What it all comes down to is we the voters. How do we make reasonable and intelligent choices? How to choose a candidate that will best represent our country as President. Certainly not an easy task.
It is not easy to choose because of all the shouting and peripheral partisan noise. Bellicose politicians blowing hard, Pundits spinning, Talk Radio bloviating, Electronic media sound biting, etc. Often misrepresenting, distorting, and prevaricating. Leaving a heavy shroud of media smog. A heavy haze keeping we the voters from finding the truth. Certainly a roadblock on the way to finding honest answers.
In order to find truth and honesty, I suggest to first turn off the TV and radio. Then go to the newsstand and buy a respected newspaper. A newspaper with professional trained journalists. People who have spent years in learning unbiased journalism. To read such is to take out all the hype and hoopla. Just down to earth journalism. Plane and simple. “Just the facts ma’me.” Read it all for yourself.
Yes, it does take a little more of your time but it’s well worth it. Reading the newspaper cuts out the middleman. You know, the spinners, the political handlers, the tabloid sensationalists, and the image hyperbolist. And once you have read what you need to know; well, you’ll feel much better. Much better a about yourself and your favorite candidate. Go read’em bubba!
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Monday, January 23, 2012
It's more like an "Alter Call" by special interests
“You can have all this you see before you,” the devil told Jesus. “All I need is for you to bow down and worship me,” Satan commanded. Certainly an episode from the “Great Temptation” during Jesus’ 40-day fast in the wilderness.
An event where the devil wanted Jesus to compromise his principles and deny God. Unfortunately, a model followed by many of today’s political leaders. In modern terms it’s called selling out to special interests. Mostly followed by Republican politicians. And, to be fair, a few Democrats as well.
What I am getting at is what is the Republican leadership thinking? Who are these candidates they are presenting to us the American voters. All have moral and ethical questions about their past. Most of whom represent the antithesis of what Jesus taught. Selflessness, service to others, giving rather than receiving, giving to the poor, healing the sick, humility, patients, forgiveness, etc. Republican candidates who obviously have a large void in the Christian obligation department.
Either stop calling them Christian or they should start acting and talking like one. We need moral leadership as well as a caring for the American people. Stop the bloviating and create government that helps and serves the people. Not a government that serves big money and oil interests.
Surely there must be a person, man or woman, who has good moral standards and has American’s best interest in mind. A person the Republican Party would be proud to be presented as a good and ethical Presidential candidate. The remaining field of Republican candidates are just too extreme. Too sold out to special interests. Too much the opposite of Christianity. And, too bad. The Republicans will lose big time. How sad.
An event where the devil wanted Jesus to compromise his principles and deny God. Unfortunately, a model followed by many of today’s political leaders. In modern terms it’s called selling out to special interests. Mostly followed by Republican politicians. And, to be fair, a few Democrats as well.
What I am getting at is what is the Republican leadership thinking? Who are these candidates they are presenting to us the American voters. All have moral and ethical questions about their past. Most of whom represent the antithesis of what Jesus taught. Selflessness, service to others, giving rather than receiving, giving to the poor, healing the sick, humility, patients, forgiveness, etc. Republican candidates who obviously have a large void in the Christian obligation department.
Either stop calling them Christian or they should start acting and talking like one. We need moral leadership as well as a caring for the American people. Stop the bloviating and create government that helps and serves the people. Not a government that serves big money and oil interests.
Surely there must be a person, man or woman, who has good moral standards and has American’s best interest in mind. A person the Republican Party would be proud to be presented as a good and ethical Presidential candidate. The remaining field of Republican candidates are just too extreme. Too sold out to special interests. Too much the opposite of Christianity. And, too bad. The Republicans will lose big time. How sad.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Believe it or not! I'd rather not!
Isn’t that something? The Republicans in South Carolina would prefer a presidential candidate known for his debauchery and low in personal and professional ethics. Rather they would prefer a person twice divorced, having left his former wives in various stages of disability and disease instead. Perhaps following the footsteps of Al Capone and the Unabomber. No conscience or accountability. Self-important would be a gross understatement.
Certainly I can’t be the only one on earth to see this moral puzzlement. Are those South Carolinians living without the benefit of TV or Twitter? Is partisanship in that state so compelling that truth is trumped by “Do as I say and not as I do?” Holy Moly!
Furthermore, are these Carolinians cavemen and women? Are they worshiping the god of “Shoot first and ask questions later?” Is South Carolina really part of the United States? They seem more like members of the old Confederacy to me. Oh my. Forgive them for they know not what they do. God Bless America.
Certainly I can’t be the only one on earth to see this moral puzzlement. Are those South Carolinians living without the benefit of TV or Twitter? Is partisanship in that state so compelling that truth is trumped by “Do as I say and not as I do?” Holy Moly!
Furthermore, are these Carolinians cavemen and women? Are they worshiping the god of “Shoot first and ask questions later?” Is South Carolina really part of the United States? They seem more like members of the old Confederacy to me. Oh my. Forgive them for they know not what they do. God Bless America.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
I thought he would never figure it out
Well it’s about time. It certainly took him long enough to read the handwriting on the wall. Time to leave. However, it was like Clarabell the clown leaving the Howdy Doody Show. One more goofus down and four to go.
And, if you hadn’t heard, Rick Perry took is traveling sideshow back to Texas. Back where he belongs. The real question here is, how did he manage to leave Texas in the first place? For sure a “Not Ready for Prime Time” politician. More like an Amway salesman pushing expensive soap. Self-serving and a bit obnoxious.
Why would anybody with limited knowledge try to promote himself as a worthy presidential candidate. Can he not tell smart from stupid? Well, I guess, “stupid is as stupid does,” as Forrest Gump might have said.
Well, lets be fair here. Perry is not really stupid. He’s an ignoramus. But, willfully so. Ignoring truth and fact to achieve his own end. Something like Veto Corelone in the movie Godfather. Only wanting to hear about all the money coming in. But, not wanting to know how many people were killed in the process of collecting bad money. Well not quite that bad. But you get my point. Perry is a big ignoramus nonetheless.
Bottom line is, we are all better off for his leaving. No more trying to explain his embarrassing gaffs to our smarter European cousins. There is just no reasonable excuse for his lowbrow enculturation. On second thought, he really is stupid.
And, if you hadn’t heard, Rick Perry took is traveling sideshow back to Texas. Back where he belongs. The real question here is, how did he manage to leave Texas in the first place? For sure a “Not Ready for Prime Time” politician. More like an Amway salesman pushing expensive soap. Self-serving and a bit obnoxious.
Why would anybody with limited knowledge try to promote himself as a worthy presidential candidate. Can he not tell smart from stupid? Well, I guess, “stupid is as stupid does,” as Forrest Gump might have said.
Well, lets be fair here. Perry is not really stupid. He’s an ignoramus. But, willfully so. Ignoring truth and fact to achieve his own end. Something like Veto Corelone in the movie Godfather. Only wanting to hear about all the money coming in. But, not wanting to know how many people were killed in the process of collecting bad money. Well not quite that bad. But you get my point. Perry is a big ignoramus nonetheless.
Bottom line is, we are all better off for his leaving. No more trying to explain his embarrassing gaffs to our smarter European cousins. There is just no reasonable excuse for his lowbrow enculturation. On second thought, he really is stupid.
Economic principle: Pay less. Get less.
Continuing from yesterdays posting on the idea of “Discounting.”
A blatant example of discounting occurred way back when. Pretty much the beginning of the discount rush to “discount” retail goods. I was living in Los Angeles back in the late sixties. My wife and I use to shop at Safeway for our groceries. One day we see this notice on the Safeway door. “For your convenience and savings, we will be closed tomorrow for our big change over. Safeway will be repricing its inventory to reflect the all-new discounted prices.
However, when the store reopened a few days later, here is what we experienced. First of all we quickly noticed some very empty spots on the shelves where product use to occupy. Looking like there was a shortage of can and boxed goods. Almost like there was a grocery rush by food hoarders. Or maybe, Safeway forgot to restock their shelves the night before. But, that was not the case.
The next thing we noticed was a absents of our favorite brand names. Del Monte, Libby, Kraft, Bisquik, and other familiar names were off the shelves. Gone. Perhaps awaiting discount agreements.
However, in their place was a cheaper store brand. Generic brands labeled for Safeway but lower in quality. And, certainly lower in price. Reinforcing the old maxim, “you get what you pay for.”
So, from that point it was all down hill from there. Not only did prices go down, quality suffered as well. From that point on there was a mad rush to compete with pricing and not quality or good customer service. Of course, the buying public thought they were receiving a good deal. A good deal of fakery that is. Receiving lesser quality and volume in order to offer a smaller price. Smaller packaging and less quality to offer a discount price. Reinforcing the concept of selling quantity at a lesser price. Certainly at the expense of and compromising quality.
The bottom line is you pay less, you get less. Les quality goods. Less volume. Less flavor. Less healthy product. More water and less food. Mostly stuff coming from China. We are not getting the same foodstuffs for a lesser price. Do you see my point? Consequently, the more we buy into this “Discount” notion, the more we have to buy. We have to buy more to get what we use to get way back when. Back when at a time we got what we paid for. Good product. Good customer service. Products made in America by Americans who could afford quality goods.
Discount is just code word for bigger bottom line for the business owners and their shareholders. Nothing more. Nothing less. It’s not about product or service. It’s max profit and minimum output. You get what you pay for. Low volume. Less goods and service. How sad. Once again, reinforcing the idea of the “Dummying Down of America.” We have been deceived. We have been fooled. We have been taken advantage of. Holy Moly! Discount. Schmishount. It’s a bunch of crap.
A blatant example of discounting occurred way back when. Pretty much the beginning of the discount rush to “discount” retail goods. I was living in Los Angeles back in the late sixties. My wife and I use to shop at Safeway for our groceries. One day we see this notice on the Safeway door. “For your convenience and savings, we will be closed tomorrow for our big change over. Safeway will be repricing its inventory to reflect the all-new discounted prices.
However, when the store reopened a few days later, here is what we experienced. First of all we quickly noticed some very empty spots on the shelves where product use to occupy. Looking like there was a shortage of can and boxed goods. Almost like there was a grocery rush by food hoarders. Or maybe, Safeway forgot to restock their shelves the night before. But, that was not the case.
The next thing we noticed was a absents of our favorite brand names. Del Monte, Libby, Kraft, Bisquik, and other familiar names were off the shelves. Gone. Perhaps awaiting discount agreements.
However, in their place was a cheaper store brand. Generic brands labeled for Safeway but lower in quality. And, certainly lower in price. Reinforcing the old maxim, “you get what you pay for.”
So, from that point it was all down hill from there. Not only did prices go down, quality suffered as well. From that point on there was a mad rush to compete with pricing and not quality or good customer service. Of course, the buying public thought they were receiving a good deal. A good deal of fakery that is. Receiving lesser quality and volume in order to offer a smaller price. Smaller packaging and less quality to offer a discount price. Reinforcing the concept of selling quantity at a lesser price. Certainly at the expense of and compromising quality.
The bottom line is you pay less, you get less. Les quality goods. Less volume. Less flavor. Less healthy product. More water and less food. Mostly stuff coming from China. We are not getting the same foodstuffs for a lesser price. Do you see my point? Consequently, the more we buy into this “Discount” notion, the more we have to buy. We have to buy more to get what we use to get way back when. Back when at a time we got what we paid for. Good product. Good customer service. Products made in America by Americans who could afford quality goods.
Discount is just code word for bigger bottom line for the business owners and their shareholders. Nothing more. Nothing less. It’s not about product or service. It’s max profit and minimum output. You get what you pay for. Low volume. Less goods and service. How sad. Once again, reinforcing the idea of the “Dummying Down of America.” We have been deceived. We have been fooled. We have been taken advantage of. Holy Moly! Discount. Schmishount. It’s a bunch of crap.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
We have a garage filled with economy recking junk.
Our insatiable demands for cheaper goods, is what brought our economy down. Mostly goods with a short life. Goods tossed away in to ever growing mountains of junk. Instead of goods that could easily sustain a build and repair industry, we instead have a waste management corps of trash haulers. Grunt workers being paid a low wage.
Way back when at the inception of “Discounting” the idea was to make goods cheaper so more could afford to buy and buy more. Supporting a mass consumption economic model. A model that compromises quality for quantity. Only benefiting businesses and their investors. Certainly shifting production offshore in order to cut cost. Thus producing a cheaper disposable and less quality good.
Now that I have given you my basic thesis, I will continue this essay later. Later as soon as I have breakfast and have wakened. Good morning.
Way back when at the inception of “Discounting” the idea was to make goods cheaper so more could afford to buy and buy more. Supporting a mass consumption economic model. A model that compromises quality for quantity. Only benefiting businesses and their investors. Certainly shifting production offshore in order to cut cost. Thus producing a cheaper disposable and less quality good.
Now that I have given you my basic thesis, I will continue this essay later. Later as soon as I have breakfast and have wakened. Good morning.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Why does Skype hate it's users?
One of those constant annoyances online is Skype. Unfortunately I use Skype often. But what Skype does is like a nagging case of zits. It’s hard to get rid of them.
And what I am talking about is Skypes persisting insistence to update. Yes, you know what I’m talking about. Certainly I am not the only one that Skype baggers and hounds to death. “Update! Update now! I will update without your permission!”
I have nothing against in general with updating. However, the version of Skype I use works quite well for me. It’s simple and direct. No searching for function, which Skype has hidden in its later versions. I like simplicity and directness. How could Skype take something so easy to use and make it more complicated? Skype and its new owners, Microsoft, like to switch rules often. I don’t like it. It just slows me down while causing much aggravation.
Now, I am currently reading the Steve Jobs book. If jobs had to use this unnecessarily complicated app, I know what he would say. And being a modest person, I will just say this:
Jobs would say this application is full of Sh--! It sucks! Who did this!? It’s all Fu—ed up! Who ever did this should go straight to he--!
So, I honestly don’t know why the do this. Surely I’m not the only one feeling this way about Skype. What do you think? I love Skype 3.8. Five point five really sucks, as Jobs might say.
And what I am talking about is Skypes persisting insistence to update. Yes, you know what I’m talking about. Certainly I am not the only one that Skype baggers and hounds to death. “Update! Update now! I will update without your permission!”
I have nothing against in general with updating. However, the version of Skype I use works quite well for me. It’s simple and direct. No searching for function, which Skype has hidden in its later versions. I like simplicity and directness. How could Skype take something so easy to use and make it more complicated? Skype and its new owners, Microsoft, like to switch rules often. I don’t like it. It just slows me down while causing much aggravation.
Now, I am currently reading the Steve Jobs book. If jobs had to use this unnecessarily complicated app, I know what he would say. And being a modest person, I will just say this:
Jobs would say this application is full of Sh--! It sucks! Who did this!? It’s all Fu—ed up! Who ever did this should go straight to he--!
So, I honestly don’t know why the do this. Surely I’m not the only one feeling this way about Skype. What do you think? I love Skype 3.8. Five point five really sucks, as Jobs might say.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Just put that stuff out at the curband it will be picked up.
Yet another flaming rocketing piece of space junk flashes downward into the Atlantic coast just off Brazil. This time it was a super secret Russian made satellite that fell to the earth in a blaze of malfunctionment. The classic case of crash and burn. Another “Oops moment.”
Never the less, we Earthlings are becoming accustomed to such events. American made satellites fall from space on a regular basis. Causing a low level media event. “Get your hard hat and don’t look up.” But anyway, creating a meteor shower of sparkling white-hot metal shards falling down through the stratospheric Earth’s object resisting atmosphere. And where it falls, no one really knows. Let alone knowing what real danger it might create.
Now this is where we need to put on our thinking cap instead of a hard hat. We should first put all Space Shuttles back into service. Which would require to recall all shuttles from their respective museums. But, it would be for a worthwhile cause.
The cause would be trash collection. Hitched behind each space shuttle would be a half dozen or so ‘Box Car’ size trailers. Trailers with expanding collection nets. Nets designed to catch loose satellites and so-called space particles. Pieces of junk that came detached from larger orbiting satellites. Antennas, telescopes, mechanical arms, nuts, bolts, canisters of microbiology, Styrofoam cups, beer cans, etc. Trash collecting vehicles drug through the upper atmosphere until all dumpsters are filled. Then brought back down to earth and returned to their respective owners.
All in all, a worthy service performed by the former space shuttle program and putting NASA workers back to work engaged in waste management. Surely you could sell some of that junk at garage sells or swap meets as “Space Souvenirs. What do you think?
Never the less, we Earthlings are becoming accustomed to such events. American made satellites fall from space on a regular basis. Causing a low level media event. “Get your hard hat and don’t look up.” But anyway, creating a meteor shower of sparkling white-hot metal shards falling down through the stratospheric Earth’s object resisting atmosphere. And where it falls, no one really knows. Let alone knowing what real danger it might create.
Now this is where we need to put on our thinking cap instead of a hard hat. We should first put all Space Shuttles back into service. Which would require to recall all shuttles from their respective museums. But, it would be for a worthwhile cause.
The cause would be trash collection. Hitched behind each space shuttle would be a half dozen or so ‘Box Car’ size trailers. Trailers with expanding collection nets. Nets designed to catch loose satellites and so-called space particles. Pieces of junk that came detached from larger orbiting satellites. Antennas, telescopes, mechanical arms, nuts, bolts, canisters of microbiology, Styrofoam cups, beer cans, etc. Trash collecting vehicles drug through the upper atmosphere until all dumpsters are filled. Then brought back down to earth and returned to their respective owners.
All in all, a worthy service performed by the former space shuttle program and putting NASA workers back to work engaged in waste management. Surely you could sell some of that junk at garage sells or swap meets as “Space Souvenirs. What do you think?
Friday, January 13, 2012
The Fewer pushing around the Many.
Now here is today’s political question:
How is it that Mit Romney is at the top of the polling heap but many far right conservatives and evangelicals are against his candidacy?
Well, someone out there must think he is qualified for the job anyway in spite of his so-called religious cult beliefs. Maybe some are taken by his general political image. Image as in style of hair. Perhaps Republican voters are impressed by his authoritative manner and commanding oratory. You have to give him credit, he does pose an impressive TV persona. Never mind that he flip-flops and lies often.
Nonetheless, his rise to the top is not by accident. There are obviously more Republican folks out there who feel he can do the job. Certainly more voting folks than those who see him only as a non-evangelical or a cult member. Thus other Republicans saying being evangelical is not all that is important in being a Republican presidential candidate.
So one could easily surmise, those Republicans who are non-compromising on religious membership are in the minority. However, trying to speak for the majority. When in fact they are fewer in number than they wish us to believe. Creating a “Wizard of Oz” effect. Well, just read the story.
Once again, showing how the political smoke screen works. The FEW trying to push the MANY into submission. Lie enough and they will follow. Oh really? Thank goodness it seldom works. God Bless America.
How is it that Mit Romney is at the top of the polling heap but many far right conservatives and evangelicals are against his candidacy?
Well, someone out there must think he is qualified for the job anyway in spite of his so-called religious cult beliefs. Maybe some are taken by his general political image. Image as in style of hair. Perhaps Republican voters are impressed by his authoritative manner and commanding oratory. You have to give him credit, he does pose an impressive TV persona. Never mind that he flip-flops and lies often.
Nonetheless, his rise to the top is not by accident. There are obviously more Republican folks out there who feel he can do the job. Certainly more voting folks than those who see him only as a non-evangelical or a cult member. Thus other Republicans saying being evangelical is not all that is important in being a Republican presidential candidate.
So one could easily surmise, those Republicans who are non-compromising on religious membership are in the minority. However, trying to speak for the majority. When in fact they are fewer in number than they wish us to believe. Creating a “Wizard of Oz” effect. Well, just read the story.
Once again, showing how the political smoke screen works. The FEW trying to push the MANY into submission. Lie enough and they will follow. Oh really? Thank goodness it seldom works. God Bless America.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
My washer and dryer is smarter than yours.
When you travel about Las Vegas during the International Electronics Exhibition, you will often find the word description, “Smart.” Certainly a term a bit over used to describe various products. Many household appliances are described as “Smart.” Oh really?
Refrigerators, washers, dryers, microwaves and possibly even garbage disposals. All very smart and at your service. Oh sure. Is there a smart toilet? It flushes when a yellow stream hits the water? Well, just kidding.
Nonetheless, the one smart gadget I think is a bit over rated is the “Smart TV.” Smart TV? It sounds a bit Oxymoronic don’t you think? Can you have TV and reasonable intelligence all in one place? Hardly so. The two don’t seem to mix well. Kind of like Einstein marrying Roseanne Barr.
To me, TV is the instrument of choice for instant stupidity. The family room Cyclopes. The Boobtube. A device to suck the brains from your children’s heads. The ubiquitous time waster. Sometimes called Vegetation vision.
But, back to this Smart thing. Who’s to say these electronic widgets are smart? Is there a national certification board the gives a seal of approval certifying appliance Smart? Does each device take a test? Is there a beer bust after the graduation ceremony?
My suggestion is to just read to your kids and they will become smart. Let their brains work on their own. Turn off the “Stupid TV!” Even if it is suppose to be “Smart.”
Refrigerators, washers, dryers, microwaves and possibly even garbage disposals. All very smart and at your service. Oh sure. Is there a smart toilet? It flushes when a yellow stream hits the water? Well, just kidding.
Nonetheless, the one smart gadget I think is a bit over rated is the “Smart TV.” Smart TV? It sounds a bit Oxymoronic don’t you think? Can you have TV and reasonable intelligence all in one place? Hardly so. The two don’t seem to mix well. Kind of like Einstein marrying Roseanne Barr.
To me, TV is the instrument of choice for instant stupidity. The family room Cyclopes. The Boobtube. A device to suck the brains from your children’s heads. The ubiquitous time waster. Sometimes called Vegetation vision.
But, back to this Smart thing. Who’s to say these electronic widgets are smart? Is there a national certification board the gives a seal of approval certifying appliance Smart? Does each device take a test? Is there a beer bust after the graduation ceremony?
My suggestion is to just read to your kids and they will become smart. Let their brains work on their own. Turn off the “Stupid TV!” Even if it is suppose to be “Smart.”
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