Thursday, February 28, 2013

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Deja Vu


Forty years ago The President of the United States and his White House staff thought they could intimidate the Washington Post and its reporters.  If my memory serves me correctly it had something to do with a burglary at the Watergate Hotel in Washington, DC.  I think I also remember it didn't work out too well for all the presidents men and even the president himself.

I think it was Lawrence Peter Berra who said, "It's deja vu all over again".  Well, one of the reporters back then was a guy named "Woodward" and lately it sure does sound like deja vu all over again. 

Oh, and one more thing.  When Mr. Woodward uses the phrase "kind of madness I haven't seen in a long time"?  I wonder if he means, "forty years ago"



Inspired by "Politico"

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Wake Up America


So you think Muslim terrorists will destroy our country.
WRONG!

So you think the huge national debt will destroy our country.
WRONG! 

So you think those greedy capitalists will destroy our country.
WRONG!

What will destroy our country is progressive indoctrination of our children.
CSCOPE!


Inspired by "The Daily Caller"

How About A Ticket

The blueprints for the Titanic II were unveiled today, and the ship will set sail by 2016.  It will make its maiden voyage from Southhampton, England, carrying 2,600 passengers in 850 cabins.



Would you make the maiden voyage if I gave you a free ticket? 

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Awesome Anna


Awesome Anna!
My ten year old granddaughter.
Her first gymnastic meet.
Bronze medal overall.
Do you think I'm just a little bit proud?

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Weird Scary



For Katie


View "Fullscreen".  It's the only way to go. 

Fat from The Fat Team on Vimeo.

A Burger And A Truckload Of Lumber


Last week I purchased a burger at a fast food restaurant for $1.58.  The counter girl took my $2 and I was digging for my change when I pulled 8 cents from my pocket and gave it to her.  She stood there, holding the nickel and 3 pennies, while looking at the screen on her register.  I sensed her discomfort and tried to tell her to just give me two quarters, but she hailed the manager for help.  While he tried to explain the transaction to her, she stood there and cried. 

Why do I tell you this? Because of the evolution in teaching math since the 1950s…




1. Teaching Math In 1950s: A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5
of the price.  What is his profit?

2. Teaching Math In 1960s: A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5
of the price, or $80.  What is his profit?

3. Teaching Math In1970s: A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100.  His cost of production is
$80.  Did he make a profit?

4. Teaching Math In 1980s: A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80
and his profit is $20.  Your assignment: Underline the number 20.

5. Teaching Math In 1990s: A logger cuts down a beautiful forest because he is selfish and inconsiderate and cares nothing for the habitat of animals or the preservation of our woodlands.   He does this so he can make a profit of $20.  What do you think of this way of making a living?
Topic for class participation after answering the question: How did the birds and squirrels feel as the logger cut down their homes? (There are no wrong answers, and if you feel like crying, it's ok. )

6. Teaching Math In 2009: Un hachero vende una carretada de maderapara $100. El costo de la
producciones es $80.  Cuanto dinero ha hecho?

7. Teaching Math In 2013: Who cares, just steal the lumber from your rich neighbor's property.  He
won't have a gun to stop you, and it's OK anyway cuz it's redistributing the wealth.


Inspired by "Darin Walker"

Beware Of Old Dogs


An old wolf starts chasing rabbits and before long, discovers that he's lost.  Wandering about, he notices a panther heading rapidly in his direction with the intention of having lunch.  The old wolf thinks, "Oh, oh!  I'm in deep do-do now!"   Noticing some bones on the ground close by, he immediately settles down to chew on the bones with his back to the approaching cat.  Just as the panther is about to leap, the old wolf exclaims loudly, "Boy, that was one delicious panther!  I wonder if there are any more around here?"   Hearing this, the young panther halts his attack in mid-strike, a look of terror comes over him and he slinks away into the trees.   "Whew!" says the panther, "That was close! That old wolf nearly had me!" 

Meanwhile, a squirrel who had been watching the whole scene from a nearby tree, figures he can put this knowledge to good use and trade it for protection from the panther.  So, off he goes.  The squirrel soon catches up with the panther, spills the beans and strikes a deal for himself with the panther.   The young panther is furious at being made a fool of and says, "Here, squirrel, hop on my back and see what's going to happen to that conniving canine!"

Now, the old wolf sees the panther coming with the squirrel on his back and thinks, "What am I going to do now?," but instead of running, the old guy sits down with his back to his attackers, pretending he hasn't seen them yet, and just when they get close enough to hear, the old wolf says ...... "Where's that squirrel? I sent him off an hour ago to bring me another panther!"

Moral of this story... Don't mess with the old dogs.... Age and skill will always overcome youth and treachery!  Bull crap and brilliance only come with age and experience.   Of course, I am in no way insinuating that you are old, just 'youthfully challenged'. 



Inspired by "Francis Moran"

Yippee! I'm Not Old Anymore



Friday, February 22, 2013

Good 'Nuff For Government Work

A guy stopped at a local gas station, and after filling his tank, he paid the bill and bought a soft drink. He stood by his car to drink his cola and watched a couple of men working along the roadside. 
One man would dig a hole two or three feet deep and then move on. The other man came along behind him and filled in the hole. While one was digging a new hole, the other was 25 feet behind filling in the hole.
The men worked right past the guy with the soft drink and went on down the road.
"I can't stand this," said the man, tossing the can into a trash container and headed down the road toward the workers. "Hold it, hold it," he said to the men. "Can you tell me what's going on here with all this digging and refilling?"
“Well, we work for the government and we’re just doing our job,” one of the workers said.
“But one of you is digging a hole and the other fills it up. You’re not accomplishing anything. Aren’t you wasting the taxpayers’ money?”
“You don’t understand, mister,” one of the workers said, leaning on his shovel and wiping his brow. “Normally there’s three of us: me, Elmer and Leroy. I dig the hole, Elmer sticks in the tree, and Leroy here puts the dirt back. Elmer’s job’s been cut … so now it’s jus’ me an’ Leroy.”

What Do I Know

When a company or individual files for bankruptcy it usually means they're not very good at managing money.  I always thought that filing for bankruptcy was a legal procedure allowing someone time to get their financial affairs back in order and that hiring a consultant with good money management skills was one of the best and fastest ways to get one's finances back in the black.

What do I know.

Last August the city of San Bernadino, CA filed for bankruptcy.  The other day the city council of San Bernadino voted unanimously to hire Allen J. Parker as its city manager on an annual salary of almost $222,000.  In 1991 Mr. Parker filed for personal bankruptcy.  He filed a second time in 2011.  A spokesman for the city council told reporters the council knew all about Mr.  Parker's bankruptcies.  

What do I know?  I know the taxpayers of San Bernadino better be saying their prayers and electing a new city council ASAP.  

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Pathetic




3Doodler


Would you buy one of these?

I Don't Know Whether To Laugh Or Cry

I assume you heard that the US Postal Service has decided to eliminate Saturday Mail delivery to "SAVE MONEY" (taxpayer money) .  And that they need to "SAVE MONEY" (taxpayer money) because they lost  $16 billion (taxpayer dollars) during fiscal year 2012.  I won't go into all the reasons the Postal Service is losing billions of taxpayers dollars, but it's quite obvious they're not selling enough stamps.

But wait, if they can't sell enough stamps, why not sell $16 billion worth of "clothes".  Yup, you heard me. Postal Service corporate licensing manager Steven Mills said in a news release that he has signed a license agreement with Wahconah Group, a Cleveland-based apparel company, that will "put the Postal Service on the cutting edge of functional fashion".  He also said, "the main focus will be to produce Rain Heat & Snow apparel and accessories using technology to create 'smart apparel' - also known as wearable electronics."

I'm guessing the "wearable electronics" may look similar to this...


And, if the words "Postal Service" and "clothing accessories" remind you of something you've heard before, perhaps this video from "Michelle Malkin" will refresh your memory.  Enjoy...  

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Read The Book!


If you've read Tom Clancy's new book "Threat Vector", the video below will be one of the scariest things you'll ever watch.  And if you haven't read the book  you should.



Bathroom Fixtures


Can you imagine?
Luke Skywalker and Harry Potter.
Using the same bathroom.



Monday, February 18, 2013

I Need Three Things



1. I need the home addresses and home phone numbers for the following New Hampshire State Representatives...Gary Coulombe...Andrew Schimdt...Herb Richardson.
2.  I need $16,100.
3.  I need bail money.

A little background...

The three gentlemen mentioned above "want their free lift ticket back".  After getting free passes to state-owned Cannon Mountain Ski Area in New Hampshire for years, a Legislative Ethics Committee letter last winter found that the freebies violated the Legislature's ban on gifts over $25.  But these three political moochers have introduced a bill that would exempt Cannon Mountain from the gift ban.  They are sponsoring HB 514 which adds an exemption to the ethic guidelines for House and Senate members and a public hearing is scheduled for this Thursday.  

By the way, the taxpayers of New Hampshire have subsidized Cannon Mountain Ski Area to the tune of $9.2 million since 1999.  Talk about "rubbing salt in a wound". 

OK. Why do I need three things?

First...I need the home addresses and home phone numbers to put in a form letter.  Why would I do that, you ask?  Well, remember a while back when the newspaper in New York published the names and addresses of a bunch of people because they were gun owners?  I figure why not do something similar.  I'm going let people know where these grease-balls live.  But not just any people.

Second...I need $16,100 for stamps so that I can send the form letter to the approximately 35,000 people who are unemployed in New Hampshire.  I'm sure a good many of them would like to go skiing but are unable to afford it these days.

Third...I'll probably need bail money to get out of jail once the authorities find out about the form letter and where it came from.

Sunday, February 17, 2013

Dog Dog Double Dare



Inspired by "Mikie Elmo"

This Is A Test



Delete Multiple Items



Inspired by "Mikie Elmo"

Dog Safety



On The Good Ship Lollypop



Inspired by "Pradheep Shanker"

Behold



Behold A Pale Horse - 1991
"America's Last Chance"
by William Cooper  (page 225)
"The government encouraged the manufacture and importation of military firearms for the criminals to use.  This intended to foster a feeling of insecurity, which would lead the American people to voluntarily disarm themselves by passing laws against firearms.  Using drugs and hypnosis on mental patients in a process called Orion, the CIA inculcated the desire in these people to open fire on schoolyards and thus inflame the anti-gun lobby.  This plan is well underway,and so far is working perfectly.  The middle class is begging the government to do away with the 2nd Amendment. 

Saturday, February 16, 2013

Memories X2



Inspired by "Rachel Palmer"

Sorry about the redirect inconvenience...

I Cried Too...Almost


As a bagpiper, I play many gigs. Recently I was asked by a funeral director to play at a graveside service for a homeless man. He had no family or friends, so the service was to be at a pauper's cemetery in the Kentucky back country. 

As I was not familiar with the backwoods, I got lost and, being a typical man, I didn't stop for directions. 

I finally arrived an hour late and saw the funeral guy had evidently gone and the hearse was nowhere in sight. There were only the diggers and crew left and they were eating lunch. 

I felt badly and apologized to the men for being late. I went to the side of the grave and looked down and the vault lid was already in place. I didn't know what else to do, so I started to play. 

The workers put down their lunches and began to gather around. I played out my heart and soul for this man with no family and friends. Played like I've never played before for this homeless man. 

And as I played 'Amazing Grace,' the workers began to weep. They wept, I wept. We all wept together. When I finished I packed up my bagpipes and started for my car. Though my head hung low, my heart was full. 

As I opened the door to my car, I heard one of the workers say, "I never seen nothin' like that before and I've been putting in septic tanks for twenty years." 


Inspired by "Tim Jones"

A Personal Observation



Then And Now


This is what you use to hear in this country...
"Ask not what your country can do for you.  Ask what you can do for your country"...John F. Kennedy
This is what you hear these days...
"I don't need to do nothin' for my country.  My country will get someone else to do it."

This is what you use to hear in this country...
"The purpose in life is to contribute in some way to making things better"...Robert F. Kennedy
This is what you hear these days...
"The purpose in life is to sit back and let the government make everything better."

This is what you use to hear in this country...
"Free at last.  Free at last.  Thank God Almighty, free at last"...Martin Luther King, Jr.
This is what you hear these days...
"Free at last.  Free at last.  Thank the politicians in Washington.  Anything and everything I ever wanted is free at last."

This is what you use to hear in this country...
"Unemployment insurance is a prepaid vacation for freeloaders"...Ronald Reagan
This is what you hear these days...
  "Unemployment insurance is my God-given right and I should be able to stay home and get it forever."

Friday, February 15, 2013

Risk Transfer

The purchase of an insurance contract is often described as a "transfer of risk".  And the "transfer" of an insurance company might be described as an "elimination of risk"... 



Virtual Health Care


I read an interesting article the other day on Walter Russell Mead's Blog. According to Mr. Mead's posting, there's a company in Minnesota called "Virtuwell".  It is a digital office of nurse practitioners that you can visit online rather than going to see a doctor.  These folks have been in business a couple years now and have treated over 40,000 patients.  Compared to a regular office visit, patients have saved on average $88 per visit and about 2.5 hours of patients' time.  Mr. Mead predicts more often than not, doctor's visits in the future will be as simple as sitting in front of your laptop.


I personally think a virtual doctor's visit using your laptop is a little "behind the curve".  How about an iPhone doctor's visit...

Thursday, February 14, 2013

My Grandson The Thinker

From time to time I post stuff here on my blog for my grand children.  I like to do fun stuff and stuff to make them think.  Well, my soon-to-be thirteen year old grandson "Sam" sent me an e-mail today that tells me he's thinking.  Here is what he wrote...

"If there was a wind at your back going 60 MPH and you were in a convertible going 60 also, would you feel any wind?"

I thought that was pretty cool.  

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

This Will Change The World



Inspired By "Hank Roth"

Look Around America

Look around folks.  America is going nowhere.  We use to go everywhere.  Once upon a time we went all the way across this great country and built the longest railroad. Once upon a time we went to New York City and built the the tallest skyscraper.  Once upon a time we went to Panama and built the longest canal.  Once upon a time we went to the moon in the biggest rocket.  Once upon a time we embarked on our biggest journey in a spacecraft called Voyager 1.

Look around folks.  The only places we go anymore is Walmart and McDonald's.  And the only thing we build big anymore is government.

P.S.  You wanna know how long it's been?  Voyager 1 was launched in 1977!