Sunday, July 19, 2009

Bronco II XLT




It is kind of sad to see the old truck go. It was one of those projects you want to do but never seem to get the time to work on it. I bought the truck back in 1990 when I was in outside sales. It was a cool 4 wheeler and worked well as a family car. We took many a trip in the truck and I had 150,000 on it when Oil Express worked on it.

They put the wrong fluid in the brakes and Min lost brakes while in traffic near a parade. All the brake lines and cylinder needed replacing and Min hit someone causing damage to the right front. It needed more work and Oil Express refused to take any responsibility. One reason I only have dealerships or myself replace oil any more. The Bronco sat waiting for me to have it fixed but time passed and it started to rust. The sitting caused problems, so it was time to say good bye to the old friend. Many people wanted it for parts.

It has been busy around here of late. We are having a lot of work done to the house to repair and fix up the old home. New coat of paint, gutters and landscaping. Throwing stuff away we do not need or use and getting the garage ready. All this and a cool trip to the Caribbean on a huge cruise ship. Spent some time in Old San Juan before boarding the Adventure of the Seas. It was a great cruise with good weather, service and rooms. Next post I will add some pictures. Time is short of late with work and getting stuff done that I have needed to do for some time.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Obamanomics

It is the month of August, on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean.

It is raining, and the little town looks totally deserted.
It is tough times, everybody is in debt, and everybody lives on credit.
Suddenly, a rich tourist comes to town.
He enters the only hotel, lays a 100 Euro note on the reception counter, and goes to inspect the rooms upstairs in order to pick one.
The hotel proprietor takes the 100 Euro note and runs to pay his debt to the butcher.
The Butcher takes the 100 Euro note, and runs to pay his debt to the pig grower.
The pig grower takes the 100 Euro note, and runs to pay his debt to the supplier of his feed and fuel.
The supplier of feed and fuel takes the 100 Euro note and runs to pay his debt to the town's prostitute that in these hard times, gave her "services" on credit.
The hooker runs to the hotel, and pays off her debt with the 100 Euro note to the hotel proprietor to pay for the rooms that she rented when she brought her clients there.
The hotel proprietor then lays the 100 Euro note back on the counter so that the rich tourist will not suspect anything.
At that moment, the rich tourist comes down after inspecting the rooms, and takes his 100 Euro note, after saying that he did not like any of the rooms, and leaves town.
No one earned anything. However, the whole town is now without debt, and looks to the future with a lot of optimism.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how the United States Government is doing business .

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Tyler's Graduation





I guess I should have taken a lot more pictures but two things kind of kept me in check. One thing is Ty has not always been a big fan of Dad taking pictures of him. Also I was feeling a little introspective that evening since it all started to hit me that my oldest son was graduation from Clermont Northeastern High School. It does not seem it was just 18 years ago he was just a little boy running around the house. The whole moment hit me as I watched them walk in and gather for the diplomas. Should have gone down and taken some pictures closer to the hand out of awards but felt kind of drained.

Ty will be heading off to college in September to OU and will work on being a creative writer. He is one now, but this will open up new ideas and doors to his works. It is a great University, Harvard on the Ohio it is often called. It will be close enough we can visit but far enough where he can learn some independence and more personal responsibility growth. I guess this is where we find out how well we did over the last 19 years. Min and I are both very proud of Ty he worked hard in school and graduated with honors and the top ten of his class. I will miss having him here at home more than he really knows.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Concert at the Lake






This years Concert at the Lake had good weather for a change. Director Mr. Chris Moore handled the concert and marching Clermont Northeastern Rockets. There was a nice crowd and it was the last concert for the class of 2009. A large part of the band is graduating. Chris Moore has been more than a teacher to the kids, he has been a friend. I know the kids and parents very much appreciate what he has done for the school band and music program and Clermont Northeastern High School.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Change We Can Believe In


Barack Obama, through his spokesman, claimed today that he was unaware of the tax day tea parties.
Granted, the MSM has done a good job in suppressing any sort of coverage ahead of time (and the little coverage they did provide was derisive at best)…
but how out of touch is the Community Organizer in Chief, really?

This much.
- He was unaware that he was attending a church (for 20 years) with a racist pastor who hates America .
- He was unaware that he was family friends with, and started his political career in the living room of, a domestic terrorist.
- He was unaware that he had invested in two speculative companies backed by some of his top donors right after taking office in 2005.
- He was unaware that his own aunt was living in the US illegally.
- He was unaware of the AIG bonuses that he and his administration approved and signed into a bill.
- He was unaware that the man he nominated to be his Secretary of Commerce was under investigation in a bribery scandal.
- He was unaware that the man he nominated to be his Secretary of Health and Human Services was a tax cheat.
- He was unaware that the man he nominated to be his Secretary of the Treasury was a tax cheat.
- He was unaware that the man he nominated to be the U.S. Trade Representative was a tax cheat.
- He was unaware that the woman he nominated to be his Chief Performance Officer was a tax cheat.
- He was unaware that the man he nominated to be #2 at the Environmental Protection Agency was under investigation for mismanaging $25 million in EPA grants.

________________________________________________________________________________

How many times can Prez (Tweety Bird) O say it? The good ole USA is just a piece of crap!

Does the word "neutered and spineless" mean anything to you?

During the 2008 presidential race, President Bush took heat for seeming to criticize Obama as an appeaser during an address to Israel's parliament.

It was considered poor form to take shots, direct or indirect, at a U.S. Dignitary while overseas.

But since taking office, Obama has made a habit of using overseas podiums to delicately jab at his predecessor by apologizing and expressing regret for American behavior in recent years.

While the move could yield diplomatic fruit by easing tensions between the U.S. And nations that felt sidelined during the Bush administration, Republicans have also criticized the president for using the world stage to scold his own country.

The following is a list, in reverse chronological order, of the Obama administration's overseas apologies and clarifications to date:

April 18: "We have at times been disengaged, and at times we sought to dictate our terms. But I pledge to you that we seek an equal partnership. There is no senior partner and junior partner in our relations." (BS! Like sending troops to Iraq: France with 3 troops sent and Germany with 4 troops by having equality in talks are going to dictate to us?)
-- President Obama, at the Summit of the Americas in Port of Spain, Trinidad

April 16: "Too often, the United States has not pursued and sustained engagement with our neighbors. We have been too easily distracted by other priorities and have failed to see that our own progress is tied directly to progress throughout the Americas. My administration is committed to renewing and sustaining a broader partnership between the United States and the hemisphere on behalf of our common prosperity and our common security."
-- President Obama, in an op-Ed that appeared in U.S. And Latin American newspapers prior to the Summit of the Americas

April 6: "I know there have been difficulties these last few years. I know that the trust that binds us has been strained, and I know that strain is shared in many places where the Muslim faith is practiced. Let me say this as clearly as I can: the United States is not at war with Islam."(Maybe not, but it turns out that about 99.99% of radical terrorists just happen to be Islamists, so what the hell are you saying?)
-- President Obama, in Ankara, Turkey

And don't you just L-O-V-E this one? Leader of whom and what? For all my life plus some, the US has been either kicking Europes' ass or saving for nearly 100 years now.

April 3: "In America, there's a failure to appreciate Europe's leading role in the world. (Please pardon me while I barf). Instead of celebrating your dynamic union and seeking to partner with you to meet common challenges, there have been times where America has shown arrogance and been dismissive, even derisive. But in Europe, there is an anti-Americanism that is at once casual but can also be insidious. Instead of recognizing the good that America so often does in the world, there have been times where Europeans choose to blame America for much of what's bad. On both sides of the Atlantic, these attitudes have become all too common. They are not wise. ... They threaten to widen the divide across the Atlantic and leave us both more isolated." (Why don't the Europeans see a danger and act on it when recognized, not sit back and let the good ole USA handle it for them?)
-- President Obama, in Strasbourg, France

April 2: "It is true, as my Italian friend has said, that the (economic) crisis began in the U.S. I take responsibility, even if I wasn't even president at the time."(No, but your Democrat predessor Billy Clinton started it so don't even mention President Bush as he tried in vain to end it!)
-- President Obama, at the G20 in London, as reported by Germany's Der Spiegel

April 2: "I would like to think that with my election and the early decisions that we've made, that you're starting to see some restoration of America's standing in the world." (Way too early to comment. Right now it's not looking too good.)
-- President Obama, at G20 summit in London

April 1: "If you look at the sources of this crisis, the United States certainly has some accounting to do with respect to a regulatory system that was inadequate." (Again, return to the idiotic lending practices of Clinton)
-- President Obama, at a press conference ahead of the G20 in London

March 25: "I feel very strongly we have a co-responsibility (for drug-fueled violence in Mexico). ... Our insatiable demand for illegal drugs fuels the drug trade. (Is only America drug dependent?) Our inability to prevent weapons from being illegally smuggled across the border to arm these criminals causes the deaths of police officers, soldiers and civilians." (News Flash! Criminals will buy guns from anywhere they can. We just happen to be close to Mexico. How you gonna stop guns from going over the border when you can't even stop illegals?)
-- Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, en route to Mexico City

Jan. 26: "All too often the United States starts by dictating ... And we don't always know all the factors that are involved. So let's listen. And I think if we do that, then there's a possibility at least of achieving some breakthroughs. ... My job to the Muslim world is to communicate that the Americans are not your enemy. We sometimes make mistakes. We have not been perfect." (Is this a unilateral confession, or could there possibly be a tad bit of culpability on the part of the Arab world?)
-- President Obama, in an interview with Al Arabiya

Change we can believe in?

Friday, May 8, 2009

Allan Keyes


There is not much else to be said. Dr. Keyes spells out the concerns he has, as well as many other Americans. Much of what he says I agree with, but this was made before the 1.8 Trillion of more debt Obama has proposed in Next Years Budget, due 10/2009. It is insane.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Downtown Visit

The other day I went downtown to run a few errands.
I went into the local coffee shop for a snack.
I was only there for about 5 minutes, and when I came out, there was this cop writing out a parking ticket.
I said to him, 'Come on, man, how about giving a retired person a break'?
He ignored me and continued writing the ticket.
His insensitivity annoyed me, so I called him a 'Nazi.'
He glared at me and then wrote out another ER ticket for having worn tires.
So I proceeded to call him a 'doughnut eating Gestapo.'
He finished the second ticket and put it on the windshield with the first.
Then he wrote a third ticket when I called him a moron in blue.
This went on for about 20 minutes.
The more I talked back to him the more tickets he wrote.
Personally, I didn't really care.
I came downtown on the bus, and the car that he was putting the tickets on had one of those Bumper stickers that said, 'Obama '08.'
I try to have a little fun each day now that I'm retired.
The doctor tells me that it's important to my health..
I felt much better on the bus ride home.

Monday, May 4, 2009

545 People - Charlie Nails It.



545 PEOPLE
By Charlie Reese

Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them.

Have you ever wondered, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, WHY do we have deficits?

Have you ever wondered, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes?

You and I don't propose a federal budget. The president does.
You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does.
You and I don't write the tax code, Congress does.
You and I don't set fiscal policy, Congress does.
You and I don't control monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bank does.

One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one president, and nine Supreme Court justices 545 human beings out of the 300 million are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.

I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered, but private, central bank.

I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman, or a president to do one cotton-picking thing. I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash.

The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator's responsibility to determine how he votes.

Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party.

What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker, who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits. The president can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it.

The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes. Who is the speaker of the House? Nancy Pelosi. She is the leader of the majority party. She and fellow House members, not the president, can approve any budget they want. If the president vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to.

It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million cannot replace 545 people who stand convicted -- by present facts -- of incompetence and irresponsibility. I can't think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people. When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.

If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair.
If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red .
If the Army & Marines are in IRAQ , it's because they want them in IRAQ
If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement plan not available to the people, it's because they want it that way.

There are no insoluble government problems.

Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power. Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like "the economy," "inflation," or "politics" that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.

Those 545 people, and they alone, are responsible.
They, and they alone, have the power.
They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses.
Provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees.
We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess!

Friday, April 24, 2009

Pink Elephant in the Room


Social Security, The Great American Ponzi Scheme .
Our Social Security.
Franklin Delano. Roosevelt 32nd. President, Democrat Terms of Office March 4, 1933, to April 12, 1945

Both my parents told me a very long time ago much of what is stated here has basis in fact. The question is not what is in the law. The question is how did FDR promote the vast new program. A program like no other in our country's history. My Mom told me she liked him at the time. But over time the changes were not what she had hoped for or had expected. My mom told me this over 30 plus years ago during a discussions on politics, very common in our home while growing up. Sound familiar.

The below statement is said to be fake and not factual in terms of law, not sure about the sell part. People were in crisis and I think that fed the desire for a turn toward socialism.
Our Social Security Franklin Delano. Roosevelt (Terms of Office March 4, 1933, to April 12, 1945)a Democrat, introduced the Social Security (FICA) Program. He promised the American people when he first explained the idea and to sell it to the people:

1.)That participation in the program would be voluntary. Not what was passed into law.
2.)That the participants would only have to pay 1% of their annual incomes into the program,
3.)That the money the participants elected to put into the program maybe deductible from their income for tax purposes each year. Not what was passed into law.
4.)That the money the participants put into the Independent 'Trust Fund' rather than into the General operating fund, and therefore, would only be used to fund the Social Security Retirement Program, and no other Government program. Not what was passed into law.
5.)That the annuity payments to the retirees would never be taxed as income. Since many of us have paid into FICA for years and are now receiving a Social Security check every month and then finding that we are getting taxed on 85% of the money we paid to the Federal government to 'Put Away' -- you may be interested in the following: Not what was passed into law.

What he promised is not what congress passed. The Fed has a so called fact sheet website page debunking what legislation that was sold to the people, just mentions what was passed and now law. The point is not what was passed by congress, the point is what was sold to the people by the leader of the country. One sentence says no one would get social security unless they paid into it, we know this not to be true. ADC is one program funded as well as welfare out of the SSI fund. Call it what you will a Rose is a Rose by any other name.

Lyndon Baines Johnson 36th.President, Democrat Term Of Office: November 22, 1963 to January 20, 1969 Question: Which Political Party took Social Security from the Independent 'Trust Fund' and put it into the General Fund so that Congress could spend it? Answer: It was Lyndon B. Johnson (Democrat, Term Of Office: November 22, 1963 to January 20, 1969) and the democratically Controlled House and Senate.

The Great Society needed funding and all that money was just sitting there. Government websites will tell you it is not part of the general fund. True, they just borrow the money and in exchange give government securities in exchange. They are taking money out of the right pocket and putting into the left pocket. We are borrowing from ourselves, someone has to pay it, who?

William Jefferson Clinton (Bill Clinton) 42nd. President Democrat Term of Office: January 20, 1993 to January 20, 2001 Albert Arnold Gore, Jr.(Al Gore)45th. Vice President Democrat Term of Office: January 20,1993 to January 20, 2001 changed the tax rules on SS.

Question: Which Political Party increased taxing Social Security annuities? Answer: The Democratic Party, with Albert Arnold Gore, Jr. (Al Gore) [Vice President Term of
Office: January 20, 1993 to January 20, 2001] casting the `tie-breaking' deciding vote as President of the Senate, while he was Vice President of the US. The vote increased the tax from 50% to 85%

James Earl Carter, Jr (Jimmy Carter) 39th. President, Democrat Term of Office: January 20, 1977 to January 20, 1981 Question: Which Political Party decided to start giving money generated from Annuity payments to illegal immigrants?

Answer: That's right! James Earl Carter, Jr. (Jimmy Carter) (Democrat, Term of Office: January 20, 1977 to January 20, 1981) and the Democratic Party. Began helping illegal Immigrants who moved into this country, they can began to receive government payments! The Democratic Party gave these payments to them, even though they never were to benefit from this fund. But they call it something else, but the money comes from the SSI funds. The money just does not come out of thin air. The government website says this is not true, but if you read between the lines it is not SS per say it is other programs funded by money placed in the FICA fund.

Then, after violating the original contract (FICA), the Democrats turn around and tell you that the Republicans want to take your Social Security away! Truth be told even Republicans have spent like Democrats in the first part of this century, around 2000. Social Security is a Ponzi scheme it will crash at some point. Just do the math, immigration, age of population, support group smaller than expected. The house of cards collapses. Either the service are drastically cut or people forced to pay higher taxes to support it. Based on our current congress and President plan on taxes. Both parties are guilty of plundering our retirement.

They have run out of our money, 40 years of spending by both parties. This has not happened over night. Obama and congress want to accelerate it in 5 year going out past 10. Who is going to pay the bill? It was bad enough when George Bush was spending us deeper in debt. Like Rx drugs, not much different than Obama. The problem is we do not have the money. We will go deep into negative equity, then the waiter brings the bill at some point. It has to be paid for some how, please explain how?

The founding fathers are rolling in their graves. This is not what they in visioned how the country's government was to work. We need to get back to the basic frame work of the Constitution. We have wander to far out of what was a perfect balance of power with all the checks and balances. It has become corrupt and needs to be adjusted back to the basics. Less government, states rights, country's defense The unproductive government needs to be reduced and private sector needs to absorb the needs of some people who really need help. We did it some how before the New Deal. It comes down to the Physiological Difference do you want people doing for themselves. Or do you want to pay the government to do that for you?

Monday, April 20, 2009

Life Changes - Fluffytek


Every now and then you get to meet some very nice people on the Internet. That happen Summer last year when I became friends with Lin and Rich of Fluffytek. At the time I was having problems with a site administrator who was looking for a fall guy. The person messed up and provided personal information attacking the wrong person. Lin and Rich both have dealt with the problem person before. At a time I needed some moral support they were there for help. I will always appreciate them for that genuine help. Lin and Rich are what I call good people, you feel they are being honest in the friendship.

When I had time to look through blogs and I always go to Fluffytek first, you see a link on your right to the blog. I was sadden in one way but happy in another when I read Lin's update on life in their world. I know the photography blog was becoming time consuming and tough enough when healthy. But sick and fighting health issues and putting it together takes time and effort. Rich is wise in helping to correct direction back on course to fun. I will miss seeing his photography of Lin and the other models. The poses, light and creative works of photography art have been a inspiration. I have no doubt he will do as well in the new medium.

One less burden for Lin, a well needed rest and I am sure will return from time to time to keep in touch with the blog who are also friends. Lin is not only a beautiful woman on the out side, she is rare that it is also inside of her as well. As mention Lin is good people and has a loving devoted hubby and wonderful kids. I hope that remains the focus. It is how things in life happen, and how we absorb and deal with them that makes life. I hope it turns out the best for both of them.