1. Kidnappers are not very interested in you.
2. In a hostage situation you are likely to be released first.
3. No one expects you to run--anywhere.
4. People call at 9:00 pm and ask, "Did I wake you???"
5. People no longer view you as a hypochondriac.
6. There is nothing left to learn the hard way.
7. Things you buy now won't wear out.
8. You can eat dinner at 4 pm.
9. You can live without sex, but not without your glasses.
10. You get into heated arguments about pension plans.
11. You no longer think of speed limits as challenge.
12. You quit trying to hold your stomach in no matter who walks into
the room.
13. You can sing along with elevator music.
14. Your eyes won't get much worse.
15. Your investment in health insurance is finally beginning to pay
off.
16. Your joints are more accurate meteorologists than the national
weather service.
17. Your secrets are safe with your friends because they can't remember
them either.
18. Your supply of brain cells is finally down to manageable size.
19. You can't remember who sent you this list!
20. And you notice these are all in Big Print for your convenience.
Monday, July 07, 2008
Bodies Revealed
I know a few cities have an exhibit called Bodies Revealed. It is an absolute must for everyone to go see. I thought it might be kind of blood, guts, and gore but it isn't. It is very tastefully done. You can see about everything you ever wanted to see inside your body and it is amazing. They had taken a body and sliced it into one inch thick slabs and it does look like a white steak with that bone in it. I never knew some parts were so small. The did some reverse casting and showed the blood vessels in various parts of the body, that was the coolest part. There were hearts, lungs, etc that had been riddled with cancer, emphysema, smokers lungs, etc. There were fact cards hanging on the walls around the exhibit and the saddest one is that 65% of Americans are overweight and 70% if heart disease is due to being overweight. Any way if the exhibit comes to your city make sure you go, it is definitely worth seeing.
Monday, June 30, 2008
John McCain
John McCain's Sons - no matter who you think is good ...
Talk about putting your most valuabl e where your mouth is! Apparently this was not "newsworthy"enough for the media to comment about. .. Just a question for each of us to seek an answer and not a statement.
You see...character is what's shown when the public is not looking. There were no cameras or press invited to what you are about to read about, and the story comes from one person in New Hampshire. One evening last July, Senator John McCain of Arizona arrived at the New Hampshire home of Erin Flanagan for sandwiches, chocolate-chip cookies and a heartfelt talk about Iraq. They had met at a presidential debate, when she asked the candidates what they would do to bring home American soldiers - - soldiers like her brother, who had been killed in action a few months earlier. Mr. McCain did not bring cameras or press. Instead, he brought his youngest son, James McCain, 19, then a private first class in the Marine Corps about to leave for Iraq. Father and son sat down to hear more about Ms. Flanagan's brother Michael Cleary, a 24-year-old Army First Lieutenant killed by an ambush ... a roadside bomb. No one mentioned the obvious: In just days, Jimmy McCain could face similar perils. 'I can't imagine what it must have been like for them as they were coming to meet with a family that .... ..' Ms. Flanagan recalled, choking up. 'We lost a dear one,' she finished. Mr. McCain, now the presumptive Republican nominee, has staked his candidacy on the promise that American troops can bring stability to Iraq. What he almost never says is that one of them is his own son, who spent seven months patrolling Anbar Province and learned of his father's New Hampshire victory in January while he was digging a stuck military vehicle out of the mud. Two of Jimmy's three older brothers went into the military. Doug McCain, 48, was a Navy pilot. Jack McCain, 21, is to graduate from the Naval Academy next year, raising the chances that his father, if elected, could become the first president since Dwight D. Eisenhower with a son at war. I chose to share this with those who I believe will pass it on, to others who will pass it on. We hear so much inflated trash out there. How about a simple act of kindness ... and dedication to others placed above oneself? Has anybody heard if Barack Hussein Obama has served in The American Armed Services? This is for all you potential Barack voters. From Barack's book, Audacity of Hope: "I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction." OBAMA DID NOT SAY that he would STAND WITH AMERICANS!
Talk about putting your most valuabl e where your mouth is! Apparently this was not "newsworthy"enough for the media to comment about. .. Just a question for each of us to seek an answer and not a statement.
You see...character is what's shown when the public is not looking. There were no cameras or press invited to what you are about to read about, and the story comes from one person in New Hampshire. One evening last July, Senator John McCain of Arizona arrived at the New Hampshire home of Erin Flanagan for sandwiches, chocolate-chip cookies and a heartfelt talk about Iraq. They had met at a presidential debate, when she asked the candidates what they would do to bring home American soldiers - - soldiers like her brother, who had been killed in action a few months earlier. Mr. McCain did not bring cameras or press. Instead, he brought his youngest son, James McCain, 19, then a private first class in the Marine Corps about to leave for Iraq. Father and son sat down to hear more about Ms. Flanagan's brother Michael Cleary, a 24-year-old Army First Lieutenant killed by an ambush ... a roadside bomb. No one mentioned the obvious: In just days, Jimmy McCain could face similar perils. 'I can't imagine what it must have been like for them as they were coming to meet with a family that .... ..' Ms. Flanagan recalled, choking up. 'We lost a dear one,' she finished. Mr. McCain, now the presumptive Republican nominee, has staked his candidacy on the promise that American troops can bring stability to Iraq. What he almost never says is that one of them is his own son, who spent seven months patrolling Anbar Province and learned of his father's New Hampshire victory in January while he was digging a stuck military vehicle out of the mud. Two of Jimmy's three older brothers went into the military. Doug McCain, 48, was a Navy pilot. Jack McCain, 21, is to graduate from the Naval Academy next year, raising the chances that his father, if elected, could become the first president since Dwight D. Eisenhower with a son at war. I chose to share this with those who I believe will pass it on, to others who will pass it on. We hear so much inflated trash out there. How about a simple act of kindness ... and dedication to others placed above oneself? Has anybody heard if Barack Hussein Obama has served in The American Armed Services? This is for all you potential Barack voters. From Barack's book, Audacity of Hope: "I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction." OBAMA DID NOT SAY that he would STAND WITH AMERICANS!
Monday, June 23, 2008
Goerge Will's questions to Obama
George Will's questions to Obama . . .
May 5, 2008 issue of Newsweek
'Questions for Obama' by George F. Will
"Senator, concerning the criteria by which you will nominate judges, you said: 'We need somebody who's got the heart, the empathy, to recognize what it's like to be a young teenage mom. The empathy to understand what it's like to be poor, or African-American, or gay, or disabled, or old.' Such sensitivities might serve an admirable legislator, but what have they to do with judging? Should a judge side with whichever party in a controversy stirs his or her empathy? Is such personalization of the judicial function inimical to the rule of law?
Voting against the confirmation of Chief Justice John Roberts, you said: Deciding 'truly difficult cases' should involve 'one's deepest values, one's core concerns, one's broader perspectives on how the world works, and the depth and breadth of one's empathy.' Is that not essentially how Chief Justice Roger Taney decided the Dred Scott case? Should other factors—say, the language of the constitutional or statutory provision at issue—matter?
You say, 'The insurance companies, the drug companies, they're not going to give up their profits easily when it comes to health care.' Why should they? Who will profit from making those industries unprofitable? When pharmaceutical companies have given up their profits, who will fund pharmaceutical innovations, without which there will be much preventable suffering and death? What other industries should 'give up their profits'?
ExxonMobil's 2007 profit of $40.6 billion annoys you. Do you know that its profit, relative to its revenue, was smaller than Microsoft's and many other corporations'? And that reducing ExxonMobil's profits will injure people who participate in mutual funds, index funds and pension funds that own 52 percent of the company?
You say John McCain is content to 'watch [Americans'] home prices decline.' So, government should prop up housing prices generally? How? Why? Were prices ideal before the bubble popped? How does a senator know ideal prices? Have you explained to young couples straining to buy their first house that declining prices are a misfortune?
Telling young people 'don't go into corporate America ,' your wife, Michelle, urged them to become social workers or others in 'the helping industry,' not 'the moneymaking industry.' Given that the moneymakers pay for 100 percent of American jobs, in both public and private sectors, is it not helpful?
Michelle, who was born in 1964, says that most Americans' lives have 'gotten progressively worse since I was a little girl.' Since 1960, real per capita income has increased 143 percent, life expectancy has increased by seven years, infant mortality has declined 74 percent, deaths from heart disease have been halved, childhood leukemia has stopped being a death sentence, depression has become a treatable disease, air and water pollution have been drastically reduced, the number of women earning a bachelor's degree has more than doubled, the rate of homeownership has increased 10.2 percent, the size of the average American home has doubled, the percentage of homes with air conditioning has risen from 12 to 77, the portion of Americans who own shares of stock has quintupled. Has your wife perhaps missed some pertinent developments in t his country tha t she calls 'just downright mean'?
You favor raising the capital gains tax rate to '20 percent or 25 percent.' You say this will not 'distort' economic decision making. Your tax returns on your 2007 income of $4.2 million show that you and Michelle own few stocks. Are you sure you understand how investors make decisions?
During the ABC debate, you acknowledged that when the capital gains rate was dropped first to 20 percent, then to 15 percent, government revenues from the tax increased and they declined in the 1980s when it was increased to 28 percent. Nevertheless, you said you would consider raising the rate 'for purposes of fairness.' How does decreasing the government's financial resources and punishing investors promote fairness? Are you aware that 20 percent of taxpayers reporting capital gains in 2006 had incomes of less than $50,000?
You favor eliminating the cap on earnings subject to the 12.4 percent Social Security tax, which now covers only the first $102,000. A Chicago police officer married to a Chicago public-school teacher, each with 20 years on the job, have a household income of $147,501, so you would take another $5,642 from them. Are they undertaxed? Are they too rich?
This November, electorates in four states will vote on essentially this language: 'The state shall not discriminate against, or grant preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin in the operation of public employment, public education or public contracting.' Three states— California , Washington and Michigan —have enacted such language. You made a radio ad opposing the Michigan initiative. Why? Are those states' voters racists?
You denounce President Bush for arrogance toward other nations. Yet you vow to use a metaphorical 'hammer' to force revisions of trade agreements unless certain weaker nations adjust their labor, environmental and other domestic policies to suit you. Can you define cognitive dissonance?
You want 'to reduce money in politics.' In February and March you raised $95 million. See prior question.
May 5, 2008 issue of Newsweek
'Questions for Obama' by George F. Will
"Senator, concerning the criteria by which you will nominate judges, you said: 'We need somebody who's got the heart, the empathy, to recognize what it's like to be a young teenage mom. The empathy to understand what it's like to be poor, or African-American, or gay, or disabled, or old.' Such sensitivities might serve an admirable legislator, but what have they to do with judging? Should a judge side with whichever party in a controversy stirs his or her empathy? Is such personalization of the judicial function inimical to the rule of law?
Voting against the confirmation of Chief Justice John Roberts, you said: Deciding 'truly difficult cases' should involve 'one's deepest values, one's core concerns, one's broader perspectives on how the world works, and the depth and breadth of one's empathy.' Is that not essentially how Chief Justice Roger Taney decided the Dred Scott case? Should other factors—say, the language of the constitutional or statutory provision at issue—matter?
You say, 'The insurance companies, the drug companies, they're not going to give up their profits easily when it comes to health care.' Why should they? Who will profit from making those industries unprofitable? When pharmaceutical companies have given up their profits, who will fund pharmaceutical innovations, without which there will be much preventable suffering and death? What other industries should 'give up their profits'?
ExxonMobil's 2007 profit of $40.6 billion annoys you. Do you know that its profit, relative to its revenue, was smaller than Microsoft's and many other corporations'? And that reducing ExxonMobil's profits will injure people who participate in mutual funds, index funds and pension funds that own 52 percent of the company?
You say John McCain is content to 'watch [Americans'] home prices decline.' So, government should prop up housing prices generally? How? Why? Were prices ideal before the bubble popped? How does a senator know ideal prices? Have you explained to young couples straining to buy their first house that declining prices are a misfortune?
Telling young people 'don't go into corporate America ,' your wife, Michelle, urged them to become social workers or others in 'the helping industry,' not 'the moneymaking industry.' Given that the moneymakers pay for 100 percent of American jobs, in both public and private sectors, is it not helpful?
Michelle, who was born in 1964, says that most Americans' lives have 'gotten progressively worse since I was a little girl.' Since 1960, real per capita income has increased 143 percent, life expectancy has increased by seven years, infant mortality has declined 74 percent, deaths from heart disease have been halved, childhood leukemia has stopped being a death sentence, depression has become a treatable disease, air and water pollution have been drastically reduced, the number of women earning a bachelor's degree has more than doubled, the rate of homeownership has increased 10.2 percent, the size of the average American home has doubled, the percentage of homes with air conditioning has risen from 12 to 77, the portion of Americans who own shares of stock has quintupled. Has your wife perhaps missed some pertinent developments in t his country tha t she calls 'just downright mean'?
You favor raising the capital gains tax rate to '20 percent or 25 percent.' You say this will not 'distort' economic decision making. Your tax returns on your 2007 income of $4.2 million show that you and Michelle own few stocks. Are you sure you understand how investors make decisions?
During the ABC debate, you acknowledged that when the capital gains rate was dropped first to 20 percent, then to 15 percent, government revenues from the tax increased and they declined in the 1980s when it was increased to 28 percent. Nevertheless, you said you would consider raising the rate 'for purposes of fairness.' How does decreasing the government's financial resources and punishing investors promote fairness? Are you aware that 20 percent of taxpayers reporting capital gains in 2006 had incomes of less than $50,000?
You favor eliminating the cap on earnings subject to the 12.4 percent Social Security tax, which now covers only the first $102,000. A Chicago police officer married to a Chicago public-school teacher, each with 20 years on the job, have a household income of $147,501, so you would take another $5,642 from them. Are they undertaxed? Are they too rich?
This November, electorates in four states will vote on essentially this language: 'The state shall not discriminate against, or grant preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin in the operation of public employment, public education or public contracting.' Three states— California , Washington and Michigan —have enacted such language. You made a radio ad opposing the Michigan initiative. Why? Are those states' voters racists?
You denounce President Bush for arrogance toward other nations. Yet you vow to use a metaphorical 'hammer' to force revisions of trade agreements unless certain weaker nations adjust their labor, environmental and other domestic policies to suit you. Can you define cognitive dissonance?
You want 'to reduce money in politics.' In February and March you raised $95 million. See prior question.
Ravelry and Cupcakes
I went to The Studio yesterday afternooon and sat outside in the heat and sun knitting with other ravelers eating cupcakes. There is a group on ravelry that I belong to and yesterday they had a gathering in the parking lot of The Studio. We were to bring stuff for Harvesters and cupcakes. The best cupcakes had toothpicks made into knitting needles and balls of yarn as the decor. Too much time taken from knitting to make these but they were so cute. Anyway there were too many cupcakes, I brought most of mine home with frosting melted. There were prizes, I did not win any, oh well. The owner of the store took our ravater and made buttons so we could see who was who. If they do this again please make it a cooler day.
George Carlin
I heard this morning on the way to work George Carlin died yesterday. He was a true comedian. I remember when I was in college he came and did a "concert." I went to a Methodist University so you can imagine the 7 words you can't say and other things were not allowed, so he redid an entire concert just for us and he was still awesome. His latest HBO specials were still right on. Whether you like him or not he did make you think about things and wonder why we do some of the things we do.
Goodbye George, we loved you.
Goodbye George, we loved you.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Garfield Turns 30 Today
Can you believe Garfield the cat turns 30 today? WHere has the time flown? I had a cat named Garfield, female that was orange and somewhat long haired. She and I shared the same birthday. One of my friends had a mother cat who got out and attacked by dogs and this was the only kitten left. I had her almost 21 years, she was my buddy.
So to both Garfields in my life. Salute!
So to both Garfields in my life. Salute!
Just Say NO to BO
Do I have this straight?
His father was a black african muslim from Kenya. Have we seen pictures of his african family? His mother was a white american atheist from Kansas. Where are the pictures of his american family? His father deserted his mother when he was only two years old and went back to Africa by way of Harvard University. How? Was his father wealthy?
His mother married an indonesian muslim and then moved to Jakarta where he was enrolled in a muslim school. When he reached high school age his mother sent him to be with his white grandparents and he was put into an expensive private school in Hawaii. He later went to Harvard University. How were his grandparents rich? He lives in a $1.4 million house obtained through a deal with a wealthy fundraiser. How?
He worked as a civil rights activist in Chicago. He has never held a productive job or received a pay check that was not government funded and/or taxpayer supported.
The Presidency is not a civil rights position, nor is it subject to affirmative action set asides; on-the-job training won't cut it.
He entered politics at the state level and then the national level where he has minimal experience. He is proud of his african heritage (a father who got a white girl pregnant and deserted her).
WHere is the pride in his white heritage? A mother who flaunted convention and did not believe in God. Some might think there was not much to be proud of either way. He belongs, and has belonged for over 20 years, to an afro centric church in Chicago that hates whites, hates jews, and blames America for all the word's perceived faults.
He repeatedly whitewashes the pastor, his church and the members who cheered after hearing vitriolic tirades against America. He could not confront his pastor but he wants us to believe he can confront North Korea and Iran.
During his very brief time in the US Senate he has managed to amass the number one ultra liberal voting record out of the 100 members. He has voted consistently for bigger government and higher taxes. He has voted for big entitlements and legislation that would severely curtain America's ability to fight terrorism and to protect our borders and our national interests around the world.
He is a good orator but...is that a comfort? I think the truth is he hopes we don't see all of this but what is there to see about him, he has accomplished nothing and yet his wife and him are out there showing us their true colors. He is a wolf in sheep's clothing. Remember the terrorists said after 9/11 they wold infiltrate the US with someone in a high position. Can you get any higher than the position of the President of the United States?
Just say NO to BO.
His father was a black african muslim from Kenya. Have we seen pictures of his african family? His mother was a white american atheist from Kansas. Where are the pictures of his american family? His father deserted his mother when he was only two years old and went back to Africa by way of Harvard University. How? Was his father wealthy?
His mother married an indonesian muslim and then moved to Jakarta where he was enrolled in a muslim school. When he reached high school age his mother sent him to be with his white grandparents and he was put into an expensive private school in Hawaii. He later went to Harvard University. How were his grandparents rich? He lives in a $1.4 million house obtained through a deal with a wealthy fundraiser. How?
He worked as a civil rights activist in Chicago. He has never held a productive job or received a pay check that was not government funded and/or taxpayer supported.
The Presidency is not a civil rights position, nor is it subject to affirmative action set asides; on-the-job training won't cut it.
He entered politics at the state level and then the national level where he has minimal experience. He is proud of his african heritage (a father who got a white girl pregnant and deserted her).
WHere is the pride in his white heritage? A mother who flaunted convention and did not believe in God. Some might think there was not much to be proud of either way. He belongs, and has belonged for over 20 years, to an afro centric church in Chicago that hates whites, hates jews, and blames America for all the word's perceived faults.
He repeatedly whitewashes the pastor, his church and the members who cheered after hearing vitriolic tirades against America. He could not confront his pastor but he wants us to believe he can confront North Korea and Iran.
During his very brief time in the US Senate he has managed to amass the number one ultra liberal voting record out of the 100 members. He has voted consistently for bigger government and higher taxes. He has voted for big entitlements and legislation that would severely curtain America's ability to fight terrorism and to protect our borders and our national interests around the world.
He is a good orator but...is that a comfort? I think the truth is he hopes we don't see all of this but what is there to see about him, he has accomplished nothing and yet his wife and him are out there showing us their true colors. He is a wolf in sheep's clothing. Remember the terrorists said after 9/11 they wold infiltrate the US with someone in a high position. Can you get any higher than the position of the President of the United States?
Just say NO to BO.
Why Are You Unhappy?
I am not a Jay Leno fan but I might be after this. I am however a GW fan, we do forget he led us through 9/11 and it was not his fault the New Orleans fiasco turned out so bad, it was the city leaders. He is just a good ole boy who is doing the best he can. Would you take this job for $400K a year and what kind of job would you do?
----- DON'T QUIT READING AFTER THE FIRST LINE. KEEP GOING. IT IS GOOD AND SO TRUE!
Jay Leno wrote this; it's the Jay Leno we don't often see.
As most of you know I am not a President Bush fan, nor have I ever been, but this is not about Bush, it is about us, as Americans, and it seems to hit the mark.
The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some Poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source, right?
The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the President. In essence, 2/3 of the citizenry just isn?t happy and wants a change. So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, ?What are we so unhappy about?''
A. Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week?
B.. Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter?
C. Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job?
D. Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food than Darfur has seen in the last year?
E. Maybe it?s the ability to drive our cars and trucks from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state?
F. Or possibly it?s the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter?
G. I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough either.
H.. Could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.
I. Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home.
J. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames, thus saving you, your family, and your belongings.
K. If while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss.
L.. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents, and neighborhoods where 90% of teenagers own cell phones and computers.
M. How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world?
Maybe all of the above is what has 67% of you folks unhappy. Fact is we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen.. No wonder the world loves the U.S. , yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have and what we hate about the country, instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.
I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11 or the president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks, or the commander-in-chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me?
Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much and make you so unhappy that you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad? Think about it! Are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the 'Media' told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day?
Make no mistake about it.
The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with a ''general'' discharge, an ?other than honorable'' discharge, or worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable? discharge after a few days in the brig.
So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans? Say what you want, but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells and when criticized try to defend their actions by 'justifying' them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book about how he didn't kill his wife, but, if he did, he would have done it this way. Insane!!!
Turn off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have in this country. There is exponentially more good than bad. We are among the most blessed people on Earth and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative. With hurricanes, tornadoes, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, and severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, 'are we
sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?'
Jay Leno
----- DON'T QUIT READING AFTER THE FIRST LINE. KEEP GOING. IT IS GOOD AND SO TRUE!
Jay Leno wrote this; it's the Jay Leno we don't often see.
As most of you know I am not a President Bush fan, nor have I ever been, but this is not about Bush, it is about us, as Americans, and it seems to hit the mark.
The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some Poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source, right?
The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the President. In essence, 2/3 of the citizenry just isn?t happy and wants a change. So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, ?What are we so unhappy about?''
A. Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week?
B.. Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter?
C. Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job?
D. Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food than Darfur has seen in the last year?
E. Maybe it?s the ability to drive our cars and trucks from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state?
F. Or possibly it?s the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter?
G. I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough either.
H.. Could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.
I. Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home.
J. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames, thus saving you, your family, and your belongings.
K. If while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss.
L.. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents, and neighborhoods where 90% of teenagers own cell phones and computers.
M. How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world?
Maybe all of the above is what has 67% of you folks unhappy. Fact is we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen.. No wonder the world loves the U.S. , yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have and what we hate about the country, instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.
I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11 or the president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks, or the commander-in-chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me?
Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much and make you so unhappy that you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad? Think about it! Are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the 'Media' told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day?
Make no mistake about it.
The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with a ''general'' discharge, an ?other than honorable'' discharge, or worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable? discharge after a few days in the brig.
So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans? Say what you want, but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells and when criticized try to defend their actions by 'justifying' them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book about how he didn't kill his wife, but, if he did, he would have done it this way. Insane!!!
Turn off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have in this country. There is exponentially more good than bad. We are among the most blessed people on Earth and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative. With hurricanes, tornadoes, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, and severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, 'are we
sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?'
Jay Leno
Drafting Guys over 60
This has to be from a vet
New Direction for the war on terrorists:
Send Service Vets over 60
I am over 60 and the Armed Forces think I'm too old to track down terrorists. You can't be older than 42 to join the military. They've got the whole thing backwards. Instead of sending 18-year olds off to fight, they ought to take us old guys. You shouldn't be able to join a military unit until you're at least 35.
For starters:
Researchers say 18-year-olds think about sex every 10 seconds. Old guys only think about sex a couple of times a day, leaving us more than 28,000 additional seconds per day to concentrate on the enemy.
Young guys haven't lived long enough to be cranky, and a cranky soldier is a dangerous soldier. My back hurts! I can't sleep, I'm tired and hungry. We are impatient and maybe letting us kill some jerk that desperately deserves it will make us feel better and shut us up for a while.
An 18 -year-old doesn't even like to get up before 10 a.m. Old guys always get up early to pee so what the heck. Besides, like I said, I'm tired and can't sleep and since I'm already up, I may as well be up killing some fanatical terrorist.
If captured we couldn't spill the beans because we'd forget where we put them. In fact, name, rank, and serial number would be a real brainteaser.
Boot camp would be easier for old guys. We're used to getting screamed and yelled at, and we're used to soft food. We've also developed an appreciation for guns. We've been using them for years as an excuse to get out of the house, away from the screaming and yelling.
They could lighten up on the obstacle course, however. I've been in combat and didn't see a single 20-foot wall with rope hanging over the side, nor did I ever do any pushups after completing basic training. I can hear the Drill Sgt. in the New army now, Get down and give me.... UHH....one!
Actually, the running part is kind of a waste of energy, too. I've never seen anyone outrun a bullet.
An 18-year-old has the whole world ahead of him. He's still learning to shave, to start up a conversation with a pretty girl. He still hasn't figured out that a baseball cap has a brim to shade his eyes, not the back of his head.
These are all great reasons to keep our kids at home to learn a little more about life before sending them off into harm's way.
Let us old guys track down those dirty rotten coward terrorists. The last thing an enemy would want to see right now is a couple of million cranck old geezers with bad attitudes and automatic weapons, who know that their best years are already behind them
If nothing else, put us on border patrol...we will have it secured the first night!
New Direction for the war on terrorists:
Send Service Vets over 60
I am over 60 and the Armed Forces think I'm too old to track down terrorists. You can't be older than 42 to join the military. They've got the whole thing backwards. Instead of sending 18-year olds off to fight, they ought to take us old guys. You shouldn't be able to join a military unit until you're at least 35.
For starters:
Researchers say 18-year-olds think about sex every 10 seconds. Old guys only think about sex a couple of times a day, leaving us more than 28,000 additional seconds per day to concentrate on the enemy.
Young guys haven't lived long enough to be cranky, and a cranky soldier is a dangerous soldier. My back hurts! I can't sleep, I'm tired and hungry. We are impatient and maybe letting us kill some jerk that desperately deserves it will make us feel better and shut us up for a while.
An 18 -year-old doesn't even like to get up before 10 a.m. Old guys always get up early to pee so what the heck. Besides, like I said, I'm tired and can't sleep and since I'm already up, I may as well be up killing some fanatical terrorist.
If captured we couldn't spill the beans because we'd forget where we put them. In fact, name, rank, and serial number would be a real brainteaser.
Boot camp would be easier for old guys. We're used to getting screamed and yelled at, and we're used to soft food. We've also developed an appreciation for guns. We've been using them for years as an excuse to get out of the house, away from the screaming and yelling.
They could lighten up on the obstacle course, however. I've been in combat and didn't see a single 20-foot wall with rope hanging over the side, nor did I ever do any pushups after completing basic training. I can hear the Drill Sgt. in the New army now, Get down and give me.... UHH....one!
Actually, the running part is kind of a waste of energy, too. I've never seen anyone outrun a bullet.
An 18-year-old has the whole world ahead of him. He's still learning to shave, to start up a conversation with a pretty girl. He still hasn't figured out that a baseball cap has a brim to shade his eyes, not the back of his head.
These are all great reasons to keep our kids at home to learn a little more about life before sending them off into harm's way.
Let us old guys track down those dirty rotten coward terrorists. The last thing an enemy would want to see right now is a couple of million cranck old geezers with bad attitudes and automatic weapons, who know that their best years are already behind them
If nothing else, put us on border patrol...we will have it secured the first night!
Post Turtle
While suturing a cut on the hand of a 75 year old Texas rancher, whose
hand was caught in a gate while working cattle, the doctor struck up a
conversation with the old man. Eventually the topic got around to Obama
and his bid to be our President.
The old rancher said, 'Well, ya know, Obama is a 'post turtle'.'
Not being familiar with the term, the doctor asked him what a 'post
turtle' was. The old rancher said, 'When you're driving down a country
road and you come across a fence post with a turtle balanced on top,
that's a 'post turtle'.'
The old rancher saw a puzzled look on the doctor's face, so he continued
to explai n. 'You know he didn't get up there by himself, he doesn't
belong up there, he doesn't know what to do while he is up there, and you
just wonder what kind of a dumb ass put him up there to begin with.'
hand was caught in a gate while working cattle, the doctor struck up a
conversation with the old man. Eventually the topic got around to Obama
and his bid to be our President.
The old rancher said, 'Well, ya know, Obama is a 'post turtle'.'
Not being familiar with the term, the doctor asked him what a 'post
turtle' was. The old rancher said, 'When you're driving down a country
road and you come across a fence post with a turtle balanced on top,
that's a 'post turtle'.'
The old rancher saw a puzzled look on the doctor's face, so he continued
to explai n. 'You know he didn't get up there by himself, he doesn't
belong up there, he doesn't know what to do while he is up there, and you
just wonder what kind of a dumb ass put him up there to begin with.'
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Animal Crackers
Yesterday I was eating a package of animal crackers. I happened to look at the ingredients. They are really pretty healthy cookies. I also noticed they have nutmeg in them. I knew they had a distinct taste, but nutmeg? Well, they are a kind of sugar cookie and I do like nutmeg in my sugar cookies. Is there anythng more comforting than a package of animal crackers?
Graduation
I don't remember my High School Graduation ceremony, it was 35 years ago. Must have been oh so memorable. I do remember the catty b's in my class made a list of what everyone would be doing. I can thumb my nose at them cos they put down I would be running a donut shop. Hey you snooty people I work for GW so there.
My niece graduated from HS this past weekend. It was certainly memorable for me. Thursday morning i broke out with Poison Ivy. Oh goody travelling with PI is not my idea of fun, I already had to deal with my father. Friday the 13th my mother, father and I set out to travel to North Carolina where my brother lives. Let's just say we were 3 hours late getting there. My father acted like a two year old, next time I say we either leave him at home or put one of those child leashes on him.
Saturday morning it was 90 at 10am and it was outside on wooden bleachers. Her HS is next to a cemetery, spooky. I went to see Kung Fu Panda with her and some of her friends that afternoon, go see it, it is good.
Sunday off to the beach, yea the beach, I love the beach and we have sand here, but no beach per se.
Monday I came home by myself and my parents will be home later this week. All in all it was a great trip, I miss the kid but she is 18 and all grown up now. Where does the time go?
My niece graduated from HS this past weekend. It was certainly memorable for me. Thursday morning i broke out with Poison Ivy. Oh goody travelling with PI is not my idea of fun, I already had to deal with my father. Friday the 13th my mother, father and I set out to travel to North Carolina where my brother lives. Let's just say we were 3 hours late getting there. My father acted like a two year old, next time I say we either leave him at home or put one of those child leashes on him.
Saturday morning it was 90 at 10am and it was outside on wooden bleachers. Her HS is next to a cemetery, spooky. I went to see Kung Fu Panda with her and some of her friends that afternoon, go see it, it is good.
Sunday off to the beach, yea the beach, I love the beach and we have sand here, but no beach per se.
Monday I came home by myself and my parents will be home later this week. All in all it was a great trip, I miss the kid but she is 18 and all grown up now. Where does the time go?
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