For your overall household happiness and emotional well-being, please note the following graph:
Study this material well, as you will tested on it in the future.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Friday Funnies
For your overall household fiscal and financial well-being, please note the following diagram:
For your overall household happiness and emotional well-being, please note the following graph:
Study this material well, as you will tested on it in the future.
For your overall household happiness and emotional well-being, please note the following graph:
Study this material well, as you will tested on it in the future.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
No Time For Talk
Time is short this week, so I am sorry for the absence.
But here is a short video put out by the Heritage Foundation that I think many of you will find interesting.
I think all of it made sense, but two comments stood out the most.
1. Did you note what Rep. Allen West (R-FL) said at the 0:47 mark?
It takes five miles to turn an aircraft carrier. So if we want this thing turned around, we have to start sometime. We have to do it now. Nancy Pelosi and her band of bitter screechers will just have to scream how unfair it is. We have to turn it around or it's going to sink. We have no choice.
2. Did you note what Rep. James Lankford (R-OK) said at the 1:27 mark?
Every generation I have been acquainted with in my time on this earth has worked hard to make things better for their children and grandchildren. My parents did it for me, their parents did it for them.
Take heart folks, because this is no game. It used to be funny, jokes about politicians spending money have always been around and have been quite entertaining at times. But not anymore. now it's going to take men and women with guts to make tough decisions.
Time to suck it up folks. Time to see who gives a damn and who doesn't.
But here is a short video put out by the Heritage Foundation that I think many of you will find interesting.
I think all of it made sense, but two comments stood out the most.
1. Did you note what Rep. Allen West (R-FL) said at the 0:47 mark?
It takes five miles to turn an aircraft carrier. So if we want this thing turned around, we have to start sometime. We have to do it now. Nancy Pelosi and her band of bitter screechers will just have to scream how unfair it is. We have to turn it around or it's going to sink. We have no choice.
2. Did you note what Rep. James Lankford (R-OK) said at the 1:27 mark?
Every generation I have been acquainted with in my time on this earth has worked hard to make things better for their children and grandchildren. My parents did it for me, their parents did it for them.
Take heart folks, because this is no game. It used to be funny, jokes about politicians spending money have always been around and have been quite entertaining at times. But not anymore. now it's going to take men and women with guts to make tough decisions.
Time to suck it up folks. Time to see who gives a damn and who doesn't.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Meet Gov. Mitch Daniels
For those of you who do not know my governor, I hope you will make some time and watch this speech given by Mitch Daniels at the CPAC. It's a little over a half hour. First you will need to bear through the short introduction by George Will. Those who know George will know that he is not the most animated speaker you will ever encounter, but he says much in a very short passage.
Although he's more lively than Will, Gov. Daniels is not an oratorical scientist either. He does not use a speech to incite by emotion like our current President did on his way to the White House. There are no rhymes, no abundance of tone fluctuations. What you will find, however, is that he uses intelligent and reasoned statements to inspire and provoke deep and careful thoughts. He uses the power of persuasion to convince, and does it through a deep sense of conviction.
The Governor is not without some fault. As is the case with every human being drawing breath on this earth, he is not perfect.
If he gets serious about a run for the WH, it is certain that the left will dig up something insignificant from his formative years, which is a time when we all were susceptible to poor decisions now and then. And as we all know, the MSM will run with it like he knocked off a gas station and shot a clerk. Those people are despicable and will stop and nothing to distract us from the here and now, and it will be no different with Mr. Daniels.
In the matters of policy, there may be some things he says that may not be agreeable to every conservative--maybe not in this speech, but in another down the road. He may not be as socially conservative as some people will prefer, which means you may not hear him get overly involved in some issues of conscience. But that doesn't mean he is oblivious to them.
The point is, if you listen to this speech carefully, without bias and prejudice, you may discover that this a man who is both qualified capable to lead this nation in the direction it so desperately needs to be led. And to answer the more important questions in your mind, he can beat Barack Obama and he can raise the money it will take to do it.
I am not writing this to sing his praises because he is my Governor. I am presenting this to my readers, in the hopes that they will listen to the speech. I am hoping that it will give cause for many to think about the choice they will face in the 2012 GOP nomination process. Daniels hasn't declared his candidacy yet, but we can still hear what he is saying and use it to make the best informed choice we can... based on everything that is important, not related to pure emotion.
It will not be easy an easy choice to make, when the time comes. By the time it all gets going, there will be a lot being said and the words will be flying everywhere. My hope is that this speech will give you a good overview of who Mitch Daniels is and what he has done for the state of Indiana. And if he ends up being a candidate, you can put him on your short list.
He is down to earth, he rides a Harley, and has spent a lot of time listening to the common citizens of this state. He has executive experience in the private sector, as well as several advisory roles in government going back to the Reagan Administration. And more than anything else, he has not been afraid to do what he thinks is right despite the horrible things the Democrats have said about him, along the way. And the harsh words have been many.
The result of this immeasurable courage has been a solvent state that is in the black, while every state that surrounds it is sinking in a sea of red ink. There are problems here in Indiana, just like anywhere else. The economy has created suffering here too. But it is nowhere near the levels we see in other parts of the country--places where government promotes government solutions, over those of private enterprise.
Here is the full text to read if you choose, with or without the backdrop of the sound. I listened to it twice to make sure I didn't miss something while I was thnking deeply about something he said.
I truly hope you take the opportunity to listen and digest what he is saying.
Although he's more lively than Will, Gov. Daniels is not an oratorical scientist either. He does not use a speech to incite by emotion like our current President did on his way to the White House. There are no rhymes, no abundance of tone fluctuations. What you will find, however, is that he uses intelligent and reasoned statements to inspire and provoke deep and careful thoughts. He uses the power of persuasion to convince, and does it through a deep sense of conviction.
The Governor is not without some fault. As is the case with every human being drawing breath on this earth, he is not perfect.
If he gets serious about a run for the WH, it is certain that the left will dig up something insignificant from his formative years, which is a time when we all were susceptible to poor decisions now and then. And as we all know, the MSM will run with it like he knocked off a gas station and shot a clerk. Those people are despicable and will stop and nothing to distract us from the here and now, and it will be no different with Mr. Daniels.
In the matters of policy, there may be some things he says that may not be agreeable to every conservative--maybe not in this speech, but in another down the road. He may not be as socially conservative as some people will prefer, which means you may not hear him get overly involved in some issues of conscience. But that doesn't mean he is oblivious to them.
The point is, if you listen to this speech carefully, without bias and prejudice, you may discover that this a man who is both qualified capable to lead this nation in the direction it so desperately needs to be led. And to answer the more important questions in your mind, he can beat Barack Obama and he can raise the money it will take to do it.
I am not writing this to sing his praises because he is my Governor. I am presenting this to my readers, in the hopes that they will listen to the speech. I am hoping that it will give cause for many to think about the choice they will face in the 2012 GOP nomination process. Daniels hasn't declared his candidacy yet, but we can still hear what he is saying and use it to make the best informed choice we can... based on everything that is important, not related to pure emotion.
It will not be easy an easy choice to make, when the time comes. By the time it all gets going, there will be a lot being said and the words will be flying everywhere. My hope is that this speech will give you a good overview of who Mitch Daniels is and what he has done for the state of Indiana. And if he ends up being a candidate, you can put him on your short list.
He is down to earth, he rides a Harley, and has spent a lot of time listening to the common citizens of this state. He has executive experience in the private sector, as well as several advisory roles in government going back to the Reagan Administration. And more than anything else, he has not been afraid to do what he thinks is right despite the horrible things the Democrats have said about him, along the way. And the harsh words have been many.
The result of this immeasurable courage has been a solvent state that is in the black, while every state that surrounds it is sinking in a sea of red ink. There are problems here in Indiana, just like anywhere else. The economy has created suffering here too. But it is nowhere near the levels we see in other parts of the country--places where government promotes government solutions, over those of private enterprise.
Here is the full text to read if you choose, with or without the backdrop of the sound. I listened to it twice to make sure I didn't miss something while I was thnking deeply about something he said.
I truly hope you take the opportunity to listen and digest what he is saying.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Another Blast From the Past
An age old question put into lyrics and an awesome tune, by the man known as the quiet Beatle:
Enjoy.
Enjoy.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Friday Funnies
How does Washington manage to spend so much? There are a whole host of reasons, but a couple components to this complex answer can be found in this video:
It might seem funny to intelligent free-thinking rational people like us, but in a way we should feel a bit ashamed for laughing at their stupidity. It's just their culture. It's the Washington way.
It might seem funny to intelligent free-thinking rational people like us, but in a way we should feel a bit ashamed for laughing at their stupidity. It's just their culture. It's the Washington way.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
A Convenient Truth
I hate to keep harping about certain subjects when there are so many pressing issues in the news. But as I sit here knowing that it's one whole degree Fahrenheit outside, with four inches of snow on top of two inches of ice on top of another three inches of snow, it is hard to focus on Egypt's woes and the thorough and complete incompetence of this Administration.
Recently, someone I know posted on Facebook a picture of a marquee outside of a local Baptist church with snow knee deep, a message that said, "whoever is praying for snow, please stop". In my usual tone, I put up a comment that said:
One of her friends replied:
Well, I looked up the information that I could find about that person and saw she was from Bloomington Indiana, a progressive bastion of moonbattery and every whacked out theory known to mankind. So needless to say, it wasn't hard to see where she was coming from.
So what we can now gather from all of this frigid weather and uncharacteristic snow patterns in the south is, we are now supposed to buy into the new argument that the cold weather proves that warming is man-made, and we must act now or we will all be headed for a certain perilous future.
Here is an interesting article written over a year ago, worthy of a look.
The article cites National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) American consul at Norway, George Ifft:
Sounds like anyone from the current group of educated idiots who are propagating this lie. But if we read on we see:
But in the present crowd of alarmists, we see nothing that would indicate a change of thinking despite the fact that the weather has been cooler than when this whole religious cult began. Nada, zip, zilch.
Instead, we hear the false prophets trying to rationalize their way out of their man-made farce, by now saying that the world will get cooler for a few years before it will get warmer. So in essence, the earth is cooling because of man-made warming and we must continue to invest billions of dollars in green technology so that big greedy corporations like GE can nurse off of the government teat.
Here's a news flash for anyone who is falling for this crap: It's called weather. And even with all of the new meteorological technology that is available, the weather man still gets it wrong sometimes.
In my lifetime as a person who is aware of his surroundings, I have seen a cold period in the 60s and 70s. I have also seen a warming period in much of the 80s and 90s. This was once known as El Nino and was welcomed by most people who live in areas where winters can be harsh. Now, we are seeing a cooling trend again. But just as soon as the next El Nino appears, you can bet Bro. Al and his medicine show will once again be proclaiming the sins of the world to another generation of gullible idiots who educate themselves from news sound bites.
Recently, someone I know posted on Facebook a picture of a marquee outside of a local Baptist church with snow knee deep, a message that said, "whoever is praying for snow, please stop". In my usual tone, I put up a comment that said:
"Tell Al Gore to stop with the global warming stuff".
One of her friends replied:
"Unusual and excessive weather swings are a product of global warming. Personally, I consider this unusual"
Well, I looked up the information that I could find about that person and saw she was from Bloomington Indiana, a progressive bastion of moonbattery and every whacked out theory known to mankind. So needless to say, it wasn't hard to see where she was coming from.
So what we can now gather from all of this frigid weather and uncharacteristic snow patterns in the south is, we are now supposed to buy into the new argument that the cold weather proves that warming is man-made, and we must act now or we will all be headed for a certain perilous future.
Here is an interesting article written over a year ago, worthy of a look.
The article cites National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) American consul at Norway, George Ifft:
The Arctic seems to be warming up. Reports from fishermen, seal hunters, and explorers who sail the seas about Spitzbergen [an island 12 degrees south of the North Pole – ed.] and the eastern Arctic, all point to a radical change in climatic conditions, and hitherto unheard-of high temperatures. In fact, so little ice has never before been noted. The warmth of the waters makes it probable that the favorable ice conditions will continue for some time.
Sounds like anyone from the current group of educated idiots who are propagating this lie. But if we read on we see:
Ifft’s report appeared in NOAA’s Monthly Weather Review of November 1922. Whatever caused the “favorable conditions” in 1922, it is certain man-made greenhouse gases had nothing to do with it, and the rest of the world went on with the political and cultural revolutions of the 1920s without noticing any catastrophic climate change.
Of great interest is Ifft’s comment that the unprecedented melting brought about “favorable ice conditions” everyone hoped would “continue for some time.” In the report Ifft also detailed an expedition made that summer which set a record, “sailing as far north as 81˚ 29’ in ice-free water.” Ifft published a follow-up report in the December edition of the same publication in which he explained researchers credited sun-spot and oceanic cycles with the “exceptionally favorable ice conditions.”
But in the present crowd of alarmists, we see nothing that would indicate a change of thinking despite the fact that the weather has been cooler than when this whole religious cult began. Nada, zip, zilch.
Instead, we hear the false prophets trying to rationalize their way out of their man-made farce, by now saying that the world will get cooler for a few years before it will get warmer. So in essence, the earth is cooling because of man-made warming and we must continue to invest billions of dollars in green technology so that big greedy corporations like GE can nurse off of the government teat.
Here's a news flash for anyone who is falling for this crap: It's called weather. And even with all of the new meteorological technology that is available, the weather man still gets it wrong sometimes.
In my lifetime as a person who is aware of his surroundings, I have seen a cold period in the 60s and 70s. I have also seen a warming period in much of the 80s and 90s. This was once known as El Nino and was welcomed by most people who live in areas where winters can be harsh. Now, we are seeing a cooling trend again. But just as soon as the next El Nino appears, you can bet Bro. Al and his medicine show will once again be proclaiming the sins of the world to another generation of gullible idiots who educate themselves from news sound bites.
Wednesday, February 09, 2011
Multicultural Failure
I think PM Cameron is finally starting to get it.
And it's not just him. Angela Merkel is coming around too.
The theory of a melting pot is only a myth in this day and age. Europe is not a melting pot, neither is America.
If anything, we are a mosaic, separate tiles formed together by force. No common connections, no blending of minds and/or spirits. No blending of colors like in an oil painting. No blending, period.
The two strongest nations that comprise Europe are finally getting the hint here. It's nothing to jump up and down about. But it is a start.
At least they are not afraid to talk about it.
"We have failed to provide a vision of society to which they feel they want to belong. We have even tolerated these segregated communities behaving in ways that run counter to our values."
And it's not just him. Angela Merkel is coming around too.
Speaking to a meeting of young members of her Christian Democratic Union party, Merkel said the idea of people from different cultural backgrounds living happily "side by side" did not work.
She said the onus was on immigrants to do more to integrate into German society.
"This [multicultural] approach has failed, utterly failed," Merkel told the meeting in Potsdam, west of Berlin, yesterday.
The theory of a melting pot is only a myth in this day and age. Europe is not a melting pot, neither is America.
If anything, we are a mosaic, separate tiles formed together by force. No common connections, no blending of minds and/or spirits. No blending of colors like in an oil painting. No blending, period.
The two strongest nations that comprise Europe are finally getting the hint here. It's nothing to jump up and down about. But it is a start.
At least they are not afraid to talk about it.
Monday, February 07, 2011
Mon AM QB
Packer 31 - Steelers 25
This is the last one of the year. But in all honesty I must confess that I went to bed after the halftime show nauseated me. If my Facebook news feed was any indication, I wasn't the only one.
As for the game, I didn't have much a dog in the fight. That and the fact I have been dealing with a medium-level family crisis the past 3 days, I just didn't have much interest this year.
It sounds like it was a good game down the stretch. Aaron Rodgers was the MVP, as he has finally blossomed into the elite QB status (where the media has had him since he took over for Favre). My congrats go out to Green Bay and their fans.
Now, it's your turn to tell me what I missed in the second half and any other thoughts you have on the past season, here in the season's last edition of Mon AM QB.
Until September.....when we can once again see Greg say that Eli Manning is the most overrated QB in the league and Rocket tell us just how much he hates the Dallas Cowboys.
This is the last one of the year. But in all honesty I must confess that I went to bed after the halftime show nauseated me. If my Facebook news feed was any indication, I wasn't the only one.
As for the game, I didn't have much a dog in the fight. That and the fact I have been dealing with a medium-level family crisis the past 3 days, I just didn't have much interest this year.
It sounds like it was a good game down the stretch. Aaron Rodgers was the MVP, as he has finally blossomed into the elite QB status (where the media has had him since he took over for Favre). My congrats go out to Green Bay and their fans.
Now, it's your turn to tell me what I missed in the second half and any other thoughts you have on the past season, here in the season's last edition of Mon AM QB.
Until September.....when we can once again see Greg say that Eli Manning is the most overrated QB in the league and Rocket tell us just how much he hates the Dallas Cowboys.
Sunday, February 06, 2011
Desperate Measures In A Surreal Existence
Since late last year, there was a concerted effort to cast Obama as channeling Reagan as part of his miraculous recovery, from liberal tax and spend policies to just plain spend. Someone who says he's Howard Fineman is thus quoted:
That was HuffyPo.
In Time magazine, it's still being discussed.
Okay, let's really channel Reagan right now and see what he would say. Wait....it's coming....hold on......
Thus saith Ronald Wilson Reagan to Barack Obama:
Cut taxes, cut spending, and get government off of the backs of the people. Let the market decide.
Reagan was far from perfect, as even the staunchest of conservatives may not want to admit. He was forced to compromise with a Democratic Congress too often, which always ends up bad. But he picked and chose his battles wisely. And if avoiding being painted like Carter is Obama's goal, it's way too late for that.
As we watch the events in the Middle East unfold and learn more details about the sad economic numbers, it only stands to reason that what we are doing isn't working. If Obama really wants to surrender his heart and soul to what is right and true, this is what he needs to be able to say this publicly... and often.
But somehow we all know this isn't going to happen.
He isn't giving up his core beliefs that includes government being the answer to all problems. He is trying to cozy up for the moment, to see what he can do in order to get the priority things on his agenda through. So far, he's agreed to let people keep the tax cut they already had. Nothing changed.
I really think he and his handlers are trying to BS the people into thinking that he cut taxes, when he really didn't. Simply put, Obama and his wayward Congress didn't allow the Bush tax cuts to expire. Nothing went up or down. He'll have to do way better than that to claim some inner channeling of the Gipper.
Reagan made the country stronger in mind and spirit, and generally uplifted people by restoring their pride in their country. Obama has embarrassed this nation, time and time again by bowing to despots and kissing a monarch's ring. Reagan went to Iceland and walked away from a crappy deal offered to him by Gorbachev, who thought the U.S. President was as weak as the one who preceded him. Obama gave the Russians everything they asked for with no bargaining, whatsoever.
In the desperate moments of what will likely become a failed presidency, it will be hard to note which act or inaction caused the most damage. Equally, it will be difficult to determine how long the damage caused will last. If nothing else, this bunch is setting the thing up for further failure in the next administration, should they not win re-election.
So, we must hope and pray that someone along the way can get some detailed plans together and put them to the test. Getting something solidly together in the the way of spending cuts all around the board, makes a good first gesture. If Mr. Obama is serious, he'll have no problem giving up a goodwill gesture and offer to cut spending in every government department. No exceptions.
Despite these things I noted in this story, I still have to shake my head in disbelief at what we have now seen ourselves become in the last four years, with the last two being the clincher.
We are watching the Middle east explode, we have not seen any real gainful improvement in the jobs numbers, food and oil prices are going up, and we have a press that wants to assist the White House by creating a myth for an image. We are watching nation after nation lose confidence in both, our integrity, resolve, and our financial solvency.
And despite these massive red flags, very few people are the least bit concerned. The biggest dilemma in this life for them is, they cannot decide whether or not they like the new American Idol without Simon.
If this is a dream, please wake me now. If not, pour me a stiff drink.
"The irony here is that the president is sort of channeling Ronald Reagan in an effort not to become Jimmy Carter ... but the point is, the president is validating the idea of tax cuts as the centerpiece of economic policy."
That was HuffyPo.
In Time magazine, it's still being discussed.
...it became clear to several in the room that Obama seemed less interested in talking about Lincoln's team of rivals or Kennedy's Camelot than the accomplishments of an amiable conservative named Ronald Reagan, who had sparked a revolution three decades earlier when he arrived in the Oval Office.
Okay, let's really channel Reagan right now and see what he would say. Wait....it's coming....hold on......
Thus saith Ronald Wilson Reagan to Barack Obama:
Cut taxes, cut spending, and get government off of the backs of the people. Let the market decide.
Reagan was far from perfect, as even the staunchest of conservatives may not want to admit. He was forced to compromise with a Democratic Congress too often, which always ends up bad. But he picked and chose his battles wisely. And if avoiding being painted like Carter is Obama's goal, it's way too late for that.
As we watch the events in the Middle East unfold and learn more details about the sad economic numbers, it only stands to reason that what we are doing isn't working. If Obama really wants to surrender his heart and soul to what is right and true, this is what he needs to be able to say this publicly... and often.
But somehow we all know this isn't going to happen.
He isn't giving up his core beliefs that includes government being the answer to all problems. He is trying to cozy up for the moment, to see what he can do in order to get the priority things on his agenda through. So far, he's agreed to let people keep the tax cut they already had. Nothing changed.
I really think he and his handlers are trying to BS the people into thinking that he cut taxes, when he really didn't. Simply put, Obama and his wayward Congress didn't allow the Bush tax cuts to expire. Nothing went up or down. He'll have to do way better than that to claim some inner channeling of the Gipper.
Reagan made the country stronger in mind and spirit, and generally uplifted people by restoring their pride in their country. Obama has embarrassed this nation, time and time again by bowing to despots and kissing a monarch's ring. Reagan went to Iceland and walked away from a crappy deal offered to him by Gorbachev, who thought the U.S. President was as weak as the one who preceded him. Obama gave the Russians everything they asked for with no bargaining, whatsoever.
In the desperate moments of what will likely become a failed presidency, it will be hard to note which act or inaction caused the most damage. Equally, it will be difficult to determine how long the damage caused will last. If nothing else, this bunch is setting the thing up for further failure in the next administration, should they not win re-election.
So, we must hope and pray that someone along the way can get some detailed plans together and put them to the test. Getting something solidly together in the the way of spending cuts all around the board, makes a good first gesture. If Mr. Obama is serious, he'll have no problem giving up a goodwill gesture and offer to cut spending in every government department. No exceptions.
Despite these things I noted in this story, I still have to shake my head in disbelief at what we have now seen ourselves become in the last four years, with the last two being the clincher.
We are watching the Middle east explode, we have not seen any real gainful improvement in the jobs numbers, food and oil prices are going up, and we have a press that wants to assist the White House by creating a myth for an image. We are watching nation after nation lose confidence in both, our integrity, resolve, and our financial solvency.
And despite these massive red flags, very few people are the least bit concerned. The biggest dilemma in this life for them is, they cannot decide whether or not they like the new American Idol without Simon.
If this is a dream, please wake me now. If not, pour me a stiff drink.
Saturday, February 05, 2011
Another Blast From the Past
Many of the modern artists, who are part of today's rock scene, clearly got their creative influences from others who laid the ground work before them. Music tends to be a bit cyclical that way.
If you close your eyes and just listen to this tune, you might start to think you are listening to Roy Orbison:
This next one isn't quite as obvious unless you can dig deep and go way back in your minds.
The singer, Scott Weiland, does not sound a bit like Allan Clarke or Graham Nash. But the musical composition and the melodic harmonies are what make me think of the Hollies when I listen to it.
See what you think:
Enjoy.
If you close your eyes and just listen to this tune, you might start to think you are listening to Roy Orbison:
This next one isn't quite as obvious unless you can dig deep and go way back in your minds.
The singer, Scott Weiland, does not sound a bit like Allan Clarke or Graham Nash. But the musical composition and the melodic harmonies are what make me think of the Hollies when I listen to it.
See what you think:
Enjoy.
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