Buns In My Oven » Sweet Potato Cookies with Browned Butter Glaze

Buns In My Oven » Sweet Potato Cookies with Browned Butter Glaze

I'm featuring this web site and the recipe because I enjoy the commentary that goes along with the blog, as well as the yumminess of the recipes.

Sweet potatoes remind me of fall, harvest, pumpkins, squash, orange and yellow veggies and warm, mellow times.   As for scary movies, I try not to watch them! 

Today, I went to a genealogical seminar in Pensacola, Florida.  It was held at the auditorium of Washington High School and the speaker was Megan Smolenyak.  For the better part of the day, I got my head stuffled with super wise information, inspiration, and my stomach wasn't neglected, either.  The West Florida Genealogical Society welcomed us with an array of refreshments that stayed out on the table during the breaks as well as for a "continental" breakfast.  I seriously love Megan (a derivative of my own moniker, "Margaret"); she is my heroine.

For lunch, us girls who traveled together forty-something miles to attend the seminar, visited Panera's at Cordova Mall.  I had the Autumn Squash soup and it is to die for!  I loved it!  Just put me in the mood for Thanksgiving and all healthful delicious stuff!  

A plan for 2014 - Tea Party Nation

A plan for 2014 - Tea Party Nation

I don't think a lot of Republicans are aware that there is a fierce battle about to take place in the 2014 Vote between moderate and "tea-party" Republicans.  I am very fond of some of my friends who belong to the Tea Party.  It truly is a grass roots organization.  Are there rogue elements?  Perhaps, but for the most part, I think it has been (the tea party) has been a balancing influence in the Republican party.  What is a moderate wing correlation?  Where do the grass roots go, if not to the Tea-Party?

If only Glenn Beck could galvanize his following!  Some of us have not given up on the Republican Party, but some of us are tired of the friction and fracturing.  Why can't the Republican Party represent both conservatives and moderates.  Some issues could be compromised on; some cannot.  Republicans, even moderate or liberal Republicans, should embrace grass roots as a valid part of the party.  Those of us who are sick of the non-accountability of Democratic politicians in economic matters, need a voice.  Those of us who fear accomodation in the cultural fabric of society as governed by the feds, need a voice.

Who voted for Health Care Reform, yea or nay?

Who voted for Health Care Reform (Obamacare) is laid out plainly, here.  Is that going to be a watermark for who we vote for in 2014?  It could be one of them.

About the Midterm Congressional Elections

About the Midterm Congressional Elections

It's not too soon to start the education process for the 2014 elections that will change (or not) the face of our representation in Congress.

2014 Senate Elections: Here is the Republican Roadmap to Victory - PolicyMic

2014 Senate Elections: Here is the Republican Roadmap to Victory - PolicyMic

Senate’s pivotal 2014 races take shape - Elections - The Sacramento Bee

Senate’s pivotal 2014 races take shape - Elections - The Sacramento Bee

We, the people, need to be watching the 2014 line-ups in every state, but especially the one we live in and where we can make a difference.

United States Senate elections, 2014 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

United States Senate elections, 2014 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Educate yourselves. 

November 4, 2014 is the Day you can Speak Your Conscience.

Is Kerry Setting Up Israel as the Fall Guy in the Syria WMD Deal | FrontPage Magazine

Is Kerry Setting Up Israel as the Fall Guy in the Syria WMD Deal | FrontPage Magazine

I've read now, a couple of thoughtful reviews of last week's events and the way they played out.  

Legal Dictionary | Law.com

Legal Dictionary | Law.com

I looked up "chancery" and also got a definition for "equity".  This web site or one like it will help you when you are doing research and come across a legal term you don't understand.  Examples of stuff that my dad found when he did research on the Givens family at the courthouse. 

Now, I just have to read those records (or search in my dad's stuff), to get the details!  A trip to the courthouse may be the faster of the two options.

Hatch, Colleagues Call on White House for Details on Obamacare Implementation at 21 Federal Agencies - Press Releases - United States Senator Orrin Hatch

Hatch, Colleagues Call on White House for Details on Obamacare Implementation at 21 Federal Agencies - Press Releases - United States Senator Orrin Hatch

How can I find out exactly which federal agencies are included in that 21 that were redirected from their regular mission to help implement Obamacare?  And by what authority were they redirected or rather whose authority and how much is all this costing over and above what was originally earmarked for Obamacare?

Sultan Knish posts "The End of Control"

Here's the link for the article: The End of Control.

Here are some of my comments:

Article says, "Increasing control is the only solution of the system to failure."

• Margaret  says, "This is patently obvious, now that think about it.  Look at the history of the government's attempts to fix and/or cover every expediency.  Look at the regulations, the addendums, the twists and the turns of federal law.  Where is the humility?  Where is the honesty, the common sense?  We send people to Congress to make laws, but perhaps we should send them to do away with some laws, especially as pertains to the laws that have no semblance or appearance of constitutionality."

GOP Widens Probe of Sebelius Fundraising for Enroll America

GOP Widens Probe of Sebelius Fundraising for Enroll America

It seems that someone else has questions about the Enroll America crew. 

Board of Directors - Enroll America

Board of Directors - Enroll America

This is the group that will be "educating" Americans in their enrollment process for Obamacare.  I intend on checking out the Board of Directors--do they have something to gain for their trouble?  If so, what?

A Scary Superbug, Caffeinated Bees and More - NYTimes.com

A Scary Superbug, Caffeinated Bees and More - NYTimes.com

A rare sunstone?  Tags: science, archaelogy, religion?

Gov. Christie’s $32.9B Budget Expands Medicaid, Increases School Aid « CBS New York

Gov. Christie’s $32.9B Budget Expands Medicaid, Increases School Aid « CBS New York

It's called a compromise and in some situations, it's what you got to do!

Teaching Students to Feel Guilty about Financial Success

Teaching Students to Feel Guilty about Financial Success

Brainwashing is all about mindset.  Trends.  Trending.  Indoctrination.  It takes bright, clever, liberal brains to craft a society that is based on destroying American dreams, American ingenuity, American values.

Hamburg resident Dr. Evan Calkins writes family history | Scene |News Classifieds Events

via thesunnews.net

Age 82, Young at Heart, Dr. Calkins pens his family history! Three cheers for the Doctor! Hurrah, Hurrah, Hurrah.

Posted via email from Margaret's posterous

2012 Featured Collections - Ancestry.com

2012 Featured Collections - Ancestry.com

Does anyone know how long Ancestry will keep its door open on the free access to these collections?  

Fold3 - Historical military records

via fold3.com

I will begin the new year with no subscription to either "fold3" or ancestry.com. I don't have a subscription to company that archives and makes available the historical newspapers.

This next year, I will still have plenty to do, plenty of resources to check out. For example, I've hardly begun to skim the surface of www.findagrave.com or www.familysearch.org. I have access to Heritage Quest through the local library. There is Rootsweb, the "free arm" of Ancestry, and also www.usgenweb, where many volunteers have posted information.

When I'm not looking at the Internet at free resources, I can always tidy my "papers". I can scan photos and original documents, as well as notes and maps. I will aim to collaborate with family, get closer kin to take part of the load, and make memories with grandchildren.

All of the subscription services will still be available down the road, should I decide I can't live without them. I marvel at the giant companies that have managed to gather and make accessible, wonderful historic records and genealogy databases. I just choose do something else for now, for my own private reasons. And there is a ton I can do, for free! Maybe I'll even re-learn how to write a letter or a query.

Posted via email from Margaret's posterous

Lawmakers urge VA to keep better records - Air Force News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Air Force Times

http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2012/12/military-lawmakers-urge-va-to-keep-...

Lawmakers urge VA to keep better records

By Patricia Kime - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Dec 6, 2012 13:27:02 EST

Lawmakers are pressing for digitization of military records, and better file sharing among agencies responsible for them, following media reports of missing or inaccurate unit records and the temporary disappearance of 250 files from the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis.

In November, media investigators at Pro Publica and the Seattle Times found that the Veterans Benefits Administration denied some claims because service members’ units had lost or inaccurately catalogued their field records, making it impossible to prove they had deployed or suffered a service-related medical condition.

And on July 3, a person walking in the woods behind the records repository in St. Louis found a dumped cache of 250 military records. A follow-on investigation found they’d been unloaded by a temporary employee who was supposed to have filed them.

Rep. Jon Runyan, R-N.J., said Tuesday that problems must be addressed by all three agencies that handle troop records, including the Defense Department, Veterans Affairs Department and the National Archives, to ensure the records are “initiated, maintained and transferred as efficiently as possible.”

“Often, a single record or notation can be the difference in whether a veteran’s disability claim is granted or denied. This is why we must work together to ensure that no records are lost, overlooked or otherwise unable to be associated with an individual disability claim,” said Runyan, chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee’s disability assistance and memorial affairs panel.

Several initiatives are underway to digitize records and ensure accuracy. DoD and VA are piloting a $4 billion integrated electronic health records system to ease the transfer of information between the departments; VA is rolling out the Veterans Benefits Management System, a paperless claims processing system; and NRPC maintains an electronic system that the tracks records and automates work assignments.

Veterans’ advocacy groups pressed Congress during a Dec. 4 hearing on the matter to encourage creation of a Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record that would include an individual’s complete personnel and medical information starting from recruitment.

They also urged Congress to press the military to reconstruct lost unit records and lower the standard of proof for veterans to provide information related to claims when records are lost.

According to Vietnam Veterans of American, among 3,956 claims appeals of veterans represented by VVA between 2001 and 2003, 954 involved missing service records.

“There should be no way that the VBA should be able to deny their claims based on lack of military records,” said Michael Viterna, president of the National Organization of Veterans’ Advocates.

Ranking subcommittee member Rep. Jerry McNerney, D-Calif., said managers and the employees who handle military records must take their responsibilities seriously.

“Veterans and their families should not be burdened with the responsibility of recreating lost files, providing multiple copies of records that once were in DoD or VA’s possession,” McNerney said.

Runyan promised follow-on hearings to address the problems associated with lost and inaccurate unit records and closer scrutiny of record-keeping in general, which he considers vital to clearing VA’s disability claims backlog.

In a Wednesday email to Military Times, National Archives Chief Operating Officer Jay Bosanko said the administration is investigating the displacement of the records in St. Louis and the Justice Department is also looking into the matter.

He added that the records were recovered and affected veterans are being notified.

“The National Archives carries the responsibility for collecting and preserving the service records of America’s military members. This responsibility is serious. … It is also very great, with hundreds of millions of documents in our care. No one takes that responsibility more seriously than the archivist, David S. Ferriero, himself a Navy veteran,” Bosanko wrote.

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via airforcetimes.com

With military cuts in the works, lawmakers may be disappointed that their concerns may get way-laid. However, it seems a worthy goal and I'm all for it. In the cited case, a temp worker obviously didn't want to work. What's wrong with that picture?

Posted via email from Margaret's posterous