545 vs. 300,000,000 People - By Charlie Reese

Charley Reese's final column for the Orlando Sentinel.

He has been a journalist for 49 years. He is retiring and this is HIS LAST COLUMN.

This is about as clear and easy to understand as it can be. The article below is completely neutral, neither anti-republican or democrat. Charlie Reese, a retired reporter for the Orlando Sentinel, has hit the nail directly on the head, defining clearly who it is that in the final analysis must assume responsibility for the judgments made that impact each one of us every day. It's a short but good read. Worth the time. Worth remembering!

545 vs. 300,000,000 People - By Charlie Reese

Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them.

Have you ever wondered, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, WHY do we have deficits?

Have you ever wondered, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes?

You and I don't propose a federal budget. The President does.

You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does.

You and I don't write the tax code, Congress does.

You and I don't set fiscal policy, Congress does.

You and I don't control monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bank does.

One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one President, and nine Supreme Court justices equates to 545 human beings out of the 300 million are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.

I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered, but private, central bank.

I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman, or a President to do one cotton-picking thing. I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator's responsibility to determine how he votes.

Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party.

What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker, who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits. The President can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it.

The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes. Who is the speaker of the House? John Boehner. He is the leader of the majority party. He and fellow House members, not the President, can approve any budget they want. If the President vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to.

It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million cannot replace 545 people who stand convicted -- by present facts -- of incompetence and irresponsibility. I can't think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people. When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.

If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair.

If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red.

If the Army & Marines are in Iraq and Afghanistan it's because they want them in Iraq and Afghanistan.

If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement plan not available to the people, it's because they want it that way.

There are no insoluble government problems.

Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power. Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like "the economy","inflation," or "politics" that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.

Those 545 people, and they alone, are responsible.

They, and they alone, have the power.

They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses.

Provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees.

We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess.


Charlie Reese is a former columnist of the Orlando Sentinel Newspaper.

Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL license Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Excise Taxes
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Permit Tax
Gasoline Tax (currently 44.75 cents per gallon)
Gross Receipts Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)
Liquor Tax
Luxury Taxes
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Personal Property Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Service Charge Tax
Social Security Tax
Road Usage Tax
Recreational Vehicle Tax
Sales Tax
School Tax
State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone Federal Excise Tax
Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax
Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Taxes
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
Telephone Recurring and Nonrecurring Charges Tax
Telephone State and Local Tax
Telephone Usage Charge Tax
Utility Taxes
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft Registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax

STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY?
Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago, and our nation was the most prosperous in the world. We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.

What in the heck happened? Can you spell 'politicians?'

I hope this goes around THE USA at least 545 times! YOU can help it get there!!!

GO AHEAD. . . BE AN AMERICAN

A Message From Sam.

Dear Mr. President, Senate, and House, Do you remember why you became what you did? Have you forgotten? Being a part of the government is a privilege. This is not a #$%$ contest. You are not there to dictate to the American people how we should live. Lately, all I have know is that life is bad. From what I can tell, it isn't going to get better. I feel that you have lost sight of right and wrong. That you have started to do things based on your own personal needs so that laws, bills, and the major dealings only benefit yourselves as if you are the only one that needs protecting, money, wealth, and a strong living. It's different here in the real world. The people I know are good people. Kind people. Caring people. The kind of people that would give you the shirt off their back, open their homes to you when you need it, and even give you a hot meal should they have it to give. Your so far up there; Do you even notice us? We are the homeless. We have nothing to give but each other. We are the forgotten ones and the ones whom you don't talk about. We are the homeless, the hungry nd the uninsured. We starve so that you can have a hot meal. When was the last time you where not able to buy food? We ail because we have no money to pay doctors and hospitals.This economy is based on credit scores that protect the rich. People who have money don't need credit scores. Poor people have low or bad credit because they can't pay their bills. So we can't buy a $400 mortgage but we are forced to pay $400 a month for rent (low end). Why do you have all these programs set up when no one but you benefits from them? Where is the 'pay it forward'? You are the government, so seize the day and govern something properly. It isn't just a job. It is OUR lives that are at stake here in the real world. You are not there to have a shoving match or barter with one another with our lives. You should work WITH each other to give us a better life and to that of our children. Show our children that life is good and that it can be that way always. Set the example for them to follow. Find your love for the American people, not just yourselves or your wealthy friends. There are a lot of people in my community that have no hope of a better future. They know nothing else but poor living. They turn to drugs by selling and using because they just don't care anymore and they yearn to have something that you can not see to give them. WE need support and structure. This is not living, it is mearly existing. It's frustrating...A viscous cirlce that never ends for us. Where are you? Why are you doing this to us? If you didn't work for the government and you were down here with us, How would you feel? How do you expect us to get an education when it puts us further in debt? Insurance is a myth that is offered to the poor and the payment plans are a joke that no one can afford. We are sad and lonely down here in the real world. We are not the wave makers, the go getters, or the courageous. We are the poor American's that have been forgotten. WE are the backbone of this nation. So try to remember that while you are up there flaunting the fact that we as a nation are now poor.

  Found as a comment to the government stalemate on the debt ceiling from Samantha Cummins

I want it and I want it NOW!

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I feel that Americans are some of the laziest people on our planet.  I'm no different, we all want to have health in a pill, and we all want wealth without working for it.  We all also believe that we are owed something, but what? In our lives we will find that it really is just a journey the only true destination is death. So when you start each day keep this in mind: the positive, your dreams, and the people who care about you. This should be enough to help you get through the problems that life presents to each of us every day. I know that we all believe that if I could just have this next item on my wish list; I would be happy; this could be a new car, or something in your home. You know as well as I that this material item will soon lose its new appeal and become just another burden, like your last car payment. Our society has taught us to focus on the material so much that we lock ourselves in a prison that is created by our wants not real needs and the debt that our needs and wants incur.

 I sometimes wish that I lived back in what is known as” the old days”, where people worked for what they had, and very rarely borrowed money. They made their own clothes, they grew their own food, and they built their own houses. They also had closer families and friends that helped with these demanding chores.  Nowadays you are lucky if you can just get friends to come over for a nice dinner at your home, because people are so busy in their rushed lives because they have bills to pay.  Look at America as a whole.  Our deficit is out of control, our elected officials can't agree on spending, and each and every one of us are nearly the same with our families’ budget, if we even have made one at all.

It is my wish that we break this cycle of materialism that we now live in, so that children are not made fun of in school because they don't have the right shoes or the right jacket or jeans. If this could happen, then maybe when these children become adults they would not feel the need to have the newest truck; or the latest TV, or the fanciest phone that just came out, and will be obsolete in three months.  I guess this is all just a dream for me, and I dare not mention the people who have warned us of these problems such as the Uni-bomber, but technology does have a price. I believe we are all paying a bit; not just with money, but also with low self-esteem and added stress to friendships, marriages, and to our bodies as well. 

I hope that having read this, there is at least a part of what I'm trying to say you can agree with, and maybe it will help you to change your life a little for the better, in the future.  It will take us a little change each generation and I believe we will be a better nation because of those changes. It can't, nor will it, happen overnight; just as the problems we face did not arrive overnight, but with time and understanding we can be a very self-sufficient society.  My dream is that we can learn to live healthier lifestyles that strain our bodies, relationships, and our planet less.

The Law of Detachment

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Life, like a vapor here one moment and then gone.   We are not physical creations that experience spiritual events, but rather spiritual beings that have physical experiences.  Those experiences are what we are all a part of right now.  You are where you are in life because of all the decisions you have made in the past.  To change your life you have to change your outlook and also your actions, with no change all you get is the same result over and over.  If things are not the way you want them, all you have to do is change a routine such as a shopping time.  This change can open the door of opportunity for the universe to bring change into your life.  It’s really that simple.  We all want riches and some want fame too.  These things are much harder to achieve because of the spiritual law of attraction also known as detachment.  If you desire anything but are “attached” to the outcome it really never happens.  Remember back in your life when you wanted something and it never happened, but as soon as you decided that it really didn’t matter you acquired it.  The universe has a strange way of balance and kind of a sense of humor, if you want it, it’s hard to get….you desire to have it but are not attached to the outcome(really don’t care) then it falls in your lap.  I know this sounds weird but you can all think of times this has happened in your life.  People are the same way about each other.  Remember when you wanted to be with someone who was unavailable or wasn’t attracted to you?  As soon as you changed your attention to someone else they often times came around, and then if you had lost your desire to be with them, they almost became stalkers.  This is the way the universe keeps everything in balance.  If we all got what we wanted all the time think of all the bored, spoiled people that you would be surrounded with, including yourself.  So to change this to your advantage and get what you want, you have to learn the law of detachment.  It basically states that you maintain the desire for something like love or money but you are not attached to the outcome….could care less and you will have it.  Practice this and see what happens.  I will post more about the seven spiritual laws that Deepak Chopra has written about if you guys will leave some comments about enjoyment or interest, if not then I need not waste my time and yours.  Thanks for reading, I hope this really helps some of you and I hope that it has sparked an interest in change, because like it or not things change.  They might as well change for the better.

Another attack?

I found this post on Facebook and thought it might interest some.


I, Gene Hackemack, received this email from my
good friend Tedd Petruna, a diver at the NBL facility [Neutral
Buoyancy Lab], at NASA Houston, whom I used to work with. Tedd
happened to be on this same Flt. 297, Atlanta to Houston .
In my opinion, the Muslims are all getting
very brave now...read Tedd's story below.
PS: Can you imagine, our own news media now
are so politically correct that they are afraid to report that these were all Muslims... unbelievable. Thank God for people like Tedd Petruna.
"One week ago, I went to Ohio on business and
to see my father.. On Tuesday, November the 17th, I returned home.
If you read the papers the 18th you may have seen a blurb where a
AirTran flight was cancelled from Atlanta to Houston due to a man who
refused to get off of his cell phone before takeoff. It was on Fox.
This was NOT what happened.
I was in 1st class coming home. 11 Muslim men
got on the plane in full attire. 2 sat in 1st class and the rest
peppered themselves throughout the plane all the way to the back. As
the plane taxied to the runway the stewardesses gave the safety spiel
we are all so familiar with. At that time, one of the men got on his
cell and called one of his companions in the back and proceeded to
talk on the phone in Arabic very loudly and very aggressively. This
took the 1st stewardess out of the picture for she repeatedly told the
man that cell phones were not permitted at the time. He ignored her
as if she was not there.
The 2nd man who answered the phone did the
same and this took out the 2nd stewardess. In the back of the plane
at this time, 2 younger Muslims, one in the back, isle, and one in
front of him, window, began to show footage of a porno they had taped
the night before, and were very loud about it. Now - they are only
permitted to do this prior to Jihad. If a Muslim man goes into a
strip club, he has to view the woman via mirror with his back to her..
(don't ask me..I don't make the rules, but I've studied) The 3rd
stewardess informed them that they were not to have electronic devices
on at this time.. To which one of the men said "Shut up infidel dog!"
She went to take the camcorder and he began to scream in her face in
Arabic. At that exact moment, all 11 of them got up and started to walk the cabin.
This is where I had had enough! I got up and
started to the back where I heard a voice behind me from another Texan
twice my size say "I got your back." I grabbed the man who had been
on the phone by the arm and said "you WILL go sit down or you Will be
thrown from this plane!" As I "led" him around me to take his seat,
the fellow Texan grabbed him by the back of his neck and his waist and
headed out with him. I then grabbed the 2nd man and said, "You WILL
do the same!" He protested but adrenaline was flowing now and he was
going to go..
As I escorted him forward the plane doors open
and 3 TSA agents and 4 police officers entered. Me and my new Texan
friend were told to cease and desist for they had this under control..
I was happy to oblige actually. There was some commotion in the back,
but within moments, all 11 were escorted off the plane. They then
unloaded their luggage.
We talked about the occurrence and were in disbelief that it had happen, when suddenly, the door open again and on walked all 11!! Stone faced, eyes front and robotic (the only way I can describe it). The stewardess from the back had been in tears
and when she saw this, she was having NONE of it! Being that I was up front, I heard and saw the whole ordeal. She told the TSA agent there was NO WAY she was staying on the plane with these men. The agent told her they had searched them and were going to go through their luggage with a fine tooth comb and that they were allowed to proceed to Houston . The captain and co-captain came out and told the agent
"we and our crew will not fly this plane!" After a word or two, the entire crew, luggage in tow, left the plane. 5 minutes later, the cabin door opened again and a whole new crew walked on.
Again....this is where I had had enough!!! I got up and asked "What the hell is going on!?!?" I was told to take my seat. They were sorry for the delay and I would be home shortly. I said "I'm getting off this plane". The stewardess sternly told me that she could not allow me to get off. (now I'm mad!) I said "I am a grown man who bought this ticket, who's time is mine with a family at home and I am going through that door, or I'm going through that door with you under my arm!! But I am going through that door!!" And
I heard a voice behind me say "so am I". Then everyone behind us started to get up and say the same.
Within 2 minutes, I was walking off that plane where I was met with more agents who asked me to write a statement. I had 5 hours to kill at this point so why the hell not. Due to the amount of people who got off that flight, it was canceled. I was supposed to be in Houston at 6 pm. I got here at 12:30 am.
Look up the date. Flight 297 Atlanta to Houston . If this wasn't a dry run, I don't know what one is. The terrorists wanted to see how TSA would handle it, how the crew would handle it, and how the passengers would handle it.
I'm telling this to you because I want you to know. The threat is real. I saw it with my own eyes." -Tedd Petruna
I suggest we keep this going until this incident REACHES the email of all of the POLITICIANS and NEWS MEDIA!

The group behind Bin Laden's Death

From Ghazi Air Base in Pakistan, the modified MH-60 helicopters made their way to the garrison suburb of Abbottabad, about 30 miles from the center of Islamabad. Aboard were Navy SEALs, flown across the border from Afghanistan, along with tactical signals, intelligence collectors, and navigators using highly classified hyperspectral imagers.

After bursts of fire over 40 minutes, 22 people were killed or captured. One of the dead was Osama bin Laden, done in by a double tap -- boom, boom -- to the left side of his face. His body was aboard the choppers that made the trip back. One had experienced mechanical failure and was destroyed by U.S. forces, military and White House officials tell National Journal.

Were it not for this high-value target, it might have been a routine mission for the specially trained and highly mythologized SEAL Team Six, officially called the Naval Special Warfare Development Group, but known even to the locals at their home base Dam Neck in Virginia as just DevGru.

This HVT was special, and the raids required practice, so they replicated the one-acre compound at Camp Alpha, a segregated section of Bagram Air Base. Trial runs were held in early April.

DevGru belongs to the Joint Special Operations Command, an extraordinary and unusual collection of classified standing task forces and special-missions units. They report to the president and operate worldwide based on the legal (or extra-legal) premises of classified presidential directives. Though the general public knows about the special SEALs and their brothers in Delta Force, most JSOC missions never leak. We only hear about JSOC when something goes bad (a British aid worker is accidentally killed) or when something really big happens (a merchant marine captain is rescued at sea), and even then, the military remains especially sensitive about their existence. Several dozen JSOC operatives have died in Pakistan over the past several years. Their names are released by the Defense Department in the usual manner, but with a cover story -- generally, they were killed in training accidents in eastern Afghanistan. That's the code.

How did the helicopters elude the Pakistani air defense network? Did they spoof transponder codes? Were they painted and tricked out with Pakistan Air Force equipment? If so -- and we may never know -- two other JSOC units, the Technical Application Programs Office and the Aviation Technology Evaluation Group, were responsible. These truly are the silent squirrels -- never getting public credit and not caring one whit. Since 9/11, the JSOC units and their task forces have become the U.S. government's most effective and lethal weapon against terrorists and their networks, drawing plenty of unwanted, and occasionally unflattering, attention to themselves in the process.

By: Marc Ambinder

American Pride

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My great great grandfather watched as his friends died in the War between the States, my great grandfather watched as his friends died in WW I, my grandfather watched as his friends died in WW2, and my father watched as his friends died in Vietnam.
None of them died for the Mexican Flag

Everyone died for the U.S. flag.

In Texas, a student raised a Mexican flag on a school flag pole; another student took it down. Guess who was expelled...the kid who took it down.

Kids in high school in California were sent home this year on Cinco de Mayo because they wore T-shirts with the American flag printed on them.

Enough is enough.

The below message needs to be viewed by every American; and every American needs to stand up for America .

We've bent over to appease the America-haters long enough.

I'm taking a stand.

I'm standing up because the hundreds of thousands who died fighting in wars for this country, and for the U.S. flag can't stand up.

And shame on anyone who tries to make this a racist message.

Let me make this perfectly clear!

THIS IS MY COUNTRY!

And, because I make This statement

DOES NOT

Mean I'm against immigration!!!

YOU ARE WELCOME HERE, IN MY COUNTRY!

Welcome! To come through legally:

1. Get a sponsor!
2. Get a place to lay your head!
3. Get a job!
4. Live By OUR Rules!
5. Pay YOUR Taxes!
And
6. Learn the LANGUAGE like immigrants
have in the past!!!
~Anonymous~
Thanks for your time and understanding

Lottery and Life

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I saw on the news today where a man in the Northwest won half of the $380 million mega millions lottery. He is 68 years old and I believe His wife is 63 years old. They have six children and I believe that it said 23 grandchildren & I’m not sure how many great-grandchildren. I think their lump sum payment after taxes is probably somewhere around $90 million. I’m very happy for them there’s also another winner out there who bought the other ticket not far away in Idaho and has yet to claim their prize.


I also won the lottery last week, I bought $50 of $2 scratch offs and won a total of $28 so I guess I had a net loss of $22, but it was a lot of fun scratching tickets.



With that being said as unsettling as it may be I must move forward in this mortal dance we refer to as life. I have chosen to believe that it is a bit overrated but I shall continue. More like a dance with a fog or vapor as I see it. The harder you try to attain something the more elusive it becomes. Knowledge, well it can be obtained rather easily, just read nonfiction and you will obtain knowledge. I seek wisdom, it has proven difficult, maybe I am becoming more wise with age, but that is at the expense of mistakes at my age I have started to realize that the level of wealth I wanted to obtain his becoming a dream rather than a reality I wonder why some have never really had to work hard at anything and it just seems to fall in their laps? I don’t envy them. The process of attainment that they seem to have access to is what I envy. I have realized that I must have passive income streams to achieve the kind of security I seek, but that is also playing hard to get. I guess we all want what we can’t or don’t have I will continue to make this my main goal. I believe I really could do some good for mankind if I could just get past this first obstacle, then I would have the time and money to really make a difference! Until then my time will be used in strife.

If I could change one thing, I think it would be my ability to discipline myself to be more efficient with my time.

So as far as New Year’s resolutions go, I want to quit smoking, and of course add to my financial strength I also want to become a better person. I guess it depends on how you look at it, or what you judge a person by. You have to have reference to determine if a person is a good person. I believe that we are all basically good, some just get astray and end up in some bad situation, and it is how we handle these situations that make us successful people or,” better”. I hope this year is a blessing to all of my friends and family and to anyone who is reading this now; I hope that if you made a resolution you find it easy to keep. If you want to lose some weight I hope it falls off for you, if you wanted to gain some weight I hope that is also added in muscle not flab…lol. I know I have not written in my blog much lately and I hope to correct that this year and get back to posting maybe not daily like I used to, but maybe at least weekly. I am experimenting with this software called Dragon NaturallySpeaking, and actually it leaves very little for me to go back and correct. I actually thought it might be hard for it to understand me with my southern accent, but it actually has that option when you set the program up. Oh before I forget, as far as the lottery goes, if you play I wish you luck. I hope your numbers hit. Please remember I am your best friend if you do win, so be sure and call….lol, in the meantime, take care of yourself.

P.S. If there are any typos or a sentence that just doesn’t make sense, it’s the program.

Quote on Life and Dreams

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“For me life is about execution. If you want to make something happen you have to find a way to execute your wishes.”


Robert Kraft – Owner New England Patriots.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOURS.

This Ugly World

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I was watching an episode of a show on Showtime called “The Big C” about a lady that has cancer, and has been hiding it from her family. She decided to not seek treatment, but rather chose to enjoy the rest of the life she had left. She has a brother whom is homeless by choice, and lives and eats off the land, and the occasional dumpster. His life for the most part has kind of grown on me, and sometimes I wish that I could just walk off in the distance, and let it all go. NO $200,000 house, NO $55,000 trucks….NO cell phones, NO new clothes… you get the idea. Think about how liberating that kind of existence could or would be. No job either, because you don’t have anything to pay for, just a simple existence, enjoying the world as God intended. When Jesus walked the earth he traveled from town to town teaching, and was always fed, had a place to sleep and I bet it was really nice, not the place to sleep, but the lifestyle. Think about all the stress out the window…no IRS cause you have no income….you could do small jobs to get a little money to buy the necessities like soap and deodorant and a can of tuna. If you’re like me though, you have bought into everyone else’s idea of what life is supposed to be, and now live in debt, so you have to work. Which takes up all your time, and when you have free time; you are too tired to enjoy it….all this for a green piece of fabric that we call MONEY. Money is not bad, in fact, it is nice to have money, have all the toys, and still live the simple life, because you have no debt. I guess that is what we are all striving for right? After all “the love” of money is the root of all evil, not the money itself or having it. But with that being said, what an ugly, ugly world we live in. At this moment my wife has an aunt she loves dearly, being held after being kidnapped for ransom in Mexico, by one of the drug cartels for, MONEY.




Next week some of you will be lucky enough to be off work to see your family for Thanksgiving, and some of you will slave away, and only get to spend maybe one day with your family, if your lucky, because you have to return to work for MONEY. It is really sad to me….I look around and I really don’t need all this stuff, that I thought I really NEEDED at the time I wasted MONEY on it. I would love to live in the National Forest somewhere. In a small shack by a beautiful river to bath in, where it is not to cold, or to hot in the extremes of the seasons, and just ponder life. In the world today, you would be called a bum or a loser, but I think it would really be stress free, and could add years to your life if you still got your yearly check-ups, and took good care of yourself…grow your own food, build what you need, and have a hobby that you could make a small amount of money off of: like painting, or woodworking, writing, carving, so many things that you could set yourself up with after you sold all the crap you don’t need. Just a dream of mine I guess. It really could all be looked at like, I am selfish, or lazy, which I admit to both, but I think we all are a bit of both, to our own extents of toleration.



I think I read, or saw, on the news where the “average” not the wealthy, or the poor, but the “average” American home has somewhere around $25,000 of stuff, that they could do without. It is simply not used as often as intended or not at all. Like that treadmill in my living room that could be replaced by a jog around the block. I know I have that much and more…just some of it would be harder to part with than other stuff. I guess I will try with a small amount first, say $5000. So Ebay here I come. I will let you guys know how it goes, and what I chose to give up. I know the other day I was talking to my wife about putting a satellite receiver in our son’s room, and I figured that I have had Direct TV for 10 years now, and my average monthly bill is $110 so that’s about $13,200 that I have spent, just on TV, that makes me sick. I guess I could start there, but then again that is where I got my inspiration to write this in the first place. I hope you all will take some time to see what I am really grasping at here, only a small change and maybe it will help someone…maybe a child will get a gift this year for Christmas that normally would not get anything, just from the sell of an old crock pot on Ebay. I wish blessings on you all and I hope the Holidays bring joy to each and every one of you! God Bless.

Children and Self Esteem

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It's often been said that children learn what they live. So if you're looking for a place to start helping your child build positive self esteem and self value, then you should show them your positive sense of self and strong self esteem. Be positive when you speak about yourself and highlight your strengths. This will teach your child that it's okay to be proud of their talents, skills and abilities.




Your child also benefits greatly from honest and positive praise. Find something about them to praise each day. You could even give your child a task you know they can complete and then praise them for a job well done after they're finished. Show your child that positive acts merit positive praise.



When your child's feeling sad, angry or depressed, communicate openly, honestly and patiently with them. Listen to them without judging or criticizing. They may not fully understand why they feel the way they do, so the opportunity to communicate with you about it may be what's needed to help them sort through a difficult situation. Suggest positive behaviors and options as solutions, and make sure to leave that door of communication open so they know the next time they feel badly, they can come to you for help and know that you won't judge or punish them for how they're feeling.



Teach your child the importance of setting goals and developing a plan to meet that goal and complete that task. Small projects are the best to start off with in the beginning. Ensure that it's an appropriate task for your child, and not too complex. Don't only give praise at the end of the project, but praise their accomplishments during the project as well.



Most importantly, tell your child "I love you" each and every day - many times throughout the day, in fact. When they've behaved badly, remind yourself that it's not them you don't like, only their behavior. Tuck short, sweet notes in their lunchboxes or coat pockets, or even send them a card in the mail. Soon, they'll learn to say "I love you" just as easily and honestly in return.

 
-Taken from the Greeting Card Newsletter

The Average Person

Image by Podknox via Flickr

Let’s talk average for a bit.




· The average person lies about 4 timers per day.

· The average person says the word “Like” 90 times per day.

· 46% of men say they make the bed each day.

· Over half of all Americans ignore this common safety procedure, not washing produce.

· On average this item will be handled twenty times before it’s purchase. Greeting Card.

· 3 out of 4 people do this on their first day of vacation. Turn around to get something they forgot.

· This happens to the average person three times a month. Get your picture taken.

· 4 out of 10 Americans do this although it is dangerous. Eat raw cookie dough.

· About 33% of us have worn a price tag to work.

· This happens every three minutes somewhere on earth. A UFO sighting.

· The average person keeps one of these for 7 years. Couch or sofa.

· 34% of women do this everyday. Take a nap.

· According to one study, once you begin, the average argument lasts 25 minutes.

· 27% of adults have done this in their lives against their will. Take Piano lessons.

· 42% of people admit this will cause them to form a negative opinion about someone. Sweat stains.

· During your lifetime you will consume about 2.5 gallons of pool water.

· It takes the average woman 20 seconds to walk down an aisle in the grocery store.

· The average cost of a pregnancy is $7,539.

· The average Sumo Wrestler weighs 280 pounds.

· 82% of children have been dishonest with their parents about brushing their teeth.



Just a few little AVERAGE things I thought you might like to know.

New York

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Vulgar of manner, overfed,
Overdressed and underbred;

Crazed with avarice, lust, and rum,
New York, thy name's Delirium.
                 -B. R. Newton, Owed to New York (1906)

The Art of War

Image via Wikipedia

I really love animals. This includes all insects, spiders, and even the snakes that most of you are afraid of, but if they try to invade my home, it means war! The other day as I opened the door to the patio, a wasp tried to fly in, but I was able to swat him back outside with my hand. Successfully knocking him back outside, but making him furious at the same time, he flew right back at me, hitting my arm within the blink of an eye. I was hit. The itching and stinging started immediately. I surveyed the damage, it was just a small sting on the forearm, but oh hell no, the war was full scale now. I looked at the French doors and sure enough they were waiting. They had two fighters posted, one on each door, and soon as I walked out they both came at me. I knocked one to the ground with a swat from my right hand and the other I caught with the back of the same. I captured the first one, which had also stung me, and put him in a McDonald's cup and put the lid on. The other I caught in a paper towel, and took him inside as a P.O.W. to interrogate. I removed one wing and placed him on the floor, but he would not give up the location of their nest, so I went ahead and exterminated him, slowly. Now I focused on the original attacker, for him I thought about two hours in the blistering sun in the cup would work, but that was not good enough for the one who started this war. 35 seconds in the microwave did the trick though. Now they are gone, and the rest of their troop, if they even existed, have moved on too. Never let your guard down, so I still keep an eye out for spies.

Silence Revisited

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I hope some of you have the God given sense to at least try the “silence” test that I posted about last month. I can’t seem to keep my mouth shut, and it just seems to dig holes for me. The people I feel the most for, seem to have less and less respect for me as I age, even though I have given most of my time for them at the drop of a hat, and sacrificed more than any man should ever have to. I have done that and numerous other things that sapped me of my life force, and emotions for over a year dealing with the death of my parents. I took care of it all; no one had to raise a hand, unless they wanted. I did it all, I shouldered it, and carried my own cross and several others, and have never had a thank you thrown my way except from my sister who seems to understand the strength it took to do what I did. Everyone else is just blind to what I went through, or just don’t give a shit. Well I am slowly learning that if I would just keep my mouth shut, things would be fine so it’s nothing but my fault, so I blame me and myself only. My brother and sister are there for me, and I know that, but they are not here, so I can’t really get help from them, so I rely on strangers, and I guess that really brings me down. When my brother and sister are in, the last thing I want is to ask them to help me with work or other things that would take their time that they have to visit, and relax….they come here to unwind, and I would not have it any other way, so that is that.  I guess I really just need to get this off my chest without talking, so this is my only outlet, the internet world were I can vent and no one really cares, so thanks for listening. :) Until next time, get off your ass and plant something!

With or Without Olive Oyl

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Watched some cartoons today, like any other day.  But today it finally dawned on me, after many episodes of Popeye, from the late thirties, that Olive Oyl is really a very skinny ho!  Sure she is Popeye's "goil" but as soon as Bluto shows up, she is also Up for grabs.  Then when she realizes the evil in Bluto, she hollers like a bitch in heat for Popeye to save her; which he always does.  I dated a few girls like this in my younger days, they were mine until something a little richer or appealing in some way passed by.  You would think there was a shortage of the male essence, it never lasted long either.  I usually always took them back too, but without the care I once had, they became just a toy for me, and boy was that fun!

Meet Your Best Friend.....Your Brain

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Do you really believe that your brain is your friend? Think about this for a moment. Think about the times you needed to get up early, to get something done.  On a morning that something had to be done by a certain time, like a final exam, or something else very important. The alarm goes off, and what does your brain tell you? “Hit snooze, a few more minutes of sleep won’t hurt”, it has told you this many times. Then after you finally do get up, ten minutes too late to get ready in time, your brain tells you that you were stupid to stay in bed for that long, or that now you’ve really messed up and it’s all your fault. So one minute the brain is your best friend, the next your worst enemy. Anyone else experience this or am I really crazy?

A Little about Obama

Around 1979 Obama started college at Occidental in California . He is very open about his two years at Occidental, he tried all kinds of drugs and was wasting his time but, even though he had a brilliant mind, did not apply himself to his studies. 'Barry' (that was the name he used all his life) during this time had two roommates, Muhammad Hasan Chandoo and Wahid Hamid, both from Pakistan . During the summer of 1981, after his second year in college, he made a 'round the world' trip. Stopping to see his mother in Indonesia , next Hyderabad in India , three weeks in Karachi , Pakistan where he stayed with his roommate's family, then off to Africa to visit his father's family. My question - Where did he get the money for this trip? When he came back he started school at Columbia University in New York . It is at this time he wants everyone to call him Barack - not Barry. Do you know what the tuition is at Columbia ? Where did he get money for tuition? Student Loans? Maybe. After Columbia , he went to Chicago to work as a Community Organizer for $12,000 a year. Why Chicago ? Why not New York ? He was already living in New York .



By 'chance' he met Antoin 'Tony' Rezko, born in Aleppo Syria , and a real estate developer in Chicago . Rezko has been convicted of fraud and bribery. Rezko, was named 'Entrepreneur of the Decade' by the Arab-American Business and Professional Association'. About two years later, Obama entered Harvard Law School . Do you have any idea what tuition is for Harvard Law School ? Where did he get the money for Law School ? More student loans? After Law school, he went back to Chicago . Rezko offered him a job, which he turned down. But, he did take a job with Davis, Miner, Barnhill & Galland. Guess what? They represented 'Rezar' which is Rezko's firm. Rezko was one of Obama's first major financial contributors when he ran for office in Chicago . In 2003, Rezko threw an early fundraiser for Obama which Chicago Tribune reporter David Mendelland claims was instrumental in providing Obama with 'seed money' for his U.S. Senate race. In 2005, Obama purchased a new home in Kenwoood District of Chicago for $1.65 million (less than asking price). With ALL those Student Loans - Where did he get the money for the property? On the same day Rezko's wife, Rita, purchased the adjoining empty lot for full price. The London Times reported that Nadhmi Auchi, an Iraqi-born Billionaire loaned Rezko $3.5 million three weeks before Obama's new home was purchased. Obama met Nadhmi Auchi many times with Rezko.


Now, we have Obama as our President. Valerie Jarrett, was Michele Obama's boss. She is now Obama's chief advisor and he does not make any major decisions without talking to her first. Where was Jarrett born? Ready for this? Shiraz , Iran ! Do we see a pattern here? Or am I going crazy?


On May 10, 2008 The Times reported, Robert Malley, advisor to Obama, was 'sacked' after the press found out he was having regular contacts with 'Hamas', which controls Gaza and is connected with Iran . This past week, buried in the back part of the papers, Iraqi newspapers reported that during Obama's visit to Iraq, he asked their leaders to do nothing about the war until after he is elected, and he will 'Take care of things'.

Oh, and by the way, remember the college roommates that where born in Pakistan ? They are in charge of all those 'small' Internet campaign contributions for Obama. Where is that money coming from? The poor and middle class in this country? Or could it be from the Middle East ?

And the final bit of news. On September 7, 2008, The Washington Times posted a verbal slip that was made on 'This Week' with George Stephanapoulos. Obama on talking about his religion said, 'My Muslim faith'. When questioned, 'he made a mistake'. Some mistake!


All of the above information was gotten online and researched by Marlene.

Lemonade, or NOT

It’s hot, very hot.  How about a glass of cold lemonade. Well, that’s what a 7-year-old girl at a county art fair was set up to do this week. Her recipe consisted of first using hand sanitizer, and then 2 cups of sugar, 2 packets of lemonade, and bottled water, along with bagged ice. Sounds safe to me. That all went to hell in a handbag along with her entrepreneurial spirit when the health inspector showed up and shut the little girl's stand down because she did not have the $120 vendor license that the county requires. If she had the license, she probably could have been mixing it in an old toilet and that would have been okay because the county had their $120. This is really crossing the line in my book.

 “The land of opportunity”, as long as you secure the proper funding to buy the licenses you need to have the "opportunity”, if not then well your shit out of luck in this county.

So here we go again, another dream flushed away because the giant government (we have created) needed their part of the proceeds first.
I swear!

Physics, Karma, and the Afterlife

One of the laws of physics says that, a body at rest tends to stay at rest, unless an outside force acts upon it. I think this explains the reason I have such a hard time getting up in the morning. Another important law of physics states: that for every action, there is an equal, but opposite reaction. This is the one that I have the most interest in, and I think it might be linked to Karma for those of you who believe in it. Basically what goes around comes around. Some religions believe in Karma strongly. They basically believe that every good thing you do will be repaid and every bad thing you do will also haunt you later on. Who am I to argue with that, makes since to me. I wonder how it works though. I wonder if it happens here or in the afterlife? If there is a so-called “afterlife” at all. I have to believe that there is something after this life. If not then what’s it all for? So after this life, I have taken the stance that something else awaits us…but what? I don’t know. Since we are on the subject will only humans have life after death, or I wonder if animals have a spirit or some type of life force that will enable them to be in the afterlife too? For instance, my dog Oscar that I really care a lot about, I wonder when we both reach the afterlife, will I get to see him, or recognize his life-force? Will I see my parents or do we all just have a little light that shines, like the song little kids sing in Christian churches. This little light of mine. I guess these are questions that we all have asked ourselves at sometime or other, but I think about this stuff a lot. It’s interesting to me. This is another good one: A man and a woman get married. A few years later the man dies, and after a few years of grieving the woman gets married again. They live a long happy life together and then die. In the afterlife whom will she be with? If anyone? Her first or last husband, how would this make the first guy feel? Or the second depending on who she chooses.  Its things like this that make me believe that love and affection must be different in the afterlife and emotion, as we know it, must be different or not exist. Leave a comment on your thoughts and beliefs, and why you believe what you do. If you can back it up with a Bible verse, Vedic Knowledge, or something from the Quran, or other Holy writing, I would like to read it so please comment.

Stealing Souls

The tingling that littered my spine was not enough to make me stop pursuing the passion that I felt by running away with stolen souls. Actually they are easy to get, some are on sell every day you just have to know where to look. If the devil can buy souls I can too. I’ll be damned if he will corner the market; or I just might be anyway for taking part in the sale, and of course for actually stealing something so cosmic that it is impossible to explain to mere mortals the context of which cannot be seen in this dimension.

What Has The American Government REALLY Done?

I really believe that the elected representatives and the bureaucrats that they have appointed, which may not hold your ideas of government at heart, but are not voted for, merely appointed, are tearing the country apart. For their shallow promises of no tax increases, reformed health care, and better education programs, we have given them the keys to the country. They have spent and spent and even enacted unconstitutional entitlement programs that have run this country’s finances into the ground. Now they seem to have no respect for the countries Founding Fathers or their ideals, and a growing disrespect for the countries founding documents. These documents contain provisions to allow the people to STOP this out of control bureaucratic machine in its tracks. We just need leaders who have the backbone to stand up and do it!

So I charge every Red Blooded American, when you go to the polls and after your elected officials are in office, make them realize the people are their BOSSES not their footstools. Some Americans that feel the same as I, have already started by creating a Campaign that will help us all get this country turned around. With our heads held high we can become the America that we dream of being. You can get more information on this at: www.Campaignforliberty.com.

Please join the fight to help your country, and preserve your rights while you still have them.

A Walk Through My Mind

Once distant disturbances now closer, I can hear them now and wonder what they mean. I feel alone and the world becomes a small room with walls that seem to be closing in. I really know its all in my head, or is it? Friends don’t understand, or don’t want to; it’s hard to find someone to talk to that can actually understand what I mean. It’s so simple, yet very complicated, all at the same time, like a silent noise that is deafening.

Experiments in Life

Okay so this post will hopefully shed a little light on the crazy things that make me tick, and a few things that I think we could all use, at least to experiment with.

I like the smell of:

• Freshly cut grass
• Rain on hot days
• Gasoline (yes gasoline, just the smell, I don't huff gas okay!)
• Fresh ground coffee beans

I hate spineless people. I am proud to say that I take pride in saying exactly what I think.....which gets me in trouble sometimes, and sometimes it gets others in trouble too.
I wish friends were forever, and nobody held grudges.
I think it is awesome when someone is looking for something and they find it.  ( like love, I'm not talking about car keys here.)

I wish I could:

• Keep my mouth shut.
• Be humble.
• Admit that I might be wrong sometimes.

Remember that no matter how bad it seems, you will probably laugh about it in a year.
Remember that your favorite music is the best in the world, but other people's music is too!
Try hard everyday to be first at something...try even harder to be last.
If you see something on someone that you like, tell them, if you see something you don't like, tell no one.

And last but not least, when driving, wave at people you don't know....it really makes them think.

Clueless America

Okay let's see, the dollar is on a roller coaster, and gold is at an all time high. Oil is in the ocean, (I thought that stuff was expensive), show’s what I know. Still all I can find to read about is Lindsey Lohan's bad hair, and jail. Jessica Simpson's fatter lips or was that hips, and who blew it on the red carpet with bad clothing, and a couple of so-called celebs that are saving the planet from global warming. If we could take the money used to snap shots and write articles about these clueless people we might be able to use those funds, and help the ever growing real problems mentioned above that is choking middle class America off the globe as I write this. Oh yes, I would help too, but see I'm one of the one's getting batted about. The gulf coast is out of work, I'm sure less drilling out there must make gas go up, everything else does.  So, yes I think it will be a double dip recession.  I will rant more later, for now I need some bread and water (from the tap)!!


Until later.... plant something!

The Perfect Shot

The sound of the ball bouncing off the old wooden floor echoed in the gym as I dribbled down the court with only a few seconds left in the game. As I approached the half court line the defensive onslaught started and I passed the ball off. I received the ball back and instantly made a brake for the goal and was fouled, but the shot went in! We were now one point down and there were three seconds on the clock. The question of what to do now exposed itself with a resounding pulse in my fingertips that were full of blood being cursed by the veins that carried it and it’s straining pressure. Do I make the free throw and have a chance to go into over-time, or miss and plan on the rebound being awarded us, and a shot to win. The coach signaled for me to miss the shot…. I knew he would because of his young ambition. As I lined up for the shot, the gym was so quiet you could hear a pin drop and then the opponents started to yell and scream with the intensity of a space shuttle launch. I shot the ball as planned. It rolled of my fingers effortlessly and headed for the rim. When the two collided it sounded like someone had hit the edge of a huge bass drum with a baseball bat. The ball made a quick jump back in my direction. I jumped and caught my own rebound and looked to the clock for the most important of all information, the time. One second just went off, and the tenths were starting to roll off like rocks down a steep hill. I dribbled and took a few steps towards the paint. I jumped and then released the ball with only a couple of ticks left, then the horn sounded like an alarm for a tornado drill, or some other emergency. The game had ended with the ball still live after my shot. If it goes in we win, if not then we lose. The ball had rolled off my hand perfectly with the groves gripping my fingertips like tape and the arch was perfect like a surgeon with his scalpel, and the shot looked textbook. It was the most important shot of my young life, and it seemed to take place in slow motion as the crowd now silenced watched the ball headed for its target spinning backwards in perfect harmony with the air. The crowd screamed.

The Christian Debauchery

It seems to care, is to place the burdens of society on your mind, and dwell on the never-ending discourse of paving the way for the chosen deranged. Maybe it’s the chosen ideas of this great land to suffer in ignorance and feed the system until it is stuffed with the feedings of gluttony, greed, and of course vanity. All the while, hiding behind the stained glass to have a sense of worth, or justification that creates contradiction in the belief of who is the better student of life. These are the ones who create the cycle and believe they have actually accomplished some form of divinity, or progress with a broken system.

Tired Today!

A feeling, for which I have no name, has taken possession of my soul- a sensation which will admit of no analysis, to which the lessons of by-gone time are inadequate, and for which I fear futurity itself will offer me no key.   -     Edgar Allan Poe

Welfares New Application

Like most people in this country, I have a job. I work, and get paid. I pay my taxes, which in turn keeps the government going.
In order to work where I work, so I can get my paycheck, I am required to take a random drug test. I pass the test no problem. What I do have a problem with is the distribution of my taxes to people who don't have to pass a drug test, and still get a check. So shouldn't someone have to pass a urine test to get a welfare check, because I have to pass one to earn it for him or her in the first place? I have no problem with helping people get back on their feet. I do, on the other hand, have a problem with helping someone sitting at home doing drugs while I work.
Another thing I think that needs to be implemented is that to receive government assistance, I believe that each person drawing that check should be on birth control. Administered as a shot at the health clinic every three months. They must have the proof of the shot administered to get their check. The process of the welfare system is to help you get back on your feet, and able to work again, not support a baby machine so that the more children you have, the more money your check will be. The state (my tax dollars) also has to pick up the bill on the baby, and the insurance on the children. Do I see this as a civil rights violation? Not while these people want to live off of the governments money. They can give up a few rights, and maybe this will motivate them to get back to work ASAP.

Stupidity is Killing this Country

I just read an article where Lady GaGa played a piano that John Lennon once played that was at his mom's house I believe, and the whole lot of Beatles fans were going nuts.  Who really cares?  I guess it is better to just let the thing rot?  I mean some people need to get a grip.  This country is going to hell in a hand basket very quickly.  First we need to stop the bleeding by focusing on problems, not celebrities that have no clue, and then get someone in the White House that can at least half way run the business at hand.  Maybe he can at least start by focusing on a better state of the union.  It looks as though the oil leak might be stopped this time.  I say that with my fingers crossed.  We also really need to put money in green energy companies, and let's stop our dependence on oil and clean the gulf.  I saw a picture today of a sea bird, of some kind, covered in oil and it really made me sad.  I wish I could go clean the whole thing up, but I can't.  I will however, continue to bitch until it happens.  Believe me, if I lived close enough I would be volunteering, but I don't so I will give my support from here just as I do for our troops, and hope a few people read this and pass it on.