"Time to jump off the cliff in more ways than one."

The current financial crisis is not about tax increases we are getting those and will continue to get those to pay for the stuff we all have and feel we need. It's about winning the P.R. battle.
Personally I think "the cliff" is a good idea it may cause real change and force compromise.
True spending cuts have pain involved in them. I have done it as a business owner and as a family leader.
It's hard to say no to ourselves as we have been taught that the American dream is that every generation
should do better and have more.
Well that is not sustainable so we are disappointed when we don't have a bigger house and a nicer car.
We all need to decide we are going to do with less and only what we really need in life. Not easy!
The trappings of marketing and desire are many and very hard to not feel less than fulfilled watching the television in America. Those shows are self fulfilling,  the more opinions we have and more controversial we are the better.

Reality T.V. such as following a family around when they know you are following them around is as unreal as it gets

24 hour news and the onslaught of advertising that goes with it are out of control.
24 Hour news and reality T.V. ( Not anywhere close to reality) are not good for our culture.
They are like the  Piranha family who owns a meat market.  Eat as much as you want there is always more. Everyone is getting paid and everyone has an opinion.
You know what they say about opinions, well it's true.
Those shows are self fulfilling,  the more opinions we have and more controversial we are the better.
Come on people we are smarter and more interesting than that. That's not reality and its not real.
It is a stomach acid free for all. I have chosen to not indulge in it and am better off for it.
How about doing constructive things with our time. Real things that have to do with real people.
Not saying what , just that it should be real. It's a waste of time spending hours watching other people pretend to live their lives.
That's down right nuts!

Jingle Bells!

I quit Facebook!

I quit Facebook a few weeks ago and I was worried how I would keep up with friends and family and all the goings on in our very busy lives.
When you get constant updates about every ones life you tend to waste a lot of time reading them and responding to their nothingness.
Let me explain.
Most of the information on Facebook is inconsequential by nature and really is voyeuristic and narcissistic.
It has its values to connect with people you don't normally talk to , or haven't seen in a long time, yet my contention is that if you really want to see them or talk to them you can use e- mail or text messages  or send pictures.
The temptation to constantly check the status for people you really don't have in your everyday lives is very strong and feels a need to respond or connect. Our lives are so busy I contend that we have plenty to keep us involved with those we really have in our lives and we need some down time, some reading time , some family time and some I need to focus time.
I have found in a few short weeks the time to read everyday and the time to play scrabble with my wife everyday and the time to work on my chores around the house. I have lots of those and I am actually getting them done.
Most of all I have time to think about and do the things in my life that are truly important and to be with the people who are also. (Oh and more time for surfing.) Ha
Facebook is great for marketing , business connections and those who are truly removed from everyday life and need the connection.
I have no problem with that. For me I have realized that it is not value added.
It's that simple.

Good luck with it ,but so far I have not missed it one bit.
BTC

My dog has a perfectly balanced clock in her body and is more diceplined than anyone I know.

Dogs and other animals are such amazing creatures but sorry dogs more than any other.

You can't really describe it. I think if there is a supreme being or perhaps the "Force" as depicted in the movie "Star Wars" then dogs souls enter the "Force" as well. They would be the gyroscope that would keep the ship of life level in a raging sea.

Dogs have a built in clock and an amazing sense of mood and feeling. They know when you are down and they know when you are up.

If you need a friend they are always there, and a friend in deed.

No matter what happens they comfort without reason, and they comfort regardless of how they are.

It is truly amazing and by some grand design, How do they know and why are they here.

Somebody said "Heh ! Man can be a miserable son of a gun, so he will need someone to just be there for him and comfort him or her regardless of the circumstance.

Perhaps we can learn something from the dog and not judge each other when we confront and or comfort each other.

Anyway animals are not just here for food and comfort , and I am a hunter gatherer by belief, yet they serve a wonderful purpose and it is comfort and beauty beyond our understanding.

Perhaps just perhaps they are the superior being and exist to teach us how to live with dignity, civility and class.

No me just us !

Health Care or the lack of it!

The health care issue is very simple!

It has been made much more complex by the passing of the current health care legislation.

So we must repeal that to start over or amend it so much it will look nothing like it does now.

Public option that is truly public option not a predetermined cheaper less effective health care system that really leaves no options for the employer. The cost will drive companies to use it and decrease the level of service we have become used to in America. As we just saw when we called congress on their ability to inside trade when the rest of us can't. When favoritism is brought to the for front people get it and insist on fairness and proper behavior.

So if congress has deemed the new health care bill O.K. for Americans then why have they chosen a high cost no limits for ever policy for themselves?

Is this the way America wants our system to work? If this President really wants equal opportunity for all Americans then why does Congress and the President have a better health care option than we do. How elitist is that?

I got elected to congress, a paying job by the way ,and even if I stay one term then I get health care unlimited for life.

Who gets that deal?

Separation of church and state. Jesus and certainly no one on TV even said those words, as the President of the United States considered changing his legislation to relieve the requirement that christian organizations would be mandated to pay for birth control for their employees. This is a basic condition on which our nation was formed.

Are we not paying attention? Whether you believe in birth control is not the issue. I don't care what the individuals beliefs are, its the government telling us what we can and can't do that is the issue.

Now let's say the health care bill was never passed.

Here is the solution!

Take the restrictions off of the insurance companies so they can all bid on all 50 states. The way it works now many companies have monopolies in their state or only a few companies can bid .

If all of the approximately 7500 insurance companies could bid competitively the costs would automatically come down and some of those companies would not be competitive or even make it .(Cost down Perhaps 30%.)

Then we must pass tort reform nation wide and put limits on what we can sue for and how much. Like the line item veto we have been talking about tort reform for many years and of course nothing gets done.

The limits on loss and pain and suffering must be much less.

If we don't control the amounts available we can never keep costs down. Personal health savings accounts are also a great idea. These can help supplement medical costs .

Now if you think for a moment the lawyers who run Washington( and trust me they do) will allow tort reform without a huge lobby effort against it you are crazy.

The lawyers make huge fees off of the trials, and they would be severely reducing their income potential. Just like accountants will never allow the flat tax as they would be out of business.

"WE THE PEOPLE" are the only ones with enough power to create these changes.

My sincerest hope is that America wakes up and takes notice of the change that is among us.

This is not the change I was hoping for.

BTC

Thought it would be less miraculous.

I was sure having a second grandchild would be no big deal after all I already had a grandson.

Well it is no less of a miracle as it was the first time, only this is a girl.

Yes a beautiful girl so pretty that she can out shine the sun.

Special should be her middle name.

Kidding but not!

I have not had a chance to hold her yet but will in a few days.

Girls are just different aren't they ? They have a way of making you feel that they are in control as they are most of the time.

We like to think we run our own lives, but it is a deception. The woman control all and rightly so as they usually know better.

This little girl already has my number and I haven't even held her in my arms yet.

I can't wait to be with her.

BTC

O.K. guys here is what I am going to do!.

If Eli Manning stopped the game in the fourth quarter and took a time out. Then called the entire New England Patriots team over to his huddle and said o.k. boys I am going to throw the ball 40 yards down the left sideline to Mario Maningham on this play because we need a big gain to win the super bowl (break!)

Insane right, would never happen.

Then why are we and our press discussing the actions or potential actions of Israel regarding Iran on every talk show and radio program in the world.

Why would we telegraph Israels actions or potential actions. These things even if we know they are going to happen are not for public knowledge.

Did we say the invasion of Normandy will be Tuesday at 3?

I don't get it sometimes freedom of the press is not licence for stupidity of the press.

We are allies and we should show discretion and intelligence when contemplating covert actions for us or our friends God knows we need them in the future.

Why telegraph our intentions.

It makes no sense.

BTC

Education is wasted on the young!

I wish I had gotten it when I was growing up .

I spent most of my youth avoiding school work and not getting it.

Dyslexic , emotionally extremely immature I was lost for many years in my inability to do well in school. I finally matured out of my funk in my junior year in Private school after squandering the high school experience.

I was socially popular yet not focused at all. The reason I write about this is to explain how important the opportunity is we have to educate ourselves.

There is no greater opportunity we have to insure both a life of interest and learning which is exciting and fascinating. The emotional quotient is as important as the I.Q.

An opportunity lost is lost forever?

Not sure of that ,but I do know what a important part of a fulfilled life it is.

We must do all we can to fulfill our journey and live a full life with whatever is our passion. Education is an important element, not the only but one none the less.

BTC

Decency , Kindness and Manners most of all!

Decency , Kindness and Manners most of all!

I have noticed lately in both New York and New jersey that people are extremely abrupt and discourteous.

No one says excuse me or pardon me or lets you go threw a door ahead of them or holds a door for you. It happens very infrequently.

Is this because we are all so busy and crazy and stressed .

Well that is not an excuse.

It is very blatant and upsetting. My New Years resolution was and is to slow down and return to a slower life ,and try to be courteous and kinder in my every day life.

Being retired it's probably a little easier ,yet i really need to work at it.

We are all so busy that we need to work at slowing things down.

I am repulsed by people who push past you or don't even notice others are there.

I remember manners being taught and I am sure they are not any more.

it's old fashioned and outdated.

Well I think we need a return to decency and I will continue to teach my children and grandchildren to be courteous and kind and most of all respectful of others.

It is that simple!

BTC