For What It's Worth

NOVEMBER 18, 1956

2009-11-19T08:10:00.006-05:00

Not many of you remember November 18, 1956. I was only seven at the time but I do remember my parents talking about Nikita Khrushchev telling the Americans "WE WILL BURY YOU". More in a moment.

Fifty three years ago Nikita Khrushchev, First Secretary of the Russian Communist Party, uttered the now famous phrase"We will bury you. " At the time it was considered a threat , an announcement of pending war. But later, on August 24, 1961, Mr. Khrushchev clarified the statement, saying he did not mean that Russia would bury America with a shovel but that the American working class would bury capitalism. I wonder, at the time of his death on September 11, 1971 if he knew how profound that statement was.

The current "Change" happening in America is, I say, the shovel that will bury capitalism. There is no doubt that capitalism is under attack from the far left, I say it is an all out war. The shovel is the far left Congress, the far left Senate and a far left President and cabinet. How do you bury capitalism? You bury capitalism in debt.

NATIONALIZATION OF VOTER REGISTRATION

2009-11-18T15:17:00.003-05:00

There is a rumor that the government wants to nationalize the voter registration process. More in a moment.

Although the elections of 2010 seem far away, it is only a little less then 11 months, and it is not too soon to be thinking about them. But there is a rumor that the current administration is going to nationalize voter registration.

On the surface this does not seem like a big thing. But what is being proposed is this; the Federal Government will take control of voter registration, and all that will be required for a person to register to vote is a photo ID; a photo ID which anybody can get at the DMV, legal citizen or not, it will make no difference. If you thought that 35-40 million new patients in our health care system was crazy imagine that many more illegal aliens able to cast votes in an election no matter what country they were citizens of last week. Does this make sense to anyone?

I believe it does make sense to the current administration. I believe the goal is to push this through after the first of the year with the belief that the "new" voters will largely be liberal and thus ensuring the reelection of the current party. Sound crazy? Comments are welcome, you tell me. For what it's worth.

SARAH PALIN

2009-11-18T15:13:00.000-05:00

Sarah Palin, the feisty X-Governor of Alaska is on a book tour to promote 'Going Rogue'. What can we expect? More in a moment.

Sarah Palin is out and about promoting her book 'Going Rogue.' Is this an attempt to re-package the popular governor or it it just a promotion tour? I can not help but think it is more then promotion. She has never been more popular, and everywhere she goes she draws tens of thousands wanting to see her, listen to her, and measure her. Not only in what she says but how she says it.

What the Governor is doing, I believe, is educating herself to the ways of the media. She learned a hard lesson while the VP candidate; that's right Sarah, the press in not your friend. And because you are a conservative women they want to chew you up an spit you out without so much as a 'by your leave.'

Another lesson to be learned is she must be herself. Don't let the Party package you and show you off as mere window dressing. My one disappointment was that she was not true to herself and to her convictions. The voters wanted to see the real Palin and all they were allowed to see was GOP window dressing. Pay attention here Governor Palin; "To thine own self be true."

Governor Palin must learn the Speak of politics. Although I love her mid-west manor, being mid-western myself, she must learn the words, the sentence structure that says leader, and speak to the passion of your convictions.
And Governor, repeat after me:
The press is not my friend.
The press is not my friend.
The press is not...

I REMEMBER

2009-11-15T15:30:00.003-05:00

I remember a day when it was 102 degrees in central Minnesota and this was before, as my friend from the Gold Coast of AUS says, "Global Warming Bullcrap." More in a moment.

In the mid 1980's my oldest son and I left on a fishing trip from central Minnesota and it was 102 degrees and muggy. We were headed north to the Boundary Waters the boat in tow. It was HOT and with the humidity near 75% it was almost unbearable, the auto A/C could hardly keep up. Even as we drove north the heat did not let up. And during that entire 4 hour drive we heard nothing about global warming, or greenhouse gases.

Since that summer day in central Minnesota there has not been another day to rival it in heat and humidity, and yet 25 years later all we hear is "Global Warming Bullcrap". Why is that? Perhaps it's because they missed 8th grade science class where I learned that it is the sun that heats the earth, and as the sun cycles through hot and cool phases so does the earth. For what it's worth.

IT'S YOUR RIGHT

2009-10-03T10:01:00.004-04:00

Can you imagine being forced by the government to worship a certain way? How about being arrested and sent to prison with out a trial? Or knowing that the police could come to your home without and warrant, even in the middle of the night and take you or a family member away?

People in other countries and in other times in history have suffered under government systems that allow(ed) things like this to happen. But we Americans are protected from such occurrences thanks to our Bill of Rights....or are we?

I have always believed that the Bill of Rights is a perfect document, one with out flexibility or question. Chief Justice Warren E. Burger picked the first Amendment as the most important, he said "It opens the door to ensuring all other rights." But over the past 100 years the bill of rights has been under attack by those seeking to destroy the very freedom we have come to enjoy.

AMENDMENT I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof: or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

That is pretty straight froward. People have the right to practice the religion of their choice and to express their opinions freely; the press can not be controlled by the government; the people may meet freely and may ask the government to address their complaints. However, there is a growing voice on the part of the current administration to silence such people as Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, and Glen Beck. Why? Well, simply put, it's because they do not fall in line with the policies of this administration, or simply because they question; when all they are asking is a redress of their grievances. Let's say the new FCC czar does silence these voices. Who will he come after next?

AMENDMENT II
A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.

Here again it is straight forward and concise. State militias are important to the security of the states; the government may not interfere with the right of the people to have guns. However, That last statement has come under scrutiny. Some interpret that to mean; only the militia can have guns. But read what it says. look at how it is written, including the punctuation. ...the security of a free state ,(the comma meaning and) the right of the people (not the militia) to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed. Now let's say that the unthinkable happens and they interpret this to mean only the militia can have guns. Where does it stop? the amendment reads...the right of the people to keep and bear arms...How will they interpret the word arms? Is it your hunting bow? Is it your knives? Is it a sharp stick? My friends, once that door is opened...

For the sake of time I have reviewed only two of the amendments of the Bill of Rights, I hope to do more very soon. Fight the battle with honest questions and demand logical answers. For what its worth. BJ

As A Vietnam Vet...

2009-09-24T17:11:00.003-04:00

As a Vietnam Vet I know all to well what is happening in Afghanistan. More in a moment.

Any soldier who served in Vietnam and was lucky enough to return alive knows all to well what politics did to that war. It cheapened our sacrifice and marred the memory of those who died. As I watch our current government positioning itself on Afghanistan; it's Dejavu all over again.

I am begging this administration to do one of two things:
Give them ALL the support necessary to win.
or...
Bring them home NOW. For what it's worth.

I'M MAD AS HELL...

2009-09-24T11:53:00.000-04:00

I'm mad as hell at all politicians! More in a moment.

I am one of those who have had it with politicians. I'm sick of their lies and deceptions and all around B.S. And I know I am not alone. If you want to fix it do the following:

1. Vote for someone else.

2. Demand term limits for the House and Senate using the same limits for president; two terms and you're out.

For What it's worth.

Who's Next?

2009-09-24T10:41:00.002-04:00

With all the talk out of Washington D. C. and in Hollywood about big company CEO salaries and the possibility of salary caps I wonder who is next. More in a moment.

A look to the future:
OK, we have capped the salary of all big company CEO's lets say at $500,000.00, we all know anyone can live on that; and we have taxed that income at 70%. Now we find we have a shortage of qualified, experienced CEO's. Why? Where have they gone?

I would be gone in a flash, I have the money to move and I would. After establishing an OFF SHORE corporation I would get in the lucrative consulting business, consulting in emerging countries such as China and India.

Now our tax base has diminished so the government needs a new source of revenue to support all the social programs...where do they go? The next in line are those making $250,000.00, We all know anyone can live on that. The next in line are those making $125,000.00...well you get the picture. At some point the middle class becomes the wealthy. And at some point we all become wards of the state. Could that be the goal? For what it's worth.

Pay Attention!

2009-09-19T11:54:00.002-04:00

I have been away for six months, watching, waiting, digesting and paying attention to the current situation in Washington D.C. I know many people wanted change, but as I look at the change in the works; I now need a change of underwear. More in a moment.

I have worked in the health care industry, on the hospital side, for almost 25 years. Those years have been spent doing insurance verification, insurance billing, patient registration and consulting on all of these. Some say that it is not the best health care system but I say if it is not the best it is a very close second to whatever is first.

Most of my years in health care have been spent in states bordering Canada and I have payed attention. I have seen Canadian patients come to America for care, because they had to wait 4 months just to see a Dr. and another 6 months if they need to see a specialist, and months more if they need any special diagnostic tests. and in some cases that wait would have guaranteed their deaths. You see the government is paying the bills so they naturally scrutinise all care; they have to in order to control costs, and anyone who says differently is being less then honest with you.

Are you paying attention?

Ask the Canadians if they like their health care most likely the population under 50 loves it, but that segment over 50 has reservations, why? It is because they are like me; approaching that time in life were doctor visits are more frequent and the care needed is more aggressive. You better believe there is some government "bean counter" calculating their life expectancy to determine if the care is "cost effective." And, maybe, just maybe a pill would do rather then intensive care. Now where did I hear that statement? Oh, yes. President Obama said that this past summer. I payed attention. I watched him say it and I heard those very words.

Are you paying attention?

If national health care becomes law your life will be in the hands of a government "bean counter". Oh, and you doctors and nurses out there...do you like your current paycheck? Well guess who's coming to the bargaining table?...yep, that same "bean counter". We will see less care, less pay and less doctors and nurses. There is no other way to control costs. And that will trickle down to all involved in health care.

Now, let's add in the estimated 45 million newly insured patients to an already overworked medical system and how fast do you think you will be seen at your doctor's office? Those 45 million new patients will be in the system almost over night. It takes a med-student 8 years to complete education and training. Run the mumbers, the over all wait just got 45 million times longer.

President Obama said... "We will control cost by cutting waste and fraud." Now pay attention. The government has been trying to do that since Medicare became law over 40 years ago with little success. If they could have done it they would have. Vice President Biden said, and here again please pay attention, the VP said that with the $700 billion dollar bail out there was 10% fraud and waste! Are you paying attention? Now do the math. That is $70 billion dollars!! And he blew it off saying...that is just the way it is. If that is our governments definition of cutting fraud and waste we are way beyond serious trouble.

So pay attention, don't believe everything the politicians are saying, pay attention to what they are not saying, pay attention to the world around you. Put down your cell phones, put down your game controller, change the channel from "reality TV" to real TV. Watch the news, all the networks, read the news paper and above all PAY ATTENTION. You health and maybe your life depends on it. For what it's worth.

Silent for Too Long

2009-04-17T08:09:00.005-04:00

Part of the RIGHT WING EXTREMISTS. More in a moment.

I once had respect of the Department of Homeland Security. It original purpose was to keep us safe from terror threats. Now, under the new administration it seems to be turning into a Neo-Gestapo arm of the Obama administration. How could this be? Well, according to Home Land Security (Gestapo) I am a risk of being a "RIGHT WING EXTREMIST." Which must be a threat to the new administration because that gave it such a high profile name.

Let me count the ways that make me a "Right Wing Extremist.":
Strike 1. I believe in Right to Life, for those of you in California that means I'm anti abortion.
Strike 2. I watch FOX News, especially BECK, and O'RIELLY.
Strike 3. I'm X-military, (Vietnam Vet)
And as if three strikes were not enough.
Strike 4. I'm anti illegal immigration.
If I'm not already on the "Gestapo's" watch list I'm sure I will be soon. One more strike and they'll throw away the key.

To me this is reminiscent of the McCarthy era of the 50's, but instead of the a Communist threat it's the Capitalists that are being targeted. Oh, oh, there's Strike 5. I'm a capitalist pig. They just thru away the key. For what it's worth.

WISDOM

2009-02-06T13:20:00.002-05:00

It's true, wisdom does come with age.

I have been on this earth almost 60 years. I have been married 25 years, I have 2 children, I have had numerous relationships both in and out of the bedroom and I finally know a women's favorite position...
CEO!

for what it's worth.

the WALL

2009-01-11T07:40:00.021-05:00

01.01.2009 was my first visit to our nations capital. After visiting the capital building and walking the length of the mall, seeing Grant's Tomb, the Washington Monument, the new WWII monument I walked my way to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial which some call the "WALL".

Being a Vietnam Veteran, USN, USS Shangri-La, on Yankee Station in the Gulf of Tonkin, 1970, I did not know what to expect. I, like many of my generation, had lost friends in that conflict. Steve and Fred, live in my memories to this day. As I approached the WALL the emotion began to well-up inside me and I did not know if I could continue. I stopped, gather my emotions and proceeded.

The walls of black granite hold 58,260 names, I knew 7 of them. I walked from east to west, stopping and just looking at the names, and at times touching them. This was a very moving experience for me and for others old and young. But nothing prepared me for what was to come. At the end of the west wall are the books with all the names and their locations on the wall. As I paged through the book I found my two very good friends, Steve and Fred, at that moment thirty-nine years of hidden emotion and loss poured from me, I broke down, even as I write this my eyes well-up with tears.

No matter your position on the Vietnam Conflict no one can remain untouched by the Memorial. If you can not go to Washington D.C. please visit the traveling Memorial when it comes to your area. Also, please visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall page and remember those many men and women who gave so much for our country.

God rest all of you, you are not forgotten.

cgbjorklund USN Vietnam, 1970

AND THE JOKE IS ON US

2008-12-13T14:19:00.002-05:00

(VIA YAHOO MAIL)

Does anybody remember the reason given for the establishment of the DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY? The Department of Energy was established by President Jimmy Carter August 04, 1977. We have spent billion$ of dollar$ in support of an agency the reason for which not one person who reads this can remember. The reason, are you ready? It was very simple, and at the time everybody thought it very appropriate.

The Department Of Energy was established to LESSON OUR DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN OIL. Pretty efficient huh?

Now it is 2008, 31 years later, the budget for this "necessary" department is $24.2 billion per year, they have 16,000 federal employees, and approximately 100, 000 contract employees and look at the job they have done. OK, here is where you slap your forehead and say "what were they thinking?"

And now they are going to turn the banking system over to them? God help us!

for what it's worth.

SIMPLE BUT NOT EASY

2008-11-23T09:25:00.009-05:00

Are you as fedup with greedy, bickering, self-serving politicians as I am? More in a moment.

Why does every new politician elected seem to forget who they are and why they were elected? Why,do they turn into instant self-serving, greedy bureaucrats? You want proof? Look at the current $700Billion BAILOUT that became a $1Trillion BAILOUT because of political pork and greed. I have three simple solution that would start a fix to all of that. These are not easy solutions, but they are simple ones.

1) Term Limits.

2) Line Item Veto.

3) No Lobbyists.

Let's tackle these in reverse order.

NO LOBBYISTS: Outlaw them. No lobbyists. There is no reason to add on dollars to bills that benefit lobbyists and the politicians involved. A penalty of censure must be given to anyone associating with a known lobbyist, and impeachment if caught for a second time.

LINE ITEM VETO: President Bill Clinton fought hard for the line item veto, and it was law for a short time, but in 1998 the Supreme Court outlawed it as unconstitutional, stating that it gave too much power to the President not intended by the Constitution. Currently a bill is either signed by the President or vetoed. It is an all or none process. So a popular bill that will be signed into law has all kinds of "ear marks", adding billions of dollars, unintended in the original bill. Because of the 1998 Supreme Court ruling there must now be an amendment to the Constitution giving the President the power of line item veto.

TERM LIMITS: Currently you can be elected as many times as you can. Keep bring home the pork, and you get re-elected. It should be three terms and your done. This keeps Congress and the Senate fresh with new blood and new ideas.

Unfortunately the people that need to make and pass these measures are the very ones that are in power. Doesn't seem just does it?

As I said, it is simple, but not easy, for what it's worth.

"Justice is what power chooses to make it." Frederick Nietzche 1844-1900

RETIREMENT?

2008-11-19T16:03:00.030-05:00

DOW plunges another 400+ points, closing below 8000, the lowest in 5 years. More in a moment

I had a retirement fund once, and not that long ago. Oh I was not going to retire rich but it would have kept me off my son's doorstep. It would have kept me from working until I died at my desk, but that has all changed. I blame no one but myself and the politicians in control of the Congress and Senate.

I blame myself because I did not listen to what all the Wall St. pundits were saying, as early as 2 years ago they warned of this. I, like most, thought it would not end. Mostly I blame the politicians because they are and remain the big enablers here. They deregulated knowing, but seemingly not caring, about the future, only caring about votes and power. And they knew what was about to happen and warned no one. If anyone out there in the Blog-O-Sphere heard any warnings from the politicians let me know.

I do not blame the big corporate executive, because you and I would have done the same thing, they were paid to their contract and took what they could get. Greedy? Yes. broke the law? No. I do not blame the home owners because they were taking advantage of a lending market fueled by government deregulation. But I do believe there should be rewards for living up to a contract and consequences when you do not. Instead we are rewarding them.

I think they should have taken that $1,000,000,000,000.00 (that's 1 trillion) and wrote checks to all tax paying citizens and let them inject it into the economy. Imagine what we could have done with $10,000.00 each. (based on 100,000,000 individual tax payers.)

At this time I am not on my sons doorstep, but I'm in the driveway.

"hello son! Can you say multi-generational dwelling?"

HOW MUCH?!

2008-11-16T17:03:00.004-05:00

WHAT'S ANOTHER TRILLION DOLLARS! More in a moment.

There seems to be no end to the bail out $$$. We have already added a TRILLION DOLLARS to the debt. I was told as a young boy that no nation can tax itself into prosperity, logicly then they can't spend there way out of a financial crises. Just a thought, for what it's worth.

$700 BILLION!

2008-09-24T10:41:00.017-04:00

$700,000,000,000.00 Government bail-out! More in a moment.

There sure are a lot of fingers being pointed towards other people, directing blame for the near financial meltdown of our economy. No one wants to take responsibility. The reality is that the fault lies with all of us. Greed is the cause here, and we were all greedy, from the top to the bottom; that's from the president on down. CEO's, CFO's, bank presidents, all of us got greedy.

The biggest problem I see is that we are going to put $700 BILLION in the hands of political bureaucrats. Isn't that letting the inmates run the asylum? They can't manage the money they have. This is such a Democratic thing, and I mean that in the political sense. Let's throw a huge sum of money at it and see if it goes away. That's the same formula I used to keep the big, mean neighborhood dog away, but the dog kept coming back and wanting more, pretty soon all my lunch was going to the dog. THERE IS NO FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY. (big surprise huh?) So why do you think it will start now?

The politicians are at great fault here. They were elected to be watch out for us, to spend our money wisely, instead they were watching out for themselves. All the Wall Street pundits have been warning of this for 2 years. We turned and deaf ear and a blind eye, all in the name of greed.

There is a bible verse ; Timothy 6:10 (KJV) " For the love of money is the root of all evil." I think a great deal of loving has gone on.

GOT RACISM? GOT BIGOTRY

2008-09-24T07:55:00.015-04:00

RACISM; It's not just for whites anymore. More in a moment.

You would think that the only people who are racists and bigots are white people. Every time I hear the word racism in the news it seems to be directed from blacks to whites, from Hispanics to whites, from Asians to whites, etc. When Bill Clinton brought up the idea of Barack Obama playing the race card against Hillery, I know I heard a huge gasp as if to say that blacks are not racists, and how could he even think such a thing. Wake up America! Racism is not just a white issue.

I have literally been around the world, I have walked on five continents, and I have seen racism and bigotry direct at me, I have seen black on black, he or she is not "black" enough, white on white; he or she is not "white" enough. "Oh they're Italian" or "well what do you expect they're Jewish." It is everywhere, and directed at everyone. No, this does not make it right. it, but it is a fact, and it has always been.

I remember an old Star Trek episode, "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield" 1969. The late Frank Gorshin played the half white faced and half black faced police commissioner Bele, he had been hunting another half black faced, half white faced, Lokai for 500 centuries. However, one was black on the right side and was was black on the left side. and they were fighting to the death over that difference. Now I know it was to illustrate how absurd and trite it was but the fact remained that their hatred and fear of each others differences destroyed their entire civilization. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Let_That_Be_Your_Last_Battlefield

Many say that racism and bigotry stem from ignorance. I know many well educated people that are racist and bigots, and they are all colors and creeds. What I have leaned from my 50 plus years of observation is this; you look different then me, you think different then me, I fear that difference. As long as we do not understand those differences there will be racism and bigotry. And our current form of entertainment; movies, T.V. and video games, does nothing to show us any thing different, and in fact may exacerbate it.

So who is the racist, who is the bigot?

"Yeah, I love being famous. It's almost like being white, y'know?"

Chris Rock

Rodney Dangerfield

2008-09-20T16:05:00.004-04:00

I get no respect. The way my luck is running, if I was a politician I would be honest.

Rodney Dangerfield

SARAH PALIN, small town american

2008-09-20T09:55:00.010-04:00

Sarah Palin a small town American. More in a moment.

Sarah Palin, the current governor of Alaska, a virtual unknown in the national political ring has been thrust into the national spot light by being tapped as the 2008 Vice Presidential nominee for the republican party. What can a first time governor possibly know about national and foreign policy? What can she possibly bring to the table of serious political thought?

I consider myself a well informed individual when it comes to political issues, and I have very strong opinions on all of them. They are based on knowledge, small town values, and god-given common sense. I do not agree with all "right wing" thoughts nor do I disagree with all "Left wing" thoughts. I make up my own mind. I am a product of "small-town America", as is Sarah Palin.

Small town America, where you can leave your doors unlocked and your car running on a cold winter day with out fear of it being stolen. Small town America; where neighbors watch out for one another. Small town America; where going to church is OK. Small town America; Where they still say the pledge of allegiance, and God is not a dirty word. Small town America where it is taught that all things are possible. As the small business is the backbone of our economy, the small town is the backbone of America.

Sarah Palin brings to the national political arena her life's knowledge of small town America, and the sense of right and wrong that comes with that upbringing. Between the megalopolises of the East and West Coasts of America there are tens-of-thousands of small towns, and all have these values. They/we, are the silent majority. We are educated and informed. We know the difference between feels right and feels good. We know there is no gray area; it is right or it is wrong. We take responsibility for our action. Sarah Palin is what we would do if we were her. We are small-town America.

OH MAMA VOTE OBAMA

2008-09-20T07:42:00.002-04:00

"O-BA-MA, O-BA-MA, O-BA-MA."

It's a sound that now sings through this great nation of ours. Old and young alike are singing his name. The great senator from IL, our savior to bring us out from the "Bush's" and into the light, or so they believe. But, who is this man? More in moment.

I only know him for what I see and hear on television and that is only what he wants us to know. So far I see a lot of flash but not much substance. He, like all the candidates are promising us all kinds of things, Obama says the "big corporations" will pay his $800 billion price tag for social programs as does "Billery." McCain says we all will pay.

Having the big corporation pay sounds so good, and to some, so right, there's nothing out of my pocket, how wonderful. But let's examine that theory. We all work, have worked, or have some dealings with BIG BUSINESS. I don't care what you do for work this is a true statement. Knowing what I know about business and if it were my business that was going to get a huge tax increase I would be passing it on, in one form or another to my consumers, because my investors whether it is me or my stockholders are not going to stand for a reduction in profit or dividends. So who pays in the end? We do of course. So you must decide which is better.

Some say that Obama is not electable. Inexperienced, color, are just some of the reasons being said. Regardless, it is a lose-lose situation. We, as a nation lose if he is elected, lose money out of your pockets in higher taxes and a bigger welfare sate. If he is not elected all "whites" will be branded as racists making the racial divide in this country the size of the Grand Canyon. What to do?

Listen to the facts, Remember, in politics like divorce there are two sides to every story and then there is the truth. We must search and dig for the truth. Don't vote your heart, the heart can be deceived.

ENERGY: WHO'S RIGHT?

2008-07-13T13:41:00.000-04:00

It is said that the United States uses 24% of the worlds oil, but produces only 10%. Why? More in a moment.

Using more than twice the oil we produce has been a problem for some time. How is this possible in a country that has billions of barrels of oil waiting to be drilled for and pumped? Some blame that environmentalists, some blame big oil, some blame OPEC. Who is right?

They/we are all at fault, liberals and conservatives alike. We need and energy policy that allows us to use all energy resources available, and until we all agree on this we will be energy dependent, always relying on others to get us the energy we need. We live in an energy dependent society, and an energy dependent economy. And the price of that dependence is high.

So, until we are willing to tap all energy resources available; solar, wind, geothermal, nuclear, and fossil fuels, yes ALL because there is not ONE solution; we have no right to complain about the price of a gallon of gasoline. Complain, instead, to the law makers who pander to the special interest groups instead of doing there elected duty, which is watching out for this countries best interests. Just a thought, for what it's worth.

FIXING MEDICARE

2008-06-28T14:29:00.006-04:00

You want to fix Medicare? More in a moment.

Fixing Medicare seems like a monumental task. How can you repair such a monstrous bureaucracy? To me it is so very simple.

Do you know that none of our nationally elected Senators and Congressmen are required to go on Medicare when they turn 65? They are exempt. Let me repeat that. NONE OF OUR WASHINGTON SENATORS OR CONGRESSMEN MUST GO ON MEDICARE WHEN THEY TURN 65. When you and I turn 65 we must go on Medicare, we have no choice. Well that is not true, we do have a choice of NO HEALTH COVERAGE. But our elected officials get "golden healthcare coverage" paid for by the government (that's our tax dollars) until they die.
How can you expect them to fix something that they have no vested interest in?

Call your Washington Senators and Congressmen and ask them why they do not have to go on Medicare when they turn 65. How fast do you think Medicare would get fixed if they had to go on Medicare?

And as a side note. Do you think then they will have to go on National Health Insurance when they pass that?

Just a thought, for what it's worth.

HAVE AND HAVE NOTS

2008-06-28T07:57:00.006-04:00

What do you have and have not? More in a moment.

I have my life.
I have seen life lost.
I have my children.
I have seen children lost.
I have my God.
I have my demons.
I have love.
I have lost at love.
I have my job.
I have lost a job.
I have my health. (see RECIPE FOR LIFE NOV 2007)
I have happiness. (see above.)
I have been unhappy.
I have been lost.
I have been found.
I have freedom.
I have seen no freedom.
I have done right.
I have done wrong.
I have lived!
Life is good!

What? You thought I was going to talk about "STUFF"?

PERSPECTIVE

2008-06-27T07:11:00.008-04:00

What percent of your income do you spend on gasoline? More in a moment.

While complaining about the high cost of gasoline to my better half, she made a very profound statement. "Put it in perspective." And then she began to throw figures at me. When you started working it cost you, what? $2.50 to drive one hundred miles. (based on .25 cents for a gallon of gasoline, at 10 mpg in my auto of the time) and I was making $50.00 per week, so the gasoline cost me 5% of my income. Today, with gasoline at $4.50 per gallon, that one hundred miles costs me $22.50. But, with my current income and the fact that my current auto averages 20 mpg , that is 2.25% of my income.

Perspective! For what it's worth.

SOB

2008-06-19T12:00:00.004-04:00

My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-bitch.

Jack Nicholson

Jack, I don't think you are alone.

ANWR / ANWHERE? A PRIVATE SURVEY

2008-06-19T10:43:00.017-04:00

ANWR? More in a moment.

When shown a winter picture of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) 99% of the people shown the photo had no idea what they were looking at. Some thought it was a photo of Mars (not the candy bar). When asked what ANWR was 90% of those asked had no idea. Some said it was where we are fighting in the Middle East.

When asked if we should protect the caribou from drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge most said yes. When asked why we needed to protect the caribou most said:
"Because they are endangered, right?"
When asked what happened to the caribou heard after the Alaska Pipeline was built most said they did not know.

The caribou is not endangered, the heard that migrates around the Alaskan Pipeline went from 60,000 to 300,000.

With that in mind, and unless we want to be ass deep in caribou, we should not drill for oil in Alaska. And the same goes for fish around the oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, unless we want the ocean full to the top with fish we should outlaw those floating coral reefs we call oil drilling platforms. Just a thought, for what it's worth.

Nunov T. Above

2008-06-18T13:54:00.007-04:00

What do you do when you are in the voting booth and none of the candidates deserves your vote? More in a moment.

When you go do your civil duty and vote and you feel that not one of the candidates deserves your vote, what are your options? You can not cast a vote for that particular race, but that is actually a vote for the incumbent. The best thing to do is a "write in" and my favorite "NONE OF THE ABOVE" But you have to make it look like a real name, so my suggestions are:
Noneov T. Above
N. Oneov Theabove
Nunov T. Above Sr.
Noone Atall
Noone A. Tall
And my favorite:
U.Gotta Bekiddnme
You get the idea. Be creative, make it fun. Happy voting. For what it's worth.

SUCCESS & FAILURE

2008-06-15T15:45:00.003-04:00

SUCCESS IS NOT FOREVER, AND FAILURE ISN'T FATAL.

Don't get a big head when you win or get down in the dumps when you lose. Keep things in perspective.

FATHER'S DAY/ A REFELECTION

2008-06-15T09:15:00.003-04:00

As I approach sixty years of age I find myself reflecting back on my life, as I suppose most do. Some reflect for memories sake, some reflect to learn from mistakes. I know that I reflect to review my life history; you see, it's a way for me to see my successes and failures.

I remember the day each child was born. I remember sleeping in the recliner with each of them until their colic was better. I remember the times in the hospital worrying if they would be alright. I remember their first steps, their doctor appointments. I remember our first fishing trip together. I remember all the gym time all the miles driven for sports. I remember the girlfriends, the proms, their loves won and loves lost. I remember helping with homework and school projects. I remember the pets and the the pet funerals. I remember the life lessons learned, some easy, some hard. I remember their love. I remember all this and more.

Children; thanks for the memeories. I have learned so much from you.

HERE'S A THOUGHT /ENVIROMENTALISM AND TERRORISM

2008-06-13T16:01:00.002-04:00

Is it possible that the terrorist situation in America and the world is in large part the result of our own strict environmental energy policies? More in a moment.

We can not drill for more oil, we can not refine more oil, we can not build more nuclear power plants, we can not burn coal and in some areas, where it is available, we can not use wind power. With that in mind, does that not, by itself, make us very dependant on foreign oil? And being that dependant on foreign oil puts billions of dollars into the pockets of our enemies, which they can use to attack us.

Just a thought. For what it's worth.

"BIG BROTHER" IS US!

2008-06-01T08:58:00.005-04:00

Who would have thought that George Orwell's Big Brother in the novel 1984 would turn out to be the people and not the government? More in moment.

With almost everyone having a cell phone, and all those cell phones with cameras there is no longer a place on earth that is private, and we only have ourselves to blame. I heard no protest, I saw no marching in the streets, we have accepted it. Not only do we accept it we live for the time when we can capture that one event that will give us our 15 minuets of fame.

I remember when we all feared the outcome of Orwell's book, 1984. We feared it because it was the government taking away our freedom, snooping where they did not belong. Well, as it turns out, we have nothing to fear but the people around us. So lock your doors, tint your windows and keep your mouth shut, because we are out to get us. Isn't democracy wonderful ? Spying of the people, by the people, for the people?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nineteen_Eighty-Four

HOPE FOR THE BEST

2008-02-08T12:45:00.002-05:00

I always wondered what I would do if I heard my doctor utter that freighting word; "tumor". More to follow.

I did not want to hear "The lack of pain could suggest a tumor." More tests are needed. Of course I am preparing for the worst and hoping for the best. But, what irritates me more is that I have to wait 30 days for the "more tests" part. Because I work in the medical world I realize how over crowded they are with far too many patients and far too few doctors.

As I get closer and closer to "senior citizen" status I find I want a doctor who I do not have to remind of tests that are needed because I'm on a certain medication or because I am of a certain age and it's time to do certain things. I'm big on prevention, so I do remind my doctor. But it would be nice to believe that he actually reads my chart before he steps into the room to treat me. It would be nice to know that he actually knew my history. But that is the world we have created. With the looming possibility of national insurance, that's where the tax payers pay for the neighbors that do not have health insurance, I can only seeing that world growing and the pool of doctors becoming more and more shallow.

I have no solution only a warning. Any time you let the government manage anything it becomes mis-managed. It becomes fat and lazy, demanding more and more resources, and as always, that is money.

My test date is still one plus weeks away and my consult with the doctor is two plus weeks away, I shall remain in a state of readiness to accept what comes but, as always, hope for the best.

*Post Script: All turned out fine.

THE COMMUNIST

2007-12-29T07:55:00.000-05:00

How do you tell a Communist? Well, it some one who reads Marx and Lenin.
And how do you tell an anti-Communist? It's someone who understands Marx and Lenin.

Ronald Reagan

Where are you N.O.W.?

2007-12-29T07:26:00.000-05:00

Women are being held hostage in their own homes.
Where are you now?
Women are being killed in the streets.
Where are you now?
Women are being kept from education.
Where are you now?
Women are forbidden to drive an automobile.
Where are you now?
Women are forbidden to go out alone.
Where are you now?
Women must hide their faces.
Where are you now?
From the Middle East they look to the West and cry out;
Where are you N.O.W.?
Why are you hiding N.O.W.?
We need you, N.O.W.!

DEMOCRACY

2007-12-29T07:19:00.000-05:00

What is the difference between a democracy and a people's democracy?
The same difference between a jacket and a straight-jacket.

Ronald Reagan

CARBON FOOTPRINT?! WAKE UP PEOPLE!!

2007-12-19T14:53:00.002-05:00

The arrogance of the human species never ceases to amaze me. For any one person to think that our limited existence on this planet; our drop in the bucket of time on this big blue marble we call earth could have a negative effect is the height of arrogance.

One volcanic eruption spews more "carbon footprint" junk then all of mankind has done since the start of the industrial age, and there are no less then 100 of these eruption at any one time, and this has been going on for millions if not billions of years! According to our "carbon footprint" friends the earth should be dead.

We live on a living, breathing planet, an aging, living, breathing planet. Ask the geologist, they will show you the changes; hot, cold, wet, dry that this sphere has gone through over the many billions of years. Climate change; it's supposed to happen people! We can not stop it! We are fleas on the butt of earth, insignificant as far as time and space goes. As much as we want to think we have control we have none.

Is the climate changing on our planet? Certainly, as it has been for all its existence. You really want to know what this is about? Follow the money. I wonder what the "carbon footprint" was for printing Al Gore's $1.6 million check for blaming 'US' all for global warming, not to mention his own "carbon footprint" for getting to his high priced $peaking engagements. And you thought he was doing if for free, to save the planet. I wonder what's next; global cooling...again?

P.S. The mantra has changed, once again. It is now "Climate Change." I have news for them, if they want to see real climate change come to New England on any given day. Don't like the weather...wait a minuet.

TIME OUT

2007-12-16T16:01:00.000-05:00

DON'T JUST DO SOMETHING, SIT THERE!

If you don't take time out to think, strategize and prioritize, you will work a whole lot harder, without enjoying the benefits of a job smartly done.

WINNING

2007-12-16T14:01:00.000-05:00

POSITIVE SELF-IMAGE:
What you see is what you get.
What is your "IQ" (Imagination Quotient)?

It is important to learn just how important of a role your imagination plays in the creation, and up-grading of your self-image. If in your self-image you cannot possibly see yourself doing something, achieving something, you literally cannot do it. Your subconscious is incapable of differentiating between a real success or failure, and a success or failure imagined. What you see in your imagined self-image is what you get. With out an adjustment in my self-image, without me imagining and fantasizing about my success, I could not have gone back to school at 40 and completed my BA degree.

Imagine and fantasize about the person you would most like to become, imagine it again and again, vividly and in full detail. See yourself changing, growing, achieving and winning. Raise your winning "IQ" and watch how far you will go.

WINNING

2007-12-16T13:46:00.000-05:00

POSITIVE SELF-MOTIVATION:
"Winners dwell on their desires, not their limitation." We are all motivated a little or a lot, most of us are motivated from the inside by fear, inhibitions, compulsions, and attractions. Learn to focus on goals, desires, and solutions, and stay away from negative concepts such as "fat, poor, sick and stupid." Look at where you want to go and not the troubled places you have come from. Tell yourself, "I want to, I can do it." not "I have to or I can't." Learn to dwell on desired results, not the fear of what could or might happen

Still Smiling After All These Years

2007-12-05T07:27:00.000-05:00

In my job working around a hospital emergency department I see many things.I see the light and the dark side of life. I see life begin and life end. I have seen and/or smelled every bodily fluid. But amid all this there is even time for laughter; it's the only way to keep your sanity in this business.

One summer day a mother come in with her teenage son in tow. He had visible scrapes and bruises, but he look non-to-pleased about being in the emergency department. At this hospital we record all accidents with a description of what happened and pass that information on to the state. (bureaucrats are keeping track of everything these days) Any way, when I asked him what happened, the mother looked at him with disgust and said, "tell him." The young man looked at me and told me that he and his friends, "X friends." mom says, were messing around with this shopping cart and he got the idea to get inside it and ride it down a hill. I could hardly keep a straight face. Instantly the Vonage telephone commercial popped into my head, you know the one "People do stupid things..." All I could visualize is this young mans facial expression going from cocky to utter terror once he realized that he was in a wheeled vehicle, going down hill, at the mercy of gravity and with no means of steering or braking. The next question I asked him, also required for statistics, "Were you wearing a helmet?" "No." he said. How come I knew that answer to that question?

KIDS ON A LEASH

2007-11-30T18:21:00.004-05:00

I was walking down the hall of a hospital, a small hospital as most go and I spotted a man with his toddler child and he had the child on a leash! Not only did that catch my attention but as they walked the tether between child and dad made a pretty good barricade, like a piece of tape
POLICELINEDONOTCROSSPOLICELINE... and took up most of the hallway forcing me and others to walk way over to one side, and dad, it seemed, thought nothing of it.

"Here boy."

Oh, they try to make the kid leashes look like backpacks or any thing else but a leash, but with my sharp 20/100 vision I spotted it right away. A leash by any other... well you know the rest.

"Here boy. Heal."

I couldn't help but wonder why a leash, and the only answers that came to my mind were that he just didn't want the interaction of holding the child's hand, or he was just lazy and didn't want to chase after the child. Now I have seen children on leashes before, but it has been awhile. For some reason and in our current world of child priorities this struck me as a little inhumane. I'm not sure where dad thought the child would run off to but non-the-less there the child was on the end of that leash. In my day I would have let the kid bounce from wall to wall, catching him on the rebound hoping he would burn up some energy bring him closer to that treasured nap time.

"Here boy. Heal. Sit."

I guess I'm old fashioned. I believe in good old human contact. When my children were toddlers I, or their mother, held their hand while walking, or we carried them! Ya carried them, even when they smelled like poop. It's no wonder today's kids grow up feeling detached from their parents.

" Here boy. Heal. Sit. Lay down."

Perhaps there are some who have not evolved far from our canine friends. Or they just think; if it works for dogs then it works for me. What's the next step a kennel? Oh ya, about that play pen.

"Here boy. Heal. Sit. Lay down. STAY!"
"Good boy."

VOTE

2007-11-16T13:38:00.000-05:00

Well, for what it's worth, the politicians are doing it to us again, and I don't know about you but not one of them has even kissed me. Yes, it's election time. But no matter who wins hang onto your wallets. It is a given that the liars-and-cheats (that's politicians to those of you on the Left Coast) will dig deeper into yours and my pockets. How do I know this? They are not talking about it. Their thinking is this; if they don't talk about we wont think about it.

Although I do not expect the schools, roads and other infrastructure to be free and maintained for free, I do expect fiscal responsibility with MY money. Fiscal responsibility; why are those two words so foreign to politicians? The new ones, the new soon to be liars-and-cheats, oh they talk a good game but when elected they turn into veteran liars-and-cheats. But the worst thing of all, the most unforgivable thing of all, is we as an electorate do not hold them accountable. Why?

VOTE!
It's your vote. It's your one, most precious vote. Use it wisely.

the good of the few does not out weigh the good of the many.

Winning

2007-11-16T07:34:00.000-05:00

So, you want to be a winner; a success at whatever you do? Here is the first in a series if tips I have picked up along the way. Together they will make up your life-rudder, your guidance system, if you will, to direct you along life's path, and for what it's worth I believe they will help.

POSITIVE SELF-EXPECTANCY: (WINNERS EXPECT TO WIN)
First, you must be positive. Positive in yourself, positive in your work. You must expect positive things to happen. "That which you fear or expect most will likely come to pass. The body manifests what the mind harbors." Life is a self-fulfilling prophecy, a person usually gets what he or she expects. Think positive thoughts in your life and business and it WILL come to pass.

The key to POSITIVE SELF-EXPECTANCY is to establish a POSITIVE SELF-TALK. We all talk to ourselves at a rate of about 500 to 800 words per minuet. So, instead of a negative self-talk such as; with my luck I was bound to fail, try A POSITIVE SELF TALK; "I was good today, I'll be better tomorrow." You will become that which you think you are. With your new positive self you will learn to become relaxed and friendly no matter how much tension you are under.

Your Choice

2007-11-13T08:01:00.000-05:00

MOST OF US TALK ABOUT THINGS,

THE BEST OF US TALK ABOUT IDEAS,

THE WORST OF US TALK ABOUT OTHERS.

Pledge of Allegiance

2007-11-09T15:08:00.000-05:00

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

But what do these words mean?

I - - Me; an individual; a committee of one.

Pledge - - Dedicate all of my worldly goods to give without self-pity.

Allegiance - - My love and my devotion.

To the Flag - - Our standard; Old Glory ; a symbol of Freedom; wherever she waves there is respect, because your loyalty has given her a dignity that shouts, Freedom is everybody's job.

United - - That means that we have all come together.

States - - Individual communities that have united into forty-eight great states. Forty-eight individual communities with pride and dignity and purpose. All divided with imaginary boundaries, yet united to a common purpose, and that is love for country.

And to the Republic - - Republic--a state in which sovereign power is invested in representatives chosen by the people to govern. And government is the people; and it's from the people to the leaders, not from the leaders to the people.
For which it stands

One Nation - - One Nation--meaning, so blessed by God.

Indivisible - - Incapable of being divided.

With Liberty - - Which is Freedom; the right of power to live one's own life, without threats, fear, or some sort of retaliation.

And Justice - - The principle, or qualities, of dealing fairly with others.

For All - - For All--which means, boys and girls, it's as much your country as it is mine.

"Since I was a small boy, two states have been added to our country, and two words have been added to the Pledge of Allegiance: Under God. Wouldn't it be a pity if someone said that is a prayer, and that would be eliminated from schools, too?"

The late Red Skelton, actor, comedian, and patriot recited this on his weekly television broadcast on January 14, 1969.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kfz2XDXaeqc

For what it's worth Mr. Skelton I have never forgotten this. Thank you!

And now let me hear you recite, the Pledge of Allegiance.

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

"Good nite, and may God Bless."

Am I A Patriot?

2007-11-07T17:09:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure when I first considered myself a patriot, I only know I was very young. But it was a time when patriotism was revered, when it was even taught in our schools. (can you imagine such a thing) And at a time when it was shown to us on television and even more unbelievable the movies. Now it seems that Hollywood is doing the reverse of McCarthyism, black listing patriots. It must be their version of payback.

Saturday morning television was full of patriots such as Superman; "Truth, justice and the American way." Captain Midnight aka Jet Jackson, flying his Douglas "Skyrocket" called the Silver Dart. Roy Rogers, Hopalong Cassidy, and the list goes on and on. It has been said by some that the Golden Age of television was gilded and just mindless entertainment. But as I watched and grew I learned family values, right and wrong and patriotism, these are not bad things to learn. I can't say the same for today's television and movies.

Every school day started with the *Pledge of Allegiance. I doubt that many of today's young people can recite it or, more importantly, know what it means. I do remember the words and what they mean. I guess I am a patriot.

*to be continued

A Recipe For Life

2007-11-06T19:50:00.000-05:00

No one will ever get out of this world alive.
Resolve therefore to maintain a reasonable sense of values.
Take care of yourself. Good health is every one's major source of wealth, without out it happiness is almost impossible.
Resolve to be cheerful and helpful, people will repay you in kind.
Avoid angry abrasive persons they're generally vengeful.
Avoid zealots they are generally humorless.
Resolve to listen more and talk less. No on ever learns anything by talking.
Be wary of giving advise, wise men don't need and and fools won't heed it.
Resolve to be tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and wrong; at sometime in your life you will have been all of these.
Do not equate money with success, there are many successful money makers who are miserable failures as human beings. What counts most about success is how a person achieves it.

Why Am I Here?

2007-11-04T11:12:00.000-05:00

Why am I hear? A philosophical question yes. But the operative word is HERE. In this context here means this blogging site. So,then, Why?

As a parent and now a new grand parent I am concerned for my new granddaughters future here. ( HERE in this context being the U.S. of A.) Still the best place to live on this big blue marble we call earth.

I was a child in a time when 9Th grade Civics taught you how government ran, about the Constitution, the Bill of Rights. (not the Bill of Rewrites that most of the current electorate, judiciary and forth estate subscribe to.) I'm was also a child from a time when the Pledge of Allegiance was required and God was not a dirty word. Today all this seems so far away and almost forgotten. I want my granddaughter to know of these things, not to indoctrinate but to educate. Because education is the only key to good sound decision making.

My maternal grandfather taught me that moderation was the key to good living. He also told me that responsibility was a good characteristic to have. I taught my children moderation and responsibility through my actions. I believe they will teach their children the same. So here I am. For What It's Worth.