A Member Of The 1% And Just Plain Stupid

I have always had a lot of empathy for anyone who serves tables at a restaurant. Even more now that my 17 year old daughter is waiting tables. It is a difficult job and many people make the lives of wait staff harder through unrealistic demands and down right stupid requests.

I once spent a lot of time with a woman who thought that wait staff were her personal whipping posts and misused them every time we went out to eat. Actually I stopped going to restaurants with her, and dating her,  after the fourth or fifth time we eat out as I could no longer put up with her behavior.

No meal came to her that was not returned to the kitchen without a complaint. Meals that had no problems were returned. It was not only embarrassing to me but disrespectful to people that were doing a very good job. It is my understanding that several restaurants have asked her not to return because of this behavior.

So when a story came across my desk about a mistreated waitress it perked my curiosity.

A waitress served lunch to two back executives without any hitches or problems. The food was well prepared and the service was excellent. As you can see from the above bill of fare $133.54 was spent on the meal.

As you review the check two things should be glaring out at you. First, the banker tipped $1.33 on a $133 check. ONE PERCENT!!

In a statement, posted at the blog Future Ex Banker, "A banker left a 1% tip in defiance of 'the 99%' at a Newport Beach restaurant the other week, according to his dining companion and underling who snapped a photo of the receipt". Future Ex Banker is the blog of this cretins lunch companion,

The blog further states, "Mention the “99%” in my boss’ presence and feel his wrath. So proudly does he wear his 1% badge of honor that he tips exactly 1% every time he feels the server doesn’t sufficiently bow down to his Holiness. Oh, and he always makes sure to include a “tip” of his own."

The "tip" of his own in this case was to tell the server to "get a real job." Read that again kiddies. This one percenter, who probably spent his morning foreclosing on someones house, not only under tipped but left an insult at the same time. The words 'what a pig' jumps into my mind.

I am not a supporter of the Occupy Movement for reasons I have stated before but I do have some sympathy for their core beliefs. I will also admit that I have leaned more toward the side of the 1 % on grounds that what a person earns, from the sweat of their labor, is theirs to use as they please.

I WAS WRONG!! I admit it now and in front of God and my readers.

While I still believe that what anyone earns is theirs to keep; I can no longer sit by and watch these self proclaimed 'American Royalty' abuse someone because they do not make a lot of money. It is a shame that the actions of a few wealthy stupid, bigoted and better than thou ground crawlers have to be the face of the 1 % but so be it. There are many wealthy Americans who would never indulge in this sort of behavior. Nor should anyone.

The blogger from Future Ex Banker explains how I feel perfectly, "I work in the corporate office of a major bank for a boss who represents everything wrong with the financial industry: blatant disregard and outright contempt for everyone and everything he deems beneath him. On top of that, he’s a complete and utter tool. At the same time, I’m still cashing paychecks, an admittedly willing—albeit reluctant—cog in the wheel of this increasingly ugly industry, so I’ve created this blog as a confessional of sorts. It won’t entirely clear my conscience, but hopefully it’ll help. I’m sure I’ll get fired eventually. Until then, enjoy."

I will follow this mans blog religiously and hopefully correspond with him on this topic.

To the credit of the restaurant that employees this waitress, True Food Kitchen, they are going to make this right for her. Many people that have responded to the blog want the restaurant to ban this customer. The manger has said that he would ban him but first he wants to have a chat with this idiot.

Oh to be a fly on the wall for that conversation.

Randy

Reasonable Accommodation~~A Human Attempt To Address Gods Little Experiments!

Simply put Reasonable Accommodation is a way of leveling the playing field for everyone. A way to make life 'fair'. Reasonable Accommodation has found its way into every aspect of our lives. Social, economic, work place, religion, physical ability and many other areas of daily life are affected.

Up front; I am not a proponent of legislating fairness. I believe that we make our lives the way they are and that if we want social or economic fairness we need to earn it. I believe that economic fairness, in most cases, is a situation that can be achieved through hard work and education. Society, much to the chagrin of that bleeding heart class of people, can not survive taking care of those who can but will not attempt to take care of themselves. Having said that, and with all of you thinking that I am a heartless bastard, I do have caveats.

Some times things happen that require human interaction to allow fairness to be applied evenly across the board. People with physical disabilities are probably in the largest category needing the application of reasonable accommodation. Through no faulty of their own they find themselves in a situation that requires a leveling of the playing field and I will be the first in line to help them achieve fairness in all aspects of their lives.

Reasonable Accommodation is a global concept with The United Nations out front pushing it. Most countries have some laws on the books in support of Reasonable Accommodation. Its scope has gone far beyond that of physical disabilities.

Being humans, and filled with more faults than one can enumerate, we need laws that push Reasonable Accommodation for religion and the work place. Trying to balance what is right for those in need of Reasonable Accommodation protection and those who need to provide it on the ground is like walking a tight rope.

The concept of Undue Hardship, balancing the needs of an entity that is responsible for providing Reasonable Accommodation with the entities needs for survival, was developed to assist in having fairness flow in all directions.

Lets say a small mom and pop store has a job opening and has a person with a physical disability apply for that job. They are qualified and the business wants to hire them. This particular business is located in an an older building that needs some construction to make access for a physically disabled employee to be accommodated. But the changes are expensive and beyond the reach of this particular business.

The question is, does a business have to go broke making changes that will meet the Reasonable Accommodation test? The simple answer is no.  By law they could be exempted form these changes while still employing the person in question. It is fair that the physically challenged person has been hired and it is also fair that the business can hire them without suffering financial hardship.

That is a quite simple example but I think you will get the idea. The key here is that a level of fairness is achieved.

Extending the Reasonable Accommodation concept to the religious or even political areas is made necessary because we are humans and in being human we tend to try and impose our will on others.

Left to our own devices stronger humans would force their wills upon the weaker ones. One does not have to read beyond the headlines to see the truth in that statement.

I believe that a level playing field is the right of everyone as long as those that take advantage of the Reasonable Accommodation concept actually need the assistance.

Those that can do for themselves need to get off their collective ass and join the rest of us making our own way in the world.

Randy

Restless Delusions!!

Walking along a grassy path after the road had run out I find myself wandering between two rows of trees. I am sure that they are fruit trees but I can not recognize them or the fruit that is hanging ripe from their branches. I am further confused because the fruit seems bountiful but the trees have no leaves.

I am walking with someone. No idea who. They are talking to me and I am answering but I seem to not understand what they are saying or what I am replying. They seem to understand the conversation perfectly.

Every so often we come upon a different kind of tree mixed into the rows of trees at haphazard positions. In the branches of these new trees are no fruit but lying or growing in their branches are mushroom caps. Mushroom caps that are inverted with their concave side facing upward. No mushroom stem is visible.

What I do see is small birds, of indiscriminate type, nesting within the mushroom caps. These birds are flying in and out of their nests feeding their young.

I hear someone, not my companion, telling me that these mushroom caps are valuable and that I should collect them. I am also told to be careful because these small delicate birds would attack me when I try to retrieve the mushroom caps.

I slowly start to climb one of these trees and start to reach for a mushroom. One of the birds sees me and transforms into a giant bird with frightening beak and talons.

Just as it begins to attack; I wake up.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It seems that with age I dream less frequently. Now my dreams come to me on nights when I am restless and worried about something. Or, as in the past month, when I am loaded with medication from my illness.

Last night I was neither restless, worried or medicated. That is why this dream is so surprising. I have not the slightest idea how to interpret this dream. Am I in search  of something? Who is my companion? Why can I not understand the conversation? Who is telling me about the value of the mushrooms? Why are the birds represented as they are?

I am sure a psychiatrist/psychologist would have a field day with an interpretation here. Personally I do not get upset when I have a dream of this nature as with some rational thought I can get a grasp on the cause and work out a course correction.

I have always believed that dreams are our subconscious telling us that there is a situation that needs our attention. Honestly I am at a loss with this dream.

I am at a point in my life where I am quite happy, in a very good relationship, writing better than ever and drawing closer to my family.

So why a dream that is so vivid and realistic?

I found a site that gives meanings/interpretations to key things found in our dreams. I am not sure that I agree with what is laid out at the site but lets look at them.

Trees - To see bare trees in your dream indicate used up energy. You have put your all into some relationship or project and now you are exhausted. Perhaps you are even feeling depressed. Alternatively, the dream signifies the cycle of life or the passage of time.

Mushrooms - To see mushrooms in your dream signify unhealthy pleasures and unwise decisions in your waking life. Things that come too quickly have a tendency to disappear just as quick. Learn to appreciate the things you have.

Birds - To see a bird nest in your dream symbolizes independence, refuge and security. You need something to fall back on. Alternatively, it may signify a prosperous endeavor, new opportunities, and fortune.

Talking - To dream that you are talking does not have any significance unless it is unusual or bizarre. What are you saying specifically. Consider also if what you say evoke strong feelings or behavioral reactions. The dream may simply be highlighting your need improve your communication skills or learn to express yourself more clearly.

Grass - To see green grass in your dream suggests that there is a part of yourself that you can always rely on. The dream is also symbolic of natural protection. Also consider the phrase "the grass is always greener on the other side." Do you always compare yourself with others and look at what other people have?

You have to know who you are talking to to get an interpretation of what they mean to the dream. My companion was indescribable.

So if we were to use the above interpretations as a guide my dream may have meant that I am tired, unhealthy, looking for a fall back, in need of improved communication and a loner who is in need of

finding ways to validate my life.

HMMMM!!

Lets see; I am tired and unhealthy as I am just now getting over bouts of bronchitis and pneumonia. I am looking for alternate income sources to supplement my retirement. I am, at times, a lousy verbal communicator which is why I use my writing to communicate for me. And finally I am a loner and validating my life seems to be a driving force for me.

Welcome to my world kiddies, lol. I am not sure that I believe my dream interpretation and I am sure it could be interpreted in a million different ways. It was fun to take a stab at trying to understand what I dreamed.

Or it could have been caused by the wonderful but very spicy Indian food I had for lunch yesterday.

Randy

An Enemy Lurks Within Our Country That Is So Vile It Will End Our Country As We Know It!

For 100 years we have let this organization expand and grow right under our noses. The effect on our young, especially young girls, has been devastating and will lead to our downfall as a major world power.

Under the guise of a youth organization they have peddled a drug to us that each year millions of Americans line up for and buy at any price.  I have seen with own eyes the devastating affect this drug has on our population when it is not readily available.

But one Indiana lawmaker is speaking out for all of us who are to weak from consuming this life altering hallucinogen. Rep. Bob Morris (R-Fort Wayne)  has stepped up to try and stop this menace and save us from a horrible fate.

That's right!1 The Girl Scouts are secretly plotting the downfall of our great nation by feeding us cookies that make us lose control and give up our freedoms.

Their plot is insidious according to Rep. Bob Morris (R-Fort Wayne). "Morris said he found online allegations that the Girl Scouts are a tactical arm of Planned Parenthood, encourage sex and allow transgender females to join. He also wrote that the fact that first lady Michelle Obama is honorary president should give lawmakers pause before they endorse the Girl Scouts."

OMG!! This plot goes all the way to the White House. I have been diligently searching each of the 30 boxes, of what I know realize is a drug being used to control my behavior, for condoms and Planned Parenthood propaganda.

I am searching the Internet for Mrs Obama's fingerprints on this plot and for the smoking cookie I know has to be in her possession.

Rep. Morris goes further with his allegations. "Morris goes on to say those considered role models by the Girl Scouts are all "feminists, lesbians, or Communists" and claims that troops are no longer allowed to pray or sing Christmas Carols."

The indoctrination of our young women is appalling. Morris even revealed that 'transgendered children' were being recruited to further degrade our way of life.

Look at this group of criminals in the making. I believe the one in the 'duck costume' is the ring leader.

Lets take this by the numbers: 1. Rep Morris should be voted out of office as soon as possible and replaced with someone that actually is from this planet. The man is a blight on the fabric that makes up The United States.

2. His wife should divorce him NOW so his two daughters have a chance to grow to be normal women who are not stuck in their fathers fantasy.

3. The Republican Party should distance themselevs from those that have caught his disease and repeat any of this bull.

Finally, and how do I put this gently so as not to upset that segment of society that lives with a freaking tree(not a stick) up their over sized ass; homosexuality is not a choice but it is a fact.

What is a choice is to be STUPID or not. It seems that some segments of the American public CHOOSE to be stupid. The real crime in all their chosen stupidity is that they infect their own children and plant their ignorant fantasies on their children firtile fields.

It is to bad that Stupidity is not a reason to have Social Services step in and save these children. Stupidity is every bit a destructive drug as cocain.

Randy

What Are You Willing To Do To Ensure Your Childrens Success?

What Are You Willing To Do To Ensure Your Childrens Success?

A very good question that every parent and parent want to be needs to ask themselves. The answer for me has always been easy. I would and have done anything necessary to teach them to be self sufficient and responsible. To give them what ever they need to succeed in life.

But when I read these stories about parents who do nothing for their children beyond dropping them into the world it sickens me. We are in a constant argument about when life begins so we can try and solve our abortion issues but we never seem to want to discuss when our childrens 'independent lives' start.

What is worse many people want to have children and care little about the futures that face those children. Weak parental responsibility has been the foundation for several generations of weak citizens. This coupled with the governments willingness to continue fostering dependence rather than teach independence and responsibility may be the fodder that brings down this great country.

Primo Carnera was a boxer who once held the Worlds Heavy Weight Title. He was also the only person to also hold the World Wrestling Title. But it is not his athletic career that I want to talk about. I want to talk about Primo Carnera the man, the husband and the father.

Primo was raised poor during WWI. In his words "I was always hungry". Hunger is a motivator for many people.

He was not an educated man but he understood what was important in life. He understood, as my parents understand, that each generation of a family should strive to do better than the last generation. He knew that it was the responsibility of his generation to lay the ground work for the sucess of his decendents.

No Primo Carnera was not an educated man but he held wisdom beyond education. He knew how life should work and his place in the sceme of that life.

I have taken so many blows in my life. So many.. But I'd do it again. Because all the blows I got helped my kids to study.~~Primo Carnera

Primo took what God had given him, size and desire to succeed, and parlayed that into a future for his family. It was not an easy road. Stepping into the ring with men intent on destroying him, bout after bout, he forged his families future with every punch he took.

He made sure that the sacrifices he made, and I am sure shortened his life, counted toward a better future for his children.

It worked!! He has two children that he can look down at and see the results of his sacrifice. His son Umberto is a physician and his daughter Giovanna is a psycholgist.

It would not have made a difference if Primo was a world class boxer or a person who boxed groceries because his desire, his understanding of parental responsibility and his outlook on life would have driven him to do what ever it takes to give his children a chance.

There are millions of parents like Primo Carnera struggling with providing for their children and they will succeed. It is all worth it.

It is infortunate that some parents are not willing to help their own children succeed. I am not a proponent of the 'It takes a village' train of thought but in this case, in any case, where children's futures are involved that village needs to step up.

Randy

Blue Laws~~Misguided Religious Influence!

When I first moved to North Carolina, in 1986, 'Blue Laws' were in their waining years but were still alive and kicking. Recently I sided with religious organizations and churches over their fight with President Obama over contraception but my hate for these antiquated Blue Laws is a well know fact among people who know me.

A blue law is a type of law, typically found in the United States and, formerly, in Canada, designed to enforce religious standards, particularly the observance of Sunday as a day of worship or rest, and a restriction on Sunday shopping. Most have been repealed, have been declared unconstitutional, or are simply unenforced.

Where I live in North Carolina business was shut down on Sunday and on Wednesday afternoons so people could attend to their spiritual lives.

Simply put, in most places in the south, Blue Laws were an attempt by religious organizations to control peoples religious behavior.

So how do laws like this get passed? Personally I believe that two factors play into their passage. First, many ministers here are activist and run for elected office. Once elected they use their elected office to advance their religious agenda.

Secondly, Ministers, being such a revered member of a community and many times leaders of large congregations, were and still are to some extent feared by their congregants. With the fear of damnation hanging over ones head convincing congregants to vote your way was an easy task.

I experienced the strength, albeit misguided, of ministers in our area in the late 1980's. I lived in a county where liquor by the drink was illegal to sell. People still had to carry a bottle into a place, by the setups(mixers) and consume the entire bottle before they left or have it tossed out. A recipe for drunk drivers for sure.

Late in the 80's our local state representatives pushed a liquor by the drink law through the state legislature. When it passed quite a few business said that they would open in  town, including restaurants, a mall and hotels.

This particular law was unconstitutional as it did require a vote of the people. Our ministers knew this and sued getting the law over turned but the state legislature did call for a vote. So for several months we went back to our old ways while we all waited to vote. This vote broke the stranglehold ministers had on their congregants as liquor by the drink was overwhelmingly passed.

But the result of this several month delay cost us most of that new business and many jobs. A shame as soon after we lost our manufacturing base and are now experiencing high unemployment.

'Separation of Church and State' is a two way street. If churches want the government to stay out of their pews then churches need to stay out of the business of influencing law.

I realize that it would be naive of me to think that either group would tend to their own gardens and stop poaching across each others fences. One can only hope!!

Randy

What Is A Factoid And Why The Hell Should We Care About Them?

I have been told that 'factoids' are like the hemorrhoids of the information age. Now that is just plain silly. They are more like the dingle berry's of the information age; always dandling around and only noticed when they become significant.

The dictionary definition for factoid is 1. an insignificant or trivial fact or 2. something fictitious or unsubstantiated that is presented as fact, devised especially to gain publicity and accepted because of constant repetition.


I would present to you a third possibility. A factoid is information that is floating around, is true but is also inconvenient to the present belief structure. Under this definition I have questions that I want answered .

1. Is it true that most of what Americans spend their money on is made in China?
2. Is it true that we owe most of our debt to China?
3. Is it true that we get most of our oil from the Middle East?


These three questions are core beliefs for Americans. Most of us believe that China owns us, that our purchases are flooded with Chinese goods and that the Middle East supplies us with the majority of our oil supplies.

It is time for a reality check!!!

Fact: Just 2.7% of personal consumption expenditures go to Chinese-made goods and services. 88.5% of U.S. consumer spending is on American-made goods and services.

This information comes from a Federal Reserve report.  From the Bureau of Labor Statistics; Chinese imports still account for just a small fraction of U.S. spending. Just 6.4% of non durable goods -- things like food, clothing and toys -- purchased in the U.S. are made in China; 76.2% are made in America. For durable goods -- things like cars and furniture -- 12% are made in China; 66.6% are made in America.

Fact: China owns 7.6% of U.S. government debt outstanding.

That is a far cry from being owned by China. Does China own a lot of our debt? Yes, but it's a qualified yes. Of all Treasury debt held by foreigners, China is indeed the largest owner ($1.13 trillion), followed by Japan ($1 trillion) and the U.K. ($429 billion).

So who owns the rest of our debt. Well, The largest holder of U.S. debt is the federal government itself. Various government trust funds like the Social Security trust fund own about $4.4 trillion worth of Treasury securities. The Federal Reserve owns another $1.6 trillion.

The interest we are paying on the debt owned by the Federal Government is paid directly back to our own treasury. Do you see the problem here. We are borrowing from ourselves to pay ourselves back.

Fact: Just 9.8% of oil consumed in the U.S. comes from the Middle East.

According the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the U.S. consumes 19.2 million barrels of petroleum products per day. Of that amount, a net 49% is produced domestically. The rest is imported.

Of the oil imported from the Persian Gulf region -- which includes Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates -- made up 9.8% of total petroleum supplied to the United. States.

The U.S. imports more than twice as much petroleum from Canada and Mexico than it does from the Middle East. Add in the share produced domestically, and the majority of petroleum consumed in the U.S. comes from North America.

All these figures change yearly and I urge you all to check the governments own numbers and judge for yourselves.

This information has been available for years and has been floating around for years. We have become so bombarded by information about China, in regard to debt and consumption, and the Middle East, in regard to oil imports, that we have begun to believe our own propaganda.

There are truths dangling about in our little factoids of information but we, as citizens, have to do our homework to determine those truths.

Randy

What The Hell Is A Moderate And Why Does Everyone Court Them?

For a very long time I considered Moderates as people who could not decide what side of an issue they believed was the right side. I have learned two important things about my original premise; 1. moderates are more complicated than the whishy washy people I thought them to be and 2. I am a moderate. Who Knew?

Now that I believe myself to be a moderate I feel qualified to define them. A Moderate Political Being is one that looks at each individual issue and decides where they stand without influence from either the right or left  portions of the political spectrum. Of course that was a 'pure' definition and one that in reality does not exist.

Each Moderate, while looking at issues individually and not along party lines, does retain their core political values thereby pushing them either right or left of the political spectrum. That leaves us with two distinct groups within the moderate category.

Moderate Liberal - One who holds the core values of the liberal agenda but differs in thought on one or more issues.

Moderate Conservative (where I would place myself) - One who holds the core values of the conservative agenda but differs in thought on one or more issues.

In my case I differ from pure conservatives on the issues of abortion, birth control and gay rights. In matters of taxes, spending, the military and government intrusion into our lives  I am in lock step with my party.

In most circumstances each of these two groups would vote with their parties, especially on a national level, unless a candidate was so far left or right as to totally impinge upon their way of thinking. I have this problem with Mr. Santorum. His stance on gay rights and abortion I find abhorrent and voting for him would be a bitter pill for me to swallow.

On the other hand; voting for Mr. Romney would be difficult as I find him to easily swayed to keep Obamacare in tact and I have many problems with that program.

A difficult problem indeed.

Elections on a local level are less prone to the influence of the moderate class as local issues are more practical than they are political.

It is claimed that no person can win a Presidency without the Moderate Vote. I believe this to be true as there are many more moderate voters up for grabs than true conservatives or liberals.

I think the key here is to vote your conscience, or use a Ouija Board, flip a coin, cut the cards or vote for the person with the best looking wife. How ever you choose to make your picks please make sure you get out and vote.

Voting is more than a right~~It's a responsibility!!

Randy 

Constitutional~~A Concept That Is Lost On Obama!!

Most of this past week has been spent arguing about whether Obamacare should force religious based organizations, who are against contraception, to provide contraception as part of their health care plans. There was a ground swell of opposition and the President changed his mind and modified his stance.

But what really went on here???

First of all the Presidential powers, under the Constitution, does not extend to a forced mandate on anything. So Mr Obama  stepped outside of his constitutional powers when making the original order.

His compromise is no better. Now he is mandating that all insurance companies that provide coverage to religious based organizations provide contraception free to subscribers if it is not included in the health plan.

Basically the President now has unconstitutionally mandated that insurance companies carry the burden of contraception. It seems many people are satisfied with this development. They should be outraged!! But we are living in a time where all corporations are supposed to be evil so to many this is another way to screw corporations.

What is really going on here kiddies?? Is this really a fight over who should or should not pay for contraception?? In my mind contraception is the least of our concerns here.

What we have going on is the usurping of 'Constitutional Powers' by a President that wants to move this country away from a 'Representative Republic' to a pure 'Democracy'. One in which Mr Obama clearly sees himself as being the majority and can and will do as he pleases.

By saying it is alright for insurance companies to carry the burden of contraception or any particular procedure; we are playing into the hands of those who have little use for 'OUR CONSTITUTION'.

Any attack on The Constitution is an attack on our basic rights. Rights that should be guarded as sacred to all of us.

Keep your eyes open!! This will not be the last assault on our rights.  If he gets a second term he will bet the Constitution in a crap game like a drunken sailor.

Randy

Corporations Are People Too But I Would Not Want To Marry One~~Or Would I?

The Supreme Court of the United States, on a day when I am sure all the justices were high as kites and out hunting Twinkies, have declared that 'corporations are people'. Corporations are people!! Corporations are people!! Corporations are people!!  Corporations are people!!  Corporations are people!!  Corporations are people!! Corporations are people!! Corporations are people!!

I have to keep repeating that as I read the articles and still can not believe that this can possibly be true. How are we to react to this revelation?

           Well that was my first reaction, lol. A very good litmus test for being a person.

"In America, corporations are people and money is speech." This is basically what the courts have ruled. I see so many pitfalls here. How the courts could make a decision like this escapes me.

This decision has led to the formation of 'super pacs'. Entities that can collect money in any amounts and spend that money any way they want in support or against a political candidate. In essence, super pacs can buy elections with the support of the very rich.

Far fetched you say? It is my understanding that the super pac supporting Mitt Romney is mostly funded by 20 some wealthy people. So these people are behind the attacks that are sinking the campaigns of Romney's opponents.

"A funny thing happened to the First Amendment on its way to the public forum. It was hijacked.
According to the Supreme Court, money is now speech, and corporations are now people."

"Yet when real people without money assemble to express their dissatisfaction with the political consequences of this, they're treated as public nuisances -- clubbed, pepper-sprayed, thrown out of public parks and evicted from public spaces."~~Robert B. Reich

While I am not an Occupy supporter in this instance I do have some sympathy for them. It seems ludicrous to place corporations and money on the same level as people. But here we are at that very  place in our history where Microsoft is an equal in the First Amendment with Humans.

 I wonder how far away we are from corporations being granted the right to vote? How sad a day that would be for us all.

On the upside, if corporations are people than they have all the rights of people. So I want to marry one and have it support me in a life of luxury.

I am getting on bended knee for the Merck corporation and asking her to marry me. She may be an old gal but she has a solid foundation and has the shekels to make me a very happy house husband. I wonder how she is in bed?

Randy

The Bill For Your Freedom Is Due~~~How Will You Pay It?

We have protesters and occupiers all over the country spending the freedom they have been given on the backs of our veteran's. We have politicians playing politics with that lives of our veteran's and our active duty soldiers. It is time folks for those who benefit from the sacrifice of our armed forces to step up and make sure that they and their families are supported.

I have been seeing a lot of these quotes showing up on FaceBook lately and I am happy to see that people, well some people, are paying attention. I am an admitted flag waver. Actually those who know me well can tell you that I wear an invisible flag on my sleeve at all times. I will never apologize for my outward display of patriotism and neither should anyone.

I served in the United States Army toward the end of the Vietnam War. Serving in the military is something our family has always done. Even my grandfather, at the age of 46 and after having been turned down for enlistment during WWI, tried to join the military in 1941 when his three sons volunteered.

When I enlisted I did not expect any parades when I got home and believe me there were none offered. We did our duty and we came home to start our lives. My welcome home from the war was given to me on Veteran's Day 1997 at a school ceremony by my son, who was 7 years old. It was the first time since my discharge, 1976, that anyone thanked me for my service. Thank God things have changed.

At the San Antonio, Texas airport in December 2009, when I was there for my sons graduation from Medics training, I heard something that I would have loved to hear when I was in uniform. My son was in uniform and while we were waiting for our flight to be called  passersby stopped and thanked him for his service. Total strangers!!!  A far cry from my day when we were told not to wear our uniforms off post because it would upset people.

I could tell he was proud. Hell I was proud. Up until that point, and based on my experience, I had believed my son had made a mistake in serving. I was very wrong!!

Personal experiences aside; we as a people need to impress on our government that balancing the budget on the backs of our uniformed services is an affront to all who have served this country since he Revolution.

Their sacrifices can never be fully repaid but we should make an attempt to do so. Good pay, quality health care for them and their families, decent housing, good schools for their children, college educations, a high quality of life and every bit of equipment they need to accomplish the missions we send them on should never be up for debate.

I would ask every citizen who has benefited from their sacrifices, and that would be every last one of us, to demand that our government put these men and women first and cut things we do not need. Send phone calls, letters, emails, texts, twitters and if Occupy wants to do something worthwhile go occupy the White House and Congress and demand that our military be taken off the chopping block.

They have been paying Freedoms Bill for all of us. It's time we stood by them and make sure that they are thanked for their service.

Randy

The Misinterpreted Word!!

Words are powerful tools in everyday life. They, when used properly, can make ones career fruitful. When used improperly they can crush ambition. When misrepresented or misinterpreted they can destroy a person on both personal and professional levels.

The news media should be a guardian for the spoken work. It is their job to dissect words spoken by news worthy individuals and make an attempt to explain that persons meaning or intent. Far to often news media, many of which seem to have an agenda, pounce upon words to cause controversy. These people are not just reporting the news but also making themselves part of the story. There is no one ideology to blame here as all seem to be guilty of this to differing degrees.

The ones that irk me the most are those that grab a part of a statement, concentrate on it and misrepresent the speakers thoughts. I find this especially appalling in political reporting. The reporter takes a statement that has clear meaning when read in its entirety and slices the most controversial words out to cause a stir.

It matters not that a statement, taken in its entirety, contains a solid idea. By dissecting out what they feel will make the statement argumentative they assure themselves a controversy and at the same time play favorite to their way of thinking. If anyone truly believes that there is no bias in reporting they are suffering form delusions.

Gingrich, Dec. 10: What I suggested was, kids ought to be allowed to work part-time in school, particularly in the poorest neighborhoods, both because they could use the money.

If you take one-half of the New York janitors who are unionized and paid more than the teachers, an entry-level janitor gets paid twice as much as an entry-level teacher. You take half of those janitors, you could give virtually– you could give lots of poor kids a work experience in the cafeteria and the school library and– and front office, and a lot of different things. I’ll stand by the idea, young people ought to learn how to work.

What the media concentrated on here was that Gingrich wanted to make poor 12 year olds work as janitors. There was little or no discussion about what was actually Gingrich's point.

Simply put, so even a liberal biased reporter could understand, Gingrich was suggesting that work be used to teach America's youth the value of money, how to make a living and how to be responsible for a job. But most importantly how to develop a good work ethic. In a country where good work ethics have been thrown in the crapper this is a valuable lesson.

Gingrich's mistake was limiting this to youths in poorer circumstance and mentioning the word janitor. A better use of his vast vocabulary would have served this plan much better and would have given little fodder for reporters looking for any excuse to criticize.

Mitt Romney: "I'm not concerned about the very poor. We have a safety net there. If it needs a repair , I'll fix it. I'm not concerned about the very rich.... I'm concerned about the very heart of America, the 90-95 percent of Americans who right now are struggling... We will hear from the Democrat party, the plight of the poor.... You can focus on the very poor, that's not my focus."

What the media took from this was that Romney does not like poor people and cares little for them. That is not what he said or meant.

He acknowledged that poor but clearly states they have safety nets and they do. Safety nets that are not available for the middle class. It is the middle class that is in particular crisis right now. I clearly remember discussions by both Presidents Obama and Bush, during the last election, decrying the plight of the middle class. Romney was stating the obvious; we need to fix the middle class.

Did he say that he wanted to keep poor people poor? I think not!

Did he say that he did not want there plight to be improved? I think not!

He stated the obvious!  Fix the middle class problems and in turn we may turn the economy around. I am sure he is not so callas to want the worse for poor Americans.

By taking the path that the media took they guaranteed just a bit more controversy. Controversy sells kiddies!

Words are powerful especially in a world where they can and will be interpreted in many different ways. All of us need to weigh our words before we spew them at people.

If you say anything that can be interpreted as derogatory or not politically correct make sure you weigh your words carefully and then put them forth with explanations at the ready. If not at least be prepared to defend yourself.

Randy

Conflict Is Not To Be Ignored!!

In my quest to escape the religion of my youth, Cathothism, I searched for many years for a place to bank my faith. I found that refuge in Buddhism. But because, like so many other 'western converts' I did not fully understand what I was getting into. Something was missing and it took several years of continued search to put a finger on it.

Lewis Richmomd, who is a Buddhist writer and teacher, wrote "One meme that mainstream society has absorbed about Buddhism is that it is all about peacefulness and calm. That is not untrue, but it is not the whole story. Buddhism is a wisdom path leading to being fully awake as a human being, and that human realm includes conflict of all kinds -- family conflict, interpersonal conflict, power struggles, trauma and abuse -- in Zorba the Greek's words, "the full catastrophe."

I found my answers in that paragraph. I was so engrossed in avoiding conflicts that I lost sight as to how valuable conflict was to my personal growth. To my personal peace.

This avoidance reflex that I developed invaded all aspects of my life causing what should have/could have been a hilly but easily passable path to one filled with mountains and steep valleys. I was actually making my journey harder than it needed to be. This was never more evident than in my personal relationships.

If I had stepped up and handled my conflicts before I allowed them to grow into tsunamis life may well have turned out differently. I can equate this to receiving a letter from the Internal Revenue Service that states you owe back taxes. The first letter is cordial and you ignore it. Each successive letter gets less cordial until there is a knock on your door.

I ignored my 'letters of conflict' from my life until my doors were kicked wide open and my life sent swirling into turmoil.

Once I realized that I was allowing this to happen to me my life began to change. On the upside I have learned a valuable lesson. On the downside it took me most of my life to learn it.

Now I face whatever conflict presents itself. I dissect it, look at ways to ameliorate the conflict and choose a path that best gets me to the other side of it. Of course that sounds simpler than it actually is because not all conflicts mold themselves into a single solution path. Every conflict is unique to its circumstance. Every conflict presents with different solutions.

The point here is that every time you face a conflicted situation and solve it you learn a little more about yourself and just as important about other people. You will teach yourself strategies to solve your conflicts and in turn make your life a tad easier.

Yes; face your conflicts. But do not go crashing into them like a bull in a china shop. If you do that you will not find a satisfactory solution but may even find yourself sent back to start your journey all over.

Easy does it. Time, meditation and rational thought will carry the day.

Randy

We Can Not Apply 21st Century Values To 18th Century Realities!!

In light of February being Black History Month; let me preface what I am going to write so that there is no misunderstanding as to my position. Slavery is the most despicable condition one human being can impart upon another. It is an institution that had existed thousands of years before the establishment of the United States and in the 18th century found itself to be in its final throes of existence as a wide spread disease.

The holding of one human being, by another, is an act that God will judge at the proper time and I believe His judgement will be devastating to the perpetrators.

Having said that; I want to address how we apply our 21st century politically correct values to the realities of the 18th century that our Founding Father found themselves living.

It is a fact that many of our Founding Fathers, especially those who lived in one of the Southern States, owned slaves. It is also true that some, Thomas Jefferson for example, had families with slaves under their ownership. These are indisputable facts written into our history and little mentioned by historians until we reached 'The Age Of Political Correctness'.

Lets look at this in the light of the 18th century rather than the high beams of our politically correct 21st century sport utility vehicles.

Slavery, in the 18th century, was a reality that many questioned but few had any desire to dismantle. The contradictions between a 'colonial fight for freedom and the condition of slavery' was not as clear than as it is now. The lines between the two would have been quite blurry.

The business of Revolution, the establishment of a new form of government and the survival of the colonial armies in the field were far more pressing matters than the abolishment of slavery. It is my opinion that our Founding Fathers would never have been able to mold together a country if the elimination slavery was on the table. As harsh as that seems it is fact that we need to come to grips.

Some things had to be shelved in order to get The United States off the ground. The abolishment of slavery, women's rights and most other social conditions were over shadowed by laying the ground work for this country.

Some 80 years later we paid a heavy price for shelving slavery as a topic for discussion. But I firmly believe that the polarization that a discussion of the abolishment of slavery would have thrown upon the 'Constitutional Congress' may well have caused the losing of this country to arguments that could not have reached a satisfactory conclusion in 1776.

Now, some 200 plus years later and in the light of 'political correctness' we find many people trashing the Founding Fathers for their positions on and participation in the institution of slavery. Some argue that 'revisionist history' is harmful. I do not believe that historical truth is harmful nor undesirable. Truth is truth and is always better told than fallacies or fantasies.

On the other hand; truth without placing that truth in the context of the age in which it applies, is a misrepresentation of historical fact. If the Constitution Congress was being held today slavery could be discussed and abolished within the framework of the constitution. We have seen the errors of our ways and made our corrections.

In the late 18th century; slavery was a fact of life that was not going to enter into the discussion. It was a disease that many saw as divisive and necessary at the same time. It was a stain on our national character.

In any discussion of the Founding Fathers it is necessary to eschew their culpability in the history of slavery in The United States. But please do not diminish their work by making it the only issue.

Human beings suffered through 80 some more years of slavery post establishment if this country. The alternative, not having this country established, would have had profound consequences on world history far more devastating than those 80 years imparted.

Those Black Americans who were the recipients of the disease of slavery during those years leading up to the civil war are every bit a patriot as those that took up arms in our revolution.  Their suffering can never be apologized for as they have long departed us. Although our behavior toward one another can serve as a testament to their sacrifices.

While revising history to reflect the short comings of our Founding Fathers lets not lose sight of their accomplishments.

While revising history lets remember the sacrifice of our Black Americans that suffered those 80 years while we came to our senses as a nation.

Randy

The Worlds Women Use A Diabolical Technique To Control The Male Population!!

It has long been know that certain techniques control male behavior and those techniques, when done properly, can give the wielder vast control. Combining a proven technique with the diabolical mind of a woman and the lack of the ability for conscious thought, in males, once the little head takes control from the big head makes women a formidable mistress indeed.

Last week Mr Steve Hornsby found 'blue jelly like balls' on his lawn after a hail storm. These 'blue balls' were extremely delicate and when touched disintegrated into a water like liquid. Mr Hornsby found about 25 of these objects while inspecting for hail damage.

I believe that the 'Organization for Global Female Control' had obtained these samples of 'blue and abused male testicles' for further research into there plan on using the 'Blue Ball Technique' to control male behavior and dominate the world.

'Blue Balls', for those of you living in caves or who have never had the pleasure of a woman, occur when a man becomes sexually excited, the arteries carrying blood to the genital area enlarge, while the veins carrying blood from the genital area are more constricted than in the non-aroused state.

This uneven blood flow causes an increase in volume of blood trapped in the genitals and contributes to the penis becoming erect and the testicles becoming engorged with blood. During this process of vasocongestion the testicles increase in size 25-50 percent.

If the male reaches orgasm and ejaculates, the arteries and veins return to their normal size, the volume of blood in the genitals is reduced and the penis and testicles return to their usual size rather quickly.

If ejaculation does not occur there may be a lingering sensation of heaviness, aching, or discomfort in the testicles due to the continued vasocongestion. This unpleasant feeling has popularly been called blue balls, perhaps because of the bluish tint that appears when blood engorges the vessels in the testicles.

Putting it in layman's terms, a woman stimulates a man to the point just shy of ejaculation and then literally 'leaves him hanging'. The pain can be excruciating and has to be relieved but to further prolong the agony; women pick this exact moment to decide to do something in public view so as to deny her male companion a chance to seek relief. Something like antiquing or visiting her mother.

In extreme cases the female will take her bluish and aching man to Victoria Secrets to window shop. Men have actually slipped into comas when entering Victoria Secrets while in the blue ball condition.

When a man in is this condition he will do anything to finally reach the point of relief. ANYTHING!!! How do you think so many men wind up eating dinner at their mother -in - laws house every Sunday.

But there is a much more diabolical plan in place here. Women are using this technique to get what they want and that includes all facets of our lives. Political decisions turn on a mans need for a hand job.

Global financial decisions are made in haste as men seek a few minutes of privacy to handle their situation.

Governments have fallen on the promise of oral sex for relief of the blue ball condition.

Men you must be prepared to battle back and protect your selves. 'Premature Ejaculation' can be your friend here. It takes the power out of her hands and puts it in yours.

Mental exercises to force the 'big head' to supersede the 'little heads' thoughts are mandatory in this battle and should be practiced daily.

   Woman have become so bold that they are forcing Blue Ball Cereal down our throats.

The alternative to preparing yourself for this situation is to give in to female domination of our species and complete sublimation of your manhood.

A mans 'manhood' should swing freely and be a nice healthy color. Take this situation into your own hands and massage it into a climax that all males can be proud.

Love ya,
Randy

PS.....A few penises had to be sacrificed to gather this information. I salute them with an erect and healthy member!!