Boston Baked Grits

Cuts in Government Spending

2011-05-10T05:22:00.001-07:00

It really amazes me that so many people seem to not understand what it means to be making huge cuts in federal government spending while the economy is still weak. Thousands of government employes are being layed off. Many more thousands of government contractor employees are being layed off. With the current economy, and in places where a high percentage of people work for the government, most of those people are not going to find new jobs soon. As a result, many of them will have to start collecting unemployment from the state, or retire early if they are old enough and start collecting Social Security. Is that really going to help the economy?
And what about the support system for all those government workers? Here in Northern Virginia, as well as D.C. and Maryland, restaurants that sold meals to a lot of those government workers are loosing business and some have already shut down. The same is true of some gas stations and service stations. Commuter trains and commuter buses are also seeing drops in business. Yet many are insisting on many more cuts. Do we need a 30% unemployment rate to convince some people that cuts, cuts, and more cuts is not the solution?

Shut Down the Government

2011-04-08T07:35:00.000-07:00

So it looks like the forst accomplishment of the tea party will be to shut down the government. That sounds more like anarchists than conservatives.

Ripoff Alert: Perfect Fit Button

2010-02-03T00:02:00.000-08:00

I should know better than to order any product from an infomercial style commercial. I ordered the Perfect Fit Button set advertised on TV that allows you to expand or shrink your waist by adding a new button. The set is advertised for a somewhat reasonable $10. But they add on $13.95 shipping for a little pack of four buttons! And they are very careful not to reveal the shipping and handling charge until the order is finalized. Isn't that illegal? If not, it should be.

Bailing out Banks

2009-01-28T06:45:00.000-08:00

The banks have been really grateful that us taxpayers are bailing them out. So far, I've received thank you letters from two of the three that I have credit cards from informing me that my interest rates were being increased, in fact, more than doubled. So forgive me if I'm not too sympathetic next time they ask for bailout money.

Happy Thansgiving 2008

2008-11-27T01:45:00.000-08:00

Bailing out Corporations

2008-11-15T05:34:00.000-08:00

I don't know why it surprises so many then people are reluctant to bail out the big corporations. For decades they have treated the public like prey to feed off of rather than associates to provide for. I for one don't want may tax money used to perpetuate that concept of business no matter how many jobs are saved. What we need if for a new outlook from the corporate giants so they operate more like co-ops. Than people will be willing to bail them out and save jobs.

Election Over

2008-11-14T13:27:00.000-08:00

Well the election is finally over. I can take my phone off sleep mode (do not disturb) since I will no longer be getting 5 or 6 robo calls a day. Overall, I am happy with the elections results.

Democratic Primary Schedule

2008-05-11T08:20:00.000-07:00

I really don't understand the Democratic party officials complaining that Hillary Clinton is hurting the party by staying in the race. Did Clinton set the schedule for the primaries? I don't think so. If the party wants the primaries to be over by May, than they should schedule them so all all states and territories have voted by May (which I am completely in favor of doing) and not tell one candidate to drop out for the good of the party. It would make sense if Hillary only had ten or twenty percent of the delegates so far, but that is not the case so there is no good reason for her to quit.

My Poetry Blog

2008-03-30T05:47:00.000-07:00

I completed my poetry class and I've been adding poems to my poetry blog, so if you like poetry,
take a look.

Democrats and Republicans

2008-03-30T05:44:00.000-07:00

With all the news stories about the candidates in recent weeks, one thing stands out to me. Democrats are making history while Republicans are trying to relive history, preferably ancient.

Another Cruise Vacation Picture

2008-03-16T08:49:00.000-07:00

Another picture from my cruise vacation. This is from the fruit and veggie carving demo on the pool deck.

Cruise Vacation

2008-03-12T14:00:00.000-07:00

I'm back from vacation. I took a seven-day Western Caribbean cruise on the Celebrity Millennium. It's a very nice ship and I enjoyed all the on board activities and the shore excursions.

Potomac Primaries

2008-02-13T03:12:00.000-08:00

The Potomac Primaries are over and Obama won all three. I wonder how many Republicans in Virginia voted for him. I know some did. I heard them talking in the line, saying "why bother to vote in the Republican primary when McCain has it locked? Vote for Obama in the Democratic primary instead." And that's what they did.

Primary in Virginia

2008-02-10T13:43:00.000-08:00

This Tuesday, Feb 12th is the primary here in Virginia. A lot of people say everyone should get out and vote. I am one of the few who disagree. I think those who haven't bothered to find out where the candidates stand on the issues should stay home rather than just making random choices.

Random thoughts

2008-01-27T04:20:00.000-08:00

The political fighting is getting fierce as we close in on super Tuesday and Hillary Clinton and Barach Obama are running very close. After yesterday, it may be time for Hillary to put a gag on Bill. Republicans are also continuing to hold primaries for no apparent purpose. Where are the independents in this election? I guess we won't here from them until the primaries are over.

A crazy little bird seems to have moved into my house for the winter. In the guest bedroom, of course. He gets in and out using the dog door. The weird thing is, my dogs are OK with this. They are not chasing the bird around like they usually do when a bird or wild animal gets in the house.

While I'm not fond of the whiny "Leave Britney Alone" video, I was shocked to read that most of the thousands of comments it has received say something like "Stewpid Fag, git Aids and DIE!" including the spelling mistakes. Are we still that immature? I had hopes that we were starting to grow up.

2008

2008-01-03T14:50:00.000-08:00

Two-oh-oh-eight, a brand new year
We welcome it with lots of cheer
but we don't know what it will bring
While we drink and dance and sing.

We hope to see a year of growth
As politicians take an oath.
We hope to see a rise in spirit
As I learn to be a poet.

We wish to see an end of war
But know that would be such a chore.
It's really easy to start a fight,
To live in peace takes all out might.

And an end to hunger too
Or children dying from the flu
And people living in a box
That wouldn't hold a half-grown ox.

To see the end of corporate greed
And learning to actually fill a need
Instead of pushing us to buy
With marketing tricks that make me sigh.

One year cannot fix all that
But at least the bee is in your hat
And maybe now you'll think sometimes
Before you spend those nickels and dimes.

Originally published in my poetry blog Crayons in the Sun.

Performance Enhancement Drugs

2007-12-30T03:46:00.000-08:00

I'm not against performance enhancement drugs.
I think it's wrong fro professional athletes to use them, but what about politicians?
I think the Bush administration could really benifit from them.
With a double dose for the big Dubya himself.

Christmas

2007-12-25T02:18:00.000-08:00

Christmas Icons

Wierd Critters

2007-12-22T14:18:00.000-08:00

I am fascinated by the strange and weird critters of the world. That is one reason why I took up SCUBA diving.Here are a few of the strange animals that I find interesting:

Sea Urchins, especially the type commonly found in the Caribbean. These little animals, about the size of a golf ball, are covered on top with spines that often reach five or six inches long! Not something you would want to mess with. Yet they are afraid to sleep alone in the open. Urchins hunt at night and if they can't find a rock to crawl under when the sun comes up, they will cluster together in groups for protection while they sleep.

Salmon. If you put a salt water fish in fresh water it will die. Likewise, if you put a fresh water fish in salt water it will die. Salmon are born in fresh water as fresh water fish. But when it reaches a certain age, it starts to swim toward the sea. As it gets closer to the ocean, it starts changing. By the time it reaches the sea, it will be a salt water fish and spend the next three or four years in the ocean. It thens return inland to the place it was born, changing again into a fresh water fish, where it spawns, then dies.

Cicadas, the Peter Pan bugs. Depending on the particular variety, cicadas spend from one to seventeen years underground living as immature larvae. Once they surface and become adults, they mate then die within a few days.

Arrowhead crab. A crab that looks like a Hershey's kiss with legs! How weird is that?

Repuplican Candidates

2007-12-20T14:59:00.000-08:00

I don't get it. Why are so many republicans trying so hard to be the republican candidate for president. Does it really matter who comes in second in next years election?

About Congress

2007-12-15T04:34:00.000-08:00

I think one of the biggest problems with the U. S. Congress is that there isn't one!
Everyone in congress represents a state or a region of a state. Many of them try to do anything to benefit those they represent, often with total disregard for what is good for the country as a whole. It would be nice if they realized that once they are in the U. S. Congress, they represent the country and not just Northwest Alaska, Southeast Florida or some other region in between.

Gays on ESPN!

2007-12-09T08:10:00.000-08:00

When I was at the gym this morning, I looked up at one of the TVs, which was on an ESPN channel of course, and was surprised to see what I thought was a gay sports program with several college-age jocks hugging each other. Than I saw that it was the Heisman award ceremony and the straight jocks were congratulating the winner with hugs so tight their cheeks were getting squished together.
I think it's great that young men are now comfortable with hugging in public. Soon maybe gays will get to do it also.
I hope someone is sending copies of that tape to the grade schools in various states that have recently made news by banning hugging as a form of sexual harassment.

I'm a Winner!

2007-12-03T23:33:00.000-08:00

According to my email, I won the grand prize in the Interplanetary Lottery of Mars! Even though I've never been to Mars and never bought a lottery ticket! How lucky is that? Now all I have to do is go to the web site at www.scams-is-us/duped and register my SSN, bank account number and credit cards to prove that I'm as dumb as a root vegetable and in a few days my check for $10.5 Billion (approximate exchange rate for 6 glokzibs) will be on it's way!

Crazy Gifts

2007-12-02T04:38:00.000-08:00

While I'm not fond of all the junk mail that I have to dispose of, some of it is entertaining. This time of year I like to check the descriptions of some of the strange, expensive, and just plain wacko gifts being offered in some catalogs. Neiman Marcus is famous for it's over-the-top gift offerings, but sometimes you find some in unexpected places. This weeks Linens-n-Things sale catalog is offering on the front page a Margarita Frozen Concoction Maker for a mere $379.
You have to be a margarita fanatic or a very serious party boy/girl to want that.
I don't think a bar pays that much for the industrial strength blenders they use.

Great NOVAM Concert

2007-12-01T04:57:00.000-08:00

I attended the NOVAM Concert in Arlington yesterday. Performances were by:

Unity Fellowship Church of DC Drum Ministry

Howard Gospel Choir of Howard University

Jason & deMarco.

The music was great, especially Jason & deMarco. They we're definitely in top form last night.

Some panels from the Aids quilt were on display. Above is a photo of one of them.

Translator Added

2007-11-29T13:24:00.000-08:00

I added a Link to BabelFish translators so you can quickly translate this blog into other languages. Note: Oriental languages may not display correctly if your computer is not equipped with the necessary fonts.

I Don't Hate Atheists

2007-11-27T13:41:00.000-08:00

I don't hate atheists. As a REAL Christian, I practice love, forgiveness and tolerance, even for atheists. If they want to stumble around blind and in the dark,
complaining that they can't see the Light (due to self inflicted blindness), I feel sorry for them, but I won't interfere with their right to do it.
But, when they complain that they are lonely in there and, because misery loves company, they want to poke our eyes out so we can join them in their blindness,
then I do object, and strongly.

Why I'll Vote for Hillary

2007-11-25T02:46:00.000-08:00

I think Hillary Clinton and Barach Obama would make a great team in the white house. I think if Obama wins the primary, he will probably not choose Clinton as his running mate. If Hillary wins the primary, I think there is a good chance that she will choose Obama as her running mate.

I know Obama has said he would not run for vice president, but this is not the time to ask the question. You don't ask a runner before a race if he wants to come in second. Of course the answer will be "No". But that doesn't mean he will refuse to accept the silver medal when the race is done.

Beside the politics of it, wouldn't it be great to have the first women president (one of the last western countries to do so), the first black vice president, and the first former president First Gentleman all happen at the same time? I think so.

An Interesting Blog #1

2007-11-22T04:40:00.000-08:00

I like to use the "next blog" button that appears on the top of most blogger blogs. It's slightly misnamed because it seem to randomly link to another blog rather than following some sequence. Anyway, while blog trolling I found a cool blog written from a puppy's point of view. I have two dogs myself, so I think it's cool.

Happy Thanksgiving

2007-11-22T01:06:00.000-08:00

Happy Turkey and Pumpkin Pie

Cash for Trash

2007-11-22T00:55:00.000-08:00

A women in New York found a painting in a trash can that she thought looked important so she took it. According to the story on Comcast news, it sold for over one million dollars.
Sometimes dumpster diving really does pay off!

Big Bug

2007-11-21T17:11:00.000-08:00

I saw on the Comcast News page an article about the discovery of the fossil of a giant bug that lived about 390 million years ago. It was eight feet long.

I guess those giant bug horror movies of the fifties and sixties weren't so stupid after all!

My other Blog

2007-11-21T10:47:00.000-08:00

It looks like the link got scrambled in my first post. My church/spiritual blog is here.

Bush & Guru's

2007-11-21T10:26:00.000-08:00

When Guru's wanted their students to empty their minds, they used to tell them to imagine the sound of one hand clapping. Now they tell them to imagine they are the brain of George Dubya Bush.

First Post

2007-11-21T10:24:00.000-08:00

This is the first post on my new blog. I have been the author of a religion blog for almost three months now and I decided to start a personal blog where I can say things that aren't appropriate on a religious blog. I don't expect to be adding to this blog every day like I do with my other blog. My personal life is just not that complicated or interesting. Mostly, this will just be political opinions, comments on news items and occasional pictures and stories from my vacations.