1. Anyone really believe that all celebrity deaths occur in groups of 3? Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson. It always seems to happen this way, but do you really think it does? Freaky.
2. I suggested a friend become a friend to another on Facebook. No real reason other than that person was going to the same event. I thought it would be nice. Anyways, this person asked me why I was doing it. She seemed to think I was trying to hook her up with people. I wasn't. My hooking up days are over (3 for 4 by the way). Anyways she asked if she thought she looked like she needed a man. I said no I don't think she looked like she needed a man. Then she said how would I know what she would look like if she needed a man? I didn't know what to say to that. Do women look a certain way when they need a man?
3. The Reverand Al sharpton is still clamoring for a stamp and a national day of mourning for Michael Jackson. Hey Al, get a clue. Also if you could shut up and stop talking forever, the world would be a better, happier place.
5. I saw a television advertisement for a new Land Rover. They said there was a special you could get one for as LITTLE as $799 a month. Are you kidding me? Even if I had coin, I wouldn't be paying that much for an everyday car. Are they really that much better than most cars? I think they are all over hyped and over priced if you ask me.
4. Yes I know bowling is not a sport, even though they play it on ESPN. Anyways have you ever watched the people at pro bowling matches sitting in the crowd. They all have a distinct look about them. Like it's 1976 and they are frozen in time. Bowling people age well. Must be the oil form the lanes preserving their skins. It's good for mullets at least.
6. State stuff. The governor of Pennsylvania wants to impose a 15% tax increase. Yeah that will go over well. There is a movement in Texas for that state to secede from the union. Go Texas Go! I'm all for state's rights. Lincoln would be rolling over in his grave if he heard this. I'd want to move to Texas if it happens.
[ This blog is brought to you by the word elimination and the number 322]
7. Dana Carvey is not funny anymore. Nor is Jim Carey, Will Farrell, or Robin Williams. It just gets to the point they are cartoons of themselves always playing the same character over and over. Carvey's ship went out 15 years ago, and he is still making appearances on The Tonight Show. Wow he must have some real good inside info to be getting these gigs. He just isn't funny. What has he done lately?
8. There's a morning radio show I listen to on the way to work. I won't mention the station or the hosts, because I like most of them. However there is one tool on the show; who drives me nuts. He makes weird sounds when trying to make a statement, never announces words correctly. Most of all, he has no concept of pop culture before the year 2000. No frame of reference to any old TV show or historical event. He just mumbles alot, and it drives me crazy. How he is considered a professional is beyond me. He is horrible. I just had to get this out. Isn't talent required to go on the air or can anyone get these types of gigs?
9. Walter Cronkite passes away, and the first 11 minutes of the national news is devoted to him. Overkill. Have you ever noticed how the media likes to prop up their own as god-like figures? They get propped up as heroes who seem to speak gospel at every turn? Who cares what they think? What they say? When I watch the news I want to hear reporting of the news, not their two cents. The best reporters just report the news without their opinions. I'd kill for some journalistic objectivity.
10. Pet Peeve Number 5035. When people say rocking the D. the big D. in the D. April in the D. They can't say DETROIT, they have to call it the D. Why is this? Slang gone wild? Laziness run a muck? Annoying. Do people from Philly say the big P? Rockin in the big P? I have to go to the P? Come on!
An economics professor at a local college made a statement
that he had never failed a single student before but had once failed an entire class.
That class had insisted that socialism worked and that no one would be poor and no one would be rich, a great equalizer..
The professor then said, "OK, we will have an experiment in this class on socialism. All grades would be averaged and everyone would receive the same grade so no one would fail and no one would receive an A. After the first test, the grades were averaged and everyone got a B.
The students who studied hard were upset and the students who studied little were happy.
As the second test rolled around, the students who studied little had studied even less and the ones who studied hard decided they wanted a free ride too so they studied little.
The second test average was a D! No one was happy.
When the 3rd test rolled around, the average was an F. The scores never increased as bickering, blame and name-calling all resulted in hard feelings and no one would study for the benefit of anyone else.
All failed, to their great surprise, and the professor told them that socialism would also ultimately fail because when the reward is great, the effort to succeed is great, but when government takes all the reward away, no one will try or want to succeed.
Could not be any simpler than that.
(thanks brotha Greg)
The oil is all in Texas, but all the dipsticks are in Washington DC
What is worse, city officials in power that are corrupted? Or those that apologize for them and still support them no matter what? I tend to think the supporters are the real problem here. They are the ones that keep re-electing these people. They are the ones that are jurors. They are the ones that help get these people in power. They are often in on the mix as well knowing of the crime or at last turning a blind eye to it. They are the ones ignorant of any wrong doing, because they themselves feel the crime isn't so bad. You see a crime is a crime is a crime, but to supporters of these officials, crimes all have different degrees. If it's not too bad of a crime, then the person should be exonerated from the get go.
People are always getting on my cases for "judging" others; but I'm not one to be subjective because a crime "isn't so bad". Specifically the scandal that has rocked the mayor's office of Detroit, and the city council. Kwame Kilpatrick, Monica conyers, Sam Riddle...all that surrounds them is being swept under the rug by "supporters" who feel a sense of entitlement with these people whom they've kept in power. Hey, if the person has done a wrong, then so be it. Quit apologizing for these folks. You like them? Fine. You want to support them? Fine. But geezus, get off this gig about it not being so bad. Elected and appointed officials are entrusted to do the right things - the will of the people. When they don't do the right things, well it's even worse when the will of the people doesn't even care to begin with.
The Mayor has changed. The Chief of Police has changed (in a very unsupported political move). The City Council needs to change, like Reeves and Watson - they must go! The way the city approves everyday business by the city council surely needs to change. Detroit needs to change, and it has to start with it's citizens. The mayor no matter how successful he has been in business, has a huge task ahead of him. The Police need the citizens to revolt against crime, or they will get nowhere. Detroit needs to change. Stop supporting these talking heads who sold you down the river long ago, and start making a difference yourself. Be the change. Am I hopeful? We'll see. Hope is far away. Just listening to the local media spout off about how great the city is, while not exposing all the apathy and blight is a crime in itself.
6. Announced we would meet with Iranians with no pre-conditions.
7. Gave away billions to AIG, also without pre-conditions.
8. Expanded the bailouts.
9. Insulted everyone who has ever loved a Special Olympian.
10. Doubled our national debt.
11. Announced a termination of the space defense system the day after
the North Koreans launched an ICBM.
12. Despite the urgings of his own CIA director and the prior 42 CIA
directors, released information on intelligence gathering.
Announced major restrictions on interrogation techniques used on
enemy combatant prisoners.
13. Accepted without public comment the fact that five of his cabinet
members cheated on their taxes and two other appointees withdrew
after they couldn't take the heat.
14. Appointed a Homeland Security Chief who quickly identified as
"dangers to the nation", groups including veterans of the military, and
opponents to abortion on demand, and who ordered that the word
terrorism no longer be used but instead referred to such acts as
man made disasters.
15. Circled the globe so he could openly apologize for America's
greatness.
16. Told Mexicans the violence in their country was mostly caused by
illegal guns from the U.S.
17. Politicized the census by moving it into the White House from its
Department of Commerce origins and announced ACORN [the
organization under massive scrutiny amid allegations of election
fraud] would manage the process.
18. Appointed as Attorney General the man who orchestrated the forced
removal and expulsion from America to Cuba of a nine-year old
whose mother died trying to bring him to a life of freedom in the
United States.
19. Salutes as heroes three Navy SEALS who took down three terrorists
who threatened one American life and the next day announces
members of the Bush administration will likely stand trial for
torturing a terrorist who had played a part in killing 3000 Americans,
by pouring water over his face.
20. Air Force One flew over New York City for a photo op without notifying
local authorities causing widespread panic.
21. Took over the American Automobile industry and handed over 50%
off to the unions [because he said he owed them].
22. Continued his drive for absolute gun control activities, thumbing his
nose at the 2nd Amendment.
23. Offered travel and living subsidies in the U.S. to Hamas activists
displaced from the Gaza Strip.
24. Got more airtime [TV] than Oprah Winfrey and was seldom in
Washington tending to the business of State.
25. Announced the closure of enemy combatants detention center in
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba but failed to address the issue of 'what' to
do with the 200+ prisoners currently held there. Rumors persist that
they'll be housed on U.S. soil.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2MjQ17kDng
FYI: 2.3 million jobs have been lost since the recovery package. But hey, like a friend of mine on Facebook said - "who cares, he's cute!".
Got this ditty passed on to me from my friend Woody. Interesting take on why your savings have gone down the drain! Makes sense and it's easy to read. Let me know what you think.
Derivative Markets:
An Easily Understandable Explanation of Derivative Markets:
Heidi is the proprietor of a bar in Detroit . She realizes that virtually all of her customers are unemployed alcoholics and, as such, can no longer afford to patronize her bar. To solve this problem, she comes up with new marketing plan that allows her customers to drink now, but pay later.
She keeps track of the drinks consumed on a ledger (thereby granting the customers loans).
Word gets around about Heidi's "drink now, pay later" marketing strategy and, as a result, increasing numbers of customers flood into Heidi's bar. Soon she has the largest sales volume for any bar in Detroit .
By providing her customers freedom from immediate payment demands, Heidi gets no resistance when, at regular intervals, she substantially increases her prices for wine and beer, the most consumed beverages. Consequently, Heidi's gross sales volume increases massively..
A young and dynamic vice-president at the local bank recognizes that these customer debts constitute valuable future assets and
Increases Heidi's borrowing limit. He sees no reason for any undue concern, since he has the debts of the unemployed alcoholics as collateral.
At the bank's corporate headquarters, expert traders transform these customer loans into DRINKBONDS, ALKIBONDS and PUKEBONDS. These securities are then bundled and traded on international security markets. Naive investors don't really understand that the securities being sold to them as AAA secured bonds are really the debts of unemployed alcoholics.
Nevertheless, the bond prices continuously climb, and the securities soon become the hottest-selling items for some of the nation's leading brokerage houses.
One day, even though the bond prices are still climbing, a risk manager at the original local bank decides that the time has come to demand payment on the debts incurred by the drinkers at Heidi's bar. He so informs Heidi.
Heidi then demands payment from her alcoholic patrons, but being unemployed alcoholics they cannot pay back their drinking debts. Since Heidi cannot fulfil her loan obligations she is forced into bankruptcy. The bar closes and the eleven employees lose their jobs.
Overnight, DRINKBONDS, ALKIBONDS and PUKEBONDS drop in price by
90%. The collapsed bond asset value destroys the banks liquidity and prevents it from issuing new loans, thus freezing credit and economic activity in the community.
The suppliers of Heidi's bar had granted her generous payment extensions and had invested their firms' pension funds in the various BOND securities. They find they are now faced with having to write off her bad debt and with losing over 90% of the presumed value of the bonds.. Her wine supplier also claims bankruptcy, closing the doors on a family business that had endured for three generations, her beer supplier is taken over by a competitor, who immediately closes the local plant and lays off 150 workers.
Fortunately though, the bank, the brokerage houses and their respective executives are saved and bailed out by a multi-billion dollar no-strings attached cash infusion from the Government. The funds required for this bailout are obtained by new taxes levied on employed, middle-class, moderate-drinkers.
"People are people, So why should it be, You and I should get along so awfully? DM
I've got some friends who are loners. They don't like to deal with people, crowds, traffic, etc. I've got some other friends who live for crowds, look for attention, and just bask in it all. Obviously it's different strokes for different folks. I don't spend too much time trying to figure out either type of friends, because I really don't care. Sometimes I roll my eyes at those who are unsocial. Sometimes I roll my eyes at those who are sheep for events. It all depends I guess on their reasoning and how it effects me. I'm selfish that way. I realize though it could be just as simple as the country mouse vs the city mouse for everyone's personalities.
The people that really bother me are those who I am dependant on. Those that I have to wait for things to get done before I can move forward. Those that take forever with a task. Those that have no concept of time (my time) or sense of urgency. Those that would rather play video games than finish a project. Those who like to talk instead of do. Those that have to watch reality tv, rather than live their own lives. Those that become slaves to pop culture and live an empty life following celebrities at every move.
I have no one to blame here, but myself. Not that I'm associated with them, because I do respect other aspects of them in my life. My issue is the dependany that I put on these people. They impede my progress, yet it's still my fault. These people arent accidents, I chose them to be around. I like them, love them, and even need them...but my patience is zero for many things. I feel I'm holding myself back from getting things done, and I only have to blame myself not them. Am I asking too much here?
I had a friend who was very social comment on another friend who was anti-social. He said " you know people need people, and one day he's going to need someone who won't be there for him". I know he was right in saying that. I just wonder if I expect too much from those, and become dependant on them to get things done in following that concept?
I think it goes without saying that I love sports. I've played them my whole life, followed teams religiously, played fantasy sports, coached different sports etc. It's just a part of who I am. However I must admit, I look forward to the off season of each major sport. I look forward to the breaks that are between the seasons. I find them to be natural breaks and much needed for my sanity.
Right now there is no football. I have friends who are dying for football season to begin. Not me! Why? Because I love football, and when it starts then I dive into it full force. But it really is pointless to think or worry about it during the off season. Sure it's nice to know what's going on in the leagues and what not, but you can easily find that out before the first week. Besides, if it's big news you'll hear about it anyways. I don't care how a team looks in exhibition or spring training. I don't care who comes to camp overweight. I just don't care. I don't think I ever really did. I just love the seasons, everything else is just noise.
The off seasons are a time to recharge for me. Then when the real season starts, I'm excited as a little kid in a candy store, ready to roll. Some would say that I'm like this about the breaks because my home teams aren't that good so I don't have anything to look forward to. That's not the case. I'll readily admit that Michigan and the Detroit pro team are going to have long seasons, but I follow the sport even if the home team is going to be weak.
The one thing I'll readily admit is that hockey season is too long. It needs to end in early May. End the season earlier, start the playoffs in March, then we have something that's near perfect. Besides I get spring fever and don't want to be tied to watching games when I can be outside. As for baseball, some people say it is too long. No way, baseball is summer and summer needs to last forever. Baseball is different in that regard. Football from September to January is just right! Although college football starts to early and ends too early. It needs to start in September and finish in late January with more games (and playoffs..that's another story). August needs to be sports free, except for baseball.
So when my friends are all bantering about wanting football season to begin or hockey season; I'll ignore it as usual. I'm enjoying baseball right now, and that's good enough for me. In fact it's great not being bothered by the other sports. Come October I'll be ready for baseball to be over with, and I can focus on hockey and football per usual. It's how I roll.
Confession - I once was on a bowling league, and it went from September through May. It was the longest season ever. It never seemed to end, and it made me want to quit. I was burned out by it. I don't even really like bowling. Don't tell anyone I was on a league either, it's kind of embarrassing.
House Democrats’ $1.5 trillion health care plan that relies on massive tax hikes on small businesses and job creators in the midst of a deepening economic recession. It will cause as many as 114 million Americans to lose their current coverage.
The chart identifies at least 31 new federal programs, agencies, commissions and mandates that accompany the unprecedented government takeover of health care in America.
The Democrats’ go-it-alone, tax and spend attitude isn’t the way to improve the best health care system in the world. Why does everyone want to be like France and Canada all the time?
If this doesnt tick you off, then you need to go watch more tv because you are useless. My friend wrote Senator Levin of Michigan about not supporting Cap & Trade bill. Of course his office spews out this generic message, probably (and I'm assuming) typed up by some pencil neck geek fresh out of college, who thinks they know better. In fact that's the whole problem with DC and the politicians..they all think they know better than you.
Representative democracy? Republic? This guy is a clown and is supporting something that isn't even conclusive to science. With a state (Michigan) in shambles, he continues to pass bills and raise taxes that send jobs overseas. The jobs that put him in office.
Wake Michigan, your Senator is a clown. Time to get him out of office. This response proves it.
Dear Mr. [removed the name to protect the smart]:
Thank you for contacting me regarding global climate change. I appreciate hearing your views on this important topic.
There is an overwhelming consensus among scientists that global warming is occurring and that human activity is causing it. Scientists tell us we need to act with urgency to reduce the levels of global greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere to prevent catastrophic impacts from occurring.
During this century, scientists predict average temperatures could increase between 2 and 11 degrees Fahrenheit above current levels, depending on the amount of heat-trapping greenhouse gases that continue to be emitted globally. Even small changes in average temperature could lead to extreme climatic events, such as heat waves, droughts and flooding. Other projected future impacts are alarming: portions of countries and entire islands could be lost to rising sea levels, crop yields could significantly decline and water shortages could occur. Worse yet are the impacts that are unknown and for which it is difficult to prepare.
I believe the best way to address global warming is through an effective and enforceable international agreement that binds all nations to reductions in greenhouse gases, including so-called developing nations that are major emitters, such as China and India. It is imperative we find a way to bring these rapidly developing countries and other large emitters into a binding agreement to control greenhouse gas emissions. If we do not get these countries on board, what we do in the U.S. will only have a marginal impact on controlling global greenhouse gas emissions and could lead to U.S.-based companies moving overseas.
While addressing global climate change presents a daunting challenge, it also could present a unique opportunity. A number of studies suggest that investment in clean energy could generate significant new employment opportunities. A June 2009 report released by the Pew Charitable Trusts found that between 1998 and 2007, jobs in clean energy grew at a national rate of 9.1 percent while traditional jobs grew by only 3.7 percent. In Michigan, clean energy jobs grew by 10.7 percent over the same period. By investing in research and development and advanced technologies, we can generate good paying jobs in the manufacturing and technology sectors.
The U.S. Congress has been considering various ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Many have recommended a plan where the United States would place limits on, or “cap,” its emissions of greenhouse gases. It would do so by issuing a finite amount of permits, or emission allowances, that allow regulated entities to emit carbon and other greenhouse gases. These emission allowances would be ratcheted down gradually over a number of years. This plan also could include the ability to trade and sell permits, which would potentially reduce the overall cost of the program.
On June 26, 2009, the House of Representatives passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES, H.R.2454) by a vote of 219 to 212. This legislation would establish a greenhouse gas cap-and-trade system and also includes energy-related provisions such as renewable electricity standards and energy efficiency requirements.
Title III of ACES would set up a cap-and-trade system designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from covered entities that would include most petroleum and gas producers and importers, electricity generators, large industrial sources, and natural gas local distribution companies. Taken together, it is estimated that these covered entities account for roughly 85 percent of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. The cap-and-trade portion of this legislation is designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with covered sources by 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020, and 83 percent below 2005 levels by 2050. The World Resources Institute estimates that, with the other provisions of H.R.2454, the potential net greenhouse gas emissions reduction of the bill could range from 28 to 33 percent below 2005 levels by 2020 and 75 to 81 percent below 2005 levels by 2050.
The American Clean Energy and Security Act contains several cost-containment mechanisms that attempt to mitigate price increases to consumers and businesses throughout the United States. To moderate energy price increases for electricity, home heating oil and natural gas, allowances would be distributed free of charge to electric distribution companies, local natural gas distribution companies and states. The bill would require these allowances to be used to protect consumers from energy price increases.
To help ensure manufacturers would not face unfair international competition from the cap and trade requirements, allowances would be distributed free of charge to energy-intensive, trade exposed sectors, such as the steel, paper and chemical industries. The bill also would allow sources covered by the cap to purchase credits from uncapped sources that achieve a measurable reduction, avoidance or sequestration of greenhouse gas emissions; these credits are commonly referred to as “offsets.” According to a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) analysis, the inclusion of domestic and international offsets in the bill is expected to reduce the overall costs of the bill by half. ACES also would establish an Allowance Auction Reserve that would release additional allowances into the market in the event of a swift price increase, which would dampen the allowance price and provide a measure of safety from runaway costs to consumers and industry.
Taking into account all of the above cost-containment mechanisms, CBO estimates that the average annual net cost of the cap-and-trade program established by ACES would be $175 per household, when distributed evenly across all income ranges. However, under ACES, proceeds from the cap-and-trade program would be used to help low-income consumers such that these families would see an average annual net benefit of about $40 by 2020.
As the Senate works to address climate change, several factors must be taken into account. Any climate legislation that is enacted must not only significantly reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, but also ensure the protection of consumers and workers, which requires taking into account regional differences that exist throughout the United States. As one of the most significant endeavors undertaken by Congress in decades, I will carefully review any cap-and-trade program or alternative approach to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
When legislation regarding climate change comes before the Senate, I will be sure to keep your views in mind. Thank you again for writing.
Some of these are repeats...but some arent. Yes? No?
Kissed any one of your Facebook friends? ---Yes
Been arrested? --- No
Kissed someone you didn't like? --- Yes
Slept in until 5 PM? --- No
Fallen asleep at work/school? --- Yes
Held a snake? --- No
Ran a red light? --- Yes
Been suspended from school? --- No
Experienced love at first sight? --- Yes
Totaled your car in an accident? --- No
Been in a vehicle at more than 100 mph? --- Yes
Driven a vehicle at more than 100 mph? --- No
Been fired from a job? --- Yes
Fired somebody? --- No
Sang karaoke? --- Yes
Pointed a gun at someone? --- No
Done something you told yourself you wouldn't? --- Yes
Laughed until something you were drinking came out your nose? --- Yes
Caught a snowflake on your tongue? --- Yes
Kissed in the rain? --- No
Had a close brush with death (your own)? --- No
Ever feared for your life? --- Yes
Seen someone die? --- Yes
Played spin-the-bottle? --- No
Sang in the shower? --- Yes
Smoked a cigar? --- No
Sat on a rooftop? --- Yes
Taken pictures of yourself naked? --- No
Smuggled something into another country? --- No
Been pushed into a pool with all your clothes? --- No
Broken a bone? --- Yes
Skipped school? --- Yes
Eaten a bug? --- Yes
Sleepwalked? --- No
Walked a moonlit beach? --- Yes
Rode a motorcycle? --- Yes
Dumped someone? --- Yes
Forgotten your anniversary? --- No
Lied to avoid a ticket? --- No
Ridden on a helicopter? --- Yes
Shaved your head? --- No
Played a prank on someone? --- Yes
Hit a home run? --- Yes
Felt like killing someone? --- Yes
Cross-dressed? --- No
Been falling-down drunk? --- Yes
Made your girlfriend/boyfriend cry? --- Yes
Eaten snake? ---No
Marched/Protested? --- Yes
Had Mexican jumping beans for pets? --- No
Puked on amusement ride? --- No
Seriously & intentionally boycotted something? --- Yes
Been in a band? --- No
Knitted? --- No
Been on TV? --- Yes
Shot a gun? --- Yes
Skinny-dipped? --- No
Gave someone stitches? --- Yes
Eaten a whole habenero pepper (or other hot peppers)? --- No
Ridden a surfboard? --- No
Drank straight from a liquor bottle? --- Yes
Had surgery? --- Yes
Streaked? --- No
Taken by ambulance to hospital? --- Yes
Tripped on mushrooms? --- No
Passed out when not drinking? --- No
Peed on a bush? --- Yes
Donated Blood? --- No
Grabbed electric fence? --- No
Eaten alligator meat? --- Yes
Eaten cheesecake? --- Yes
Killed an animal when not hunting? --- Yes
Peed your pants in public? --- No
Snuck into a movie without paying? --- No
Written graffiti? --- Yes
Still love someone you shouldn't? --- No
Think about the future? --- Yes
Been in handcuffs? --- No
Believe in love? --- Yes
Sleep on a certain side of the bed? --- Yes
Have a tattoo? --- No
"The man who lets a leader prescribe his course is a wreck being towed to the scrap heap." Ayn Rand
Jim Ferrell is a CEO of a good sized company. He has decided to speak his mind, even it costs him some business, or alienates his employees. Check it out..
You know, all my life I never really took part in politics because I thought the United States of America was so vibrant and free that nothing could happen to it. Not even stupid or corrupt politicians could destroy what our Founding Fathers had crafted or so I thought. Yes, I would be described as a Conservative because I basically like America the way it is with all its virtues and freedoms yet, inevitable faults. It isn’t a fair country in the sense that everyone has the same life or the same things. But it is without a doubt the most fair country ever conceived in terms of opportunity and freedom.
read more: http://jimferrell.net/
I wonder if he has political aspirations? Good time to start now huh? Or does he just want to hear himself talk? Or is he going to allow his employees to have their own discourse - maybe not on company time, but on his blog? Intersting dynamic here, when so many companies are shying away from allowing their employees to social network or voice their opinions. What do you think?
In the late 70's and early 80's there were many teams that wore powder blue uniforms, or shades there of. Why? No one knows for sure. They were pretty ugly, but in retrospect pretty cool. There was something very odd about those uniforms. Being a child from those times, I don't think I even noticed until years later. I'm still wondering what happened. Was it some Bill Vecck league wide propaganda ploy made to make your players stand out on TV? Did Topps force MLB to do this so they wouldn't have to send more colors to the printer? Was it just good luck to wear blue?
Phillies - Braves- Expos - Twins - Brewers - Royals - Cardinals - Braves - Cubs - Rangers - Mets - Blue Jays - Who did I miss?
Some Man Rules that were passed on to me. Can't say that I disagree much at all.
1. Men are NOT mind readers.
1. Learn to work the toilet seat.
You're a big girl. If it's up, put it down. We need it up, you need it down.
You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down.
1. Sunday sports: It's like the full moon or the changing of the tides.
Let it be.
1. Crying is blackmail.
1. Ask for what you want. Let us be clear on this one:
Subtle hints do not work! Strong hints do not work! Obvious hints do not work!
Just say it!
1. Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.
1. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That 's what we do.
Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.
1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In fact, all comments become Null and void after 7 Days.
1. If you think you're fat, you probably are. Don't ask us.
1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one.
1. You can either ask us to do something Or tell us how you want it done.
Not both. If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.
1. Whenever possible, Please say whatever you have to say during commercials...
1. Christopher Columbus did NOT need directions and neither do we.
1. ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings. Peach, for example, is a fruit, not A color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what mauve is.
1. If it itches, it will be scratched. We do that.
1. If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing," We will act like nothing's wrong.
We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.
1. If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, Expect an answer you don't want to hear.
1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine... Really .
1. Don't ask us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as baseball or hunting.
1. You have enough clothes.
1. You have too many shoes.
1. I am in shape. Round or Slim IS a shape!
1. Sleeping on the couch tonight. Men really don't mind that, it's like camping.
The 10 Cannots by William J. H. Boetcker. Not a bad list from a Presbyterian.
You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
You cannot help little men by tearing down big men.
You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.
You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.
You cannot establish sound security on borrowed money.
You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.
You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than you earn.
You cannot build character and courage by destroying men's initiative and independence.
And you cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they can and should do for themselves.
Sound common sense advice to live by. But hey, how can you live when Michael Jackson is dead?
Ever do something over and over just to make sure you did it right. But you know you did it right, but you still do it? For example - I know this guy who when he closes a door, he pushes on it 3 times. Why? Not sure...just has to do it. Another guy checks all the stove knobs and makes sure they are closed even when not in use. Another guy takes out the trash every single day because he can't have any trash in his house, even if it's just a napkin in the bin. I know a dude who's desk has to perfect every day, no papers, no pens...it has to be just right or he freaks out. It's like watching MONK, everything has to be just right, with the addition of doing things over and over. I know a chick that counts when she's stressing out. Just starts counting numbers in her head and doesn't stop. Nut job!
Or in this case, this unsure chick thought she was pregnant but couldn't rely on 1 or two tests, she needed 4! 4 tests to tell her all the same thing that she was pregnant. Why? What I could do with that money she spent on those tests...anyways. If she didn't believe the first test, why would the second one make a difference? Why didn't the third one seal the deal? Yet the first three we rent good enough. The fourth one had to be the one that proved it. Of course they all indicated yes to being pregnant, but what if one of them showed no? Would that mean she would have bought another one? It's possible all four were wrong right? Can't wait for this person to start changing diapers. Heck it probably takes her 4 outfits in the morning to figure out what she is going to wear for the day.
I wonder if all the root of this behavior is lack of confidence or just a screw loose? Maybe it is just superstitious or they just need the reassurance? I'm not a shrink I don't know. I just observe these odd behaviors. People doing things in 3 over and over. People doing things in 3 over and over. People doing things in 3 over
and over.
Facebook status updates can be lame, funny, and boring. More often than not, they annoy the hell out of me and I try to avoid them. Here is my latest collection that made my eyes roll.
GOD IS GOOD!! I THANK AND PRAISE HIM FOR ANOTHER DAY OF LIFE!! WELL HAVE A GREAT DAY AND GOD BLESS!!!!!!!
THANK GOD FIRST OF ALL FOR ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL DAY HE HAS GIVEN US! PRAY FOR MY SUGAR IT IS GOING CRAZY AGAIN! HAVE A GOOD DAY AND GOD BLESS ALL THAT TRUST AND OBEY HIM!!!!!!!
GONNA GO OUT AND WEEDEAT! I LOVE IT! MY SUGAR HAS BEEN GREAT THANK THE LORD! THE LORD HAS BLESSED ME AND MY FAMILY TO HIM I GIVE MY PRAISE!!!!!!!
Thinking It's A Sad Day. R.I.P Michael Jackson
Good morning facebook!!
We're awake, and I am ready once again for something good to happen...still staying positive!
I think I'll bake some cookies.
My kids are driving me crazy, but I love them!!!
Have a Wonderful Day!
Ha, I crack me up!
Ok now time to get back to business
Lyrics of the day: I may be just a foolish dreamer But I don't care'Cause I know my happiness is waiting out there somewhere I'm searching for that silver lining Horizons that I've never seen Oh I'd like to take just a moment and dream my dream Dream my dream
what a beautiful day!
needs caffeine..NOW
No matter what you may think of Michael Jackson, no one can deny he was an incredibly talented, powerful, and influential person. A real legend.
can't keep my eyes opened
had a long night, wish it was time to get off work
Growing up I had my baseball heroes. Pete Rose, George Brett, Nolan Ryan, Fred Lynn, and the list went on. I looked up to these guys, and I followed them every single day during the summer reading the box scores to see what they did the night before. I'd also look forward to every Saturday watching Mel Allen narrate This Week In Baseball to see all the highlights of the week (I loved the theme song!). I don't think I was that much different than most kids growing up at the time. These guys were larger than life. My friends and I would imitate their batting stances, collect baseball cards, and study their statistics. These players were gods to us, hereos in every sense of the word. We wanted to be like them.
Today with all the steroid issues, off the field incidents, contract squabbles etc it's really hard to find a hero in baseball. Are there any left? I'm not looking for heroes for myself. I am looking for guys that play baseball really hard, that are clean off the field, that don't cheat, that love and respect the game. Guys that kids can look up to, to dream about. Today who are the players a young kid would look up to? Who can they identify with? Manny Ramirez? No. ARod? No. I'd like to know who.
So reluctantly I turn an eye to the bad news of baseball, so I can hold on to the game itself. So I can hold on to my baseball hereos and hope they are still around somewhere. The game is still pure in it's design, and I just can't root for too many players out there. So I'll watch for the strategy, the game situations, the routines, the plays. I'll ignore the players who fill the jerseys and root for the plays only. I can't root for millionaires who cheat - I won't.
So as I watch the MLB All Star game I'll be rooting for jerseys. I don't care which league wins. I prefer National League style play (small ball), but my team is in the American League. Yet I don't care because I want to see good baseball, not any specific player. Tim Lincecum might be the only guy I really want to see, because that dude can pitch.
No more hereoes, and I think that's the problem with baseball.
Is there anything more annoying than someone hitting your car when it's parked? They don't leave a note, they don't look for you...they just take off. Who are these people? Some freaking liberal puke ran into my parked car, then took off. I'm not sure what bothers me more, that they hit car or that they just took off. Not like they were going to do anything, but an apology would have been nice. !$*%&!#*%!*&~%*)%
My Correspondences with the UK National LotteryShare
Today at 12:12am
Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 02:09:09 +0000
From: leo-stocker@bluewin.ch
Subject:
To:
UK National Lottery, congratulate you are a success Winner of £1,000,000.00 to claim your prize contact Barr terry woodgate, E-mail: barr.terrywoodgate@live.com Call +447035921440 Contact him, with your, Serial No:S/N-472-6756-79.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
June 15, 2009
Dear Barr terry woodgate,
I received two emails from leo stocker. In our correspondences to and fro, I'm calling him lowercase leo. I hope that's acceptable.
Both notes were grammatically incorrect. There were commas out of place. They seemed a bit...Nigerian. Is that possible?
The first note offered what I assume is "congratulations", that I'm a winner (with a capital W). I wasn't referred to by name, and you really never told me how I became so lucky. Then he refers to you, but only your first name, Barr, is capitalized. This seems odd to me. Why do you not capitalize all of your names? Is this some sort of insult?
Regardless, it couldn't come at a more opportune time. I bet a colleague £250,000.00 that I could lose 50 pounds in 50 days. On day 49, I found myself at 49 pounds. I donated my kidneys to the black market--I figured kidneys would "put me over" the top. I could win the bet, and buy them back for £500,000.00, keeping the rest. Well, kidneys don't weigh that much. After doing this, I was a half pound below my target. So now I'm out £250,000.00 and two kidneys. Talk about a rough day.
As I type this from my hospital bed, I can't help but think about the second note. lowercase leo gently suggested that you may be an alcoholic and a womanizer who doesn't wash his hands in the restroom. He plans on screwing you out of your part of the business and sending you to jail for embezzlement. He's sleeping with Mrs. woodgate. His sentence structure is very unorthodox--I may have misunderstood.
My info is below. I don't have a bank account--I use my neighbor's mattress. He doesn't even know! I'm assuming you need my bank account number or some sort of processing fee. Which one? Like kidneys, I have neither.
Say hi to Mrs. woodgate for me!
Sincerely,
----------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RE: Uk National Lottery "FILL AND RETURN"
From: Barrterry Woodgate (barr.terrywoodgate@live.com
Sent: Tue 6/16/09 3:46 AM
To: Jerry Herman
1 attachment
BARRISTER TERRY WOODGATE
CHAMBER.
Mei 25125 tizmrin,level street
22, Jakarta 10250. London.
BARRISTER TERRY WOODGATE CHAMBER
Letter Date: 06-16-2009
From Barrister terry woodgate
To Winner,
Good day to you lucky winner, how are you doing today? sorry for the late reply to your email. Congratulations once again, your email indicating you as a winner in the lottery programs held by UK NATIONAL LOTTERY. your email address was selected through the computer ballot system drawn from over 25,000,000 company and 40,000,000 individual email addresses, your email address attached to a single ticket was found as one of the lucky email address that emerge from the first category to have won the sum of £1,000,000.00 (One Million Pounds).
I have attached your verifications form to this email. You are advised to fill out your information correctly and send it back to me as soon as possible, so that i can start the claims Process.
Once again i say congratulations to you. I await your swift reply.
Warm Regards
Barrister Terry Woodgate
Your Claims Agent.
Telephone number: +447035921440
Attachment:
From: Jerry Herman
Sent: Tue 6/16/09 8:19 PM
To: barr.terrywoodgate@live.com
Dear Barrister Terry Woodgate Chamber,
First, how do you think I’m doing? I don’t have any frigging kidneys. I’m hooked up to a machine that filters my blood. I’m in massive debt. And the black market that took possession of my kidneys burned to the ground. That part is new.
No disrespect, Barrister, but I’ve been reading your little notes and attachments. Your capitalization skills suck. You lowercase the first person possessive pronoun “I. You separated “everything” into two words. You use “there” in places where you should be using “their”. How, I ask, did you get through Barrister school? How, I ask, do you pass yourself off as a Brit? Also, you guys really sucked up that Revolutionary War.
Here’s my info from your grammatically deficient attachment:
1. Name: Kenneth Loggins
2. Address: 17 Cadbury Crème Egg Lane
3. Marital Status: It’s Complicated
4. Occupation: Furry Singer and Songwriter
5. Age: That’s None of Your Beeswax!
6. Sex: Furry Male
7. Country of Residence: USA
8. Telephone Number: 000-000-001 (I’m a direct descendent of A. G. Bell. First phone # was willed to me).
9. Fax Number: Nope.
10. Draw Number above: Why do I have to copy it? You already have it. How lazy are you?
11. company/brief description: I haven’t been heard from in a while. Can I sing you a song?
Sincerely,
Kenneth Loggins
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RE: Cleared: Contact Payment Delivery Company
Sent: Wed 6/17/09 10:28AM
To: Jerry Herman
BARRISTER TERRY WOODGATE
CHAMBER.
Mei 25125 tizmrin,level street
22, Jakarta 10250. London.
BARRISTER TERRY WOODGATE CHAMBER
Letter Date: 06-17-2009
From Barrister terry woodgate
To Kenneth Loggins,
Hello Kenneth Loggins, how are you doing today?
I am pleased to inform you that your claims have been duly verified and endorsed by the UK National Lottery Organizations (U.L.O) thus you have been confirmed a winner in this quarter of the UK National Lottery Online Sweepstakes Promotion. You have therefore been approved to receive a lump lottery payout sum to the tune of £1,000,000.00 (One Million Pounds) in cash credited to your file (XB3/701/LNRC).
The hard copy of all relevant lottery winning documents which includes your Winnings Certificate, Certified Bank Cheque and Clear Source of Funds Certificate (C.S.F.C) and your details for delivery, has been deposited with our contracted payment office (City Link Courier Express Logistics Ltd.) for onward dispatch to you. You are to immediately contact City Link Express Logistics Ltd.
You are required to contact our payment delivery Company for the delivery of your won prize to you with there contact details below:.
City Link Courier Express Logistics Limited.
Address: Unit 4 Armstrong Business Center, Goldie Rd,
Bothwell Park Ind Est, Uddingston, G71 6PBP.
Contact: Official: Mr. Garry Jones (Director, Operations/Logistics)
Tel: +447011148566
+447011130736
Email: info1@citylinkc.com OR garr-jones1@citylinkc.com
The following requirements should be sent to their office for confirmation and final process for payment.You will be sent your winning draft from their office.
1, Full Names..................
2, Occupation..................
3, Nationality...................
4, Address, ie were i want my parcel to be delivered to ...................
5, Amount Won...............
6, Phone Numbers...........
NOTE: You are advice to give them a call immediately after the submission of below informations.
Stand informed that in accordance with Section 24(c) of the International Lottery Act of 1996, winners residing/resident outside the United Kingdom and inside the United Kingdom may be obliged with financial responsibilities as regards disbursement of cash prize to their location because the British Gambling Board does not permit the UK National Lottery to assume such responsibilities outside the United Kingdom. This is in line with the Insurance policy drawn on your cash prize to counter misappropriation of funds in the course of remittance on contraction to City Link Express Logistics Courier company Ltd.
Please note that its imperative that you add your Identification Code {XB3/701/LNRC} as the subject on initial correspondence with the City Link Courier Express Logistics via email.
Ensure to keep all information about your award confidential as earlier informed until your cash prize has been remitted to you. This is to avoid double claiming/disqualification in this final stage of your clam's process.
I would require a concise update on your proceedings with the payment office as soon as you are in contact with them. If you need any assistance, Please do not hesitate to let me know.
Best regards,
Barrister. terry woodgate.
Your claims agent
From: Jerry Herman
Sent: Wed 6/17/09 9:36 PM
To: barr-terrywoodgate@live.com
Cc: garr-jones1@citylinkc.com
Dear Barrister terry woodgate,
I am alright. Nobody worry about me. Why do you have to give me a fight? Why can’t you let me be? Actually, I have had a pretty lousy day. We lost power. My electric kidney machine shut down. So I hooked it up to my bike, which has one of those headlights hooked up to a generator. I tow my machine around, while pedaling to power it. I’m safe as long as I pedal. So I’m typing this as I pedal my bike continuously around our local McDonalds (free WiFi).
You keep asking me for the same information over and over. You ask me to enter codes and amount won, from one part of the page to the other. You still lowercase your name. That really creeps me out. Why wouldn’t you carbon copy those other dudes, right in your initial email, like I am right now? A bunch of red flags are going up over here!
I called your Mr. Gary Jones contact. I don’t like him. I won’t deal with him. He fired one too many mom joke my way. He swore like a sailor. He was unprofessional, and I may take legal action. Plus, I got the impression, from one of his anecdotes, that he doesn’t wash his hands after using the restroom. He won’t be handling my money! I’m not dealing with him anymore. It’s you or nobody, Barrister terry!
I’m feeling pressured to advance our relationship on this end. When the paperwork goes through, and the check is issued, you won’t want to be my friend anymore. That makes me sad. I’d like to “back ‘er up” a little bit and get to know Barrister Terry a bit.
Barrister Terry—have you ever loved a woman unconditionally? Do you look like Adam Ant, with the powdery wig and all? What’s your most embarrassing moment? Have you ever cried at a movie?
These are the questions that keep me awake at night! I should probably stop typing and pay attention to where I’m going on this ten-speed. I just t-boned a lady and her little punk. There goes my kidney machine, into oncoming traffic. To be continued...
Sincerely,
Kenneth Loggins
6/1/19
Dear Barrister terry,
Bad news. I am the lone offspring of Kenneth Loggins. We buried Pa today. A lone dove was released into the sunny skies, and we sang “Like a Bridge Over Troubled Water”. Then we ate ham and potato salad from Sam’s Club that I think was expired.
Pa’s not able to continue this project. He willed it to me. So what’s the deal? How do I get the old man’s money? He was rough on you—he told me during our daily massage time with Frida. But he only wanted you to be the best Barrister terry you could be! If there’s one lesson to take from all of this, that is it.
Let me know—the old man left me only a chest freezer full of Ore Ida potato products. Everything else went to his live-in masseuse, Frida.
I wrote Senator Debbie Stabenow(Democrate of course) of Michigan asking her to not support the Cap & Trade bill. Essentially because I don't want my taxes and utlilities raised. Not to mention it would be nice for businesses and people to actually stop leaving the state. Here is her response and my rebuttal:
Thank you . . .
. . . for contacting me about climate change. I understand your concerns.
While I respect your views, I also recognize the growing scientific consensus about climate change. If left unchecked, the effects of climate change include lower water levels in the Great Lakes, threats to fish and wildlife, diminished ability to grow food crops, and an overall threat to our quality of life. That's why we need a balanced, common-sense approach to this problem.
As Congress considers climate change legislation, I am working with my colleagues, especially from the Midwest, to ensure that the finished product works for Michigan. If the final legislation does not work for our state, I will not support it.
That is why I have been leading efforts in the Senate to create a Clean Energy Development Authority to provide financing for cutting-edge new technologies and create jobs. This financing is absolutely critical so that we do not trade a dependence on foreign oil for a dependence on foreign technology.
It's not enough that we simply use green technologies, we have to make them in the United States. A wind turbine is made of over 8,000 individual parts, and all of those parts can be made in Michigan. That's why I'm working to make green manufacturing a central part of our energy strategy. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act included $2 billion for advanced battery research and manufacturing. It also included a new tax credit to promote the manufacture of renewable energy products.
I believe that by making the right policy choices and the right investments, we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions in a way that revitalizes Michigan's economy and creates new jobs.
New energy solutions create new jobs and new industries. We are in the midst of an energy revolution that is creating new opportunities for innovation, investment, and invention. At the same time, we are leaving a cleaner environment for our children, and we are breaking our dangerous addiction to foreign oil.
Because of our strong industrial and agricultural sectors, supported by some of the best research universities in the country, Michigan is in a unique position to lead the nation as we transition to a green energy economy. I will continue to fight for a climate change policy that focuses on creating good-paying jobs and strengthening our economy.
Thank you again for contacting me. Please continue to keep me informed about issues of concern to you and your family.
Sincerely,
Debbie Stabenow
United States Senator
DS: SM
_______________________________________________
MY RESPONSE
It's not the role of government to follow junk science, then impose these restricting laws on the consumer and businesses. Considering the economic climate of this state, it's absurd you would support such a gross misuse of government for the sake of CONJECTURE and SPECULATION. What you have stated in the other endeavors has nothing to do with the CAP & TRADE Bill. Why would you support something that admittedly is not 100% proven? How do you sleep at night making a decision based on a theory? You are going to impose a policy for greenhouse gases when jobs will be going over seas, and there will be no one left in the state to benefit from such said policy, even it worked!
Businesses and people are leaving this state by the thousands every year (your voters) because they cannot find work. Because businesses refuse to invest in a state that is not business friendly. We need less taxes on the citizens, the consumer, the owners, the businesses.
I cannot and will not support anyone who thinks that raising the rates of utilities so people will not use them in order to appease special interest groups. I'm thoroughly disgusted by this and will not support you. I can't believe you are going support raising taxes!!!
I'm a music snob. These music artists influence me:
Elvis Presley
Elvis Costello
Led Zeppelin
Rush
Johnny Cash
The Who
The Kinks
The Clash
The Rolling Stones
Warren Zevon
Jimi Hendrix
Otis Redding
Stevie Ray Vaughn
The Beatles
Depeche Mode
Wilco
U2
The Police
Coldplay
Foo Fighters
Queen
Prince
Ted Nugent
Neil Young
There are many more that I could and should list. Why do they influence me? Because I enjoy more than one song, more than one album. Their music has inspired or moved me in some way, lyrically or just to jam with.
These artists did not influence me:
Michael Jackson
Madonna
Smokey Robinson
Dionne Warwick
Lionel Ritchie
Usher
Culture Club
Jennifer Hudson
Justin Timberlake
Britney Spears
Mariah Carey
The Carpenters
I am not saying these artists do not have any talent, they surely do. They even have some stuff I like. I suppose since I like some of their stuff it could be considered influential in my enjoyment experiences I guess. I am not discounting their popularity or importance to pop culture. I am saying they mean nothing to me other than to verify and validate what I do really love when it comes to music. I need something more than just being able to dance to something at a wedding to consider it good. I need something more than it being a top 40 hit. I need something more than the artist being what they are because some record producer tossed money their way. I need something more than being what they are because they performed at the AMA or Grammy's.
I know full well music is subjective, but I also know the machine that drives these artists down our throats. They (sheep herders) cater to the massses (aka sheep). I don't get the constant barrage of pop music and all that goes with it in our face. I think what is worse, is those that follow these performers and keep them at royalty status.
But I am! So right after Michael Jackson died, I had posted a question on Facebook if people really cared that he died or not. Most people didnt really care. They were sad for his family, and overall sad that someone died. A few thought he was just short of being God. Most made some good points that people die every minute and no one blinks an eye - a celebrity dies and it's all we hear. Anyways, this one friend (now ex-friend) got rather upset with me about my question. Here is the dialogue:
Lily-
I'm done with you. You are sick.
Hockeydino-
Read much?
I never said people didnt care about Michael Jackson.
I never said I didnt care about Michael Jackson.
I asked the question if people cared about Michael Jackson dying or not.
See the difference? And you call me a names. Nice.
Lily-
why ask such a stupid question in the first place Dino??? do you relise what kind of influence this man had????......no you dont, you just too into yourself.....why ask if people care if is dead or not ..what kind of stupid fuking question is that????? I read a lotttttttttttt.........enough for people like you to wake me up a fair bit........good bye and yes you are a wanker sorry but true adios
HockeyDino-
He didnt influence me.
Make sure you read about all the little boys he molested and the $15 million dollars he paid off to the families. Who's the wanker?
Lily-
so whatttttttttt????? who the fuk are you to judge him???? what did he do to you??? and what about all the joy that he bought to all the people around the world with his songs........sure I know he did wrong in some areas in his life but who the hell am I to judge and who the fuk are you to do the same thing??? you in here you hide with false pretences and beleiving that you are better then anyone and your not Dino.....just let him rest in peace.....is only been dead a few hours and you had to be soooooooooo fuking quick to say something smart....and you got your little followers who haven't got a life that agree with you.....as far as im concerned your such a sad case.......and people like you are not the people I want to know nor associate with.......good byeeeeeeeee assole
HockeyDino-
I am better than Michael Jackson. That'a a fact.
You make me laugh! I'll miss you.
Lily-
go away i wont miss you.....now you make me laugh you will never be better then him....fact is your a stupid wanker seeking attention all in the wrong places.....good bye
HockeyDino-
You miss me already
Oh by the way in this video from 1979 I'm the one playing the bass guitar. You can't see me, but sometimes you can see my shadow. Ahh Good Times.
I’m a simple man. I live a simple life. Once in a while, Marge would fix us some of your delightfully flavored gelatin desserts. This would qualify as the highlight of my week. I have always loved your products. However, my most recent “brush” with your products was unacceptable, to say the least.
This past Saturday night, I came home from preaching. I greeted my 18-year-old daughter, Mabel, and some of her sinner friends. Having screamed at congregations for some four hours straight, I had my sweet tooth. Right there in the refrigerator was some Jell-O that Mabel had prepared. Because it resided in ice cube trays, I figured it was “leftover” gelatin solution from some delightful gelatin dessert cups with whipped cream.
I decided to enjoy a rainbow of Jell-o snacks, one tray at a time. I think I had two trays worth—yellow, green, red and orange. This was clearly more than the standard eight ounce allotment. Gluttony is a sin! At first, I felt euphoria. Then everything became blurry. When I woke up the next morning, I had a really bad headache, and my mouth was dry. Mabel was really upset with me. Apparently, I had consumed her dessert and ruined her entire evening. The bed was spinning like some sort of sinful carnival ride.
Marge showed me a video that she had made—one of me urinating in front of a large group of neighbors, right on Mrs. Fredricks’ beautiful bed of lilacs. I also saw footage of me dancing naked on top of my car, out in the driveway. Apparently, I had also taken that car for a ride. I came home with several unhealthy items from Taco Bell, an R-Rated film from Blockbuster. Also, my paperboy pierced my ear. I don’t remember any of this, and now I owe Mrs. Fredricks some lilacs.
I went through the rubbish and found the empty Jell-O boxes. Nothing seemed odd—they were still within their freshness window. Can you explain this? Is there any sort of recall in progress for tainted Jell-O? Could this be an allergic reaction? Please advise. I'm hesitant to consume any more Jell-O products until I get to the bottom of this mystery.
I’m planning on speaking to my congregation about my Jell-O experience this Saturday. I just wanted to bring this product issue to your attention.
Sincerely,
Jerry Herman
Someone named “Amanda” left a voicemail on my cell phone, asking me to call. Verbal discussions in these instances are NO fun, and harder to tell the story later.
June 11, 2009
Dear Amanda,
I received your voicemail this afternoon, while on my way back to the local Starbucks. It seems that most of our society thinks that it is okay to take drugs. I preached to a bunch of them about the sinfulness of using caffeine to get high. One of the gentlemen, a frumpy, side burned, heavy set fellow draped in flannel and corduroy trousers and sideburns, beat the living snot out of me. He threw my cell phone across the parking lot. The pieces won’t go back together. The best way to contact me now is via email.
Unfortunately, I have a second “incident” to report. This time is not Jell-O, although I am still concerned about that particular product issue. In this instance, I believe the culprit is your Baker’s chocolate.
I came home today from Starbucks, in low spirits. My 18-year-old daughter Mabel was home from college again, with her sinner friends. They were all taking a nice nap on my living room floor. I went in the kitchen and saw a half a tray of brownies. I ate one. It was heaven. I ate a second one. Then suddenly the house started spinning and jumping. Spinning and jumping. I finished the tray. A dragon came out of the wall and sang “I Love Rock and Roll” by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts.
Then I woke up with my head in the salad crisper, and a mouthful of romaine lettuce. I was famished. Mabel and I ate everything in the fridge, including the baking soda. Then Marge came home and asked Mabel if there were any special ingredients in those brownies. Her response: “Kraft Baker’s One Unsweetened Chocolate.”
Could your chocolate have been tainted? I found the package—it wasn’t expired. I’ve read where cocoa comes from a plant that also makes drugs. Could the wrong part of the plant have been used?
Please advise.
Sincerely,
Jerry Herman
They left me another voicemail on June 12, 2009.
This is Ron Paul on the GM take over. I recall during the Bush years how many times the liberals would write me and tell me what a Facist Bush was. They say nothing now of what Obama does. Who is John Galt?
Well the good thing about Mussolini remember, was that the trains were always on time. Will GM always be on time? Is Amtrak?
GM, Amtrak and an Increasingly Fascist America
Last week, General Motors finally declared bankruptcy. Many in government thought $20 billion in taxpayer dollars would save the company, but as predicted, it only postponed the inevitable. The government will dump another $30 billion into GM and take a 60 percent controlling interest for it. Public officials are now involving themselves in tactical business decisions such as where GM’s headquarters should move and what kind of cars it will build.
The promise that this is temporary and will eventually be profitable is supposed to ease the American people into accepting this arrangement, but it is of little comfort to those who remember similar promises when the American taxpayers bought Amtrak. After three years, government was supposed to be out of the passenger rail business. 40 years and billions of dollars later, the government is still operating Amtrak at a loss, despite the fact that they have created a monopoly by making it illegal to compete with Amtrak. Imagine what they can now do to what is left of the great American auto industry!
In a truly free market, GM would get your money one way and one way only – by selling you a car you want, at a price you are willing to pay. Instead, the government is giving public money to a private company in spite of the market signals it has been sending. Throwing money at GM does not stop it from being an engine of wealth destruction; on the contrary, it simply gives it more wealth to destroy.
Had it been allowed to fail naturally, the profitable pieces of GM would have been bought up and put to good use by now. The laid off employees would likely have found new jobs and all that capital would be in private hands, reinvested in companies that produce products demanded by consumers. Instead, we are all poorer now.
Political pressure, rather than the rule of law, is deciding how to divide up the remains of GM. The bondholders had billions in retirement savings invested in the company, and though they were entitled to nearly three times as much as the United Auto Workers, the bondholders were left with just a 10 percent stake compared to the union’s 17.5 percent stake. For their 60 percent stake, taxpayers have a future of constant bailouts to look forward to.
Comingling public control of private business is known as fascism. While today’s politicians may feel emboldened with all their new power, history will only repeat itself as all this collapses on itself. It is the height of hubris for bureaucrats and politicians to attempt to control the market and the freewill of the American people. In the end, the market always wins out. Maybe one day future generations will wise up and allow free markets to function and thrive without the albatross of government around its neck. For now, it looks like those in charge have not learned the lessons of the past, and have doomed us to repeat those mistakes once again.
-Ron Paul
http://www.house.gov/paul/
When I think of July 4, I think of a few things. First I think of Thomas Jefferson and the genius that he was. Then I think of liberty, and all those that have lost their lives in service to this country. Then I think that no matter how screwed up things are, and how wrong things can be, this is still the greatest country in the world and I'm lucky to live here.
I'm proud to be an American, and I'll continue to search for the truth. I'll never stop fighting to preserve the Constitution, support capitalism, individualism, and the right to prosper in a truly free society.
There are those in power that want to take your rights away. Don't let them. There are those pencil pushers fresh out of college in D.C. running companies thinking everything works on paper. They are wrong. There are those that think they are entitled to what you've made and that they deserve a free ride. Just say no. Then there are those who disagree just to disagree claiming you hate while their hypocrisy is in full gear. Avoid them.
I wrote my House Representative Thaddeus McCotter of Michigan regarding my disdain for the CAP & TRADE BILL, and my hopes he would not support that Bill. He responded:
Dear Friend:
Thank you for informing me of your opposition to cap-and-tax legislation. Your thoughts on this important matter are most welcome and appreciated.
I agree with you.
As you know, in this recession, we must defend our auto industry and manufacturing base from the so-called 'cap-and-trade' system. This massive tax and regulatory imposition upon our painfully restructuring auto industry and manufacturing base would compel the arbitrary limitation of carbon emissions through a system of carbon credits which can be sold and traded among companies emitting carbon gases. This cap-and-tax intends to reduce pollution but in reality would be a multi-billion dollar tax hike on Michigan families, small businesses and manufacturers. This new tax would not only decimate those companies who, by the very nature of what they produce, emit carbon; this new tax would unavoidably be passed on directly to working families and small businesses.
On March 31, 2009, Representative Henry Waxman (CA), introduced H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act. If enacted, this legislation would aim to cut United States greenhouse-gas emissions by 83% compared to 2005 levels by 2050, but then sets more aggressive short-term targets, such as a 20% reduction by 2020 and a 42% cut by 2030. Importantly, this legislation amounts to a cap-and-tax bill which would cover about 85% of the United States economy, requiring businesses like power companies, steel mills, and our domestic auto manufacturers to get permits to cover their emissions. After 2020, the net could get wider allowing the President to make even smaller industrial operations subject to the cap. To cushion energy intensive industries from these requirements, this proposed legislation would provide wealth transfers to cushion the higher energy bills brought about by climate legislation. The rebates aren't open-ended, when 70% of the global production in an energy intensive industry is covered by similar climate-change programs, the rebates go away. Despite my opposition, on June 26, 2009, the House passed H.R. 2454 by a vote of 219-212. At present, H.R. 2454 awaits action in the Senate.
Obviously, this new tax would hit Michigan particularly hard. With our automobile industry and manufacturing comprising the engine of America's economic prosperity, it remains as we warned before: what happens to Michigan will happen to America.
As an alternative to this crippling cap-and-tax legislation, on June 12, 2009, Representative John Boehner (OH) introduced H.R. 2846, the American Energy Act, which I have co-sponsored. If enacted, through the extension of tax incentives and the elimination of wasteful bureaucratic regulations and frivolous litigation, H.R. 2846 would facilitate energy independence, affordability, conservation and job creation by maximizing all American-made energy. Importantly, this legislation would increase environmentally-safe energy production on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), the Arctic Coastal Plain, and the oil shale; promote the use of alternative fuels which would reduce carbon emissions such as nuclear, clean-coal, and renewable energy technologies; and encourage increased efficiencies and cutting edge technologies to make the most of America's energy potential. At present, H.R. 2846 awaits action in the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Rest assured, your opposition to cap-and-tax legislation will be well remembered during the 111th Congress. Again, thank you for contacting me; and for all you do for our community and our country. Should you have any further comments or questions on this or any other issue, please contact me at the Livonia or Milford district, or Washington, D.C. office.
I love a good steak....a good bar burger...a nice meatball. However they do not like me. When I eat red meat, I feel like hell after. I'm sluggish, irritated, and just feel horrible. I don't get this way eating any other kind of meat or fish, just beef. Some people say it's the fact I don't have certain enzymes to digest that. Other say just to stay away and that it's my body rejecting it. I don't buy red meat, but I'm often at places that serve it...and stupidly I don't think about it until after I eat it. I've also heard that wheat fed beef could be the culprit. Anyone else have these problems?
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