POLITICAL DISAPPOINTMENTS

GIVE A GUY A BREAK
A little over a year into his Presidency Barrack Obama is getting a lot of criticisms from all spectrums of the political arena.  Folks complain he's not accomplishing things promised and others complain that he is trying to do too much.  Seems hard to have it both ways.  It reminds me of a ditty I wrote for my grandchildren:

OUR POINT OF VIEW

I hear your point of view

and I think it is right.

Then I hear the opposite point

and I think that is right.

Someone says can they both be right

and I say that’s also right.
Someone also said everyone is entitled to their own opinion
but no one is entitled to their own facts.

THINK ABOUT IT! 

TIGER TEXT

Tiger text.
What comes next.
Now you can have sex on the net.
But, don’t worry you can forget
it with the hit of a button
and in an instant it will be forgotten.
It will be erased so know one can see.
Will it still be in your memory?

THOUGHTS FOR ECONOMIC EXPERTS

Are political parties tearing apart our country for selfish reasons?  Their own narrow benefit?
I am phrasing it as a question with the hopes feedback will come my way after checking out the facts.
Someone said: Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but not their own facts.  Please - facts!
Here we go:
   .Why are grades one through twelve in school so lacking in the capitalistic principles of:
      :Land, labor, and capital?
         /Own a home - Teach us when it is ready and affordable.
         /Work habits - Teach us to work hard but under fair employers
         /Accumulate - save & safe. Teach us to avoid bad debt at credit card rates.
   .Why are we falling behind other countries in beginning education,  health and health care?
   .Is there a glass ceiling?
      :Women vs. men
      :Upper class vs. everyone else.
   .Are we still minority prejudice and if so why?
      :Ingrown growing up.
      :Middle protecting standing against lower groups
      :Upper enterprenurial class protecting their status:
         /Provide enough education so that the people will buy products.
         /Provide enough pay for that purpose but no more.
I don't know the answers but am posing the questions I hear asked.  Facts will be great.
THINK ABOUT IT!


         
         

THE GOODNESS OF GREED AND CORRUPTION

IS DEMOCRACY ALIVE?
Democracy will survive 
when there is a complete reduction
in non democratic greed and corruption.
I don’t think I will be alive.

SPEECH CRUTCHES

I admire actors.  It is amazing to me how they can memorize their lines, although even they have cribs and other devices to help them sometimes.  The more I think about it the more I realize that that is their business and their main responsibility.  
Now, you can always admire a politician who is a gifted orator, and there have been many.  However,  I find it hard to criticize them if they read from a prepared manuscript or if they use a device like a teleprompter.  My feeling is that the politician's business is to serve the people providing the  proper tools for safety, budget management, and what ever is considered the government's responsibility to help with just good old living.  So, if the President feels he does not want to spend precious time memorizing speeches so as to have more time to spend on the important things, I have no objection.  Anyone that does is being somewhat sillly in my judgement.  They should stick to criticizing actors who are not learning their lines properly.
THINK ABOUT IT!

AFGHANISTAN - THE NEW WAR

Inspection, detection, ID's hide in the weeds.
Afghanistan, where it is hard for any man to understand this new kind of war as we have been able to understand wars before.  Hopefully we will with General McCrystal's model of clear, hold and build.
THINK ABOUT IT!

BOND HOLDINGS AND DEBTS

So far China is not being unreasonable - look! they could really start liquidating their US bond holdings and cause havic for the world economy.  Why would they do that?  Perhaps there is common ground, for in the long run growth of all countries springs from the principle of absolute and competitive advantage.  Each country will tend to produce those things where they have an absolute advantage and each country will tend to produce those things where they have a comparitive advantage.  This is the foundation of free trade and trade is the essence of world prosperity and the advancement of peace on earth.  Perhaps the Chinese Government understands these principles very well and wants to make sure all the apples stay in the apple cart.
THINK ABOUT IT!

REGRESSIVE TAXATION AND HEALTH

Most folks, from any political persuasion, are not happy about regressive taxation.  Sales taxes, usage taxes and taxes on basic commodities that take a much bigger chunk, percentage wise, of a lower or middle class budget.  However, the discussion about taxing sugar in drinks really hits me as sensible.  First of all sugar drinks do add to the increase the incidence of diabetes, overweight, heart and blood pressure problems as well as overall good psychological wellbeing. 
So, I am in favor of taxing sugar in any reasonable way but if we don't make the tax high enough it will do little to help solve the health problem and bring down healthcare costs.  It didn't work with tobacco until the tax got big enough to get everyones attention.  It really hasn't had much of an effect on liquor. I'm afraid the businesses involved will not fight a small tax too much but a large one will run into all kinds of lobbying with all kinds questionable reasoning.
THINK ABOUT IT!

INTERESTING FOLKS

David Brooks was on Charlie Rose on Tuesday February 8th.  He talked about the power of the unconscous mind and how important it is and how little we know about it.  I liked the interview.  My thought is: Who knows? Maybe the mysteries that psychoanalysts work so hard to help people solve will eventually be solved with the understanding of the brain making it much easier for the analyst to help you understand your unconscous mind.   If you are interested maybe you can get a copy of the interview  from the Public Broadcasting Station.
THINK ABOUT IT !


I heard Amy Walters, the editor and chief of the Hotline, the other evening for the first time and was most impressed with her straight forward and articulate discussion of the issues.  No Um's and Ah's and a non committed discussion.  I will watch for her.
THINK ABOUT IT !

WINTER OLYMPICS ARE HERE

Michael Ignatieff has written a wonderful article about the winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia starting next week.  I highly recommend it.  It appeared in the New York Times on Sunday February 7th. and I would assume you can read it on line.   

WHAT SHOULD A YOUNG PERSON DO IN LIFE?

My grandson came to visit.  He is in his young twenties, an excellent student, has been accepted into a good training program with a well known company, is working hard on his masters, and is not quite sure what he wants to do in life:
 I gave him my best two ideas:
     .Take a course in speed reading to help you cover a lot of material about everything.
     .Whatever you decide make sure you enjoy getting out of bed every morning to do it.

A COMMON BLIP TO THE FUTURE

Many times in the past world progress has been slowed because the advances in all sciences, including social, economic and psychological, have progressed faster than the average person has been able to absorb it.
This may be true today for it seems possible that President Obama's view of our capabilities to absorb all this change, especially when the electorate, and most of the people from many countries, have been so supportive of his mandates, including yours truly, has been overly optimistic.
So, we may have to take a step backwards before taking more steps forward.  
It is sad that many people who should understand people would rather take advantage of it in order to stall progress for their own selfish reasons.  Let's hope everyone understands this so we can quickly get back to furthering the world's future destiny.
THINK ABOUT IT!

HAITI

Why can't we get together a consortium of countries in our continent to really do a long lasting job of putting Haiti on it's feet. After all if it wern't for the Haitian Revolution and Napoleon's lost interest in an Empire in our part of the world we never would have had the opportunity for the Louisiana Purchase which created the middle of the country and double the size of United States.  Let's really work on getting a group of countries together to do it.
With that thought in mind here is an outline for starting long range plans:
HAITI-REBIRTH: MY TAKE ON PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE.
     LAND, LABOR AND CAPITAL
 I. LAND:
A. Stop deforestation
B. Select land for small farms
C. Move Capitol out of maximum danger from weather
D. lay out plans for living units on suitable land.
II. LABOR
A. Teach engineering, farming, building and manufacturing to
      locals.
B. Use Haitians for practically all work with supervision by 
      locals and others where necessary.
III. CAPITAL
A. Plan and organize business ventures: Manufacture, 
      healthcare, farming, tourism etc.      
B. Raise seed capitol
1. Appropriate division of profits for land, labor and capital.
C. Excellent budget, expense, cost controls and periodic reviews.
IV. POLITICS
A. United States plays minimum role in background
B. Heavy involvement by western hemisphere countries such as:
1. Canada, Brazil, Columbia, and others.
C. Involvement of United Nations for security and peace keeping.
THINK ABOUT IT!

IS PROPAGANDA WITH US NOW?

FROM WIKIPEDIA

Propaganda is a form of communication aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position. As opposed to impartially providing information, propaganda in its most basic sense, presents information primarily to influence an audience. Propaganda often presents facts selectively thus possibly (lying by omission) to encourage a particular synthesis, or uses loaded messages to produce an emotional rather than rational response to the information presented. The desired result is a change of the attitude toward the subject in the target audience to further a political agenda. (During WWII the Germans were experts at it - Remicksmind)

Propaganda is neutrally defined as a systematic form of purposeful persuasion that attempts to influence the emotions, attitudes, opinions, and actions of specified target audiences for ideological, political or commercial purposes through the controlled transmission of one-sided messages (which may or may not be factual) via mass and direct media channels."

—Richard Alan Nelson, A Chronology and Glossary of Propaganda in the United States

THINK ABOUT IT! 

DO THESE POEMS RESONATE?

THINKING OF ONE ANOTHER
What does it mean to be thoughtful?
How do you know you are kind?
Do these thoughts ever enter your mind?
How does it feel to be gentle and patient
 and not really understand but still know,
 that these feelings are very important
 to help a relationship grow.


PLAYING LIFE'S SONG
When I think of the end of life
 I always think of living.
And when I think of the joys of life
 the end seems remote and forgiving.
I never really believe my age 
 nor the limits it implies.
And I'm often told I seem younger
 in other’s eyes.
But, the true beauty of life's song
 is how you hear it and the truth about death 
 is how you bear it.
THINK ABOUT IT!


.

RACIAL SLURS EXPLORED

LET ME START 70 YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS 15.


   I remember standing outside a Chinese laundry with friends and running our fore finger against our upper teeth while looking at them ironing clothes through the window.  Wow! that got them upset and until today I really don't know why.  During my Navy tour in WW II a good friend, Ah Ho Lum, was the Chinese cook aboard ship.  (Does that qualifies me to say that one of my best friends was Chinese - another dangerous statement).  I should have asked him about that childhood demonstration but never thought of it until now.  Maybe I am lucky not to have been a politician in which case someone might have found that out about me.


   Fast forward to today and the current furor about Senator Lott and Senator Reid.  I decided to look at Wikipedia for a listing of racial slurs.  Boy, there are a lot of them.  Here are the ones you  may remember over the years, some of which I have used in the past.  Let me preface the list with my feeling about the use of slurs.


   If the person you are slurring or who is slurring you are very good friends you can always get away with it.  I could call my Chinese friend, when he beat me at cribbage, "you lucky Chink".  I could call my Italian wife a "Ginny" when I was teasing her to come to bed. The point is you better know how good a friend you have before trying it.  That aside we have to be careful.        


   Sometimes, I guess,  we may not really mean anything by it, particularly if it is taken out of context. Maybe Senator Reid was talking about Barack Obama's chances based on his under- standing of the voting public as a whole, knowing that there still is a lot of prejudice out there.


   Maybe he was expressing the voters hidden desire to make amends for it by electing him.  No?


   You can look them up - there are a lot of them.  Here are some that were in vogue as I grew up Coolie -Chinese; Coon - Negro; Cracker - Poor Southerner; Frog - French; Dago - Italian; Limey - English; Nigger - Black; Wop - Italian; Kike - Jew; Shiksa - Non Jewish woman; Gringo - Spanish or Latin American; Bog - Low class Irish; Jew down - Derogatory remark about Jewish business methods.


   One last thought.  In this country we say a black person is an African American.  What do say in other countries?  In Africa, for instance, I would guess you say a black person is an African. Isn't a white person also called an African?  I did not research that but it seems to get "kinda-what ever". 


   That's enough.  I sure you get the point.  You have to look into your own soul and psyche to determine what you mean if you use a description thought to be derogatory, or make an otherwise politically inappropriate remark.
THINK ABOUT IT! 

WHERE ANOTHER PEBBLE DROPPED

     Let me first state two positions.  First, I was originally against the war in Iraq, feeling that it would be much better for NATO to support the IAEA in their pursuit of "weapons of destruction" than to draw our attention away from Afghanistan.  Second, I have always been a friend of Israel and the Jewish people for their suffering and the final creation of their lost homeland with the help of Britain and the United States and many in the world community.
     I now feel that even President George Bush (perhaps with the help of his father and Jim Baker, but not Vice President Cheney), late in his presidency, came to the conclusion that nation building has a definite roll to play when he sent General Petreous in to Iraq with the surge. 
     President Obama now is applying that same technique in Afghanistan where it should have been applied originally.  
     I feel we must build confidence in the people, infrastructure, schools, security, etc. if we are to get them to the point where they do not have to turn to terrorism or terrorism's deliverers.  At the same time we must know how to convince them that nation building, in the final inning, is their task, so that we withdraw before being accused of Colonialism.
     However, as part of that solution we must solve the Palistinian Israeli problem. Somehow we must get the Arabic Nations and the Israili Government to realize the importance of their joint participation in the eradication of terrorism before it becomes a REAL REAL problem.

I LEARNED A NEW WORD

ANTIPODES APPLIED TO REASONING*
Our life is full of antipodal points
Hard facts vs. the language of the Gods.
Should you believe one and not the other?
Or, are both intertwined in the womb of your mother?
Hard facts are hard to deny. 
But in life, you’ll learn bye and bye.
That the thoughts of the Gods can make you laugh and cry.
So, both are needed to keep you together.
To keep you focused for now and forever.
*(In mathematics, the antipodal point on the surface of a 

   sphere is the point which Is diametrically opposite it) 

THINK ABOUT IT!

EDUCATION FIX

   Michelle Rhee, Chancellor of the D.C Public School system talked about having lunch one day with Warren Buffett.  She asked him for advice and he told her that the way to fix the D.C school system was to make all private schools illegal and to reassign the students, based on a lottery, to all the public schools in the district.  That would immediately shift all the financial resources around so that every school would get a fair share and the education would improve dramatically.  
   I understand that principal very well.  During the Civil Rights movement in the '60s, at a benefit on Long Island, I was asked to drive Ruby Dee  to New Rochelle where we both lived.  We discussed education during that drive.  Although in agreement about the overall need, when I  suggested that,  if we were able to integrate the schools there would be a period of adjustment. It would be necessary to recognize the theory of the "least common denominator", that is:  the overall quality of education at a school would take a temporary setback while those who had  poor education for so long caught up with those who had had better education opportunities.  I was all for integration but thought it would cause a lot of political problems. She didn't say anything but I felt that although she probably thought what I said was correct it was a hurt for her. 
   Unfortunately, until we understand that, no one is going to like the correctness of  Buffett's answer.

A REASON TO BE OPTIMISTIC

    Gordon Wood, a Nobel Prize winner for literature was on the C-Span book channel Saturday talking about his new book "Empire of Liberty".  During the Q & A he pointed out that we have fewer problems today than we had in our Country during the 18th and 19th Centuries when our form of life and Government was forming. For example, back then 
     Many wars, horrible, biased press coverage, much greater consumption of alcohol; much more domestic violence; and many more homicides per capita, not to mention the verociousness of campus  demonstrations.  Wow!  That gives me further cause to be optimistic about our great United States of America and our future.

GROWING SMART

THINKING OF ONE ANOTHER

What does it mean to be thoughtful?

How do you know you are kind?

Do these thoughts ever enter your mind?

How does it feel to be gentle and patient

 and not really understand, but still know,

 that these feelings are very important

 to help a relationship grow.

THINK ABOUT IT!

TIGER'S PROBLEMS - IN AN OLD MAN'S OPINION

Tiger Wood's problems may well be related to the intense, military like devotion of his father to the development of Tiger's golf skills at the expense of well rounded life experiences as a child.  Did that result in inculcating within him an "indispensable attitude"?  In other words, was he too big, too important and too needed by the PGA tour and his sponsors, to ever be questioned about his activities?  Just like the financial meltdown did we miss the potential of a character flaw, not necessarily of his making?  I sure did.  It's a shame,  for his skill and his business success were certainly his.  To those of us who enjoy golf and enjoyed watching him perform let's hope that his comeback will be heavily weighted with understanding and humility and above all, a more complete family life first and then even a  greater golf game.  Let's hope the lessons he learns are as powerful as the ones his Dad taught him.
THINK ABOUT IT!    

WORLD STABILITY - FUTURE OPTIMISM

Fareed Zakaria writes a great article in Newsweek:
     Three reasons for optimism when thinking about world stability:
          1. The spread of Great Power Peace.  No Great Power competition in geo-military terms.
          2. Victory over the struggle of high inflation rates eroding everyone's capital.
          3. Technological connectivity.  Everyone is talking to everyone telling everything. 
THINK ABOUT IT!

OLD BUT TRUE

God give me the strength to accept those things I can not change;
the courage to change those things I can and;
the wisdom to know the difference.
THINK ABOUT IT!

PROGRESS IN AFGHANISTAN?

I'M IMPRESSED

Richard C. Holbrooke, our special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan has been at it for about 40 years and is considered one of the best negotiators we have had in a long long time.  Both President Bush and President Obama have complete confidence in him and he has been working closely with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to forge alliances and contacts throughout the world.  He understands the back room negotiations and the need to read between the lines to understand the special considerations of each Country.  I just heard him on the Charlie Rose program and am so impressed with the progress he is making.  Let's hope we hear more from him.

THINK ABOUT IT!

CHRISTMAS

CHRISTMAS

Christmas comes but once a year.

For many it’s a time of fun and good cheer.

For others it’s not the happiest season.

Many celebrate it for the wrong reason.

Although I’m not religious

I celebrate the birthday of Jesus.

He was a very, very great man.

A philosopher, teacher and a salesman.

A psychiatrist who understood humanity

better than anyone can.


THINK ABOUT IT!

A FUN POEM

Quail

Have you ever seen a bevy of quail,

running along the farm fence rail?

The baby squealers are right behind.

Although the same the're not one of a kind.

The father’s a cock, the mother’s a hen.

Look quickly or you may not see them again.

THINK ABOUT IT!

MILITARY SERVICE

If we are not careful we will have to give serious consideration to reinstating compulsory military service at some point.  It certainly would make sure that a cross section of the population will be trained to serve.  Maybe it's not such a bad idea.
THINK ABOUT IT!  

POLITICAL PAYBACK

President Obama was instrumental in preventing the investigation of dubious goings on by the Bush Administration so when do the Republicans reciprocate and stop this nonsense of pushing for an investigation of anything and everything they can conjure up like the push to investigate Senator Backus, coming down on Senator Reed, and dragging the climate change issue thru the mud again.

MONEY

I am in favor of anyone making tons of money as long as it adds to the enjoyment or enrichment of society. Baseball  players and other athletes, actors and actresses, writers, venture capitalists and enterpreneurs who fashion something out of their brain sitting in a classroom or a garage, just to name a few.  Even those who make tons of money that really doesn't add to the progress of society help their image by giving back.  


What I find difficult is the money being made on Wall Street by traders and others who then get such large bonuses based on the money they made in the short run.  I know  you can argue that that gives the organization more capital to invest otherwise.  However, what happens if they show losses the following year?  Do they give the bonus back? I am not sure how it all plays out.

THINK ABOUT IT!

VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY FOR PRESIDENT IN 2012?

I like the new format for NEWSWEEK.  It is one of the two news magazines I read, the other being THIS WEEK. Management should be very pleased with the results of their new format. 


Jon Meacham's "Top of the Week" article was right on target.  Everything he spelled out is just what our country needs. He postulates that it would finally give folks an opportunity for Republicans to put forth a candidate that stands for their basic principals against a Democrate that stands for theirs. I am in complete agreement, except:  


It will never happen.  Cheney is too smart to fall for that challenge.  He is much more comfortable doing things in secret as he has done during the last eight years or being in a position to take potshots at every democratic party principal. He has done more of that than any Vice President in my memory.  I would bet the farm that he doesn't have the guts to run and that he will use his health, or other pressing personal issues, as an excuse.  I hope I am wrong for it would really be a step forward for our country.


THINK ABOUT IT

NATO MILITARY DEATH RATES

Here is a breakdown on the death rates of different NATO countries in Iraq now that all countries have pulled out except the United States.  


The approximate % ages are based on troop levels and fatalities as published by Newsweek:
     UNITED KINGDOM - 4/10TH OF 1 %
     POLAND - JUST UNDER 1%
     THAILAND - ABOUT 1/2 OF 1 %
     SPAIN - JUST UNDER 1%
     AUSTRALIA - 1/10TH OF 1%
     SOUTH KOREA - 1 FATALITY 
     ITALY - 1%
     BULGARIA - ABOUT 8 1/2%
     DENMARK - ABOUT 2%
     U.S.A. - ABOUT 2 1/2%
Every life is precious but this shows the contribution of each country in a different light.
Denmark and U.S.A. were about the same and Bulgaria was the highest.
     

KIDS GROWING UP

     When I was a teenager we often went to the movies on a Saturday night.  There would be four or more of us at the ticket counter for the evening show.  Right next to the theater was a dress shop with a display of about 8 female mannequins.  (They should have called them womannequins).
     The shop had large tan colored drapes covering the windows.  We looked through the cracks to watch the manager, or a male employee, changing the dresses on these nude mannequins.  We got a big kick out of seeing how mad he got at our gaping.  This went on for several weeks until someone at the store got smart and didn't make the changes until after the evening show started.  Was it our introduction to pornography or was it the fun we got out of getting his goat?


THINK ABOUT IT?

OBAMA - HEALTHCARE AND ELECTRICITY

Obama understands it. Electricity requires us to rebuild our electric grid so we can shuttle all kinds of electricity (oil, coal, natural gas, wind, sun etc.) all around the country to maximize use and prevent loss. This will result in huge savings as well as much less dependence on foreign oil, plus jobs that can't be shipped overseas and a good step towards a greener world.


 Healthcare requires us to rebuild our technology grid so we can shuttle all kinds of health information all around the country so it is not lost, easier to get at, and so that all providers are on the same page as the patient. This will provide better more effective healthcare with fewer errors at a lower cost.


 THINK ABOUT IT?

COLOR IS DECISIVE

Skin color is still in the world's consciousness. Let's relate it to current problems. Someone once told me that problem solving can be compared to looking at a pool of water. You see the concentric circles in the pool and follow them to the center. That's where the pebble was dropped and that's where the root understanding of the problem lies. 
      Let's apply that principle to the international problems that we confront today. What is the nexus of the challenge and what are our chances of really making progress? Color is it;The world is made up of white,copper, yellow,black and probably some other colored folks;The white population is by far the minority yet, exercises a majority of the control over the thinking of United States and six or seven other countries; Where is not important for my point; The future of the world at this time can be traced to our election of a black man as our President. Remember the joke? Do you think an Hispanic, an Indian, or a Woman can ever be elected to the Presidency? No. What about a black? Probably, but never in my lifetime. Well, we proved the joke writer wrong.Therein lies the beauty of the continuation of United States of America's greatness. We even proved our own petty jokes wrong. But back to reality.
      The fact we elected a black man as our President is obvious but the thinking under the surface is hard to decipher and much harder to understand. Here is my take: The world has shown great approval of President Obama. They have embraced him as a clear indication that United States has finally recognized that color has been a deep seated cause of embarassment to our country around the world. This has undoubtedly been the result of the new generation of young Americans who deny color as a barrier to progress and whom he was able to rally around him to help get him elected. That brought a lot of other adult folks, parents and other serious thinking folks along. Now it is payoff time. He must be able to capitalize on this to get the rest of the world involved with us to fight these religious battles. The same types of battles that have been fought for centuries by all factions and all colors. Can he do it? I am banking on his ability, and the backing of the majority of the population of our country, to "getter done". 
     Let's see if he can get NATO and other countries on board to really help by sending troops to Afghanistan and other pressure spots. It is going to be critical. Above all, let's not be squeemish about calling a "spade a spade". We have made tremendous progress and should be very proud of our "commitment to excellence" in overcoming prejudice. 
THINK ABOUT IT!

AH! GOOD FOOD

FOOD ENJOYMENT

Long ago and far away

salad never made my day.

But, now color is here to stay.

I mix the greens with black beans,

sweet white onions, peppers red,

crouton squares of bread,

yellow cheese and a lemon squeeze.

I now enjoy it.  I am in the mood.

   If it weren’t for color- it would be just food

     THINK ABOUT IT!

THE FUTURE IS COMING

ABOUT WORK HABITS:
     Don't wait for the ladder of success to be replaced by a moving stairway.
ABOUT THE RULE OF LAW:
     Our Constitution is the bedrock of our Democracy.
     It should be difficult to change.
     But AK47's just don't hack it with me.
ABOUT THE INTERNET:
     Jon Stewart says; "The internet is just a world passing around notes in a classroom."
     I agree, for the world is one big classroom that want's to learn and understand.
ABOUT FOLKS I BELIEVE IN:(for starters)
     Cable interviewers: Charlie Rose and Farek Zakaria.
     Columnists: Thomas Friedman
     Financial wizards: Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger (long term thinkers who are good capitalists and good greed experts)
     A great success story: Bill Gates (from a garage)
     Writers: Anyone who writes with integrity about anything that makes us readers.
     Politicians: Read "Profiles in Courage" for a few. Nelson Mandela is the closest to the real thing. A master politician, philosopher, negotiator, psychiatrist, and unbelievable understanding of people.
     Philanthropy: Salvation Army; Melinda and Bill Gates and Buffetts commitment to them.
     Medical workers: Doctors and Nurses who really believe in the Hypocratic Oath.
ABOUT THE FUTURE:
     We will figure out how to send electricity through the air.
     Cars will run on water as well as other things.
     In United States we will become much more health conscious and get paid for it.
     A super catastrophe will finally prove the importance of a "green world".
     (let's paint all roof tops white - that ought to be easy, even if not yet stylish)
    We will grow body parts for replacement at a reasonable price.
     (they may even be advertised in the Sunday paper)
     Life expectancy will extend to 125 years or even more.
     (and you will have choices. There will even be a stock market in annuity rates)
     Greed,an important element of progress,will always be with us but better defined and controlled.
     Skin color will be tan with a tinge of yellow.  Everyone will blend in.
     There will be less and less poverty and fewer wars as we move forward toward a better life.
     I want to stay alive to see as much of it as possible.
THINK ABOUT IT!

MY CHILDHOOD REMEMBRANCES

MY PET TURTLE
Like most kids I had a pet turtle.
I named it butch. My mother suggested Myrtle.
Maybe she knew something I didn’t know.
Maybe I’d find out as I watched it grow.
He lived in a dish with an island made of stone.
He’d climb out of the water and sit on his throne.
I fed him food about every other day.
I’d put him on the floor so we could play.
He would quickly duck his head 
and pull his feet into his shell.
One winter night I put the dish on the open window sill
The water froze.  What a sight.  Butch laid still. 
He was dead.  I could tell.
I used a match box for a coffin and dug his grave in the yard.
It was quick, it was easy, but at age seven it was hard.

A GOOD FEELING

THINKING OF ONE ANOTHER
What does it mean to be considerate?
How do you know you are kind?
Do these thoughts ever enter your mind?
How does it feel to be gentle and patient
 and not really understand but still know,
 that these feelings are very important
 to help a relationship grow.
THINK ABOUT IT!

HEALTH AND OLD AGE

Those of us who are lucky, have good genes, and have not completely laid waste to our natural body assets can certainly be thankful.  In most cases however, dentistry is needed big time in old age. I was the victim of bad dentistry as a child and am paying a price now with bridges, plates, etc.  
It occurred to me that implants at a young age, to replace the loss of any single tooth is an important investment in the future.  It forstalls bone loss; acts as a permanent anchor for the present and provides a big advantage as you grow older to be used for many purposes. Putting in implants at an old age often requires bone grafts that take six or more months to take hold plus another six months for the tooth implant to take hold. I asked my dentist, Lubomir Manov D.D.S., what he thinks and his response was very positive.  When I asked him about the down side his reply was that it is more expensive in the short run and in addition insurance companies are slow to embrace the idea, but in the long run he seems to say it is a "no brainer".  I wish my dentist knew that when I was younger.


THINK ABOUT IT!  

BREAKING A HABIT

A habit is like an egg.
If you didn't want to break it
you won't be able to fake it.
A habit is like an egg.
If you want to break it
you won't be able to fake it
THINK ABOUT IT!

SHORT UP DATE

          Here is a  thought.
Former Senator Alan Simpson takes a position on the death penalty without recourse for teenagers who were convicted of murder. The Supreme Court will try two cases on this very subject. I hope they come down on the side of the teenagers for as Senator Simpson says. Kids are a lot dumber than adults - they do stupid thing but don't think through the consequences. Later on in life they will become a lot smarter. I agree and hope the Court will give it a good show and give the youngsters another chance. I don't think that adults are always smarter than kids but in this context the good Senator is right.
THINK ABOUT IT!

PRESIDENT OBAMA'S DOCTRINE

A Presidential Doctrine doesn't become one until long after their Presidency is over. And, anyone who wants to state one will be long gone before it is recognized or forgotten. Knowing that I want to suggest one:


Conversation trumps confrontation.
Action is the catalyst.

THINK ABOUT IT!

FROM AN OLD MAN'S MIND: PRESIDENT GEORGE H.W.BUSH

FROM AN OLD MAN'S MIND: PRESIDENT GEORGE H.W.BUSH

PRESIDENT GEORGE H.W.BUSH

Because of my respect for former President George H.W. Bush I was most disappointed to hear him weigh in on the cable "news" channels and disparage some of the participants. He has a lot more important things to do than that.

FROM AN OLD MAN'S MIND: HEALTH CARE TAXES

FROM AN OLD MAN'S MIND: HEALTH CARE TAXES

HEALTH CARE TAXES

TAXES ON THE MIDDLE CLASS TO HELP PAY FOR HEALTHCARE IS PROBABLY NECESSARY AS THE RESULT OF INCREASED BENEFITS. HOWEVER, I WOULD NOT BE IN FAVOR OF THOSE TAXES UNLESS THE MIDDLE CLASS IS OFFERED INCENTIVES AND REWARDS FOR IMPROVEMENTS AND CONTINUOUS MAINTENANCE OF GOOD HEALTH.

THINK ABOUT IT!

FROM AN OLD MAN'S MIND: FOX NEWS - SHEPARD SMITH

FROM AN OLD MAN'S MIND: FOX NEWS - SHEPARD SMITH

FROM AN OLD MAN'S MIND: MS. DREW GILPIN FAUST MAKES A VALID POINT

FROM AN OLD MAN'S MIND: MS. DREW GILPIN FAUST MAKES A VALID POINT

ANEESH CHOPRA PUTS GOVERNMENT INTO THE 21ST CENTURY AND BEYOND

ANEESH CHOPRA, THE CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER UNDER THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION, WILL PUT THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT INTO THE 21ST CENTURY AND BEYOND. FINALLY, WE WILL GET THINGS DONE TO MAKE GOVERNMENT MORE EFFICIENT FOR ALL OF US.

THINK ABOUT IT!

WAR - LEARNING FROM THE PAST

It's too late this time but let's remember for the future.

WAR REQUIRES:
.A draft to get everyone involved as to its importance.
.A raise in taxes to pay for it as we go.
.Benefits for Veterans so they know what to come home to.
CONGRESS MUST PASS LAWS ABOUT ALL THREE UP FRONT.

REMEMBERING WWII:
We had a draft. I enlisted the day after Pearl Harbor for two reasons:
.It was a patriotic war. We knew and we didn't shirk it. By 5pm Sunday December 7th the line at the recruiting station at 90 Church St. in NYC was already down 6 flights of stairs and around the block with the Red Cross already there serving donuts and coffee.
.I thought I would get a better choice of service by volunteering instead of waiting to be drafted. I wanted the Navy - Naval Airforce if possible.(Failed Airforce exam(eyes)). I Served as
RM 1/c aboard ship. I don't think we have had a draft for any war since?

REMEMBERING WWII,AND LATER WARS:
During WWII we had high taxes. Over $200,000:a 71% bracket; Over $50,000:a 61% bracket. During the wars in the 50's and 60's the top bracket was 91%.During the war in Iraq and Afghanistan our top bracket is 35%:It had been reduced rather than raised.

REMEMBERING WWII GI BENEFITS:
I received great GI Benefits that paid for my college education and helped me get started in business. I don't think the benefits for any war since that have match it.

THINK ABOUT IT!

MS. DREW GILPIN FAUST MAKES A VALID POINT

Talking, texting and otherwise abbreviating
thoughts tends to limit our ability to delve
into, and discuss at depth, important yet
complicated subjects that deserve attention
in this fast moving world. Are we at risk
of dumbing down our ability to think and
analyse significant thoughts and trends?

During a recent Charlie Rose interview on PBS
Ms. Drew Gilpin Gaust, President of Harvard
University opined such a thought. I heartily
agree with her thinking.

Is it more important to learn "twitter's" shorthand
than to have serious in depth conversations about
issues?

THINK ABOUT IT!'

THE AFGHANISTAN FIGHT

General Stanley A. McChrystal is our military
leader in Afghanistan. Things I like about him are
his work habits, his openness, and his willingness to
call a spade a spade and let everyone into the
conversation during his daily briefing. He is using
all the latest communication techniques to make
sure he listens and discusses the issues on a daily
basis. His attitude is that leaks about what he does
are not as bad as the opportunity to educate everyone
in and out of the Country about "where it's at". It's a
much wider form of Internet conferencing, probably new
to the military. Do we really know if we can accomplish
our objectives to help the good people of Afghanistan and
at the same time defeat the terrorists? I think he has the
best chance to accomplish it if we back him. If we are war
weary perhaps we should bring the troops home and develop
a more limited strategy. I think he would be the first to say that.
THING ABOUT IT!

OPTING IN VS. OPTING OUT

An article in the 9/27 issue of the Sunday Times by Richard H. Thaler
deserves comment. He discusses the the area of organ donations and the
ethical and practical problems. He takes no position. My take. I agree
that opting out is always more effective than opting in if you want folks
to decide in favor of your position, especially when they maybe inconvenienced
taking action to opt out. Isn't that the argument for the check list in labor
negotiations. There are a lot of 401.k plans that use opt out in order to get
people to save money. The problem is, as Richard points out, when it comes
to the human body and donating organs its a different story. I may be
emphasizing my religious beliefs but I think an opt out procedure would be
better for the country as long as there is as rigorous, or perhaps more so,
method for determining who gets what.
THINK ABOUT IT!

FOX NEWS - SHEPARD SMITH

One fox News broadcast I especially like is
The News with Shepard Smith. He gives you
The News.
Last Monday there was a substitute, I don't
remember his name. Either he or his
producers decided it was time to blend in a
lot of commentary; conservatively biased of
course.
I wonder if Mr. Smith is headed for a nightly
news broadcast or some other big step forward?

THINK ABOUT IT!

Israeli Palestine Peace Negotiations

Middle-East Peace Negotiations.
In most negotiations the real points wanted
usually come up after everything else has been
agreed: Here is what I suggest:
Palestine should put forth a joint security proposal
so that each country would protect the other in the
event of aggression.
Israel should put forth a joint proposal that each
country will denounce and provide for recourse against
any other country that states a denial of either Israel's
or Palestine's right to exist.
This is the frosting on the cake.
THINK ABOUT IT!

OUR CONSTITUTION - THEN AND NOW

The Constituion of the United States of America is the root of our Democratic
Government and perhaps the most important document that lay at the foundation of our survival and respect as a country. I have trouble however, rationalizing the need for provisions made back in Colonial days as they apply to our society today. The checks and balances incoroporated seem to make it clear that the Supreme Court has no choice but to uphold provisions thought necessary in the beginning of our Democracy leaving it up to Congress and the President to intitiate and get changes in place. Why can't we get that ball rolling in this day and age? If we don't, aren't we as a society worse off?
THINK ABOUT IT!

RACE AND PREJUDICE

Studies seem to show that frank, straight forward discussions about the
white/color problem between parents and young children, if continuous
and constructive, offers one good chance of minimizing prejudice as
children grow older. I am wondering how the oriental (yellow skinned)
population, by far the majority as far as color is concerned, have thought
about this and how oriental parents teach their children. Why not a conference,
or at least some joint studies, on this subject to get a broader prospective.
THINK ABOUT IT!

HEALTH CARE AND TAXATION

It seems like a good idea to tax sugar and it's derivatives such
as white bread, white rice, pasta (in other words all but really
whole wheat products). One reasonable argument against it is
that the tax is regressive like sales taxes.
OK why not make such a tax revenue neutral by giving a tax break
to those who benefit from less sugar healthwise by improvement
in weight, blood sugar and other related health problems?
THINK ABOUT IT!

Another stab at healthcare reform

Do you keep hearing that the cost of health care reform will
not start going down unless we concentrate on "wellness"?
I do and I agree.
However, how can we start to insure and treat all the folks
if we don't have enough doctors who want to be general
practitioners or enough qualified nurses - especially nurse
practitioners?
It his hard for me to believe but I have it on good authority
that some doctor groups are working hard to limit the scope
of a nurse practitioner's duties. ( My source does not wish to
be identified because of closeness to the situation) Now I know
nurses are not qualified MD's but to prevent them from removing
stitches? Isn't that taking it a bit too far? This whole area of ways
to increase general practitioners and nurse practitioners is a
must if we are going to solve the health care problem. We
have to get more of these specialties coming on line through
our medical schools.
THINK ABOUT IT!

TEACHING LEARNING THE EASY WAY

Tell 'em.
Tell 'em you told 'em.
Tell 'em you told 'em you were telling 'em.
Tell 'em you're telling 'em you told 'em you were telling 'em.
But:
Don't let 'em know your telling 'em you were telling 'em you
told 'em you were telling 'em.

THINK ABOUT IT!

THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE

TOM DASCHLE HAS AN EXPRESSION
The windshield is bigger than the rear view mirror.
Let's apply it to healthcare:
Looking into the future:
If we do nothing:
Will healthcare be any better?
Will we catch up with other countries in
the quality or healthcare, in our life span?
Will it cost any less?

THINK ABOUT IT!

THE TWO BEST INTERVIEWERS ON TELEVISION

I don't have an ax to grind except this:
.Charlie Rose on PBS Monday through Friday
.Fareed Zakaria on CNN Sunday
are the two best, interviewers on TV that
I have been able to find. If there are others
I wish you would let me know about them.
These two gentlemen seem to get anyone
they want on their program. They are
knowledgeable, smart, open, non political,
prepared, thoughtful, and all the other adjectives
you can think of that make for an excellent
interview with anyone from any field. My hat
off to them. Mr. Zakaria covers primarily the
international political field while Mr. Rose covers
everything from business, politics, theater, movies,
medicine, education, religion and I can go on and on.
THINK ABOUT IT!

HEALTH INSURANCE VS. LIFE INSURANCE

Why should health insurance be any different than
life insurance? The life insurance industry started
as non profit organizations that pooled money from
the many to take care of the financial burdens of
those who died.
Interestingly life companies did the following:
. You paid extra if you had a physical condition such as:
Smoking
Drinking excessively
Hi blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, etc.
Dangerous work such as Helicopter pilot, deep sea diver
and many others.
.You were rewarded for good health and good behavior such as:
Stopping smoking
Stopping drinking
Controlling blood pressure, losing weight, etc.
Proving your work was not a health risk, etc.
Why should health insurance be any different. The
Life Insurance industry develop into both a non profit
and profit making business and has thrived over the
years. Aren't there some good parallels to work on?
THINK ABOUT IT!

.

LEADERSHIP DEFINED

A leader watches out for you,
that's why he's looked up to.
He's fair and disarming!
He's firm, yet charming!
He understands your position
for He knows how to listen.
He is respected and cheered
held accountable, yet feared.
This we want in President Obama,
for everyone knows he certainly has Karma.

THINK ABOUT IT!

ARE WE NO LONGER NUMBER ONE?

Are we becoming so self centered and even selfish that we no longer consider ourselves as the"best there is" in a truly humble way? Take insurance for example.The insurance industry started because neighbors got together, ponied up some hard earned money,and developed a pool to take care of serious unforeseen circumstances affecting one of their own. Why can't we do that with health care? They didn't know who would be the victim. Even the healthiest person could be the first to fall.

 Do we have to continue to slip backwards in our standing in the international community as far as life span, infant mortality, percent spent on health care and other statistics, readily available on the World Health Organization, the United Nations, United States Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics websites, indicate? Is our country destined to be second rate in healthcare achievements? Are we becoming so selfish that the mantra of the day is "I'll get mine and you can worry about yours!"? I sincerely hope not for history shows that attitude becomes a slippery slope leading to second class status and,  "WE DON'T WANT TO GO THERE". It doesn't take much of a sacrifice by each of us to correct the problems of our health care system, in keeping with our highly respected form of government world wide. 

The reason it has become serious is due to our inability to do any-thing about it for the last 40-50 years while many countries have made better strides and thus have a much smaller problem. Sure, we have a much more diverse population, and that has made our country great. Should that now hinder us as we go forward? If we don't bite the bullet now it will only get worse. Hopefully:

"YOU AND I DON'T WANT TO GO THERE"

THINK ABOUT IT!

NATO INVOLVEMENT IN AFGHANISTAN

I think it's about time President Obama ratcheted up the concern about the importance of more NATO troops in Afghanistan. Here is a breakdown of current national deployments within the 40-nation NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), which according to NATO had 43,250 troops as of Feb. 6:
UNITED STATES: 15,000 troops (mainly east)
UNITED KINGDOM: 7,800 (mainly south)
GERMANY: 3,210 (north)
ITALY: 2,880 (west and capital Kabul)
CANADA: 2,500 (south)
NETHERLANDS: 1,650 (south)
FRANCE: 1,515 (Kabul)
POLAND: 1,100 (mobile)
AUSTRALIA: 1,070 (south)
Other significant deployments: Denmark (780); Spain (740); Turkey (675); Romania (535).
Note: The United States has a further 14,000-plus troops in Afghanistan outside the NATO force and plans shortly to send an extra 3,200 troops for a limited deployment until late-2008. (Reporting by Mark John of Reuters)

THINK ABOUT IT!

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

DO YOU NEED IT OR DO YOU WANT IT?
Do you need it or do you want it?
If you need it do you want it?
If you want it do you need it?
So,
If you want it but don’t need it
Maybe you shouldn’t want it.
If you need it, but don’t want it
Maybe you should want it.
THINK ABOUT IT!

COMBINING HEALTHCARE AND SOCIAL SECURITY

A SIMPLE PLAN
Solving Social Security and Healthcare in the same breath. Why together? many folks want a contributory, self invested SS element. We all know the SS system must be fixed. Thus we fix SS to everyone’s satisfaction but bring healthcare along with it. After all they are both part of the same foundation needed for everyone.
A. Social Security
1. Change retirement age to 75 for the current benefit due at age 65. (life expectancy is surging ahead)
a. That will cut costs about 45-50%.
2. Provide private plan to supplement the guaranteed plan.
a. Individual contribution allowed up to the annual actuarial equivalent amount required to provide the new age 75 benefit at age 65. (using reasonable yet conservative assumptions).
i. Contribution can be either before or after taxes. Upon withdrawal the prorated amount contributed under each category will be taxed or not, as the case may be.
ii. Contributions can be invested in index funds, spdrs, etfs, etc charging no more that .6% total expenses. (restrictions on leveraged funds?) This should really help people understand investments and capitalism and the value of saving.
iii. Each year the participant will get a report (similar to the ones now available from SS) showing how the fund is doing and what yearly contribution must now be made to reach the goal, and the assumptions used. Software is readily available and is similar to that now available on the SS link that will estimate benefits based on compensation.
3. Link SS taxes to inflation and raise the upper level. The upward thrust of executive pay would even indicate a donut hole approach to get at some of that higher pay. (After all, in times gone by we have had overall personal tax rates up to 80-90%. Studies have shown that tax rates do not affect productivity until they exceed about 70%.
4. Any overfunding of one benefit should go toward the cost of the other. Any surplus remaining should be allocated as a safety reserve and when the reserve hits a certain level, like insurance company reserve limits in NY and other states, they should be used as an additional contribution to private SS plan fund or to reduce healthcare premiums. Transparency is the order of the day.
5. I’m sure you can tweak it, change it, and rearrange it but it seems to me that it would please everyone and deserves consideration.
6. One last point: In my opinion the healthcare system will not work if you can't encorporate two things:
a. Insure everyone so that there will be no selection against the company or the insured. Thus the insurance co. cannot eliminate people for preexisting conditions and healthy and disinterested people who think they will never get sick cannot opt out of the system.
Studies about end of life care and its ramifications must be part of these choices.
b. Emphasis prevention and adminstration productivity and work out award and punishment criteria up and down the system for good health and good administration productivity gains.
There must be budget limits so admistrators will have to make choices.
THINK ABOUT IT!

A SIMPLE PLAN FOR A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER

UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENT ASPECTS
OF YOUR BUSINESS - FOR EXAMPLE:
.Human resources.
(Who, number, job specs., pay, hours, benefits etc.?)
.Research and engineering.
(What product and what specifications?)
.Finance and accounting.
(Where to get capital and how to keep track?)
.Production and manufacture.
(How and how much to produce?)
.Sales and marketing.
(How to sell and where to market?)
Determine who is responsible for each and
have that person prepare a 1-2 hour presentation
every period (as determined) covering:
.Past results, present situation, future plans.
Cover progress, benefits, risks and other problems.
.The owner should prepare a presentation for each
of the functions he/she has hands on responsibility
for and try to arrange to present it to an interested party
who will be as absorbed as with other presentations.
THINK ABOUT IT!

GREEN FOOD FOR GREEN TIMES

I must say, salad never made my day.
But because of color it is here to stay.
I mix the greens with black beans,
sweet white onions, peppers red,
crouton squares of bread,
yellow cheese and a lemon squeeze.
I now enjoy it. I am in the mood.
If it weren’t for color- it would be just food.

THINK ABOUT IT!

REGULATIONS FOR FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

It's not easy to forget a financial crisis
like the one we are experiencing. So
let's reset the financial regulations, that
have been neglected, to help prevent
a reoccurrence.

The problem is that the regulations will
only be as good as those in charge want them
to be. Leadership comes from the top and
trickles down throughout the organizations.

Changes will have a very difficult time
succeeding unless there is a board of experts
overseeing the appointed regulators. Whose
going to regulate the regulator? This is much
the same as the Board of Directors of a Corporation
is supposed to oversea the actions of the President
of Company. Let's hope the changes call for an
independent board of financial experts to act
as overseers.
THINK ABOUT IT!

IT SEEMS TO WORK

.Bounce reduces static cling in the laundry
so why not use it to reduce static on your
TV and computer screens, thus repelling dust.
.Keep a sheet of bounce in your back pocket
when playing golf to keep bees away.
.Regular kitchen knives will keep their edge
longer if you dry them immediately after washing.
.Bleach will clean your toilet bowl 1-2-6. Flush,
then pour in 1/2 cup bleach, brush, let stand 10
minutes a flush again. It's that easy.
.When you look at the ingredients of a loaf of
bread good health means the first word is "whole".
.Blood stains set-in? Directly apply drug store
hydrogen peroxide plus a drop of ammonia. Let
stand a few minutes, repeat if necessary then
launder. Wala - it's gone.
.A small amount of hydrogen peroxide added
to water for fresh cut flowers keeps them looking
better. Change water every day.
.Butter milk substitute:-Tablespoon vinegar +
enough milk to equal one cup.
.Jello that's watery after a few days will be
completely remolded by putting it in the microwave
long enough to melt then refridgerated. Even with
fruit. THINK ABOUT IT!

WOW! ANOTHER REVOLUTION MAY BE UPON US!

OUR REVOLUTIONS

The American revolution against tyranny.
The Revolution against slavery.
The Industrial revolution giving us mass production.
The Dot-com. revolution increasing productivity.

The derivitive/leverage/real estate revolution making billionaires.
The Communications revolution improving how we relate to one another.
Each revolution has it's rewards and its down side.

THE REWARDS AND DOWN SIDE

The American revolution - War of independence.

The Revolution against slavery - Civil war.
The Industrial revolution - Labor management battles.
The Dot com. revolution - The tech bubble.

The derivitive/leverage/real estate revolution - The 21st Century financial crisis.
The Communications revolution - ???
What will be the good/bad side of this latest revolution?
THINK ABOUT IT!

WHOSE POINT OF VIEW?

OUR POINT OF VIEW
I hear the point you cite
and I think it is right.
Then I hear the opposite point
and I think that is right.
Someone says they can’t both be right,
and I say that’s also right.

THINK ABOUT IT!

INVESTING STRATEGY FROM THE WINNERS

BERNARD BARUCH, A SUCCESSFUL INVESTOR

DURING THE 20'S AND 30'S, AND AN ADVISOR

TO PRESIDENTS SAID THIS:

IF YOU BUY A STOCK WHEN IT IS UP 1/3RD

FROM ITS LOW AND SELL IT 1/3 DOWN FROM

ITS HIGH YOU WILL BE RICH. AND REMEMBER,

ERRORS OF OMISSION ARE NEVER AS BAD AS

ERRORS OF COMISSION.

WARREN BUFFET BELIEVES YOU SHOULD

COMPOUND YOUR LOSSES AS WELL AS YOUR GAINS

TO REALLY KNOW WHERE YOU STAND FINANCIALLY.

THINK ABOUT IT!

THE PLEASURE OF A RAINY DAY

A HEAVY DOWNPOUR
The rain beats and beats, keeps coming down;
flooding all around. Might the earthworm drown?
Even the thunder seems to shake the ground.
Indoors, the company is great as we enjoy our plate,
waiting for the sunshine to bless our garden gate.
We made a tuna salad with finely chopped things:
broccoli, cauliflower, and a few onion rings.
A glass of white wine and we were just fine.

A WATER PISTOL FOR ME

I was swimming in our pool today when a

youngster about 2 or 3 years old playfully

squirted me with a water pistol as I came up

for air. It made me chuckle, then it made me

think:

Those who believe in an 18th century

interpretation of the first amendment about

the right to bear arms vs. a 21st century

version that favors water pistols, legitimate

hunting guns, and all sorts of guns for our

armed forces.

MILITIAS IN THIS DAY AND AGE?

THINK ABOUT IT!

TID-BITS FOR SUCCESS

DANA LEVY SAYS:

THE SIMPLEST ANSWER IS ALWAYS

THE BEST. DON'T OVER COMPLICATE IT.

REMEMBER THE CRITICISM SANDWICH:

PRAISE, CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM, PRAISE.

BEFORE YOU DO IT DEFINE IT IN ONE

SIMPLE SENTENCE.

WARREN BUFFET SAYS:

IF I CAN'T EXPLAIN WHAT A COMPANY DOES

TO AN 8 YEAR OLD I WON'T BUY IT.

A REASONABLE HISTORY OF COMMUNICATION

ORIGINALLY FACE TO FACE.
THEN HOLLER TO HOLLER.
THEN RUNNERS.
THEN SMOKE.
THEN HORSES.
THEN SHIPS.
THEN FLAGS
THEN WIRES:
TELEGRAPH &
TELEPHONE.
THEN RADIO.
THEN T.V..
THEN COMPUTERS:
E-MAIL.
FACE BOOK.
MY SPACE.
BLOGS &
TWITTER.
PERHAPS THIS ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE INSTANTLY
THROUGHOUT THE WORLD IS THE ULTIMATE. WHAT
POSSIBLY COULD BE NEXT? MORE FACE TO FACE?

TO TWITTER OR NOT TO TWITTER

What is twitter? Is it verbal litter? Is it wasteful and

distasteful? To me most of its value is like that of a

phone call.

WHY DO WE MAKE PHONE CALLS?

#It's an emergency.

#You are answering a call you received.

#it's about business.

#You need to make an appointment.

#You need to question something or you

need help and information.

#You want to order something.

#You want to keep in touch with

a friend or family member.

IN ADDITION, WHY MIGHT WE TWITTER?

#To state our opinion on something

we heard someone else twitter about.

or, as I said, is twitter largely verbal litter?

Is it wasteful and distastful.

While it opens up lots of opportunities

to talk to people you might never get chance

to know and learn about and,

while it certainly provides a crucial forum

to communicate about things of importance

don't forget, you have made a permanent

record of everything you twittered and it may

come back to haunt you.

THINK ABOUT IT!

JUST LIKE GRANDFATHER'S CLOCK

Politics is like grandfather's clock:

It swings to the left - liberalism.

It swings to the right - conservatism.

On each swing it passes the middle - independentism.

After a long swing to the right it is now just passing

the middle and swinging to the left.

If the clock pendulum didn't swing back and forth

the clock would not run.

I think that is true of the affairs of the country.

Get too conservative and people to the left get trampled on;

get too liberal and people to the right get trampled on.

So far the net effect has been progress

and I think it will continue that way.

WHAT A GREAT COUNTRY WE LIVE IN!

THINK ABOUT IT!

TEXTING

There is a current craze for text messaging with one hand while driving with another. I don't know the statistics but I do know that every concerned safety official says it is dangerous. Here is a proposition to make to your friends. Get a group to take some time to research the availability of equipment that stands alone and lets you text message by voice. Using this device while driving certainly warrants some careful research and attention. Share the ideas with each other and see if you can come up with some basic equipment so you can all pool your resources to purchase several of them. Is this a good idea? If so you might even underwrite it in part if you can get agreement on the need. If you are interested why not copy each other of the findings and make this a real joint friend and family effort.
THINK ABOUT IT!

NEGOTIATIONS FIRST - FORCE LAST

It IS TRUE: "You catch more flies with honey than

with vinegar". I believe this. I also believe there

comes a time when honey doesn't work and then,

you just skip right past the vinegar and brandish

the "big stick".

This seems to be President Obama's approach. I

throw my support behind it. Here is an experience

from my childhood.

Growing up I tried to avoid physical confrontations

(fist fights). I was always successful in talking my way

out of such a predicament even at the risk of being

called a coward. Once however, when at camp

(about twelve years old) I was goaded on by the camp

bully and until it was obvous I had to a fight in a

regular boxing ring, with a referee.

I "beat the tar" out of that guy.

My reward was the respect of my fellow campers.

The point is - Try all reasonable means to negotiate

and if that fails you will have the backing of all

concerned parties in applying the big stick.