You would think that if Paul Harvey was alive he would call this “THE REST OF THE STORY”.  Anyone with half a brain should call it “THE END OF THE STORY”.

I received this message from  friends that are much more informed and have more credentials in climatology than me. These people pointed out to me that we should “Follow The Money!” This means that when the “Crisis” of Global Warming (now referred to as Climate Change) goes away, these people (i.e, Al Gore) will no longer be in the spot light and cannot continue to collect millions from our government coffers.    My only request is that you watch this informed video at least one time and that you try to keep an open mind.

Do YOU have an open mind? Is this climatologist from Western Washington University totally uninformed?  He is the founder of The Weather Channel.  I DARE you to watch and learn!

Click Here to listen to John Coleman Meteorologist/Founder of The Weather Channel.

Respond with your opinion after viewing.

Freedom and Socialism Don’t Mix

For more than fifty years American presidents and Congress have attempted to mix socialism with our capitalist system to make it fairer. We have taken a lot of the candy earned by top performers and created federal programs to distribute candy to those who didn’t earn it. But socialism and capitalism don’t work well together. Socialist policies dramatically increase government spending and debt, siphoning wealth and productivity from the private sector. Government intrusion into the free market has under mined personal responsibility, reduced incentives to work and save, and insulated people and businesses from the consequences of bad decisions.

It is actually quite amazing that there is any debate in America on the value of freedom versus socialism. The collapse of the Soviet Union was a definitive rejection of the principles of a socialized economy and culture. China and India were backward economies until capitalism began to raise the standard of living for its citizens (although China doesn’t accord their people a democracy or human rights). There is no example in the world or the standard of living of their citizens. There is no example in the world or from any time in history where the principles of socialism actually worked.

What is your opinion, please answer this question:

   Are you willing to relinquish or give up your freedom for a pound of sausage?

1.  Yes
2.   No

A  Ponzi Scheme That Works. The greatest strength of America is that people want to live here.

The American people are not anti-immigrant. We are concerned about the lack of coherence in our immigration policy and enforcement. ~ Chris Cannon

Immigration to America is still every non-Americans dream. It’s predicted that by the year 2050 the total number of Americans will be 500 Million and by the year 2100 the total population of Americans will be 1 Billion.  Most of the increase will come from immigration not organic growth such as birth or increase in longevity for America. The follow is a very good article written in The Economist (12/17/09). The article was factually written and explains the long term positive effects for our economy.

THE ECONOMIST

There is one Christmas Carol that has always baffled me.  What in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and especially the partridge who won’t come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas?

This week, I found out.

From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics.. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember.

-The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.

-Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.

-Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.-

-The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.

-The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.

-The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.

-Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit–Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.

-The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.

-Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit–Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.

-The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.

-The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.

-The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles’ Creed.

So there is your history for today. This knowledge was shared with me and I found it interesting and enlightening and now I know how that strange song became a Christmas Carol…so pass it on if you wish.’

Merry Christmas Everyone

Some levity about a murderous terrorist………..

While trying to escape through Pakistan, Osama Bin Laden found a bottle on the sand and picked it up. Suddenly, a female genie rose from the bottle and with a smile said, “Master, may I grant you one wish?” Osama responded,” You ignorant, unworthy daughter-of-a-dog! Don’t you know who I am? I don’t need any common woman giving me anything.” The shocked genie said, “Please, I must grant you a wish or I will be returned to that bottle forever.” Osama thought a moment, then grumbled about the impertinence of the woman and said, “Very well, I want to awaken with three American women in my bed in the morning. So just, do it and be off with you.

The annoyed genie said, “So be it!” and disappeared. The next morning Bin Laden woke up in bed with Lorena Bobbitt, Tonya Harding, and Nancy Pelosi at his side.

His penis was gone, his knees were broken, and he had no health insurance.

God is good.

What is the essence of America?  Finding and maintaining that perfect, delicate balance between freedom “to” and freedom “from.”  ~Marilyn vos Savant

Here’s an individual who knows how to speak the truth so that he may save this country and what it stands for, for our future generations. Please comment if you agree or disagree.

LETTER FROM HAROLD ESTES TO PRESIDENT OBAMA THIS WILL DO YOUR HEART GOOD……PASS IT ON TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW

This venerable and much honored WW II vet is well known in Hawaii for his seventy-plus years of service to patriotic organizations and causes all over the country. A humble man without a political bone in his body, he has never spoken out before about a government official, until now. He dictated this letter to a friend, signed it and mailed it to the president.

Dear President Obama,

My name is Harold Estes, approaching 95 on December 13 of this year. People meeting me for

The first time don’t believe my age because I remain wrinkle free and pretty much mentally alert.

I enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1934 and served proudly before, during and after WW II retiring as a Master Chief Boson Mate. Now I live in a “rest home” located on the western end of Pearl Harbor allowing me to keep alive the memories of 23 years of service to my country.

One of the benefits of my age, perhaps the only one, is to speak my mind, blunt and direct even to the head man. So here goes. I am amazed, angry and determined not to see my country die before I do but you seem hell bent not to grant me that wish.

I can’t figure out what country you are the president of. You fly around the world telling our friends and enemies despicable lies like: “We’re no longer a Christian nation” , ” America is arrogant” – (Your wife even announced to the world,” America is mean-spirited. ” Please tell her to try preaching that nonsense to 23 generations of our war dead buried all over the globe who died for no other reason than to free a whole lot of strangers from tyranny and  hopelessness.)I’d say shame on the both of you but I don’t think you like America nor do I see an ounce of gratefulness in anything you do for the obvious gifts this country has given you. To be without shame or gratefulness is a dangerous thing for a man sitting in the White House. After 9/11 you said,” America hasn’t lived up to her ideals.”Which ones did you mean? Was it the notion of personal liberty that 11,000 farmers and shopkeepers died for to win independence from the British? Or maybe the ideal that no man should be a slave to another man that 500,000 men died for in the Civil War ? I hope you didn’t mean the ideal 470,000 fathers, brothers,husbands,and a lot of fellas I knew personally died for in WWII, because we felt real strongly about not letting any nation push us around because we stand for freedom.I don’t think you mean the ideal that says equality is better than discrimination. You know the one that a whole lot of white people understood when they helped to get you elected.Take a little advice from a very old geezer,young man.Shape up and start acting like an American.If you don’t, I’ll do what I can to see you get shipped out of that fancy rental on Pennsylvania Avenue .You were elected to lead not to bow, apologize and kiss the hands of murderers and corrupt leaders who still treat their people like slaves.<>And just who do you think you are telling the American people not to jump to conclusions and condemn that Muslim major who killed 13 of his fellow soldiers and wounded dozens more.

You mean you don’t want us to do what you did when that white cop used force to subdue that black college professor in Massachusetts  who was putting up a fight? You don’t mind offending the police calling them stupid but you don’t want us to offend Muslim fanatics by calling them what they are,terrorists.One more thing. I realize you never served in the military and never had to defend your country with your life but you’re the Commander-in-Chief now,son. Do your job.  When your battle-hardened field General asks you for 40,000 more troops to complete the mission, give them to him. But if you’re not in this fight to win, then get out. The life of one American soldier is not worth the best political strategy you’re thinking of.You could be our greatest president because you face the greatest challenge ever presented to any president.You’re not going to restore American greatness by bringing back our bloated economy. That’s not our greatest threat. Losing the heart and soul of who we are as Americans is our big fight now. And

I sure as hell don’t want to think my president is the enemy in this final battle.

Sincerely,

Harold B. Estes when a 95 year old hero of the “the Greatest Generation” stands up and speaks out like this, I think we owe it to him to send his words to as many Americans as we can. Please comment on this and pass it on to all your email lists.

“It’s never too late—in fiction or in life—to revise”.

~ Nancy Thayer

“Being vulnerable doesn’t have to be threatening. Just have the courage to be sincere, open and honest. This opens the door to deeper communication all around. It creates self-empowerment and the kind of connections with others we all want in life. Speaking from the heart frees us from the secrets that burden us. These secrets are what make us sick or fearful. Speaking truth helps you get clarity on your real heart directives”.

~ Sara Paddison

Photo by TimOve flickr

Grandpa’s Refusal To Grand-daughter Continuing Enabling Her.

Ponder this letter and feel bad for both parties, the Grandfather and Granddaughter. The times are hard but the granddaughter is self centered and has been enabled all her life. The letter from the grandfather is compassionate, loving but a good lesson for his granddaughter.

John G. Is 63 years old and owns a small business. He’s a life-long Republican and sees his dream of retiring next year has all but evaporated. With the stock market crashing and new taxes coming his way, John assumes now that he will work to his dying day.

John has a granddaughter. Ashley is a recent college grad. She drives a flashy hybrid car, wears all the latest fashions, and loves to go out to nightclubs and restaurants. Ashley campaigned hard for Barack Obama. After the election she made sure her grandfather (and all other Republican family members) received a big I told-you-so earful on how the world is going to be a much better place now that her party is taking over.

Having lost both roommates, Ashley recently ran short of cash and cannot pay the rent (again) on her 3 bedroom townhouse. Like she has done many times in the past, she e-mailed her grandfather asking for some financial help.
Here is his reply:

Sweetheart,

I received your request for assistance.

Ashley, you know I love you dearly and I ‘m sympathetic to your financial plight. Unfortunately, times have changed. With the election of President Obama, your grandmother and I have had to set forth a bold new economic plan of our own…”The Ashley Economic Empowerment Plan.” Let me explain.

Your grandmother and I are life-long, wage-earning tax payers. We have lived a comfortable life, as you know, but we have never had the fancier things like European vacations, luxury cars, etc. We have worked hard and were looking forward to retiring soon. But the plan has changed. Your president is raising our personal and business taxes significantly. He says it is so he can give our hard earned money to other people. Do you know what this means, Ashley? It means less for us, and we must cut back on many business and personal expenses.

You know the wonderful receptionist who worked in my office for more than 23 years? The one who always gave you candy when you came over to visit? I had to let her go last week. I can’t afford to pay her salary and all of the government mandated taxes that go with having employees. Your grandmother will now work 4 days a week to answer phones, take orders and handle the books. We will be closed on Fridays and will lose even more income to the Wal-Mart.

I’m also very sorry to report that your cousin Frank will no longer be working summers in the warehouse. I called him at school this morning. He already knows about it and he’s upset because he will have to give up skydiving and his yearly trip to Greenland to survey the polar bears.

That’s just the business side of things. Some personal economic effects of Obama’s new taxation policies include none other than you. You know very well that over the years your grandmother and I have given you thousands of dollars in cash, tuition assistance, food, housing, clothing, gifts, etc., etc. But by your vote, you have chosen to help others — not at your expense — but at our expense.

If you need money now sweetheart, I recommend you call 202-456-1111. That is the direct phone number for the White House. You yourself told me how foolish it is to vote Republican. You said Mr. Obama is going to be the People’s President, and is going to help every American live a better life. Based on everything you’ve told me, along with all the promises we heard during the campaign, I’m sure Mr. Obama will be happy to transfer some stimulus money into your bank account. Have him call me for the account number which I memorized years ago..

Perhaps you can now understand what I’ve been saying all my life: those who vote for a president should consider the impact on the nation as a whole, and not be just concerned with what they can get for themselves. What Obama supporters don’t seem to realize is all of the money he is redistributing to illegal aliens and non-taxpaying Americans (the so-called “less fortunate”) comes from tax-paying families.

Remember how you told me, “Only the richest of the rich will be affected”? Well guess what, honey? Because we own a business, your grandmother and I are now considered to be the richest of the rich. On paper, it might look that way, but in the real world, we are far from it.

As you said while campaigning for Obama, some people will have to carry more of the burden so all of America can prosper. You understand what that means, right? It means that raising taxes on productive people results in them having less money; less money for everything, including granddaughters.

I’m sorry, Ashley, but the well has run dry. The free lunches are over. I have no money to give you now. So, congratulations on your choice for “change.” For future reference, I encourage you to try and add up the total value of the gifts and cash you have received from us, just since you went off to college, and compare it to what you expect to get from Mr. Obama over the next 4 (or 8 ) years. I have not kept track of it, Ashley. It has all truly been the gift of our hearts.

Remember, we love you dearly….but from now on you’ll need to call the number mentioned above. Your “Savior” has the money we would have given to you. Just try and get it from him.

Good luck, sweetheart.

Love,
Grandpa

“I haven’t heard of anybody who want’s to stop living on account of the cost ”
~ Kin Hubbard (American Humorist and Writer)

I thought it might be fun and light hearted to show you prices of stuff from 1900 and compare the same items to 1990, because the holiday season is coming and we buy, buy, buy…… Be safe on Black Friday this week. Tomorrow’s blog will be a set of suggestions for your Black Friday shopping.

In 1900 the average wage for a middle class family in New York City was $10.00/week. In 1990 average middle class Salary and benefits was $1500.00/week. There were no credit cards or no unsecured credit extended by stores or banks in 1900.

“Good humor is a tonic for mind and body. It is the best antidote for anxiety and depression. It is a business asset. It attracts and keep friends. It lightens human burdens. It is the direct route to serenity and contentment.”

~Greenville Kleisser

 

Picture by D. [SansPretentionAucune

We would do well as a nation to remember the importance of taking responsibility for our own lot in life. I think there is a danger in putting too much pressure on the individual. I don’t mean that the government should pick up the slack and neither do most Americans. Our public institutions are weakening and are in no condition to be relied upon except in a time of crisis.

Pull your life together consider whether you are happy at your JOB, or your JOB is taking away too much time from your personal life and separation from family. You should consider a career change and look for something to provide financial independence, more personal time and having fun along the way of accomplishing these goals.

“We on this continent should never forget that men first crossed the Atlantic not to find soil for their ploughs but to secure liberty for their souls.”  ~Robert J. McCracken

America, we have many challenges, many problems, many worries these days to give up on life and have to have fun. Put differently, I believe that we can’t afford not to enjoy life, even if it only comes in little slices of fun out of life, even if it only comes in little slices.

Photo by Old Shoe Woman

The economic excuses are marketing a bigger societal problem that threatens to undermine America’s unique, upbeat nature and can do spirit. It’s not that we feel we can’t afford fun, it’s that we feel bad or guilty when we can afford to have fun.

Yes times are different, it’s not keeping up with the Joneses any longer…..it’s simply about keeping up. But even amidst our new reality, there are opportunities to readjust our outlook and still find the fun in life.

“These days we need to take every opportunity available to have fun with those who matter”, to quote the tagline of Wal-Mart’s for 2009. Try to start a business at home to spend more time with your family.

This can be an opportunity for an entrepreneur or an individual that wants to learn to how to become an entrepreneur and have fun along the way.