One Man's View from Lansing, KS

#846 Fact or Fiction: Congressional Benefits

2012-01-25T23:00:00.001-06:00

Approval ratings for Congress are at a historic low, and our members often ask us what sort of benefits legislators enjoy.

The following information isn't presented to defend Congressional perks, but only to dispel some myths that perpetually float around the internet. If we're to have credibility defending military programs, we need to have our facts right.

Fact or Fiction:

1) Members of Congress get full pensions for life after serving just one term.

Mostly Fiction. The Congressional retirement system is very similar to that of federal civilians. It’s true that a member of Congress can become eligible for retirement benefits after a minimum of 5 years of service if they’re age 62 or older, but only for a partial pension.

To qualify for a pension a member of Congress must meet one of the following service and age requirements:

5 years of service and age 62
20 years of service and age 50
25 years of service at any age

Like the military retirement system, Congressional retirement pay is calculated on a combination of their average high-three years of salary and a multiplier based on their length of service.

It’s also worth pointing out that members of Congress contribute to their own retirement and pay Social Security taxes. Once retired their Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) are sometimes held artificially below the Consumer Price Index (CPI) which measures inflation.

Since the Congressional retirement system was overhauled in 1984 (to be less generous) the average annual pension is roughly $40,000.

2) Members of Congress don’t pay for their healthcare.

Fiction. Members of Congress and their staffs are eligible for the same health insurance as federal civilians, and they pay the same premiums. They can enroll in any insurance program offered under the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP).

One of the most popular plans under FEHBP (the Blue Cross Blue Shield Standard plan) costs beneficiaries $430 a month for a family, and $185 a month for individual coverage.

Starting in 2014, members of Congress and their staffs will be required to participate in the health care exchanges created under national health care reform.

3) Legislators receive free health care at military facilities such as Walter Reed.

Fiction. Members of Congress can receive care at the new Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, but the cost of such care is billed to their federal insurance.

4) Congress votes themselves pay increases every year.

Mostly Fiction. The law authorizes Congress a raise every year unless legislators vote to stop it.

Congress voted to forgo a pay raise in 2010, 2011, and 2012. Congressional pay increases are capped lower than the military raise. While military raises are tied to the average American’s (the Employment Cost Index), congressional raises are capped one-half percentage point below that.

In 2012 members of Congress will collect a salary of $174,000 (Congressional leaders receive more).

#846

#845 Robert & Jenny, The Newlyweds

2012-01-19T12:36:00.002-06:00

Thanks, Vern.

Robert, 85, married Jenny, a lovely 25 year old . . .
Since her new husband is so old, Jenny decides that after their wedding she and Robert should have
separate bedrooms, because she is concerned that her new but aged husband may over-exert himself if they spend the entire night together.

After the wedding festivities Jenny prepares herself for bed and the expected knock on the door.

Sure enough the knock comes, the door opens and there is Robert, her 85 year old groom, ready for action. They unite as one. All goes well, Robert takes leave of his bride, and she prepares to go to sleep.

After a few minutes, Jenny hears another knock on her bedroom door, and it's Robert, Again he's ready for more 'action'.

Somewhat surprised, Jenny consents for more coupling. When the newlyweds are done, Robert kisses his bride, bids her a fond good night and leaves.

She is set to go to sleep again, but, aha, you guessed it Robert is back again, rapping on the door and is as fresh as a 25 - year - old, ready for more 'action'. And, once more they enjoy each other.

But as Robert gets set to leave again, his young bride says to him, 'I am thoroughly impressed that at your age you can perform so well and so often. I have been with guys less than a third of your age who were only good once. You are truly a great lover, Robert.'
Robert, somewhat embarrassed, turns to Jenny and says: 'You mean I was here already?'

The moral of the story:
Don't be afraid of getting old, Alzheimer's has its
advantages.

PS. Have I sent this one already?

#845

#844 The Art of Business..

2012-01-10T06:00:00.000-06:00

A Chineseguy goes to a Jewish guy to buy Black Bras, Size 38.

The Jewishguy, known for his skills as a businessman, says that Black Bras are rare andthat he is finding it very difficult to buy them from his suppliers.

Thereforehe has to charge $50.00 for them.

The Chineseguy buys 25 Bras.

He returnsa few days later and this time orders fifty.

The Jewishguy tells him that they have become even harder to get and charges him $60.00each.

The Chineseguy returns a month later and buys the Jewish guy's remaining stock of 50, thistime for $75.00 each.

The Jew issomewhat puzzled by the large

demand forblack size 38 Bras and asks the Chinese guy, "...please tell me”

What do youdo with all these Black Bras?"

The Chineseguy answers:

"I cutthem in half and sell them as Skull Caps to you Jewish guys for $200.00each."

.......And this is why the Chineseown us!

"Businessis Business"

#844

#843 Puns for Educated Minds

2012-01-08T12:58:00.000-06:00

Thanks, Ted L.

1.  The fattestknight at King Arthur's round table was Sir Cumference. He acquired his sizefrom too much pi. 

 2. I thought I saw aneye doctor on an Alaskan island, but it turned out to be an optical Aleutian.   

3. She was only awhiskey maker, but he loved her still. 

 4. A rubber bandpistol was confiscated from algebra class, because it was a weapon of mathdisruption. 

 5. No matter how muchyou push the envelope, it'll still be stationery.   

6. A dog gave birth topuppies near the road and was arrested for littering. 

 7. A grenade throwninto a kitchen in France would result in Linoleum Blownapart.   

8. Two silk worms had arace. They ended up in a tie. 

 9. A hole has beenfound in the nudist camp wall. The police are looking into it.   

10. Time flies like anarrow. Fruit flies like a banana.   

11. Atheism is anon-prophet organization.   

12. Two hats werehanging on a hat rack in the hallway. One hat said to the other: 'You stay here;I'll go on a head.'   

13. I wondered why thebaseball kept getting bigger. Then it hit me.   

14. A sign on the lawnat a drug rehab center said: 'Keep off the Grass.'   

15. The midgetfortune-teller who escaped from prison was a small medium at large. 

16. The soldier whosurvived mustard gas and pepper spray is now a seasoned veteran.   

17. A backward poetwrites inverse. 

 18. In a democracyit's your vote that counts. In feudalism it's your count that votes.   

19. When cannibals atea missionary, they got a taste of religion.   

20. If you jumped offthe bridge in Paris, you'd be in Seine. 

21. A vulture boardsan airplane, carrying two dead raccoons. The stewardess looks at him and says,'I'm sorry, sir, only one carrion allowed per passenger.'   

22. Two fish swim intoa concrete wall. One turns to the other and says 'Dam!'    

23. Two Eskimos sittingin a kayak were chilly, so they lit a fire in the craft. Unsurprisingly itsank, proving once again that you can't have your kayak and heat it too.   

24. Two hydrogen atomsmeet. One says, 'I've lost my electron.' The other says 'Are you sure?'The first replies, 'Yes, I'm positive.' 

 25. Did you hear aboutthe Buddhist who refused Novocain during a root canal? His goal: transcenddental medication.   

26. There was theperson who sent ten puns to friends, with the hope that at least one of thepuns would make them laugh. No pun in ten did.

#842 Ideas to Make Life Easier

2012-01-03T06:12:00.000-06:00

Thanks, Orv. I know that some of these work. We have used the fitted sheet technique for years. I do NOT guarantee that all of them will work. Just thought you might find them of interest.

Why didn’t I think of that?! We guarantee you’ll be uttering those words more than once at these ingenious little tips, tricks and ideas that solve everyday problems.

Hull strawberries easily using a straw.

Rubbing a walnut over scratches in your furniture will disguise dings and scrapes. Rubbing a walnut over scratches in your furniture will disguise dings and scrapes.

Remove crayon masterpieces from your TV or computer screen with WD-40.

Stop cut apples browning in your child’s lunch box by securing with a rubber band.

Overhaul your linen cupboard, store bed linen sets inside one of their own pillowcases and there will be no more hunting through piles for a match.

Pump up the volume by placing your iPhone & iPod in a bowl. The concave shape amplifies the music.

Re-use a wet-wipes container to store plastic bags.

Add this item to your beach bag. Baby powder gets sand off your skin easily, who knew?!

Attach a Velcro strip to the wall to store soft toys.

Use wire to make a space to store gift wrap rolls against the ceiling, rather than cluttering up the floor.

Find tiny lost items like earrings by putting a stocking over the vacuum hose.

Make an instant cupcake carrier by cutting crosses into a box lid.

For those who can’t stand the scrunching and bunching: how to perfectly fold a fitted sheet.

Forever losing your bathroom essentials? Use magnetic strips to store bobby pins, tweezers and clippers, behind a vanity door

Store shoes inside shower caps to stop dirty soles rubbing on your clothes. And you can find them in just about every hotel.

A muffin pan becomes a craft caddy. Magnets hold the plastic cups down to make them tip-resistant.

Bread tags make the perfect cord labels.

Bake cupcakes directly in ice-cream cones, so much more fun and easier for kids to eat.

Microwave your own popcorn in a plain brown paper bag. Much healthier and cheaper than the packet stuff.

Install a tension rod to hang your spray bottles.

Turn your muffin pan upside down, bake cookie-dough over the top and voila, you have cookie bowls for fruit or ice-cream.

Freeze Aloe Vera in ice-cube trays for soothing sunburn relief.

Create a window-box veggie patch using guttering.

#842

#841 Golf Book

2012-01-02T09:50:00.001-06:00

Thanks, Vern. I hope your book is successful.

Greetings,

You may not know it but I've been very busy over the past 2 years putting my thoughts and ideas together in a book about Golf. I am very proud of the results and in order to market the publication, I am asking friends and family to be the first to own a copy. Here's the Table of Contents from my new book, "Winning Golf Strategies," which I believe gives the reader valuable playing tips and insider information that I've gained through my own years of experience in the game and observations of golfing partners.

Table Of Contents

Chapter 1 - How to properly line up your Fourth putt.

Chapter 2 - How to hit a Nike from the rough when you hit a Titleist from the tee.

Chapter 3 - How to avoid the water when you lie 8 in a bunker.

Chapter 4 - How to get more distance off the Shank.

Chapter 5 - When to give the Ranger the finger.

Chapter 6 - Using your shadow on the Greens to maximize earnings.

Chapter 7 - When to implement Handicap Management.

 Chapter 8 - Proper excuses for drinking beer before 9 a.m.

Chapter 9 - How to urinate behind a 4" x 4" post ... Undetected.

Chapter 10 - How to rationalize a 6 hour round.

Chapter 11 - How to find that ball that everyone else saw go in the water.

Chapter 12 - Why your spouse doesn't care that you birdied the 5th.

Chapter 13 - How to let a Foursome play through yourTwosome.

Chapter 14 - How to relax when you are hitting three off the Tee.

Chapter 15 - When to suggest major swing corrections to your opponent.

Chapter 16 - God and the meaning of The Birdie-To-Bogey Putt.

Chapter 17 - When to regrip your Ball Retriever.

Chapter 18 - Use a strong grip on the Hand Wedge and Weak Slip on the Foot Wedge.

Chapter 19 - Why male golfers will pay $5.00 a beer from the Cart Girl and give her a $3 tip, but will balk at a $3.50 =
Beer at the 19th Hole and stiff the Bartender.

Hopefully you will find my book intriguing and purchase a copy.

Please send on and hopefully more people will buy copies!!!

#841

#840 Famous and Infamous Drinking Quotes

2011-12-30T07:00:00.000-06:00

I was cleaning out my computer of unwanted documents and stuff when I ran across these quotations. I have had them since 2004. Some of them are more than mildly amusing. So, get a bottle/glass/case of your favorite malt libation and enjoy.

Collected from various internet sources, including emailsigs and Daniel

Huckaby of tamu.edu .

I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake upin the morning,

that's as good as they're going to feel all day. ...Frank Sinatra

The problem with some people is that when they aren't drunk,they're sober.

... William Butler Yeats

An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spendtime with his

fools. ...For Whom the Bell Tolls Ernest Hemingway

Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That willteach you to keep

your mouth shut. ...Ernest Hemingway

You're not drunk if you can lie on the floor without holdingon. ...

Dean Martin

No animal ever invented anything as bad as drunkenness or asgood as drink.

... G.K. Chesterton

Time is never wasted when you're wasted all the time. ...Catherine

Zandonella

Abstainer: a weak person who yields to the temptation ofdenying himself a

pleasure. ...Ambrose Bierce

I never drink anything stronger than gin before breakfast. ...W.C.

Fields

A woman drove me to drink and I didn't even have the decencyto thank her.

... W.C. Fields

What contemptible scoundrel has stolen the cork to my lunch? ...W.C.

Fields

I would rather commit adultery than drink a glass of beer. ...Lady

Astor, Social reformer

Who wouldn't? ...A voice from the crowd

Sir, if you were my husband, I would poison your drink. ...Lady

Astor to Winston Churchill

Madam, if you were my wife, I would drink it. ...Winston Churchill's

reply

If God had intended us to drink beer, He would have given usstomachs. ...

David Daye

Work is the curse of the drinking classes. ...Oscar Wilde

When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading. ...Henny

Youngman

I'd rather have a bottle in front of me, than a frontallobotomy. ...

Tom Waits

When we drink, we get drunk. When we get drunk, we fallasleep. When we fall

asleep, we commit no sin. When we commit no sin, we go toheaven. Sooooo,

let's all get drunk, and go to heaven... ...Brian O'Rourke

Without question, the greatest invention in the history ofmankind is beer.

Oh, I grant you that the wheel was also a fine invention,but the wheel does

not go nearly as well with pizza. ...Dave Barry's Bad Habits

When I heated my home with oil, I used an average of 800gallons a year. I

have found that I can keep comfortably warm for an entirewinter with

slightly over half that quantity of beer. ...Postpetroleum Guzzler

Dave Barry

Adhere to the Schweinheitsgebot. Don't put anything in yourbeer that a pig

wouldn't eat. ...David Geary

you don't like jail? naw, they got the wrong kind of bars inthere. ...

Charles Bukowski

If you ever reach total enlightenment while drinking beer, Ibet it makes

beer shoot out your nose. ...Deep Thought, Jack Handy

One more drink and I'd be under the host. ...Dorothy Parker

All other nations are drinking Ray Charles beer and we aredrinking Barry

Manilow. ...Dave Barry

Not all chemicals are bad. Without chemicals such ashydrogen and oxygen,

for example, there would be no way to make water, a vitalingredient in

beer. ...Dave Barry

My problem with most athletic challenges is training. I'mlazy and find that

workouts cut into my drinking time. ...A Wolverine is Eating My Leg

The problem with the world is that everyone is a few drinksbehind. ...

Humphrey Bogart

Why is American beer served cold? So you can tell it fromurine. ...

David Moulton

A drink a day keeps the shrink away. ...Edward Abbey

People who drink light "beer" don't like the tasteof beer; they just like

to pee a lot. ...Capital Brewery, Middleton, WI

Put it back in the horse! ...H. Allen Smith, an American humorist in

the '30s-'50s, after he drank his first American beer at abar.

You can't be a real country unless you have a beer and anairline--it helps

if you have some kind of football team, or some nuclearweapons, but at the

very least you need a beer. ...Frank Zappa

They proceed with the speed of rockets to the northeastcorner of the

universe, which George percieved to be shaped exactly like apint of beer,

in which the nebulae were the ascending bubbles. ...John Collier,

The Devil, George, and Rosie

A *good* beer is one that sells! You may think it sucks butif the market

embraces it, so be it. Now a *great* beer or world classbeer is another

matter.... ...Jim Busch

I am the first man south of the Mason-Dixon line to brew adrinkable

home-brew. ...H.L. Mencken, in "Heathen Days"

American Beer is a lot like making love in a row boat- It'sf__king close to

water! ...Monty Python's Eric Idle

Give a man a beer, waste an hour. Teach a man to brew, andwaste a lifetime!

... Bill Owen

Okay, brain, I don't like you and you don't like me. Let'sjust take this

exam so I can get back to killing you with beer. ...Homer Simpson

They can have my beer when they pry it out of my cold, deadhand. ...

Ben Schwalb

I have never been into wine. I'm a beer man. What I likeabout beer is you

basically just drink it and order more. You don't sniff atit, or hold it up

to the light and slosh it around, or drone on and on aboutit, the way

people do with wine. Your beer drinker tends to be astraightforward,

decent, friendly, down-to-earth person, whereas your seriouswine fancier

tends to be an insufferable snot. ...Dave Barry

The hardest part about making beer is siphoning it intobottles. This is

tricky, because what can happen is the phone rings and youget involved in a

lengthy conversation during which your 4 year-old son getshold of the hose

and spews premature beer, called "wort", all overthe kitchen and himself,

and you become the target of an investigation by childwelfare authorities

because yours is the only child who comes to preschoolsmelling like a

fraternity carpet. ...Dave Barry

DO RE MI DRINK ------------------------------------------DOUGH... the

stuff... that buys me beer RAY... the guy that sells me beerME... the

one... who drinks the beer FAR... a long run to get beerSO... I'll have

another beer LA... I'll have another beer TEA... no, thanks,I'm drinking

beer That will bring us back to (looks into empty glass)D'OH! ...Homer

Simpson's beer song

The following quotes appear to be anonymous:

* Drunkis feeling sophisticated when you can't say it.

* Realityis an illusion that occurs due to the lack of alcohol.

* Beautylies in the hands of the beer holder.

* Lifeis a waste of time, time is a waste of life, so get wasted all

of the time and have the time of your life.

* 24hours in a day, 24 beers in a case. Coincidence?

* It'sbetter to have beer in hand than gas in tank.

* Lifeis too short to drink cheap beer.

* Beer- it's not just for breakfast anymore

* Beeris the reason I get up every afternoon.

* Beer:Nature's laxative.

* Beer.If you can't taste it, why bother!

* Beeris good food.

* Friendsdon't let friends drink Light Beer.

* Ifnothing beats a Bud, given the choice, I'd take the nothing...

* Draftbeer, not people!

* Myfavorite black-and-tan is a "mother-in-law": a mixture of stout

and bitter.

* IfI saved all the money I've spent on beer, I'd spend it on beer.

#840

#839 Now it all Makes Sense

2011-11-07T15:15:00.000-06:00

Thanks, Orv.

#839

#838 PSU @ Gates & Harvesters

2011-08-20T16:45:00.001-05:00

This is the annual civic project for the Kansas City chapter of the Penn State Alums. It is a great time with some fantastic folks. I'm glad they let me participate.

#838

#837 PARAPROSDOKIANS

2011-08-20T09:00:00.002-05:00

Thanks, Orv.

PARAPROSDOKIANS
I had to look up "paraprosdokian". Here is the definition:
"Figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected; frequently used in a humorous situation."

"Where there's a will, I want to be in it," is a type of paraprosdokian.
Ok, so now enjoy!
1. Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.

2. The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But it's still on my list.

3. Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

4. If I agreed with you, we'd both be wrong.

5. We never really grow up, we only learn how to act in public.

6. War does not determine who is right - only who is left.

7. Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit.. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

8. Evening news is where they begin with 'Good Evening,' and then proceed to tell you why it isn't.

9. To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism. To steal from many is research.

10. A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops. On my desk, I have a work station.

11. I thought I wanted a career. Turns out I just wanted paychecks.

12. Whenever I fill out an application, in the part that says, 'In case of emergency, notify:' I put 'DOCTOR.'

13. I didn't say it was your fault, I said I was blaming you.

14. Women will never be equal to men until they can walk down the street with a bald head and a beer gut, and still think they are sexy.

15. Behind every successful man is his woman. Behind the fall of a successful man is usually another woman.

16. A clear conscience is the sign of a fuzzy memory.

17. I asked God for a bike, but I know God doesn't work that way. So I stole a bike and asked for forgiveness.

18. You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice.

19. Money can't buy happiness, but it sure makes misery easier to live with.

20. There's a fine line between cuddling and holding someone down so they can't get away.

21. I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not so sure.

22. You're never too old to learn something stupid.

23. To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target.

24. Nostalgia isn't what it used to be.

25. Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.

26. Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.
27. A diplomat is someone who tells you to go to hell in such a way that you look forward to the trip.

28. Hospitality is making your guests feel at home even when you wish they were.

29. I always take life with a grain of salt. Plus a slice of lemon, and a shot of tequila.

30. When tempted to fight fire with fire, remember that the Fire Department usually uses water.

#837

#836 Music List

2011-08-13T14:30:00.004-05:00

Angela asked about my iPod music list. I have 1200+ recordings in the computer in iTunes. Many of those are on the iPod and 160 are on the iPhone.

Here is a break-down of classifications:

Genre - 33 From Alternative to World
Artists - 164 From Alex Skolnick Trio to Zap Mama
Albums - 18 From The Band: Greatest Hits to 20th Century Masters.
Some of the albums have only one song. That was all I was interested in.

Favorite Albums (in alphabetical order):

Avenues of Love - Marilyn Scott
Bering Strait - Bering Strait
The Best of Creedence Clearwater Revival - CCR
The Best of Willie Nelson - Willie Nelson
Bluebird's Best: Cool Imagination - Paul Desmond
Blues on Bach - Modern Jazz Quartet
Bridge Over Troubled Waters - Paul Desmond
Bud Powell in Paris - Bud Powell
Canciones de Llama - Tony Lasley
Clapton Chronicles: The Best of Eric Clapton - Eric Clapton
Come Away With Me - Norah Jones
Crossroads 2 - Eric Clapton
The Dance - Fleetwood Mac
Dances, Prayers, & Meditation - Nestor Torres
DueSOUTH Themes - Various artists
Feels Like Home - Norah Jones
Feng Shui: Living in Natural Harmony - Solitudes: Exploring Nature with Music
Genius Loves Company - Ray Charles and various artists
The Girl in the Other Room - Diana Krall
James Taylor's Greatest Hits - James Taylor
Jazz for a Rainy Afternoon - Various Artists
Jazz for the Quiet Times - Various Artists
Leonard Cohen Live at The Isle of Wight 1970 - Leonard Cohen
Let it Be... Naked - The Beatles
Live in Paris - Diana Krall
Live in Stockholm - The Real Group
Love Scenes - Diana Krall
Music for Relaxation - Jim Oliver
Nickel Creek - Nickel Creek
Nightcap - Marilyn Scott
Not Too Late - Norah Jones
Panorama: The Best of Craig Chaquico - Craig Chaquico
Road Tested (discs 1 & 2) - Bonnie Raitt
Santanna, The Many Sides of Santanna - Santanna
Seven - Zap Mama
Snowfall on the Sahara - Natalie Cole
Stoned - Lewis Taylor
Thelonius Monk Standards - Thelonius Monk
This Side of Paradise - Nestor Torres
Time Signature: A Career Perspective - 1 - Dave Brubeck
Time Signature: A Career Perspective - 2 - Dave Brubeck
Time Signature: A Career Perspective - 3 - Dave Brubeck
Time Signature: A Career Perspective - 4 - Dave Brubeck
Transformation - Alex Skolnick Trio
Unreal - The Real Group
The Very Best of the Doors - The Doors
Wires and Wood - The Johnny Staats Project
65th Birthday Celebration: Live at the Blue Note In New York - Herbie Mann

Those are just the albums that I like. There are a number of singles from various artists that I also enjoy hearing.

#836

#835 Hate Taxes? Please read.

2011-08-02T11:45:00.001-05:00

Thanks to Fay Easter for the following.

If you're a conservative who hates taxes, please do the following.

1. Do not use Medicare.

2. Do not use Social Security

3. Do not become a member of the US military, who are paid with tax dollars.

4. Do not ask the National Guard to help you after a disaster.

5. Do not call 911 when you get hurt.

6. Do not call the police to stop intruders in your home.

7. Do not summon the fire department to save your burning home.

8. Do not drive on any paved road, highway, and interstate or drive on any bridge.

9. Do not use public restrooms.

10. Do not send your kids to public schools.

11. Do not put your trash out for city garbage collectors.

12. Do not live in areas with clean air.

13. Do not drink clean water.

14. Do not visit National Parks.

15. Do not visit public museums, zoos, and monuments.

16. Do not eat or use FDA inspected food and medicines.

17. Do not bring your kids to public playgrounds.

18. Do not walk or run on sidewalks.

19. Do not use public recreational facilities such as basketball and tennis courts.

20. Do not seek shelter facilities or food in soup kitchens when you are homeless and hungry.

21. Do not apply for educational or job training assistance when you lose your job.

22. Do not apply for food stamps when you can’t feed your children.

23. Do not use the judiciary system for any reason.

24. Do not ask for an attorney when you are arrested and do not ask for one to be assigned to you by the court.

25. Do not apply for any Pell Grants.

26. Do not use cures that were discovered by labs using federal dollars.

27. Do not fly on federally regulated airplanes.

28. Do not use any product that can trace its development back to NASA.

29. Do not watch the weather provided by the National Weather Service.

30. Do not listen to severe weather warnings from the National Weather Service.

31. Do not listen to tsunami, hurricane, or earthquake alert systems.

32. Do not apply for federal housing.

33. Do not use the internet, which was developed by the military.

34. Do not swim in clean rivers.

35. Do not allow your child to eat school lunches or breakfasts.

36. Do not ask for FEMA assistance when everything you own gets wiped out by disaster.

37. Do not ask the military to defend your life and home in the event of a foreign invasion.

38. Do not use your cell phone or home telephone.

39. Do not buy firearms that wouldn’t have been developed without the support of the US Government and military. That includes most of them.

40. Do not eat USDA inspected produce and meat.

41. Do not apply for government grants to start your own business.

42. Do not apply to win a government contract.

43. Do not buy any vehicle that has been inspected by government safety agencies.

44. Do not buy any product that is protected from poisons, toxins, etc…by the Consumer Protection Agency.

45. Do not save your money in a bank that is FDIC insured.

46. Do not use Veterans benefits or military health care.

47. Do not use the G.I. Bill to go to college.

48. Do not apply for unemployment benefits.

49. Do not use any electricity from companies regulated by the Department of Energy.

50. Do not live in homes that are built to code.

51. Do not run for public office. Politicians are paid with taxpayer dollars.

52. Do not ask for help from the FBI, S.W.A.T, the bomb squad, Homeland Security, State troopers, etc…

53. Do not apply for any government job whatsoever as all state and federal employees are paid with tax dollars.

54. Do not use public libraries.

55. Do not use the US Postal Service.

56. Do not visit the National Archives.

57. Do not visit Presidential Libraries.

58. Do not use airports that are secured by the federal government.

59. Do not apply for loans from any bank that is FDIC insured.

60. Do not ask the government to help you clean up after a tornado.

61. Do not ask the Department of Agriculture to provide a subsidy to help you run your farm.

62. Do not take walks in National Forests.

63. Do not ask for taxpayer dollars for your oil company.

64. Do not ask the federal government to bail your company out during recessions.

65. Do not seek medical care from places that use federal dollars.

66. Do not use Medicaid.

67. Do not use WIC.

68. Do not use electricity generated by Hoover Dam.

69. Do not use electricity or any service provided by the Tennessee Valley Authority.

70. Do not ask the Army Corps of Engineers to rebuild levees when they break.

71. Do not let the Coast Guard save you from drowning when your boat capsizes at sea.

72. Do not ask the government to help evacuate you when all hell breaks loose in the country you are in.

73. Do not visit historic landmarks.

74. Do not visit fisheries.

75. Do not expect to see animals that are federally protected because of the Endangered Species List.

76. Do not expect plows to clear roads of snow and ice so your kids can go to school and so you can get to work.

77. Do not hunt or camp on federal land.

78. Do not work anywhere that has a safe workplace because of government regulations.

79. Do not use public transportation.

80. Do not drink water from public water fountains.

81. Do not whine when someone copies your work and sells it as their own. Government enforces copyright laws.

82. Do not expect to own your home, car, or boat. Government organizes and keeps all titles.

83. Do not expect convicted felons to remain off the streets.

84. Do not eat in restaurants that are regulated by food quality and safety standards.

85. Do not seek help from the US Embassy if you need assistance in a foreign nation.

86. Do not apply for a passport to travel outside of the United States.

87. Do not apply for a patent when you invent something.

88. Do not adopt a child through your local, state, or federal governments.

89.Do not use elevators that have been inspected by federal or state safety regulators.

90. Do not use any resource that was discovered by the USGS.

91. Do not ask for energy assistance from the government.

92. Do not move to any other developed nation, because the taxes are much higher.

93. Do not go to a beach that is kept clean by the state.

94. Do not use money printed by the US Treasury.

95. Do not complain when millions more illegal immigrants cross the border because there are no more border patrol agents.

96. Do not attend a state university.

97. Do not see any doctor that is licensed through the state.

98. Do not use any water from municipal water systems.

99. Do not complain when diseases and viruses, that were once fought around the globe by the US government and CDC, reach your house.

100. Do not work for any company that is required to pay its workers a livable wage, provide them sick days, vacation days, and benefits.

101. Do not expect to be able to vote on election days. Government provides voting booths, election day officials, and voting machines which are paid for with taxes.

102. Do not ride trains. The railroad was built with government financial assistance.

The fact is, we pay for the lifestyle we expect. Without taxes, our lifestyles would be totally different and much harder. America would be a third world country. The less we pay, the less we get in return. Americans pay fewer taxes today since 1958 and is ranked 32nd out of 34 of the top tax paying countries. Chile and Mexico are 33rd and 34th. The Republicans are lying when they say that we pay the highest taxes in the world and are only attacking taxes to reward corporations and the wealthy and to weaken our infrastructure and way of life.

So next time you object to paying taxes or fight to abolish taxes for corporations and the wealthy, keep this quote in mind… “I like to pay taxes. With them, I buy civilization.” ~Oliver Wendell Holmes

#835

#834 Balance the Budget and Balance the Tax Burden

2011-08-01T18:00:00.005-05:00

Thanks to Mr. Bloch for sharing his knowledge and wisdom.

By HENRY W. BLOCH

Special to The Kansas City Star

Something has gone terribly wrong in Washington, D.C. Over the last two decades, both Republicans and Democrats have put our country in a financial dilemma largely caused by one simple fact: The government borrows nearly 45 cents for every dollar it spends. Now the ongoing debt-ceiling fiasco has brought the nation to the edge of a fiscal precipice.

I am a registered Republican. But I speak out on this subject not to support the Republicans’ or Democrats’ position. Instead, I advocate for average, middle-income Americans. Their voices are too often ignored in policy debates.

I am appalled at the behavior of this Congress, which now seems more intent on political maneuvering for power than on making rational public policy. For example, some Republican members of the House appear to be refusing to agree to any solution for which President Obama can claim any credit. Consequently, our country finds itself on the brink of defaulting on the nation’s debt, not because of the actions of the American people but because of the actions of certain elected officials.

Clearly we have borrowed from our future to pay for today’s benefits. That practice has now caught up with us. We need Congress to formulate a plan to deal with this problem. The debt gap cannot otherwise be closed. A balanced approach — a combination of spending cuts and increased revenue, not merely spending cuts — is the right answer.

I’m not the only one who feels this way. A large majority of Americans are calling for compromise and a fair and balanced approach to resolving this debt crisis. The average American understands that digging our way out of this crisis will require shared sacrifice in the form of fewer benefits and higher taxes on the top income earners. Yet our political leaders continue to go about their business of trying to “one-up” one another and score political points that they will look to cash in when they run for re-election in 2012.

I do not understand some Republicans’ resistance to the idea of tax increases on the wealthy. The argument we have been hearing from some politicians about the rich being the “job creators” is misguided. First of all, let’s not forget that our economy was doing better and the nation’s unemployment rate was lower before the Bush tax cuts, which benefited the top 1 percent of earners the most. Secondly, one would be hard-pressed to prove that low tax rates result in increased job creation. Companies today are holding record levels of cash, yet unemployment remains stubbornly high.

I have been a student of the U.S. tax system for more than half a century. From the mid-1930s to the early-1980s, the marginal tax rate for the highest income earners in this country was between 68 percent and 94 percent. That’s double and triple of what it is today. Yes, it’s time we balance the budget, but it is also time we balance the tax burden.

The strength of our political system has always been our elected officials’ ability to put the country’s interests first and come together in the spirit of compromise.

Those of us earning more than $250,000 a year are very fortunate. We have an obligation to help our nation overcome this challenge. While I don’t look forward to paying more taxes, it must be done. And it’s a small price to pay for living in this wonderful country. Responsible change that promotes good public policy and tax fairness is to be welcomed.

#834

#833 Words of wisdom from Thucydides

2011-07-29T14:30:00.002-05:00

Does this sound familiar? Thanks to Jonathan Van Hoose:

I keep coming back to this passage in Thucydides's history of the Peloponnesian War (5th Century BC), wanting to pull quotations from it, but it's hard to just pull out parts of it. Written by Thucydides, an Athenian general, this discussion of the civil war in Corcyra during the broader Peloponnesian War (itself a "world war" among coalitions of Greek states) contains so much keen and penetrating observation of how politics breaks down -- or how politics operates -- in intensely partisan environments. It deserves to be quoted at length. This is from Rex Warner's translation: "To fit in with the change of events, words, too, had to change their usual meanings. What used to be described as a thoughtless act of aggression was now regarded as the courage one would expect to find in a party member; to think of the future and wait was merely another way of saying one was a coward; any idea of moderation was just an attempt to disguise one's unmanly character; ability to understand a question from all sides meant that one was totally unfitted for action. Fanatical enthusiasm was the mark of a real man, and to plot against an enemy behind his back was perfectly legitimate self-defence. Anyone who held violent opinions could always be trusted, and anyone who objected to them became a suspect. To plot successfully was a sign of intelligence, but it was still cleverer to see that a plot was hatching. If one attempted to provide against having to do either, one was disrupting the unity of the party and acting out of fear of the opposition. In short, it was equally praiseworthy to get one's blow in first against someone who was going to do wrong, and to denounce someone who had no intention of doing any wrong at all. Family relations were a weaker tie than party membership, since party members were more ready to go to any extreme for any reason whatever. These parties were not formed to enjoy the benefits of the established laws, but to acquire power by overthrowing the existing regime; and the members of these parties felt confidence in each other not because of any fellowship in a religious communion, but because they were partners in crime. If an opponent made a reasonable speech, the party in power, so far from giving it a generous reception, took every precaution to see that it had no practical effect. Revenge was more important than self-preservation. And if pacts of mutual security were made, they were entered into by the two parties only in order to meet some temporary difficulty, and remained in force only so long as there was no other weapon available. When the chance came, the one who first seized it boldly, catching his enemy off his guard, enjoyed a revenge that was all the sweeter from having been taken, not openly, but because of a breach of faith. It was safer that way, it was considered, and at the same time a victory won by treachery gave one a title for superior intelligence. And indeed most people are more ready to call villainy cleverness than simple-mindedness honesty. They are proud of the first quality and ashamed of the second. Love of power, operating through greed and through personal ambition, was the cause of all these evils. To this must be added the violent fanaticism which came into play once the struggle had broken out. Leaders of parties in the cities had programmes which appeared admirable -- on one side political equality for the masses, on the other the safe and sound government of the aristocracy -- but in professing to serve the public interest they were seeking to win the prizes for themselves. In their struggles for ascendancy nothing was barred; terrible indeed were the actions to which they committed themselves, and in taking revenge they went farther still. Here they were deterred neither by the claims of justice nor by the interests of the state; their one standard was the pleasure of their own party at that particular moment, and so, either by means of condemning their enemies on an illegal vote or by violently usurping power over them, they were always ready to satisfy the hatreds of the hour. Thus neither side had any use for conscientious motives; more interest was shown in those who could produce attractive arguments to justify some disgraceful action. As for the citizens who held moderate views, they were destroyed by both the extreme parties, either for not taking part in the struggle or in envy at the possibility that they might survive. As the result of these revolutions, there was a general deterioration of character throughout the Greek world." --Thucydides 3:82-83.

#833

#832 Early Retirement Bonus

2011-07-27T07:30:00.003-05:00

It's a little "blue" and funny as all get out.

If this doesn't make you laugh, you are truly humor impaired!

The Air Force found they had too many officers and decided to offer an early retirement bonus. They promised any officer who volunteered for Retirement a bonus of $1,000 for every inch measured in a straight line between any Two points in his body.. The officer got to choose what those two points would be.

The first officer who accepted asked that he be measured from the top of his head to the tip of his toes. He was measured at six feet and walked out with a bonus of $72,000.

The second officer who accepted was a little smarter and asked to be measured from the tip of his outstretched hands to his toes. He walked Out with $96,000.

The third officer was an old mustang (former enlisted swine) , a grizzly old major, who, when asked where he would like to be measured replied, 'From the tip of my weenie to my testicles.'

It was suggested by the pension man that he might want to reconsider, explaining about the nice big checks the previous two Officers had received. But the old major insisted and they decided to go along with him providing the measurement was taken by a Medical Officer.

The Medical Officer arrived and instructed the Major to 'drop 'em,' which he did. The medical officer placed the tape measure on the tip of the Major's weenie and began to work back. "Dear Lord!", he suddenly exclaimed, ''Where are your testicles?''
The old Major calmly replied, '' Vietnam ''.

I Love This Country!
It's The Government That
Scares The Hell Outa Me!!!

#832

#831 They met on a singles cruise

2011-06-21T21:15:00.016-05:00

Ed and Nancy met while on a singles cruise and Ed fell head over heels for her.

When they discovered they lived in the same city only a few miles apart Ed was ecstatic.

He immediately started asking her out when they got home.

Within a couple of weeks, Ed had taken Nancy to dance clubs, restaurants,concerts, movies, and museums. Ed became convinced that Nancy was indeed his soul mate and true love. Every date seemed better than the last.

On the one-month anniversary of their first dinner on the cruise ship, Ed took Nancy to a fine restaurant. While having cocktails and waiting for their salad, Ed said, "I guess you can tell I'm very much in love with you. I'd like a little serious talk before our
relationship continues to the next stage. So, before I get a box out of my jacket and ask you a life changing question, it's only fair to warn you, I'm a total golf nut. I play golf, I read about golf,
I watch golf on TV. In short, I eat, sleep, and breathe golf. If that's going to be a problem for us, you'd better say so now!"

Nancy took a deep breath and responded, "Ed, that certainly won't be a problem.
I love you as you are and I love golf too; but, since we're being totally honest with each other, you need to know that for the last five years I've been a hooker."

Ed said, "I bet it's because you're not keeping your wrists straight when you hit the ball."

#831

#830 Memorial Day 2011

2011-05-30T05:30:00.000-05:00

Once again it is time to "officially" remember those who have given there all in uniformed service to their country. Men and women who have answered the call and gone to war. Most came back alive, and we honor them. Some came back in body bags, and we honor them. Some did not come back, and we honor them. Some are still serving, and we honor them.

I have just gone through the eleven postings that are labeled "war stories" in this blog and my previous blog, Life in Lansing, KS. They are stories that interested me. If you are interested then you can use the links here and there to read them. The first one was a Memorial Day Thank You to a deceased comrade, Captain Chet Lee.

Last week were going through a box of stuff - photos, awards, newspaper clippings, etc., when we chanced upon the following handwritten note. Chet was killed April 1, 1966. You can see by the date it was written that I was beginning to come to grips with his death.

3 April 1966

Today the bitterness is slowly subsiding. I have lost a good friend. Was it a senseless killing? A needless death? We expect death in war and we prepare ourselves for it. The job of the soldier is to protect his country through armed conflict if necessary. All through our careers we train for that one day when we must face our enemy and let him know that he has made the wrong choice in challenging us. Chet died doing this. He faced a cunning enemy that had superior firepower. He died because he had to try to stop the enemy. A .45 caliber pistol with seven rounds at the most is very poor odds against an automatic weapon. Why wasn’t he better armed?

He was doing a job that all company commanders enjoy, he was checking his men. A man on a guard post who is the first, last and only line of defense for the installation he is guarding. We place these men on these posts knowing that they will most likely be one of the first to die. The men themselves realize the danger of this position. How can we make their job easier?

The Army spends millions on procuring an arsenal of weapons that can dispatch an enemy surely and swiftly. We train our men in the use and care of this weaponry. They gain confidence in the themselves and their equipment through the association of use and training. They become professionals. We teach them offensive and defensive techniques of warfare. We seek to improve our defensive positions. This is an age-old principle of the Army. Is it no longer valid?

We know that the enemy can destroy any place he wants to whenever he wants to. Or, can he? Are we not falling victim to complacent thinking if we believe this? We know how the enemy usually operates. He has set up a modus operandi. It would seem logical to utilize this information to our benefit so that we might better defend our men and equipment. We make suggestions to improve the defensive positions of our men. Can a young company commander, with no previous combat experience, know what to do in this situation? What can you tell a man who asks you, “Why can’t I use my rifle on a static security post? Why can’t we put some type of protective barrier around my post?”

Telling him that these recommendations have been made already isn’t enough. Can we tell him that we don’t want to show the local nationals that we are afraid of the enemy? That we don’t want to kill innocent civilians (which we don’t), that we must help keep the city beautiful?

What do you tell a man that says. “Terrorist bombs kill innocent people. The local nationals have sand bagged barriers. As for keeping the city beautiful, have you seen the garbage in the gutters?

It is difficult to reconcile the fact that you must knowingly send a man to do a job with less than adequate equipment and protection, particularly when the equipment and protection is readily available.

There is no guarantee that Chet and his men would be alive today if they had had that equipment and protection, but it is a thought to ponder.

They were brave, good men who not only fought the enemy but the deck that was stacked against them.

Futility and frustration

Death

Goodbye, Chet

I can only hope that the "powers that be" are making fewer such mistakes, but I doubt it. Greed and the hunger for power still reign supreme.

#830

#829 Senior Texting Codes (STC)

2011-05-21T07:00:00.004-05:00

Thanks, Orv

I thought the following listing was appropriate.
After all, the kids have all their little codes, like BFF,
LOL, WTF, etc. So here are some codes for seniors:

ATD - At the Doctor's

BFF - Best Friends Funeral

BTW - Bring the Wheelchair

BYOT - Bring Your Own Teeth

CBM - Covered by Medicare

CUATSC - See You at the Senior Center

DWI - Driving While Incontinent

FWBB - Friend with Beta Blockers

FWIW - Forgot Where I Was

FYI - Found Your Insulin

GGPBL - Gotta Go, Pacemaker Battery Low

GHA - Got Heartburn Again

HGBM - Had Good Bowel Movement

IMHO - Is My Hearing-Aid On?

LMDO - Laughing My Dentures Out

LOL - Living on Lipitor

LWO - Lawrence Welk's On

OMMR - On My Massage Recliner

OMSG - Oh My! Sorry, Gas

ROFL...CGU - Rolling on the Floor Laughing...Can't get Up!

TTYL - Talk to You Louder

WAITT - Who Am I Talking To?

WTFA - Wet the Furniture Again

WTP - Where's the Prunes?

WWNO - Walker Wheels Need Oil

Hope these help!

GGLKI - Gotta Go, Laxative Kicking in!

#829

#828 Tulips & Windmills-April 21

2011-05-20T06:00:00.000-05:00

This tour was titled the Tulips and Windmills cruise. It wasn't until the last day that we got to see Tulips in abundance. The Keukenhof Gardens were spectacular. Our timing could not have been better. The weather and the tulips cooperated. Well, you can see for yourself. On our cruise from Rotterdam to Amsterdam we also saw more windmills.

Keukenhof Gardens #1

Keukenhof Gardens #2

Keukenhof Gardens #3

Keukenhof Gardens #4

Keukenhof Gardens #5

Keukenhof Gardens #6

Sculptures

Windmills.

And that, folks, is the sum and substance of our Viking River Cruises Tulips and Windmills cruise. We could not have planned it any better. The accommodations and service were outstanding. We would recommend it to others.

#828

#827 Tulips & Windmills-April 20

2011-05-19T06:00:00.002-05:00

We traveled by bus to tour the town of Miggleburg. One of the interesting sights was the doors. The family name was usually painted in cursive on the front door.

Middleburg

Architecture

The morning was bright and calm which gave the canal a serene look. The reflections were perfect too.
Canal

Sculptures were abundant in the parks and on the buildings.
Sculpture

The Delta Works keep the North Sea from inundating the countryside. It is quite an engineering accomplishment.
Deltapark

Rotterdam was beautiful at night. I took these photos from the top deck of the ship.
Rotterdam

#827

#826 Tulips & Windmills-April 19

2011-05-18T06:00:00.005-05:00

The city of Brugge is quite lovely. We had visited it with friends several years ago. Somehow it seemed different this time. Perhaps it was because of the time we spent then as compared to the time we had this visit. It is a beautiful city with great architecture.

Brugge

Sculptures

There are numerous options to take a canal tour of the city. It does give one a different perspective.

Canal Sights

Belgian waffles are almost as good as Belgian chocolate. I particularly liked my waffle with chocolate sauce.
Belgian Waffles

#826

#825 Tulips & Windmills-April 18

2011-05-17T06:00:00.001-05:00

The architecture of Antwerp is quite beautiful. There is a unique mixture of old and modern.

Reubens Paintings in the cathedral were magnificent. Too bad that the lighting was not conducive to photography.

Sculptures speak for themselves.

#825

#824 Tulips & Windmills-April 17

2011-05-16T10:00:00.001-05:00

On April 17 we toured the windmills and water pump at Kinderdijk. The water pump is used to insure that the land is not inundated with water.

Kinderdijk

Windmills

Locks. For boats and ships to navigate the waterways in Holland, as well as other rivers in Europe, there is a system of locks. It takes great skill to maneuver the ships/boats into and out of the locks. This series of photos shows some of the process. They can accommodate about six ships per opening. It was quite interesting to watch the process. At this time we began by waiting on the right side and then were moved to the left side of the lock. We were the first in and the first out. There were other ships/boats waiting on the other side.

#82

#823 Culver City, CA Auto Show May 7, 2011

2011-05-14T13:20:00.001-05:00

May 7th, while visiting family in Los Angeles we took time to attend the Culver City auto show. There were some really great looking machines. Here are just a few of them.

Custom sport machine.

Hot Rods.

Novelty Cars.

Older Custom Cars.

Sporty Cars.

I'll get back to the Holland photos later this coming week.

#823

#822 Tulips & Windmills-April 16

2011-05-03T15:20:00.000-05:00

On the morning of April 16 we were bussed to the town of Arnhem where the "Bridge too far" is located. It was quite a battle site during WWII. The town and sights are quite beautiful as you will see below.

Arnhem

Paleis Het Loo

Flowers

Sculptures

In September of 1944 a major offensive was undertaken to secure the bridges in Holland. The book "A Bridge Too Far" details the events. More information can be found at this site.
Arnhem Airborne Memorial

#822

#821 Tulips & Windmills-April 15

2011-05-01T16:00:00.000-05:00

On the morning of the 15th the Viking Pride set sail for the town of Hoorn. Upon arrival we took a guided tour of the town. It began as a harbor town. It is a quaint village. It flourished as a trading town.

Hoorn

On the way we passed numerous fields of Tulips and other flowers.

Tulips

Tulips were not the only sight of the Netherlands that we were promised. The windmills are still operational, but not very often. We stopped along the road to see these. There are also a lot of the more modern windmills in operation around the countryside.

Windmills

One of the fascinating activities was a visit to the fruit and vegetable auction museum. We were treated to a sample of an auction. The farmers would bring their crop to the auction by boat. They eventually developed methods to keep track of the bids electronically. At these auctions the price starts high and goes lower. However there is a low price that the farmer will not go below. At that time the auction stops for those wares and the farmer takes them away. It was great fun observing our shipmates bidding on the small packages of fruits and vegetables.

Fruit and Vegetable Auction

After the auction we were then taken out among a few of the 1,000 islands that make up the countryside. There were a few farmers working their fields that were all built up from the surrounding waters. This country is mostly below sea level. During this little trip we did see a number of wildfowl.

Wildfowl

Our Program Director did have a surprise for us. The museum had a fantastic display of wooden shoes. They really are something to behold. Many farmers still wear them and prefer them to other forms of footwear when they are working in the fields.
Wooden Shoes

As we traveled along by bus there were a number of homes with gardens that were not just an expanse of grass and a few flowers or shrubs. These are just a few of the gardens we saw.
Homes along the road

This was only third day of the cruise. There is more to come.

#821

#820 Tulips & Windmills-April 14

2011-04-27T13:30:00.005-05:00

In the morning we were shown the city of Amsterdam from the vantage point of a canal boat. We also toured the flower market. Later we did a walking tour to see the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh museum. Unfortunately we were not allowed to photograph any of the art works.

The following photos are segregated by subject matter.

Canal photos:

The boats were quite interesting. Some of them looked like they hadn't seen a coat of paint since they were launched. Others were well maintained.

Flower photos:

These photos were taken at the flower market. I thought you might find it interesting that the Dutch take a different view about drug usage. Cannabis starter kits are readily available.

Architecture and sculpture photos:

I found the architecture quite fascinating. Amsterdam and Rotterdam both have built some interesting buildings. The cost of land in Holland is quite high. As you can see, the older houses are quite small. There is another interesting feature to the buildings, the have a built in device at the top of the structure that accommodates the movement of heavier and larger items into the house. The houses are quite narrow and the stairs don't make it easy to move large, heavy items into and around the house. You will also notice that they have build new buildings around and over older buildings.

#820

#819 Tulips & Windmills-April 13

2011-04-26T10:30:00.004-05:00

We arrived in Amsterdam April 13 for a ten day cruise through Holland and Belgium. This is the vessel upon which we would have a fantastic time. The accommodations were great and the food and wine were excellent. We also made some great friends. This was our second cruise with Viking River Cruises.

There will be many more photos to chronicle our cruise. We visited Arnhem, Antwerp, Brugge, Middleburg, Kinderdijk, and many other locations. Stay tuned for more.

#819

#818 Tax Disparity? You tell me.

2011-03-05T10:30:00.003-06:00

Income gaps in the workplace have become increasingly outrageous, as seen in the growing gap between worker pay and CEO pay. We can demonstrate it with a pile of chocolate. Give one piece of chocolate to your worker stand-in and 44 pieces to your CEO stand-in. That was the 1980 ratio of average full-time worker pay to average pay among CEOs in Business Week's survey of major corporations. For the equivalent 2004 ratio, give one piece of chocolate to the worker and 362 to the CEO.

As the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities reports, federal policy is contributing "''to a further widening of income disparities between the most affluent households and other Americans.'"Households with incomes over $1 million will receive an average tax cut of $103,000 this year -- an increase of 5.4 percent in their after-tax income.
The congressional majority is done crying crocodile tears over Katrina and the shameful inequality it exposed.

They're working overtime to stiff the have-nots with more budget cuts so they can keep stuffing the pockets of the haves with more tax cuts. The budget knife is dropping on Medicaid, education, child care, food assistance and more -- even public health, despite loud warnings we are unprepared for bird flu and other threats.

Tell your senators and members of Congress what you think about their priorities, and make your voice count when you vote next November."

(Borrowed from Rob Whitman) Too important to keep to oneself.

#818

#817 A Secret Scrolls Messag

2011-01-25T05:00:00.005-06:00

From The Secret Daily Teachings

You are an electromagnetic being emitting a frequency. Only those things that are on the same frequency as the one you are emitting can come into your experience. Every single person, event, and circumstance in your day is telling you what frequency you are on.

If your day is not going well, stop and deliberately change your frequency. If your day is going swimmingly, keep doing what you are doing.

May the joy be with you,

Rhonda Byrne

The Secret and The Power... bringing joy to billions

#817

#816 A Secret Scrolls Message

2011-01-18T05:00:00.001-06:00

From The Secret Daily Teachings

So often when things change in our lives, we have such a resistance to the change. This is because when people see a big change appearing they are often fearful that it is something bad. But it is important to remember that when something big changes in our lives, it means something better is coming. There cannot be a vacuum in the Universe, and so as something moves out, something must come in and replace it. When change comes, relax, have total faith, and know that the change is ALL GOOD.

Something more magnificent is coming to you!

May the joy be with you,

Rhonda Byrne
The Secret and The Power... bringing joy to billions

#816

#815 A Secret Scrolls Message

2011-01-11T05:00:00.002-06:00

From The Secret Daily Teachings

No-one is destined to live a life of poverty, because each of us has the ability to change everything in this life. The law of attraction is the law of creation, and it allows each person to create the life they want. Every person has their own unique circumstances to overcome, but every single person has the opportunity to achieve anything - and change everything.

May the joy be with you,

Rhonda Byrne

The Secret and The Power... bringing joy to billions

#815

#814 A Secret Scrolls Message

2011-01-04T05:00:00.001-06:00

From The Secret Daily Teachings

It is when you no longer feel the need for money that money will come. The feeling of needing money comes from the thought that you don't have enough, and so you continue to create not having enough money.

You are always creating, and when it comes to money, you are either creating the lack of it or the abundance of it.

May the joy be with you,

Rhonda Byrne

The Secret and The Power... bringing joy to billions

#814

#813 2010 is coming to a close

2010-12-31T13:00:00.005-06:00

We have no plans for this evening. Perhaps we will be awake to watch Rockin' New Years Eve. Or not.

It has been a good year. Our travel plans were well planned and executed. Next year will see us on the road a little bit less.

Our families are doing well. We are truly blessed. A positive outlook seems to be doing right by us. I highly recommend it to others. I do know that each of us has to ply our own course. Therefore, I wish you all are able to complete your annual missions satisfactorily.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

#813

#812 A Secret Scrolls Message

2010-12-30T06:00:00.003-06:00

From The Secret Daily Teachings

Every religion on the planet has told us to have FAITH. Faith is when you cannot see how, but you absolutely know that the moment you have the dream it is given to you, and all you have to do is relax and allow the Universe to magnetize you to your dream and your dream to you.

May the joy be with you,

Rhonda ByrneThe Secret and The Power... bringing joy to billions

#812

#811 A Secret Scrolls Message

2010-12-28T05:00:00.001-06:00

From The Secret Daily Teachings

Know yourself! Watch how you manifest the small things in life and think about how you felt inside with those things. Think about how easily they came. You will find that you thought of a small thing once and never thought about it again, and then it manifested.

What really happened was you didn't think any thoughts or speak any words which contradicted what you wanted, so the law of attraction was able to do its work.

May the joy be with you,

Rhonda Byrne

The Secret and The Power... bringing joy to billions

#811

#810 It is that time of year again.

2010-12-25T06:29:00.000-06:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS

ALL

Regardless of your belief system now is the time to give some thought to the concept of "Love thy neighbor as thyself". Here you might want to put emphasis on loving yourself. It will make it easier to love thy neighbor. I don't pretend to be knowledgeable of all religions, but I suspect that everyone of them has this concept as a part of them. Whether that is true or not, I do believe that it is something we should all consider and practice.

LOVE TO YOU ALL!

May the coming year bring you love, prosperity and excellent health!

#810

#809 Day Twenty - Garmisch to Munich

2010-12-23T05:00:00.016-06:00

October 25th brought a surprise, snow. It would make our trip to Munich an interesting one.

Edelweiss Lodge and Resort in the snow.

The road to Munich was made more interesting with the snow. However, the snow abated as we neared Munich. The architecture on some of the buildings was quite modern.

We spent the night at the Airporthotel Regent in Hallbergmoos. George, Gale and I took a walk through the small town of Hallbergmoos.

These are the last photos of our trip to Europe. I hope you enjoyed the journey.

#809

#808 A Secret Scrolls Message

2010-12-22T05:00:00.001-06:00

From The Secret Daily Teachings

You can most certainly help others through your thoughts, and they can help you. Every good thought you send to another is a living force. However, the person you are sending the thought to has to be asking for the same thing you are sending. If the person does not want it, then they are not in harmony with your thought frequency, and it will not penetrate them.

You cannot create in another's life against their will, but if it is something they want, your thoughts are a real force that helps them.

May the joy be with you,

Rhonda Byrne

The Secret and The Power... bringing joy to billions

#808

#807 Day Nineteen - Fairytale Castles

2010-12-21T05:00:00.000-06:00

October 24th. We are nearing the end of our tour of Europe. This day we spent time at Neuschwanstein Castle. You may know that it was Disney's inspiration for his fairy tale castle at his theme park.

In Garmisch we stayed at the Edelweiss Lodge and Resort:

We then went to see the Neuschwanstein Castle. At that location there were a number of very beautiful castles and lodges. At Neuschwanstein we were not allowed to take any photos inside the castle. I did get some of the surrounding scenery by shooting through open windows within the castle.

Jagerhaus:

Hohenschwangau Castle:

Local Scenery:

Neuschwanstein Castle:

Day twenty will see us driving to Munich with an overnight stay prior to our departure for home.

#807

#806 Day Eighteen - From Interlaken to Garmisch

2010-12-20T05:00:00.001-06:00

On October 23rd we left Interlaken, Switzerland and traveled to Garmisch, Germany. On the way we stopped in Leichtenstein. We didn't spend a lot of time there. I kid about it and say that we traveled from one place to the other and had lunch in Leichtenstein. It is a rather small country. The food and wine were outstanding.

The landscape and architecture along the way is quite familiar. I must say that we traveled through a number of tunnels. There was even one that spiraled up much like the circular ramps in many parking garages. It did a number on the GPS map. We even traveled through one tunnel that was just over 15 kms long.

Most of the photos here will be about Leichtenstein. Although I apparently have a thing about churches and cathedrals. I just couldn't resist the colors and shapes.

We wanted to visit wineries along our way. The Hofkellerei winery in Leichtenstein was right on our way. Unfortunately, we arrived too late for a tour or tasting. We did get some good photos of the vineyards.

Now for the last set of photos. This set of slides capture some of the churches we saw along the way. The last photo is not of a church, but I like the architecture and the color.

We are approaching the end of our trip. There are just two more days of photos.

#806

#805 Day Seventeen - Saxetbach Memorial & Parasailing

2010-12-17T05:00:00.005-06:00

These slides are a bit disparate. While touring the countryside we came across the the Saxetbach Tragedy memorial. It seemed appropriate to take the photos to show the proper reverence to the situation. The number of remembrance notes left on the site is amazing. Rick Steve's article tells it all.

The next set of slides show the sport of parasailing. It must be quite popular. We saw some of the "chutists" while we were up on the mountain. When we returned to Interlaken we were able to watch them land. I think it is interesting that para-sailers and Swiss cows can coexist. Don't you?

#805

#804 A Secret Scrolls Message

2010-12-16T05:00:00.004-06:00

From The Secret Daily Teachings

Our highest power is love, and it is one thing each of us has an unlimited amount of. How much love do you give to others in one day? Each day we have an opportunity to set out with this great, unlimited power in our possession, and pour it over every person and circumstance.

Love is appreciating, complimenting, feeling gratitude, and speaking good words to others.

We have so much love to give, and the more that we give, the more we receive.

May the joy be with you,

Rhonda Byrne

The Secret and The Power... bringing joy to billions

#804

#803 Day Seventeen - Swiss Mountain Scenes and Architecture

2010-12-15T05:00:00.001-06:00

The mountains are very majestic.

Alpine architecture is quite unique and beautiful.

#803

#802 Day Seventeen - Touring around Interlaken

2010-12-14T05:00:00.003-06:00

October 22, 2010. This is the day we decide to travel around the area to see what sights there are in the mountains. There are 190+ photos to choose from. I have decided to break then into six different categories.

Our first drive was through the town of Beatenberg.

Along the way were were amazed at the size of the Swiss cows. We noted that every cow wore a bell. The bells were quite large and had a marvelous tone to them. Apparently cow art is a big thing in some parts of Switzerland.

#802

#801 A Secret Scrolls Message

2010-12-13T05:00:00.000-06:00

From The Secret Daily Teachings

Every day, or at the very least once or twice a week, take a few minutes and focus on seeing yourself in joy. Feel yourself in joy. Imagine only joy ahead in your life and see yourself basking in it. As you do this the Universe will move all people, circumstances, and events to bring you that joy. You can't be in joy if you have money worries, or health worries, or relationship problems with friends or family. So deposit some joy in the bank of the Universe as often as you can. There isn't an investment that is more worthwhile.

May the joy be with you,

Rhonda Byrne

The Secret and The Power... bringing joy to billions

#801

#800 Day Sixteen - Ice Palace and Grindelwald

2010-12-12T05:00:00.003-06:00

Once we were on top the Ice Palace is a sight to see. The ice palace is an ice hallway with a series of ice sculptures. It was rather cold there. We were glad we dressed warmly. We also had to watch our step on the ice floor.

After lunch we took the train through Grindelwald on the way back to Interlaken.

We were able to see a lot of beautiful countryside.

#800

#799 Day Sixteen - From Wengen to Kleine Scheidegg to Jungfrau

2010-12-11T05:00:00.005-06:00

We arrived in Wengen and had about 15 minutes to board the Jungfrau train. Along the way the train stopped at two places within the mountain. We could take photos from the face of the same mountain where many of the scenes from the Eiger Sanction were photographed. We were able to take photos through windows that had water droplets. Nothing like drops of water to add a different dimension to photos. The reflections on the train window also affect the photos.

The slides in tomorrow's show will focus on the ice palace and our trip through Grindelwald back to Interlaken.

#799

#798 A Secret Scrolls Message

2010-12-10T05:00:00.004-06:00

From The Secret Daily Teachings

May the joy be with you,

Rhonda Byrne

The Secret and The Power... bringing joy to billions

#798

#797 Day Sixteen - From Unterseen to Wengen

2010-12-09T05:00:00.022-06:00

October 21, 2010, was our first day of seeing the sights around Interlaken. We decided to go to the "top of Europe" - the Jungfrau. We purchased tickets to take us to the mountain where we would tour the Ice Palace, see the glacier and have lunch. The sights were breathtaking.

It will take a few postings to present the slide shows for this one day. There were so many beautiful photos that I had a difficult time selecting the best ones.

Early in the morning we walked to the nearby train station. We were directed to take the short cut. We crossed the two canals that connect the two lakes which give Interlaken its name.

The first part of the trip took us to the small mountain community of Wengen. You can judge the beauty of the countryside for yourself.

#797

#796 Day Fifteen - On to Interlaken

2010-12-08T05:00:00.005-06:00

October 20, 2010 we left our friends and headed on to Interlaken, Switzerland. We knew we would have to get a special "pass" once we entered Switerland that would allow us to use the "freeways". The decal shows we have paid the tax to use the roadway.

The last of the French countryside as we drive to Switzerland

Views of the Swiss countryside on the way to the Hotel Rossli in Unterseen, a suburb of Interlaken. The Admirats are wonderful hosts. You will enjoy Jean-Louis and his son Christopher (Herr Cool Guy). Jean-Louis keeps on top of everything. While he acts like a First Sergeant at times, you will be taken with his sense of humor and his ability to serve with integrity, care about those he serves and shares the love in his heart and soul. Christopher does the same.

#796

#795 Day Fourteen - Truffle Hunting

2010-12-07T05:00:00.002-06:00

October 19, 2010, was another day with a unique surprise. Our friends were sure we would be interested in learning about truffles. I had heard of them, but didn't know much. I knew they were a fungus with a unique flavor. I also knew that they were expensive. I've since learned that they can cost up to $1,000 per pound.

I also knew that pigs are used to root them out. Other than that I didn't know much. I had never tasted them. I knew that the term truffles has been applied to a chocolate confection, but must confess to have never trying them either. At least not that I can remember.

The castle we visited is located between Beaune and Dijon. It contains the truffle shop/cafe. You can find it on google maps if you search for L'Or des Valois. You will note that the castle is located down a lengthy small road. As you drive into the estate you will pass the tract of land that is the truffle "garden". There are only a couple of types of trees that will produce the best truffles. Tours of the castle and the truffle hunting are arranged by appointment. Our friends took care of that.

When we arrived we entered the truffle shop/cafe. We were met by the truffle "master" and his prized hunter-one small, dog. The dog is much preferred as a hunter of truffles. Pigs are more difficult to control. Either animal will only discover the truffles that are ready for harvest. It is a labor intensive endeavor. It is also a labor of love, particularly for this truffle "master". The hunter must be very alert to the activity of the dog. Apparently people aren't the only ones who find truffles irresistible. A gardening fork is a necessary tool to dig out the truffle.

After we completed the truffle hunt we returned to the castle and met the owner. Our next step was a tour of Chateau d’Entre—Deux-Monts, another pleasant surprise.

Once the tour of the castle was completed we returned to the truffle shop/cafe where we were treated to a delightful tasting of truffles as they can be used. The taste is one you acquire. It doesn't take long for that to happen. I must say that they have a rather strong flavor, but we certainly enjoyed the tasting. A very nice white wine was poured to accompany the "meal". We also had a taste of Cassis.

There is also a Facebook page you can visit. However, the Facebook page is in French. As they say in France, bon apetit!

#795

#794 Day Thirteen - Beaune & Bessey

2010-12-06T05:00:00.027-06:00

October 18, 2010, led us to the town of Beaune. It is a wonderful town to visit. We try to visit there every time we go to Marsannay. One of the most unique and interesting sight is the Hospices de Beaune and the Hotel-Dieu.

Our friends then showed us our first special surprise. We visited Chateau de Bessey-les-Citeaux. This chateau has a unique history. During WWII American airman were stationed at the airport in Dijon. They flew bombing raids over Germany from this airbase. The officers were billeted in at the chateau. They turned one of the rooms into a bar. One of the officers was an accomplished artist. He managed to decorate the walls with his original works. I suspect some of them might have been painted onto the walls because he was prevented from painting them on airplanes. But that is mere suspicion and made up. The artwork speaks for itself.

The chateau is an operational B&B. It also has a quilt shop. You can see that the "bar" is now a storage room. Our friend had discovered this on one of her trips around the countryside with friends.

#794

#793 A Secret Scrolls Message

2010-12-05T05:00:00.000-06:00

From The Secret Daily Teachings

Imagine writing an email of what you want to the Universe. When you are happy that your email is very clear, you hit "Send" and you know your request has gone into the ethers. You also know that the Server of the Universe is an automatic system, and it doesn't question email requests. Its job is simply to fulfil every request.

If you begin to worry and stress that you haven't got what you wanted, then you have just sent another email to the Universe to stop your order. And then you wonder why you haven't received what you asked for.

Once you Ask, know that the Server of the Universe is an automatic infallible system that never fails, and expect to receive your request!

May the joy be with you,

Rhonda Byrne

The Secret and The Power... bringing joy to billions

#793