Sunday, February 28, 2010

Places to Go

 

There are so many places I want to visit and so little time left to do it. My suggestion on this and actually your life?”

Do it while you are young. Barbara and I spent the second year of our married life going to school in Denmark, then the following summer, traveling in Europe and Italy. Our only mistake was to come home before we had seen the world. We should have kept going until we had been everywhere. If you are young and unencumbered, travel now. I realize your first response will be that you can’t afford it. Think again! You can’t afford to not do it while you are young enough to appreciate it. Soon you will be married, have a flock of kids and then it will be too expensive or too late. There are lots of ways to do it. Plenty of schools throughout the world that are looking for low cost teachers from the USA to teach English to students and will give you room and board with plenty of time to explore. There are also opportunities to act as tour guides and to get openings that way. A church member from our churchy who is single plans tours with a travel company and takes parties of ten or more church members on tours every summer all over the world and goes free as a tour guide. You might even join the Navy if if you are desperate, but I wouldn’t recommend it. Join the Marines and save your money, then take a trip. You could get a job, live with you parents, save all your money, then go on  trip. Get a job on a cruise ship that will give you time off in the various ports. Just be creative and travel,l you won’t regret it.

 

President?

What a come down from George Washington our first president, to Barack Obama our forty third president.

Washington didn’t want to be president, but finally accepted it to help his country.

Obama had the reverse motivation. He wanted it more than anything else in his life for his own benefit and would have done anything to get it.

Friday, February 26, 2010

Crisis

It probably seems to you that we all must be obsessed with the word crisis as we want to use it so often. However, I think I would like to tell you my take on the so-called-financial-crisis now being discussed on the news.

I don’t believe there really is a crisis at this time. I think most of us are doing fine and if Obama would leave the banks alone and let the weak sink and the strong take over, it would correct itself, just as it always have. It is when the Washington clueless enter the picture that we begin to have trouble. However, if there really is some kind of crisis, it was caused by the media and the administration of Obama-mania who apparently doesn’t understand the basic fundamentals of finance taught by most parents to their children. “If you have it, save it, if you don’t have it, don’t spend it, if you can survive without it, you don’t need it.”Or as Ben Franklin put it, “a penny earned is a penny saved” and I would add, a penny saved will soon be a dollar in the bank if you have any “cents.”

When I was about ten I saw an advertisement for the Compton Savings and Loan that said they paid 3 and 3/4 percent on money you deposited in a new account,at our local bank paid they only 1and1/2 percent. I rode my bike to the S&L and the clerk wouldn’t let me open an account, the manager came over and told me I needed my an adult to open the account. I asked my mother to go with me, which she did and helped me open the account. When I was in high school I went to his home with his son and he remembered me. I was quite surprise, but he told me they didn’t get many ten year old trying to open a bank account so he had remembered me.

How to Become Wealthy!

It is really quite simple if you start when you are young. Save your money. I mean all of your money. Don’t buy it unless it is absolutely something you must have to survive. Start with the pennies, turn them into larger denominational coins, then bills and then put them to earning interest. Put them in a bank or savings and loan at better interest then when you have enough, buy some stock in one of the major companies such as oil, banking, industry, communications, or whichever one suits your desire. Exxon was the first company I bought, then Bank of America, Safeway, and gradually I bought into seventeen companies at which point I felt I was fully diversified. I have added to the portfolio by reinvesting all dividends. I sat goals for all my shares, first was to get ten shares, then thirty, next fifty and so on until I had a hundred of each company. Incidentally I am still not here yet so don’t get discouraged. I intend to get very close before long.

The way I picked companies was to find the one that I recognized, knew and that I thought was the best in their industry. I wasn’t always correct, for example I didn’t  buy Cargill, because I had never heard of it, yet now I wonder where I was living? Cargill is certainly now one of the top ones on my list.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Beware of Blonds!

Xiang Gao MD at Harvard made a study of Parkinson’s disease and found that blonds have A 60% higher risk for the disease than dark haired people.

Do you suppose there is something in the bleach that causes Parkinson?

Want Long Life?

Marry a girl after she has a Masters Degree. It has been found that men who married a woman with just a high school education have a 25% higher risk of dying than a man who marries a woman with a higher level of education. It doesn’t specify what higher level, but why take the chance. Go for the gold. Find one with a Masters or a Doctors degree and live a long and happy life. Besides, she will earn more.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Looking for Stock?

Perhaps you might consider one of the drug companies that makes drugs for diabetics as diabetes cases are expected to double in the next twenty five years. There are 23.7 million estimated patients today and by 2034 they expect there will be 44 million people with diabetes.

Borrow More, Pay Less

The Obama administration is considering borrowing money from the Chinese Government to pay for some of his spending spree.

Now that is really the way to get our country moving again.

Only a demoncrat* could believe that a government can borrow its way to wealth.

Besides borrowing, he wants to raise the debt limit again. Why bother, just throw it out. It didn’t mean anything to Bush, why should it bother Obama?

The Chinese love us and will be happy to become our landlords.

*Sometimes Democrat

Osama

The Pakistani army reported that Hakimullah Mehsud was killed, but they also believe that the dead Osama Bin Laden is still alive.

While this may seem unimportant, the fact is, that no matter whether one is dead or another is not, makes very little difference. The Taliban will just find another insane leader to lead them, as long as the Taliban is alive. Could we wipe out the Taliban? I could answer that, but you wouldn’t like my method.

 

Why do People go into Politics?

Did you ever wonder why anyone would subject himself to such distain and ridicule as a person often gets when he runs for a political office? I suppose one reason is that they may had once held an office while they were in school or possibly been a part of a political campaign that makes them feel they know the ropes.  Possibly they think that they are somehow different and everyone will love them. I think the last reason fits Obama. He didn’t realize that there were a lot of us out there who wouldn’t  believe he was Mr. Wonderful.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

More Nonsense

Yesterday was Saturday, February 20, 2010 or 2/20/10

Today is Sunday, February 21, 2010 or 2/21/10,

What I am waiting for is October 10th. 10/10/10. I think it should be a holiday, because 11/11/11 is more than a year away. Actually, everyday is a holiday for me, so what am I talking about?

I love numbers like that, they have a certain symmetry.

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Prejudice.

Americans are twice as likely to express prejudice against Muslims as they are against Christians, Jews or Buddhists. Two thirds of them also say they don’t know much about Islam,, but still a majority dislike the faith.

President Obama wants to improve our image of the Muslim world. Why?

Scent

 

I have heard people say they love the scent of new mown hay. Have you ever wondered if they love the scent of old mown hay?

I’ll tell you something I do know about old mown alfalfa. The scent of old mown alfalfa is just a lot of dust when it it pitch-forked up onto to a wagon and you are in charge of packing it for transporting to the barn.

Betrayal

Betrayal often seems to have the same ripple effect that you get when you throw a rock into a pond, the waves seem to go on forever.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Change is Inevitable.

It seems that we are facing a time of rapid change in our lives. Maybe President Obama made a bad choice when he ran on the concept of change, because now he is stuck with it. A problem he may be facing is that the public is calling for a change from the policies that he has introduced and possibly a change of presidents at the end of his term. So much for change. However, having said that, let me protect myself by saying he has one major advantage over his opponent, he is a Democrat and most voters tend to vote their party. I know you think you are an independent and vote for the man. Baloney, you vote for the party of your choice like everyone else, the only difference is that sometime in the distant past you voted for a candidate of the opposition party, so you think you now think you are an  independent. If by some small wonder you believe you do vote for the man, please tell me where you get the information? From his or hers website? That is certainly a reliable source.

The problem Obama has created for himself was his own doing in that he not only kept some of the people from the Bush administration as his advisors, but he embraced the same old worn-out policies, that didn’t work for Bush and probably won’t work for him.                                         

Are you looking for a pet? I haven’t checked this out, but I read about two sites for people who are looking for dogs or cats. If you do use one of them please let me know how well it worked for you. (rodandbjones@gmail.com)

ForeclosurePets.org and adopt-a-pet.com

I have heard people say that they love the scent of new mown hay. I wonder if anyone loves the scent of old mown hay?

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Our Schools Will be Saved!!

Thank goodness, at last we have a Superintendent of Public Instruction who really understands the problems with our schools and how to fix them.

It is the teachers fault and here are his solution.

1. Strengthen teacher-student relationships.

2. Address perceptions of bias.

3. Improve the general climate of a school.

4. Print a new workbook for teachers.

Saturday, February 13, 2010

The Problem

 

Often when you hear a Politician give a speech, you can expect that sometime during his speech he will say something about our broken schools. If you wonder why, it is simple and what he really means, but would never ask is this. “How could someone as dumb as I am expect to be elected to office, if the schools were really doing their jobs?”

Black History Week

This week we will be celebrating Black History week.

That is really great, because I think colors are very important. Can you imagine a world without color?

My suggestion is that the following week we should celebrate blue History week, that will be followed by brown, yellow, orange, blue, pink, green, red and so on until we have celebrated all of the colors except magenta.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

ECONOMIC OUTLOOK

         Since our own economy has tanked, it seems inevitable that the Chinese who continue to have a growing economy, will either own us, or control us unless we start to act now. Since 1978 China has been engaged in trying to catch up with the west, but with the west now in decline, this may happen faster than you expect. President Obama, the benighted* leader of our dysfunctional political system must wake up to what is happening, get his mind off universal healthcare and focus on getting out of the way of our floundering economy so that society can correct the problem. When banks stabilize and people feel secure things will once again start to straighten out. He should realize that China is there, breathing down our necks.

First of all, he must cut spending, all pork should be vetoed by him, from both parties and the “Budget” balanced. He should try to work across party lines, but don’t get upset when Porky Pig Senators from both sides try to sabotage his agenda. Next, he should let the private sector take care of the economy. It has worked before and will work again, if he will only let it function the way it can. Underperforming banks should be either taken over by larger banks or allowed to die. When the ship is sinking the strong will survive and possibly save a few, but the weak may drown, let the weak banks go if they can’t make it. after all, most of us have probably bought something that was not of any use to us.

*I saw this phrase in the “Economist” and just had to use it.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

WHAT IS WRONG WITH OUR SCHOOLS?

Very little of anything according to surveys made by principals of schools. Most parents, when they actually go to school and talk with their child’s teacher come away from the meeting feeling very good a bout the teacher. The best part about it is the students who are having problems, usually feel that the teacher is trying to help their child and feel good about their school.

Once when I was at a PTA meeting a father began to tell me how awful the educational system is in the United States. I asked him what he thought I should do about it and his answer was; “ I don’t mean this school, this school has great teachers, I mean all of the other schools.”

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Hidden Agenda

When I read what some of our government employees have to say about different subjects, I tend to wonder how they ever were elected. I suppose they are masters at hiding their own ignorance and anything they don’t want you to know about them. This is not the problem of one party, it is most elected officials.The new GOP leader in the Assembly has found the key to job creation. He said that the President should keep job creation as his number one job. What about the war in Afghanistan, the economy? Instead he thinks he should focus on jobs. “Jobs here, jobs now, jobs first.” Since when can the government create jobs, unless it is something like the WPA or the CCC? Of I forgot, they can hire more interns. Just don’t let Bill Clinton in on it. Obama’s amazing turn around.“I can do it without the Republicans.” Now he says, “We must take our time and finalize healthcare and it must be bipartisan . That is ominous, what does he mean by finalize? Destroy what is now in place, because that is what a government plan will do. We have a great system right now and don’t need any government intervention. Recently I became really sick during the night and called an ambulance, they were here within ten minutes and took me to the hospital of my choice. Medicare and AARP paid for all of it. What more could I have wanted?

Let me share some things that happened to me at the hospital the first time I went. I arrived on a stretcher and they took me right into a room to wait for the doctor. The next time they wanted the stretcher, so I had to sit in the guest waiting room. After about half an hour I went to the window and asked the girl how long I would have to wait and she told me about four hours. I left the window, then after a few minutes I went back. I told her I was sick and was going home so I could go back to bed. She told me to come in and put me in a room to wait for a doctor. The lesson is obvious, “act now.”

Friday, February 5, 2010

Cell phones and other ideas

Talking on your cell phone while driving, even hands free, makes you four times more likely to have a accident.

General Motors is abounding the Saturn brand. 

In 1974 Henry Kissinger who was then Secretary of State at the First World Conference in Rome said “No child would go to bed hungry within 10 years.” He was basing this upon hoped for world trade agreements that never developed.

Thirty five years latter at the United Nations Food Summit in Rome it was reported that one billion people will go to bed hungry. I wonder where the grain went?

This reminded me of a book that Barbara’s mother had when she was a girl that declared something similar. “World hunger will no longer exist now that the price of a sack of grain has reached ten cents a  bag. His theory was now everyone could have a  bowl of cooked cereal and a loaf of bread. That was enough for anybody.

 

JOBS HERE JOBS NOW

It is interesting to see the changes in our president’s attitude. He was going to do it all himself, but might take some help from the democrats. He didn’t need to consult, or even to talk with republicans. Now he suddenly realizes he needs help if he is going to get anything done. So much for arrogance.

I suppose we should help him before he completes his destructive takeover of the banks. What a mess he is creating in his trying to fix the economy. It is very difficult to change people without their cooperation if they don’t want to change.

Even cats and dogs have their own minds.

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

55 percent of people 55 or older suffer from dementia, which is developed due to uncontrolled high blood pressure. Unfortunately, if you don’t do something about high blood pressure the high levels of homocysteins in your body may lead to Alzheimer’s.

TWILIGHT ZONE

On a Friday night in October 1959 the Twilight Zone began and many people were glued to their TV sets. Unfortunately, I was not one of them. Even to this day, I rarely watch a new show.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

BODY TEMPERATURES MAY DECLINE WITH AGE.

Today’s newspaper came up with what they presumably thought was an astonishing idea. “As someone grows older, their body temperature decreases.” I wonder if anyone from the newspaper, including Anahad O”Conner has ever had a grandfather or visited a nursing home? What many of us feel, as we get older, is cold. I have on a shirt a sweatshirt and a jacket and I am still cold. Of course I am only eighty five so I can’t speak for the elderly. Maybe in five or ten years I will qualify as elderly, who knows.

“disparate impact.’

“Disparate impact” has become a catch phrase for the Obama administration. Just in case you don’t know what he means by this, it means that if a particular group of people don’t score as well as another other group of people, it is proof that the test is discriminating against them. I don’t suppose it ever occurred to him that just maybe some people have had a better education than others, or dare I say are better endowed than others. “Disparate impact.” This proves that the USA is working as our founding fathers wanted it to. Someone who is as clueless as he is can be elected president