I-Man has started soccer practices and his first game is next week. Looks like he will be doing goalie duty and defender duty mostly this half season. I think this suits him for now. He is still not aggressive enough for striker and he seems to prefer that defensive mindset.
The Frat has its Candidate Retreat this weekend and Alumni are officially invited for the first time. Even though I only expect about 15 Alumni, I think it is a positive step in the direction that will give Alumni an avenue for involvement as well as a planning step for the future.
And Battlestar is winding down... i am wondering if their is a huge ending to this or if it will pull a Seinfeld and simply whimper off into the night...
...speaking of which, don't get me started on Clemson Basketball....
Thursday, February 26, 2009
one last time
"This spending-leads-to-growth concept is a perennial failure that can actually harm an economy. Its advocates suffer from a crucial error in their understanding of economics: for in fact, consumption is an effect, and not a cause, of economic growth. Stated simply, more spending without the greater output of goods and services that results from increased saving and investment -- and concomitant higher real incomes -- can only lead to higher prices and inflation. Alternatively, if government spending programs engender uncertainty and loss of confidence, while at the same time excluding incentives to invest (such as through tax cuts on profits or capital gains), the demand for money holding can increase dramatically, choking off recovery. The former scenario played out in the U.S. stagflation of the 1970s, while the latter occurred in the U.S. in the 1930s and Japan in the 1990s." — John L. Chapman, research economist for the conservative American Enterprise Institute, arguing why President Obama's economic plan will fail
Ok.. I am going to dare to be not just go along with Obama and just take it.... I want someone...ANYONE.... to tell me where the money is going to come from for the spending bills, stimulus, programs... whatever that comes out every other day. I have asked... no-one can tell me. There are not enough taxpayers in this country to pay for this crap that I am supposed to sit and just go along with. I will ask again...where is the money coming from? And no..."Its Bush's fault" wont work...
OK...I'll go back to being a coward now.. I'll just go back to doing what I was told to do...just shut up and go along with it all.... after all, I am the ONLY person (well, John in Florida too, I guess... oh, and a bunch of people at Foxnews) who thinks this way. Right?
Who is going to pay for all this?
Ok.. I am going to dare to be not just go along with Obama and just take it.... I want someone...ANYONE.... to tell me where the money is going to come from for the spending bills, stimulus, programs... whatever that comes out every other day. I have asked... no-one can tell me. There are not enough taxpayers in this country to pay for this crap that I am supposed to sit and just go along with. I will ask again...where is the money coming from? And no..."Its Bush's fault" wont work...
OK...I'll go back to being a coward now.. I'll just go back to doing what I was told to do...just shut up and go along with it all.... after all, I am the ONLY person (well, John in Florida too, I guess... oh, and a bunch of people at Foxnews) who thinks this way. Right?
Who is going to pay for all this?
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Its Thursday, must be time for another stimulus package....
Sigh... so as I mentioned, we have another plan to avert the crisis of foreclosure. This is supposed to keep people in danger of foreclosure from losing their home. Hmmmm.... looked in my mailbox, no check to help my situation out. doubt one will be coming, either. I am a "person of means".
Brown sent me forward the other week, and I have actually given it some thought as I think it does ring a theme that I think is true in many ways....
A holy man was having a conversation with God one day and said, ' God , I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like..'
But....
Here is what bothers me... Is it fair that those who were given a house when they obviously couldnt afford a house, and now are losing that house, are STILL given that house while those who worked for a house, bought the house they could afford, make the payments on their house, and are getting no aid are getting the shaft? Isnt this simply redistribution of wealth? Is it fair that I am getting taxed to give other people something they have not earned? Is it fair that if I call Citibank and ask to have my mortgage cut in half, they are going to look at me, see that i make my payments on time, have plenty o cash on hand and tell me that I am a person of means and havent had that "personal misfortune"?
All of this smacks of Obama and "the left" feeling that they can/will redistribute the wealth around. I just don't see how that is fair when a lot of people receiving this simply haven't earned it. Its one thing to have lost your job because if this mess and need assistance. Its another thing to have NEVER made an effort and feel you DESERVE a home and will be given one. If you have never worked for it, how do you deserve it? Can someone explain this to me?
Brown sent me forward the other week, and I have actually given it some thought as I think it does ring a theme that I think is true in many ways....
A holy man was having a conversation with God one day and said, ' God , I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like..'
God led the holy man to two doors.
He opened one of the doors and the holy man looked in.
In the middle of the room was a large round table. In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew, which smelled delicious and made the holy man's mouth water.
The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They appeared to be famished.
They were holding spoons with very long handles, that were strapped to their arms and each found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful.
But because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths
The holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering.
God said 'You have seen Hell.'
They went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one.
There was the large round table with the large pot of stew which made the holy man's mouth water.
The people were equipped with the same long-handled spoons, but here the people were well nourished and plump, laughing and talking. The holy man said, 'I don't understand.'
It is simple,' said God . 'It requires but one skill.
You see they have learned to feed each other, while the greedy think only of themselves.'
Remember that I will always share my spoon with you.
So we can all be plump together)
But....
Here is what bothers me... Is it fair that those who were given a house when they obviously couldnt afford a house, and now are losing that house, are STILL given that house while those who worked for a house, bought the house they could afford, make the payments on their house, and are getting no aid are getting the shaft? Isnt this simply redistribution of wealth? Is it fair that I am getting taxed to give other people something they have not earned? Is it fair that if I call Citibank and ask to have my mortgage cut in half, they are going to look at me, see that i make my payments on time, have plenty o cash on hand and tell me that I am a person of means and havent had that "personal misfortune"?
All of this smacks of Obama and "the left" feeling that they can/will redistribute the wealth around. I just don't see how that is fair when a lot of people receiving this simply haven't earned it. Its one thing to have lost your job because if this mess and need assistance. Its another thing to have NEVER made an effort and feel you DESERVE a home and will be given one. If you have never worked for it, how do you deserve it? Can someone explain this to me?
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
wow...check this out...
Remember when I mentioned a kid named Tanner Smith playing at Clemson??.... check out this link
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/story?columnist=oneil_dana&id=3914889
dude is on the front page of ESPN.com
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/story?columnist=oneil_dana&id=3914889
dude is on the front page of ESPN.com
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Superior leaders get things done with very little motion. They impart instruction not through many words, but through a few deeds. They keep informed about everything but interfere hardly at all. They are catalysts, and though things would not get done as well if they were not there, when they succeed they take no credit. And, because they take no credit, credit never leaves them. ~ Lao Tzu
Why is it seems evertime I get on the internet or watch TV news, there is some sorta of bumbling announcement coming from this Obama admnistration? If it isnt someone having not paid their taxes, then its someone else backing out of a Nomination for any number of reasons. Commerce Sec #2 dropped today. I find it amusing that all we could hear (and still hear as excuses for any problem Obama has) is Bush this and Bush that. I am tired of hearing this crap everyday. I will say this again... Bush caused some problems. Bush is to be blamed for several issues. Obama (and those riding his coattails now) seem to want to still turn your gaze to the past. Wasnt this about Hope for the future? A different kind of Washington? Change we can believe in?
Today I see where Obama is contemplating using taxpayer money (isnt it all, but I digress) to directly pay some of, or all of Mortgage payments for people who are either in foreclosure or "nearing" it. Well... somehow I am betting that I wont be seeing a check helping me out of my mortgage anytime soon... and I am perpetually 3 months away from foreclosure all the time. If this happens, he will lose me for good. Especially since a lot of these people were given mortgages without credit checks, proof of employent or even paying 200 dollars down payment , much less 20,000.00 Oh wait, I already know the answer some will give me...Bush was President then. its all his fault.
And what of the transparency. Wasn't this stimulus bill going to be "posted" for the public to see for 48 hours before they would vote. Yet Pelosi and company seem to think that "the American people dont care" and surprise, are not letting hardly ANYBODY see whats in it, even Democrats. I guess I shouldnt care about little porky parts of all of this and should stop listening to the chatty people or something like that...
...why is it that all I see out of all this is manipulations to make more and more people reliant upon them, so they will feel compelled to vote for them in the future? I have a great parable/story that Brown sent to me. Its one thing to want to help others in need. I am willing to do that. I am not willing to simply give to people and do nothing but enable them into a reliance on the government for handouts. And that is where we are going...the governement will pay for my mortgage, electricity, food, car, gas...whatever. I dont want the government giving me anything except the money that I earn. Well...that and maybe the powerball payment, but..again... I digress...
Oh and all this money and "stimulus" gets me $7.70 a week more in my paycheck....
on a different note, did anybody see Joaquin Phoenix on Letterman last night? Wow...
Why is it seems evertime I get on the internet or watch TV news, there is some sorta of bumbling announcement coming from this Obama admnistration? If it isnt someone having not paid their taxes, then its someone else backing out of a Nomination for any number of reasons. Commerce Sec #2 dropped today. I find it amusing that all we could hear (and still hear as excuses for any problem Obama has) is Bush this and Bush that. I am tired of hearing this crap everyday. I will say this again... Bush caused some problems. Bush is to be blamed for several issues. Obama (and those riding his coattails now) seem to want to still turn your gaze to the past. Wasnt this about Hope for the future? A different kind of Washington? Change we can believe in?
Today I see where Obama is contemplating using taxpayer money (isnt it all, but I digress) to directly pay some of, or all of Mortgage payments for people who are either in foreclosure or "nearing" it. Well... somehow I am betting that I wont be seeing a check helping me out of my mortgage anytime soon... and I am perpetually 3 months away from foreclosure all the time. If this happens, he will lose me for good. Especially since a lot of these people were given mortgages without credit checks, proof of employent or even paying 200 dollars down payment , much less 20,000.00 Oh wait, I already know the answer some will give me...Bush was President then. its all his fault.
And what of the transparency. Wasn't this stimulus bill going to be "posted" for the public to see for 48 hours before they would vote. Yet Pelosi and company seem to think that "the American people dont care" and surprise, are not letting hardly ANYBODY see whats in it, even Democrats. I guess I shouldnt care about little porky parts of all of this and should stop listening to the chatty people or something like that...
...why is it that all I see out of all this is manipulations to make more and more people reliant upon them, so they will feel compelled to vote for them in the future? I have a great parable/story that Brown sent to me. Its one thing to want to help others in need. I am willing to do that. I am not willing to simply give to people and do nothing but enable them into a reliance on the government for handouts. And that is where we are going...the governement will pay for my mortgage, electricity, food, car, gas...whatever. I dont want the government giving me anything except the money that I earn. Well...that and maybe the powerball payment, but..again... I digress...
Oh and all this money and "stimulus" gets me $7.70 a week more in my paycheck....
on a different note, did anybody see Joaquin Phoenix on Letterman last night? Wow...
Monday, February 09, 2009
True friendship is like sound health; the value of it is seldom known until it be lost. - Charles Caleb Colton
The Facebook thing is interesting. I have resisted the temptation to do the 25 things thingy but I might as I have thought about it often over the past few days
... And now A-Rod admits he used performance enhancing drugs a few years ago. Look, I aint perfect and I have made mistakes. And I certainly am not a public figure like Alex Rodriguez. But this dude was going to be anointed as the saint of baseball as he approached Aaron then blasted by Bonds. Now... this all reminds me of... VeVickers... I can see what i will be thinking if/when he passes Bonds..."There arose a mild applause, amply merited..." as I was tellling Brown via text tonight...what next? Micheal Phelps will get caught taking a puff at a frat party? Oh...wait...that already happened....
Oh...and the #29 takes the Bud Shootout. Off to a good start for the year. Lets see if we can actually contend this year instead of finishing 6th every race.
The Facebook thing is interesting. I have resisted the temptation to do the 25 things thingy but I might as I have thought about it often over the past few days
... And now A-Rod admits he used performance enhancing drugs a few years ago. Look, I aint perfect and I have made mistakes. And I certainly am not a public figure like Alex Rodriguez. But this dude was going to be anointed as the saint of baseball as he approached Aaron then blasted by Bonds. Now... this all reminds me of... VeVickers... I can see what i will be thinking if/when he passes Bonds..."There arose a mild applause, amply merited..." as I was tellling Brown via text tonight...what next? Micheal Phelps will get caught taking a puff at a frat party? Oh...wait...that already happened....
Oh...and the #29 takes the Bud Shootout. Off to a good start for the year. Lets see if we can actually contend this year instead of finishing 6th every race.
Saturday, February 07, 2009
Updates of the twins
Ok..for those of you clamoring for recent pix of the twins...here ya go... Age 7... taken today out back on the hammock swing near the creek on a glorious 68 degree day in February!!!
What's interesting is that their photos make you think of their personality as one way, while in reality they are trending to be about as polar opposite as you can be. Guess which one is the emotional one.. privy to outburst of laughter or instant meltdowns? And guess which one is the cool, even keel, calculating one?
Thursday, February 05, 2009
a repression of "dissent" under the guise of "fairness."
I am glad that Obama seems to be against this Fairness Doctrine bull. I think its funny that almost every liberal, progressive whatever radio show fails. No one listens. Or watches. Almost 3 times as many people watch Foxnews as Msnbc. Is it because the people on the "right" are more entertaining? Hardly not.... and one of the reasons NPR still exists is because it is subsidized by tax money. But politicians and media wanna get all upset that Rush Limbaugh spouts his mouth off and millions of people listen and nod their heads while a a few thousand people tune in to Rachel Maddow whine about how its all Bushs' fault. I sense that Obama sees that he isnt beyond criticism. However, the media is so far invested in Obama that to criticise or have him fail would be an indictment of themselves...
And why is this DTV thing being extended? estimates are about 5 million TV/homes who dont already have cable or sat havent got the boxes they would need. My question is..Why not?.... I havent been able to turn on the TV or watch NBC for more thata 5 minutes over the PAST YEAR without a commercial or crawl across the screen YELLING AT US THAT THE ANALOG SIGNAL WOULD BE GOING AWAY ON FEBRUARY 17TH!!!! if you havent seen this constant announcements and infomercials on NBC and PBS and taken steps by now when you have had almost TWO YEARS to get a box, then I am willing to drop a large amount of money and say that 95 percent of these people wont be ready this summer. You would think that if you were sittin there without cable, and they are telling you that your TV signal is going to stop, that might... just might...make you take notice. And what will happen this summer? ... extend it again?
Micheal Phelps has been suspended from USA swimming for 3 months and has lost a couple of sponsors in reaction to the photos of him taking a puff of the bong down in Columbia. Look... arguments can be made that its stupid for that to be illegal while Alchohol and cigarettes are perfectly fine... but my only question for Mr Phelps is this... "Was she worth it?"
I am glad that Obama seems to be against this Fairness Doctrine bull. I think its funny that almost every liberal, progressive whatever radio show fails. No one listens. Or watches. Almost 3 times as many people watch Foxnews as Msnbc. Is it because the people on the "right" are more entertaining? Hardly not.... and one of the reasons NPR still exists is because it is subsidized by tax money. But politicians and media wanna get all upset that Rush Limbaugh spouts his mouth off and millions of people listen and nod their heads while a a few thousand people tune in to Rachel Maddow whine about how its all Bushs' fault. I sense that Obama sees that he isnt beyond criticism. However, the media is so far invested in Obama that to criticise or have him fail would be an indictment of themselves...
And why is this DTV thing being extended? estimates are about 5 million TV/homes who dont already have cable or sat havent got the boxes they would need. My question is..Why not?.... I havent been able to turn on the TV or watch NBC for more thata 5 minutes over the PAST YEAR without a commercial or crawl across the screen YELLING AT US THAT THE ANALOG SIGNAL WOULD BE GOING AWAY ON FEBRUARY 17TH!!!! if you havent seen this constant announcements and infomercials on NBC and PBS and taken steps by now when you have had almost TWO YEARS to get a box, then I am willing to drop a large amount of money and say that 95 percent of these people wont be ready this summer. You would think that if you were sittin there without cable, and they are telling you that your TV signal is going to stop, that might... just might...make you take notice. And what will happen this summer? ... extend it again?
Micheal Phelps has been suspended from USA swimming for 3 months and has lost a couple of sponsors in reaction to the photos of him taking a puff of the bong down in Columbia. Look... arguments can be made that its stupid for that to be illegal while Alchohol and cigarettes are perfectly fine... but my only question for Mr Phelps is this... "Was she worth it?"
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Change We Can Believe In!!!
Clemson basketball is definitely not playing with the malaise that hangs over everything else... Clemson.... The basketball team took Duke out back... and they might have to call DSS becasue of this beating.
...And.... Does Obama know anybody to appoint to a cabinet spot who has paid their taxes, isnt a former Clinton guy ( or gal ) , isnt a recent lobbyist? or have several conflicts on interest with their position and its dealings with others? Wasnt this supposed to be an Administration based on ethics? No...I dont want to hear the "Well, Bush blah, blah, blah..." nope. Aint hearing it. 37percent approval for this "stimulus" package... why is it that Obama has basically let Pelosi take this and add all this crap to the supposed stimulus package. Is Obama President? or Pelosi? This is at the root of why I was always turned off by this guy. Obama seems..."weak"...not masculine..."passive"...it seems to me that he said... "i want a stimulus package." and basically handed the wheel over to Pelosi who has proceeded to hijack and add all this crap and stipulations...
Dude...Obama... Man up, dude. And it is NOT a coincidence that you are starting to hear the bluster (albeit typical grandstanding) and rhetoric about Obama and the US being "weak"
This stuff abou the government taking over EVERYTHING isnt going to sit well...
...And.... Does Obama know anybody to appoint to a cabinet spot who has paid their taxes, isnt a former Clinton guy ( or gal ) , isnt a recent lobbyist? or have several conflicts on interest with their position and its dealings with others? Wasnt this supposed to be an Administration based on ethics? No...I dont want to hear the "Well, Bush blah, blah, blah..." nope. Aint hearing it. 37percent approval for this "stimulus" package... why is it that Obama has basically let Pelosi take this and add all this crap to the supposed stimulus package. Is Obama President? or Pelosi? This is at the root of why I was always turned off by this guy. Obama seems..."weak"...not masculine..."passive"...it seems to me that he said... "i want a stimulus package." and basically handed the wheel over to Pelosi who has proceeded to hijack and add all this crap and stipulations...
Dude...Obama... Man up, dude. And it is NOT a coincidence that you are starting to hear the bluster (albeit typical grandstanding) and rhetoric about Obama and the US being "weak"
This stuff abou the government taking over EVERYTHING isnt going to sit well...
meh
Snow in the Mountains, Snow in Northeast Georgia, Snow in North Carolina... snow in Myrtle Beach!!! but...no snow here...no clouds, and all sun.
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
put up or shut up
...tomorrow is time to get off the porch and run wth the big dogs time for Clemson Basketball. I almost hate to say anything for fear I furthur jinx the team. They showed some moxie on the road at VaTech last week and this is definitely the best "program" at Clemson. They certainly seem to be the best coached, best organized and least affected by the permanent cloud of "getting punked" that floats over Clemson. on another note, the football team seems poised to get a small, but impressive recruiting class...
...someone actually commented at work today that we didnt really need to have Black History Month now that Obama is President... um...anybody who is reading this who beleives that, please speak up.
...looks like the frat Alumni retreat is a go. 15 dollars a person for Alumni. I am now looking forward to saee how many alumni actually show up. The last time the actives made efforts to accomodate Alumni, only 1 person showed up.... now that the Actives seem to have nailed down a place/time/etc, I think I will take a more active role in setting up an Agenda and Activities that would make it worthwhile for the Alumni to show up
... First Nascar race is this Saturday...
...but Jessica's parents ( and Aunt Ellen I think) are coming into town to assist with the re-do on the downstairs half bath. Jessica has ripped up the tiles, and has taken out the old sink....
the phenomena that is facebook continues. It is so interesting to see people from WAAAYYYY back back and see their families and kids, and think back to those many years ago...
...someone actually commented at work today that we didnt really need to have Black History Month now that Obama is President... um...anybody who is reading this who beleives that, please speak up.
...looks like the frat Alumni retreat is a go. 15 dollars a person for Alumni. I am now looking forward to saee how many alumni actually show up. The last time the actives made efforts to accomodate Alumni, only 1 person showed up.... now that the Actives seem to have nailed down a place/time/etc, I think I will take a more active role in setting up an Agenda and Activities that would make it worthwhile for the Alumni to show up
... First Nascar race is this Saturday...
...but Jessica's parents ( and Aunt Ellen I think) are coming into town to assist with the re-do on the downstairs half bath. Jessica has ripped up the tiles, and has taken out the old sink....
the phenomena that is facebook continues. It is so interesting to see people from WAAAYYYY back back and see their families and kids, and think back to those many years ago...
Sunday, February 01, 2009
Super Bowl!!!
Ok...I think that even if I were Pavorotti/Justin Timberlake/Ray Charles and James Cleveland all rolled into one, I would NOT sing the National Anthem at the Super Bowl... even if they were offering me a whole huge wad o cash. Well, if I were that person, as wad of cash wouldnt be that significant, I hope. I mean, no one will ever top the Whiney Houston National Anthem from 1991 ( even though she lip synced it) and even Jennifer Hudson's seudo throwback anthem wasnt even close.... The Boss should have just sang "Glory Days" for 12 minutes...
...and the first 5 minutes of The Office was simply hilarious....
...and the first 5 minutes of The Office was simply hilarious....
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