Slow and steady wins the race
to get yourself fired, or honked at.
I never know whether to wave when I'm honked at or to give some other signal that I heard and acknowledge their impatience. Sometimes I just wave and smile as though I know them. I've often thought about stopping to say hello and find out what they wanted to tell me, but I'm sure they are in too much of a hurry to discuss matters with me. And we could have become such great friends. Usually, they will pass me by and politly cut in front of me. That's okay, they probably have an emergency to deal with. Life gets to be in too much of a rush. You need to slow down and smell the dandelions.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Thursday August 30, 2007 Inspiration
My daughter sent me directions to a website which offered inspirational thoughts.
After all these years, I have all the inspirational thoughts I need tucked away in my own brain. When you get older and wiser, like me, you have a wealth of advice and inspiration just waiting to be tapped.
Generally, I have a useful saying for most any event that I am more than willing to interject in any conversation – just give me a chance. Of course, when I offer this sage advice, the conversation grows respectfully quiet and as they turn away, I'm sure they are filled with awe and admiration and find themselve choked with feeling. At least I assume so because generally the conversation ends with my interjection. But does that disappoint me, NO. It encourages me to offer more and more to all within audible range.
Yessir, I'm ready to spout wise and knowledgable quotes at the drop of a hat – of course, noone wears a hat anymore. I notice that lately I haven't been to to many gatherings where I get a chance to philosophize for others. I'm sure that it's just a coincidence.
So I thought why not offer bits and pieces of my mind in my blog. That way I can reach the millions of people who read my blog religiously. It could be similar to Poor Richard's Almanac, although more up to date. That way my daughter could send directions to her friends to my site for inspirational thoughts. Of course, I wouldn't want to become too famous – just recognized for my wit and sagacity.
My thought for today:
Never do today what you can put off till tomorrow. (but keep a list of things to do – you'll feel better)
Till next time.
This is your older and wiser inspirationist, Bob.
After all these years, I have all the inspirational thoughts I need tucked away in my own brain. When you get older and wiser, like me, you have a wealth of advice and inspiration just waiting to be tapped.
Generally, I have a useful saying for most any event that I am more than willing to interject in any conversation – just give me a chance. Of course, when I offer this sage advice, the conversation grows respectfully quiet and as they turn away, I'm sure they are filled with awe and admiration and find themselve choked with feeling. At least I assume so because generally the conversation ends with my interjection. But does that disappoint me, NO. It encourages me to offer more and more to all within audible range.
Yessir, I'm ready to spout wise and knowledgable quotes at the drop of a hat – of course, noone wears a hat anymore. I notice that lately I haven't been to to many gatherings where I get a chance to philosophize for others. I'm sure that it's just a coincidence.
So I thought why not offer bits and pieces of my mind in my blog. That way I can reach the millions of people who read my blog religiously. It could be similar to Poor Richard's Almanac, although more up to date. That way my daughter could send directions to her friends to my site for inspirational thoughts. Of course, I wouldn't want to become too famous – just recognized for my wit and sagacity.
My thought for today:
Never do today what you can put off till tomorrow. (but keep a list of things to do – you'll feel better)
Till next time.
This is your older and wiser inspirationist, Bob.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Monday August 27, 2007 Glug, glug, glug.
Ashcroft, Rumsfeld, Wolfkowitz, Rove, Gonzalez.
They've all left the sinking ship.
Now if only George and Dick would bail out too. I guess that's too much to hope for. After all, the captain is supposed to go down with the ship.
Unfortunately, it's OUR ship!
They've all left the sinking ship.
Now if only George and Dick would bail out too. I guess that's too much to hope for. After all, the captain is supposed to go down with the ship.
Unfortunately, it's OUR ship!
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Wednesday August 22, 2007 Almost four and a half years.
We entered World War 1 In 1917 and by November, 1918 it was over. We helped save Europe.(many countries never paid us for war debts)
We entered World War 2 in December 1941 and by August 1945 it was over. We helped save and rebuild Europe. We helped rebuild Japan. (We still have troops there after 62 years)
We entered the Korean War in 1950 and by 1953 it had ended. (We still have troops there 54 years later)
We entered into the Vietnam War in 1964, after the gulf of Tonkin incident, and pulled out in 1973 (the civil war in Vietnam ended in 1975). They found their own peace and we have no troops there. They rebuilt their own country.
4½ years ago we invaded Iraq. Our boys are still dying over there. There is still no peace. There is still no security. This could go on forever.
The conflict between Sunnis and Shiites has been going on for over 1300 years and it isn't going to end because of our interference. The Sunnis have been in control for most of those 1300 years(Saddam was a Sunni and had nationalized the oil industry, taking it away from western owners) and the Shiites want revenge. The Sunnis believe that they are right and the Shiites believe they are right and we are smack dab in the middle. We need to get out of there and let them come to their own conclusion.(without leaving any troops there)
As of Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2007, at least 3,707 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count. The figure includes seven military civilians. At least 3,046 died as a result of hostile action, according to the military's numbers.
The British military has reported 168 deaths; Italy, 33; Ukraine, 18; Poland, 21; Bulgaria, 13; Spain, 11; Denmark, seven; El Salvador, five; Slovakia, four; Latvia, three; Estonia, Netherlands, Thailand, two each; and Australia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Romania, South Korea, one death each.
Since the start of U.S. military operations in Iraq, 27,506 U.S. service members have been wounded in hostile action, according to the Defense Department's weekly tally.
Many of the wounded will carry extensive disabilities with them for decades to come. Their lives will always be altered by this war. There are many more emotional scars that don't show and will affect their lives as long as they live. These are the hidden wounds that don't show in the statistics.
Meanwhile, while we throw more lives and more money into the conflict, we ignore the sick and hungry and homeless people in our own country. We waste our resources on weapons and destruction when it could help to rescue our own. People are dying here at home from hunger and disease. Many people are still homeless in New Orleans. Many children don't get proper nutrition or health services. Many people don't know where their next meal will come from. And all the time, we overlook them to focus on another nation's problems and try to act as the world's police force. England tried that once. It didn't work.
We entered World War 2 in December 1941 and by August 1945 it was over. We helped save and rebuild Europe. We helped rebuild Japan. (We still have troops there after 62 years)
We entered the Korean War in 1950 and by 1953 it had ended. (We still have troops there 54 years later)
We entered into the Vietnam War in 1964, after the gulf of Tonkin incident, and pulled out in 1973 (the civil war in Vietnam ended in 1975). They found their own peace and we have no troops there. They rebuilt their own country.
4½ years ago we invaded Iraq. Our boys are still dying over there. There is still no peace. There is still no security. This could go on forever.
The conflict between Sunnis and Shiites has been going on for over 1300 years and it isn't going to end because of our interference. The Sunnis have been in control for most of those 1300 years(Saddam was a Sunni and had nationalized the oil industry, taking it away from western owners) and the Shiites want revenge. The Sunnis believe that they are right and the Shiites believe they are right and we are smack dab in the middle. We need to get out of there and let them come to their own conclusion.(without leaving any troops there)
As of Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2007, at least 3,707 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count. The figure includes seven military civilians. At least 3,046 died as a result of hostile action, according to the military's numbers.
The British military has reported 168 deaths; Italy, 33; Ukraine, 18; Poland, 21; Bulgaria, 13; Spain, 11; Denmark, seven; El Salvador, five; Slovakia, four; Latvia, three; Estonia, Netherlands, Thailand, two each; and Australia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Romania, South Korea, one death each.
Since the start of U.S. military operations in Iraq, 27,506 U.S. service members have been wounded in hostile action, according to the Defense Department's weekly tally.
Many of the wounded will carry extensive disabilities with them for decades to come. Their lives will always be altered by this war. There are many more emotional scars that don't show and will affect their lives as long as they live. These are the hidden wounds that don't show in the statistics.
Meanwhile, while we throw more lives and more money into the conflict, we ignore the sick and hungry and homeless people in our own country. We waste our resources on weapons and destruction when it could help to rescue our own. People are dying here at home from hunger and disease. Many people are still homeless in New Orleans. Many children don't get proper nutrition or health services. Many people don't know where their next meal will come from. And all the time, we overlook them to focus on another nation's problems and try to act as the world's police force. England tried that once. It didn't work.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Saturday August 18, 2007 The President lost his brain!
Another sad event this week – the President lost his brain.
Well, actually, it wasn't his brain at all – it was just one he used most of the time so he could think of more important things, like splitting wood in Crawford, Texas and how to help his buddies keep more of their money.
I'm speaking of Karl Rove, the President's borrowed brain, who announced this week that he is moving on to greener pastures. Without Karl and Rumsfeld to advise him, I'm not sure what George can do or say without appearing foolish – just like the good old days. Have you ever noticed that he surrounds himself with people he considers shmart so he won't have to do the thinking? That way, when things go wrong, he can point to someone else and say “It was HIS idea”.
Luckily, George doesn't have to run another campaign and all he has to do at work is have dinners and veto laws passed by congress and plan for his presidential library. His library will have to be a lot bigger than his dad's or Bill Clinton's what with all his military escapade when he was defending Texas and all the party paraphanalia and such. Of course it won't actually have a library, because he doesn't have many books and most of his documents will be sealed away for decades – but it will have many statues and picutes. He's really good with pictures!
Some of us aren't unhappy that the President lost his brain. Some of us thought that the brain he was using was a bit abynormal anyway, or at least bent way off to the right side too much. He really needs a balanced brain with a lot more on the left side. I guess he's going to have to make do like the scarecrow in “The Wizard of Oz” with a diploma in lieu of a brain.
Well, actually, it wasn't his brain at all – it was just one he used most of the time so he could think of more important things, like splitting wood in Crawford, Texas and how to help his buddies keep more of their money.
I'm speaking of Karl Rove, the President's borrowed brain, who announced this week that he is moving on to greener pastures. Without Karl and Rumsfeld to advise him, I'm not sure what George can do or say without appearing foolish – just like the good old days. Have you ever noticed that he surrounds himself with people he considers shmart so he won't have to do the thinking? That way, when things go wrong, he can point to someone else and say “It was HIS idea”.
Luckily, George doesn't have to run another campaign and all he has to do at work is have dinners and veto laws passed by congress and plan for his presidential library. His library will have to be a lot bigger than his dad's or Bill Clinton's what with all his military escapade when he was defending Texas and all the party paraphanalia and such. Of course it won't actually have a library, because he doesn't have many books and most of his documents will be sealed away for decades – but it will have many statues and picutes. He's really good with pictures!
Some of us aren't unhappy that the President lost his brain. Some of us thought that the brain he was using was a bit abynormal anyway, or at least bent way off to the right side too much. He really needs a balanced brain with a lot more on the left side. I guess he's going to have to make do like the scarecrow in “The Wizard of Oz” with a diploma in lieu of a brain.
Sunday, August 05, 2007
Sunday August 5, 2007 Dollars and sense
I STARTED TO WORK PARTTIME IN 1958. I CONTINUED THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL, JUNIOR COLLEGE AND COLLEGE. I STARTED WORKING FULL TIME IN 1963. I RETIRED AT THE BEGINNING OF 2004. I WORKED PART TIME (25 HRS PER WK) FOR 5 YEARS AND FULL TIME FOR 41 YEARS.
IN 1968 WHEN I FIRST WENT INTO SALES, I MADE $160.00 PER WEEK OF WHICH I CLEARED $140.00 PER WEEK. I ALSO RECEIVED $50 PER MONTH CAR ALLOWANCE AND A $1,000 BONUS AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
FOR THAT YEAR, I MADE $9,920 AND CLEARED $8,755.
SINCE THAT TIME INFLATION HAS GONE UP BY 5.987 TIMES, PER THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, SO THAT AMOUNT I CLEARED WOULD BE EQUIVALENT TO $52,416 TODAY. AS IT TURNS OUT, THE AMOUNT I MADE INCREASED AS THE YEARS PASSED BY BUT THE AMOUNT I CLEARED ONLY KEPT UP WITH INFLATION (TAXES INCREASED DRAMATICALLY OVER THOSE YEARS). BY THE TIME I RETIRED I MADE $76,870 AND CLEARED $50,990.
SO IN TODAY'S DOLLARS, I AVERAGED CLEARING ABOUT $52,000 PER YEAR. IN TODAY'S DOLLARS, MY AVERAGE CONTRIBUTION (@ 6%) TO SOCIAL SECURITY (INCLUDING THE EMPLOYER'S MATCHING AMOUNT) WOULD HAVE BEEN APPROXIMATELY $8,400 PER YEAR x 46 YEARS = $386,000.
IF THEY HAD PUT THAT AMOUNT INTO CDs AVERAGING 5%, THE PAYOUT EACH YEAR, WITHOUT DRAWING DOWN ON THE PRINCIPAL, WOULD NOW BE $19,000 PER YEAR. I RECEIVE (INCLUDING MY MEDICARE PAYMENT) $18,000 PER YEAR.
THE CONCLUSION IS:
IF THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM HAD INDEED PUT THE MONEY THAT WAS PAID INTO THE SYSTEM FOR MY ACCOUNT INTO A TRUE TRUST FUND, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO PROBLEM, NO SHORTCOMING, NO DEFICIT. IF THEY HAD PUT THAT MONEY INTO AN IRA IN MY NAME, IT SHOULD HAVE ACTUALLY DONE BETTER THAN 5% GROWTH IF IT WERE HANDLED PROPERLY (A CONSERVATIVE GROWTH FOR THOSE YEARS WOULD HAVE BEEN ABOUT 8 TO 10% GROWTH WHICH WOULD NOW YIELD ABOUT $30,000 TO $38,000 PER YEAR, JUST FROM THE INTEREST.
THE FACT THAT THE GOVERNMENT DID NOT SAVE THE MONEY, DID NOT PAY DOWN THE NATIONAL DEBT, BUT INSTEAD MISMANAGED SOCIAL SECURITY AND MISSPENT THE MONEY ON PET PROJECTS AND BOONDOGGLES AND UNNECESSARY WARS HAS NOW COME BACK TO HAUNT IT. NOW THE GOVERNMENT IS LOOKING TO PASS ALONG THE COSTS OF IT'S MISMANAGMENT TO A YOUNGER GENERATION OR TO PENALIZE THE RETIRED OR SOON TO RETIRE GENERATION. IT ISN'T RIGHT!
I WAS NEVER A HIGH ROLLER. I CONSIDERED MYSELF AVERAGE AND PART OF THE MIDDLE CLASS (SOMEWHAT TO THE LOWER END). I PAID MY TAXES AND CONSIDERED MYSELF A GOOD CITIZEN. I WORKED MY WHOLE LIFE AND NEVER TOOK UNEMPLOYMENT OR WELFARE BENEFITS. I EXPECT MY GOVERNMENT TO HONOR IT'S OBLIGATION TO ME AND TO MAINTAIN MY SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS.
IN 1968 WHEN I FIRST WENT INTO SALES, I MADE $160.00 PER WEEK OF WHICH I CLEARED $140.00 PER WEEK. I ALSO RECEIVED $50 PER MONTH CAR ALLOWANCE AND A $1,000 BONUS AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
FOR THAT YEAR, I MADE $9,920 AND CLEARED $8,755.
SINCE THAT TIME INFLATION HAS GONE UP BY 5.987 TIMES, PER THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, SO THAT AMOUNT I CLEARED WOULD BE EQUIVALENT TO $52,416 TODAY. AS IT TURNS OUT, THE AMOUNT I MADE INCREASED AS THE YEARS PASSED BY BUT THE AMOUNT I CLEARED ONLY KEPT UP WITH INFLATION (TAXES INCREASED DRAMATICALLY OVER THOSE YEARS). BY THE TIME I RETIRED I MADE $76,870 AND CLEARED $50,990.
SO IN TODAY'S DOLLARS, I AVERAGED CLEARING ABOUT $52,000 PER YEAR. IN TODAY'S DOLLARS, MY AVERAGE CONTRIBUTION (@ 6%) TO SOCIAL SECURITY (INCLUDING THE EMPLOYER'S MATCHING AMOUNT) WOULD HAVE BEEN APPROXIMATELY $8,400 PER YEAR x 46 YEARS = $386,000.
IF THEY HAD PUT THAT AMOUNT INTO CDs AVERAGING 5%, THE PAYOUT EACH YEAR, WITHOUT DRAWING DOWN ON THE PRINCIPAL, WOULD NOW BE $19,000 PER YEAR. I RECEIVE (INCLUDING MY MEDICARE PAYMENT) $18,000 PER YEAR.
THE CONCLUSION IS:
IF THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM HAD INDEED PUT THE MONEY THAT WAS PAID INTO THE SYSTEM FOR MY ACCOUNT INTO A TRUE TRUST FUND, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO PROBLEM, NO SHORTCOMING, NO DEFICIT. IF THEY HAD PUT THAT MONEY INTO AN IRA IN MY NAME, IT SHOULD HAVE ACTUALLY DONE BETTER THAN 5% GROWTH IF IT WERE HANDLED PROPERLY (A CONSERVATIVE GROWTH FOR THOSE YEARS WOULD HAVE BEEN ABOUT 8 TO 10% GROWTH WHICH WOULD NOW YIELD ABOUT $30,000 TO $38,000 PER YEAR, JUST FROM THE INTEREST.
THE FACT THAT THE GOVERNMENT DID NOT SAVE THE MONEY, DID NOT PAY DOWN THE NATIONAL DEBT, BUT INSTEAD MISMANAGED SOCIAL SECURITY AND MISSPENT THE MONEY ON PET PROJECTS AND BOONDOGGLES AND UNNECESSARY WARS HAS NOW COME BACK TO HAUNT IT. NOW THE GOVERNMENT IS LOOKING TO PASS ALONG THE COSTS OF IT'S MISMANAGMENT TO A YOUNGER GENERATION OR TO PENALIZE THE RETIRED OR SOON TO RETIRE GENERATION. IT ISN'T RIGHT!
I WAS NEVER A HIGH ROLLER. I CONSIDERED MYSELF AVERAGE AND PART OF THE MIDDLE CLASS (SOMEWHAT TO THE LOWER END). I PAID MY TAXES AND CONSIDERED MYSELF A GOOD CITIZEN. I WORKED MY WHOLE LIFE AND NEVER TOOK UNEMPLOYMENT OR WELFARE BENEFITS. I EXPECT MY GOVERNMENT TO HONOR IT'S OBLIGATION TO ME AND TO MAINTAIN MY SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS.
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