All In

The Day the Cat Died

2010-10-10T16:37:00.000-07:00

It was a romantic day from the start. I know that contradicts the title of the post, but you'll soon understand. As I was saying this particular day was one where my wife and I just seemed to be connecting on all levels. Of course we usually get along. We aren't the type of couple to have disagreements or fight. In fact most couples would say that after five years of marriage we are still sickly sweet to one another. I like it that way. This day though was one that had our relationship firing on all cylinders.

We awoke together after sleeping in just a bit, cuddled a while and turned on the radio as we started the day. While cleaning is much of a romantic thing to do we made the best of it. We laughed joked and snapped each other with towels, just the general flirtatous behavior you should expect from a couple.

We both had a commitment for the early afternoon so we bid farewell with a kiss and left to accomplish our tasks. I had been contemplating what a great morning it had been, and on my way home decided to call my wife and ask her on a date. By the time I arrived home she was ready to go. The work I'd been doing involved tearing up a floor so I was in definete need of a shower. My wife waited patiently as I hurriedly finished a shower and changed into fresh clothes.

Soon we were on the road to the restaurant of her choosing. She chose a sports bar. While it was far from a romantic setting I knew she did it to allow me to see some of the sporting events I was missing. My wife really does love me. After a wonderful dinner we took in a movie. It wasn't good, but it mattered not. We spent the evening together.

By the time we arrived home we were certainly feeling romantic after this day spent together. I lit a candle, shut the bedroom door and embraced my wife in my arms. It wasn't long before I heard our cat push open the door. Sure this was an intrusion into our private time, but I was not going to be detered.

"What is that smell" my wife said with a hint of disgust in her voice. I could smell it too. Yes it was bad. It was then that we looked over and nearly in unison cried out in horror as to what we were seeing. The cat's tail was on FIRE! She hadn't yet appeared to notice, and I believe it was our screams that sent the flaming ball of fire scurrying through the house.

Needless to say our moment of intimacy was over. We spent the next few moments chasing down the cat whose tail was now charred.

No the cat didn't really die, either by flame or my frustrated hands.

Time To Make A Choice

2010-09-15T14:51:00.000-07:00

There is one thing that "almost" everyone I talk to can agree upon. Whether republican or democrat it seems we have all come to the conclusion that we can't continue to run budget deficits forever.

If you read this and the first thing you want to do is begin blaming one party or the other, don't bother. WE are all to blame.

We can not continue the path we are on. We must either decide to make very deep cuts to social service programs, or raise taxes significantly on EVERYONE. Not just the very rich. Just taxing the rich more wouldn't be enough.

Every dollar taken in in taxes in a year is consumed to pay for Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security alone. That leaves every other program and service including DOT, DOD, Treasury, and countless other programs to be funded by loans.

With recent reports of 45 percent of households having at least one member receiving aid from government and nearly half of all people paying zero dollars in taxes, I'm afraid there is no cutting of the programs. At least not without riots in the streets.

All this leaves us in a position where taxes will need to go up dramatically in order to pay our every expanding debts. This could include a VAT tax on top of income taxes, high taxes on corporations (which would likely be very detrimental to business), higher personal income taxes across the board or maybe even all of the above.

How would you solve the problem. Cut programs, raise taxes or a combination of the two.

Just a hint for those of you who would blame Iraq/Afghanistan war operations for the deficit, fine, but realize that ALL the money spent on all the war operations in the last 9 years is still 300 billion less than the budget deficit this year alone. So, you can say we need to stop the wars, and that would be a good start. However, one year's worth of war costs is less than 9 percent of the deficit. We've got a long way to go. It's time to make a choice.

A Liberal Point of View

2010-09-15T14:34:00.000-07:00

I have been contemplating for a while whether or not to continue this blog. It isn't that I don't enjoy writing it. I certainly have. I'm just not sure that it is productive. I'm fairly certain the words I write aren't changing any ones opinion regarding the topics covered. Anyway onto the purpose for this post.

I read the following phrase on a blog I follow:

"I feel that people should be able to do what they want UNLESS it is totally distasteful, insensitive or just plain stupid."

This is not a person who lacks the mental capacity to have an intelligent conversation. To the contrary I have found her posts to be well thought and well written, even if I rarely agree.

This quote on the the other hand shows a rather telling lack of foresight. The problems with this line of thought are obvious, and I don't feel the need to explain them. If I do have to explain you won't understand anyway.

Assault on Capitalism

2010-06-21T14:43:00.000-07:00

To say that there is an assault on capitalism in this country is an understatement. From the bailouts of wall street and motor companies to the calls for the Venezuela style take over of BP the assault is obvious. I have only two quick thoughts I'd like to share.

1. We don't currently have a capitalist system. The government is intertwined in both banking the motor companies, oil, just about every sector of the economy we see struggling is already highly regulated by our government. The arguments that it was capitalism that led to the economic troubles we see is a fallacy.

2. (And this was the real point of this post) Nearly every day I hear people whining and complaining about how much money the gas stations make on a gallon of gas. I hear people complaining about the cost of health care, insurance... etc.

The same question always remains. If you really believe they have such a high profit margin, then why haven't you opened your own business. You could undercut their price and make money hand over fist. You don't even have to become a doctor. Just open a clinic, hire some docs, charge a lower rate and watch the people flock in your doors. They will be glad you are charging less, and you can swim in all your profits like scrooge mcduck. But you don't. I wonder why. Either you are not willing to take the risk, or you don't really believe what you are claiming.

There is also another option. It is possible that you don't believe there should be a profit allowed. That clinics and doctors should be run as non-profits. In which case you are a hypocrite.

I think your industry should be non-profit.

Shocker!

2010-04-29T22:17:00.001-07:00

.... and in other news the United Nations once again declared themselves irrelevant.

Arizona Law - Constitutional?

2010-04-24T20:01:00.000-07:00

Before we get into this immigration law I'd like to take a moment and give my personal thoughts on immigration. My solution to the Hispanic illegal alien problem is very simple. Armed troops with authority to shoot anyone crossing the border at any place other than an authorized check station. We do this in other police actions to control movement half way around the world. Surely our own borders should be no less a priority. This would be very effective. You only have to step over a few dead bodies before you reconsider your method of entering this country.

Second, we need to make it MUCH easier for immigrants to enter this country to work as productive members of society. I am not against immigration. It is what makes this country strong. I am against illegal aliens crossing our border damaging our social services and creating a drain on our nation.

Now to the Arizona law.

I have two issues with this law that I believe violate your constitutional rights.

1. The law allows police officers to stop and question anyone they "have reason to believe" may be in the country illegally. What could this possibly mean in Arizona other than a hostile environment for anyone of Hispanic dissent. It is very plausible that a single individual driving to work could be stopped multiple times for simple having brown skin. This is the Hispanic version of "driving while black". This is not acceptable.

2. This law requires all individuals to carry on their person documentation showing their immigration status. This could mean a green card for an immigrant, or a social security card or birth certificate for a citizen. The problem with this is that it places the burden of proof on the accused. Rather than the principle accepted by the Supreme Court since the very inception of our country as a the standard of guilt.

This second point brings to mind the gestapo asking you for your papers. You have a right in this country under the 4th amendment to a reasonable degree of privacy and security in your person. In my opinion this law is a clear violation.

Some have criticized my opinion as hypocritical as I want to shoot people crossing the boarder with out due process. Depriving them of their life without a trial constituting a violation of their 5th amendment. To these people I retort that those crossing the border are not citizens of the United States, and therefore not protected by the bill of rights. However I will concede that it may be best to claim a few hundred feet this side of the border as military base property, thereby making a trespass an invasion.

Selling My Home in the New Government Era

2010-04-14T12:58:00.000-07:00

About a month and a half ago my wife and I listed our home with a real estate agent. We have been renting for the last few years as we waited for the market to improve. In the mean time we had renters in our home to assist us pay the mortgage. We signed the papers with our realtor on a Friday morning. Friday afternoon she placed the sign in our yard. The house was shown Saturday morning, and that afternoon we had an offer in front of us. Wow, we were happy. While it wasn't quite full asking price, it was close.

{cue the "Imperial March" music}

Enter the government. The buyer of our home is doing so through a government guaranteed loan, so of course there will be an inspection to ensure the house meets minimum requirements. The inspector asked that we:

Replace a few shingles - No problem. I have extras.
Repair flashing around Chimney - Not a big deal.
Update outlets - Sigh. Okay.
Repair cracked window in basement. Fine.

Enter bank appraiser who asks for a vapor barrier under the addition. (This is a 10'x8' room. - Why do they care. It was fine when we bought it 5 years ago.

Enter City inspector who demands we:

Replace all smoke detectors. - Why? They still work! The city just wants new ones.
Replace 60amp electrical box with 120amp. - At this point I'm pulling my hair out. The city is requiring more than even the federal government. Oh by the way, if you don't make all repairs they will not allow the transfer of the deed. UNDER WHAT AUTHORITY?

Of course you have to use their "approved" electricians. (There are only two.) You can't do the work on your own. How can this be constitutional?

It is no wonder the housing market is hurting. The government forces so many regulations that it eats up all your equity, if you are lucky enough to have some.

Is it Time to Repeal the 17th Amendment?

2010-04-04T13:28:00.000-07:00

The 17th amendment to the constitution states that United States Senators will be elected by a vote of the people in the states. What else would we do? Well prior to the 17th amendment Senators were chosen by state legislators to represent the state at the federal level. They had control over the U.S. Senator in that they would even tell them how they were expected to vote on various bills.

Originally the people of the states would vote for their U.S. House representatives every 2 years, and the state legislators would appoint a U.S. Senator every 6 years. This gave the people representation in the government, but also allowed the state, as a state, to be represented.

In 1835 8 U.S. Senators were forced by their states to resign from their posts after not following the states will in their voting regarding President Andrew Jackson's war against the Bank of the United States. So you can see that consequences to Senators under this system are swift and severe. Contrast that with today where U.S. Senators only face voters every 6th year.

The 17th amendment was ratified in 1912. It took more than 85 years to become law since the first time it was introduced.

Bizaro World

2010-03-16T22:32:00.000-07:00

What do you do when you are in the midst of an economic crisis, you have jobs leaving your state in record numbers and not enough money to fund the programs you have in place? I know. Create a policy demanding an end to the evil use of coal. Sure you'll have to raise electric rates to sky high levels to get there, but what are a few more homeless people in Los Angeles.

That is exactly what is currently happening. Here is a link to the story in the L.A. Times. Sure they only raised the rates 20 percent this time around, but more are on the way.

Wait here is the best part. What are they going to do with the money?

"Villaraigosa said the money would help pay for the hiring of "green doctors" to evaluate the energy efficiency of homes and stepped-up efforts to help residents obtain energy-efficient light bulbs and refrigerators."

Yep. They are going to take your money so that they can hire someone to sniff around in your fridge to make sure it is using the most efficient light bulb possible. God forbid you can't afford a new fridge due to the higher electric bills, because you know some of those fridges are killing polar bears. You are definitely going to need to be taxed for not having a more efficient fridge.

Wait do you hear that.... It's the sound of more businesses leaving California.

Thoughts on Forgiveness

2010-03-08T21:28:00.000-08:00

All of us have some things in our life for which we needed to ask forgiveness. We have hurt our friends, family, co-workers, etc... However, in the same vein we have all been harmed at one time or another and to one degree or another. While the extent of our harm varies we all share in that we are not perfect. We have both harmed, and been harmed. Hence the need for forgiveness.

It occurs to me that forgiveness is not for the person who has done the trespass. Forgiveness is for the person who has been harmed. Follow me for a moment here.

Have you ever been angry with someone for something they did to you? Did they know you were mad at them? If so, did they care? If they cared about your relationship perhaps they did, but what if they didn't. You could be angry and they would never know. You would sit up at night and they would sleep. You could let the harm shape the rest of your life, ruining relationships. You could even hate them. It won't matter. They'll sleep like a baby.

The only exception I see to this is when a person feeling guilt requests forgiveness. In that case however, the person asking for forgiveness often feels as thought they have harmed themselves while harming you. In the end whether you forgive them they must forgive themselves.

Do yourself a favor. Forgive the person who has hurt you the most because they aren't even thinking about you. Forgive yourself too. You deserve it.

Obama, Not so Concerned With Amendment #4

2010-02-13T13:20:00.000-08:00

Not too awful long ago I wrote a post regarding my change of heart concerning the patriot act. Mostly the reason boils down to that I don't believe you can trust the government of the United States, or any government for that matter, to do the right thing. Well that goes for Bush and Obama alike. You may have read the story recently where officials in the Obama administration said the following regarding tracking citizens via their cell phones without a warrant. Here is the full story.

In that case, the Obama administration has argued that warrantless tracking
is permitted because Americans enjoy no "reasonable expectation of privacy" in
their--or at least their cell phones'--whereabouts.

In the times we live it seems that privacy really has become something the government believes is not a right. The fourth amendment to the constitution disagrees and reads as follows:

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

While cell phones obviously had not been conceived at the time, the word "effects" applies to all your possessions. Including a cell phone and it's where abouts.

Abortion Thoughts

2010-01-30T08:26:00.000-08:00

I read a number of blogs of women who are ardently pro-choice. I don’t know why I read them. Perhaps it is just because I like to read the thoughts of people who have a radically different world view than my own. I am bored to tears reading the words of those who I agree with on most every subject. Especially if I disagree with the way the promote their ideas.

For some reason those who are pro-life have been labeled Super-Christians, murderers, haters, and so forth. I wish I could disagree with you, but when I look around I see much of the same even as a pro-life Christian. Here are some of my thoughts.

As a Christian you are called to love others. It is tough to do that standing in front of an abortion clinic holding a sign that calls scared teenage girls murderers.

As a Christian you are called to proclaim the good news of Christ, which is about forgiveness of sin. You are not called to convict others of their sin. That is the Holy Spirits job. You aren’t any good at it anyway.

Abortion is a sin…… So is hating someone. In fact it is the same as murder to God. I wonder if you are guilty of that. As you know, if you have broken just one of the laws you are guilty of breaking the whole law, hence the need for Christ and His good news.

Do I believe abortion is a good thing? No. But I believe as Christians we are fighting the wrong battle. Instead we should love those who are hurting, provide food for those in need. We should provide medical care for those in need, and show the lost world that there is a better way. Not doing so with an air of contempt, but with compassion and understanding.

Women who have had abortions have not done so on a whim, and many times they are hurting over the difficult decision. Standing in front of them calling them murderers is not what Christ would do. He would show compassion. Will you?

Another Pregnant Man

2010-01-29T13:18:00.000-08:00

The headline to the story reads "Another Pregnant Man". I remember when the first of these stories came out a while back, and my reaction is the same the second time around. THIS IS NOT A MAN.

For some reason the media promotes this as though it were a man who by some freak of nature was able to conceive a child and carry it to term I don't know somewhere in his urethra. That is obviously not the case here. Just like the first time around we have a woman who has been changed surgically to look like a man. Fine. I don't care what you want to do to your own body. If you want to add a third eyeball because you feel that you were supposed to be born a tri-clops, whatever, that is your business. But please then don't act as though you are doing something special.

You may look like a man, but so what, all your parts are still woman on the inside. I mean for goodness sake the lunch lady at the high school has a moustache and is well on the way to a beard. That doesn't make her a man either. For the record, no man has EVER given birth to a child, and they never will.

To add to the odd factor here, the partner is also a woman. So, we have two women who are both surgically altered to appear like men. They then couple up and date another woman who looks like a man.

For the sake of this child I really pray these parents can provide some sort of positive identity to this life they have created. This baby will have two mothers pretending to be fathers, and no one to actually be a mother or is that father. You see the dilemma.

Where does the meaning reside?

2010-01-17T12:59:00.000-08:00

Is meaning in words, or people? This is a discussion my wife and I have repeated time and time again beginning shortly after we began dating. At the time she was in her second year of her undergraduate degree in communications. She was taking a class on interpersonal communications, and loving every minute of it. Today we find ourselves discussing it again as she prepares to begin teaching the very class next Tuesday.

One of the class discussions was whether words have meaning. The class teaches that they do not. According to the text words are simply tools which we use to communicate meaning to another individual using our background, history, education, etc. They will then use their background, history, education and so forth to interpret meaning. You can imagine the game of telephone where the meaning of what we say is open for interpretation.

I respectfully disagree. I believe words do in fact have meaning. We have a book dedicated to just that, a dictionary. It lines out in very unambiguous terms the meaning of each word. Should I choose a word incorrectly, or you interpret the word to mean something it does not. Then there is a failure in knowledge, and the words was used/interpreted incorrectly.

On the other hand we can all think of words that have come to mean other things through out the years; cool, hip, rad, groovy, mouse. I'm sure you can come up with many more. What do you think? Does the meaning reside in the words, or in people.

American Community Survey

2009-12-13T18:32:00.000-08:00

I received my survey in the mail a few days ago and have been mulling it over ever since. At this point I am leaning towards not filling it out. The questionnaire comes with a little pamphlet that portends to tell you why it is so important that you don't simply throw it in the trash. For instance it is used to determine your representation in the House of Representatives and is used for State redistricting purposes. This by the way is the only use outlined by law. It then goes on to say that it is used for the purposes of deciding where new schools and hospitals will be built. No it doesn't. First of all schools are decided on by the local school boards and hospitals are built by private entities. Unless of course our government is planning to take over both sectors of our workforce.

All that is fine and dandy, but all they really need to know is number of people in the house. Perhaps the sex of those living in the house and the ages. That is all, perhaps it would be good to know ethnicity, but I don't see the need.

Question to which I take exception:
House Hold Info:
#1 First and Last Name
Housing:
#1 What best describes this building? (mobile home, single family, apartment, etc)
#2 When was it built?
#3 When did you move in?
#4 How many acres?
#5 What were last year's agricultural sales from the land?
#6 How many rooms?
#8 Is there; hot water, flush toilet, tub or shower, stove, refrigerator, telephone?
#9 How many vehicles are kept at this home?
#10 What fuel do you use for heating?
#11 What is your electric/gas/water/other heating bills?
#12 Did anyone in your house receive food assistance last year?
#13 How much is your condominium fee?
#14 Do you own your home?
#15 How much is your rent?
#16 What is your dwelling worth?
#17 What are your property taxes?
#18 How much is your home owners insurance?
#19 Do you have a mortgage?
#20 Do you have a second mortgage?
PERSON 1:
#7 Where were you born?
#8 Are you a citizen?
#10 Have you attended school or college in the past 3 months?
#11 Education level?
#14 Does this person speak a language other than English?
#15 Previous address?
#16 Does this person have health insurance?
#17 Difficulty hearing or seeing?
#18 Have any physical, emotional, or mental conditions?
#19 Marital status?
#29 Last week did this person work for pay at a job?
#30 Where?
#31 How does this person get to work?
#32 How many people ride to work in the same vehicle?
#33 What time did this person leave for work?
#34 How long does it take to get there?
#41 What type of business did this person work in? (private, non-profit, Gov't, self)
#46 What were this persons duties at work?
#47 What was your income last year?

These are certainly not all the questions that are no business of the government, only the most egregious. A single individual would answer 72 very personal questions if they filled out this questionnaire. Am I the only whack job that has a problem with this? These questions do not serve the purpose of the census as described in the constitution.

Article 1; Section 2; Clause three of the constitution outlines that the census be taken every ten years for the purpose of determining the number of people living in each state. Here is the text if you wish to read it.

Creative Writing Assignment

2009-12-02T15:27:00.000-08:00

The object of this exercise is to create a short story from a multitude of authors in a semi-fractured style. Write as much or as little as you like to take the original storyline and add your own take on the next events. Copy and Paste the previous chapters and then add your own. Label your chapter number and your name/moniker at the top and then tag 2 people to pass it on to, for them to continue the story and see how it can develop through those different paths. Do NOT tag it back to any previous author of your story’s chapters.
—————————————–
Chapter 1- by Mookie
It is summertime in the middle of the day. Moms and dads are at work, so my friend Jay and I, having nothing better to do, go down into the ravine behind my house. We have decided that today we will build a small fort and a campsite we can call our own. This small stretch of creeks running through the woods in the dead center of our town forms our own wilderness frontier.
We set to the task of grabbing fallen branches and sticks to create the walls of our fort at the base of a hill. While Jay begins construction on these walls, I move to my own litle task of creating a dam in the creek that runs through this section of the woods. An older creekbed that is usually dry, except for when the rain comes, has a variety of large rocks and broken concrete. These will be the materials for damming the creek up and creating a small ponding next to our campsite. Back and forth I lug rock after rock and concrete chunks as well. Once I feel I have a sufficient amount of rocks and concrete, I begin to set them into the small and shallow running stream. Soon the water level begins to rise and expand outward away from the bank, as I choke off the streams natural flow. As with any 10 year old, seeing the fruits of my labors, even in the early stages, makes me feel like a god in my own small world. By late afternoon we expect to have a sheltered fort, a bridge over the creek, a pooling of water to soak our feet in, or to use to put out the campfires we set from time to time when our parents don’t realize we’ve stolen a box of matches or a lighter. We even have a designated circle of rocks for our campfire along with some wood, twigs and dead leaves to fuel the fire.
While pushing through some high brush in search for more wood, we spook a doe. She runs off, along the creek, and with a graceful leap she jups down into a culvert pit, ad into the dark tunnel that goes underneath a neighboring road that runs along the top of the east end of the ravine. We followed her to see just where she went. But when we got to the tunnel, we were spooked. Rumors of the tunnel being the spot for Satan Worshippers abound through our heads. This was the one place we had never dared to venture into. Graffiti was scrawled all around the tunnels entrance on the concrete exterior. Older kids had scared us with stories of animal sacrifices, complete with evidence of blood soaked walls that lay within the interior of the tunnel. We look down to one corner and see some scattered small bones, which only further reinforced the validity of these rumors. Then suddenly out of nowhere the doe came running back out the tunnel toward us, veering away as she moved past us, a wild look in her eyes. what had caused her to be so scared and willing to run back in our direction? We had neither heard nor seen anything that might represent danger. The adventure in our little stretch of frontier wilderness was only beginning…
—————————————–
Chapter 2 by Renaissance Guy
“Do you want to go in?” asked Jay with a quiver in his voice.
“Maybe. If you do,” I answered.
“My cousin knew somebody who went in there. He was never heard from again.”
“That’s baloney!” I replied. “It’s just a dumb, ol’ cave.”
“Then you go in first,” Jay suggested.
What to do? Now that I had minimalized the dangers of the cave, I couldn’t show any fear. I’d look like a chicken for sure. Then it dawned on me. “It’s dark in there. We’ll need flashlights. Let’s come back another time with flashlights, so that we can see inside it.”
How could I have known that Jay had come prepared? Out of his pocket he produced not one, but two, flashlights. “Here you go,” he said. “Lead the way.”
I turned on the flashlight and pointed it into the cave. I swirled it around a bit to see if anything hideous was visible. Nothing at all but bare rock walls. Visions of human skeletons and bloody knives zoomed through my mind. I knew that I had to stop thinking and just move forward.
With Jay close at my heels I inched my way in. Drat! Not too far in there was a bend. It was impossible to see around it. My mind went frantic again: Perhaps this is the chamber of death. Perhaps I’ve seen Mom and Dad for the last time. “Hey, Jay,” I said, “I think that I should be heading home. My parents will wonder where I am if I stay gone too long.”
Jay didn’t answer. I turned around and shrieked–almost like a girl. Where was he?

---------------------------

Chapter 3 by Jay Burns

The sound emitting from mouth didn't sound like my own as it echoed through the tunnel. If Jay wanted to scare me his stunt had worked. I was petrified. My mind was racing with the possibilities that could have befallen my friend. Or worse what was about to happen to me. There I stood with the flashlight staring off into the darkness, lighting only a few feet in front of my path until the darkness swallowed it up. Boy these sure are cheap flashlights I thought. Then right on cue as if taking offense to my thought the flashlight flickered and went out.

I was now in full panic. I called out to Jay. I could hear an answer, but the sheer volume of his scream echoing off the concrete walls reverberated the words out of comprehension. I turned on my heels and ran in the direction I had come. I was feeling along the wall as I ran. It was cold and wet against my fingers. Just the feeling sent chills through my already terrified young body. I was running with all my might when suddenly my fingers could no longer feel the wall. Now I was longing for that slimy cold concrete. I felt lost in the middle of this tunnel, but I knew I was moving in the right direction. I must have hit the bend in the tunnel.

The sharp pain in my legs let me know that I had run into something. It was only about knee high, just enough to send me sailing through the air. I was screaming as I flew but I wasn't alone. I could hear Jay's familiar scream too. I couldn't believe it. I had tripped over Jay as he sat cowering in the tunnel. I knew the landing was going to hurt. Instinctively I tried to brace myself with my hands as I hit the ground, but it wasn't enough. My face skidded along the floor of the tunnel, and the water, which runs no more than an inch deep, was rushing into my mouth and up my nose. Close your mouth I thought to myself. During the fall the flashlight had come out of my hand and was clanking along the tunnel. Apparently, the jarring was enough to bring the dying batteries back to life and once again I could see a few feet.

Without missing a beat I was back on my feet running for the entrance which was now visible. I could hear footsteps splashing in the water right behind me. I thought it was Jay, but how could I be certain. All I could think of was that I had to out run whoever was chasing me. It wasn't long before we had reached the safety of the daylight. I could hear Jay laughing behind me, and soon we were both standing outside the tunnel bent over laughing and trying to catch our breath.

Nothing needed to be said. We had both been scared. There was no denying it. I was bent over gasping for air when I saw it. Jay's shoes were covered in something red. There were little drops of red on the bottoms of his jeans. I looked him square in the eye and could see only dread on his face. He was staring at me. Not really me, but my shirt. As I looked down, I understood the look. I was covered head to toe in what ever is on Jays shoes.

Don't let your mind go there I thought. It can't be true, but what else can it be. We didn't talk as we walked the few blocks back to our homes which butted right up against the ravine. How am I going to explain ruining my clothes? What was really going on in that tunnel? If there was something there, are they going to come after me?

The wrath of my father wasn't as bad as anticipated. For some reason I really thought he would one day have enough and kill me. Off to bed without dinner was punishment for ruining nearly new jeans and t-shirt. Not fun, but I knew that my mother would crack at the thought of her son starving to death, and would bring a plate to my room. It didn't matter. I wanted to be alone, and I certainly wasn't hungry.

As I lay in bed that night once again in the darkness I knew that if I lived through the night I was going to have to talk to Jay. I had a plan.

I tag: Becky and Godfather

Thank You for Calling USCIS

2009-11-15T16:04:00.000-08:00

I recently shared my experience while attaining a passport. The circumstance left me looking at government run agencies with nothing less than awe. Awe at how inept they can be run. I now bring you an even more compelling true story from the department of Immigration Services.

The story beings with a call to the 800 line for the department of Immigration customer service. You won't be surprised to find that when the line picked up it was an automated voice service. Annoying, sure but you have to kind of expect it. What I didn't expect was the short duration of the automated system. After affirming that I did in fact want to continue in English and making one other selection I was off to speak with a real live person. I know. I was excited too. To make matters even better, there was almost no delay from the transfer to the representative picking up. Just long enough to get the disclaimer about the phone call being recorded. Here is where the story starts to get weird.

A voice comes on the the other end. It sounds like a real person to me. I can hear breathing and everything. She says her operator ID number and says "according to the prompts you selected, It appears you have a question about a form you filed. Is that correct?" I respond with a quick, yes. I then get an odd listing of all possible forms I could have filed. Followed by a yes or no in the form of a question. For example; "Is your question regarding form 100?"...... "No". Is your question regarding form 101....102.... 103... 200..... 200A?".... "No." I was filing a form 600. So you could see how this would take a while. Finally she gets to my form. I'm so surprised by the hearing the number that I jump to my feet with an excited "YES!". Causing more than a few odd looks from those sitting near me.

Here is what confuses me. We could have saved 5 minutes with a simple, "What form did you file?". When I look back on the phone call, I begin to question myself. Was this really a person on the other end, or just a really good automated system? After establishing the form I filed I am told that all questions regarding form I-600A, must be made via email to the address she is about to provide. Okay. Great. I take down the address, and repeat it back. Yes that's correct.

I send the email, and within a couple moments I get a failure notice telling me the email address is undeliverable. Unbelievable. I call back. Confirm the email address again. There is no mistake. The email address they gave goes nowhere. Which I tell them. They then tell me that I'll have to make an appointment at my "local" office to discuss my questions with an agent.

"Where is the "local" office?".
"Cheyenne." (7 hours away.)
"Great! Lets make an appointment".
"Oh no, you can't do that with us."
"Okay, what's the number?"
"No, you can only make an appointment via the "InfoPass" system online. Here is how you do that."
"Thanks."

I go to the web address, click the link listed and put in my zip code. Up comes the following message.

INFOPASS IS CURRENTLY NOT AVAILABLE IN YOUR AREA. PLEASE CALL 1-800 FOR MORE ASSISTANCE.

Same Sex Marriage Fails Again

2009-11-04T09:04:00.000-08:00

Same sex marriage still has a zero percent passage rate when put to a vote by the people of ANY state. Zero percent. That isn't very good. Is it?

(photo from AP story)

Hijacked

2009-10-30T14:40:00.001-07:00

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!This site has been hijacked by;

Mookie

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!for the crime of revisionist history!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!for more on this !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!visit http://mookieismike.blogspot.com/!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Passport Update

2009-10-29T07:20:00.000-07:00

After telling me my birth certificate and drivers license were "not sufficient for passport purposes" The United States Government requested more "proof" of citizenship. Among the list of acceptable forms of identification included;

passport (umm duh)
high school year book photo (because that is impossible to photoshop)
selective service card (what? - who carries that around)
birth certificate (I thought you said that wasn't sufficient)
Drivers License (refer to above thought)
Insurance Card (I was once rear ended by an illegal alien who had insurance)
... as well as a booklet to list every residence I have ever had, every job I've ever had, any schools attended, all living relatives including addresses and phone numbers.

As you may know, I am completely reasonable and patient person when dealing with inept government agencies. So, I thought I would make it easy on whatever poor sap was handling my case file. Yes, I filled out this book. Which is a story for another post. I gathered together paperwork such as my last 10 years of tax returns, college transcripts, probably 50 pay stubs, 10 insurance cards (including 9 expired ones) 3 voided drivers licenses, 2 full year books from high school with post-it notes to guide my handler to appropriate pages such as friends who may have listed may name and written something sentimental like "don't change". I sent childhood pictures, business cards, 12 banking statements from 1996 (these were the oldest I had on record), and a few other select items. I bundled up this "proof" of citizenship and placed it neatly in a shoebox and tied with a pink ribbon, and mailed it to the United States Passport Office in Seattle.

The post master assisting me in this endeavor said to me, "I don't think I've ever seen anyone be sarcastic by mail before". I'm not sure what he meant. I was too focused on the total price of this mailing at $6.66. Sure that could be a fluke, but if the shoe fits.... According to the Post Office tracking reciept my little box-o-sarcasm arrived on October 20th.

I was worried there for a bit, but as it turns out, I am not a terrorist. This according to the United States government who has now seen fit to give me a passport. Or at least that is what the passport confirmation website tells me. It should be in the mail now.

Change Your Insurance Expectations

2009-10-27T12:45:00.000-07:00

Lets think for a moment about insurance. What are things you pay to have insured? You want to make sure you have life insurance to protect against the unlikely event of your death. (assuming you are in good health. If not you couldn't afford the premiums.) You want to insure against the unlikely event that some natural disaster such as tornado or perhaps a fire destroys your home. So you need home owners or renters insurance. You insure your car against the unlikely event that you lose control of your vehicle and create a new drive through window at a local convenience store. Insurance is designed to protect you from liability should some unlikely, but financially devastating circumstance occur in your life.

Have you ever wondered why you don't buy tire insurance. Just pay the premiums and if your tires wear out you can just pay the co-pay. There will of course be a small deductible. You don't because it is not unlikely that your tires will wear out. In fact it is an absolute certainty that sooner or later you will need new tires.

Insurance should be treated the same way. You know with absolute certainty that you and your family are going to need to see the doctor for minor cases of bumps, bruises, coughs and colds. Yet for some reason we want to purchase insurance to cover the costs. It doesn't make financial sense. Let me break it down for you.

Seeing the doctor = x
If you see the doctor and pay the bill yourself :

Your Bill = x.

If you buy insurance to pay for routine office visits you will pay the insurance company via your premiums:

premiums = x+administrative costs+profits.

Face it insurance companies are not in the business of loosing money. They are in the business of making money. If they are going to pay for your routine office visits which you KNOW are going to occur, you will pay more than if you paid them on your own.

The obvious flaw here is that the doctors' offices agree to take a smaller percentage of payment from the insurance companies for a visit and for certain procedures in exchange for guaranteed payment. However, You can do that on your own. Doctors offices are willing to take less if you ask. But you have to ask, then make payment in full. Start a health savings account to pay for routine office visits for you and your family. Then purchase a catastrophic health insurance plan to insure you against the UNLIKELY event that someone in your family be diagnosed with something as costly as cancer.

If you buy your own insurance this will save you money. Do the math. Even if you have a broken arm it is still cheaper to pay for it on your own than pay the huge costs associated with the "pay-for-everything insurance plans".

Uncle Sam Doesn't Trust Me

2009-10-11T20:11:00.001-07:00

I am currently fighting to restrain an all too familiar feeling. I have had this feeling while sitting in the DMV office, post office, or pretty much any other pathetically run government agency.

A few weeks back my wife and I applied for our passports. We both went to the post office, the only place to take care of this in our county. We both presented birth certificates along with drivers licenses as proof of identification and citizenship.

Today we checked the mail to discover that while my wife received her passport no problem, I get a letter from the field office in Seattle. It reads, and I quote, "Unfortunately the identification you provided is not sufficient for passport purposes."

WHAT? Actually it must be, otherwise you wouldn't have issued my wife's passport. Or it isn't actually enough, and you issued hers anyway. Either way I have deemed your office inept.

Well, that is what I would like to say to them when I call tomorrow, but I won't. I'll call the office to see exactly what I can do to resolve this matter. I will do so in a polite and courteous manner. I will jump through all their hoops until they have deemed my lack of an Egyptian accent sufficient to be rewarded with a passport.

Limiting Pay

2009-10-01T11:27:00.000-07:00

What would happen if we limit the pay of top executives working for private companies? Why do we want to limit it? If you do limit their pay, Where does it go?

I'll start with why. Why do we want to limit pay? Simple. Anger and jealousy. The masses are angry that wall street executives made loans they new were not wise, made millions of dollars doing so, and then were bailed out by our tax dollars when things went south. The anger is righteous. The solution would have been to let them fail. We are jealous because we see the lifestyles they lead, and believe falsely that if those executives had less the rest of us would have more.

Where would that money go? These are privately owned companies. If the money doesn't go to the executive it would stay in the coffers of the company to be used for various other endeavors like building new offices, expanding services, or perhaps just stay on the books as profit in cash. BUT.... would that really be okay. I mean isn't the point here that these companies are making too much money at the expense of consumers. So, instead a windfall profit tax would be in order. Therefore instead of expanding their business and HIRING more employees, they will shelter it in foreign investments, or have it taken by the government to be given to others.

The myth here is that there is a limited amount of money in the economic pie. Each dollar I have in my pocket is a dollar not available for anyone else. This is only a myth. In reality profits grow the economy and make more jobs available. Deficits shrink the economy and make less jobs available.

It isn't difficult to see what will happen. You can't redistribute money to make all people equally wealthy. You can only redistribute money to make all people equally poor. Understand that if you took ALL the profits from Exxon Mobile at the peak of their profit, each tax payer could get 1 tank of gasoline. Whoopie.

Big Brother Twisting Your Arm

2009-09-28T19:18:00.000-07:00

Here it comes, employees of the government will no longer have control of their own bodies. According to this story from Newsday government health employees will not have a choice when it comes to the h1n1 vaccine.

Despite a planned rally in Albany Tuesday to protest a state regulation
requiring health care workers be vaccinated against influenza — both seasonal
and swine flu — New York’s top public
health official predicts dissenters will ultimately extinguish their anger and
roll up their sleeves.
The regulation, which was approved in August, comes
with a stinging addendum: Get vaccinated or get fired.

I have mixed feelings about this because the entire premise is screwed up.

First, I believe the employee/employer relationship works like this; the employer has the right to demand their employees do anything that isn't against the law. For example, many employers do not allow their employees to smoke, and will fire them if they discover they are doing so. They do this based on the premise that smoking employees get ill more often and cause cost increases in insurance. This is fine. If you are not comfortable with what the employer requires then you are free to find employment elsewhere.

In a normal situation the government via the judicial system is there to stand between the employee and employer to ensure there are no breaches of the constitution.

In this case the employer is the government, and as the government gobbles up more and more of the private sector you may soon find yourself unable to escape employer demanded vaccines. Followed presumably by further intrusions into your liberty.

Admitting a Mistake

2009-09-09T21:31:00.000-07:00

Directly following 9-11 I was filled with a flood of emotion. They were mixed. My initial reaction was one of fear, but within hours it was replaced with anger and pride. I was indignant that someone would come to my country with an intent of harming my fellow countrymen and women. I can only imagine that others felt the same. At that moment I was willing to hunt them down and string them up for all to see as an example to those who would plot harm against us in the future.

As a nation we reacted much the same way. We gathered up our warriors and sent them on a mission to hunt down those responsible. In addition we passed sweeping legislation nearly immediately granting our government the ability to bypass our bill of rights.

At the time I was on board. I was wrong. At the time I didn't see this as handing over our rights willingly, but rather as a tool to hunt down terrorist. In short I was trusting our government to use the powers it was granted by congress, and thus the people, wisely.

The Patriot Act which had a sunset, but continues to be renewed, says that the FBI need not show probable cause, nor even reasonable grounds to believe, that the person whose records it seeks is engaged in criminal activity. It also allows for further investigation by the FBI if they simply don't like the books you are checking out from the library, or what you are writing on your blog for that matter.

This was a mistake. It was passed through Congress based on our fear. We were wrong. We should have headed the warnings of those sounding the alarm that we were giving up our civil liberties.

Do I still believe in hunting down those responsible. Yes. I do not believe we should change who we are to do so.

Gun Toting Hate Mongers

2009-08-26T10:00:00.000-07:00

Beginning late in the Clinton administration I've been noticing a growing gulf of ideals between the two major political parties in the United States. From Lewinsky to Bush Lied People Died, to now, town hall meetings with protesters carrying guns. Are these things just an example of citizens exercising their rights to disagree with government? Or, are we growing more and more divisive in our vision for this great country?

Maybe I'm the only right winger willing to be honest about this subject, but the carrying of guns to protest the health care bill is not a simple, "I'm carrying because it is my right to do so." It is instead, "I'm carrying this gun to remind you that the 2nd amendment exists to allow citizens to rise up against a corrupt government." And I'm a supporter.

Of course we don't want to say that is really what the "gun toting" is about. But it is. And that is okay. That is the purpose of the the right to bear arms, so that in the event of a government growing corrupt, the people have a means to remove them, forcibly if necessary, from their positions of power.

Imagine a world without this right. It really is the teeth in the constitution. Pretend if you will for a moment if all guns were removed from the people of this nation. Then imagine that legislators decide all on their own that they will no longer require an election to maintain power. How would you remove them? You couldn't. They would have the force of the military behind them and you would have no means of defense.

Are you okay with that?

Cody Thunder Rally

2009-08-18T20:37:00.000-07:00

Cody thunder rally is a motorcycle rally based out of Cody, WY. It was held this past weekend. Usually this poker run garners numbers around 150. Usually temperatures are higher than 55 degrees. Usually it isn't forecast to rain all weekend. This year there were only 35 riders up for the task.

The ride starts in Cody and runs over 250 miles over what is known as "top of the world", (the Beartooth highway) in Red Lodge Montana, to Cook City and back around to Cody. I should mention that just a few days prior it had snowed several inches on the bear tooth pass where we were headed.

All said it was a great ride. Just a little chilly at the top of the world. 42 degrees. We saw a little hail, a little rain, but had a great time. Here are a few of the pictures from our trip.

A Life All In

2009-08-12T07:35:00.001-07:00

The first mission trip my wife ever took was to Mexico. Sponsoring that trip were Chris and Jackie Leggett. This was a transformational trip for my wife. Instrumental in that change were Chris and Jackie who truly exemplified living the life of a Christian.

Chris and Jackie were missionaries to Mauritania, Africa. Where they gave micro-business loans to locals to help build their economy, as well as teach the women trades such as sewing.

In addition whenever the opportunity arose they would share their faith in Christ with the people of this Muslim nation. As with most Muslim countries Christian proselytizing is strictly prohibited.

After marrying, my wife introduced me to the work of this couple, and suggested we support them financially whenever we could. A couple years ago they visited us in our home and spoke at our church. I’m sure we never told them, but they were a greater blessing to us in those few days than we were ever to them.

Chis was killed this June while arriving at his office in Mauritania. Apparently he was shot during an attempted kidnapping. Chris leaves behind a wife and 4 kids. Al Qaida has claimed responsibility.

Chris Leggett lived a life All In. He will be missed.

Happy 100th to Me

2009-08-07T15:58:00.000-07:00

I don't know why but for some reason when preparing to post a blog today I looked down and realized, "I'm about to make my 100th post". It is kind of like how when you look down at the odometer just in time to see it roll over the next major milestone.

I guess that means that I might be here to stay for a while. Sorry, to those of you whom I tend to irritate with my usually right wing thoughts. Condolences to my family members, usually my wife, who tends to be at least mentioned in many of the embarrassing stories I tell. And thanks to those of you who take the time to drop by and read my odd collections of writings now and again.

For those of you wanting to send gifts......

What REALLY happened

2009-08-04T11:25:00.000-07:00

For those of you reading our facebook you are likely to think that my wife had to have a leg and half an arm amputated after our recent ATV accident. I'll clear the air. Yes we, or I, rolled it with her on the back. After reading her accounts you are likely to think we (read I) rolled this 4 wheel drive vehicle at a speed of roughly 75 miles per hour, causing us to be flung from the "vehicle of death" headlong until we collided with the ground causing injuries requiring immediate hospitalization.

Perhaps we remember this incident a bit differently as I ended up with no visible injuries, and she ended up with a couple bruises and a scraped arm. Here is how I would describe the incident.

From a complete stop we began to spin around in a donut. As we reached a 180 degree turn the vehicle began to tip. Unable to stop the momentum we fell off the side of the ATV from a height of approx. 3 feet. As we landed the vehicle continued to tumble and for a brief moment trapped my wife's leg under the metal roll bar. Which she easily pulled out from under vehicle. I was easily able to flip the ATV back onto it's wheels and we were motoring on in a matter of moments.

However, not wanting a good crisis to go to waste my wife is getting some really good "guilt mileage" out of the incident. Examples include; waking in the middle of the night, then waking me, pointing at the barely scratched elbow, making a pout face, and saying oh so sweetly, "will YOU get me a drink of water, It hurts too bad to get up."

... and my wife thinks it's funny.

2009-07-30T20:22:00.000-07:00

I will keep this post short as it requires very little explanation.

Mother buys underwear in a roll from Wal-mart.
Gets them home unrolls them. Doesn't like them.

My wife takes them... AND IS WEARING THEM!

I am NOT ok with this. Sure my mother never wore them, But she did own them.

2009-07-28T10:38:00.000-07:00

Saturday evening my wife and I called some friends following a week long excursion working the county fair. Although we were a bit tired from working late each evening and a tad sluggish from all the corn dogs and funnel cakes, we were excited about spending time with our friends.
Upon calling them we found that they were out in the hills just outside of town shooting. I'll admit I was a bit excited at this point, knowing my friend had recently purchased an AR-15. You can see a picture of one above. For those of you unfamiliar with this weapon, it is the quintessential assault rifle for home defense, or in our case defending the outskirts of our small town from watermelons that had somehow infiltrated our security. Town residents can sleep well at night knowing that there were 4 of us on the case. We were armed to the teeth with a semi-automatic .22 hand gun, .22 rifle, 20 gauge shotgun, .40 caliber handgun and of course the AR-15. The assault rifle made light work of the invaders. This weapon has only a slight recoil, but the compression is amazing. Standing 10 feet away I could feel the air compression from the explosion of the rounds.

It was a fun evening. I had always wanted to shoot one of these guns. Imagine we shot all those rounds and not a single liquor store was held up, and no one was killed. Weird.

Racism.... Yee Haw!

2009-07-21T10:47:00.000-07:00

This past weekend my wife and I held another fundraiser to help us gather the 30 thousand dollars we'll need to adopt a pair of kids from Ethiopia. It was a garage sale held at our church. On Friday evening we brought our goodies for the sale. My mother also came along with a number of great garage sale items including a small portion of her magnificent doll collection. (I was a little sad to see her selling these, but I also knew she would rather ad her 7th and 8th grand kids to the foll than continue to look at dolls gathering dust). Then suddenly trailers began arriving from parishioners, loaded down with items to donate to our sale.

I will say I hate garage sales, no really, I hate them. This on the other hand looked more like a swap meet. I believe I counted 6 televisions and 4 stereos. There were 2 dining tables, 1 couch, 3 recliners, 2 complete dish sets, and hoards of other pieces of merchandises strategically marked down to garage sale prices, including a small increase to create the necessary room for bartering.

It was about 4 hours into the sale which opened at 6 am when I met an old codger we'll just call Hank. Hank approached us with a rack of some kind in one hand and a shiny new quarter in the other, Hoping I'm sure to work us off our 50 cent price tag.

Hank was wearing a US Navy Ball cap. I instantly thought I'd like this old guy. Then he asked why we were holding this sale. Promptly my mother holds up the donation can and explains that we are raising money to adopt from Ethiopia.

Immediately I see the old mans nose begin to curl.Perhaps I was wrong about liking this guy. Then from his mouth comes a word that sounded as though it had come from somewhere deep in his bowls. "You mean there gonna be "BLIICCK"." I think he meant black. After wiping the old man's spittle from my eye, I attempted to explain to him the orphan situation in Ethiopia. My attempt was for naught as he immediately interrupted me to launch into his tirade about having worked in law enforcement in the south. Where he had apparently "locked up" many-a-bliicck.

I've come to some of this with our interracial adoption, and the potential response from the ignorant, but experiencing it first hand was new.

All said it was a great yard sale. We raised over $1300. It was definitely more than I had anticipated. Tainted only by one old ignorant hack.

It was a good day.

Life Minus Men

2009-07-08T09:57:00.000-07:00

Apparently a world with out men is closer than you think. Scientists have now created human sperm from stem cells. Of course this brings up the concept of life without men. As the sperm can be created from any stem cell, including that of women. You could literally have a child with only a mother. This prospect doesn't scare me. Even if women are able to somehow wipe out men, they will always keep a few around. Likely in a warehouse somewhere, or maybe each woman would have one in the closet. Men would be something along the lines of a vacuum, coffee maker, or other appliance. Women would pull out the man on occasion for specific purposes such as changing the oil in their car, killing a spider, and opening difficult pickle jars. Don't worry men you'll still have a place in this world.

4th of July Hawaii Vacation

2009-07-02T13:02:00.000-07:00

Would you be willing to take your 4th of July holiday in Hawaii if it were totally free? Of course I ask the question because N. Korea is threatening to launch a nuclear weapons test in the direction of our Hawaiian islands. Well, I don't think I would take my family, but if I were a single guy I think my answer would be yes. While I'm not willing to take a chance with my family, I am quite certain that all N. Korea is doing is rattling it's sabres.
Imagine the consequences of launching a nuclear weapon on Hawaii. First we intercept the rocket with our own missile defenses, then we proceed to wipe the diaper wearing midget off the map. Oh... wait. That is what Bush would have done. Obama will go to the United Nations and get a resolution declaring N. Korea bad... bad rogue nation. On the other hand I think I'll stay home for the holiday. Have a great Independence Day.

If I had Voted for Barack Obama

2009-07-02T09:03:00.000-07:00

I can only assume people voted for Barack Obama because they agree with his policy statements. So, if I had voted for President Obama, would I be happy with his performance to this point?

Obama Policy: Pull out the troops from Iraq. Keep them in Afghanistan.
Result: Well, I'm not exactly happy. Obama kept the EXACT time table set forth by Bush. But what else could he do. The war in Iraq was all but over, and the pull out would have been very difficult to have pulled off any sooner. There is now a major thrust in Afghanistan. Just where President Obama said we should be.

Obama Policy: Ensure every American has health care insurance.
Result: He is certainly pushing for it. I'm happy that possibly by next year I will no longer pay for health care what so ever.

Obama Policy: Improve diplomatic relations through talk as opposed to force.
Result: This is certainly what he is trying to do, thought it seems he is alienating some of our closest allies (the Brits, Israel) in an effort to be nice to Iran, Venezuela and others. This is what he said he would do. I'd like it if he could do this without upsetting our long time friends.

Obama Policy: Force "green energy on the public.
Result: While there have been some rumblings about this on a large scale cap and trade doesn't seem to be close to a reality yet. There are vouchers to buy greener cars. That is a step in the right direction. I'd still like to see Obama push to rid the world of coal fire power plants.

Obama Policy: Set up a system that rids us of the old model of "bubble and burst".
Result: Giving money to those troubled companies, and setting up government programs to ensure they are run properly in the future. Using tools like, pay czar, car czar x2. Economy seems to be getting better. Credit goes to Obama.

I guess if I'm an Obama supporter I have to be happy with his performance. I would have to say that as far as campaign promises go, Obama seems to be more serious about keeping them than most presidents. Or perhaps he just has the majorities to get it done.

How do you Spell Chutzpah

2009-06-24T10:24:00.000-07:00

The dictionary defines this word as a slang noun coming from the Yiddish vernacular, meaning:

1.unmitigated effrontery or impudence; gall.
2.audacity; nerve.

Today on Drudge I read a story (original story on Reuters) about Barney Frank, once again, asking Fanny Mae and Freddie Mac to relax lending restrictions on condominiums. Here are my problems with this.

1. Making loans to risky buyers (along with mark to market accounting) is what got us into the mortgage melt down.

2. Barney Frank sits on the Banking Committee and got a sweetheart deal.

3. Barny Frank lied to the American People about the viability of Fanny and Freddie just weeks before they collapsed.

4. Barney Frank pushed for more lenient loaning practices for low income buyers.

If that were all perhaps I could look past it.... BUT then when the melt down happens Frank acts as though he were just a spectator in the whole affair and blames the meltdown on Bush. Spouting lies that it was the Bush administration that deregulated the banking industry. While he was pushing for over site. YOU ARE THE OVER SITE, BARNEY. And yet you did nothing to stop this. As a matter of fact, you said all was well with Fanny and Freddie. Now when the spotlight is off, You are once again pushing for deregulation. Asking Fanny and Freddie to make loans that you know are risky. Barney Frank have you no honor.

The classic definition of chutzpah is that given by Leo Rosten: "that quality enshrined in a man who, having killed his mother and father, throws himself on the mercy of the court because he is an orphan."

Government to Monitor Your Blog

2009-06-23T07:31:00.000-07:00

Watch what you are saying boys and girls on the blogosphere, Uncle Sam wants to make sure you are on the up and up. According to reports from the AP, The Federal Trade Commission is set to monitor blogs to ensure any product review you make, is not made in exchange for compensation. According to the FTC many bloggers have received $500 gift cards or even thousands of dollars for a 200-word post. Apparently under the new regulations which are expected to be approved latter this summer a simple graphic ad with link for which you receive compensation, would be enough to trigger oversight.

Is this really necessary? Are there really throngs of people out there buying products based on anonymous reviews. Where is the personal responsibility? Are we really going to pay people to read and monitor blogs to make sure you aren't getting paid?

If you follow this trail to it's logical conclusion it does not end well for the individual. Imagine you tell your friend to shop at Wal-Mart because they always have the lowest price. (or so they claim) But soon you are being sued by the federal government because you own stock from Wal-Mart from back when you worked there in college. Sure you had forgotten all about it, but never the less, you have an interest in the company.

Perhaps I'm being a bit overly dramatic, but maybe not.

How does Obama Differ from Chavez Again?

2009-06-16T10:58:00.000-07:00

I'm sure they're different. I just can't seem to remember how at the moment. Apparently Obama not wanting to be out done by his friend in the southern hemisphere is seeking more power to seize the companies that he has deemed necessary for the American Economy. Here is more from the story written in the LA Times.

Under the plan, expected to be released Wednesday, the government would
have new powers to seize key companies -- such as insurance giant American
International Group Inc. -- whose failure jeopardizes the financial system.
Currently, the government's authority to seize companies is mostly limited to
banks.

So, just to clarify. Chavez bad for seizing privately held companies. Obama good. Hmmm. So I guess Obama gets to decide which companies would jeopardize the financial system if they fail. Or maybe we should appoint a czar for this task. After all Senate approval and over site of something of this magnitude is not really necessary. No, as with all the czars he will answer directly to Obama. I guess we didn't really need the separation of powers, as dictated in our constitution.

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness

2009-06-03T13:34:00.000-07:00

I was pondering our constitution today and had a thought that I've continued to roll around in my head. As the constitution reads;

"that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

It has occurred to me that these are placed in this sentence very intentionally, not just that these exist, but that they are listed from greatest to least. Do you agree?

Life - We have a right to this above all else. You do not have the right to take the life of someone else.

Liberty - Your freedom. You have freedom as long as exercising this freedom does not take the life of another individual or interfere with the liberty of another.

Pursuit of Happiness - You have the right to pursue your happiness anyway you see fit. Just so long as it does not deprive another individual of their life or freedom.

This is how I believe we should make judgements regarding our laws and our lives. It makes complex issues much more simple.

When looking at the abortion issue we all agree that murder is wrong, and we all agree that a woman has right to do what she wishes with her body. So how do you make the decision. Well according to what I believe our founders were trying to tell us. Your liberty does not extend beyond the life of another.

What about drugs. I think I might be on a limb here, but as long as you are not depriving another of their freedom (liberty) or their life, you should be free to do so.

Ahh... To be a Man

2009-06-01T16:22:00.000-07:00

We were rushing out the door this past Sunday as we were meeting the rest of our family 30 miles away to attend the baptism of a long time friend. My wife's father is also in town. He's been here roughly 3 weeks. It has been a blast and I'm sad to say he is leaving next Sunday. But I digress.

We had gotten moving a little later than we should have and Naomi was scrounging around the kitchen for something to eat on the way. Finally we gave up and decided to grab something on the way. We hopped in our pickup and took off down the road. Naomi had jumped int he back seat to give her taller father more room in the front seat. I enjoyed this as I could make eye contact with my good looking wife in the rear view mirror.

We were making eyes at one another as we were driving through town when suddenly her entire demeanor had changed. Something was wrong. Normally it doesn't take long for me to figure out what the problem happens to be, for usually it was something that I or someone else had said. But instead the vehicle was quiet when the change occurred. I was genuinely perplexed, and attempted to make eye contact with my wife, she was having none of it.

As we arrived in the Cody where we were meeting up with my folks for the final 30 mile drive, I finally caught her eye. She was saying something. Mouthing it voicelessly. I was excited that I now had an opportunity to resolve this obvious misunderstanding, but I could not make out what she was trying to say. I asked her to repeat it. She did. I still couldn't understand. I knew this was obviously something she wanted to keep between us, so I smiled as sweetly as I could to her in the mirror and shook my head yes. This obviously didn't alleviate the problem.

A few miles later as we were pulling into the parking lot where we were meeting it suddenly came to me like a pile of bricks falling from a multi-story building. My wife was hungry. I promised her we would stop somewhere in town before we left, but instead I drove right on by each restaurant. Then as we approached the next restaurant she looked at me in the mirror and mouthed the words, "Am I too fat?"

I was replaying it in my mind and yes.... I had shaken my head yes, all the while grinning like a dope.

Not good.

2nd Amendment - What is your purpose?

2009-05-29T21:37:00.000-07:00

What is the purpose of the second amendment anyway? In many countries they have no second amendment. No right to bear arms. So what was it our forefathers were trying to do when they established this most controversial amendment? Which of the following views do you espouse?

1. They were trying to protect the right of the military to protect us from foreign threats. Since there was no full-time army at the time, soldiers were made of citizens and often times their personal firearms.

Since the government has taken over that roll with a full time military, and provides the soldiers with firepower, there is therefore no need for this antiquated amendment.

2. They were protecting the right of the people to hunt for their food. At the time this was written many families relied on hunting as one of their main sources of food. The founders were attempting to protect that and as such placed it in prominence in the constitution.

Since we now have farm raised beef and other meats readily available at your local grocer there is no longer a need for you as a citizen to stalk off into the woods to bring home a meal for your family. Now you are able to do the same thing in flip flops and t-shirt. Drop your gun off to be disposed of at your local law enforcement office.

3. As the founders had found even the best of governments can grow corrupt over time. They wanted to provide the citizens of this new country a way to rise up against the leaders of this country if they themselves become corrupt.

If you drop by your local gun dealer you will find that firearms are selling quicker than they can be put on the shelves and ammunition is even more scarce. It can be very hard to find certain calibers of bullets. I can only wonder why there are so many people buying these rounds as soon as they are placed on the shelves.

Quick Adoption Update

2009-05-29T21:26:00.000-07:00

Today while I was working my wife headed to Billings for an all church garage sale to benefit those adopting from Ethiopia. We had been under the impression that it would take a LONG time to get a placement from the agency we are working with. As it turns out, that has not been the case for a few other families.

Just as soon as they turned in their cash to the agency they were given placements. What does that mean? Well, we may be able to have pictures of our kids soon. Of course we are not exactly swimming in cash, so it may take us a bit longer than some of the other families, but we are still very excited about this news.

I don't normally use this as place to talk about our adoption, but well, I'm excited. So deal with it.

Yellowstone on the Holiday Weekend

2009-05-24T19:06:00.000-07:00

This is a small lake just south of Yellowstone lake. Most of Yellowstone lake was frozen over. This lake on the other hand was created when magma and water combined under the surface of the earth... exploded from the steam pressure and is constantly refilled from the underground stream..... or so the info describing the lake claimed.

This is taken right on the edge of Yellowstone lake. One of the few spots of the lake not completely frozen over at this point. I'm not sure what kind of bird/duck this is. It has webbed feet like a duck, but a beak like a bird. Any help here...

See... I told you it was still frozen over. And you didn't believe me.

Elk. Taken near one of the many steam pots.

Obligatory shot of a bison. They are in abundance in Yellowstone. This was about 15 feet from the side of our vehicle.

This picture of a moose was not taken inside Yellowstone but about 30 miles outside the park. About an hours drive from our place.

This is a picture of my wife attacking me completely unprovoked, with a big ball of snow and ice. She would like you to believe I had thrown a snowball at her first. She is not to be believed. She lies... a lot.

My Friend Val a Long Time Coming

2009-05-15T21:41:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine Val Geissler called to tell me this week that he couldn't run from a relationship with God any longer. I love this man, but had wondered if I would ever see this day. I could not have more joy than this news gave me.

Val is a charactor and America's Favorite Cowboy Entertainer. Val has since given up the show circuit but still puts on a funny show. If you have a few moments check out this link. It is about 15 minutes, but you won't regret it. It's the cremation of Sam McGee.

Not About Starbucks... just a story.

2009-05-12T18:41:00.000-07:00

We pulled up to the drive through and ordered our food. We were on our way home from a great mothers day weekend with my mom. Our stomachs could not endure the wait, so Dairy Queen it was.

I like Dairy Queen. They are all that is good about America, burgers, fries, ice cream; What more could a person want. Sorry, back to the story.

So, we ordered our food. I ordered a burger. My wife orders the chicken strips. As we are unable to decipher the words coming out of the magical box we confirm our order on the screen. Looks great. We pull forward.

In less than a minute we were at the window and quickly paid our tab, receiving our drink. It was a coke. We also received our desert. A medium sized blizzard with Reese's peanut butter cups blended inside. Ah what a great country.

Surely the remaining food will be out in a moment. We wait. I take a drink of soda. We wait. Naomi begins to nibble on our desert. We wait. They must be making fresh fries. I take a bite of ice cream. We wait. We waited about 10 minutes. Suddenly the window flies open and there is our food. Fresh, hot and warm. I'm excited.

Naomi leans across me to see the gal in the window. Shakes her now empty soda so that you can hear the ice shaking liquidless on the inside. "Can I get a refill?"

My Blog Family

2009-05-08T21:18:00.000-07:00

Sometimes as I'm reading the collection of blogs that I frequent I can't help but get the feeling that we are all just one big family. No not the kind with crooked DNA, but more of just a regular, run of the mill dysfunctional family. So, in honor of this very random train of thought I have put together who in this hypothetical dysfunctional family you represent to me.

Shirley - Matriarch. Grandmother. Yours is the first blog I can ever remember reading, then afterwards feeling that I must post a response. Yes, I'm blaming you for this addiction. You are the Grandmother of my blogging family. Your words always seem thoughtful and wise. I have never seen a harsh word flow from your fingertips.

Helen - The Aunt who used to be normal, but moved off to Berkley and drank the cool-aid. Whenever she comes over for Sunday dinner you are sure to get a lecture on why the spoon is keeping the black man down. Sure her views seem a little wacky, but she has a great sense of humor and never fails to make me chuckle.

Mookie - Ah Mookie, The middle child. Always attempting to stir up the pot. Loves to get the tempers flaring and then sits back, sips his ginger ale, and marvels at the master piece he has created.

RGuy - Cousin, but much older. Nobody in the family knows how but RGuy is much more refined that the rest of us. He enjoys the finer things of life. For some reason he wears a sports jacket to the family dinner when everyone else is in flip flops and wife beaters. That doesn't mean however that he doesn't have his redneck vice. Pro wrestling.

Scott Erb - Older Brother. Always the most accomplished of the brothers Scott is intrigued by mystery. He investigates even mundane daily activities with the same Joe Friday flare for "just the facts ma'am". He always has the answer and if he doesn't, he'll make it up. Don't worry, he'll use enough "big" words that you'll simply take what he says at face value. After all he's always been smarter than you.

Jesurgislac - Step-parent. Because I will not agree with anything you say even if it sounds like something that would have come out of my own mouth. I wouldn't give you the satisfaction of having agreed with me. Sure, we kids act like we can't stand you, but in the end we are glad to have you around.

Godfather - Brother. Actually we don't hear from you that much anymore accept for a post card now and again from strange places on the planet. After all when you joined the motorcycle gang it just didn't seem right to bring the girl on the back home to meet mom.

American Elephant - Uncle. But more importantly, insurance salesman. You never miss a chance to tell us the value of a whole life insurance policy. I mean after all isn't protecting those you care about the most important thing to us all. And I can hook you up with a great deal.

We all get together for family meals and yes there may be a food fight or two, (likely to have been started by the Godfather), but we are all glad to be there and wouldn't want it any other way.

I'm sure I forgot some of our family. So feel free to add them, make corrections, and if you must include me as well. Thanks for being a good sport. I hope no one is offended, but even if you are... it's okay... we're family.

Bear Pic

2009-05-05T07:06:00.000-07:00

I don't have a bunch but here is a photo of the bear trapped a couple days ago. It was relocated about 30 miles away after turning a chicken coup into a Sunday afternoon snack. This 8 year old grizzly weighs about 500 pounds.

America Gets a Pay Day Loan

2009-05-04T21:05:00.000-07:00

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that pay day loans are a bad, I mean really bad idea. I was having a conversation with a co-worker today who told me she is still trying to pay off a pay day loan she had taken out... OVER A YEAR AGO. The loan itself was for 4 thousand dollars, since that time she has paid almost 8 thousand dollars in interest and still has more than 2 thousand remaining on the balance. While my co-worker was wringing her hands trying to figure out how to pay this down, the loan officer at this establishment was wringing his hands trying to figure out where to spend the money.

Will the United States ever pay off the loans we are currently taking out. Can we see anything other than debt on the horizon. Don't get me wrong, I blame Obama, the debt has sky rocketed under him. However, Bush was no Scrooge McDuck.

I imagine a good parent is willing to suffer now in hopes their children will have a better life. Instead we are getting a credit card in our children's name and maxing it out. This is unacceptable.

Bears are Out!

2009-05-03T20:51:00.000-07:00

The bears are now out of their dens and on the hunt for food here in Wyoming. There was one caught today. It was trapped because it had been tearing up chicken coups and such. While it was being caught a motion sensing camera caught a second bear along with it.

If you come to visit me in the next few weeks you'll want your bear mace for our hike. I'll try to get some pictures up for you.

Firing the Cable Company

2009-05-01T16:55:00.000-07:00

As of yesterday afternoon my wife and I no longer subscribe to cable television. When we were first married we went with out cable for the first year. During that time we read, I worked in my wood shop, and we found other things to do as well.

Our cable bill went up to 120 dollars this past month and finally we said enough already. It isn't that TV is the devil or anything, it is just a time killer. Here are the shows I will continue to watch on-line.

House

Hell's Kitchen

Lie to Me

I will miss out on American Idol...but will watch football with my folks when the season picks up again this fall. In the mean time I will save $1440 a year. All while still able to watch my favorite shows with no commercials. Why didn't I do this sooner. That will be an additional $1440 to go towards our adoption.

The line item veto, your best friend when doing the family budget.

Is the Sky Really Falling?

2009-04-29T21:23:00.000-07:00

For days now, every time I see or hear the news all I hear about is how we are all going to die from this swine flu pandemic. Is it really that bad? I suspect not. There has been 1 death thus far from swine flu in the United States. Meanwhile since the first of the year there have been over 10 thousand deaths from the regular old boring flu. You know the kind you already had back in February.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that we don't need to take a look at this strain, however I suspect it is only a slightly more dangerous version that the one I seem to get twice a year anyway.

If I were to venture a guess, I would think the only people at serious risk are the very young, very old, and those whose immune systems are compromised. So, the exact same people who need to be concerned about any strain of the flu.

Lets take a look at a segment from this article....

A 6 to 7 percent death rate would make the Mexican swine flu nearly three times
deadlier than the worst flu pandemic in the last 100 years — the 1918 Spanish
flu, which killed an estimated 20 million to 50 million people worldwide.

Seriously. Really. You gotta be kidding me. The swine flu which has killed less than 200 people worldwide is now worse than a flu which killed almost 50 million people. What world am I living in. I can only shake my hand at what passes for journalism.

Garage Sale Phenomenon

2009-04-25T20:06:00.000-07:00

I don't know if it is a chemical found somewhere in the recesses of the female brain, or simply a symptom of cabin fever, but just as quickly as the first few days of spring hit the garage sale signs begin to appear. It's almost as if they spring right up out of the ground as a result of the spring showers.

These garage sales I mention are a great love for my wife. I on the other hand loath them. I shouldn't. My wife is the queen of the garage sale and can sniff out a bargain from many blocks away. She gets that look in her eye and God help me if I'm in the car, for surely I will be her hostage until she has satisfied her addiction to the beast.

It isn't that I don't see the value of the garage sale. I can see their purpose, and the value associated. I just don't care for digging through the debris to find the possible treasure at the bottom.

While I Wasn't Paying Attention in Church

2009-04-22T10:23:00.000-07:00

While I would like to pretend that I am the ideal parishioner, I confess that often I am not. This past Sunday while the preacher was speaking on the topic of.... well I forgot that too, I was thinking of something else. Although this time I can say it was Jesus who was occupying my thoughts.

If Jesus were to arrive today in the United States, not to take us to heaven, but if His first coming were to be today, I would love to just sit and pick His brain. I found myself wanting to ask about what we as a nation should do regarding the "War on Terror". What we as a nation should do about our economy, or poverty or gun laws. If He came today, I would ask Him and surely he would tell me, and probably agree with what I believed all along.

It was then that it hit me. Those are exactly the thoughts the pharisees were having. They thought Jesus would come as a reigning king. He would ride in, destroy the roman oppressors and lead Israel back to her promised glory. Instead He came and spoke to individuals.

If Jesus were to have come for the first time, and I saw Him, maybe I would have asked those questions. If I had, I believe Jesus would have answered cryptically because I would have been asking the wrong questions.

The right questions are. What should I do about the killing in my town? What should I do about my neighbor who needs help? What should I do about the poverty around me? What should I do? That is the question.

Thankfully I don't have to wonder. He already told me.

Shame on you, Associated Press.

2009-04-12T17:34:00.000-07:00

What is the Associated Press trying to prove with this story?

The Headline reads, "For Somalis, Piracy Road to Power, Prosperity". That's right ladies and gentlemen the Somali people can not be faulted for taking over a ship and holding it's crew hostage for millions of dollars. What choice do they have? This is the same argument liberals have been using to justify gang violence for years.

The story goes on to say, "For young Somalis, piracy offers a life of adventure and money: At sea, they are armed with automatic weapons, rockets and grenades. On land, they are a cross between a town official and a gangster rapper — with grand houses, luxury cars and beautiful wives." Do you notice how the writer of this story attempts to glamorize the life of a hostage taker, and how you are almost encouraged to sympathize with the plight of the pirate?

Shame on the AP for writing this story, and shame on Fox News for running it. These are terrorists. Or should I say were terrorists.

3 out of the 4 hostage takers were killed by snipers this Easter morning. The 4th surrendered. And yet the headline says that the hostage was "released". No he wasn't released, he was rescued heroically.

I'm so tired of the way the news organizations vilify our military all the while sympathizing with our enemies.

Adoption Blog

2009-04-09T12:35:00.000-07:00

My wife had asked me if I'd want to simply use my existing blog to become our adoption blog. Well the answer is no. I am far to indulgent to give up my home of political and religious rants to give this one up.

So, in light of that fact, Here is the link to our new blog where you can follow our adoption process, and find out a little bit more about us.

2009-04-06T22:03:00.000-07:00

Let the fund raising begin. A few moments ago my wife and I submitted our application to adopt a child (possibly 2) from Ethiopia. This is one of the poorest countries in the world and some estimates have as many as 4 million children under 18 orphaned. Many of those orphans are living with other relatives and friends, but far too many have noone to care for them.

Costs are likely to run us between 25 and 30 thousand dollars. By almost anyone's estimate that is a staggering number that truely gave us pause. We don't have that kind of money, but we are believing that God will provide the funds.

A number of questions come to mind. Just a couple of those include; Why outside the United States when there are so many kids needing loved here in our own country? Why would it cost so much money?

First I'll address why so many couples go outside the United States. I know you are thinking we made this decision in order to be seen as trendy like Jolie or Madonna. In a word it is due to lawyers. If my wife and I adopt within the United States the costs would be slightly less, but birth parents rights would allow them to claim parental rights in some cases up to years after the adoption. Depending on the State. In addition we were told we would likely be on a waiting list for 4 years or more. Why, when apparently there are so many kids needing a good home? All I know is that is what happens when the government does anything. Overseas the process can be done in as little as 6 to 9 months. More likely 15 months, but still far sooner than 4 years.

Second is the issue of costs. While I don't like that it would cost so much to adopt I do understand that there are staff both in the United States and the country where the child resides. In addition Christian World Adoption (the organization who we are using) actually provides care for both children destined for adoption, and those who will not. This costs money. In addition flight costs are not exactly inexpensive. We are expecting (estimating high for safety)up to 8 thousand dollars in airline costs.

We are very excited and will be putting up a separte blog for those of you wishing to follow our process.

Am I a Republican?

2009-04-05T14:35:00.001-07:00

I don't consider myself a Republican. I consider myself a conservative. Obviously much of the time that means I lean to the Republican party, which more closely matches my convictions. Am I ready though to join the ranks of a party to which I become more disillusioned with each passing day?

The cause for this self examination is the chair of my county's Republican party who continues to petition me to not only join, but to serve as a treasurer on the county board. I will admit that I am torn. I hesitate to become part of a group (as a national party, not on the county level) that has disappointed me more often than not in the past 6 years or so.

On the other hand this would give me the opportunity to help guide the direction of the party at a grass roots level.

Getting Fired!

2009-03-31T08:30:00.000-07:00

I never thought getting fired might be the best thing that could happen. Last fall I began working at a job that while I enjoyed, was extremely stressful for my family as my schedule was very hectic. Often times I would leave the house at 6am and return as late as 9pm. As you can imagine after scarfing down a meal I was soon off to bed. Apparently my wife was wanting a little more time than that.

I knew she was wanting more time, but who quits a job in this economy without one to replace it. Didn't seem smart to me. Long story short, on March 15th I was informed that my services would no longer be needed. That's how you say, "You're Fired!, when you don't want your former employee to arrive on the company doorstep with a gun. I was without a job. For the first time in my life I had been fired.

I had imagined I would be upset by the news. I wasn't. I had imagined that I would be worried about how I would provide for my family. I wasn't. Instead I found that I had peace about the situation.

I start my new job tomorrow. I didn't really even have to look. It fell into my lap. I will be earning at least the same amount, quite possibly more. I will have insurance that was previously unavailable. And I will have more time to spend with my wife... and this blog. Both of which have been neglected.

The word of the day boys and girls is providence.

What Do You Want From Your Government?

2008-11-03T15:47:00.000-08:00

The basic decision in this year's election is whether you want the federal government to grow, or grow faster. In an effort to provide full disclosure I'll be voting for John McCain tomorrow morning when the polls open, however, if there were a candidate on the ticket who would shrink government, I'd be voting for them. And I don't mean a candidate who has no hope of attaining the presidency.

I feel like an orphan at this point. Left on the door step of the monastery by W, now 4 years later they are coming back pandering for my vote. Sad part is that just like an abused child who no matter how injured by the parent, continues to seek after their approval. Okay I'm getting off topic. Here is what I want my government to do.

1. Provide a military so powerful no one dares threaten our security.

2. Provide for a court system to settle disputes both civil and criminal.

3. Provide an interstate transportation system second to none.

4. Protect citizens abroad.

5. Ensure states make no law infringing on rights granted in the constitution and bill of rights.

I do not want my federal government to get involved in:

1. The economy

2. Education

3. Making life fair

4. Health care

5. Providing a safety net

If a state wants to get involved in those areas, great. As long as they don't infringe on your rights. What do you want your federal government to "do" for you?

I'm No Economist, But I Can Do Math

2008-11-02T18:05:00.000-08:00

I'm going to warn you at the outset. There are a lot of numbers in this post, but I'm going to try to keep this simple. When I first heard about Obama's plan to give a tax cut to 95 percent of Americans and raise taxes to "fair" levels on everyone else I couldn't see how the numbers would pan out. So here they are. I have taken these numbers from the United States Census, National Taxpayers Union Foundation, and the Federal Government. I'll state at the outset that these are numbers from 2006 and will admittedly be a little off from 2008, but they are the most recent available when all needed information is considered. Please read this post as it is important to Barack Obama's plan for your taxes, health care, and the economic future of our country.

2006 Revenue $1,397,800,000,000 just from income tax.
Total Income is $2,407,000,000,000
2006 Expenditures $2,655,400,000,000
Top 1% AGI is $389,000 and pays 40% of all taxes.
Top 5% AGI is $153,000 and pays 60% of all taxes.
Bottom 50% make less than $32,000 and pay less than 3%
2006 population estimate 298,754,819..... 25% under 18

So let me break this down for you. There are 224,066,114 adults in the United States. 1% of that is 2,240,661 people. That means the average person in the top 1 percent pays roughly $250,000 in taxes. Remember the top 1 percent starts at only $389,000. Seems a bit extreme doesn't it. That leaves just $139,000 for raising their kids, paying their student loans and maybe even creating more jobs for other Americans. And that doesn't even include state and local taxes.

What about the top 5 percent who start at only $153,000 per year. Excluding those in the top 1 percent who have already been tallied; The average person in this category pays $31,191

How high do you want to raise taxes on the top 5 percent, so that we can give a tax cut to everyone else. Remember roughly half of all Americans pay virtually NO income taxes to the federal government. If you were to raise taxes an additional 10% on the top 5% of wage earners it would raise an additional $83,868,000,000 that is a heap of money. No question about it. But how much is that for the 95% of Americans who will get that money. That is right after raising taxes another 10 percent on those who create jobs we could cut a check to everyone else for a cool $394.

Remember Obama has also promised to provide you with health care and a slew of other spending programs that would either increase our indebtedness or come out of your 394 dollar check.

You could elect Barack Obama. You could get the check. But is it worth the damage it would do to our economy.

These are the facts. I didn't make them up. I did the math.

Wouldn't It Be Nice?

2008-10-20T13:03:00.000-07:00

Wouldn't it be nice if we lived in a world with out hunger?

Wouldn't it be nice if you had a car as nice as your neighbors'?

Wouldn't it be nice if no one went without health care?

Wouldn't it be nice if you were paid as much as that CEO from Lehman Bros?

Wouldn't it be nice if the super rich had a little bit less, so that everyone else could have just a little bit more?

I'm talking about making life a little bit easier for those at that bottom. Those at the top have enough, don't they?

These are the thoughts I imagine liberals to have. They sound reasonable don't they. In fact Barak Obama's words echoed these thoughts when he spoke to "Joe the Plumber". "It's not that I want to hurt you, but if you're doing well, we need to spread the wealth around a little bit."

And so they make policies in order progress this ideal. This ideal, however, is communism.

Com"mu*nism\, n. [F. communisme, fr. commun common.] A scheme of equalizing the social conditions of life; specifically, a scheme which contemplates the abolition of inequalities in the possession of property, as by distributing all wealth equally to all, or by holding all wealth in common for the equal use and advantage of all.

It sounds like a noble idea, equality for all. They love the idea, even if they won't admit it.

Attn Socialists, The Free Market Works

2008-10-20T10:42:00.001-07:00

The housing bubble has been fingered by most economic experts as the root cause for what we are experiencing through out the financial world. It has also been the main point of contention by those who say that free market capitalism is ineffective. In reality it was the governments involvement that was forcing banks to make loans to folks who had no business receiving home loans, but that is a subject for another post.

It was announced today that as prices have began to fall on overpriced homes. Sales are increasing, and we're not talking about a little bit.

LA JOLLA, Ca. -- Southern California home sales shot up by an unprecedented
65 percent last month from the dismal, record lows of a year ago, when a credit
crunch slammed the brakes on home financing. September sales also posted a rare
gain over August as price cuts lured more buyers. Foreclosure resales rose to
half of all transactions.

Here is the full story if you care to read it. Here is the point. The free market works. We don't need a bail out. We don't need the government stopping foreclosures. We don't need more government intervention. We need less. The market will correct itself. Government intervention will only prolong the downturn.

Welcome to Fall in Montana

2008-10-12T10:13:00.000-07:00

It began snowing here in Billings, MT Friday afternoon. Since that time it has not stopped. Early Saturday morning this picture was taken as a few of the neighbor children took an opportunity to make the first snow man of the year.

This morning as I awoke I was shocked to see the amount of snow on the ground as we are not even to the half way point in October. I love snow in the trees. There is something honest and pure in the virgin snow, before it is molested by the throng of kids eager to play in the snow are loosed by their parents.

The snow has yet to stop. I may take a few more when the flakes cease to fall. Have a great Sunday afternoon. Mine will entail sipping hot chocolate, watching football, and turning a few pages in my current read, John Adams.

Drastic Times Drastic Measures?

2008-10-06T17:00:00.000-07:00

Scary when the only politician I see taking the side of the people in this recent financial crisis is Ron Paul. During the primaries I was sure Ron Paul was a kook. He still might be. In fact it's likely. Yet he is the only person I have seen speaking straight forward about this problem. How it was caused. How it could have been prevented. Who is responsible. What should be done.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBVB1Uc0nko

With both conventional parties selling out American principles it might be time to send an historic message by sending a third party candidate into the white house.

What has happened to the Republican Party when I'm considering a vote for Ron Paul.

700 Billion Just Not Enough

2008-10-06T10:22:00.000-07:00

Many of us said this would happen and here it is. Wall Street looking for more. Even with you committing 700 billion from your grandchildren's future to stop the bloodletting of the markets, Wall Street insiders say the big traders are still looking for more.

Open up your pockets again. You are going to see more and more stories in the news shortly regarding the need for a second package to help bail out the "Global Economy".

I am against a bail out. I am for capitalism. I am for a free market, and I am for the people of the United States of America. However, I am realistic enough to know there will be real consequences for not providing for a bailout. Here is what I believe they will be.

1. Lots of families losing their homes.

2. Even those who are making payments will see the note on their home called "due in full".

3. You will not be able to get a loan for ANYTHING for some time, possibly years.

4. Business will not be able to get loans, grow business, create more jobs.

5. Unemployment would rise as high as 15 percent. (That is double the current rate)

6. Many would see their retirements dwindle in the face of a diminishing dollar and shrinking market.

These are just a few of the costs of not bailing out wall street. You may agree with me that the bailout is a bad idea, but you must be ready to face the consequences. Remember the fall of Russia was one of reckless financial spending. Have we learned the lessons of the great depression and the downfall of Russia, or are we destined to repeat those lessons?

Capitalism: A Failed Policy

2008-09-29T18:55:00.000-07:00

"Capitalism doesn't work in today's market place." This was a phrase I heard yesterday as I was standing around the coffee pot before any actual work began. This from the brain of a college student majoring in BUSINESS. I could hardly believe my ears, but yes this is the wisdom being taught at our colleges and universities today. Here is the thought process.

Due to the cold war the media went on a massive propaganda campaign to demonize socialism. It really isn't a bad thing, it's a good thing, in fact it may be the best thing. You just believe it is a bad thing because you have been brainwashed by the media. Capitalism doesn't work. It is only good for the employer, not the employee. As proof of why capitalism doesn't work this person then pointed to the collapse of the current banking system in the United States. "See that is what capitalism gets you. And it just hurts the common people."

Although I am tempted to explain why this kid is ignorant, uninformed and just plain wrong. I'll let this one stand on its own.

Fighting News Depression

2008-09-29T18:10:00.000-07:00

There is no doubt that our country is in one of the worst financial positions we have seen since the seventies and possibly the thirties. This is scary for me. I love this country and feel we are walking a tight rope. We are holding on tightly but on every side looms danger. I have been seeing it on the news. Talking about it with coworkers and fellow bloggers. I have been consumed with the idea of stopping this financial bailout. For fear of what it will do to our country. Is it a step towards socialism? Yes. Is it going to forever change our country if passed? Yes. As I have been considering the magnitude of the decision congress is about to make, and feeling that it's passage is all but inevitable, I have begun to feel a bit depressed.

So, to combat that I would like to blog for a moment about why our country is great.

Our country is great because it provides opportunities to every citizen unlike any country in history.
Our country is great because you can pursue any dream you desire for you and your family.
This country is great because of the sacrifice of those who have gone before us.
This country is great because we stand up for what is right regardless of the cost.
This country is great because you can worship your God in any manner of your choosing.
This country is great because you can achieve your dreams regardless of your upbringing.
This country is great because you have the freedom to express conflicting views.
This country is great because we value human life.
This country is great because we were founded on biblical principles.
This country is great because we allow for diversity in people and thought.

This country is great because we have risen to every challenge that comes our way. Though the cost may be great we have stood to face every enemy whether it be from outside our borders, or even within. We will make it through this crisis as well. We will endure.

There may be difficult times ahead. You may be asked to sacrifice. You may be required to give everything you have gained over a lifetime in sacrifice for your family and the generations that follow. But if you do, you will be joining other great men and women in America's past, men and women in the armed forces, spouses who have raised children alone to allow their loved ones to fight, children who have helped their parents endure through tough times. Great men like our forefathers; John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and Thomas Payne who though they had much risked it all for what they knew was going to be a great nation. A nation whose promise of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness has caused whispers of dreams fulfilled all around the world. America is a dream that caused only the most brave, only the most strong of heart to board vessels with little more than that dream in their heart. Ladies and gentlemen that is a dream so strong people are still coming to fulfill today.

This is a great country, and though we may have tough times ahead, I know that Americans will rise to this occasion just as they have so many times before. Don't lose heart my friends though we have work to do, we are still the United States of America.

The ATM is CLOSED!

2008-09-23T19:57:00.000-07:00

Shortly after turning 18 I made my first trip into a casino. I remember being overwhelmed when I walked through the doors to find all the bright flashing lights, all around be were the sounds of gamblers winning at the machines. Interesting isn't it that when the machines give you a little more than you put it, the bells begin to sound, the lights flash and you envy the person whose machine is announcing their big win.

I remember sheepishly asking my brother, "How do these things work?", a little embarrassed that I didn't know how to use the machine instinctively. "Easy", he said, "put your money in here", I did, "and pull the lever". I did. Soon what appeared to me to be a random group of pictures appeared on the machine, the bells flashed and 20 dollars in quarters came spilling out of the machine. My first quarter and I was a winner. If this is what gambling is all about, I like it.

It didn't take long, however, to discover that my first experience was not the norm. Shortly thereafter I had extinguished the 20 dollars I had won and was just enjoying the free pepsi. Can you imagine? All the soda you want.. for free. This place is great.

A friend of mine had a little bit different story. You see he had an endowment. So instead of 20 dollars, he put in 100. Hey, I guess if you can afford it, good for you. Then after that he went to the ATM and took out another hundred, followed by another hundred. All to chase after that original hundred dollars the house now owned in addition to the extra money he sent in after it. My friend had a gambling problem. The only way to stop him was to keep him away from the casino, AND the ATM.

My friends we, the United States of America have become that man. We have lost our tail in risky ventures in the financial industry and now we are going back to the ATM making a withdrawl of almost a trillion dollars more, hoping a fools hope that we can recover what we have lost.

If we are to save this country we love lets admit we have a problem, accept the loss, and tackle congress before they make it to ATM. After all, it is not only our money on the other side of that ATM it is also our kids and grand kids.

I'm Still Alive...

2008-09-22T11:04:00.000-07:00

I had the opportunity to fulfull a life long dream yesterday. As you readers are very astute I'm guessing you figured out I'm talking about skydiving. What an experience. My brother and sister-in-law called to let me know that they were going to jump, and my intention was only to go watch them land.

When I arrived I learned they had one extra spot available if someone wanted join in. While this wasn't exactly a cheap endevour I thought, "What the heck". I called my wife. She did not answer, I took that to mean, "It's okay dear, what ever you think".

I watched my family land and then it was my turn. You would think it might be a good idea to get more than a 1 minute breifing on what you are about to do. Aparently that is something you shouldn't really worry about as you prepare to dive head long out of an airplane.

The airplane took off and I was sitting in the tail of small plane strapped to the front end of a very large man. At least he asked my name before cinching down the straps that brought us closer than any first date should bring two people. As we reached 10 thousand feet, about 6 thousand off the ground the door was opened and before long the first set of jumpers were out the door. Do I really want to do this? It was my turn.

We waddled towards the door and I was dangling my feet out the door and under the plane. The wind was intense. I tucked my hands under my shoulder straps and put my head back on the shoulder of the big burly man named Jeff into whose expertise I was about to place my life. Three times Jeff told me to arch my body, and the next thing I knew, I was hurling groundward at 120 miles per hour.

I had wondered why they didn't prep me further as to what to do during the fall, and now I know why. Even the few things I was told in the 1 minute prep period went flying out the window the moment my body was falling out of the sky.

My heart was beating faster than I could ever have imagined, and I lost complete sense of my surroundings. I believe we did one forward flip as we exited the plane. This was the most unnerving portion of the whole experience. Following the flip we arched our bodys and began to fall straight down. Slowly spinning counter clockwise during the fall. I'm pretty sure my instructor was causing this intentionally. I freed my armes and allowed them to float next to my head as I fell. This was my favorite part of the jump. It lasted for about 30 seconds.

I had no warning, when suddenly the straps between my legs went taught and I quickly began to slow. I looked up and sure enough the bright green shoot was filling with air and was saving our lives as advertised.

During the fall Jeff placed us into a couple of tight spins. Amazing to feel as the g-forces once again pressed the harness tight against my body much like the carnival rides you experience that caused you to lose your lunch as a youngster. I watched the first jumper land flawlessly below me.

It was time for us to prepare to land. My instructor now told me to stand up on his feet much like a 6 year old girl dancing with her father. When I did he unhooked the lower harnesses which would allow my lower body to move independent of his. We were now on final approach, and the ground was closing quickly.

We were planning on doing what is called a sliding landing, where you land on your butts. At the last minute Jeff pulled the cords we slowed up and were able to simply place our feet back on solid ground.

As I recount the experience my hands almost begin to shake and I can feel the adrenilene once again pump through my vains. I checked to make sure all vital parts were still attached they were, then I realized, I should call my wife......

Is the Number 2 Enough for You?

2008-09-18T09:46:00.000-07:00

For days following the selection of Palin as the running mate for McCain I heard democrats salivating over how this was the "dumbest" pick in presidential election history, and how this choice had squashed any chance McCain may have had to win the presidency.

Um.. maybe not. See my liberal friends the polls are now showing McCain and Obama in a dead heat and here is the thing. Palin is actually a conservative. Something the ticket had been lacking. So, many of the conservative folks out there who were considering a vote for Barr or simply staying home are now energized to see someone with strong moral character and real conservative principles representing the party.

The question I find myself asking is if having a conservative in the number 2 spot is enough of a consolation to cast a vote for McCain. Should I forget that McCain has sold me out on border security. Should I forget that McCain didn't care about energy independence until it was politically expedient. Should I allow amnesia to set in regarding McCain-Feingold.

I hate to be the stick in the mud of the republican party, but I'm not voting whether or not I want Palin for vice-president, which I do. I'm voting whether or not I want McCain for president.

Coming Out of Darkness

2008-09-17T13:00:00.000-07:00

As some of you know it has been a long time since I have opined here at "All In". I have missed it. Some of you have even called as to ascertain why I had fallen off the grid, only to find that I wasn't answering my phone either. Thank you for your thoughts.

I had been dealing with some very difficult things in my personal life and couldn't muster the strength to talk with anyone. It feels odd to write that as I know it is the strength of friends that will get you through the tough times.

I don't want to get into what the decisions were, but the long and short is that I had to make some serious and possibly life altering decisions. And for reasons I don't care to share, I couldn't use some of my most trusted counselors to make that decision.

Thank you to those who checked back with my blog on occasion to see if I was still writing. I look forward to getting back to my usual posts several times a week, if not daily.

Solutions to Poverty and the Welfare State

2008-07-21T22:14:00.000-07:00

In recent posts I have given some examples of abuse and fraud in our social welfare system. It is not my goal to hurt those who need the system. It is not my goal to keep poor people in their place. It is my goal to help more individuals attain the American dream. The difference between myself and the democrat party is simply how to get there.

Here are some problems that need addressing if we are to move people away from poverty. Generational poverty. Lack of education. Diminished moral. I know there are more, but we are going to take this slow.

First of all there has to be some sort of motivation to move from poverty to standing on your own. That is the reason living on the public dole must be difficult. It isn't harsh. It is the best thing we can do for a person in need. After the birth of a baby giraffe the mother runs up and kicks the baby until it stands on it's own feet. This is done only out of love, for if it does not learn to quickly stand and run it will be devoured by predators.

I remember walking down the sidewalk as a kid and every so often you would see a plaque on saying this was built by the WPA in 19-whenever. It was all part of the new deal instituted by FDR. I propose a return to this system. If you want to be included in the system you must work your scheduled hours. Many city, county, and state labor jobs could be included here. Saving the state money, and giving those on the system, a sense of accomplishment. Those unable or not wishing to participate can either forgo the assistance or attend classes in parenting, a trade, or something else to aide in a job in the future. If you aren't participating in one or more you will not receive services. Period. Even single mothers can find time to attend classes.

I believe this system would go a long way to solve many of the problems listed below. It isn't the end game, or all that must be done, but it is my first step.

Life... Taking a Poo on Me

2008-07-13T16:38:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been driving down the city street and wished the vehicle next to you would, "do something" about that noise emitting from their vehicle. That was the thought running through my mind as I rode my motorcycle home following a wonderful dinner with friends.

After a couple of blocks though, I realized it was my vehicle making the noise. Not only was it making a noise, I began to smell fire. A scary prospect when riding on only 2 wheels. My wife and I quickly pulled into a nearby parking lot. That is when I discovered the most horrifying fact. Someone had "hit and run" me while I was enjoying my meal in the restaurant. They had backed into my bike, severely denting the fender and pushing it up against the tire, causing the noise, and the friction causing the paint to burn. I was not pleased. I called the authorities.

Now I don't know if you know it or not, but the police have more important things to deal with than simple hit and runs. Matter of fact, they won't even send an officer to take a report. I went from "not pleased" to very angry. I called my insurance company.

After going through the mind numbing prompts, I got an agent on the phone. She told me that I could pull the fender off the tire if I wanted to, but if I did, she couldn't guarantee they would pay for the damage. She could have someone out to look at the damage the following day. Due to the fact that I didn't feel much like walking the 5 miles home, I asked how in the world she expected me arrive home this evening. She asked if I was expecting a tow. Apparently she thinks a city wrecker can tow a motorcycle. If you are wondering... they can't. At this point I went from "very angry" to livid. I pulled the fender off the tire and drove back to the restaurant cringing at every bump.

To my surprise there were some witnesses to the accident in the outside seating area. They identified the vehicle and license plate. Suddenly the police decided this was worth their time. They would send a patrolman. The anger barometer began to decline, I called back the insurance company.

This time I spoke to a very reassuring agent named Wes. Wes was very kind and assured me that though the adjuster would not be able to look at the vehicle until the following day they would most assuredly pay for the damage. Almost back to tolerable to be around. We drove home.

The accident happened around 6:30PM, at roughly 11:30 the police arrived to take a statement. They have tracked the offending vehicle to a rent-a-car company, and believe they can ascertain who was driving at the time. I am gleeful at the idea of putting behind bars whoever may be responsible for the damage to my precious motorcycle. If only the death penalty could be extended to hit and run.

Today's sermon was about forgiveness. Darn you preacher.

Only 53

2008-07-13T16:21:00.001-07:00

The late Tony Snow with President GWB. Tony Snow was a great american. From his speech writing days with Bush 1 to his radio show or his serving as the White House Press Sec. He always seemed to be spot on. Even if it meant disagreeing with the administration, party or both. Tony Snow, you were a great father, patriot and Christian, you will be missed.

Wrong on Ramsey Case

2008-07-09T20:27:00.000-07:00

Officials cleared the immediate family of JonBenet Ramsey in her death Wednesday thanks to new DNA evidence that links the murder to a still unknown man.

I believe I'm the kind of person that can admit when I'm wrong. I'll have to admit I've thought all this time that one of the Ramsey's committed the murder of this little girl. I mean there is just too much funny stuff with this case. Perhaps they had something to do with it, but the recent DNA evidence to come back suggests otherwise. Were you wrong too?

Reporter Doesn't Get It

2008-07-09T13:17:00.000-07:00

The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ has been called into question by a
radical new interpretation of a tablet found on the eastern bank of the Dead
Sea.
The three-foot stone tablet appears to refer to a Messiah who rises from
the grave three days after his death — even though it was written decades before
the birth of Jesus.
The ink is badly faded on much of the tablet, known as
Gabriel's Vision of Revelation, which was written rather than engraved in the
1st century B.C. This has led some experts to claim that the inscription has
been overinterpreted.
A previous paper published by the scholars Ada Yardeni
and Binyamin Elitzur concluded that the most controversial lines were
indecipherable.
Israel Knohl, a biblical studies professor at the Hebrew
University of Jerusalem, argued Monday that line 80 of the text revealed Gabriel
telling an historic Jewish rebel named Simon, who was killed by the Romans four
years before the birth of Christ: "In three days you shall live, I, Gabriel,
command you."
Professor Knohl contends that the tablet proves that messianic
followers possessed the paradigm of their leader rising from the grave before
Jesus was born.
He said that the text "could be the missing link between
Judaism and Christianity in so far as it roots the Christian belief in the
resurrection of the Messiah in Jewish tradition." -Fox News

What? This is the most ridiculous article I've ever seen. Really? "the missing link for the Christian belief in the resurrection of the Messiah in Jewish tradition." Hey Fox News, Next time let some one who has read the bible write the story.

Where I'm coming From

2008-07-09T12:36:00.000-07:00

While working in Missouri a woman strolled through the doors carrying a baby and pushing a stroller at the same time. This is a feat. Much respect for moms all across the country toting with them their youngsters. I had known both this woman and her husband for some time now. They were excellent customers. On most occasions they were a cheerful lot bringing joy to those around them. Such was not the case during this incident, which was about to get ugly. She wanted my opinion.
She was wagging her finger in the her husbands face saying her paycheck was getting cut because of him. Let me explain. This couple, though pleasant and fun to be with, had been on the public dole from the time they moved out on their own, about 5 years at this point. The mother had taken a test when she was in middle school and had been identified as learning disabled. An apparent disability that I was unable to see from my vantage point, and it certainly hadn't hampered her ability to mother two children. So, at this point in addition to her "disability" she received food stamps, housing assistance, wic, and a host of other financial incentives. I had been to their home. They had two cars, sat elite tv, a flat screen bigger than my twenty inch and of course 3 video game systems to pass the time not spent working.
Here is where the trouble began. A few days prior I had encouraged the husband to get a job at a local car dealership, a position he took and loved. This simple act however cut her "paycheck" as she called it, in half. Now I was in the middle of a marital war. She demanded he quit, He demanded she get off her lazy but and get a job. I was in a pickle.

Poor in America

2008-07-02T11:23:00.000-07:00

What does it mean to be poor in America? Hungry? Overworked? Thirsty? Cold? No, No, No and No. Here is a picture of the average poor person in America.

The typical American deemed poor in the United States has a car, air conditioning, refrigerator, stove, clothes washer and dryer, microwave, 2 televisions, cable or satellite, DVD player, and a stereo. He has access to medical care, his home is in good repair, and doesn't have to live with a house full of people. Don't believe me. This is compiled from information submitted by the "poor" who indicated as such to the census bureau and compiled by the Heritage Foundation.

Here are more results...

Forty-six percent of all poor households actually own their own homes. The average home owned by persons classified as poor by the Census Bureau is a three-bedroom house with one-and-a-half baths, a garage, and a porch or patio.

Only 6 percent of poor households are overcrowded. More than two-thirds have more than two rooms per person.

The typical poor American has more living space than the average individual living in Paris, London, Vienna, Athens, and other cities throughout Europe. (These comparisons are to the average citizens in foreign countries, not to those classified as poor.)

Nearly three-quarters of poor households own a car; 30 percent own two or more cars.

24 percent of poor households have a cell phone.

I have been saying for some time now that poor people are given too much by the federal government. They live too well to receive public assistance. Up until this point though, my evidence has only been anecdotes from my personal experience. A weak argument at best. So, in response I would always hear, "Sure you will get a few people who take advantage of the system, but it's worth it to help the masses."

As it turns out however I was right all along. Abuse of the system is not the exception to the rule. It is the rule. This is why when poor families receive their earned income credit, which they have not earned, they are able to spend it on a brand new 4-wheeler. Living on the government dole should be painful. It should be a very miserable existence. No cable, no cars, and no cell phones. There must be some incentive to work your way out of poverty.

You can't work your way out of poverty Jay. Really?

The average American poor family with children works only 800 hours a year. In case you don't want to do the math that is about 16 hours a week. Most of us do that in 2 days or less. If those same families were to have just one wage earner working 40 hours a week 75 percent of poor children would be lifted out of the poverty range.

Coming soon. My solution to poverty and the welfare state.

Separation of Church and State

2008-07-01T09:46:00.000-07:00

The separation of church and state, a phrase thrown about today to keep churches from putting up Christmas decorations on public ground, or from preaching regarding politics from the pulpit, but what is that phrase all about.

Though we have adopted this phrase as constitutional doctrine it can be found nowhere in the constitution or bill of rights. It was written in a letter from Thomas Jefferson to the Danbury, Connecticut Baptists on the first day of 1802. The entire letter is only 3 short paragraphs. Two of which contain a gracious open and close. Here is the body of the letter which has dictated the separation of church and state for 200 years now.

Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between Church & State. Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience, I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties.

It would appear to me from this letter quoting the constitution that Jefferson is trying to clear up what is meant by, "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof" is protection of the church from the government. Both the establishment clause and the free exercise clause limit the state, not the church.

In fact wouldn't nearly every assault against the church, regardless of denomination be easily defended with the phrase, "or prohibiting the free exercise thereof", a phrase actually found in the constitution, and supported by this letter from Jefferson.

I am not one to think as a pastor I would want to endorse a candidate, However, should a pastor wish to do so, I believe he would be under his rights to do so.

You Have the Right

2008-06-27T19:40:00.000-07:00

I have almost always voted republican. I have told you that before. It is mostly due to the fact that I believe democrats would erode away most of your personal rights in the name of fairness and love if you gave them the chance. I have taken a short break from writing about your rights, but this latest post from who many of us simply call Rguy reminds me of how important it is that we keep every last right enumerated in the constitution.

http://renaissanceguy.wordpress.com/2008/06/27/why-dc-v-heller-is-important/

Obama: A New Level of Hypocrisy

2008-06-25T15:59:00.000-07:00

Today the Democratic Party is filing a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in to
compel the Federal Election Commission to investigate McCain's decision to
unilaterally withdraw from the matching funds program -- after he had used the
promise of public funds to help secure a loan, and also to get on the ballot in
some states. In addition, for a candidate to get out of the agreement, a request
would need to be granted by the FEC. (This is straight from the DNC website)

I intentionally didn't write a blog about Obama's "change of heart" when he decided to forgo his promise to accept public financing in favor of taking WAY more money from his donors. It was a gigantic reversal, some would even say flip-flop, but I let it go. Mostly because had I been his advisor I would have made the same recommendation. Sure he is going to take a hit from the media for changing this position after his bashing the private financing system, but the added money to his campaign will almost surely secure his victory in November.

This on the other hand is so far beyond hypocrisy that I just couldn't let it go unchecked. Obama this is the most hypocritical thing you could do. Yes I know this is the party and not you. However are you not the parties nominee, and if you can't control them, how can you claim to be a leader of anything, let alone the president of the United States.

Obama's slogan should be: Obama, a new level of hypocrisy.

Marriage Contracts In Saudi Arabia

2008-06-25T11:13:00.000-07:00

Saudi marriage officiant Dr. Ahmad al-Mu’bi told Lebanese television viewers last week that it’s permissible for girls as young as 1 to marry — as long as sex is postponed.
Al-Mu’bi’s remarkable comments also included an explanation that “there is no minimal age for entering marriage.”
“You can have a marriage contract even with a 1-year-old girl, not to mention a girl of 9, 7 or 8,” he said. “But is the girl ready for sex or not?” What is the appropriate age for sex for the first time? This varies according to environment and tradition,” al-Mu’bi said. - Fox News

Obama Pay Attention

2008-06-24T11:52:00.000-07:00

JERUSALEM — Palestinian militants on Tuesday fired three homemade
rockets into southern Israel, the first such attack since a cease-fire between
Israel and Gaza militants took effect last week.
Israel condemned the attack as a "gross violation" of the
truce, but did not say whether it would retaliate.
The barrage wounded two
people and capped a day of violence that presented the truce with its first
serious test.

Barak Obama pay attention you will likely be the next president of the United States. This is why you can't reason with Iran, Venezuela, Cuba or just about any other tyrannical dictator. They have no honor and will break the truce just as soon as they sense weakness. They have vowed to wipe Israel off the map. If they accept a cease fire it is a strategic decision based on achieving the goal of domination, nothing more.

Close Encounter with 4 Gay Women

2008-06-23T10:56:00.000-07:00

The vehicle rolled in slowly though it was still running. Just as soon as the Ford Explorer stopped people started hopping out. The first two were ordinary bubbly young ladies. The second two on the other hand gave away what this was all about. Not the flat tire on the rear drivers side, not yet visible from my vantage point, but that this group was in town for the gay pride rally.

With me were two other guys. We watched for a moment as these 4 women, 2 of which looked like women, made an attempt at solving the problem that ailed them. It was not going well. They quickly located the jack and a tire iron, but looked at them with bewilderment as it was one of those factory installed contraptions with many pieces which must be connected before use. They could not locate the spare tire, despite 2 of them apparently wanting to be men.

Off my companions and I went to the rescue. We quickly removed the spare tire from its neatly hidden location, and replaced the flat with its full size spare. Problem was the spare was low on air. Not an issue for us. As men are required to have at all times an air compressor within arms reach. The spare was inflated to its proper level and all in under 5 minutes.

2 of the women dressed in flowing sun dresses were grateful for our efforts, and thanked us sincerely. The remaining half of their party, dressed in baggy clothes to hide any hint of a womanly figure, scowled at us scarcely uttering a word.

I am only left to presume this look was intended as some sort of "man to man" intimidation. It is good to know that no matter how perverse our society becomes, no matter what gender a woman decides to see romantically, there will always be a place for a man when it comes to changing tires... and killing spiders.

The Boots of a Millionaire

2008-06-22T17:04:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wanted to know what it feels like to walk in the boots of a millionaire. Well I have done just that, and let me tell you... It Hurts. I guess I should start from the beginning.

I recently went on a trip. It was fathers day. During my visit it was the consensus that we would go hiking. Right in the middle of bear season mind you, but that wasn't the big problem. Big problem was that along with my dress shoes I only had a pair of sandals. Neither suitable footwear for a trek into the mountains. Even though my wearing sandals would be the equivalent of bear repellent it didn't seem like a good idea.

I could get into whose fault it is that I didn't have boots with me but for the sake of my marriage I'll only say that if I had wanted boots I should have packed them myself. ;)

Anyway, It just so happens that a multi-millionaire who frequents the location had left a pair of boots he no longer wears. They were left under orders that anyone who could fit them were welcome to them. As it turns out this little Cinderella was the only person with size eleven feet who tried them on. Perfect fit. Or so I thought.

Adorned with my new to me boots we set out on a trek up the mountain with a couple of cans of bear mace and .45 just in case. Our goal was to make it to waterfall by following the stream to it's source. Off we go, through the field filled with cactus, through the tree line, to where we run into large boulders which must be scaled in order to continue our journey. Here is where our little party divided into 2 separate teams. Those wishing to push on toward our goal, and those wishing for a more leisurely wait in the shade of large pine while watching the rushing stream roll by.

Always one wanting to take a challenge onward and upward I go. Along with me my brother and his wife, my sister, and my wife. Over and under we go navigating ever so carefully through the maze of boulders knowing that one wrong move with my new boots could send me sailing off the ever growing cliff downward to the stream below.

Yep they still fit, only I think this millionaire might have a little swelling in his right foot. About this time I notice the right boot is much more loose on my foot than the left. On occasion as I leap from one rock to the next I can feel my foot roll over the outer edge of the sole. Still doing okay.

Soon we reached the pinnacle of our journey. No not the base of the waterfall where we could frolic about, but where the danger of going on far out weighed the benefits of reaching the base. Sounds sensible doesn't it. That's right, my wife told me we were going back. Somehow I think I missed out on the part of common sense that says, reaching a waterfall is not worth risking your life.

We started back. Soon, after a few wrong turns and complaints from my sister about my not even knowing what direction we were headed our party met back up with the first. It was a good day. Some amazing pictures were taken.

So what does all this have to do with these fancy new boots? Blisters. Blisters is what I received walking in the shoes of one of the richest men in the country.

Is this a problem?

2008-06-18T14:35:00.000-07:00

Two Muslim women were prohibited from sitting behind the podium at Barack
Obama’s Monday rally in Detroit, apparently so their headscarves would not
appear in photographs with him, according to a report Wednesday in the
Politico.com.
The Washington-based Web site reported that Obama campaign
volunteers said the women could not wear the hijabs behind the candidate, though
they gave different reasons for the rule.
One volunteer said that one of the
women could not be seen on TV with Obama “because of the political climate and
what’s going on in the world and what’s going on with Muslim Americans,”
according to the Muslim woman’s friend.
The other volunteer gave a less
political explanation to the other woman, according to the article, claiming
nobody with any kind of headpiece could sit behind the stage. -foxnews

You know this really isn't surprising to me. In addition I really don't care. If I were Obama's campaign advisor I would have done the same thing. Campaigns are won based on image, not on policy. Here however is the rub. The double standard. If John McCain were to tell those women they had to sit elsewhere due to there head attire there would be a political firestorm calling him racist.

Should these women have had to move?

Are you offended Obama isn't more idealistic in his campaign?

Would it be OK for McCain to do the same? Why, Why not?

Is a campaign more about image than truth?
Would a woman with a headscarf in the background make you uneasy?

Proud Uncle

2008-06-18T10:03:00.000-07:00

My sister-in-law sent some pictures to me the other day of my niece and nephew. I won't subject you to too many of these, but I just think they are the cutest little tikes on the planet.

Just doin' a little fishin in the front yard. No water though. ahh who needs it.

I'm sure all parents are suckered in by the look on the face of their children. I don't know how I would say no to that face.

Yep, I like the hair-do too. Thanks for puting up with me showing you the pictures in my wallet.

Sin

2008-06-12T16:43:00.000-07:00

Which sin is the worst?

Value?

2008-06-11T09:29:00.000-07:00

This is a hand made coffee table. The base is made from elk and the table top is a piece of river wood split down the center and then married to it's opposite to create a flat surface and show off it's amazing grain and color. What value would you attach to a piece like this?

Has Sufferage Gone Too Far?

2008-06-10T16:22:00.000-07:00

This is something I've been thinking of blogging about for some time now. After having it come up in at least a couple blog threads now I thought I'd throw out my official opinion which has changed quite a bit over the years. So here ya go.

First of all, individuals races in local elections. In my opinion these should be up for all voters who can pass a basic government test. You should know how many branches of government there are, how many Supreme Court justices, how a bill becomes a law. I don't care if you are 5 or 500 if you can get that far you should be able to vote in local races. Issues are another story. In local bond or levy issues you shouldn't be allowed to vote unless it will affect your pocket book. If you don't own property, you don't get to vote in the property tax issue. Sorry. No more stealing out of my pocket to finance your project. Just that simple.

National and State elections. Pretty much the same just some minor differences. You must be at least 18, pass the short government exam located at the top of each ballot, and answer a multiple choice (2 options) question at the top of each race asking what the position is responsible for. Sorry don't get to vote for the Secretary of State if you don't know they are the chief election official in the state.

I don't want to change the outcome of elections. If republicans win great, if democrats win fine, if independents or libertarians win hurray. I really don't care. I just want those going to the polls to be informed.

No really, every one shouldn't vote. If you think everyone needs to vote then you apparently haven't taken a look around in a while. You obviously haven’t watched Jay Leno's Jay Walking routine. Seriously there are a lot of people out there who are not ready to vote. First they need to have at least a basic understanding of how our government works. Am I asking too much?

Not Because You're Christian

2008-06-10T12:13:00.000-07:00

I love politics. Really for me the presidential elections rival the Super Bowl in excitement, and the primaries are on par with playoffs. While the NFL playoffs come around every year like clockwork, presidential elections are so exciting that they are only allowed to occur every 4 years. This years' contenders, Barak Obama and John McCain.

You may think I'm just kidding but I'm not. If you talk to my wife you'll understand her misery. I subject her to various news channels day and night, and when the news is done it's time for analysis. It really is 24 hours a day with me. Some people yell at the TV during scary movies, others yell at the refs on television when they perceive a poor call. I yell at the TV when I see Olbermann or OReilly "miss a call". I've got a problem, no question about it.

You hear sometimes how as Christians you have an obligation to vote this way or that. How even has a Christian you have an obligation to vote. Really? I would disagree. As an American over the age of 18 you have the RIGHT to vote, not an obligation to vote. If you do vote you have an obligation to know the issues, but that is a topic for another post.

My point today is that if you call yourself a Christian you aren't required to vote, you aren't even required to be patriotic. In fact I would suggest that as a Christian we should be more concerned about individual people and their salvation on a global level rather than whether you are a republican or democrat. Rather than whether you are an American or Frenchman. Rather than whether you are for capitalism or socialism.

I know I'm stepping on some toes here, but would someone please show me where Jesus took a stance on a political issue. Sure, He caused a little riff between Pharisees and Sadducees, but he never took a position regarding roman occupation. He didn't address the national pride of the Jewish people. Instead He avoided the issue of taxes, and went straight to the heart of the people to whom He was speaking.

You might be a republican, you might be a democrat, conservative, libertarian, liberal, American, member of the military, but it isn't because you are a Christian.

Sure you may select your party based on biblical principals, but you are not commanded by God to join any political parties.

Vote Republican;)

What's Up With the Picture Changes

2008-06-07T08:46:00.000-07:00

Okay, so more than one of you have noticed the changes regarding some of the pictures on my blog. I admit the picture replacing mine is more than a tad disturbing. So here's the deal. My wife is currently working on some "projects" that to say the least differ in opinion from that of "All In". In order to safe guard her employment I have cleansed the blog temporarily from our identities. But Jay you say your name right on the front page! I've always written under an assumed name, not a problem there.

For those of you who know the nature of this job, or are inquisitive enough to attempt to discover it, I would appreciate your assistance in keeping this matter off the blogosphere. At least for the time being.

Sir Maximus

2008-06-05T14:41:00.000-07:00

My mother took this photo of our cat over the weekend with her new Cannon Rebel. What a camera.

Why Whites Don't Engage on Race

2008-06-05T09:44:00.000-07:00

With the unprecedented opportunity to have a black man at the helm of our country it seems that race issues are coming more and more to the forefront of our minds. At least the blogs I read would lead me to believe that is the case. There are a number of blogs that would fall into that category. I will take a look one of those today.

"The Black Sentinel". Let me say up front, I like this blog quite well. I feel it gives me a window into how the average black person might feel about race relations in this country. I have added this site to my blogroll for the time being so that if you wish to visit there you can. However, please be warned there is language on this site I would not allow on my own, and wouldn't want children to see.

Topics covered on The Black Sentinel are all race related with headlines such as; How Is Pfleger Connected To Obama?, White Bigots A Plenty, Enabling Co-Dependency, and Doomed Black Community. The vast majority of commenters on this blog, of which there are many, appear to be in agreement. I do not know if they are black. On occasion there is a comment from someone professing to be white. Sometimes those comments are on track in my opinion. Sometimes they are racist rants. Either way any disagreement with the "Sentinel" or its’ commenters is usually met with an accusation of racism. I’m not saying this to change “The Black Sentinel”. I’m saying it merely as an example of how the discussion of race takes place in this country.

This is the reason white people refuse to engage on the issue of race. It's simply not worth the cost to most folks. Let me be frank, the average white person has little to gain by the discussion. I'm not going to say individual racism doesn't exist, I'm not saying black people shouldn't fight against it, I'm only saying that most of the time it isn't worth the fight. White people are fearful of even the debate because at the slightest disagreement they are told they are racist. A label no one wants, that can be difficult to live down. So instead of true debate black and white together discussing apparent disparities you have white people giving up, shrugging their shoulders and walking away from the table.

I'm not blaming the "Sentinel", Again, I like this site. I hope you'll visit it. I'm only making an observation as to why it seems that most whites are apathetic to the current state of race relations in our country.

As a result, the discussion rarely occurs in mixed company. It happens without the presence of a dissenting voice. Allowing stereotypes to go unchecked, not out of malice, but out of ignorance. What say you?

Democrat? Part 2

2008-05-26T13:44:00.000-07:00

Some of you have read the previous post entitled Democrat? If you haven’t read that one yet take just a moment before you continue here as it is important to this story. As I sat talking to this woman she continued to list off the litany of problems plaguing this country as she sees it as a prominent older woman. Some of those problems included the war in Iraq, our economy, welfare, poverty, housing market... etc.

I have told you already that this woman is a democrat. But I didn't tell you her other solution to all these problems. Put women in charge. That is why she is voting for Hillary. Not any woman will do though. It must be a woman over the age of 50, through menopause, and not taking ANY hormone pills. Her reasoning, they are all *mean. (*her wording was far more crude)

Aside from her reasoning being absurd is she on to something. What kind of world would we live in if women ran the country? Can a woman run the free world? I think so. Are there inherent differences between men and women? I think so. Would those differences have an impact on the ability of a president to function? Maybe. Should a woman be elected solely due to her gender?

How Whites Get Everything

2008-05-24T11:15:00.000-07:00

This is the secret white people don't want blacks to know. When we are born after a dna test to confirm there is no black dna that has crept into our bloodline we are bestowed a manual. This is a handbook designed to show you how to get the advantage over other races in all situations. Unfortunately there is no section in this book regarding how to dance, dunk a basketball or sing the blues. Apparently those are sections our white ancestors failed to master.

In reality I've been reading lately in a few blogs about "white privilege". In the name of full discloser, I am a white guy of Scottish ancestry. That doesn't mean I wear a kilt and play bagpipes in the same way a black person doesn't automatically eat watermelon.

Here are my thoughts on the subject of white privilege. I didn't ask to be born white. I'm not going to feel guilty about something that I can't control. I think there is some modicum of racism left in America. It is not what it used to be. It is getting better with each passing generation.

Part of the definition of "white privilege" describes this as an advantage not shared by all. A person who didn't grow as tall also shares a disadvantage they can't control. Normal sized models have a disadvantage. Bald actors share a disadvantage when it comes to getting leading roles in major motion pictures. I am not saying that these are all equal but they have the same premise. A person with a disadvantage being discriminated against by the general population.

Here is what I want those complaining about race to understand. You are not helping your cause when you group white people into a category that is deemed "racist". Not all whites are racist. In fact most are not. Not all whites are rich. Many of us don't have much money at all and live paycheck to paycheck. So when we hear that whites are granted jobs/money, we wonder why we were left out. Am I not white enough? Many of us had our own handicaps that caused discrimination. Perhaps the discrimination you encounter is worse.

I don't know of a law that can be changed that would make things more equal. In the letter of the law things are equal, even if not in its enforcement. When it comes to the masses there may still be prejudice lurking within. That is easing with the passing of time as whites and black spend more time with one another and with the Asian and Hispanic. That is what the United States is all about. The melting pot. What is black is American. What is Scottish is American. What is Mexican is American. America takes what is great from all of us and makes it her own. We are all Americans and we are in this together. Life is hard enough with out seeing the hyphenated race.

So from one white guy. Will you please stop calling me racist? If you have a problem with an individual, even me, call him by name. You might be surprised how many white people join along side you.

Democrat?

2008-05-22T09:40:00.000-07:00

The other day I was sitting at the bar of a well known chain restaurant waiting for my take out food. The place was quite packed for a Monday evening. As I sat sipping on a pepsi the conversation around the bar turned from casual sports chit chat to politics. I promise I was not the instigator of this conversation. It was a matronly woman sitting one over to my right. I believe with the exception of the bartender she was the only woman in our little section of the restaurant.

The first statement had to do with the recent visit from Barak Obama to a local high school then to an Indian Reservation. The woman glowed as she spoke about how he dripped with charisma. I thought for sure I was in the presence of an Obamamaniac. However, she followed this up by saying, "of course I'll be voting for Hillary in the primary". This is when her husband got up and left.

Those of you who know much about me understand that holding my tongue is only rarely a quality which I espouse. This was not one of those occassions. As I proceeded to grill this woman about what she believed, why she believed it, and why she was voting democrat, this is what I learned.

She's voting for Hillary because:

She is tired of the government handouts.
She believes in the swift enforcement of the death penalty.
She doesn't belive in abortion.
She believes gun rights should be protected.
Wants lower taxes.
Wants to secure the border.

Wants to end the war.
Wants free healthcare.

She has never voted republican. Hates George W. Bush. I wonder how many other democrats don't know what their party really believes.

Kennedy has Tumor

2008-05-20T13:36:00.000-07:00

Senator Ted Kennedy has been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. Prognosis: Not Good. Survival rates are 1 year for advanced aggressive tumors and up to 5 for the slower kinds. Most pro-life, defend the border, cut social program conservatives have found Sen. Kennedy to be one of their biggest hurdles in the past. So I ask, is your compassion for this man bigger than your desire to see your political agenda come to fruition? I hope so.

Obama Wows Em

2008-05-20T12:53:00.000-07:00

Living in Montana I have learned something very quickly. As a resident of this state you have no say in presidential politics. At least until this year. With Hillary vowing to take this the distance both candidates have been spending a good deal of time in Montana. Barak Obama spoke here yesterday at a local high school. This morning the headline reads, "Obama Wows Em". http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2008/05/20/news/local/18-obama_s.txt

What strikes me there is the blatant opinion of the editor. Obama Wows Em. All of them? That is impressive. Surely this reporter didn't interview everyone at the event. Perhaps that one little statement isn't so bad. After all the whole point of that headline is to sell newspapers. Then I got into the body of the story where I found the following....

He got a standing ovation Monday for calling for more school, more homework and on a 70-degree day less than two weeks before graduation.- Not bad. This is a fact.

When he declared that no military veteran in America should ever be reduced to sleeping on the street in a cardboard box, the crowd roared as if they'd all, at some point, put cheek to concrete in exhaustion. - This is colorful, but presumptive.

Even when the boo birds booed, which they did when Obama evoked high oil prices and tax breaks for the rich, their catcalls flattered the front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination. - Translation. Obama can do no wrong.

With all that said, after the first 4 paragraphs the writer for the Billings Gazette was factual and striaght foreward. Not appearing to take sides. Problem is most readers don't get past the first few paragraphs of the story where things are wrapped up in a neat little bow.

This isn't the worst example of opinion creeping into journalism by any stretch. It occurs everywhere, Yes including fox news.

I attended a workshop at the Missouri School of Journalism where the professor told those in attendance that the reporter has the duty to explain for the reader/viewer whether the results of the story are good or bad for them. I couldn't disagree more. That statement encourages reporters to editorialize their work. This is supposed to be one of the best journalism schools in the country.

That statement works off the basis that readers/viewers are to stupid to understand the ramifications of the story. If it is complicated bring in experts to explain. That is not the job of a reporter.