Welcome

Welcome to my blog http://www.skegley.blogspot.com/ . CAVEAT LECTOR- Let the reader beware. This is a Christian Conservative blog. It is not meant to offend anyone. Please feel free to ignore this blog, but also feel free to browse and comment on my posts! You may also scroll down to respond to any post.

For Christian American readers of this blog:


I wish to incite all Christians to rise up and take back the United States of America with all of God's manifold blessings. We want the free allowance of the Bible and prayers allowed again in schools, halls of justice, and all governing bodies. We don't seek a theocracy until Jesus returns to earth because all men are weak and power corrupts the very best of them.
We want to be a kinder and gentler people without slavery or condescension to any.

The world seems to be in a time of discontent among the populace. Christians should not fear. God is Love, shown best through Jesus Christ. God is still in control. All Glory to our Creator and to our God!


A favorite quote from my good friend, Jack Plymale, which I appreciate:

"Wars are planned by old men,in council rooms apart. They plan for greater armament, they map the battle chart, but: where sightless eyes stare out, beyond life's vanished joys, I've noticed,somehow, all the dead and mamed are hardly more than boys(Grantland Rice per our mutual friend, Sarah Rapp)."

Thanks Jack!

I must admit that I do not check authenticity of my posts. If anyone can tell me of a non-biased arbitrator, I will attempt to do so more regularly. I know of no such arbitrator for the internet.











Wednesday, September 30, 2015

WW III by Putin today!

If Putin judges the USA by the weak o, then we should use any legal means to get rid of o.  He is no Commander in Chief and, for the worse, he won't let the military do their things.  Is WW III actively starting today?

Tent City for Kentucky basketball tickets ... Thx Matt Jones and KentuckySportsradio.com!

Basketball

Basketball Season Coverage

Tent City is at capacity with 585 tents

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That didn’t take long. Four hours after the camp grounds around Memorial Coliseum opened up, “Tent City” reached capacity at 585 tents. Last year, fans broke the previous record by setting up 760 tents, but space for this year’s campout was limited by construction.
That means no new campers will be able to set up their tents and therefore no control cards for free tickets will be issues to those not already camped out. Don’t worry, you can still try your luck with Ticketmaster.com on Friday night at 10 p.m., which is when tickets will be distributed to campers. Control cards will be issued to campers on Friday at 2 p.m., and fans are encouraged to start lining up for Friday night’s distribution by 8:30 p.m.
You people…well, you know.

The KSR Gubernatorial Debate’s Wednesday Morning Wakeup

Matt Bevin (R), Jack Conway (D), and Drew Curtis (I)
With so much going on, KSR’s Gubernatorial Debate kind of snuck up on us, didn’t it? In one hour and six minutes, the three candidates for Kentucky governor — Matt Bevin (R), Jack Conway (D), and Drew Curtis (I) — will face off in the iHeartMedia Studios in Lexington with Matt Jones as the moderator and Ryan Lemond working the bell.
As someone who doesn’t even live in Kentucky, I can’t profess to know a ton about the governor’s race, other than Bevin participated in KSR’s GOP debate back in May, Conway has really nice hair, and Curtis (founder of Fark.com) seems to be the “wild child” of the bunch. Regardless, we’ll hopefully know more by the end of the show, and Matt promises to throw in some questions to make it fun for everyone. The comments section is sure to be interesting, at the very least.
The debate will also be streamed live on WKYT.com, and we hope to have that up for you as well so you can see if Matt and Ryan wore suits and how crazy Matt’s hands get when he talks on the radio.
There’s an insane amount of other stuff going on, so let’s go over that before the mud-slinging begin…

The Big Blue Madness Campout is officially on

In case you missed Drew’s videos and pictures from earlier, the Big Blue Madness campout has officially begun. …Even though people started lining up on Sunday. As usual, the race across the Avenue of Champions was pandemonium, especially since the camping space has been limited this year. One of those campers is our own Kelsey Mattingly (middle), who will be doing a writeup of her experiences later this week:
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Scroll down for more pics and we’ll have more throughout the day.
Back to football…

Will we find anything out about Boom?

In case you were in a cave or something yesterday, the major story of the day centered around Boom Williams. Our own Ryan Lemond broke the news that Boom may not practice on the radio show and he took heat for it all day until Mark Stoops finally confirmed the story with reporters that evening. Stoops said Boom is dealing with a “personal issue,” and has not practiced all week, and it is uncertain whether or not he’ll play on Saturday. Stoops insisted he’s keeping the issue between Boom and himself, and we should do our best not to speculate any further. Instead, we’ll wait for an update from Stoops. It may come during the SEC Coaches Teleconference, which starts at noon.

We’ll also hear from the defense

DJ Eliot and his crew will address the media after practice this evening following arguably their most impressive performance of the season. DJ Eliot had an incredible and complex game plan that stymied the Tigers and had Freddie Maggard fawning at his feet. (You’ll hear more about that on the podcast.)
Speaking of…

The latest KSR Football Podcast will come out

…and though I’m biased, I think it’s our best yet. Freddie, Jared, Nick, and I had a ton of fun recapping the Missouri game, Patrick Towles’ performance, Jared’s Hall of Fame enshrinement, and the EKU game. We also discussed the Boom Williams situation and I gave the guys a vocabulary lesson. I think you guys will really like it. #Centipede

Happy birthday, Roush!

The newest member of the KSR full-time staff turns the ripe old age of 24 today, meaning the rest of us still have six years to make fun of how young he is. Roush has been doing an excellent job since coming on staff full-time a few months back and now he finally knows how to record the podcast. Join me in wishing him a happy day.

Someone set Ky Joe’s new rap to music

…and I hate how many times I’ve listened to it. It may be better than “Teach Me Bout Kentucky,” although that’s not saying much. Well done, JKyleMann.

Now, it’s DEBATE time

Personally, I think one of the questions should be what the candidates think about that song.

Big Blue Madness Campout 2015 is underway

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This morning, for whatever reason, I thought it’d be a good idea to get up at 4:30 am and head out to Memorial Coliseum. So I did. I hopped up, threw on my best rain jacket and joined the crazies along Avenue of Champions.
The scene was nuts, per usual. I believe this year was the best turnout for the early morning rush, and outside of a few minor scuffles over tent space, it was done in an orderly fashion. The mayhem will never be perfect, but the folks at UK have done a good job of controlling the crowd as best as they can.
You people are crazy.
IMG_6256 IMG_6257 IMG_6258 IMG_6261 IMG_6262  IMG_6269
First in line:
IMG_6263

Get to Know Jamal Murray from CoachCal.com

CoachCal.com
CoachCal.com
We’ve talked a lot about Jamal Murray around these parts, but you probably don’t “really” know him just yet.  I mean, I couldn’t tell you much more about the cape-wearing Canadian other than his stats from the overtime victory over Team USA in the Pan-Am games (22 points, 6 assists).
That’s why we have CoachCal.com.  In this edition of their “Meet the Wildcats” series, Murray talks about his family, the people who taught him to love basketball.  Some of his earliest memories go back to watching his Father, a track athlete, work out at the gym.
“He’s very competitive so I just remember bits and pieces of him yelling or something like that during a shot,” Murray said. “He’s real athletic. He’s always been around me on the court. Every time I’m on the court in the summertime he’ll come and train me or practice with me. We’ve always been on the court together.”
If this article doesn’t help you get to know him enough, hang around for two more days.  Thursday is the day the preseason interview embargo is lifted and you can discover all of the awesomeness we’ve had to keep secret for the past six weeks.

Revisiting My First Journey Into The Madness

As the BBN prepares for three days of Madness surrounding Memorial Coliseum, I’d like to look back at my first, and only attempt to conquer Campout.  It was 2013, the 40-0 talks had already begun, but more importantly, I saw a side of the fan base I had never seen before.  I spin a mean yarn, attempting to emulate the late-great Hunter S. Thompson.  It actually kind of worked – over the summer, this essay helped me win the first scholarship from The Gonzo Foundation, a non-profit headed by Thompson’s widow, Anita.  So if you like a wild and crazy tale, this is the story for you. 
As you will see, even without the torrential downpours, Big Blue Madness Campout is not for the faint of heart.  
A bag of spicy Jack Link’s jerky, a sleeping pad, a stick of deodorant, a lawn chair, an assortment of bourbon bottles and a tent; at 3:30 in the morning my quest for conquering the Big Blue Madness Campout began. After a knee-jerk decision the night before, it was time to make the mess outside of Memorial Coliseum my home for the next three nights. Nothing in my short 22 years could have prepared me for this unforgettable journey.
Wednesday October 2nd, 3:55 AM
Struggling to stay awake, a tree shaded my eyes from the brightly burning temporary structures across the street from the Coliseum. The line spectators had formed over the past 12 hours made no sense to me at the time, and I found comfort in the cool grass.
I had not 5 minutes of additional rest before the crowd began to stir- awakening from a year long slumber that was further exacerbated after an unsuccessful NIT season. Their restlessness could not be tamed. At 4:00 AM the masses began flocking to the tiny patches of grass on both sides of the Coliseum. There was no time to think during the confusing chaos (there was little ability to think at that hour regardless), only time to push your way through the crowd to find the spray-painted lines on the turf. Bodies hit other bodies, bodies hit the curb, and bodies didn’t show any sign of slowing down until the curses from Big Brother (UKPD and UKAthletics staff) pushed the crowd back to where they were supposed to be: on the other side of the street.
The 4:00 AM false alarm was followed by the most childish treatment of adults ever witnessed- but rightfully so. However you cannot be too surprised that Kentucky fans ignored the signs that stated a start time of 5:00 am, after all The US Census Bureau reported in 2000 346,000 of Kentucky adults were illiterate. Entertained by the way things had started, I did not mind standing behind a yellow rope held by Big Brother that moved a few steps closer every 15 minutes, but I did mind the cigarette smoke coming from the cool cat near the front. Upon further examination of the crowd, I realized that my groggy mind couldn’t classify this crowd at all. The variety of people young and old, short and tall, fat and skinny, couldn’t be generalized other than the sweeping notion that every person standing in the middle of the road before the crack of dawn was an insane Kentucky basketball fan.
While we children remained in timeout behind the yellow rope a strategy was formed. Partnering up with some Campout vets, Crossfit Mike was to use his broad shoulders to create a running lane through the crowd while carrying the large canvas tent. With my smaller tent, my goal was to follow the lead blocker, while making space for my tent-mate Schmitty to bring in the bulky contraption that would hold up the larger tent. The goal was to be as close to the white (ish) brick of the Coliseum as possible.
Developing a strategy was a great way to occupy time that seemingly stood still. The slow move finally reached its apex at 4:45 when toes reached the street curb (but not actually on the curb, or your feet would be SQUASHED by Big Brother). Megaphones announced instructions that no one paid attention to as the seconds inched closer to the free-for-all. Suddenly the yellow rope was down and all hell broke loose. Following Crossfit Mike, he darted through the crowd carrying the canvas like a football. Anyone in between our path was thrown off their course, with a few people hitting the ground after cross(fit)ing Mike’s path. An empty space was spotted and I quickly had to find my own spot nearby. In between the largest tree and the sidewalk I found a small patch of dirt lined with spray paint. I staked claim to my new home, declaring an early victory on the journey to conquering the Big Blue Madness Campout.
Not everyone could succeed. The curb that Big Brother had restricted caused a spill or two or ten. The screech of women cursing captured Drew Franklin’s cell phone was commonplace. Campers attempted to steal other people’s places, going as far as pitching their tent on top of another. While people had their differences sorted out by Big Brother (sorted out means they got moved to the back of the line) I smugly grinned and waltzed to a friends house nearby for some much needed quality sleep on a stained sofa.
(more…)

Waiting in the rain for limited spots in Tent City

camp-rain1
It’s pouring down rain in Lexington today, yet several eager Big Blue Madness campers are still lined up across the street from Memorial Coliseum, awaiting the horn tomorrow morning at 5 am. Many of the seats you see lining Avenue of Champions are empty, but there are still plenty of fans waiting it out in the bad weather.
camp-rain2
Once the campout officially begins tomorrow, spots will be very limited compared to years past. With the new UK bookstore taking up what used to be the blue courts, that area behind Memorial has very little room for tents.
memorial-camp
Notice the NO CAMPING warnings in the North corner outside Memorial. This used to be a very popular area in Tent City:
no-camping
It will be a fight to find some good property in the morning.

Average Joe American worker always suffers by acts of Congress ... Thx Marge R!

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September 29, 2015

See Who Would Get Furloughed in a 2015 Shutdown // Eric Katz

More than 860,000 federal workers would be sent home without pay.

Watchdog: VA Reassigned Senior Officials to Sidestep Pay Freeze // Amelia Gruber

IG also substantiates allegations related to abuse of relocation program.

Brought to you by Government Business Council
Using Big Data to Drive Public Sector Insights

Government innovation starts with insights. But, innovation does not always come easily, as many state governments continually face data management and data quality challenges that can limit the value of traditional analytics tools.

Download this report to learn how to improve the quality of your agency's data-decision making.

Feds Are Apparently Happier and More Engaged With Work Than Last Year // Kellie Lunney

OPM touts early results of the 2015 survey gauging the government workforce's attitudes on management and pay.

Congress Gives Disabled Vets Hired as Feds Advance Sick Leave // Kellie Lunney

Bill aims to help wounded warriors get to doctors' appointments without eating up leave.

DARPA Looking for Tech to Protect the 'Internet of Things' // Mohana Ravindranath

The program's goal is to detect attackers on the Internet of Things by monitoring electronic devices' emissions.

Senators Push to Broaden Inspector General Access to Documents // Charles S. Clark

Bipartisan group's measure would override Justice Department's opinion.

Historic Effort to Track Stimulus Spending Wraps Up // Charles S. Clark

Recovery.gov was pioneer in data transparency.

Wildfires Burning Through Cash as Fast as Forest; Shell Oil Quits Arctic Seas // John Tomasic

Also: Delaware brings private sector advisors in on budget planning and a Justice Department case that's really not at all about polygamy in Utah.

Phishing Scams Aren't Likely to End Federal Careers Anytime Soon // Lindy Kyzer

If employees are held accountable, then what about OPM?

NSA Chief: Clinton's Private Email Server an Intelligence 'Opportunity' // Frank Konkel

Rogers was responding to a hypothetical question from Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., about former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's controversial use of a "homebrew" private email system.

What Any of Us Can Learn From Pope Francis // Scott Eblin

What it means to show up at our best and the outcomes we help create by being aware and intentional.

How Immigration Will Change America's Face // Krishnadev Calamur

U.S. population growth in 2065 will be driven by Asian and Hispanic immigration, according to a new Pew report.

Study: High Salaries Not the Biggest Draw for Female Cyber Pros // Hallie Golden

Female cybersecurity pros value a job's nonmonetary incentives above monetary ones.

Brought to you by Government Business Council
Using Big Data to Drive Public Sector Insights

Government innovation starts with insights. But, innovation does not always come easily, as many state governments continually face data management and data quality challenges that can limit the value of traditional analytics tools.

Download this report to learn how to improve the quality of your agency's data-decision making.
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Fed employees & retirees to pay more for healthcare in 2016

Feds Will Pay 7.4 Percent More Toward Health Care Premiums in 2016

pogonici / Shutterstock.com
Federal employees and retirees will pay an average of 7.4 percent more toward their health insurance premiums in 2016, the Office of Personnel Management announced Tuesday.
Federal Employees Health Benefits Program enrollees with self-only coverage will contribute an average of $5.50 more per paycheck, while those with family coverage will pay about $19.61 more. For the first time ever, FEHBP participants can select the self-plus-one enrollment category. Those enrollees will see an average increase of $8.92 per paycheck -- or 4.9 percent -- over what they paid in 2015, assuming they were previously in the self-and-family category.
About 95 percent of self-plus-one enrollees will pay lower premiums than self-and-family participants in enrolled in the same plan. Self-plus-one premiums are lower than self-and-family in every case, but a quirk in the contribution share formula led to some instances in which enrollees with just two people joining a plan would be better off choosing self-and-family. In a conference call on Tuesday, OPM officials encouraged FEHBP participants to check to ensure switching to self-plus-one is in their best interest.
Federal employees and retirees’ share of their health care premiums will go up by a higher percentage than the government contribution, which will rise 6 percent. OPM said the government share of premiums “is based on a lower average as enrollees select lower cost plans.” OPM pays about 70 percent of FEHBP participants’ premiums.
Overall premiums for non-postal employees and annuitants, including all enrollment options and both the employee and government portions, will increase by 6.4 percent. The increase is double that of the 2015 bump, and the largest since 2011. The jump is the first in five years to surpass 4 percent.
John O’Brien, OPM’s director of healthcare and insurance, said FEHBP is coming off a “low period,” adding “we are still in the midst of the lowest consecutive five-year period of premium increases in the FEHB program.” Despite the uptick, O’Brien called the increase “relatively modest.” He attributed the increase to a jump in prescription drug costs, saying such spikes disproportionately affect FEHBP because federal retirees are included in the program’s risk pool.
O’Brien also emphasized that while the private sector has seen increased copays and deductibles, there are no changes in those rates for FEHBP participants. Those attempts to assuage federal employees and retirees were unsuccessful with the groups that represent them.
“The government is shifting more of the cost increase to enrollees, further eating away at their take-home pay,” American Federation of Government Employees National President J. David Cox said. “Federal employees have endured five years of frozen or minuscule pay raises, while retirees aren’t getting a dime of additional support next year. How are they supposed to maintain their standard of living when costs for essential things like health care keep going up?”
By comparison, state employees in California will see a 7 percent to 11 percent increase in their premiums, depending on which insurance option they choose. The consulting firm Mercer, however, projected a 4.2 percent premium increase in 2016.
Next year’s exact increase will vary from plan to plan. The most popular plan -- the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Standard Option -- will see a $9.15 increase for self-only enrollees per paycheck; family enrollees in the plan will pay an extra $24.93 per paycheck, and self-plus-one enrollees will pay $18 more than they paid for self-and-family in 2015. About 40 percent of FEHBP participants are enrolled in that plan.
The company noted that federal enrollees can now earn up to $170 -- a 50 percent increase from last year -- by participating in various wellness initiatives.
U.S. Postal Service employees will pay an average of 13 percent more for their premiums, or $16.61 per paycheck. Self-only enrollees will pay 12 percent more, while family participants will see a 17 percent jump. The government share will increase by 4.7 percent.
FEHBP will offer a total of 252 plans in 2016, five fewer than it did in 2015. Every plan will offer self-only, self-plus-one and self-and-family enrollment options. Four of the plans are new offerings, and 11 will be offered to all participants regardless of where they live or work. Six plans will drop out of FEHBP next year, affecting 3,000 individuals.
About 8.2 million federal employees, retirees and their family members enroll in FEHBP. More than 1.6 million participate in the federal dental benefit, while 1.2 million enroll in vision plans. Premiums for those benefits will increase 2.23 percent and 3.61, respectively, in 2016.
Open Season, the period in which federal employees and retirees can enroll in FEHBP or switch plans, will run from Nov. 9 through Dec. 14. Between 4 percent and 7 percent of enrollees typically switch plans annually. OPM will also open a “special enrollment period” in the month of February to allow active federal employee enrollees who would have been better served switching to self-plus-one more time to make the change. OPM officials said federal workers often do not pay much attention to Open Season and, in anticipation of receiving complaints from individuals who missed the opportunity to select a cheaper option, they decided to preemptively create an extra enrollment period. 

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