1929: Guy Lombardo plays “Auld Lang Syne” on the radio for the first time.
1923: The BBC broadcasts the chimes of Big Ben for the first time.
1904: To commemorate the official opening of the headquarters of The New York Times, Adolf Ochs, the publisher of the paper, throws the first New Year’s Eve celebration in Times Square.
1879: Thomas Edison gives the first public demonstration of electric incandescent light.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Today in History
1953: The first Admiral television set, one of the first color models, goes on sale for $1,175.
1940: California’s first freeway, the Arroyo Seco Parkway, now known as the Pasadena Freeway, opens to traffic.
1936: The United Auto Workers union stages its first sit-down strike.
1924: Edwin Hubble announces the existence of galaxies other than the Milky Way.
1940: California’s first freeway, the Arroyo Seco Parkway, now known as the Pasadena Freeway, opens to traffic.
1936: The United Auto Workers union stages its first sit-down strike.
1924: Edwin Hubble announces the existence of galaxies other than the Milky Way.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Today in History
1851: The first American YMCA opens, in Boston.
1845: Texas is admitted as the twenty-eighth state.
1845: Texas is admitted as the twenty-eighth state.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Today in History
1945: Congress officially recognizes the Pledge of Allegiance.
1895: Cinema makes its debut when the Lumière brothers show a film to their first paying audience, in Paris.
1846: Iowa is admitted as the twenty-ninth state.
1832: John C. Calhoun becomes the first Vice-President to resign.
Humility
We got a Wii this year and it is a great family toy. It teaches you so many things, like how out of shape you are, and how much the little athleticism you once possessed does not count on the video screen. But, the biggest lesson comes when your 5 year old little girl kicks your butt bowling. Not just a few points, but 40 points. This was a hard lesson for me to learn and I was embarrassed and humbled by it. This all happened the night after Christmas, so yesterday I woke up at my usual 4am and instead of being productive, I went and worked out, not at a gym, but in front of the TV, I practiced my bowling, the Wii Sports includes a skills training section, I hunkered down and focused all my energy on the fundamentals of Wii Bowling. And as each of my great family woke and joined me, I handily took back my pride.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Christmas Night, 1776
By Newt Gingrich
On Christmas Day, 1776, nearly all thought the Revolution was lost, except for a valiant few who still believed in "The Cause." We owe our liberty today to those valiant few.
Led by George Washington, most of his army, dressed in rags and barefoot, faced a winter gale of rain, sleet, ice and snow. This band of patriots braved a midnight river crossing and a nine mile march over frozen roads to win a spectacular victory at Trenton, New Jersey, the following morning. Those were indeed times, as Thomas Paine would write, that "try men's souls."
In a season that has become too commercialized and -- worse yet -- had much of its religious meaning driven from the public square, Washington's Christmas crossing is a story that should be remembered and celebrated, this Christmas and every Christmas.
Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of Christ, to be with family and friends, and, I would add, to give thanks to God for those who endured so much on that Christmas night, 232 years ago.
On Christmas Day, 1776, nearly all thought the Revolution was lost, except for a valiant few who still believed in "The Cause." We owe our liberty today to those valiant few.
Led by George Washington, most of his army, dressed in rags and barefoot, faced a winter gale of rain, sleet, ice and snow. This band of patriots braved a midnight river crossing and a nine mile march over frozen roads to win a spectacular victory at Trenton, New Jersey, the following morning. Those were indeed times, as Thomas Paine would write, that "try men's souls."
In a season that has become too commercialized and -- worse yet -- had much of its religious meaning driven from the public square, Washington's Christmas crossing is a story that should be remembered and celebrated, this Christmas and every Christmas.
Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of Christ, to be with family and friends, and, I would add, to give thanks to God for those who endured so much on that Christmas night, 232 years ago.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Texas Chili Cook-off
I needed a good laugh this week, the below funny was sent to me several weeks ago, but I just re-read it and I have tears running down my cheeks again from laughing so hard. Enjoy!!!
If you can read this whole story without laughing, then there's no
hope for you. I was crying by the end. This is an actual account as
relayed to paramedics at a chili cook-off in Texas .
For those of you who have lived in Texas , you know how true
this is. They actually have a Chili Cook-off about the time Halloween
comes around. It takes up a major portion of a parking lot at the
San Antonio City Park . Judge #3 was an inexperienced Chili taster
named Frank, who was visiting from Springfield , IL .
Frank: 'Recently, I was honored to be selected as a judge at
a chili cook-off. The original person called in sick at the last moment
and I happened to be standing there at the judge's table, asking
for directions to the Coors Light truck, when the call came in. I was
assured by the other two judges (Native Texans) that the chili
wouldn't be all that spicy; and, besides, they told me I would have
free beer during the tasting, so I accepted and became judge 3.
Here are the scorecard notes from the event:
CHILI # 1 - MIKE'S MANIAC MONSTER CHILI
Judge # 1 -- A little too heavy on the tomato. Amusing kick.
Judge # 2 -- Nice, smooth tomato flavor. Very mild.
Judge # 3 (Frank) -- Holy crap, what the hell is this stuff?
This could remove dried paint from your driveway. Took me two beers
to put the flames out. I hope that's the worst one. These Texans are
crazy.
CHILI # 2 - AUSTIN 'S AFTERBURNER CHILI
Judge # 1 -- Smoky, with a hint of pork. Slight jalapeno tang.
Judge # 2 -- Exciting BBQ flavor, needs more peppers to be
taken seriously.
Judge # 3 -- Keep this out of the reach of children. I'm not
sure what I'm supposed to taste besides pain. I had to wave off two
people who wanted to give me the Heimlich maneuver. They had
to rush in more beer when they saw the look on my face.
CHILI # 3 - FRED'S =AMOUS BURN DOWN THE BARN
Judge # 1 -- Excellent Firehouse chili. Great kick.
Judge # 2 -- A bit salty, good use of peppers.
Judge # 3 -- Call the EPA. I've located a uranium spill. My
nose feels like I have been snorting Drano. Everyone knows the
routine by now. Get me more beer before I ignite. Barmaid pounded
me on the back, now my backbone is in the front part of my chest. I'm
getting = sh*t-faced from all of the beer.
CHILI # 4 - BUBBA'S BLACK MAGIC
Judge # 1 -- Black bean chili with almost no spice. Disappointing.
Judge # 2 -- Hint of lime in the black beans. Good side dish for
fish or other mild foods, not much of a chili.
Judge # 3 -- I felt something scraping across my tongue, but
was unable to taste it. Is it possible to burn out taste buds? Sally,
the beer maid was standing behind me with fresh refills. This 300 lb.
woman is starting to look HOT .... just like this nuclear waste I'm
eating! Is chili an aphrodisiac?
CHILI # 5 - =LISA'S LEGAL LIP REMOVER
Judge # 1 -- Meaty, strong chili. Cayenne peppers freshly ground,
adding considerable kick. Very impressive.
Judge # 2 -- Chili using shredded beef, could use more tomato.
Must admit the cayenne peppers make a strong statement.
Judge # 3 -- My ears are ringing, sweat is pouring off my forehead
and I can no longer focus my eyes. I farted, and four people behind me
needed paramedics. The contestant seemed offended when I told her
that her chili had given me brain damage. Sally saved my tongue from
bleeding by pouring beer directly on it from the pitcher. I wonder if I'm
burning my lips off. It really ticks me off that the other judges asked me
to stop screaming.
CHILI # 6 - VERA'S VERY VEGETARIAN VARIETY
Judge # 1 -- Thin bet bold vegetarian variety chili. Good balance of
spices and peppers.
Judge # 2 -- The best yet. Aggressive use of peppers, onions,
garlic. Superb.
Judge # 3 -- My intestines are now a straight pipe filled with
gaseous, sulfuric flames. I crapped on myself when I farted, and I'm
worried it will eat through the chair. No one seems inclined to stand
behind me except that beer maid Sally. Can't feel my lips anymore. I
need to wipe my butt with a snowcone.
CHILI # 7 = SUSAN'S SCREAMING =ENSATION CHILI
Judge # 1 -- A mediocre chili with too much reliance on canned
peppers.
Judge # 2 -- Ho hum, tastes as if the chef literally threw in a can of
chili peppers at the last moment. **Take note that I am worried about
judge number 3. He appears to be in a bit of distress as he is cursing
uncontrollably.
Judge # 3 -- You could put a grenade in my mouth, pull the pin, and
I wouldn't feel a thing. I've lost sight in one eye, and the world sounds
like it is made of rushing water. My shirt is covered with chili, which
slid unnoticed out of my mouth. My pants are full of lava to match my
shirt. At least during the autopsy, they'll know what killed me. I've
decided to stop breathing. It's too painful. Forget it, I'm not getting any
oxygen anyway. If I need air, I'll just suck it in through the 4-inch hole in
my stomach.
CHILI # 8 - BIG TOM'S TOENAIL CURLING CHILI
Judge # 1 -- The perfect ending, this is a nice blend chili. Not too
bold, but spicy enough to declare its existence.
Judge # 2 -- This final entry is a good, balanced chili. Neither mild
nor hot. Sorry to see that most of it was lost when Judge #3 farted,
passed out, fell over, and pulled the chili pot down on top of himself.
Not sure if he's going to make it. poor feller, wonder how he'd have
reacted to really hot chili?
Judge # 3 - No Report
Jacqueline M. Pérez
Assistant Attorney General
North Carolina Department of Justice
c/o Patient Account Services
University of North Carolina Hospitals
211 Friday Center Drive, Suite G21
Chapel Hill , NC 27517
(919) 966-7150
(fax) (919) 966-5498
This message is a confidential attorney-client and/or work product privileged communication to be viewed only by the intended recipient. If you believe you have received this communication in error, please notify the sender and delete. Do not copy or forward. Thank you.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Miscellanious Ramblings
There were a few news items today that I would like to opine, since no one will listen to me rant in person, I will put my thoughts here and you can read as much as you can stand.
1. Tomorrow is slated to be "A Day with Gays" at least the gay activists who feel like they were cheated by the voters on prop 8 would like all the gays to call of sick tomorrow and not spend any money to show the country the power of the gay community. I have an idea, All the straight people should call off sick for a day and not spend any money to show the power of the moral majority in this country. Do you think the message would be clear enough, No Same Sex Marriage EVER!!! -- I am not a racist or a bigot -- I am a Christian and a voter and I voted my conscious on the gay marriage issue.
2. Is it too late to give Illinois to Canada, today the Governor of Illinois was arrested for a scheme to sell the Senate seat vacated by Obama. Why is it the everytime a Democrat gets elected they are right in the middle of a scandal that follows them throughout their term. The Chicago political machine is the most corrupt in the country and now they have opened a franchise office in Washington.
3. The Auto Industry "Bridge-Loan" is a bailout of the UAW by any name you give it. The American Auto Makers are $2000 dollars in the hole on every vehicle off the line to cover the legacy programs and highly inflated costs of union labor. This means that the importers (enen the ones built in the USA can add $2000 worth of bells and whistles to their line-up and still be competitive. ChefTom's plan for the big 3 Auto Companies; Break them all up into individual companies, each brand forced to negotiate and survive on their own. If 3 or 4 or 10 of these smaller auto companies fail, there are still others that will keep the supply chain and industry afloat. Each of the brands that exist under the banners of Ford, GM and Chrysler already have an executive team in place, so the CEOs of the corporations and the board of directors would be the only loss in the breaking up of the organizations.
The other option is to allow the big three to declare chapter 11, this will allow them to break the unions, liquidate un-needed properties and factories and re-negotiate the pensions of the retired employees with a one time buy-out.
The only reason that the Democrat controlled Congress is pushing so hard for the bail-out is because the left is in the pockets of the Unions and The UAW already paid for the bailout by spending millions of dollars to help Elect Dear Leader.
Neither of my plans require any money from the tax payers, why should someone making 12 dollars an hour in Tennessee bail-out someone making 30 dollars an hour?
4. There is a positive plan in the works from a congressman in Texas, Mr Gobert plan is simple, a stimulus plan tat won't cost us any more money. There is approx 350 billion dollars left of the 700billion in the bailout money that was already passed. Mr Gobert's plan is to take a 2 month tax holiday for all taxpaying Americans. No Federal Income Tax or FICA taxes. I am all for this plan, talk about fixing the problems right on main street this would do it.
I now return you to the holiday cheer channel.
1. Tomorrow is slated to be "A Day with Gays" at least the gay activists who feel like they were cheated by the voters on prop 8 would like all the gays to call of sick tomorrow and not spend any money to show the country the power of the gay community. I have an idea, All the straight people should call off sick for a day and not spend any money to show the power of the moral majority in this country. Do you think the message would be clear enough, No Same Sex Marriage EVER!!! -- I am not a racist or a bigot -- I am a Christian and a voter and I voted my conscious on the gay marriage issue.
2. Is it too late to give Illinois to Canada, today the Governor of Illinois was arrested for a scheme to sell the Senate seat vacated by Obama. Why is it the everytime a Democrat gets elected they are right in the middle of a scandal that follows them throughout their term. The Chicago political machine is the most corrupt in the country and now they have opened a franchise office in Washington.
3. The Auto Industry "Bridge-Loan" is a bailout of the UAW by any name you give it. The American Auto Makers are $2000 dollars in the hole on every vehicle off the line to cover the legacy programs and highly inflated costs of union labor. This means that the importers (enen the ones built in the USA can add $2000 worth of bells and whistles to their line-up and still be competitive. ChefTom's plan for the big 3 Auto Companies; Break them all up into individual companies, each brand forced to negotiate and survive on their own. If 3 or 4 or 10 of these smaller auto companies fail, there are still others that will keep the supply chain and industry afloat. Each of the brands that exist under the banners of Ford, GM and Chrysler already have an executive team in place, so the CEOs of the corporations and the board of directors would be the only loss in the breaking up of the organizations.
The other option is to allow the big three to declare chapter 11, this will allow them to break the unions, liquidate un-needed properties and factories and re-negotiate the pensions of the retired employees with a one time buy-out.
The only reason that the Democrat controlled Congress is pushing so hard for the bail-out is because the left is in the pockets of the Unions and The UAW already paid for the bailout by spending millions of dollars to help Elect Dear Leader.
Neither of my plans require any money from the tax payers, why should someone making 12 dollars an hour in Tennessee bail-out someone making 30 dollars an hour?
4. There is a positive plan in the works from a congressman in Texas, Mr Gobert plan is simple, a stimulus plan tat won't cost us any more money. There is approx 350 billion dollars left of the 700billion in the bailout money that was already passed. Mr Gobert's plan is to take a 2 month tax holiday for all taxpaying Americans. No Federal Income Tax or FICA taxes. I am all for this plan, talk about fixing the problems right on main street this would do it.
I now return you to the holiday cheer channel.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Joseph P Wirthlin
Joseph B. Wirthlin
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) _ Joseph B. Wirthlin, the Mormon church's oldest living apostle, has died. He was 91.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said Wirthlin died Monday at home of old age.
Wirthlin was ordained a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1986, about a decade after being called to full-time church service.
The quorum is the second tier of church leadership and is charged with various management responsibilities.
Wirthlin's other church posts included serving as a counselor to the Sunday school president, director of the church military relations committee, director of the church curriculum department and as an editor of church magazines.
He also led church operations in continental Europe, Britain, Ireland and Africa.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) _ Joseph B. Wirthlin, the Mormon church's oldest living apostle, has died. He was 91.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said Wirthlin died Monday at home of old age.
Wirthlin was ordained a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1986, about a decade after being called to full-time church service.
The quorum is the second tier of church leadership and is charged with various management responsibilities.
Wirthlin's other church posts included serving as a counselor to the Sunday school president, director of the church military relations committee, director of the church curriculum department and as an editor of church magazines.
He also led church operations in continental Europe, Britain, Ireland and Africa.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
What Every Child Should Know About Thanksgiving
By Newt Gingrich
Second only to Independence Day, Thanksgiving is a uniquely American holiday. And as an American holiday, it is rooted deeply - like our nation - in faith in God.
The earliest Thanksgivings were celebrated by Americans who were keenly aware that their blessings - like their rights - came from God. In times of hardship unimaginable to us today, they took time to give thanks to their Creator.
Throughout early American history, when they suffered from drought, famine or war, Americans paused, not to seek vengeance or to question their faith, but to give thanks to God for the blessings they still had.
At a time when the economic news seems to get worse every day, it's important to remember the humble faith of these early Americans. They didn't just give thanks when times were good, they gave thanks when times were bad - especially when times were bad.
Radical Secularists Deny the Central Role of Religion in American History
Today is a decidedly different time in America.
Not only have many Americans forgotten or never learned the historic origins of our Thanksgiving - to pause and give thanks to God for our abundance - but radical secularists are intent on removing God and faith from our national life altogether.
Many of the entertainment and political elite seem to be threatened by religious faith.
Others seem intent on denying or whitewashing the central role that religious faith has played in American history, such as the attempt to whitewash God out of the Capitol Visitor's Center (view the video and petition my wife, Callista, and I have created to ask Congress to ensure the Capitol Visitor's Center is historically accurate about America's Godly heritage.)
These radical secularists seek to portray those who acknowledge this historical fact as theocrats intent on imposing their religion on others.
In fact, to acknowledge the centrality of God in American history is to acknowledge America's great freedom of religion - the freedom to worship and the freedom not to worship. Many Americans have taken advantage of this freedom by drawing closer to their Creator. They understand, even if so many of our media and political elites don't, that religious freedom is the cornerstone of all of our freedoms.
Voices From Thanksgivings Past
The centrality of God in Thanksgiving in America comes through in the words of some of our greatest national leaders:
Virginia Governor Thomas Jefferson, in 1779:
Our leaders have not been alone in celebrating God’s gifts at Thanksgiving, of course.
I conclude today with a poem by Lizelia Augusta Jenkins Moorer, an African-American poet writing at the turn of the 20th century. Her generous, hopeful view of Thanksgiving is made even more remarkable by the suffering and discrimination she endured as an African-American in the late 19th and early 20th century.
May you and your family have a happy, healthy, and blessed Thanksgiving.
Your friend,
Second only to Independence Day, Thanksgiving is a uniquely American holiday. And as an American holiday, it is rooted deeply - like our nation - in faith in God.
The earliest Thanksgivings were celebrated by Americans who were keenly aware that their blessings - like their rights - came from God. In times of hardship unimaginable to us today, they took time to give thanks to their Creator.
Throughout early American history, when they suffered from drought, famine or war, Americans paused, not to seek vengeance or to question their faith, but to give thanks to God for the blessings they still had.
At a time when the economic news seems to get worse every day, it's important to remember the humble faith of these early Americans. They didn't just give thanks when times were good, they gave thanks when times were bad - especially when times were bad.
Radical Secularists Deny the Central Role of Religion in American History
Today is a decidedly different time in America.
Not only have many Americans forgotten or never learned the historic origins of our Thanksgiving - to pause and give thanks to God for our abundance - but radical secularists are intent on removing God and faith from our national life altogether.
Many of the entertainment and political elite seem to be threatened by religious faith.
Others seem intent on denying or whitewashing the central role that religious faith has played in American history, such as the attempt to whitewash God out of the Capitol Visitor's Center (view the video and petition my wife, Callista, and I have created to ask Congress to ensure the Capitol Visitor's Center is historically accurate about America's Godly heritage.)
These radical secularists seek to portray those who acknowledge this historical fact as theocrats intent on imposing their religion on others.
In fact, to acknowledge the centrality of God in American history is to acknowledge America's great freedom of religion - the freedom to worship and the freedom not to worship. Many Americans have taken advantage of this freedom by drawing closer to their Creator. They understand, even if so many of our media and political elites don't, that religious freedom is the cornerstone of all of our freedoms.
Voices From Thanksgivings Past
The centrality of God in Thanksgiving in America comes through in the words of some of our greatest national leaders:
Virginia Governor Thomas Jefferson, in 1779:
[I] appoint … a day of public Thanksgiving to Almighty God … to [ask] Him that He would … pour out His Holy Spirit on all ministers of the Gospel; that He would … spread the light of Christian knowledge through the remotest corners of the earth … and that He would establish these United States upon the basis of religion and virtue.President George Washington’s first federal Thanksgiving proclamation in 1789:
Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor.… Now, therefore, I do appoint Thursday, the 26th day of November 1789 … that we may all unite to render unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection.President Abraham Lincoln, making Thanksgiving an annual national holiday in 1863, in the midst of the Civil War:
No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.
It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people.“Let Us Be Thankful For a Land That Will For Such Religion Stand”
Our leaders have not been alone in celebrating God’s gifts at Thanksgiving, of course.
I conclude today with a poem by Lizelia Augusta Jenkins Moorer, an African-American poet writing at the turn of the 20th century. Her generous, hopeful view of Thanksgiving is made even more remarkable by the suffering and discrimination she endured as an African-American in the late 19th and early 20th century.
Thanksgiving
Let us give thanks to God above,
Thanks for expressions of His love,
Seen in the book of nature, grand
Taught by His love on every hand.
Let us be thankful in our hearts,
Thankful for all the truth imparts,
For the religion of our Lord,
All that is taught us in His word.
Let us be thankful for a land,
That will for such religion stand;
One that protects it by the law,
One that before it stands in awe.
Thankful for all things let us be,
Though there be woes and misery;
Lessons they bring us for our good-
Later 'twill all be understood.
Thankful for peace o'er land and sea,
Thankful for signs of liberty,
Thankful for homes, for life and health,
Pleasure and plenty, fame and wealth.
Thankful for friends and loved ones, too,
Thankful for all things, good and true,
Thankful for harvest in the fall,
Thankful to Him who gave it all.
May you and your family have a happy, healthy, and blessed Thanksgiving.
Your friend,
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Life Magazine and Google team up to publish a large majority of the images from their archive stretching back into the 1700s you can check it out here.
Ronald McDonald House
Last night my department was responsible for preparing and feeding the guests at the Phoenix Ronald McDonald House. It was a great experience, that made me grateful for my good health and the good health of my children.
It was also a fantastic team building event for crew that went and participated at the house. I was humbled by the graciousness of the families that we fed. They were so thankful to us that I was awestruck by it because I have done a lot of similar charity events over the past 10 years and rarely do you have someone from EVERY family come back and thank you for coming and feeding them.
I will be doing this again and again, I truly received more than I gave.
It was also a fantastic team building event for crew that went and participated at the house. I was humbled by the graciousness of the families that we fed. They were so thankful to us that I was awestruck by it because I have done a lot of similar charity events over the past 10 years and rarely do you have someone from EVERY family come back and thank you for coming and feeding them.
I will be doing this again and again, I truly received more than I gave.
Friday, November 21, 2008
They get so big, so fast
When our children are new they need us for everything, feeding, bathing, moving from place to place and to keep dry and without odors. But, as they grow they start stripping away your parental duties little by little, When they start feeding themselves, crawling, walking, that glorious day when they are finally potty trained, when they can start dressing themselves (sometimes 20 times a day), when they start making their lunches, bathing themselves, reading to themselves, operate electronic devices like TVs and DVD players better than you. These are all things that were our responsibilities to do for them at some point.
But day by day, they decide and with you training, they can do for themselves and you slowly become just a spectator is their lives. This is not all sad though, some of the things they take care of are good things to let go of... like diapers, and the early days of potty training where you are the "Butt Wiper"
That night Hunter came home from school, went upstairs to change his clothes, started a load of laundry(without prompting from us). This event is what prompted this train of thought and this post. I realized last night that my baby boy is relegating my to the cheap seats for a lot of his needs. BUT!!! All is not lost yet, he forgot to put soap in the washing machine, so I had to start it over.
But day by day, they decide and with you training, they can do for themselves and you slowly become just a spectator is their lives. This is not all sad though, some of the things they take care of are good things to let go of... like diapers, and the early days of potty training where you are the "Butt Wiper"
That night Hunter came home from school, went upstairs to change his clothes, started a load of laundry(without prompting from us). This event is what prompted this train of thought and this post. I realized last night that my baby boy is relegating my to the cheap seats for a lot of his needs. BUT!!! All is not lost yet, he forgot to put soap in the washing machine, so I had to start it over.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Family Pictures
For the first time since Hunter was a baby, we had a formal family picture taken. I was shocked when we saw the pictures, I want you to know, I thought I looked younger and thinner, now my spirit is crushed, I really do look old and gray and FAT!!! Why didn't anyone tell me ahead of time?
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Coolest Invention Since Sliced Bread
If you are like us, we have a lot of movies on DVD and they never seem to get put back into their case and back into the cabinet, making daddy crazy. I found the Western Digital (WD) Media Player. It is a simple and easy to use interface between digital media files including video, music and pictures and your television set. The way it works is with easy to use software you rip your DVDs onto a USB hard drive, plug the hard drive into the Media player which is plugged into your tv and you have a menu driven media center. This will allow you to keep the Original disks off the floor and undamaged.This little invention is cool, really cool. I have tried other solutions for other problems and they end up causing more hassles than they are worth, I've got a garage full of them, like the back hair trimmer and the slice it dice it, cut off your finger kichen tools, but this one isn't like that for me, so far anyway.
It is working as promised and for $99 for the media player and a 500gb USB HDD for another $119, I couldn't be more impressed.
So if you are like we are, this is an answer to your prayers.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Respect the President Elect?
I was told the other day by a liberal and it is echoed by much of the liberal media, that now that the election is over we all need to get in line behind Dear Leader and show his some respect, This is my response to this ridiculous notion that we all should get in line and support someone who's policies go against everything you believe. So for all the liberal kool-aid drinking sheep, I will never fall in line and be blindly led into socialism, I will not show Dear Leader respect until it is earned, and I will not support or abide by Dear Leaders policies that I find morally and ethically bankrupt.
For the past two years every time "Dear Leader" has opened up his mouth he has blamed President Bush for something. However, President Bush was not at fault for 90% of it, the congress was, where dear leader should have been.
President Bush has been blamed for Katrina and the Levies breaking, New Orleans was send funds 30 years ago to fix those very levies and re-directed the funds to something else.
He was blamed for FEMA not responding fast enough, the governor and mayor requested federal help 72 hours after Katrina and the rules at the time was FEMA cannot go where they are not invited.
President Bush has been blamed for the economic crisis, We were in an economic boom until the Democrats took control of congress in 2006, then it all went belly up.
President Bush hasn't been credited with keeping this country safe from more terrorist attacks for the past 7 years.
For introducing 50 million people to democracy and freeing them from an evil dictator that would rather kill you than deal with you.
For warning congress about Fannie and Freddie for the past 7 years.
So if Dear Leader wants respect from my house he is going to have to earn it, he showed no respect to the sitting president of the USA, so he hasn't earned the respect from the USA.
I will continue to scream when he tries to force socialism on us, and IF he does something worthwhile, I will give him credit. That is more than I can say for him if regards to President Bush.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Just as advertised dancing like it is 1983
Cake (next trip east I will make you all a real one of these)
The Birthday Girls - Jenny in the white and Amy Jo in the black.
Amy Jo the day before she went away to college.
Jenny during the summer of '83
Amy Jo and I dancing in 1982 or 3
Jenny in the middle of a long bus trip to DCSeriously, Amy and Jenny were two of my best friends through the teenage years. They kept me out of trouble through their example and the love of them and their family. I know that I have been giving Jenny a hard time this week with pictures (she started it), but I want her and Amy and the rest of the Hutchin's know that I love them and they hold a very special place in my heart forever, without them, I don't know where I would have ended up, but it probably wouldn't have been good.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!
AMY JO AND JENNY!
Love you!!!
NOTICE!
Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas and oil, as well as current market conditions, and the results of the Presidential Election,
The Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off.
We apologize for the inconvenience.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
BIG POST COMING ON THE 7TH
You don't want to miss the fun and excitement here on The Cutting Board on the 7th, we will be celebrating the birthdays of two amazing ladies with pictures, cake and dancing. Hope you all come by and visit again then.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Time to fight
We, the conservative minority need to stand up right now and start fighting to keep the perils of socialism at bay. We are not dead in the water, the congress did not gain enough seats for a super majority, so we will still have some power to say "NO" to some of the more leftist bills and legislation. We have two years from right now before the mid-term election. It is time to pay attention and hold your elected officials accountable for EVERY vote. We cannot wait until the last minute and we can't wait and hope for the best, we need to fight everyday to make sure that the conservative voice is heard. Get involved, e-mail and call your congressmen and voice your opinion of every piece of legislation. 51% of this great country drank the kool-aid and voted for someone who wants to change EVERYTHING that we, as conservatives, hold precious. It is now up to us to find a conservative voice and support them all the way to Washington. We must take control of the congress in 2010.
I pray for the safety of this country and for leadership that will leave the foundation alone.
I pray for the safety of this country and for leadership that will leave the foundation alone.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Happy Birthday Roger
It's Roger's Birthday, I have never met him, but grew up with his wife, she started something, and I came across this picture of him, to see what he looks like now go here.I know Jenny, so Roger must be a saint... just sayin'!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROGER!!!
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Payback for Jenny
Can you identify all the people in this picture? I got about 75 - 80% of them, I think.
This is the Jenny that I remember, her tongue was always out and she was typically drooling.
This shirt was NOT Priscilla approved, Jenny was always a rebel. She sneaked out of the house in a sweatshirt to conceal her less than modest shirt.I have a couple more, but I will hold them until she makes her next move.
The truth is also that very few pictures exist where Jenny is not really cute, so I am having trouble finding any that she doesn't look good in.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
A link to the way back machine
I found this site today that has every video that MTV has ever played in a searchable/watchable database. I spent about 2 hours riding the nostalgia express. It was fun to watch some of the videos and hearing the music of my youth.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Haiku Monday
The rules of the game are I will start, continue with the theme either in comments or on your own blog. Remember to keep the Syllable rule of 5-7-5.
The Sun is Shining
The Sky is Clear and Bright Blue
I am in a cube
Now it's your turn, good luck!
The Sun is Shining
The Sky is Clear and Bright Blue
I am in a cube
Now it's your turn, good luck!
Friday, October 24, 2008
Don't You Think We Have Had ENOUGH Change?
I got this in e-mail a few days ago;
George Bush has been in office for 7 1/2 years. The first six the economy was fine.
A little over one year ago:
1) Consumer confidence stood at a 2 1/2 year high;
2) Regular gasoline sold for $2.19 a gallon;
3) the unemployment rate was 4.5%.
4) the DOW JONES hit a record high--14,000 +
5) American's were buying new cars, taking cruises, vacations overseas, living large!...
But American's wanted 'CHANGE'! So, in 2006 they voted in a Democratic Congress and yes--we got 'CHANGE' all right. In the PAST YEAR:
1) Consumer confidence has plummeted ;
2) Gasoline is now over $4 a gallon & climbing!;
3) Unemployment is up to 5.5% (a 10% increase);
4) Americans have seen their home equity drop by $12 TRILLION DOLLARS and prices still dropping;
5) 1% of American homes are in foreclosure.
6) as I write, THE DOW is probing another low~~
$2.5 TRILLION DOLLARS HAS EVAPORATED FROM THEIR STOCKS, BONDS & MUTUAL FUNDS INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS!
YES, IN 2006 AMERICA VOTED FOR CHANGE...AND WE SURE GOT IT! ...
REMEMBER THE PRESIDENT HAS NO CONTROL OVER ANY OF THESE ISSUES, ONLY CONGRESS.
AND WHAT HAS CONGRESS DONE IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
NOW THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT CLAIMS HE IS GOING TO REALLY GIVE US CHANGE ALONG WITH A DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS!!!!
JUST HOW MUCH MORE 'CHANGE' DO YOU THINK YOU CAN STAND?
George Bush has been in office for 7 1/2 years. The first six the economy was fine.
A little over one year ago:
1) Consumer confidence stood at a 2 1/2 year high;
2) Regular gasoline sold for $2.19 a gallon;
3) the unemployment rate was 4.5%.
4) the DOW JONES hit a record high--14,000 +
5) American's were buying new cars, taking cruises, vacations overseas, living large!...
But American's wanted 'CHANGE'! So, in 2006 they voted in a Democratic Congress and yes--we got 'CHANGE' all right. In the PAST YEAR:
1) Consumer confidence has plummeted ;
2) Gasoline is now over $4 a gallon & climbing!;
3) Unemployment is up to 5.5% (a 10% increase);
4) Americans have seen their home equity drop by $12 TRILLION DOLLARS and prices still dropping;
5) 1% of American homes are in foreclosure.
6) as I write, THE DOW is probing another low~~
$2.5 TRILLION DOLLARS HAS EVAPORATED FROM THEIR STOCKS, BONDS & MUTUAL FUNDS INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS!
YES, IN 2006 AMERICA VOTED FOR CHANGE...AND WE SURE GOT IT! ...
REMEMBER THE PRESIDENT HAS NO CONTROL OVER ANY OF THESE ISSUES, ONLY CONGRESS.
AND WHAT HAS CONGRESS DONE IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
NOW THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT CLAIMS HE IS GOING TO REALLY GIVE US CHANGE ALONG WITH A DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS!!!!
JUST HOW MUCH MORE 'CHANGE' DO YOU THINK YOU CAN STAND?
Monday, October 20, 2008
A Terrible Thing Happened!
I was offered a new job and accepted it last week and started today. I am working for a hotel software company. They write the software hotels use to run the front office, back office, housekeeping and reservations. They have been around for over 25 years and I have been using their software for 20 including supporting it for 10. I saw several familiar faces today and although I missed the kids all day, it was kind of nice to be with adults.
So the saga continues...
So the saga continues...
Friday, October 17, 2008
Four Words ~ WE CAN"T AFFORD IT!!!
John Hawkins puts it perfect in this article on Townhall.com
We need to get both personal and public spending under control and pay down the national debt now or we, as a country, will slip into an abyss that we cannot ever recover from.
Happy Friday!!!
We need to get both personal and public spending under control and pay down the national debt now or we, as a country, will slip into an abyss that we cannot ever recover from.
Happy Friday!!!
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Something Sweeter
Snicker Bar Cheesecake. Snickers Crust, Snickers mixed in, Chocolate frosting, Caramel Center covered in peanuts. Weighs 5 lbs. Anyone want to share?
Do you still think Obama is the answer?
The reasons why Barry O isn't qualified to be president and had the liberal media been objective he would have never beat Clinton in the primaries.
Here are what you should search to understand the danger of Barry O:
Bill Ayers - founder of the weather underground, claim to fame bombing the US Capital, Pentagon, and NYC Police headquarters. Feels he didn't do enough as recently as 9/11/01
Rev Jer. Wright - Pastor of the Trinity United church, friend of Louis Farakan and Libya's Kadaffi. Is an anti-Semite who hates the white race and the USA.
Father Flager - Catholic Priest who hangs out with Farakan and Wright, has communist theory for the USA.
Louis Farakan - Leader of the "Nation of Islam" Anti-Jew, anti-white, professes that Obama is the "Messiah"
Saul Alinsky - Author of the book "Rules for Radicals", although Obama never met Alinsky he has mastered his philosophy of radical organization. see: Acorn
Acorn - Community Organizers that are under investigation in more than 11 states for voter fraud. Obama's gave Acorn 833,000 for "get out the vote" during this election year.
Odingo - Obama's cousin, he ran for president of Kenya in 2007, Obama was his advisor and after Odinga lost the bid, he incited widespread violence killing many and in order to quell the violence he was given the prime minister position. He pledges to bring Kenya under Sharia Law (taliban)
Tony Rezko - Chicago slum lord/ real estate investor/felon. He took tens of millions in tax dollars to build and manage low-income properties in south Chicago. Most of these neighborhoods are condemned and boarded up. Obama is the guy that funneled the money to him. The plaot thickened when it was found that Obama and Rezko bought adjoining properties from the same owner, Obama paid $300,000 under market and Rekzo paid full price.
Khalidi - Professor now, PLO publicist then. Anti-Israel
Campaign Contributions from the middle east and the PLO - this is highly illegal.
No available transcripts from Harvard or Columbia - what is he hiding, immigration status, religion or ???
No record of how he got into Harvard and who paid for it - no lsat scores and no record of how he paid for Harvard.
No medical records released - This is something that I would like to know, Is the potential president hiding an affliction?
Nothing published from his time as Editor of the Harvard Law Review - Either he is the worst editor ever or he was so radical in his writings that he has had them exponged.
Chicago Annenburg Challenge - issued grants of 160 million dollars as chairman of this charity, to such great educational projects as United Trinity Church, and charter schools that were anti-establishment teaching communist indoctrination. 160 million and no significant change in test scores in the inner-city schools.
No Original Birth Certificate - where was he born, was he a citizen of Indonesia, they don't have dual citizenship with the US, so when he went their with his adopted step father, did he give up his US citizenship.
Elementary school record from indonesia list his religion as muslim and in one of his books he talks about being taught in muslim schools.
Just based on his circle of radical, questionable, race baiting, America Hating, convicted felons, and unrepentant domestic terrorists he should be laughed out of the running. He hasn't had one association from college come forward at all. He is like the invisible man, no one in his class at Columbia ever remember him in class.
Whenever he is asked about any of these associations he is dis-honest about the relationship based on his own books and other time lines that have been put together.
How many times have we all heard about his association with Wright; I sat in the pew at Trinity United for 20 years and never heard him say those things. Until it became a political hazard he stood by Wright and said that denouncing him would be like denouncing his black race.
I barely knew Bill Ayers from the neighborhood, but he worked with him on the same board for 7 years and launched his political career in Ayers living Room.
And on and on and on.
I have said many times, McCain wasn't my first choice, but he is the only choice now.
Think about if you would enjoy your taxes being 60% or more and the government being in charge of your medical treatment, college education, housing and salary. Where any drive to succeed and prosper is stripped away because the more successful you are the more the government is going to take.
Obama the other night said that he though health care was a right. This means that doctors do not own their education and are mandated to provide care whether or not they get paid. Would you be a doctor for the same pay as a bus driver or a garbage man? Would you spend years working 12-18 hours a day to build a successful business when the government is going to take most of it for those that have never worked a day in their life?
Do you agree with "to each according to their needs, from each according to their ability"?
If you do you would enjoy living in a communist nation, that is also what the far left congress would like, bigger government, bigger taxes, bigger entitlements, fewer jobs, fewer companies, more absenteeism, more dead beats, more crime.
I choose freedom, I want to keep what I earn and if I live better than you, I earned it, I should benefit from it. I should choose if and which charities I donate to, and I should be able to find, negotiate and purchase the health insurance I want for myself and my family or choose not to.
Please don't take the easy way (in the short term) for an easy ride, it will get bumpy and there will be no place to turn around once you choose which way to turn on that road. Choose wisely and think of my children and your children and choose freedom.
Here are what you should search to understand the danger of Barry O:
Bill Ayers - founder of the weather underground, claim to fame bombing the US Capital, Pentagon, and NYC Police headquarters. Feels he didn't do enough as recently as 9/11/01
Rev Jer. Wright - Pastor of the Trinity United church, friend of Louis Farakan and Libya's Kadaffi. Is an anti-Semite who hates the white race and the USA.
Father Flager - Catholic Priest who hangs out with Farakan and Wright, has communist theory for the USA.
Louis Farakan - Leader of the "Nation of Islam" Anti-Jew, anti-white, professes that Obama is the "Messiah"
Saul Alinsky - Author of the book "Rules for Radicals", although Obama never met Alinsky he has mastered his philosophy of radical organization. see: Acorn
Acorn - Community Organizers that are under investigation in more than 11 states for voter fraud. Obama's gave Acorn 833,000 for "get out the vote" during this election year.
Odingo - Obama's cousin, he ran for president of Kenya in 2007, Obama was his advisor and after Odinga lost the bid, he incited widespread violence killing many and in order to quell the violence he was given the prime minister position. He pledges to bring Kenya under Sharia Law (taliban)
Tony Rezko - Chicago slum lord/ real estate investor/felon. He took tens of millions in tax dollars to build and manage low-income properties in south Chicago. Most of these neighborhoods are condemned and boarded up. Obama is the guy that funneled the money to him. The plaot thickened when it was found that Obama and Rezko bought adjoining properties from the same owner, Obama paid $300,000 under market and Rekzo paid full price.
Khalidi - Professor now, PLO publicist then. Anti-Israel
Campaign Contributions from the middle east and the PLO - this is highly illegal.
No available transcripts from Harvard or Columbia - what is he hiding, immigration status, religion or ???
No record of how he got into Harvard and who paid for it - no lsat scores and no record of how he paid for Harvard.
No medical records released - This is something that I would like to know, Is the potential president hiding an affliction?
Nothing published from his time as Editor of the Harvard Law Review - Either he is the worst editor ever or he was so radical in his writings that he has had them exponged.
Chicago Annenburg Challenge - issued grants of 160 million dollars as chairman of this charity, to such great educational projects as United Trinity Church, and charter schools that were anti-establishment teaching communist indoctrination. 160 million and no significant change in test scores in the inner-city schools.
No Original Birth Certificate - where was he born, was he a citizen of Indonesia, they don't have dual citizenship with the US, so when he went their with his adopted step father, did he give up his US citizenship.
Elementary school record from indonesia list his religion as muslim and in one of his books he talks about being taught in muslim schools.
Just based on his circle of radical, questionable, race baiting, America Hating, convicted felons, and unrepentant domestic terrorists he should be laughed out of the running. He hasn't had one association from college come forward at all. He is like the invisible man, no one in his class at Columbia ever remember him in class.
Whenever he is asked about any of these associations he is dis-honest about the relationship based on his own books and other time lines that have been put together.
How many times have we all heard about his association with Wright; I sat in the pew at Trinity United for 20 years and never heard him say those things. Until it became a political hazard he stood by Wright and said that denouncing him would be like denouncing his black race.
I barely knew Bill Ayers from the neighborhood, but he worked with him on the same board for 7 years and launched his political career in Ayers living Room.
And on and on and on.
I have said many times, McCain wasn't my first choice, but he is the only choice now.
Think about if you would enjoy your taxes being 60% or more and the government being in charge of your medical treatment, college education, housing and salary. Where any drive to succeed and prosper is stripped away because the more successful you are the more the government is going to take.
Obama the other night said that he though health care was a right. This means that doctors do not own their education and are mandated to provide care whether or not they get paid. Would you be a doctor for the same pay as a bus driver or a garbage man? Would you spend years working 12-18 hours a day to build a successful business when the government is going to take most of it for those that have never worked a day in their life?
Do you agree with "to each according to their needs, from each according to their ability"?
If you do you would enjoy living in a communist nation, that is also what the far left congress would like, bigger government, bigger taxes, bigger entitlements, fewer jobs, fewer companies, more absenteeism, more dead beats, more crime.
I choose freedom, I want to keep what I earn and if I live better than you, I earned it, I should benefit from it. I should choose if and which charities I donate to, and I should be able to find, negotiate and purchase the health insurance I want for myself and my family or choose not to.
Please don't take the easy way (in the short term) for an easy ride, it will get bumpy and there will be no place to turn around once you choose which way to turn on that road. Choose wisely and think of my children and your children and choose freedom.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Little People
Little People
This is a blog from an artist in London, he is very good and entertaining. He creates the scenes on the streets of London and leaves them there when he is done.
Check it out.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Life is good
when the kids spend the afternoon doing alot of this....
You can put in a movie and they will end up doing a lot of this....
Friday, October 10, 2008
ChefTom's Tax Plan
I have been contemplating the whole federal income tax debacle and what it actually pays for without the populace having any real control over what programs and pork barrel projects get funded with our hard earned funds. There are many things that I disagree with; the bailout that was a band aid at best, and probably won't work, at least it hasn't even slowed down the nose dive, that is 700 billion, but if you add the 25 billion for the auto makers, 300 billion mortgage bailout in July, the 85 billion for AIG and the fannie and freddie bailout we are at a trillion and a half dollars.
Added to the appropriations bill that was passed last week, there was an extra 100 million dollars for "special projects" things like tax breaks for Hollywood to film in the US, tax breaks for auto race tracks, 3 million dollars for a wooden arrow maker in Oregon, and many, many other tidbits that scream irresponsibility and corruption to me.
So I have come up with a plan that would allow the tax-paying citizens to "Earmark" their tax dollars. Here are the basics of the plan:
Based on percentages of your actual tax bill you would be able to choose where your tax dollars go, you choose your pet project types. The only types of spending would be set percentages for the military and infrastructure.
So here is an example
You after deduction tax bill is $1000.
10% for military $100
10% infrastucture $100
Now you would choose:
Schools:
Welfare
National Health Care
Corporate Bailouts
Paying down the deficit
Animal habit research
Housing subsidies
Scholarships
NASA
So here is the way it would work, you would have (in this example) $800 to fund wahtever you choose is important to you. If you are a space fanatic you can throw $800 to NASA, or if you want to help the poor throw $200 to welfare. It would be your choice. If at the end of the day certain programs are not funded adequately, they go away, the Tax-Payers choose that is not needed. Or if certain programs are over-funded any addition would go directly to paying down the deficit, The list could be up to 1000 items and would still be manageable, we the citizens would have the final word on whether or not we pay for something that we find morally reprehensible. I personally would not be forced to pay for welfare, housing subsidies, NPR/PBS or Planned Parethood. If everyone agreed and they no longer received federal funding they would have to either find private funding or go away.
I know this sounds like it could be harsh, but 50% or so of the population are conservative and 50% are liberal, so most of the programs would be funded, but most of the pork would be cut, because we would be able to say they we do not want to fund a 10 million dollar study on mating habits of the hawiian fruit fly.
It's a thought!
Added to the appropriations bill that was passed last week, there was an extra 100 million dollars for "special projects" things like tax breaks for Hollywood to film in the US, tax breaks for auto race tracks, 3 million dollars for a wooden arrow maker in Oregon, and many, many other tidbits that scream irresponsibility and corruption to me.
So I have come up with a plan that would allow the tax-paying citizens to "Earmark" their tax dollars. Here are the basics of the plan:
Based on percentages of your actual tax bill you would be able to choose where your tax dollars go, you choose your pet project types. The only types of spending would be set percentages for the military and infrastructure.
So here is an example
You after deduction tax bill is $1000.
10% for military $100
10% infrastucture $100
Now you would choose:
Schools:
Welfare
National Health Care
Corporate Bailouts
Paying down the deficit
Animal habit research
Housing subsidies
Scholarships
NASA
So here is the way it would work, you would have (in this example) $800 to fund wahtever you choose is important to you. If you are a space fanatic you can throw $800 to NASA, or if you want to help the poor throw $200 to welfare. It would be your choice. If at the end of the day certain programs are not funded adequately, they go away, the Tax-Payers choose that is not needed. Or if certain programs are over-funded any addition would go directly to paying down the deficit, The list could be up to 1000 items and would still be manageable, we the citizens would have the final word on whether or not we pay for something that we find morally reprehensible. I personally would not be forced to pay for welfare, housing subsidies, NPR/PBS or Planned Parethood. If everyone agreed and they no longer received federal funding they would have to either find private funding or go away.
I know this sounds like it could be harsh, but 50% or so of the population are conservative and 50% are liberal, so most of the programs would be funded, but most of the pork would be cut, because we would be able to say they we do not want to fund a 10 million dollar study on mating habits of the hawiian fruit fly.
It's a thought!
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Daily Tease
This is a strawberry New York Style cheescake that I donated to a fund-raiser for girls camp.
Homeowners Associations
We live in a neighborhood with an association, this in many ways is a good thing as it keeps the playing field level for all the homeowners as far as junk and weeds and crazy house colors. Those things are really comforting especially when you go to sell the house.
On the other hand they are also another layer of government and bureaucracy that typically includes on the board some people that should just stay home and not be involved. They are not mentally equipped to deal with large issues and big numbers, it is scary for them to commit to spending anything for any reason.
Why am I telling you all of this? Last night the association held a board meeting that I decided to attend since I had been trying to talk to the community manager (contract company) about the letter I received for the weeds that I don't have. She NEVER returns calls. STRIKE ONE
This is where the frustration started for me.
I show up the the meeting early and I am told that "this is only a budget meeting, we will not discuss any other issues" oh really? Since there was no one else there yet from the community and since the meeting hadn't "officially" started, I started asking her my questions and pointing out my concerns. She wasn't overly receptive, but was attentive to me. Come to find out the office had been sending notices for weeds for all 7 of the roads that start with "Desert" to "Desert Basin" which is my street. STRIKE TWO
So the meeting started LATE which is a big peeve of mine, and progressed slowly and as we went line by line through the budget, we started discussing whether to trim, increase or delete certain items. The manager was pretty condescending about it, like the residents didn't know what they were talking about and her budget should be approved out of hand. STRIKE THREE
The meeting ended and as we were mingling with the others I grabbed 3 out of 5 board members and expressed my doubts about the viability of this management company, I explained the above as well as the concerns I have with the slow progress on some issues that have been "in the works" for 2 years. Come to find out the contract with the company is month to month. My day started to brighten. It took very little convincing on my part, but 3 of the 5 board members and the 2 other residents that she was ineffective and needed to go bye-bye.
So as I am typing this the board is exploring new management companies and we will hopefully introduce the new management company at the annual meeting in January.
Little victories - and I don't have to pay the fine for the mystery weeds.
***UPDATE: The property amanger called me this afternoon and is crediting us $125.00 for the assessments that they have put on for weeds and shouldn't have. I love it when an error is in my favor.
On the other hand they are also another layer of government and bureaucracy that typically includes on the board some people that should just stay home and not be involved. They are not mentally equipped to deal with large issues and big numbers, it is scary for them to commit to spending anything for any reason.
Why am I telling you all of this? Last night the association held a board meeting that I decided to attend since I had been trying to talk to the community manager (contract company) about the letter I received for the weeds that I don't have. She NEVER returns calls. STRIKE ONE
This is where the frustration started for me.
I show up the the meeting early and I am told that "this is only a budget meeting, we will not discuss any other issues" oh really? Since there was no one else there yet from the community and since the meeting hadn't "officially" started, I started asking her my questions and pointing out my concerns. She wasn't overly receptive, but was attentive to me. Come to find out the office had been sending notices for weeds for all 7 of the roads that start with "Desert" to "Desert Basin" which is my street. STRIKE TWO
So the meeting started LATE which is a big peeve of mine, and progressed slowly and as we went line by line through the budget, we started discussing whether to trim, increase or delete certain items. The manager was pretty condescending about it, like the residents didn't know what they were talking about and her budget should be approved out of hand. STRIKE THREE
The meeting ended and as we were mingling with the others I grabbed 3 out of 5 board members and expressed my doubts about the viability of this management company, I explained the above as well as the concerns I have with the slow progress on some issues that have been "in the works" for 2 years. Come to find out the contract with the company is month to month. My day started to brighten. It took very little convincing on my part, but 3 of the 5 board members and the 2 other residents that she was ineffective and needed to go bye-bye.
So as I am typing this the board is exploring new management companies and we will hopefully introduce the new management company at the annual meeting in January.
Little victories - and I don't have to pay the fine for the mystery weeds.
***UPDATE: The property amanger called me this afternoon and is crediting us $125.00 for the assessments that they have put on for weeds and shouldn't have. I love it when an error is in my favor.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Friday, October 3, 2008
Sample letter to send to your congressmen
Thanks to my buddy Brandon this is a sample letter that we should all send to those offending parties that have weakened our freedoms.
See how your senator voted
See how your rep voted
Mr. Congressman, I see that you voted "No" against the original bailout bill that the President and many others on the other side of the isle tried to scare America into accepting.
However, I see you voted "Yes" to the new bill that the Senate passed. The same bill that was laden with millions in earmarks/pork spending.
I am very disappointed in your vote today, as well as all other votes of yes from the Louisiana delegation.
Today, The President of the United States, The US House of Representatives, and the United States Senate showed that the common American is irrelevant. Instead the government has shown that it rather bail out the lobbyists on Wall Street rather than punishing them.
Rather than follow practical principles such as recommended by former Speaker Newt Gingrich, the GOP cowed to the other side to save face, and now myself, my children, and my children's, children will suffer in the long run.
It's nice to know that my tax dollars will now go to keeping corrupt CEO's in their golden thrones, and that I'm helping to pay for wooden arrow tips, and giving tax breaks to Puerto Rican Rum makers and race track owners.
Instead of passing substantial reform to fix the problem, the US Government has essentially nationalized the economy. Throwing money will not fix the situation, but only make it worse.
Mr. Alexander, I am highly disappointed in your "Yes" vote today. Come time for re-election you will not receive my vote.
See how your senator voted
See how your rep voted
Mr. Congressman, I see that you voted "No" against the original bailout bill that the President and many others on the other side of the isle tried to scare America into accepting.
However, I see you voted "Yes" to the new bill that the Senate passed. The same bill that was laden with millions in earmarks/pork spending.
I am very disappointed in your vote today, as well as all other votes of yes from the Louisiana delegation.
Today, The President of the United States, The US House of Representatives, and the United States Senate showed that the common American is irrelevant. Instead the government has shown that it rather bail out the lobbyists on Wall Street rather than punishing them.
Rather than follow practical principles such as recommended by former Speaker Newt Gingrich, the GOP cowed to the other side to save face, and now myself, my children, and my children's, children will suffer in the long run.
It's nice to know that my tax dollars will now go to keeping corrupt CEO's in their golden thrones, and that I'm helping to pay for wooden arrow tips, and giving tax breaks to Puerto Rican Rum makers and race track owners.
Instead of passing substantial reform to fix the problem, the US Government has essentially nationalized the economy. Throwing money will not fix the situation, but only make it worse.
Mr. Alexander, I am highly disappointed in your "Yes" vote today. Come time for re-election you will not receive my vote.
No Bailout
"A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have."
~Barry Goldwater
Thursday, October 2, 2008
AZ Prop 102
It is vitally important to all of us in the silent majority to protect the sanctity of marriage, in AZ it is prop 102, there may be a similar proposition in your state, please support marriage, and say no to its destruction.
tom
4 short videos that show what has happened and what can happen if marriage isn't protected.
A YES vote on Prop 102 does one thing and one thing only - it defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman in the Arizona Constitution, the highest law in our state. An amendment secures the definition of marriage in Arizona and leaves no interpretation for judges, politicians, or special interest groups.
YESforMarriage.com
http://standformarriage.com/
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Kicked in the Fannie Mae!
watch this video for a lesson on what caused the economic crisis we are in right now, who should be prosecuted or executed for it? It is about 10 mins long but moves pretty quick and is very revealing.
Friday, September 26, 2008
New Presidential Candidate... It's someone we know!
Hi,
There's an effort to elect an unknown random person as President... and it's someone we know! Watch this online video about the surprising new nominee:
Jot back a note to let me know what you think!
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Red Shirt
another email, I will be wearing red on Fridays...
If the red shirt thing is new to you, read below how it went for a man...
Last week, while traveling to Chicago on business, I noticed a Marine sergeant traveling with a folded flag, but did not put two and two together.
After we boarded our flight, I turned to the sergeant, who'd been invited to sit in First Class (across from me), and inquired if he was heading home.
No, he responded.
Heading out I asked?
No. I'm escorting a soldier home.
Going to pick him up?
No. He is with me right now. He was killed in Iraq , I'm taking him home to his family.
The realization of what he had been asked to do hit me like a punch to the gut. It was an honor for him. He told me that, although he didn't know the soldier, he had delivered the news of his passing to the soldier's family and felt as if he knew them after many conversations in so few days.
I turned back to him, extended my hand, and said, Thank you. Thank you for doing what you do so my family and I can do what we do.
Up on landing in Chicago the pilot stopped short of the gate and made the following announcement over the intercom.
'Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to note that we have had the honor of having Sergeant Steeley of the United States Marine Corps join us on this flight. He is escorting a fallen comrade back home to his family. I ask that you please remain in your seats when we open the forward door to allow Sergeant Steeley to deplane and receive his fellow soldier. We will then turn off the seat belt sign.'
Without a sound, all went as requested. I noticed the sergeant saluting the casket as it was brought off the plane, and his action made me realize that I am proud to be an American.
So here's a public Thank You to our military Men and Women for what you do, so we can live the way we do.
Red Fridays.
Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing Red every Friday. The reason? Americans who support our troops used to be called the 'silent majority.' We are no longer silent, and are voicing our love for God, country and home in record breaking numbers. We are not organized, boisterous or overbearing.
Many Americans, like you, me and all our friends, simply want to recognize that the vast majority of America supports our troops. Our idea of showing solidarity and support for our troops with dignity and respect starts this Friday -- and continues each and every Friday until the troops all come home, sending a deafening message that ... every red-blooded American who supports our men and women afar, will wear something red.
By word of mouth, press, TV -- let's make the United States on every Friday a sea of red much like a homecoming football game in the bleachers. If every one of us who loves this country will share this with acquaintances, coworkers, friends, and family, it will not be long before the USA is covered in RED and it will let our troops know the once 'silent' majority is on their side more than e ver, certainly more than the media lets on.
The first thing a soldier says when asked 'What can we do to make things better for you?' is. 'We need your support and your prayers.' Let's get the word out and lead with class and dignity, by example, and wear something red every Friday.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
We Deserve It Dividend
Another e-mail for dear old dad in law... Thanks, Kimball!
Here is an interesting approach…
I'm against the $85,000,000,000.00 bailout of AIG. Instead, I'm in favor of giving $85,000,000,000 to America in a "We Deserve It Dividend".
To make the math simple, let's assume there are 200,000,000 bonafide U.S. Citizens 18+. Our population is about 301,000,000 +/- counting every man, woman and child. So 200,000,000 might be a fair stab at adults 18 and up.. So divide 200 million adults 18+ into $85 billion that equals $425,000.00.
My plan is to give $425,000 to every person 18+ as a "We Deserve It Dividend". Of course, it would NOT be tax free. So let's assume a tax rate of 30%. Every individual 18+ has to pay $127,500.00 in taxes. That sends $25,500,000,000 right back to Uncle Sam.
But it means that every adult 18+ has $297,500.00 in their pocket. A husband and wife has $595,000.00.
What would you do with $297,500.00 to $595,000.00 in your family?
• Pay off your mortgage – housing crisis solved.
• Repay college loans – what a great boost to new grads
• Put away money for college – it'll be there
• Save in a bank – create money to loan to entrepreneurs.
• Buy a new car – create jobs
• Invest in the market – capital drives growth
• Pay for your parent's medical insurance – health care improves
• Enable Deadbeat Dads to come clean – or else
Remember this is for every adult U S Citizen 18+ including the folks who lost their jobs at Lehman Brothers and every other company that is cutting back. And of course, for those serving in our Armed Forces.
If we're going to re-distribute wealth let's really do it....instead of trickling out a puny $1000.00 ( "vote buy" ) economic incentive that is being proposed by one of our candidates for President.
If we're going to do an $85 billion bailout, let's bail out every adult U S Citizen 18+!
As for AIG –
• liquidate it.
• Sell off its parts.
• Let American General go back to being American General.
• Sell off the real estate.
• Let the private sector bargain hunters cut it up and clean it up.
Here's my rationale. We deserve it and AIG doesn't.
Sure it's a crazy idea that can "never work." But can you imagine the Coast-To-Coast Block Party! How do you spell Economic Boom?
I trust my fellow adult Americans to know how to use the $85 billion We deserve the "We Deserve It Dividend" more than the geniuses at AIG or in Washington DC.
And remember, The Family plan only really costs $59.5 billion because $25.5 billion is returned instantly in taxes to Uncle Sam.
Ahhh...I feel so much better getting that off my chest.
Here is an interesting approach…
I'm against the $85,000,000,000.00 bailout of AIG. Instead, I'm in favor of giving $85,000,000,000 to America in a "We Deserve It Dividend".
To make the math simple, let's assume there are 200,000,000 bonafide U.S. Citizens 18+. Our population is about 301,000,000 +/- counting every man, woman and child. So 200,000,000 might be a fair stab at adults 18 and up.. So divide 200 million adults 18+ into $85 billion that equals $425,000.00.
My plan is to give $425,000 to every person 18+ as a "We Deserve It Dividend". Of course, it would NOT be tax free. So let's assume a tax rate of 30%. Every individual 18+ has to pay $127,500.00 in taxes. That sends $25,500,000,000 right back to Uncle Sam.
But it means that every adult 18+ has $297,500.00 in their pocket. A husband and wife has $595,000.00.
What would you do with $297,500.00 to $595,000.00 in your family?
• Pay off your mortgage – housing crisis solved.
• Repay college loans – what a great boost to new grads
• Put away money for college – it'll be there
• Save in a bank – create money to loan to entrepreneurs.
• Buy a new car – create jobs
• Invest in the market – capital drives growth
• Pay for your parent's medical insurance – health care improves
• Enable Deadbeat Dads to come clean – or else
Remember this is for every adult U S Citizen 18+ including the folks who lost their jobs at Lehman Brothers and every other company that is cutting back. And of course, for those serving in our Armed Forces.
If we're going to re-distribute wealth let's really do it....instead of trickling out a puny $1000.00 ( "vote buy" ) economic incentive that is being proposed by one of our candidates for President.
If we're going to do an $85 billion bailout, let's bail out every adult U S Citizen 18+!
As for AIG –
• liquidate it.
• Sell off its parts.
• Let American General go back to being American General.
• Sell off the real estate.
• Let the private sector bargain hunters cut it up and clean it up.
Here's my rationale. We deserve it and AIG doesn't.
Sure it's a crazy idea that can "never work." But can you imagine the Coast-To-Coast Block Party! How do you spell Economic Boom?
I trust my fellow adult Americans to know how to use the $85 billion We deserve the "We Deserve It Dividend" more than the geniuses at AIG or in Washington DC.
And remember, The Family plan only really costs $59.5 billion because $25.5 billion is returned instantly in taxes to Uncle Sam.
Ahhh...I feel so much better getting that off my chest.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Before D.C. Gets Our Money, It Owes Us Some Answers
This article was written by Newt Gingrich and was posted yesterday on National Review Online
It is worth the read.
tom
Before D.C. Gets Our Money, It Owes Us Some Answers [Newt Gingrich]
We are being told Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson has a plan which will shift $700 billion in obligations from private companies to the taxpayer.
We are being warned that this $700 billion bailout is the only answer to a crisis.
We are being reassured that we can trust Secretary Paulson "because he knows what he is doing".
Congress had better ask a lot of questions before it shifts this much burden to the taxpayer and shifts this much power to a Washington bureaucracy.
Imagine that the political balance of power in Washington were different.
If this were a Democratic administration the Republicans in the House and Senate would be demanding answers and would be organizing for a “no” vote.
If a Democratic administration were proposing this plan, Republicans would realize that having Connecticut Democratic senator Chris Dodd (the largest recipient of political funds from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac) as chairman of the Banking Committee guarantees that the Obama-Reid-Pelosi-Paulson plan that will emerge will be much worse as legislation than it started out as the Paulson proposal.
If this were a Democratic proposal, Republicans would remember that the Democrats wrote a grotesque housing bailout bill this summer that paid off their left-wing allies with taxpayer money, which despite its price tag of $300 billion has apparently failed as of last week, and could expect even more damage in this bill.
But because this gigantic power shift to Washington and this avalanche of taxpayer money is being proposed by a Republican administration, the normal conservative voices have been silent or confused.
It’s time to end the silence and clear up the confusion.
Congress has an obligation to protect the taxpayer.
Congress has an obligation to limit the executive branch to the rule of law.
Congress has an obligation to perform oversight.
Congress was designed by the Founding Fathers to move slowly, precisely to avoid the sudden panic of a one-week solution that becomes a 20-year mess.
There are four major questions that have to be answered before Congress adopts a new $700 billion burden for the American taxpayer. On each of these questions, I believe Congress’s answer will be “no” if it slows down long enough to examine the facts.
Question One: Is the current financial crisis the only crisis affecting the economy?
Answer: There are actually multiple crises hurting the economy.
There is an immediate crisis of liquidity on Wall Street.
There is a longer time crisis of a bad energy policy transferring $700 billion a year to foreign countries (so foreign sovereign capital funds are now using our energy payments to buy our companies).
There is a longer term crisis of Sarbanes-Oxley (the last "crisis"-inspired congressional disaster) crippling entrepreneurial start ups, driving public companies private, driving smart business people off public boards, and driving offerings from New York to London.
There is a long term crisis of a high corporate tax rate driving business out of the United States.
No solution to the immediate liquidity crisis should further cripple the American economy for the long run. Instead, the liquidity solution should be designed to strengthen the economy for competition in the world market.
Question Two: Is a big bureaucracy solution the only answer?
Answer: There is a non-bureaucratic solution that would stop the liquidity crisis almost overnight and do it using private capital rather than taxpayer money.
Four reform steps will have capital flowing with no government bureaucracy and no taxpayer burden.
First, suspend the mark-to-market rule which is insanely driving companies to unnecessary bankruptcy. If short selling can be suspended on 799 stocks (an arbitrary number and a warning of the rule by bureaucrats which is coming under the Paulson plan), the mark-to-market rule can be suspended for six months and then replaced with a more accurate three year rolling average mark-to-market.
Second, repeal Sarbanes-Oxley. It failed with Freddy Mac. It failed with Fannie Mae. It failed with Bear Stearns. It failed with Lehman Brothers. It failed with AIG. It is crippling our entrepreneurial economy. I spent three days this week in Silicon Valley. Everyone agreed Sarbanes-Oxley was crippling the economy. One firm told me they would bring more than 20 companies public in the next year if the law was repealed. Its Sarbanes-Oxley’s $3 million per startup annual accounting fee that is keeping these companies private.
Third, match our competitors in China and Singapore by going to a zero capital gains tax. Private capital will flood into Wall Street with zero capital gains and it will come at no cost to the taxpayer. Even if you believe in a static analytical model in which lower capital gains taxes mean lower revenues for the Treasury, a zero capital gains tax costs much less than the Paulson plan. And if you believe in a historic model (as I do), a zero capital gains tax would lead to a dramatic increase in federal revenue through a larger, more competitive and more prosperous economy.
Fourth, immediately pass an “all of the above” energy plan designed to bring home $500 billion of the $700 billion a year we are sending overseas. With that much energy income the American economy would boom and government revenues would grow.
Question Three: Will the Paulson plan be implemented with transparency and oversight?
Answer: Implementation of the Paulson plan is going to be a mess. It is going to be a great opportunity for lobbyists and lawyers to make a lot of money. Who are the financial magicians Paulson is going to hire? Are they from Wall Street? If they’re from Wall Street, aren't they the very people we are saving? And doesn’t that mean that we’re using the taxpayers’ money to hire people to save their friends with even more taxpayer money? Won't this inevitably lead to crony capitalism? Who is going to do oversight? How much transparency is there going to be? We still haven't seen the report which led to bailing out Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. It is "secret". Is our $700 billion going to be spent in "secret" too? In practical terms, will a bill be written in public so people can analyze it? Or will it be written in a closed room by the very people who have been collecting money from the institutions they are now going to use our money to bail out?
Question Four: In two months we will have an election and then there will be a new administration. Is this plan something we want to trust to a post-Paulson Treasury?
Answer: We don’t know who will inherit this plan.
The balance of power on election day will shift to either McCain or Obama. Who will they pick for Treasury Secretary? What will their allies want done? We are about to give the next administration a level of detailed control over big companies on a scale even FDR did not exercise during the Great Depression. Is this really wise?
For these reasons I hope Congress will slow down and have an open debate.
And in the course of that debate, I hope someone will introduce an economic recovery act that makes America a better place to grow jobs. I hope the details will be made public before the vote.
For more details on my action plan for getting the American economy back on track and building long-term economic prosperity, you can read this message recorded yesterday to American Solutions members.
This is a very important week for the integrity of the Congress.
This is a very important week for the future of America.
If Washington wants our money, then it owes us some answers.
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