Dec. 28, 2012 - Friday Funny - Got Gas?

This week's FRIDAY FUNNY is about things you see at the gas pump.

Sometimes, the prices SHOCK you.

Sometimes, people smoking when pumping gas, SCARE you.

Other times, you just say "WOW!"




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Dec. 27, 2012 - PPM - Fiscal Cliff

This week's PET PEEVE MONDAY has been moved to Friday because of the Holidays. The " Fiscal Cliff" fallacy is this week's PET PEEVE MONDAY (PPM).

The term "Fiscal Cliff" is a politically generated term. The "crisis" is manufactured by our politicians and by their incompetence. And now we have been a party to the very public negotiations. None of these "leaders" could hold a mid-level management position based upon their poor negotiation tactics.

Amid all the political and media hoopla about the "fiscal cliff" crisis, a few facts are worth noting.

First, the Democrats want to raise the taxes on the rich or 2%. If that is done, it will scarcely make a dent in the government's financial problems. It will cover government spending for 9 days.

Next, the President wants to delay Sequestration, the planned budget cuts of the military and some entitlements. He stated in the 3rd Presidential debate that it wouldn't happen, yet HE is the one that signed it into law. Without spending cuts, we will NEVER get our fiscal house in order.

Finally, the White House's initial negotiating offer would give Obama the authority to raise the debt ceiling essentially to infinity without congressional approval. This not only goes against the Constitution, but it is insane. Since when does the Credit Card holder establish their Credit Card LIMIT?

My take , is that we ALL should go over the fiscal cliff like Thelma and Louis.

Tax hikes affect everyone, especially when they're used as an excuse to ignore our phenomenally large and fast-growing debt. If the Clinton rates were so desirable, EVERYONE should go back to paying the Clinton rates.

This class warfare is shameless. Do the wealthy or rich drive on better roads? Do they have receive better national defense?

I have advocated for years that we should have a consumption tax. Exclude necessities or healthy food. Tax all the sins: cigarettes, liquor, sweets

In 2009, Obama said it was time to stop kicking the can down the road on entitlements. It's almost 2013 and he's kicking harder than ever before.

No previous administration in the entire history of the nation ever finished the year with a trillion-dollar deficit. The Obama administration has done so every single year. Yet political and media discussions of the financial crisis have been focused overwhelmingly on how to get more tax revenue to pay for past and future spending.

We don't need new taxes, we need new taxpayers. It's a simple model, taught in Econ 101 classes: Lower taxes, Create jobs, Tax revenues will rise.

A rising tide, lifts ALL boats.



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Dec. 23, 2012 - BW3 or BW Free

I waited 19 hours outside of a new BW3 in order to obtain 12 free wings per week for all of 2013. It wasn't about the free wings, but the experience.

My home schooling went overtime this week as I illustrated the meaning of perseverance, ...dedication, and commitment. My kids all supported their Dad by taking accompanying shifts: Skye (3 hours), Jax (13 hours), and Sophia (3 hours)

The children got to see one arrest, two disqualifications, a very competitive 4 foot tall Jenga tournament, a dreadful end to the “Blazing Hot Wing” eating contest (1 a.m. ), a starving artist band (for a reason) at 2 a.m., the mysterious appearance of Black Batman at 6 a.m., and one terribly ill-timed PETA protestor.

The most awkward moment was when others asked why Skye was so dressed up to be “camping” outside a BW3. I explained that she had come directly from the Nutcracker performance. Unfortunately, many of my fellow pro-chicken advocates thought that the “nutcracker” was a Worldwide Wrestling participant.

As I always look for a way to help others, I plan to “gift-out” the wings, a week at a time, like a time share condo, to friends visiting Anderson Township. Get your requests in early as most of July, September, and Teriyaki, are already taken.

If you look closely at the picture, Sophia is 5th in line. BW3 photographers also captured her eating the first wing in the new restaurant. She also used the first wet nap.

 

Memories, Milestones, and Meals.  Many Meals.

Dec. 22, 2012 - Fiscal Bridge

As part of today’s Home School Civics Lesson we talked about the “Fiscal Cliff” and the impact on our economy. The kids took a field trip and decided to throw Uncle Sam off the “Fiscal Bridge” as an experiment. 

 

To be fair, Uncle Sam was in a state of neglect and disrepair for the last 4 years, much like our US economy.  

 

Learning, and teaching, can be fun.

Dec. 21, 2012 - Friday Funny - MY-an Bad

This week's FRIDAY FUNNNY concerns the anticipated "End of the World."

Per the Mayan calendar, today, December 21 was the day.



Oops. Life goes on.


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Dec. 14, 2012 – Friday Funny – Disconnected from Reality

This week's FRIDAY FUNNY is what our "connected" youth have become.

I can sympathize with this parent. All of my children now have MULTIPLE forms of technology. Each has an iPad and a laptop. Some also have an iPod and/or an iPhone. Still others have a Kindle.

What they DON'T have, is unlimited use. They are limited to one hour per day, IF they are in good standing on behavior and grades.

There is no replacement for playing outside.

Dec. 10, 2012 - PPM - Right to Work

This week’s PET PEEVE MONDAY (PPM) is about the uproar over the Right To Work (RTW) issue.

Freedom to Work, also known as right to work, is a simple measure that gives every worker the right to choose for themselves whether to join a union.  

The newest battleground is Michigan.

Under current law, Michigan public school teachers must pay dues to the teachers’ union.  If the right-to-work law is enacted, Michigan public-school teachers will be FREE to join the union and pay dues to it if they wish, but they will also be FREE not to join the union and not to pay it dues.

Three Michigan school districts (Warren, Taylor and Flint) have canceled school on December 11, FREEing teachers to protest the scheduled approval of a right-to-work bill at the state capitol.

Protesters can still CHOOSE to be union after RTW passes. They're angry about losing the power to FORCE others to pay dues.

Here are some education metrics for Detroit public-school eighth graders from the 2011 Department of Education reports:

-      only 7 percent scored highly enough to be rated “proficient” in reading
-      only 4 percent scored highly enough to be rated “proficient” in math.

One would hope they would score higher in Civics based on their teacher’s actions.

I had previously blogged on June 11 and September 12 this year about the Chicago Teachers Union.

Conversely, here are some economic metrics where RTW has been enacted:

According to the Wall Street Journal, of the 10 states with the highest rate of personal income growth, eight have right-to-work laws, and according to an economic study, there is a 23% higher rate of per capita income growth in right-to-work states.

The seven states with the lowest unemployment are all Right To Work states.

In Indiana, on Governor Daniels's first day in office, he decertified the state government employee unions. Within the first eight months, 92% of government employees quit paying their union dues.  Now we know why Union Dues are compulsory.  If 92% of your members leave as soon as they have the option, there is something wrong with your product.

If this country was built on FREEDOM, then it can be argued that it is a simple RIGHT that workers should never be forced to join - or not to join - a union. 

 

Dec.7, 2012 - Friday Funny - Xmas Tea

I remember when we used to set up my children's dolls and stuffed animals in order to have a Tea Party. This week's FRIDAY FUNNY shows how times have changed.

Dec. 3, 2012 - PPM - Bowl Ban-ghazi

This week’s PET PEEVE MONDAY (PPM) is the College Football Bowl Season. All of the bowl match-ups have been announced and it is ugly.

Notre Dame will be playing Alabama for the “National" Championship, while an undefeated team, The Ohio State University can only look on and wonder.

The 2012 Buckeyes have committed ZERO penalties (as far as we know) yet they sit at home. All of the players and coaches that WERE involved in the penalties have moved on.

Another Big Ten school, Penn State is in much worse shape. They have been banned for FOUR years. Again, none of the current players were involved. The guilty party is in jail for life and the complicit coach is dead.

But these schools are not the issue. Bowl bans are the issue. This “ban punishment” has been misused by the NCAA.

Ohio State is out because some players, none on the current team, once sold their trophies and trinkets for tattoos. The team gave the players awards. The awards were owned by the players. However, even though it was their stuff, the players could not sell or trade their stuff. If I get a bad present, I “re-gift” it. If I had been a student-athlete, that would be a violation.

Bowl bans sound good. But why does the current occupant pay the penalty? If I move into a new apartment, I’m not responsible for the previous tenant’s electric bill.

The NCAA, if so inclined and empowered, should take the school’s money. MONEY drives everything.

The new coaches and the current players who have done nothing, should NOT pay for the sins of others.

If they overcome everything, like The Ohio State University, and go 12-0, they should have their shot at a bowl or championship.

Does anyone want to a National Championship game between 2 teams that ARE NOT the top 2?

Does anyone want to see a 5 loss team, Wisconsin, in the Rose Bowl?

Here is my PEEVE. If MONEY is driving the TV deals, the conference realignment, and the bowl selection, shouldn’t it also drive the NCAA penalties and sanctions?

Even with no game, these snowmen know who to root for this Bowl Season.



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Nov. 30, 2012 - Friday Funny- Twilight's Twilight

This week's FRIDAY FUNNY is the release of the final installment of the Twilight series.

Somehow they turned 4 books into 5 movies. I agree with the sign below.



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