It's A Great Day Today. Remember Humor Is A Social Lubricant.

Observations and opinions ... not always my own.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Humble


The blurb below is from Paul Thorn's FB page.  He is not only one of Mississippi's best singer/song writer/performer, but his wit and wisdom is great.

 
Well my $19 dollar walmart charcoal grill has breathed its last breath, the tray that catches all the ashes rusted out about a month ago, and i put an old skillet under it to catch all the droppings but now the whole grill is falling apart as a result of more rust, i went back to walmart today and upgraded to a grill that cost $40. its a lot more fancy than that other one i bought back in 08. i almost felt guilty walking through the store with my high dollar purchase sitting front and center in that buggy, while most other folks still have to use the $19 type grill that i once used back before i hit the big time.

I dont mean to further rub my success in peoples faces but i even bought the high dollar charcoal, the kind that dont need charcoal lighter fluid. its called ''match lite''. i will save the bag to remind me of how far ive come, i am trying to stay humble but its hard when you have the world by the tail. please pray for me so that i can keep my feet on the ground and not become arrogant as a result of my success. 

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Many Uninsured Americans Can Afford Healthcare

Last week's Census data reported that there are 50.67 million uninsured Americans. That's statistically a crapload. But economist Mark J. Perry is pretty good at dissembling such crap. I paraphrase: There were 10.6 million uninsured Americans in households making $75,000 per year or more. And there were about 9.4 million Americans without health insurance making between $50,000 and $75,000. So that's nearly 40 percent of Americans without health insurance living in households last year with $50,000 or more of household income.

So while we've been constantly told that people cannot afford insurance, these numbers say otherwise. Some reject insurance by choice, maybe cuz they're self-insured, or more likely to get their prescriptions at Walmart.But more to the point: The people I know who don't have health insurance don't care.

Because Obama made a career trotting out tragic anecdotes of folks without insurance, here's mine: Scott, my flight attendant roommate, who may exist, spends his money on travel, booze and drugs — spending 800 bucks a month on beer, inhalants, locksmiths and antibiotics.
Meanwhile, he complains he lacks health insurance. What he doesn't complain about: that he can't afford health insurance. Because he can, he just chooses to spend that cash on stuff that makes him throw up on his mandals. And so do millions of other brats whining over lack of health care while being able to afford it.

But it doesn't matter now. The fact is, the rest of us are now paying for other people's choices. Like our government attempting to pay for abandoned mortgages with our money, we get nailed, they get bailed. It's called spreading the wealth, which means tonight I'm stealing Scott's drugs. And if you disagree with me, you're a racist homophobic, Islamophobic proctophobe.

Greg Gutfeld hosts "Red Eye with Greg Gutfeld"weekdays at 3 a.m. ET. Send your comments to:redeye@foxnews.com

The Okratones "Fried"

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Wheelchair Fencing World Championships

Four years ago I started coaching a new team at Methodist Rehab Center here in Jackson.The USFA made the selection announcement of the USA FENCING WHEELCHAIR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM who will represent Team USA in Paris, France, November 4 - 12, 2010. Four out of the 10  fencers selected are from Methodist's team:  Joey Brinson, Ryan Estep, Sonia Fogal, & Rebekka Sides
What a testament to their dedication and hard work.

 Background:

Fencing for athletes in wheelchairs was first introduced by Sir Ludwig Guttmann in 1953 and has been a part of the Paralympic program since 1960. 
Athletes compete in wheelchairs that are fixed to the floor.  Though they rely on ducking, half-turns and leaning to dodge their competitors' touches, fencers can never raise up from the seat.  The first fencer to score five touches is declared the winner.  Athletes play the best out of three rounds.
Athletes compete in single and team formats.  Weapon categories for men include foil, epee and sabre.  Women compete in foil and epee.  Athletes are divided into A, B and C classifications, depending on their strength and mobility.  Class A players have the greatest range of strength and mobility, while Class C players have the least.
Paralympic fencing competition is open to male and female athletes with physical disabilities such as amputation/limb loss, spinal cord injury/wheelchair-users and cerebral palsy/brain injury/stroke.

Healthy Vices

Monday, August 16, 2010

Manipulating Your Opinions

This is not a political article but when read carefully a psychological  article. Apply this to the information sources you rely  on and check your own bias.

Friday, August 13, 2010

SYTYCD

Best season ever. Congrats Lauren. I'd have been happy no matter who won (but I was pulling for Lauren).

Meteor Shower?????????

Bummer   clouds here.... maybe Sat morning.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Perseid Meteor Shower


To get an idea of how the peak of the Perseids – and that of many other meteor showers – could appear in your area, head over to the "Fluxtimator." Select the meteor shower, nearest major urban area, viewing conditions, and date, and the graph will automatically adjust itself to give you the peak viewing time at your location and how many "shooting stars" you may be able to see.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

National Anthem

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=668438806220

I know exactly what happened here. To protect the first amendment right of free speech and to protect the sacred ground of memorials and historic spaces the supreme court allowed the National Park Service to create protected zones and free expression zones in the areas they administer. The protected zone could possibly be used for an event or speech if a permit were issued.

Specifically when you visit the Lincoln "Memorial" there are signs requesting quiet and respect while visiting the upper memorial area. Rangers frequently remind people to not have music or loud behavior in this zone. The quiet zone extends from the main floor down the front steps to the first landing. When some in the high school group started singing the National Anthem they were politely requested not to sing there. The group then banded together and all began to sing again and more loudly. At this point the rangers interrupted them to again request they move from that area.

The point here is that to have freedom of speech and protection of other interests the content of the speech is not at issue. The federal law, as written by congress and affirmed by the supreme court, was being enforced by the rangers. It didn't matter who was singing what, it just wasn't allowed in that area without a permit. If these students had been one landing down it wouldn't have been an issue. I can imagine these same students would have been appalled if some other country's anthem was being sung in that same location.

Remember all our freedoms exist only through the rule and respect for the law. And if we don't like the laws we have a way to change them.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Think About It

Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits they become character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

AZ Gov. vs. Phoenix Suns

An immigration reform activist says Arizona Governor Jan Brewer hit the nail on the head recently when she called the owner of the Phoenix Suns basketball team to ask for his opposition to the state's tough immigration enforcement bill.

Governor Jan Brewer has been attacked from various groups inside and outside her state for boldly standing up for SB 1070, which is scheduled to take effect on Thursday (July 29) but is facing court challenges from the Obama administration and the American Civil Liberties Union.

Among those who have criticized the bill is Robert Sarver, the owner of the NBA's Phoenix Suns. In a May 2010 interview with ESPN, Sarver said the law calls into question "our basic principles of equal rights and protection under the law" and will cause Arizona's economy to suffer setbacks at a time when the state is already in economic distress.

But Governor Brewer recently crafted a response to the basketball mogul:

"What if the owners of the Suns discovered that hordes of people were sneaking into games without paying? What if they had a good idea who the gate-crashers are, but the ushers and security personnel were not allowed to ask these folks to produce their ticket stubs, thus non-paying attendees couldn’t be ejected. Furthermore, what if Suns’ ownership was expected to provide those who sneaked in with complimentary eats and drink? And what if, on those days when a gate-crasher became ill or injured, the Suns had to provide free medical care and shelter?" -Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer


"I'm disappointed in her response. I would rather have had her declare (out of the blue) right before a game, that anyone who wanted to get in free could just show up and would receive free drinks and food. Then, when Sarver started spouting "you can't do that" she could let him have it. Personally, I think she should go ahead and tell him anyway that she is going to declare a "free" Phoenix Suns day for anyone who wishes to attend - on Robert Sarver. Kinda like the Feds telling AZ they can't control their state." Blogger

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Monday, March 15, 2010

More Global Warming

More on the Toyota Acceleration Problem

My earlier contention that a stuck or malfunctioning accelerator should not cause a serious problem for an average driver in a modern car is supported by Car and Driver here: How to Stop Your Car

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Dang!


this Monday, March 8, 2010 photo released by the Colorado Department of Transportation, a portion of a 17-mile stretch of Interstate 70, which has been closed after a rock slide, is shown in Glenwood Springs, Colo. The slide struck around midnight Sunday near the Hanging Lake Tunnel in Glenwood Canyon, a deep and narrow chasm about 110 miles west of Denver, the Colorado Department of Transportation said. (AP Photo/Colorado Department of Transportation)

Darwin Award Nominee

Another incidence of a stuck accelerator. A California man had to be coached by a CHP officer on how to slow his Prius. He could dial 911 at speeds of up to ninety miles per hour, wait for an officer to find him, then be told to apply all the brakes and finally turn off the engine and coast to a stop. Excuse me? During all that time it never crossed his mind to either shift it into neutral or turn off the engine??????? And the strangest thing about all this? Who knew a prius would do ninety. Another article here with more details, doesn't change any of the above. He can dial a cell phone at ninety but isn't competent enough to shift into neutral with out hitting reverse nor turning off the ignition to the first stop. Shouldn't be driving me thinks.

Friday, February 26, 2010

Rock On -Friday Thoughts

We'll only get good health care legislation when Congress is required to use the same system as the rest of us.

Global warming is here to stay until the onset of the next ice age. Let's put our efforts into how to work with the coming changes. For instance stop development in low lying coastal areas and think about getting some banana plantations started in Montana.
Caution: Wonk article

Spring is coming to the South. Yeaaaaa.

Watch this and smile.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Wheel Chair Fencing



Help our get some TV coverage for fencing on the local news by going to the link below and clicking a link on that webpage.   Choose the Paralympic Fencing Program. Get all your friends to vote for it too.  Even if they don't live here.   Thanks,
 


Friday, February 19, 2010

Health Insurance Rates

This comes under the Duh! heading. Insurance companies are increasing their rates because healthier people are opting out thereby leaving the more costly, less healthy seeking insurance. Doesn't it stand to reason that if insurance companies were free to compete in all states that low cost leaders would emerge and more people (healthy & unhealthy) would seek coverage if the rates were more affordable so in the process the risk pool would expand and the insurance companies could remain profitable? Free the insurance companies to compete and let time and market forces make the adjustments in the best interest of consumers.

Or... spend more tax money to support an inefficient system.
Here's a really wonky but in depth report.

End of the week thoughts.

The Olympics....no do overs here. All or nothing. Hats off to all competitors, trainers & supporters.

Tiger Woods. Who? Oh yeah, rich guy with family problems. And why should I care???

A disturbed guy flies a small plane into a building. Watch the big brother types try to call for tighter regulation of general aviation aircraft. Over reaction predicted.

Apple iTunes store censoring apps that are deemed too risque due to complaints from users. Why are those being offended downloading those apps??? Why is iTunes gutless?

Over 60 degrees here today. Ya hoo!

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Snowed in in Mississippi

Tried to go to Wyoming for Valentine's Day. Was concerned about the weather out there for travel. Didn't plan on getting snowed in  here.

The Little Death

Enough said.
Posted by Picasa

Thursday, February 11, 2010

92 Caddie vs 95 Buick


On the way to work today someone stopped in their lane decided to pull out into my lane. Ouch! 6000lbs. vs 3200lbs. A lesson in physics if not patience.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Monday, February 8, 2010

Ford

A friend sent me this. It's worth looking at:  FORD

Ford outdid themselves with this commercial. It looks like Ford is perhaps the only U.S. automaker that is not asking for a bailout or a handout at this time. They have now come up with a timely and heartwarming product commercial that would make Henry Ford proud of the company he founded in 1903.

6 Days Left

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Global Warming Alert

It seems that a couple of years ago someone in the government decided that the tens of thousands of asthmatics in this country were depleting the ozone layer by using their Albuterol inhalers.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

The Winners Are:

The Washington Post's Mensa Invitational once again invited readers to take any word from the dictionary, alter it by adding, subtracting, or changing one letter, and supply a new definition.

Here are the winners:

There Is A God.

Bless her heart.
Jaywalking candidate.

Who's That Avatar?

Check it out.

The Digerati

Here's the quote:

"Those Americans who resist the demands of the technological revolution will become the leisured class of the next century. These masters of the good life will not be the owners of cell phones. The'll be owners of everyone else's cell phone number"

 -Froma Harrop

Here's the source:

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Welcome

"Don't kick a fresh turd on a warm day."
-Harry S. Truman

Don't know if anyone reads this or cares. That said, it's a good place to get things off my chest. Enjoy the ride friends.