View from the Black Hole

What shall I do?

2011-02-03T14:49:00.000-08:00

A wet rainy cold (and getting colder) Thursday. No work tomorrow as the complex is closed due to deteriorating weather.
So here I go:
Life hasn't been good lately. I've been depressed since before Thanksgiving. Don't know why, but I'm trying to find out. Chris' dad passed quietly into God's hands on 12/31/2010, so New Year's wasn't all that good. Haven't seen friends in forever, but we did go to Sherrie & David's one Saturday afternoon, even took Max. He loved running around in their back 40.

Work is becoming like a bad dream. I feel like I'm just spinning my wheels. Things that used to be easily approved are now like pulling teeth on a cat. Then to top things off, a co-worker doesn't like hearing about personal info, so she feels she has to inform management that I'm sharing too much "personal" info. She also seems to have a "napoleon" complex-- she has no real "power" but wants everyone in the office to make her life easier-- I don't like being supervised by someone who doesn't hold at least the minimum licenses.

I know quit whining.. at least I have a job.

There is someone who used to work at my company who has managed to mishandle an account but told the client she was "new" to that company-- she's been there over 3 months-- I don't consider that new. She acts innocent when confronted with her own mistakes and feigns ignorance-- but she worked at our company over 25 years; she knows the rules & the procedures that our industry operates under but yet she states that she is new~~~ and according to 2 people who are in a position to know, she "lobbied" against my joining her firm. I hope to see her this weekend so I can tell her what a snake she is & that she isn't a "good" person-- that I have seen & felt her animosity & vindictiveness. And that she will reap what she sows. What comes around, goes around.

I'm hoping my letting my frustration & anger out on this blog will help my attitude. I am seeing my therapist again, if nothing else, to release some of this "crap" from my head.

50 tomorrow

2010-09-30T19:05:00.000-07:00

Okay I guess this will be my shoulder to cry on... and for the next 365 days I'll do my best to write every day.

I'm not sure just how I'm feeling about my 50th birthday. Seems kind of strange.
I never thought I'd make it to 25 much less 40, so with my birthday looming upon me I'm trying to reflect back on the last 47 years..

I can remember making mud-pies in the back yard of Iola; having my foot cut by the lawn mower(according to my sister I was 4 going to be 5); going to Iola thru Tomball to get a "tombalt"(malt); going to town with Papa on Saturday mornings; staying with Mema & Pawpaw out on the river(Brazos); David playing basket ball using a coffee can for a basket; Mema and the pullup quilt square in the living room; Pawpaw's baby blue Dodge Dart, & the white 66 Chevy Impala that he drover after we went to Egypt;

Oh the list is long but I'll post a little everyday...

Don't know what tomorrow will bring, but I'm ready for it. I don't feel 50, but I'm very apprehensive about the next 30 days.

Stated better than me

2010-09-19T22:18:00.000-07:00

As Ezra Klein so elequently put it:

I can assure you, I will be voting Democratic this year, and I'm pretty sure my husband will too.....

Here's a thought about those bees?

2010-09-19T21:42:00.000-07:00

I was sitting outside last night, Saturday, & next to the bench are our recycle bags of aluminum cans & it occurred to me, as I would hope it has to someone else, that:
could the bee colonies be being over indulged in high fructose corn syrup from all the drinks/food/etc. that it is in? and if so could this be a contributing factor to the disappearing colonies? I'm hopeful that someone alot smarter than me has already asked & answered that question.

I'm off tomorrow, but I'm going to be busy---- I need to takt the SRX the dealer re: a little problem, then to Kolh's &/or Dillard's then soneplace else-- i have it written down in my book-- then to meet Renee for lunch at Carrabbas... she turns 50 on Tuesday. Happy Birthday Renee...

I scanned in a bunch of pictures this afternoon & I might post one of me as a profile pic--- at least one that isn't too revealing in my identify..

I haven't read any news so this will be short... at least until I read the weekend scribs posts...

Another Summer, come & gone

2010-09-06T14:18:00.001-07:00

Another summer, come & gone. It hasn't been a very interesting summer-- maybe in political terms, yes, but otherwise, no. The oil spill has been plugged, and the economy as a whole is sputtering, but it has been very quiet.

However, I would like someone to explain to me why I am not an American if:
I believe that our President is legitimate(born in Hawaii);
I'm not as certain as some of who my religious Saviour is;
I think gun control is better than no gun control;
I want the gov't & religious crazies OUT OF MY DOCTORS OFFICE;
I think the current administration is doing a better job than the previous one;
I think that 40% of the "educated" population of this country is stupid, 30% are ignorant & the rest of us can't get a word in edgewise;
I don't think "common sense solutions" will get us out of the current recession;
I think tax breaks for the rich don't work;

I'm an American, just like the other 320 million of us--- and as patriotic as the girl next door, but for the GOP/RNC/TeaParty-ers, et al, to think they have the "traditional" American way of life it presumptuous at best & nazi-like at worst.

Do any of these so-called Republicans realize how far right these people are in their political thinking? A bit further to the right of them is Hitler; and further right of him is Stalin. As good as the GOP/RNC might think they are, the left is better at controlled anarchy. And that is apparently what the "right" wants

We as the "left", and center left, need to get out this November, IN DROVES!

I'm AFRAID to say I am a Democrat!

2010-08-27T18:20:00.000-07:00

And that is a crying shame!! My fellow Americans have become so vitriolic & hateful, I don't think I want to be called an American!! I am ASHAMED OF MY COUNTRY!

I am appalled at the downright guillessness that has become our moral fiber. When did the languange in the Declaration of Independence change? When did the language in the Constitution change? I don't recall that any laws have been passed that restrict any of the Constitutions' Amendments. I don't recall that any "freedoms" have been lost or that our freedom as an American citizen has been unjustly infringed upon. When did terrorists begin to look like the kid down the street--- so firm in his belief in Jesus/Christianity that he will bomb a clinic full of women? or slit the throat of a man who has worked a menial thankless job for 15 years trying to become a citizen?

I am so tired of being ashamed to say that unless the left stands up for ALL, then we will all Hang!!! The right is only interested in profit & uniformity.

I understand the frustration of the right-- they want to make everybody just like them. I believe in some geographic addresses on this globe, that is called communism. Or the right wants everbody to pray just like they do-- that is called socialism. When did the left become scared to call those who are farther right than moderate for what they are--- Anti-American. Anti-freedom loving people. When power corrupts, and it does so Absolutely, it not only creates a power vacuum, that vacuum can lead directly to anarchy.

I don't understand--- so many right and Republican politicians with so many bullseyes on their back and nobody wants to stick their neck out because the economy / jobs are in the crapper.
Which doesn't bode well for the left--- but how did we get here? Why won't any member of Congress stand up and shout, from those hallowed halls... 8 years of gorging ourselves on our own flesh-- so to speak-- is not an easy debt to remove.

Housing is down because unregulated mortgage brokers tricking people into buying a bigger house than they could afford, then sticking the investing public with the bill. The market tanked due to unregulated securities being rated & passed on to government / pensions plans / highnetworth investors as credible investments while the unregulated industry made bets against those investment & then took out insurance on them incase they failed. There were 2 wars, Iraq & Afghanistan, that were NEVER in ANY BUDGET presented to Congress-- so $10 BILLION a month was walking out the door. We had to HAVE No Child Left Behind so the children of this country could learn to not appreciate ANYTHING & hate learning & knowing the value of an education. Oh and let's not forget the Senior population that was completely fucked by a REPUBLICAN congress & president--- the Medicare Part D is a joke. AND NONE OF IT WAS PAID FOR-- There were NO budget cuts-- in fact, looking at most publicly obtainable graphs of the deficit, it grew 3 times faster under a Republican president/congress than under those on the left.

So someone please tell me where I can go to lodge a complaint against a political party? I have never in my life been more ashamed to say I am a Democrat. I am a responsible hard working middle class American. I strive, work, toil, for just a little bit better than I was given-- if not for myself, then I owe it to those who came before me. I strive, work, toil to give those who will come after just a little bit more that I had. There is NOTHING written in our beloved Documents that says I have to be Christian, or believe in Jesus, or that I can be hateful to ALL except those who look like me. Wars have been started over lesser injustices and more important causes.

I can't believe the generation that I grew up thinking I knew have now become so narrow minded, short sighted, intolerant, & repubnant that I don't even want to be part of the generation to which I used to be think was the end of the Baby Boom. The part of those who were given extra ordinary opportunities to understand the world as our parents had not. Were given the seeds of inquisitiveness that grew to giant ideas. Were given the freedom from the drudgery of the mundane. Were given these tools & look what we have done with them?

Overindulged our lives & those of the children in Generation X, Y, Next, etc. Became so enamored of material wealth as well as debt that we forgot how to make a product, and make it well. The current indulgence of bigotry has let down those who fought & died for the freedom of ALL Americans, not just those who look like the membership list of Augusta National.

I ask again, Where are those Americans who wanted more of this American dream for ALL Americans? I haven't seen them lately. I have seen a group of people masquerading about, inciting fear & hatred, requiring adherence to "their" way of the American Dream-- and I have seen no one stand up against it. No one seems to want to put their neck out for fear of losing their seat in Congress. Well, my fellow Americans---

It's time to put our foot down. It is time to stand up against the Tyranny of Conservatism. The Bombastic Takeover of The People. There is no one so dispicable as someone who would mistrust his fellow citizen so much as to command that each citizen look like him. We are not, and we should not be cowed into these positions by people who, for the sake of fear, bigotry, & purgatory, are so morally & intellectually corrupt, they would be shot as seditionists in other countries. We've become a nation of consumers, not citizens, and until We The People are fed up with Them the Corporations, we are a nation that is almost lost. Our Country needs us.

What A Week

2010-02-19T20:49:00.000-08:00

Gee, I'm glad it's Friday night. I have just about had it with the rest of humanity. How we can do what we do to EACH OTHER & then call ourselves human?? just boggles the mind---- Stupidity can run rampant and in places one wouldn't expect it to...

Chris is on the couch asleep and I'm not far behind. It was a tough day at work and then the truck broke down--- thank goodness I wasn't going 70 on the IH10.

Going to try to get some more accomplished on my taxes tomorrow and go to the driving range, then maybe to get some gumbo from the GH gumbo sale.

Good night----------------- and good luck.

A little bit of everything

2010-02-14T10:21:00.001-08:00

Good Afternoon, February 14, 2010!
Happy Valentine's Day!
Haven't paid much attention to writing, because ... I can make excuses from here to eternity but it will not cover the fact that I've been extremely lazy on this front----- and several others. I've let my frustration/guilt/anger/opinion/selfishness/ego/etc. get in the way of things I need to be doing to help me & make my life easier & healthier.

I need to start getting up on a more regular basis & working out, however, since the weather will be getting a touch better & it is staying lighter later, I think Chris & I will start walking in the evenings. He isn't working so I'm sure that the added stress that brings to my psyche isn't helping my insomnia at all. I know I know--- ME ME ME!!! Well yes... ME ME ME!!!

We are going to Cancun in 2 weeks so maybe a week away from work & having some spa treatments & afternoons by the beach will help me get my attitude in shape---- I'm also seeing my therapist again starting next week, & I know she's going to tell me to start writing in my journal again & I should be doing it ---

Now, about these political mechanation that seem to be going on in Washington. Shouldn't take long---
Where were the folks that are NOW screaming about a budget deficit when Dick Cheney stated " Deficits don't matter".... & where were they when this country was spending $10Billion a month on a war---OFF THE BOOKS?

I'm glad we have a deficit as high as it is--- I want each & every Republican to pay MORE than his fair share of taxes considering the RNC/GOP participants have received more than their fair share of representation without taxation!!! They conservative side of the aisle has been more than represented on my tax dollar.

Where are all the 'bailout" haters when their RNC/GOP representatives were stripping regulations that prevent that sort of thing from our laws? If there had been no government intervention, how would that free enterprisey, no governmenty thing be working for ya? Not so good I'd think.

Where were the National Security freaks when it was okay for a man who has no Military experience to be our Commander in Chief if he is a republican, but not okay if he's a democrat?
Where are the horse's butts that said the senate needed to have 60 votes to pass anything, but when the RNC/GOP were in control of at least 2 of the 3 branches of government, the only thing that was needed was 51 votes? Not even reconciliation, just 51 votes?

We, the citizenry of this country, the middle class, used to be smart about our representatives; we paid attention to what they did for our districts. It seems now that our representative are only concerned about the COMPANY/CORPORATION/PAC that can contribute the most $$$ to his/her coffers. I know that I've read the Constitution do believe it starts out,
We, the People, in order to form a more perfect union establish justice, insure domestic tranquility provide for the COMMON good promotes the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity....

Please someone show me where in the rest of the Constitution does it give a Company more influence than me????.........
I don't know, & correct me if I'm wrong but where in the FUCK in that sentence does it say ANYTHING about business??????? Business should not have ANY say in government-- Don't our elected officials get "the best healthcare in the world" & a salary that comes with 5 or 6 raises per year, a starting salary of, at minimum $135,000/year? Is there ANYBODY out there that wouldn't jump at a chance to apply for that job? Maybe that's what it should come to, our Representatives have to be apply to be a candidate--- & no campaign crap---- we have to make an effort to find & interact with them? But there shouldn't be corporate infusions of cash for one candidate over another--- that's just wrong.

And now that the SCOTUS has ruled that Corporations are entitle to the 1st amendment, then when will they start paying the progressive tax that hits all individual Americans? I think I need to write a letter to the IRS? and What about those TAX-EXEMPT entities (churches, civic organizations), now that they can incorporate themselves to exert THEIR right to free speech, when will they start paying Individual taxes on their income?

Am I being obtuse??????????

I realize that 350 million citizens will all have a different view of what this country needs, but wasn't the goal of the Founding Fathers (& NO Myka Brzynski, Abraham Lincoln, was NOT a founding father) that the Majority of both Houses were the governing body & the minority, although listened to for ideas, were just that the MINORITY!!

I'm just saying......

Well, the Olympics are on, & they have been okay so far, it's only the 2nd day--- I'm for watching them!! They remind me of the ones we watched overseas--- Adelaide, Taiwan, Indonesia, New Zealand

I need to get busy & start some spring cleaning-- however, ====== here we go with the procrastination crap again.... I do need to get Chris to get go get prices for our flooring, or go get an estimate from measurements he's taken.. or do what ever it is that men do when they go to replace a floor.... I am going to be getting some boxes from work to store bookshelf items, etc. we are also looking at getting rid of the furniture & getting 2 recliners & a small loveseat, & i need to have the kitchen table repaired... Can someone give me the numbers to the lottery??? LOL LOL LOL no... we need to have new floor(we still aren't together on which kind)...

Work, well, is work. yada yada yada yada yada yada ---- just glad to have a paycheck & health benefits.
But that is part of my frustration/stress/etc.... I need to write down my troubles at work, not blow off that steam where SOMEONE I work with might see it.

Family is good, mostly healthy, & mostly with gainful employment. I try to keep my distance because of my guilt & I know it is unfounded but I feel IT now & then.. very subtle & nothing overt, but just under the surface-- & for the most part, I visit that feeling on myself EVERY DAY!! Maybe my visit with Carole will help... or else she can refer me out further--

I've rambled on long enough--- sorry about not updating this sooner....

Guess I don't "get" it..

2009-05-29T19:09:00.001-07:00

I have a problem with the Consservative movement.

Apparently if my nephew and his partner want to get married, it in someway threatens the marriage of people who are Christian, conservative and, if you look at the RNC these days, white.
I'm a bit taken back --- If you don't believe, view, see, live, recreate and otherwise, ARE them, then you are the enemy and shouldn't call yourself an American. And someone said that if I and my husband, chose NOT to procreate, then there is something psychologically or physically wrong with us. Where is this small mindedness in America come from?

I thought when we were growing up, we were accepting of others, that judging someone else by your own standards isn't how you measure their worth. Where did that go? Where are those people? Because I sure don't know ANY of these yahoo's running the RNC or the conservative movement.

And who the hell is a white man to be able to rule on how I make decisions with my Dr. on what procedures are best for my health? Who the hell are 9 white men to be able to tell me, or any woman for that matter, what we can and cannot do with our bodies? It's none of their business....

I'm just really sad that the RNC and modern conservatism have left the building----
and we are all the better off for it!!!

2009-04-24T21:06:00.000-07:00

April 24, 2009

It's been a while, and while there isn't much to say (which once I get to typing it will be alot :-) it's not that I didn't want to come rant & rave and inform and just blow some steam, I just didn't have the energy to do it. But I could play spades on Friday night -- till 2 AM, but update a small blog-- no way.... Enough with the excuses.

So, our President is getting it from all sides -- right, left & middle. At least he's honest enough with my conscience (and apparently 63% of the country) to have the wherewithall to have NOT thought through (or at least approached) these scenarios-- I think he gave a speech about how the derivatives market was shaky, and that co's really didn't have their "risk" spread around like their balance sheet said that it was. I just can't believe that President Obama wouldn't have put 2 and 2 together. But I could be wrong. I just think he a better class of politician than most of America is used to seeing.

On to other things--- the dog is growing -- I'll post pics in a couple of days. He wants to bite everything so i figure his back teeth are pushing thru. He's fun to greet in the afternoon, although I've only beating Chris home once. So I'm sure Chris and Max greet each other.

Have played a couple of rounds of golf, and then got to play at Sunset Grove CC, in Orange. The tee boxes are to die for.... they are picnic grass. Oh! I did chip a ball in for bogey the other day. First time I've done that. I have a good straight ball from the tee, it just doesn't go very far. I'm proud of my 108, what can I say. I played with Cathead & Faceboy one morning and although I had several incidents while in 3 of the tee boxes, Cathead said I shot a 99! But I'm not holding my breath.
I like my 108--only 2 stroke per hole off of what the pro's shoot!...
It's fun & although we do get a cart, I do some of the walking.

Speaking of walking, if I'd get my butt up with Chris in the morning & go out to the poolroom and do some upper body strengthening, I could probably make the ball go a little further. Walking the dog 3x a week doesn't seem to be cutting it --- we do go a bit further and further each time. But there are some pretty mean dogs around on the other block---
and down the street for that matter. But none have tried to harm anybody, just alot of barking-- I think maybe that Chris & I may start walking around the block in the evenings-- it's a mile all the way around... then get here and walk the dog his 1/2 mile. hmmmm velly velly intellesting.!!!

I guess I'm going to a 31st class reunion of JES/JIS. In Houston, mid summer, and it should be fun. Went to one several years ago, and although I got drunk and embarressed myself, then had to get up and go meet friends for breakfast, and stayed in room most of day/evening, it was still good to see everybody. I had to quit drinking--- I quit smoking, and although, technically speaking, I do like a Gudang (Djarum Original) now and then, I have given up traditional tobacco cigarettes--- after smoking nearly 35 years--- I have extra money--

I went to mothe- okay Iola Easter Sunday to put out fresh spring flowers-- kinda cheesy, but at least they match and look nice--- I still haven't been able to find a shepards hook. The house is gone! The two Live Oak trees in the back are gone as are all the Chinaberry and Cedar's. I really had to cry about that only because, Mother & I planted one Christmas morning for daddy. And it really did grow the tallest!. But that's just my memory going down a road that diverges into a yellow wood---->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
The Hackberry in front is still there and so are the two Live Oaks out at the end, but otherwise it doesn't look like "home" anymore---------- I hate it when I cry!! and it's raining!!

Haven't spoken to sister or brother a whole lot since the sale, but I'm sure they have their own problems. I'm working on getting brother paid off for Josh's truck. I don't know that he "needs" but I'm sure he could use it--- and with Chris working it should be even easier. Anyway---------- I guess I've come of age, I joined facebook. LOL I just think of all the crap that we now have that would have come in handy 30 years ago. Hey where were all these nerds then anyway? (sitting next to us in Chem, Bio, English, Calc I, II, III...LOL LOL
Cat and dog are getting too wound up for nearly midnight----
back in a few

okay where were we-? oh it's Friday night, raining, the dog has awakened to find the ZigZag in the room & proceeded to bark, so he got put in puppy jail. But it's not like it's outside in the rain. He can see me, and he has food & water & toys and the bed room so he's spoiled and I can tell you with a straight face- He know exactly what he's being told to do!!!
Chris just got up. I guess the thunder was kinda of loud.

Haven't heard from anybody in the family, so I'm going to presume that all is okay with everybody. Which it probably isn't, because I'm usually the last to know--- well, hmm, that's real comforting isn't it?? NM----- Chris & I have lost some friends to the Grim Reaper of late, which gets us laughing about how old we've become. But it's sad to see these people gone--- they made the world a little different (some for better some for worse) just by being here... but they were still considered friends!!! And still are!!!

Let us hear from ya'll....
the blackholeofcalcutta

Another Year

2009-01-03T13:13:00.000-08:00

It has been a while since I last posted... Not that anything earth shattering has occurred, but there have been several things that have gone on.....

The economy has tanked, and for my 2 cents there is enough blame on what / why the economy has tanked to go around. I just hope that cooler heads prevail when trying to get "us" back on track and out of debt ----

Chris is back to work, however, with the economy like it is, he may not have a job for long -- I'm trying to sock away $$ for those "rainy" days that I know are coming, I just don't have the crystal ball to tell me when they will get here....

Kevin & I have come the to decision/agreement that we will sell "iola" to the Iola Independent School District. I did not come to this decision lightly; emotionally I don't want to sell Iola:

My earliest memory is making mud pies in the old drive way ---

Daddy's fingers being cut off by the lawn mower,

Rikki, MeMe's bird,

Papa taking us to town on saturday morning

Swimming in the stock pond

Mother moving up there after Daddy died --

me moving there with mother in '90

then again in '99-'00 -- I love going up there --- and I need to make it a point to go up on Nov. 5 and Mar 12, May 1, May 30, and June 30

I would like to buy some small acreage up there and build a small house ( large den, kitchen, bath, bedroom, study --- but that will come later --- I am sorry that we didn't keep it -- I would have liked to have retired up there on that piece of property --- and if I think about this too long I feel so guilty about selling it --- I realize that when Papa and Miss Emma bought the place they never thought that it would be considered "in town" ---

Some where along about Thanksgiving, I made the decision to purchase a dachshund -- I bought a little black & tan male --- his name with the AKC is "Maxwell Smart Turner" --

best picture i can get right now, but he's so cute... 2nd set of shots yesterday (1/2/09) --

All for now...

I have voted

2008-10-29T15:59:00.000-07:00

and my father would be so proud --- I have voted for change!! For the future!! We are moving to a global economy-- we have to move to a "new" way of doing things. A global thinker ---
and I think Mr. Obama is that choice.
He is proud to be an American!! He wants us to do well, ALL of US, WE THE PEOPLE.
When was the last time a presidential candidate was concerned for WE THE PEOPLE?
I'm very very impressed with this man. I think that he has a vision that, I for one, want to help build and be part of that vision - future, whatever you want to call it.

I believe that he will get Congress working together--- that is what we need. A President can't do it all unless he has a Congress that works together -- and they way these Republicans are acting, you'd think Kruschev was running for president. The way they run about, worse than Chicken Little.

Just to reiterate: Vote---- I don't care who, but in my humble opinion, we need Change. And Change is what Mr. Barack Obama will bring. And he will make us a PROUD country again. And make us proud to be WE THE PEOPLE.
I'm not sure what this 30minute talk will do for him, but so far it has been interesting.

We The People?

2008-10-20T15:20:00.001-07:00

I think what we are seeing in the political/business landscape is the American Voting Public has seen the "crap" that has been voted into Congress/State Legislature, and has figured out the most of what they have put into watching out for "We The People"s government are incompetent, ideologically-driven, Evangelical conservatives that have no earthly clue what a conservative is. If you agree with my point of view, then you are with me, if you disagree with my point of view you are against me.
I am hoping that the moderate Republican base, if you can call it that, will fracture from the hard right republican base; as will the moderate Democrats, and form a 3rd party--- so that the evangelicals are on their own. A true conservative party. And a true Theocracy party-- at least then when you vote on what a Congressman/woman stands for, you don't have to wonder if they have a ulterior agenda to push --- like, their religious beliefs into my religious philosophy. What part of the Constitution allows them to do that? and for that matter, what part of the Constitution gives conservatives/moderates/liberals the right to meddle in my Doctor visits? Especially if they are MEN? But I digress...
William F. Buckley was a great conservative; but he had little use for the uneducated and those that didn't believe in inquiring of their world. To be given propaganda without research was abhorrent to him. I'm GLAD Chris Buckley left NRO -- it will be nice to read his prose without all the other crap one has to wade thru to read it.

The Republican party has left all of us that want smaller government, less taxes, less regulation, and handed us over to the bible-beating theocracy conservatives that want to divide this nation-- if you don't believe/look like I do, then you aren't an American. What xenophobic, inflamatory rhetoric. Isn't religious freedom the reason that the pilgrims CAME to the new world? Did they not want the freedom to praise God in the way they wanted? And these so=called Christians now condemn anybody that doesn't believe in the 2nd coming? That's not Christianity, that's Racism!

It's starting to hit home

2008-10-16T18:17:00.000-07:00

After last night's performance of Senator Obama, my husband is convinced that he is the best choice for the job. He is only just recently registered to vote, and will go and vote early --
I've told him that due to the local and state races, he just needs to walk in there and vote a straight Democratic ticket.

The Pot Calling the Kettle Black?......

2008-10-10T18:06:00.001-07:00

When are the Obama/Biden ticket going to respond to some of these attacks regarding the William Ayers fiasco, and mention the Alaska Independent Party membership of Sarah Palin?
I can't believe that NO ONE on MSM outlets has even brought this up to Shannangan, Limpaugh, Dickie, Frum, even George Will. This "party" leader has said even worse things about this country than anything I heard out of Rev. Wright's mouth.

The rumor and innuendo that the McCain/Palin ticket that has been spouted from them in recent days is nothing compared to what this A.I.P. wants to do... and for our Vice-Presidential candidate to be a member or at the very least make a welcoming video to their convention and to 'Keep Up the Good Work". I understand not wanting to get down in the mud and slug it out, it is a breath of fresh air in the midst of complete chaos. It is just beyond the scope of ...... understanding that whatever motivation caused John McCain to pick Gov. Palin, but whatever it was, it wasn't the correct choice.

This is a woman who couldn't name ONE public or private scribing that she reads-- "oh any of 'em, all of em that have been put in front of me all these years" doesn't sound like she reads anything that has at least anything of value to pass on; this is a woman who has been found to have abused her power as Governor of Alaska; this is a woman who wants to give her daughter a choice about her pregnancy, but doesn't believe in abortion in any form-- some choice; this is a woman who, along with her husband, were members of the Alaska Independence Party. see this link, as well as google it..... here....
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&fkt=1875&fsdt=8234&q=alaska+independence+party&aq=1&oq=alaska+indepen

and here....

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/10/10/palin_chryson/

so let's get some perspective here ===>

As for Mr. Obama, well I'm not real fond of his name either, but I've done enough reading and researching that I know the man IS NOT:
a muslim, unpatriotic, a terrorist, .... or any of the horrible names/labels Barack Obama has been called....he's probably one of the most honest people we will ever have the good fortune see in politics if/when history shows us this.
I work around Republicans and they believe the pap that spews unanswered from Shenanagan & Co. It's just amazing -- one person had the audacity to tell me that the "left" was up in arms because Obama had been introduced as Barack Hussein Obama -- I had to correct him-- the "left" was upset about his name, but the man being at a Political rally in uniform is a BIG BIG BIG NO-NO!! That's what the left is upset about....

C'mon we need to put some lipstick on this bulldog and show her what being in the real world is all about. She doesn't have a clue about the world and probably doesn't want to have anything to do with news beyond the end of her driveway.

I didn't respect the Texas GOP when they let GWB buy his way into the Gov. Mansion, and I didn't respect the American Voting Public (We The People) when they voted GWB as President TWICE, and I don't respect the RNC/GOP now. Not with the way that they have held the rest of the country hostage at the expense of the country.

Stupidity First

2008-10-02T02:49:00.000-07:00

Well, here it is Thursday morning at 4:50AM... anybody else up?
So here comes my humble opinion rant about the current state of ... I would say the nation, but everybody I know has already weighed in on that subject, but I'm gonna give it a try----

The presidential race has hit a new low----
with the most most stupid (ignorance can be cured; stupidity is forever) woman on the planet in line for the most powerful job in the world, there is no excuse for the Republican candidate for president's pick for vice-president. She isn't fit to run the city of Wasilla, AK, much less the state of AK. Wait, from what I hear about the "goofs" that live up there, let's force her back on to them and then see where she goes. I think most of them have been embarassed by her, but since the hole up in there hovels for almost 9 months of the year, I wouldn't doubt that 90% of the population haven't even heard of her. Most of the nuts that live up there are so far right that they should get this stupid woman back.... Let her be their problem, not ours.
Her answers---- wait, most of the crap she answered Katie Couric with weren't even coherent.
The gov didn't even have enough synap process to tell us the things she reads to keep up with current events, and most of the rightwingnuts say it was a "Gotcha Moment". If she can't even come with her own states newspaper, what does that say about her intelligence. 0, nada, zip, nothing. I wonder if Katie can here her brain rattle when she shakes her head.
C'mon you republican moderates, do you really want the rest of the nation, and the world for that fact to think you are REALLY that stupid? As I said, ingnorance can be cured, but stupidity is forever!!!!
And how can she say in the same sentence that R v W should be left to the states but that she's a Federalist? Those are two opposite views of the democracy that, as far as I can ascertain, aren't usually considered to be even in the same galaxy.

As for the bail-out mess, this is a bunch of crap... since the rethuglicans weren't going to pass this bill unless they were rewarded, and the autodems just went along. The porkbarrel spending that had to be put into it in order to get the rightwingnuts to vote for it should prove once and for all that the GOP base isn't worth the money that we spend on it. They withhold their votes until they get their way... hmmm sounds like something a six-year old child would do when they can't have the candy at the checkout line in the supermarket.
And they blame a "partisan" speech by Nancy Pelosi as their reason for not voting for it. What a LOAD of bullshit. The rethuglicans won't vote for a bill to get our economy unless their constituents get a buttload of this cash; sounds like hostage negotiations to me--- and according to our current administration isn't that considered domestic terrorism?

I'm appalled that the American Voting public can be held hostage/bamboozeled/hoodwinked by the selfish and childish acts of several far rightwing jackasses. These people ought to be run out of town on a rail.

And what is this crap about pastors having a Sunday service where they openly endorse the McStupid show? The IRS needs to be investigating these churches and pull their NPO status so fast it makes the Indy 500 look like a turtle race. Do they not understand that there is a SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE? And just to be clear, there is NO RIGHT TO PRIVACY language in the Constitution. No where in that document does it say that we have a right to privacy.

America, WAKE UP, because according to the rest of the world, we are a laughing stock.

This is a joke, right?

2008-09-04T16:11:00.000-07:00

If it isn't, we need to put some lipstick on this pig and run it up the flagpole.
I have tried to reconcile that I WANT to vote for a woman, but this woman? I have some problems:
She seems to be one of those women that --- well, there was a movie about them-- oh, Stepford Wives-esque. I can't quite put my finger on it, but something is amiss.

Her speech last night didn't impress me. She didn't say ANYTHING about the issues, but she sure told me what EVERY OTHER politician has said: I'm not going up there to make friends I'm going to work for the people of America. yeah right!! she might can talk the talk but can she walk the walk?

And my husband said that the plane she sold on ebay, well she didn't sell it on ebay, it was bought OUTSIDE of an ebay transaction, and that she LOST 1MILLION DOLLARS on the deal. Doesn't sound like a fiscally responsible governor---- wouldn't it have been more if she had had it disassebled and sold for scrap? did she talk to sir richard about buying it? hmm...

Like I said, the best thing she said, was at the beginning when she talked about being an advocate for special needs children. That is the ONLY thing that impressed me

Is this the BEST they can do? McCain/Palin? What a Joke!

2008-09-02T10:08:00.000-07:00

Okay, I'm all for a woman in our Executive Branch of government, but as an undecided voter, although I voted for Hillary in the Texas Primary, I am not enthused with the pick that has come from the Republican party.
She hasn't really done anything for Alaska (I have friends that work up there 7 months of each year) as far as bringing in jobs and strengthening their economy.
I'm inclined to read all I can before making up my mind but several things come to mind:
1) She is against a woman's CHOICE re: terminating a pregnancy. This is MY choice to be made intelligently, and with the information given by my doctor to terminate. Not a decision to be forced upon me by some rootin', tootin, shootin' resident of our 49th state.
2) Her response to questions re: troopergate require her(the state) to hire an attorney to defend her.
3) I'm all for giving WE THE PEOPLE all information, and as such, some sort of "theology" basics should be taught in school; our educational institutions should NOT exclude theology in its curriculum, but neither should theology be the ONLY course taught.
4) Her response to questions re: troops in Iraq is a joke.
5) She had to get a passport because she had never been outside the U.S. until AFTER she became Governor.

I'm not impressed with her. And as someone who is TRULY an undecided voter, this pick doesn't show me that John McCain has the judgement to be trusted with my vote. I want to believe that the Republicans when they tell me what they stand for. http://www.gop.com/pdf/PlatformFINAL_WithCover.pdf

It seems kinda like when my parents would say "Don't do as I do, do as I SAY do".
Moral vs. Political Philosophy is an easy one. The Moral Philosophy stays within my home and family and to some extent my community, but the Political Philosophy has a larger impact, State / National. What is right for my community in southeast texas, may not be necessarily right for downtown Detroit, small town Iowa, manufacturing PA, or leisurely CA.
We all want smaller government, but we want our government to be responsible for us, not the other way around.

I can't believe that the Republican National Committee wants the conservative base so badly that it will sacrifice the political life of John McCain to even allow this to go forward. I saw a picture of the McCain/Palin ticket, and it remined me of Anna Nicole Smith sitting beside her late husband. It was kinda porny watching the two of them up on a stage. Her moral compass may cater to the religious right, but if I'm the kind of undecided voter the Republicans are trying to win over with this pick, then they have seriously underestimated my intelligence and my "political philosophy".

I am going to watch her speech at the convention and then I'll post more, but her opposition to abortion is the first black strike against her.

Crap from the front

2008-08-15T17:56:00.000-07:00

Okay, I've just seen the crap from mcmaverick on how he's going to make the country safe!! Like he's capable.... and Mr. Obama hasn't impressed me one iota.... articulate and polished yes, but can he lead?
If this is all we as a voting public can come up with, then we are in sad sad shape.

And why aren't we concerned about tax increases under mccain? we are going to have to pay for the way we have been living---- on a credit card, and when our debt holders come knocking on our door wanting their principle back, we are going to be up the proverbial creek in a barbed wire canoe. And with our sinking $, they are going to want it in GOLD!!! I am hoping I'm wrong but sooner or later, we are going to have to pay the piper for the debt we've gotten ourselves into.

And what is wrong with socialized medicine? The rest of the world has it and they are healthier, wealthier, and mostly wiser than we are. Aren't Medicare and Medicaid socialized medicine?
We would do better if doctors and insurance companies didn't get in the way of health care. It's a shame that we have such a poor way of taking care of ourselves.

Olympic Opening Ceremony

2008-08-10T18:34:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I'm 2 days late and about $400 short, but they seemed to be wonderful... I like it that the parade of nations isn't the same old boring ABC..... It shows that the at least 1/3 of the world doesn't run on Western Civilization theories.... and have survived for over 5000 years. Where was Western Civilization when paper was being invented? or printing?

And I thought it particularly crass that one of the 3 commentators, I think it was Matt Lauer, said "... the non-sensical way the parade.." It may not make any sense to him, but to at least 1.3 BILLION other people on the earth, it made perfect sense. Even "the West" when all populations are added up, can't compete with 1.3 BILLION. And to have been around for 5000 years. How presumptuous!!!

2008-07-17T18:44:00.000-07:00

I can't believe Sean Hannity, but gee whiz, .....

To wit:

John McCain once said "I wasn't proud of my country until i was deprived of it's freedom.

There are times i haven't been proud of the U.S. but I've always been PROUD to be an American. And to call into question, the way PERSONAL way in which each of us is proud of our country is not in good taste. Alan, you need to offer Senator Obama to come on and take H's place.... You are much better prepared.

My Little Rant!!!

2008-07-11T15:13:00.000-07:00

I'm just tired of the 'American Public' walking around in a fog. When did the U.S.ofA. get appointed as ... well.... anything? I'm as patriotic as the next guy, & even cry when our National Anthem is played--I grew up overseas, so I know the value of my citizenship-- but what I have yet to understand is the stupidity that runs rampant in the country. And we don't just get it from our prez, we get it from the right, we get it from the left, and certainly the center of both.
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I'm just tired of the 'American Public' walking around in a fog. When did the U.S.ofA. get appointed as ... well.... anything? I'm as patriotic as the next guy, & even cry when our National Anthem is played--I grew up overseas, so I know the value of my citizenship-- but what I have yet to understand is the stupidity that runs rampant in the country. And we don't just get it from our prez, we get it from the right, we get it from the left, and certainly the center of both.
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cheapsweater's diary :: ::
Oil - What makes the US public believe that drilling for oil will reduce the price of gas? We already don't have the refining capacity for the oil that we import now. and the oil we drill for now, especially if we have to go explore for it, won't hit the pumps for, depending on whom you ask, 3 - 10 years. We as a consumer society are going to have to take some responsibility for the energy mess--- (no matter how much we want to lay the blame on Dick Cheney) --- Americans want to blame big oil, or the environmentalists, or the government or even the speculators. Ladies & Gents, this mess should be laid squarely at the feet of the American Public. This country has been digging this hole for 30 years, why do we think we can crawl out of it overnight. Amurika will have to get used to the fact that the rest of the world doesn't give a fuck about the price of oil/gas in this country--- they've been paying these prices for years!! Get over it!!! It's not going to EVER be at $2.00 again.
The Housing Market - So if I go out and buy a house I can't afford the payments on, and nobody at the mortgage company checks into my credit/income, will you as the taxpayers come bail me out? Well that's tantamount to what is happening -- They wanted these MacHouses, let them rot in them. It's not the government's responsibility (i.e. MY TAX DOLLARS)to bail out homeowners and lenders who ignored rules for the almighty $. Where are the mortgage company employees that approved these loans? They should be criminally liable, as well as the Board of Directors of some of these companies. This is corporate greed mating with lobbyists who are secretly having congress 'slip it to the public'.
Lobbyists-- these people should be required to GET REAL JOBS!!! And--back to the American Voting Public-- we should be required to flog ourselves for letting our elected officials even be in the same city as these people. ----- LET'S NOT EVEN GO HERE======> I'm still amazed that Nancy Pelosi didn't BITCH SLAP TOM DELAY at Reagan's funeral. She should have hauled off and hit him so hard, he would make a dent in the granite.
Golden Parachutes - Congress wants to limit everything except the 'golden parachutes' that the CEO's of failing companies are getting. There should be a cap on the amount of compensation corporate upper management can receive -- some companies owe or will owe their CEO/CFO/COO execs more $ than their balance sheet shows they have. And it's the actual non management employee that is hurt by these outrageous packages. Speaking of Golden Parachutes --- the American voting public decided to place term limits on the election of the President, why don't we try that with the Members of Congress -- 2 terms in House, 2 terms in Senate, then out. AND WITHOUT ALL THESE PERKS THAT SEEM TO GO ON FOREVER!! No lifetime income, no lifetime medical, no Federal Lifetime Pension --- I'd be willing to bet the farm that the American Voting Public would get some legislation pushed thru, and without all the porkbarrel spending that gets secreted into a bill.
ABORTION, CHRISTIANITY & CONGRESS ---I want to know who the fuck gave congress the right to interject itself into what should be dr./patient privilege? AND YOU MEN are just as much to blame.... ooh nooo don't abort the pregnancy i wanna be a daddy, but where the fuck are you for most of the childs life... at the titty bar!!!????? The anti-abortionist movement should be held to their so-called "beliefs". If it is a child, not a choice as they seem so fond of reminding everyone, then they need to be the ones to step up to young women having this procedure and say, I'll take care of you for 9 months, then I will adopt the baby". I'd bet that hasn't happened. It is my medical history, my conversation with MY DOCTOR. if they want to dictate what medical procedures I can or cannot have, then the socalled "Christians" need to be stepping up to the plate and paying for those procedures they want to regulate. Seems to me they are hypocrites of the highest order: You can't do what you want with your body but don't get us involved, it's Jesus word". I'm so tired of intolerant Christians. If you aren't going to be part of the solution, shut the fuck up and get the hell out of the way of those of us trying to solve real problems. And sorry folks, I just don't think "WWJD" is a good way to resolve real world problems. Jesus was only a prophet when viewed from other religions.
Voting -- What's wrong with the American Voting Public? Have we lost our ever-lovin' mind? We would rather sit on our collective butt and vote on some goofy TV Show that isn't good anyway, but oh no, I can't make it to the voting booth on Election day because... well you pick the excuse, I've heard it. When voting is made compulsory, we might see a change in the way the government is run, but until that time, we as a country are in for a very long very hard fall.
Liberal/Conservative - Why is that liberals want to include EVERYBODY and Conservitives want to exclude everyone but WASP's? And this crap about liberals not wanting smaller government... hell, we all want a smaller governement, but until our current policital system is re-vamped/overhauled/constituted/invented/ we are going to be stuck with this quagmire we call a government. I know of countries in Europe who vote out selfish politicians --- and we let them sit in our Congress for years.... riding roughshod over ALL of us.
Economy -- don't get me started? Who do we think is going to pay our Chinese/Japanese --- wait... How do we think we are going to pay our Chinese/Japanese creditors, when the come knocking on our Treasury door wanting their principal from all the U.S. Treasury obligations they've purchased? We seem to think, just like the White House does, that if we don't open the bill, we won't have to pay it. Where did we get that idea? Oh, if the prez can do it, then why can't the amurikan publik? As stupid as we as a collective have become, I am amazed our Eastern Hemisphere friends haven't already knocked at the door, but just wait, when they do, we our economy will melt faster than butter in a microwave. And we have NOTHING and NO ONE to blame but ourselves.
Election - I think we should all write in Warren Buffet (or any other captain of industry) as they could probably do a better job of bamboozling us than the current two..... one, everytime he comes on TV I think he's dead, and someone has their hand up his ass making his lips move, and the other... I can't believe that he seems to be moving more and more RIGHT than staying in the middle which is where he was when I Voted for him. We would do better to stay home--- oh wait we already are... and we think voting on a TV is so "cool" but when our lives are effected and affected by getting to a voting booth on election day we can't be bothered. People, I think we should just hang a sign on the USofA -- Can't be bothered to participate. Come another time!
Memin Penguin -- What is going on in Houston? I don't see ANYTHING racist, belittling or degrading about a cartoon character. In fact, I have more respect for the characters in the comic book than I do for most of the African Americans I see protesting this crap. Does that tell you something about a cartoon character? And who the fuck are we to tell another sovriegn nation what it should or should not have a s a CARTOON CHARACTER????? It's okay for a young african american to call my gender ---'ho, cunt, bitch, slit -- but a cartoon character that does good, and helps out and has a sense of integrity is racist? People, ignorance can be cured... STUPIDITY is FOREVER!!!!
The Death Penalty -- should be carried out within 30 days of being handed down. Our CJ system is predicated on the principal that it is better to kill 9 guilty men so that 1 innocent man can go free. When did the guilty become so God-damned important. They are the ones that commited the crime, and a jury of their peers found them guilty. And one doesn't get the death penalty for simple crime. You have to be a really sick individual to do something to get the death penalty... but oohh nooo, i've been saved/reformed/rehabilitated, i shouldn't die--- FY... and why are we spending so much on needles for these executions? I mean it isn't like the condemned is going to catch something and die from it, right? Why not use the needle several times.....?
Hell... I'm still amazed that this country elected a man that bankrupted no 1 corporation, but 2. He should be criminally prosecuted... WE SHOULD BE CRIMINALLY PROSECUTED FOR RELEGATING OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO OUR SELVES AND FELLOW AMERICANS TO "SOMEONE ELSE".
WHAT A COUNTRY TO BE PROUD OF.

Days Late and Dollars Short

2008-05-21T18:13:00.000-07:00

It has been a month --- where has the time gone --- What crap can happen in a month!! LOL Not that anything BAD has happened --- but where does time fly off to? Like rubber on tires, if it wears off, why arent roades 3ft thick with it?

Politically we are in for some wingdings and wingnuts to come out of the woodwork when the Dems FINALLY decide who they are going to put up to defeat McCain.

Economically we are all going down the same road--- everything will continue to get more expensive due to more people wanting more from less availability. More demand due to population -- we are just going to have to tighten our belts like the rest of the world. It's just going to be more expensive to live in an industrialized nation... and moving to China is not an option.

Otherwise, not much has been happening -- Chris is looking for a job-- and I'm wishing I could retire or improve my position at my job. But hey, I make a good living but it would be nice to move up a little ---

VACATION --- OVER & DONE.... TOO SHORT

2008-04-25T16:49:00.000-07:00

Back from vacation--- Went to the Valley --- no.. not Napa, the Rio Grande valley. It was great! Went and took some golf lessons, did a little shopping, saw a bit of South Texas that I haven't seen in 20 years ---

I didn't watch the news or anything ordinary for a week. We got back Tuesday and today is the first day I wanted to watch and read anything that would be remotely considered "political or current".

Masters? I've got other issues....

2008-04-10T16:20:00.001-07:00

Well, it's been a couple of weeks since I've posted, and I'm sure that I have opinions on all sorts of things that have been happening, so let's get ready to rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrumble----
1) What is going on with this FLDS compound in San Angelo? With a total congregation of 17 men, 141 women, and 416 children--- sounds to me like some old men want to fuck young girls-- and when each of the men have an average of 5 wives....again, sounds to me like old men want to fuck young girls---- and I don't care what kind of religion you practice, raiding that compound and removing those kids is not akin to "law enforcement raid on the Vatican". There are 20million catholics, and only 600 followers of this sect? How does that even compare? The men should have been arrested for child molestation, forceable rape, aggravated rape, conspiracy and several other things.
2) When will Hillary finally give up and concede the nomination? I do think I am going to support her but I don't think she can hang on much longer--- So what if 20% of Dems vote for McCain, even the Rethuglicans don't like McCain so it should be a wash. What Dems need to cultivate is the younger voters. We need to appeal to their sense of social awareness--- McCain is old school and wants to remain that way...Hillary isn't so much "old school" as she is Democratic inclusion of everybody and Obama at least is more interested in getting things moving for America, not America-International.
3)Watching Hannity & Colmes last night, there was the prez's brain---oh.. i'm sorry didnt' think he actually had one--- sorry, his name it turdblossom to his friends--- spouting what he porports to be "factual" --- and then Hannity claims he broke this story or that story... can someone please find a bullett for him and Rush--- wait, just make Rush eat 4 or 5 oxycontin... wait he already eats that many a day!!!!

I have to go eat, but I'll be back..... lol

Mish Mash for Sunday Breakfast

2008-03-30T07:54:00.000-07:00

I've had several bones to pick this week, however, since wearing myself out here around the house I can't think of a single one--- except that my spouse is not back to being unemployed. I have received several calls from Hillary Clinton's campaingn regarding my vote--- and i'm still in the undecided column--- whomever the nominee is I don't think I willl be too disappointed--- unless we Democrats can't get our shit in a pile and McCain gets elected. I'm like the blog "Hammer of Blogs". Any Democrat that will migrate to the Republican party because he doesn't like the "other" nominee has missed the fucking boat---- Ideology is the same, it's just the theory that's a bit different.

And "Cluster Fuck Nation" has some pretty good tips on the economy, but he does view the glass as half empty--- but it sure isn't half full-- more like just half-----

Abbott and Costello

2008-03-23T16:24:00.000-07:00

The funniest skit -- who's on 1st, what's on 2nd, i don't know's on thrid, --- one of the finest skits they ever did, but it has to be the funniest of all comedy...
who's the guy's on first?
who
the guy on first?
who
what's the guy's name on first?
no, what's on second
i don't know,
third base.

LOL

Saturday Night

2008-03-22T20:04:00.000-07:00

Chris is still working graveyards, and so, I'm blogging, reading, and playing cards. Here is some interesting reading.... and yes I do like the movie http://www.pajiba.com/time-bandits.htm.

Went shopping for golf clothes for the lessons next month. It should be interesting.

Obama -- hmm

2008-03-18T17:31:00.000-07:00

I voted for Hillary in the primary, however------
I'm still undecided, however, it isn't for the reasons that you might think. I thought the speech was great! I applaud him for speaking what most middle/lower class black and white Americans had in this minds but couldn't articulate it. He touched on all the major subjects -- and did an excellent job of letting us know how we all got to this point in race relations ---------- then he finished. He didn't deliver a solution, other than to tell us to all come together to beat back the corporate elite who have trod us down for 8 long years.... and longer if you go back to the beginning of the "K Street" project!!

Senator Obama I think has the wherewithall and the cajones to be our next President, however, does he have the capacity to encircle himself with those who WANT to solve the problems of the country, not politicize the solution? I believe that he can find those folks, however, most will require being pulled, kickin & screaming, into the 21st century of thought- we can all get along and we all have the same aspirations-- food on the table, roof over the head, safe & educated children, honesty in business. Again, he didn't provide any hard evidence of any solutions, other than "come together and we can solve this". How exactly?

I just posted the above over at www.dailykos.com as a diary.

I just don't know about this man. I'm not against him, but I do have some reservations.

And what's up with Fox News. 3 times tonight 3 different tv hosts have invoked 9/11. What seems to be up with them and 9/11? Anytime they can't come up with a good excuse the Republican spin machine trots out 9/11.

Shame on you Newt!!

2008-03-14T19:43:00.000-07:00

Here I am reading today's NYT Online, and start in with the Newt Gingrich interview--- okay okay okay!! Enough. I can hear you. I am a Democrat, ever since our beloved goof-in-charge started running for Governor of my beloved state. And he's not even FROM here. He's lived here a long time, but he wasn't born here. Goof-in-Chief was born in Connecticut-- I digress...
I start reading and here it comes, the polls and as I read the more than 50% of ALL AMERICANS want the things on the poll and then I read:

88 percent approve of the reference to “one nation under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance;
http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/14/newt-gingrich-answers-your-questions/?hp

Mr. Gingrich, Shame on you!!! 80% of All Americans don't know that "under God" wasn't in the original Allegiance speech. It was placed into the speech by our beloved and that marvel of Republican policy: Dwight D. Eisenhower in response to the "Godless Red Threat" that he was so fond of perceiving in his own mind. And don't start with you are un Patriotic. Sir, I have great respect for my country, my liberty, and my life--- I don't like it when people, sir, start legislating in places they have no business -- and most of it, started with Dwight Eisenhower and his "Cold War" policies.

I am so tired of people saying that they approve of the reference, and never quantify who 88percent of their "voters" are. If they are all people in the regional directory of parishoners in this or that Protestent or Catholic directory, OF COURSE THEY ARE ALL GOING TO WANT "under God" IN THE PLEDGE!!! DuH!!! How goofy do you have to be to figure that one out!!

We should have let Patton shoot him and become President!! We wouldn't have had the crap that went on so long under the guise of "defeating the God-less commies". What a laugh-- a

Friday--

2008-03-14T18:52:00.000-07:00

Going to the "country place" to mow grass and see what's up. Put flowers on the graves, and scrap away some of the lichen on g-g grandparents white marble grave marker. Papa's and Miss Emma's are black granite, as are mother and daddy's... I'll take Rohrshack and Pope with me.. that should be interesting in the south 3... LOL LOL

Monday Post

2008-03-10T15:39:00.000-07:00

What a day for news... the presidential race and the 1 and 2 spots; eliott spitzer; and everybody running around like chicken little because oil is hitting new highs everyday!

I can only say that we are going to start paying the same price for gas as the rest of the world does. And with this economy not going anywhere FAST-- it may be a long time before we see anything even close to a normal "market".

And what is this news about prescription drugs in the water? and it's from our urine, not when individuals flush the drugs down the loo. These are drugs are flowing from our bodies, into the commode, then into the water system. Why are water treatment plants/municipal water companies not filtering for this? I mean wouldn't it be prudent to filter for this considering all drugs that we take, both prescription and OTC? I am just amazed that this hasn't been exposed before.

This is long... get ready to read ... but i feel better...

2008-03-07T21:52:00.000-08:00

I received this email about a commencement address attributed to Neal Boortz, however, I am going to take exception to some of the paragraphs-- it seems to be putting down liberals, however, about 2/3's of the complaints refer to what the current administration has been doing for the past 8 years....... emphasis and comments mine.

This is very, very long but much worth while reading it completely. One of my retirement friends found out who this was. It’s Neal Boortz. He was born in 1945 in Bryn Mawr, PA, is an
Aggie, a lawyer and his dad was a Marine Corps pilot in WW11. To find out more about him, go to www.en.widipedia.org/Neal Boortz. Enjoy. ******************** A Texan, a lawyer, a Texas AGGIE (Texas A&M), and now a nationally syndicated talk show host from Atlanta . His speech is far different from what either the students or the faculty expected . Agree or not, his views are thought provoking. It would have been particularly entertaining to have witnessed the faculty's reaction! Don't stop reading if and when you find things that disturb you, you'll find other stuff that you'll find genuinely part of the reality of life in the Untied States of America. His Commencement Address

"I am honored by the invitation to address you on this august occasion. It's about time. Be warned, however, that I am not here to impress you; you'll have enough smoke blown up your bloomers today. And you can bet your tassels I'm not here to impress the faculty and administration. You may not like much of what I have to say, and that's fine. You will remember it though. Especially after about 10 years out there in the real world. This, it goes without saying, does not apply to those of you who will seek your careers and your fortunes as government employees. This gowned gaggle behind me is your faculty. You've heard the old saying that those who can - do. Those who can't - teach. That sounds deliciously insensitive. But there is often raw truth in insensitivity, just as you often find feel-good falsehoods and lies in compassion. Say good-bye to your faculty because now you are getting ready to go out there and do. These folks behind me are going to stay right here and teach. By the way, just because you are leaving this place with a diploma doesn't mean the learning is over. When an FAA flight examiner handed me my private pilot's license many years ago, he said, 'Here, this is your ticket to learn.' The same can be said for your diploma. How true how true...

Believe me, the learning has just begun. Now, I realize that most of you consider yourselves Liberals. In fact, you are probably very proud of your liberal views. You care so much. You feel so much. You want to help so much. After all, you're a compassionate and caring person, aren't you now? Well, isn't that just so extraordinarily special. Now, at this age, is as good a time as any to be a liberal; as good a time as any to know absolutely everything. You have plenty of time, starting tomorrow, for the truth to set in. Over the next few years, as you begin to feel the cold breath of reality down your neck, things are going to start changing pretty fast' (yes they are going to change faster than you think. You are going to realize that no matter who is talking, they don't want to reduce the size of the government and that those in power will always vote to keep those in power, in power.... just look at how congress keeps itself from having term limits and will vote itself a raise even when the rest of us (rich & poor alike) are having cash flow problems)

... including your own assessment of just how much you really know. So here are the first assignments for your initial class in reality: Pay attention to the news, read newspapers, and listen to the words and phrases that proud Liberals use to promote their causes. Then, compare the words of the left to the words and phrases you hear from those evil, heartless, greedy conservatives. From the Left you will hear "I feel." From the Right you will hear "I think." (yes, from the right you hear "I Think" .. sure.. they think about how to get you to think that businesses are more deserving of your tax dollars than you are.. that they know best about what is best for you. that if they don't support business interests that you as individuals don't count.. business and the capital system above the individual!! How ironic considering the paragraph coming up)

From the Liberals you will hear references to groups -- The Blacks, the Poor, The Rich, The Disadvantaged, The Less Fortunate. From the Right you will hear references to individuals. (Most of the time it's individuals who have semi-shady dealings with someone who may or may not have a pall of suspicion caste upon them)

On the Left you hear talk of group rights; on the Right, individual rights.(not really, we are going to let you think the individual has all kinds of rights, but because of National Security, we as the Gov't are going to walk all over those rights, but it's okay, because you won't know it because we have to do it so we can protect you from the rest of the world ---
That about sums it up, really: Liberals feel. Liberals care. They are pack animals whose identity is tied up in group dynamics.(Here's where I really dislike this man.... this last statement sounds like what the Republican mainstream has been doing for the last 8 years + the campaign 18 months so realistically, the Replublican party has had it's nose up GWB's butt for nearly 10 years!!! Enough is enough!)
Conservatives and Libertarians think(Libertarians think, conservatives force their view upon you wether you want it or not. --) and, setting aside the theocracy crowd, their identity is centered on the individual. Liberals feel that their favored groups have enforceable rights to the property and services of productive individuals. Conservatives and Libertarians, I among them I might add, think that individuals have the right to protect their lives and their property from the plunder of the masses. (I don't know where this man has been, but Democrats also believe in the right of the individual to protect their lives and livelihoods, the difference is that the Republican is indifferent to the plight of anyone but himself, the Democrat is concerned first about himself and for the "masses" because society must take care of it's citizenry.)

In college you developed a group mentality, but if you look closely at your diplomas you will see that they have your individual names on them. Not the name of your school mascot, or of your fraternity or sorority, but your name. Your group identity is going away. Your recognition and appreciation of your individual identity starts now. (yes, the name on the degree is yours and yours alone, however, you cannot get by by yourself, and at some point in our miserable existance, one must rely on the state and all of it's faults to get by (student aid come to mind?).

If, by the t ime you reach the age of 30, you do not consider yourself to be a libertarian or a conservative, (consider yourself lucky) rush right back here as quickly as you can and apply for a faculty position. These people will welcome you with open arms. They will welcome you, that is, so long as you haven't developed an individual identity. Once again you will have to be willing to sign on to the group mentality you embraced during the past four years. Something is going to happen soon that is going to really open your eyes. You're going to actually get a full time job! You're also going to get a lifelong work partner. This partner isn't going to help you do your job. This partner is just going to sit back and wait for payday. This partner doesn't want to share in your effort, but in your earnings. (and no it isn't your spouse who wants to sit at home and raise the kids) Your new lifelong partner is actually an agent; an agent representing a strange and diverse group of people; an agent for every teenager with an illegitimate child; an agent for a research scientist who wanted to make some cash answering the age-old question of why monkeys grind their teeth. An agent for some poor demented hippie who considers herself to be a meaningful and talented artist, but who just can't manage to sell any of her artwork on the open market. Your new partner is an agent for every person with limited, if any, job skills, but who wanted a job at City Hall. An agent for tin-horn dictators in fancy military uniforms grasping for American foreign aid. An agent for multi-million- dollar companies who want someone else to pay for their overseas advertising.This last sentence sounds like some Republican who cheated on his taxes.. & for that matter, it probably involved a Democrat also.

An agent for everybody who wants to use the unimaginable power of this agent's for their personal enrichment and benefit. That agent is our wonderful, caring, compassionate, oppressive government. Believe me, you will be awed by the unimaginable power this agent has. Power that you do not have A power that no individual has, or will have. This agent has the legal power to use force, deadly force to accomplish its goals.
(Gee.. doesn't this sound like what the gov't has done with FISA? Gee, the corporate greed we've seen for 8 years) You have no choice here. Your new friend is just going to walk up to you, introduce itself rather gruffly, hand you a few forms to fill out, and move right on in. Say hello to your own personal one ton gorilla. It will sleep anywhere it wants to. Now, let me tell you, this agent is not cheap. As you become successful it will seize about 40% of everything you earn. And no, I'm sorry, there just isn't any way you can fire this agent of plunder, and you can't decrease its share of your income. That power rests with him, not you. So, here I am saying negative things to you about government. (okay, he does say some negative things about the gov't, however, when you need a helping hand because you lost your job, your unemployment benefits have run out, you have nothing else to take to the pawn shop, who are you going to turn to to help you out? That agent, that 1 ton gorilla, that gov't you didn't want any part of) so... LET"S BE CLEAR ON THIS SHALL WE!!! no it is not wrong to distrust the gov't.. it is even patriotic to QUESTION the gov't. what is unconscienable is when the gov't tells you one thing and does another, when the govt says "oh, this or that is okay" and come to find out, conventional wisdom, most educated academics, and even a few "kooks" say "no, the gov't lied to protect this or that company/industry" and the pathetic sheep that have been conned just excuse the behaviour ---

Well, be clear on this: It is not wrong to distrust government. It is not wrong to fear government. In certain cases it is not even wrong to despise government for government is inherently evil. Yes ... a necessary evil, but dangerous nonetheless ... somewhat like a drug. Just as a drug that in the proper dosage can save your life, an overdose of government can be fatal. Now let's address a few things that have been crammed into your minds at this university. There are some ideas you need to expunge as soon as possible. These ideas may work well in academic environment, but they fail miserably out there in the real world. First is that favorite buzz word of the media, government and academia: Diversity! You have been taught that the real value of any group of people - be it a social group, an employee group, a management group, whatever - is based on diversity. This is a favored liberal ideal because diversity is based not on an individual's abilities or character, but on a person's identity and status as a member of a group. (what is it Inigo Montoya says in "The Princess Bride": I do not think it means what he thinks it means!... no diversity is white men having to accept that they are not in charge of everyone else; the arguement against diversity is their last attempt to keep the rest of us (white black brown yellow women challenged, etc) from becoming more empowered to throw them out of the government.... )

Yes, it's that liberal group identity thing again. Within the great diversity movement group identification - be it racial, gender based, or some other minority status - means more than the individual's integrity, character or other qualifications. Brace yourself. You are about to move from this academic atmosphere where diversity rules, to a workplace and a culture where individual achievement and excellence actually count. No matter what your professors have taught you over the last four years, you are about to learn that diversity is absolutely no replacement for excellence, ability, and individual hard work. (correct, however, I have found that if you include diversity into yor excellence, ability and hard work, not only do you reap the rewards from it, so do those around/below you)
From this day on every single time you hear the word "diversity" you can rest assured that there is someone close by who is determined to rob you of every vestige of individuality you possess. We also need to address this thing you seem to have about "rights." We have witnessed an obscene explosion of so-called "rights" in the last few decades, usually emanating from college campuses. You know the mantra: You have the right to a job. The right to a place to live. The right to a living wage. The right to health care. The right to an education. You probably even have your own pet right - the right to a Beemer for instance, or the right to have someone else provide for that child you plan on downloading in a year or so. Forget it. Forget those rights! (How more correct could he be!! you don't have any of those right guaranteed to you in the constitution!! Find where those rights are spelled out in .. )I'll tell you what your rights are! You have a right to live free, and to the results of 60% -75% of your labor. I'll also tell you have no right to any portion of the life or labor of another. You may, for instance, think that you have a right to health care. After all, Hillary said so, didn't she? But you cannot receive healthcare unless some doctor or health practitioner surrenders some of his time - his life - to you. He may be willing to do this for compensation, but that's his choice. You have no "right" to his time or property. You have no right to his or any other person's life or to any portion thereof. You may also think you have some "right" to a job; a job with a living wage, whatever that is. Do you mean to tell me that you have a right to force your services on another person, and then the right to demand that this person compensate you with their money? Sorry, forget it. I am sure you would scream if some urban outdoorsmen (that would be "homeless person" for those of you who don't want to give these less fortunate people a romantic and adventurous title) came to you and demanded his job and your money. The people who have been telling you about all the rights you have are simply exercising one of theirs - the right to be imbeciles.(again a good point he makes, however, I think it applies more to the Right Wing Republicans than it does to left wing democrats---aren't the RWR the ones that want to tell me that I can't get an abortion becaue "THEY" think it is a sin against God? What about my right as an individual? the RWR want to tell me that unless I believe in the same God they do, I'm going to burn in hell, what about my rights as an individual? These statements sound more like someone who is trying more to convince himself than convince anyone else. At least a liberal will allow EVERYBODY to participate and will take into account what I WANT, ......) Their being imbeciles didn't cost anyone else either property or time. It's their right, and they exercise it brilliantly. By the way, did you catch my use of the phrase "less fortunate" a bit ago when I was talking about the urban outdoorsmen? That phrase is a favorite of the Left(again, here is a description of a right wing republican, "less fortunate" came about so the rich didn't have to think about what their companies were doing to American's while they got richer on the backs of "outsourcing", etc....) Yes please think about it....

Think about it, and you'll understand why. To imply that one person is homeless, destitute, dirty, drunk, spaced out on drugs, unemployable, and generally miserable because he is "less fortunate" is to imply that a successful person - one with a job, a home and a future - is in that position because he or she was "fortunate." The dictionary says that fortunate means "having derived good from an unexpected place." There is nothing unexpected about deriving good from hard work. There is also nothing unexpected about deriving misery from choosing drugs, alcohol, and the street. (especially the choice you made when you took a job working for a company who's CEO proceeds to bankrupt the company by paying himself & his "crony" friends on the company's board of directors & funding their lavish lifestyle & those of their family)
If the Liberal Left can create the common perception that success and failure are simple matters of "fortune" or "luck," then it is easy to promote and justify their various income redistribution schemes.(now here, it comes, pay attention.... Here is a Republican wanting to let you in that he's not into believing in any type of income redistributin schemes, but his party's answer to 1 period of recession and the coming stagflation is to throw money at it, and to cut taxes for the rich and for companies. and yes, just like a republican to say they are only evening out the odds when in fact they are lining the pockets of those who have screwed the public, their employees and the government. )

After all, we are just evening out the odds a little bit. This "success equals luck" idea the liberals like to push is seen everywhere. (no, my fellow students, the "success = luck" idea is more closely attributed to Republican philosophy.. work hard, gain profit,IF you succeed, you can be one of us)

Former Democratic presidential candidate Richard Gephardt refers to high-achievers as "people who have won life's lottery." (Mr. Gephardt wasn't a very good legislator, and he wasn't the sharpest knife in the drawer, and if that's the best example he could find, then my friends you need to quit reading)
He wants you to believe they are making the big bucks because they are lucky. It's not luck, my friends. It's choice.(yes, and every choice you make now, will be magnified 1000 times by the time you are 40)see comments about working for company who's CEO bankrupted company, below.
One of the greatest lessons I ever learned was in a book by Og Mandino, entitled "The Greatest Secret in the World." The lesson? Very simple: "Use wisely your power of choice." That bum sitting on a heating grate, smelling like a wharf rat? He's there by choice. He is there because of the sum total of the choices he has made in his life. This truism is absolutely the hardest thing for some people to accept, especially those who consider themselves to be victims of something or other - victims of discrimination, bad luck, the system, capitalism, whatever. After all, nobody really wants to accept the blame for his or her position in life.(no we wouldn't want the corp exec who ran the company into the ground to bamboozle us again, then run for the governor of texas then run for and win the presidency of the u.s.... no we wouldn't want ANYBODY that wouldn't own up to their mistakes to EVER be in a position of power.

Not when it is so much easier to point and say, "Look! He did this to me!" than it is to look into a mirror and say, "You S. O. B.! You did this to me!" (so when i am a victim of a fat cat getting fatter by hiding $$ and not wanting to pay his bills but wantingto continue to live the lifestyle, do i get to come to you and complain... no? oh that's right, because i made a choice to work for a crook, i can't complain, but he gets the benefit of the bankruptcy court to provide protection to him so he can keep his lifestyle and livelihood, at the expense of the middle class taxpayer---- so now he doesn't have to pay any of his debtors but neither is he held accountable for his actions... what a life... !!!)

The key to accepting responsibility for your life is to accept the fact that your choices, every one of them, are leading you inexorably to either success or failure, however you define those terms. Some of the choices are obvious: Whether or not to stay in school. Whether or not to get pregnant. Whether or not to hit the bottle. Whether or not to keep this job you hate until you get another better-paying job. Whether or not to save some of your money, or saddle yourself with huge payments for that new car. (Your choice define you, so make them wisely..... believe only 1/2 of what you see and NONE of what you hear!.. He is certainly making some sense here... )

Some of the choices are seemingly insignificant: Whom to go to the movies with. Whose car to ride home in. Whether to watch the tube tonight, or read a book on investing. But, and you can be sure of this, each choice counts. Each choice is a building block - some large, some small. But each one is a part of the structure of your life. If you make the right choices, or if you make more right choices than wrong ones, something absolutely terrible may happen to you. Something unthinkable. You, my friend, could become one of the hated, the evil, the ugly, the feared, the filthy, the successful, the rich. The rich basically serve two purposes in this country. First, they provide the investments, the investment capital, and the brains for the formation of new businesses.(Tell me what business person started out rich? even bill gates and warren buffet started out as an ordinary citizen? but okay, i'll give you that rich people provide capital, however, if you don't have the joe schmoe coming to & from work everyday, where the hell would your business be? with you working 7 days a week 365 days a year, and closing inside of 3-1/2 years. So.. we are back to the arguement of : which is more important, the boss or the worker????)

Businesses that hire people. Businesses that send millions of paychecks home each week to the un-rich. Second, the rich are a wonderful object of ridicule, distrust, and hatred. Few things are more valuable to a politician than the envy most Americans feel for the evil rich. Envy is a powerful emotion. Even more powerful than the emotional minefield that surrounded Bill Clinton when he reviewed his last batch of White House interns.(i'm all for the rich, however, their interests shouldn't be above those of the masses--- financially, politically, religiously, civilly(?) yes, the rich to serve their purpose in terms of the geopolitical turmoil of this country, but they are not it's only or it's most important citizens.

Politicians use envy to get votes and power. And they keep that power by promising the envious that the envied will be punished: "The rich will pay their fair share of taxes if I have anything to do with it. The truth is that the top 10% of income earners in this country pays almost 50% of all income taxes collected. That is the most untrue statement i have ever heard, & what's funny is that I only hear it from RICH PEOPLE!!! I can't believe that someone hasn't disproved it as an urban myth.. or have they???

I shudder to think what these job producers would be paying if our tax system were any more "fair." (their fair share is what they would be paying... instead of getting tax breaks they don't need, & the gov't throwing $$ at it's citizenry that won't solve an economic crisis no matter how much $$ you go into debt.

You have heard, no doubt, that the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Interestingly enough, our government's own numbers show that many of the poor actually get richer, and that quite a few of the rich actually get poorer. (Again, this is an arguement that I only hear from rich people!!... but a reasonable explanation is the pool figure out that they need to save & the rich haven't figured out that they can't continue the lifestyle to which they have grown accustomed but can't afford, because of those pesky job choices!!!0
But for the rich who do actually get richer, and the poor who remain poor ... there's an explanation -- a reason. The rich, you see, keep doing the things that make them rich; while the poor keep doing the things that make them poor. Speaking of the poor, during your adult life you are going to hear an endless string of politicians bemoaning the plight of the poor. So, you need to know that under our government's definition of "poor" you can have a $5 million net worth, a $300,000 home and a new $90,000 Mercedes, all completely paid for. You can also have a maid, cook, and valet, and $1 million in your checking account, and you can still be officially defined by our government as "living in poverty." (here we go.. anybody living the above lifestyle usually votes republican, -- so now there is a description of republicans living off the tit of the american public & according to whomever wrote/delivered/thought out this speech, seems to be saying that's it's okay to milk the gov't when you are as well off as the person above is described. Gee, i guess if I could get away with it, why not? ...... wait, it would't be right to inflict my CHOICES on the public/govt to absorb/payfor. But if i am lucky and i do have the above trappings and vote democratic, well, i'm living in poverty and cheating the government.... LOL)

Now there's something you haven't seen on the evening news. How does the government pull this one off? Very simple, really. To determine whether or not some poor soul is "living in poverty," the government measures one thing -- just one thing. Income. It doesn't matter one bit how much you have, how much you own, how many cars you drive or how big they are, whether or not your pool is heated, whether you winter in Aspen and spend the summers in the Bahamas, or how much is in your savings account. It only matters how much income you claim in that particular year. This means that if you take a one-year leave of absence from your high-paying job and decide to live off the money in your savings and checking accounts while you write the next great American novel, the government says you are 'living in poverty." (again, this describes most of the republican party, and when they employee most of their close relatives in their office, and pay them for 2 or 3 hours work / week, well well well.... no wonder congress votes itself a payraise with the frequency of a menstrual cycle.

This isn't exactly what you had in mind when you heard these gloomy statistics, is it? Do you need more convincing? Try this. The government's own statistics show that people who are said to be "living in poverty" spend more than $1.50 for each dollar of income they claim. (and that's usually due to the spender living beyond his/her means!!)

Something is a bit fishy here. Just remember all this the next time Charles Gibson tells you about some hideous new poverty statistics. Why has the government concocted this phony poverty scam? Because the government needs an excuse to grow and to expand its social welfare programs, which translates into an expansion of its power. (which means if business interests persist, you as an individual will have NO RIGHTS at all, that corporate interests have more pull with 'the people's business" than the people.

If the government can convince you, in all your compassion, that the number of "poor" is increasing, it will have all the excuse it needs to sway an electorate suffering from the advanced stages of Obsessive-Compulsive Compassion Disorder. I'm about to be stoned by the faculty here. They've already changed their minds about that honorary degree I was going to get. That's OK, though. I still have my PhD. in Insensitivity from the Neal Boortz Institute for Insensitivity Training. I learned that, in short, sensitivity sucks. It's a trap. Think about it - the truth knows no sensitivity. Life can be insensitive. Wallow too much in sensitivity and you'll be unable to deal with life, or the truth So, get over it. (the writer is right, do not be too sensitivity and take EVERYTHING with a grain of salt... and then dilute it for clarity..... question EVERYTHING!!! Now, before the dean has me shackled and hauled off, I have a few random thoughts.
* You need to register to vote, unless you are on welfare. If you are living off the efforts of others, please do us the favor of sitting down and shutting up until you are on your own again.
* When you do vote, your votes for the House and the Senate are more important than your vote for president. The House controls the purse strings, so concentrate your awareness there.
* Liars cannot be trusted, even when the liar is the president of the country. If someone can't deal honestly with you, send them packing.
* Don't bow to the temptation to use the government as an instrument of plunder. If it is wrong for you to take money from someone else who earned it -- to take their money by force for your own needs -- then it is certainly just as wrong for you to demand that the government step forward and do this dirty work for you.
* Don't look in other people's pockets. You have no business there. What they earn is theirs. What you earn is yours. Keep it that way. Nobody owes you anything, except to respect your privacy and your rights, and leave you alone.
* Speaking of earning, the revered 40-hour workweek is for losers. Forty hours should be considered the minimum, not the maximum. You don't see highly successful people clocking out of the office every afternoon at five. The losers are the ones caught up in that afternoon rush hour. The winners drive home in the dark.
* Free speech is meant to protect unpopular speech. Popular speech, by definition, needs no protection.
* Finally (and aren't you glad to hear that word), as Og Mandino wrote, 1. Proclaim your rarity. Each of you is a rare and unique human being. 2. Use wisely your power of choice. 3. Go the extra mile ... drive home in the dark. Oh, and put off buying a television set as long as you can. Now, if you have any idea at all what's good for you, you will get the hell out of here and never come back. Class dismissed" this is good advice at the end.... so sorry this was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO LONG...

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Elections and other things

2008-03-05T16:34:00.000-08:00

Okay, Texas has voted, and Hillary is our girl. However, I'm getting tired of all these conservatives trying to distance themselves from McCain. Sorry folks, that's about all you could trot out for the big dance, and hmm he forgot to bring a partner.

And the economy is going to hell in a handbasket and getting down the road in a hurry. I don't know what's going to happen to the good ol' USofA when our Asian and Arab buddies come knocking on our door wanting their principal back.. Screw making 14% interest payments to them. They want their principal and they will invest it in a currency that is no depreciating.
And with the current rise in raw commodity prices, we are in for a doozy of a ... well, i'm not sure "depression" conveys the right impression. More like "depression + inflation + recession + devalued currency +.. well you get the picture. And it isn't a Mona Lisa -- More like a Jackson Pollock.

Nice point, hubby!!

2008-02-27T17:13:00.000-08:00

I just posted a diary over at dailyKos about an observation my husband made while watching the debates between HRC and BO. My husband pointed out that when ever Barack is asked how he will fix a particular problem, his answer starts out by telling us the problem, how it came to be a problem, and who is responsible for the problem but he doesn't tell the public how he will fix the problem. My husband said, he seems to be a "point out the problem" guy, not a "fix the problem" guy. And I'm not necessarily leaning toward HRC either. She's not the cleanest campainer around, and there are things in her agenda as President she hasn't answered to my satisfaction. So here I sit, brokenhearted, wanted to vote, but just farted!! lol lol lol
I am so undecided between these two. I know I won't be voting Rethuglican -- at least for the forseeable future due to the current Jerk-in-Charge and his lyin' cheatin' theivin' way of life.
Anyway, I am just so not wanting to make the wrong choice. You know the feeling, not sure you should have voted the way you did, but unsure that the other choice would be any better.

I'm all for "change" , but let's face it, I'm undecided

Sunday Evenings

2008-02-24T15:53:00.000-08:00

Sunday evenings were always nice -- and today hasn't disappointed, execpt that we didn't have roast beef, mashed potatoes, yorkshire pudding, gravy, broccoli rice casserole, and ice cream---- hmmmmmmm.
Worked a little in the yard, sat outside in the sunshine with the cats and the birds----

Nice evening!!

Back to work tomorrow and the mundane things that go on in life!

arbonne international

2008-02-23T10:38:00.000-08:00

I have signed up as a consultant, so if you need skincare products, please visit the website and reference my consultant # if you purchase anything. thanks.
consultant # 17447004

fear-mongering again

2008-02-22T17:49:00.001-08:00

What is up with the Rethuglican press machine? The commercial about America at Risk is way too far out in the stratosphere. It's almost like these people are trying to scare us. Do they not know we are already scared, but we don't want to give up our civil rights and cover the ass of a corporation just because they contributed to the RNC warchest. It makes me dizzy all the fear these people make me feel. Sheez, just send me on a cruise and let me get seasick.. cheaper.
I just hope the House and Senate Democrats can keep the Rethuglican spin machine from pulling the story in their direction. It was the rethugs that walked out and let the bill expire because it didn't do enough to RETROACTIVELY protect the corporations... which proves to me the Rethuglicans and the RNC are only interested in what they can do for corporations and what the corporations can do for them, not what is best for the american public.

Debate in Austin

2008-02-21T17:00:00.000-08:00

Let's see what these two have to say:
and i have TiVo so i can stop and start it..!!!! Yes!! Updates as they occur

Her opening is good. Now the pitch!

He is speaking...... Bad trade deals like NAFTA?

So far they are both talking about things that I'm concerned about......

Change you can xerox... i like that......
Just make Medicare available to everyone, have the Govt negotiate rates and go from there...

McCain's folly

2008-02-21T16:49:00.000-08:00

I was watching all this crap about his alleged involvement with the lobbyist and what i find irritating is that these Rethugs are crying 'foul' --wait a minute.... Didn't the Rethugs bring up Whitewater when it was already a dead horse? And what about the Jennifer Flowers affair?
These people!!

Former President's

2008-02-20T16:00:00.000-08:00

Former President Bill Clinton was in Beaumont, TX today stumping for Hillary, and unfortunately I couldn't make it, but from local news, it looks like he drummed up some support for Hillary.

I am not sure if I can make a decision on whom to vote for right now. I haven't been able to really get my teeth around the details of the difference between Obama & Hillary but I'm going to do some reading this weekend.

Now onto this Osborn amendment to the Lands Bill. What is wrong with America? http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/20/opinion/20wed3.html
I can't believe that the NRA now wants the American public to give the gun-toting public the opportunity to poach on Federal lands. Yes, I can. Never let it be said the America public was intelligent. Does Senator Coburn actually believe that having a live firearm on National Park land will prevent a rape from happening? How naive must this man be? Carrying a live firearm in Yellowstone National Park will only encourage some drunk idiot, or God forbid, sober hunter, to take potshots at the animals that live in the park. Come on people.

And another thing, what are the statistics for rapes in National Parks? It isn't like you can't carry an empty gun onto these lands. Why would you want to drive around a National Park with a loaded gun? Again, either to start something or end someone's life. I guess if we will allow the NRA to get us to go for guns in Church, schools, and workplaces, we should just kowtow to their agenda of allowing guns into every last vestige of our lives.... And with their doctrines, the membership would probably be just as happy to have all of us shoot & kill each other.

It's pathetic the way the NRA has made us all a bunch of patsy's. I'm all for having the public own guns, but not at the expense of public safety. If you want to own a gun, then you apply for a license, have a background check done, and if all is good, then 3 days later, BINGO, you are the proud owner of a .38 snubnose. Why is it such a necessary civil right to be able to buy a gun, immediately? Especially in this day and age of being able to "get it now". I am at a loss for why the American public is able to wake up each day without the help of the NRA.

Phone calls from the campaigns

2008-02-19T16:04:00.000-08:00

I have now received a phone call from BOTH democratic presidential contenders-
quite interesting. I'm not even sure who I'm going to vote for but it will be a democrat.

Bill Clinton is going to be in Beaumont tomorrow meeting with the Latino caucus and then have a rally at 12:45 in downtown Beaumont. There is no way I can take off of work. I would like to, as I heard from a friend in Lufkin who went to see him speak and was quite impressed. She said she was had been leaning toward Obama but after hearing Bill, she is a full Hillary supporter. So I want to hear just how persuasive he is.

Otherwise, not much going on except political analysis of WI, HI,

O'Reilly ShmO'Reilly

2008-02-18T17:00:00.000-08:00

What can I say? Let's see how long I can stomach him... usually I'm not very good at being able to listen to his crap. What? It's all over Oprah?...
What is this crap that the Republicans are spewing that Obama was a muslim up until 4 years ago? I was under the impression that he------------

Oh holy shit, Karl Rove. If this isn't two snakes in a pit!!! Karlracist calling Obama the EMT in chief. And the Deval Patrick incident -- like Karl Rove hasn't done that and is calling it the laziness of a smart mind. What a smarmy set of bookends these two are.

I was under the impression that Obama was from a Trinity Church and had been brought up as a God-fearing Christian just like Huckabee and the chimpinthehouse, W.
Please correct me if I'm wrong.

I'm gonna have to go. I will get so mad, I'll tear this computer up.

Cows Cows Cows

2008-02-18T16:02:00.000-08:00

Can we please quit showing the video of those cows?? I'm not a fan of touching raw meat and that just makes me want to become a full blown vegetarian.

Please do us all a favor --- don't insult our intelligence! Oh wait, that's already a given.

I'm just concerned that nothing will come of all this drum banging about the beef, and that the USDA and the FDA aren't going to change because they are strapped as it is. We had better get a handle on our food supply -- It wouldn't be hard for someone to taint just one area of it and then it spread like wild fire. But who wants to work for the USDA or the FDA? NOBODY .. and those that are hired are those mostly marginalized by society and in some cases as a way to shrink the welfare rolls so they don't care. It's not their problem. What an apathetic country we have become.

McCain Bush's Fall Boy?

2008-02-18T15:32:00.000-08:00

Gee, it seems odd that Bush Sr has endorsed McCain. Back to the nasty smears of the 2000 campaign... but gee... it just seems odd that McCain would even want a Bush endorsement. Like Heywood J said:

John McCain very likely would have been president in the 2000 campaign had Fredo not calumniated him in a most despicable fashion in South Carolina. In retaliation for said character assassination, McCain has been as faithful a lapdog as this fiery wreck of an administration could have hoped for. He's shown quite thoroughly that he'll say and do whatever anyone with a voting bloc wants him to, albeit with an insouciant crack that makes the media's pants wet with excitement.And this really is the coup de grace, because now the Bushies own McCain's ass. If they want him to wear a gimp mask and a ball-gag on the campaign trail, he'd best start changing outfits, because he's their boy now, and no matter how much he tries to tack center this summer, and weasel out from under his own role in Fredo's follies, he's pinned under them. All that's left is consolidating the retards who would vote for a random farm animal before they'd go Democrat, and peeling off a few more idjits who have somehow conflated honorable service with actual expertise.But if nothing else comes from this dog-and-pony show, the least we can step up and do is get the Bush family out of American politics, once and for all. Let them be Moonie water-carriers in perpetuity; if they think they're keeping their foot in the door by making McCain their butt-boy, they're mistaken.

I just feel that McCain is trying to get the far right to vote for him, but it's not going to work--- They aren't going to vote for someone that won't conform to their view of how America is supposed to operate.

And another thing, since "bush's folly" isn't going to be seen by history as a "good thing" until at least 10 generations have gone by, could McCain be ready to accept the title of "McCain's war" in exchange for a longterm place in history? But it's a moot point.... I don't think the American public is going to elect McCain --- he's a bit old (my grandmother lived to be 96 and grandfather 93 so there on his 91 year old mother) and a whole lot of wishywashy.

Politics(aka Everybody has an opinion & they all stink but mine)

2008-02-18T14:09:00.000-08:00

We all know everybody has an opinion on politics and I'm not about to be left out. As I said in my previous post, I am democratic in my thinking--

I think the present administration not only is the worst in my mind, but some of the members of this administration should have criminal charges brought against them-- and I can only hope the reason the farleftwingnuts haven't taken out GWB is that the thought of DC as prez scares the holyrolling shit out of them. Me too. It just chaps my ass that some of the repubs that i work with were so gung ho on GWB and that he was god's gift (not sure who's God, or who's gift) but to speak with them about this goofball's policies is like looking into a cracked mirror. They are all over the place and talk about crawfishin'. Not one of them has the gumption to admit that when I told them that the man would wreke all kinds of havoc-- he didn't have any foreign policy exp., no real economic exp., no military exp.,-- well I WAS RIGHT!

Here is a man that hasn't done anything in his useless life to further himself except to be BORN IN CONNECTICUT to the upper crust of society--- he was sent to Ivy League schools on legacy admissions (how lame is that--- reminds me of Flounder in Animal House) and then bails at the first moment of serving his country. Here is a man, who went into the oil business that his daddy started (you all do remember Zapata Oil, right?) & then the company was told by the gov't that it could drill for oil in the US because it was caught drilling oil out from under land they didn't have the mineral rights to. (which is where BushSr got the $$ to get into The Carlyle Group or so it seems)... GWB bankrupted 2 other oil companies that he himself started & the only reason that he didn't bankrupt the Texas Rangers is because the board wouldn't give him access to the checkbook. Here is a man that, thru his political maneuvering, went so far as to insinuate that Ann Richard's, someone who called him out for what he was-- a sorry no good son of a bitch, and yes she intended that for Babs-- was a lesbian & then said that he wasn't playing dirty politics. Half of his cabinet from 1996 to 2007 should be brought up on

I cannot believe that the Republican party hasn't lynched him yet. He has trampled all over their constitution as much as ours and they are proud of him!! Anyway, I'm just as disgusted with the 2 Texas senator's, Hutchinson and Cornyn.
She's a polical hack who couldn't get find her way out of a 7ft wet paper bag with a 6ft hole in it and he's the slimiest thing since slugs to crawl out from under Dallas.

MSM hasn't don't anything in the last 10 years to instill faith or trust in me so most of the time I have to filter left or right depending on the channel I happen to be watching. I'm just not convinced that the voting public is smart enought to hear the political truths that ought to be reported on. Let's get one thing straight:

MOST OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC IS NOT THE VOTING PUBLIC

There is a difference. And 20% of the Voting Public is not sophisticated enough to be involved in political reforms or actions.

Here I go again, getting off on a tangent. Oh well.. I'm gonna go surfing and see what's up.

Miscellaneous pleasure before business

2008-02-18T12:39:00.000-08:00

Well well well, how short it seems since my first posting!! First let me start by thanking Hammer Of the Blogs host Heywood J. I feel about the same as you do most days and reading you daily (or trying to) is what motivated me to start this blog.

Heywood, sorry about copying your "layout" but never fear, I will get more comfortable with this and will change it, but to get things started-- I am truly an admirer of your blog, and enjoy reading your viewpoint -- Thank you for stating things I would never have had the diplomatic language to describe without resorting to vitriolic language of the worst sort.

However, I'm going to try to change that with this blog and will hopefully become more diplomatic in my diatribes --- diplomacy being the ability to say the nastiest thing in the nicest way. (That's a quote but I don't recall who to ascribe it to but I'll find out.)

I also want to at least try to thank those folks over at DailyKos who trolled a diary of mine, just because it wasn't as up to the minute, political, inflaming, deflmaming as they would have liked. Guys, thanks, this is why I am writing this blog-- so hopefully I can speak on things that are AND are not up to date/minute/second as they seem to keep up on things going on in the world. Again, Thank you gentlemen and ladies. Keep up the good work and I will continue to read DailyKos also.

A bit about me --
I am a woman, and getting older by the minute -- or at least feeling it. Politcally, I have, in the past always voted for the person, at least until GWB started running for Governor of Texas, then I started voting predominately Democratic. Then 2000 came around, and I found that I relieved my self of ALOT of stress if I just went in there and voted a straight DEM ticket, and I did so, TWICE-- just because I couldn't in good conscience vote for a man that drilled for & found oil under someone else's land, bankrupted 2 companies, and insinuated that Ann Richard's was a lesbian.

My parents instilled in me the priviledge that it is to vote and almost required me to vote. I am proud to say that I have voted to in every election I am allowed to vote in since I turned 18.

I am a liberal in my thinking, but try to keep an open mind. I am all for including everybody, at least those here legally, in the processes of this country. I do want to move internationally with my career, however, I don't see much chance for that.

Anyway, here I am world, watch out. I can be a pain in the butt!!!

First Posting

2008-02-18T11:59:00.000-08:00

Okay, since this is my first postings of the view of Life from my view of the Black Hole of Calcutta, let's play nice!

First off, I want to use this "blog" to get a few things off my mind, body, soul, chest and shout from my soap box. But, hey, a bit of feedback is gratefully appreciated and a bit of arguing is acceptable, but again, LET'S PLAY NICE!

I'll try to post relevant comments on current news and things going on in my local community and in my profession (not on my employer or the rules that govern my job).

I call myself the "blackholeofcalcutta" because my mother used to say that walking into a cousin's house was like walking into the "black hole of calcutta" -- down in the souks and markets in the dankest, darkest, areas of the city, where the locals would go to shop, eat, argue, play "triktrak", smoke, and generally socialize.

The View from the black hole will be my "souk" that I can come to and shop, eat, argue, play 42, smoke and generally socialize. So, comments and dialogue are encouraged, and argueing is allowed, but please, keep the INFLAMING for somewhere else, I just don't think my bloodpressure will take it!! LOL :-)
No, really, feel free to make your stand... I'm a big girl--- I can take it!!

I will do my best to update this blogspot AT LEAST 3 TIMES A WEEK. I received a Laptop for Christmas so I find I'm on the 'net a little more often. When I get home from work I do find the last thing I want to sit in front of any longer is a computer, but I'll do my best to post daily. I'll post some pic's and hopefully learn how to post "tag" lines, and may try to get some links to my favorite 'bloggers on blogspot.

So, ladies and gentlemen, sit back relax and away we go........

BlackHoleOfCalcutta