them a pretty red penny, let alone 22 cent per day. If the government gives me a tax credit incentive that is economically attractive enough for me, I will buy a hybrid, or even better, an efficient electric vehicle that get recharged nightly or every 200 miles (current technology) on electricity produced from renewable sources like wind or solar. Give a big enough research and development tax credit incentive to General Motors, Ford, and other auto makers and watch them break the technological barrier of 200 miles per charge on electric vehicle. Give people choice. Don't tell people what to do, leave that to the communists. Plus, isn't positive enforcement, rewarding the desirable behaviors, always better than negative enforcement, punishing the undesirable behaviors, whether it's a dog, an individual, or a corporation?

Big story in the news today regarding federal investigation of tax attorneys Paul M. Daugerdas, Erwin Mayer and Donna M. Guerin of Dallas law firm Jenkens & Gilcrist and the work they did with KPMG.

Private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Reoberts & Co. bought TXU and promised not to build the 11 coal-fired power plants. That still left 8 permits for coal-fired power plants still pending before the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality but it means David Campbell, TXU Executive Vice President, won't be speaking at our Dallas County Young Republicans March monthly meeting next Tuesday.

I am going to do everything I can to limit over-regulation by the US government pushed by Al Gore's fictional science and all these stupid buying of carbon credit. I did not leave communist Vietnam to come to another country where the government tells you what to do down to every details of your daily life, starting with what kind of car you should drive, what light bulb you should use in your house, what kind of household appliances you could install. Heck, it's bad enough that the toilet tank is limited to 1.6 gallon per flush. And it's illegal for any plumber to install a tank with capacity more than 1.6 gallon per flush. It is really stupid but it's there in the law book. What happen to a limited government that takes care of national defense and interstate commerce only?

Finished watching Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and it's another good movie following Amazing Grace. Now, there's no mentioned of a cloture vote in the senate, and that only happens in a movie. In real life, you have to have at least 39 other senators who will agree to let you filibuster. And therefore you have to build relationships, not getting to the Senate on the first few days and did what took place in that movie. However, the one truth we all should remember is that God watches over the affairs of men and if He doesn't allow, it's not going to happen. Even if we were to face the devil personified. We do not want to get ahead of God's timing and kill the Egyptian like Moses did, though he had the right motive and reason. Nor is it our role or place like king Saul tried to offer the sacrifice because the prophet Samuel was late in coming.

We went out to see Amazing Grace after the service today. It's a good movie and we as Christians should go out to support wholesome movies like these. Barbara Spooner, played by Romola Garai, was beautifully portrayted. She was such a vibrant and invigorating spirit in his life. John Newton, the one that composed the classic hymn Amazing Grace, played by Albert Finney. The man was a captain of slave ships, until 20 years after he came to Christ did he stop being part of the slave trade. He played the role especially well the moment Wilberforce , played by Ioan Gruffudd, visited him when he had completely lost his sight and was recounting his account to be written down.

Our Evangelism Explosion team had 16 people went out and shared the gospel with the Vietnamese in and around our church tonight. We had two professions of faith and one recommitment.

For those of you that are really careful, the SteriPEN will zap live bacteria and purify your water.

Good news for the international travelers.

Great comment by the Rev. Rob Schenck, president of the National Clergy Council and its affiliate, Faith and Action in the Nation's Capital, regarding Mitt Romney.

Here is a great website Reliable Texas Power, which will answer questions you have regarding the new 11 coal-fired power plants that TXU proposed to build over the next few years. A total of 17 permit applications for coal burning power plants are pending before the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). The Texas chapter of the Republicans for Environmental Protection, along with many other groups, among them the Texas Cities for Clean Air Coalition led by comrade mayor Bill White of Houston, liberal Dallas mayor Laura Miller, oppose the fast track granting of permits to build these power plants. The Coalition includes the following cities: Arlington, Cedar Hill, Coppell, DeSoto, Duncanville, El Paso, Fort Worth, Frisco, Hillsboro, Irving, Lancaster, McKinney, Plano, Rockwall and Wylie. They wanted the commercially untested coal gasification plants, which consumes more energy. Without these permits, and therefore the new power plants, the alternative is for TXU to turn back on those old power plants that are many times more polluting. Maybe they like that better. Or we can start getting blackouts, now that's a real nice choice.

I was made aware that the Vietnamese Lunar Calendar has only December 29th for the year of the dog, so the first of the year of the pig is on February 17th and not 18th like the Chinese Lunar Calendar, which has December 30th.

More ski trip pictures from Ken and a collection by Cynthia.

Let's see, here is Rudolph Giuliani cross-dressing.

I am a quick learner at everything else except when it comes to sport. So, even though this was my third time gone skiing, I stayed on green and easy blue trails, and going pretty slow at that. Here is a picture of me on the slope.


Karl Ninh on Born Free trail in Vail.

And a picture of a few of us out on the town on Saturday night while the rest stay home playing Texas Hold'em or just sleep after a long day skiing.




On the second day, I added a little speed hoping I can easier practice keeping my skis parallel while turning. I pretty much can keep my skis parallel except when turning, my inside ski somehow forms a wedge. Well, toward the end of the first steep slope right off the lift, I decided I was going down the slope a little faster than I like so I tried to turn left and get both of my skis perpendicular to the slope so I can stop before going down another steep slope. I have done it so many times before without any trouble. Well, don't know what happened this time, maybe the speed, maybe the thick new snow, I fell and the ski on my right leg did not release. I twisted my right knee as I went down. Then rolled a couple turns down the slope. I felt a little pain in my right knee. I tried bending and straightening at the knee and things were ok so I got up. Thinking I was fine, so I tried get my skis on to keep going. The toe end of the ski boot went in but when I tried to move the heel end of the ski boot in position to snap in the ski, it didn't move. I felt as though I had no knee. Tried a couple times, knew something was definitely wrong so I told Cynthia to go down and get ski patrol to get me down. Saw Teresa and Steve going down so I waved at them. They came by and sat with me until the ski patrol came. They took my essential information, immobilized my right leg, put me on a stretcher, and one of them skied down, towing the stretcher with me in it behind him, while another skied right behind. They got me down to the base, put me on a transport to the hospital. At the hospital, a couple X-rays of my right knee were taken. The doctor then looked at it, examined my knee, bending it this way and that. Then he told me that I had partially torn my MCL (medial collateral ligament). The good news was that I do not need surgery and I can go on skiing. Thank God! I prayed the whole time and that's was all I wanted to hear. The bad news was no more skiing this season and I need to be wearing the knee brace for a while. The doctor prescribed me anti-inflammatory and pain killer. The physical therapist at the hospital gave me instructions on how to do 6 different exercises when I get home. She had me tried walking and going up and down the stairs with crutches. I decided the crutches were too much trouble so I told her I can do without. She didn't believe me so I had to show her I can walk around with just the knee brace.

Next day, Rhodo, a friend in our group, also gave me Arnica Montana, which really helped with the swelling, stiffness and pain. Healing are progressing really well, thanks Rhodo!

Flying out to Vail for a 3-day skiing trip and will be back Tuesday.

Check out Hillary's Special Forces.

It was great to hear that governor Mitt Romney will be keynote speaker at this year Dallas County GOP Lincoln Day dinner on April 11th. Another piece of good news is that Jim DeMint, the senator from South Carolina, has endorsed Mitt Romney for president.

It is hard for me to even imagine either Rudy Giuliani or John McCain getting the NRA endorsement. Plus, why did Rudy have to have that picture of him locking lips with his wife Judith on the front page of the New York Post, to make up for some perceived or anticipated issue with his image? Plus, it must be extraordinary for Americans to elect candidate whose name has more than 2 syllables. I am not in anyway insulting the intelligence of the electorate but like president Reagan said: "facts are stubborn thing." But on the other hand, Rudy has the name recognition as America's mayor!

It's very interesting that congressman Ron Paul has formed an exploratory committee as well. He is as conservative as you get. Too bad the president and vice president cannot be from the same state. Otherwise, Ron Paul/Jeb Hensarling would be a dream ticket for the conservative cause.

Another disappointment for Super Bowl this year was no good commercial and the half time show was less than memorable.

At first when I finished The World is Flat, I thought Thomas L. Friedman was one of those leftists way on the other end of the political spectrum. I mean after all he writes for the New York Times. But after listening to his book Longitudes and Attitudes, I believe he's of the Rudy Giuliani's voters type, who understands 9/11, ie. we kill the Islamic fascists before they kill us, no other alternative.

The Republican Jewish Coalition hosted White House political director Sara Taylor tonight in Dallas. She was 30 at the time and so was the youngest to be appointed to head the office of political affairs. She's well spoken, assertive yet managed to be polite, in defending the president's guest worker program: "you may disagree with the president but you have to give him credit because he has been consistent since 1995." A former California college republican so it's not all hopeless out in the People's Republic of California.

The 92 yards return touchdown by Devin Hester that put the Chicago Bears on the score board resembled the return touchdown the Dallas Cowboys had in the game against the New Orleans Saints. From then on, it pretty much went downhill just like the other game, except not as fast and not as bad. At least not until the forth quarter. It seemed like the Chicago Bears made it their business to turn over the ball to the Indianapolis Colts every time they had possession of the ball. They deserved to lose the game.

We heard from the great Ann Coulter tonight at the Denton County GOP Lincoln-Reagan Day dinner. She's amazing not only that she's full of energy, saw this at the national convention in 2004, she is a committed prolifer. She just can't see herself voting for Rudy Giuliani, a Republican who is pro choice, anti gun, and pro gay marriage. Giuliani is really a libertarian. She is all for Duncan Hunter but there's is no name recognition there. I am glad to hear that she likes governor Mitt Romney as well, an effective Republican in a blue state. She spoke softly but held the attention of the audience the whole time. That is not easy.

I really do not appreciate attorney general Alberto Gonzales, with courtesy of my tax dollars and many other Americans, sending US attorneys after law enforcement officers to prosecute them for shooting drug smugglers who are bringing illegal drugs and entering this country illegally. For heaven sake, am I living in Mexico here? I mean these officers put their lives on the line to protect and defend the United States of America, just like our military men and women. I thank God for them all. And even if the attorney general is getting paid with Mexican pesos from the Mexican government, he should be prosecuting the drug smugglers, not the people who stop the drug smugglers, isn't drug bad? I mean has the world gone up side down over night while I was asleep or something? Why are we granting drug smugglers immunity to help testify in the prosecution of law enforcement officers who are doing what they can to stop the illegal drugs from coming into this country?

Check this out.