Days Ahead: A Chance for Responsibility as posted on ClashDaily.com by Candace Hardin (4th in the Teddy Roosevelt Series)

Two weeks ago, the American Public stood up in unison and made a few bold statements. They were not happy with the status quo. They were not happy with a food stamp administration. They rejected the policies that have stagnated the economy and desiccated the life and wealth of the middle class. They would like their original country returned to them as the Constitutional Republic, based on Judeo-Christian values. Hopefully, the victors will be able to discern that all is not yet well and their victory is tremulous. Now is the time for action, for hard work and for fulfilling the responsibility for which these officials were elected. Teddy Roosevelt once said, “The first requisite of a good citizen in this republic of ours is that he shall be able and willing to pull his own weight.” The Republicans that are in the House and Senate should be emboldened to rise up and just say a resounding “NO” to the current administration’s agenda and those who support it. They should be willing to put up a grand roadblock in front of any last minute efforts of the departing team to cause the American People more havoc. It could be that they would lack sufficient support to completely stop or pass any actions, but they should have enough courage to delay and deter as much as is possible until the swearing in of the new Senators and House Members in January. Support is forthcoming, if they will just hold on until it arrives. Obama is determined to pass an Amnesty bill on his own, by executive order. http://cnsnews.com/commentary/ken-blackwell/house-republicans-can-stop-obamas-amnesty-agenda This is an illegal and unconstitutional act! Only Congress has the authority to make changes to the laws that govern naturalization. The middle class is struggling to return to earning a living wage at one job, with normal benefits, so as to support their families. Many are working two or three part time jobs with few benefits just to make ends meet. Many have given up and are in despair of ever finding decent work in their career field again. So many have lost their homes and any wealth they had accumulated in the years prior to the recession. It is an extreme act of folly to believe that anyone from either side of the border would be served by a free for all at this juncture of the fallout of the recession. It is also an extreme injustice to legal aliens who followed the rules and went the correct route to receive their status. For what reason did they wait, if the ticket is just to show up and get everything for free? The American Public is expecting those who are in the upcoming majority to reach deep down and grab the courage to hold the law and the line until next year. So much damage can be done in so little time. A fine example is the last six years. Who would have thought things could have declined so far, so fast? Voters, you made step one and changed the management. Now, you will have to be willing and able to pull your own weight and ride the current representatives as well as the representatives elect like a fine race horse to see your concerns and needs met. Now is the time to continue the fight. No one has the luxury to sit down and rest!

Work Worth Doing - 3rd in series on Theodore Roosevelt Quotes - as published on ClashDaily.com

Written by Candace Hardin on November 11, 2014 https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5136591818701317992#editor/src=sidebar

The problem with the United States right now is a lack of viable jobs for its citizens. The new corporate way is more work for less employees. During a recent job search, I found that today’s employer wants a tailor made person for their position. Their standards are extremely high and the pay does not come close to matching the qualifications. I found a fine example of the ridiculous on a popular classified website. “Our digital agency is growing and in need of a full time writer for our unpaid internship with the possibility of hiring. Intern must have an English degree from a 4 year college and basic knowledge of marketing / public relations.” The ad goes on to relate the various duties that will be required of this unpaid position. Their list is the perfect job listing for a copywriter, normally a fairly well paid job by a professional. People with four year English degrees are not necessarily versed in marketing as a matter of course. Those skills usually come under the curriculum of a BA in Business. Here is the problem with this ad: The company is wanting an employee without compensation. (Not sure this is legal either, the Dept. of Labor may need to be consulted.) The company has very specific demands as to whom shall be qualified for this free work. The company wants this person to come pre-trained, and ready to jump into the flow without adding any training or input on their own. Our economy is consumer driven. There is no other way to explain it. A large portion of the year’s GNP is determined by consumer spending during the Christmas holiday season, as well as other factors. America has lost so many middle management jobs and manufacturing work. These were and will continue to be the backbone of our economy. When people made a living wage, they had some purchasing power. They had the confidence to borrow for the things they wanted, and money was available for lending. After the bailout and with all the TARP money that banks were given, loans are still very hard to come by six years after the fact. Most people are afraid of incurring debt as the job situation is more precarious than ten years ago. Teddy Roosevelt once said that, “Far and away, the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.” This is true. Work is healthy for the body and the mind. It inspires confidence in a person and allows for the realization of dreams that everyone has for the way they would like to live. If highly skilled work is allowed to be unpaid or underpaid, it is a formula for despair. Despair is the reason that so many people have left the workforce. Unless workers are given an opportunity to work hard at work worth doing, that is properly compensated, the economy will never truly recover. People need an opportunity to have pride in their performance and in the life they provide for themselves and their families.

Russell Crowe

Just a note: I met Russell Crowe today. It was very exciting for me. He was very nice, not as excited to meet me, of course, but nice. He is the only actor I have ever met, other than my Grandmother, who really missed her calling. So, Mr. Crowe, should this blog come to your attention, I so love your work. I thought Pearly in "A Winter's Tale" was one of your best portrayals. I loved "Robin Hood" as well. I really never thought that anyone could beat Kevin Costner's version, but this different perspective was very entertaining. I hope you enjoy your stay in Atlanta. Welcome.

2nd article in the Teddy Roosevelt series

http://clashdaily.com/2014/11/bottom-line-vote-best-thing-can/ THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO This is the second article in the Teddy Roosevelt series of quotes applicable to today’s events. Teddy Roosevelt said, “In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.” This quote is very appropriate to one of the most important and sacred duties of an American citizen. Tomorrow is November 4th, Midterm Election Day, the perfect opportunity to make a difference in your community and your country. Voting is a privilege, not a right. Many have died defending that privilege, and yet it often unused or worst misused. Registering to vote gives everyone a chance to participate in the mechanics of our government. It gives a roll for the courts to call on when justice is to be meted out. Jurors are drawn from registered voters. The right to a jury trial is a very important part of our American Justice System. Many claim that their one vote is of little consequence, but many votes gathered together can make an enormous difference in who wins the race, especially in a straight run off when the strength of the majority is the deciding factor. Going to the polls tomorrow, in this moment of decision, is the best thing you can do. It is the right thing to do. Anyone who refuses to participate in this activity forfeits their right to complain about the problems within the government. Many are not overly enthralled with the choices. They feel forced to hold their nose and choose the lesser of two evils. This is not a new condition. There is no perfect formula. Even those who seem a good choice can blow up in your face. However, the next best thing is the wrong thing, a vote for someone who didn’t pan out under fire, yet duty was observed. Finally, in the moment of decision, the worst thing you can do is nothing. This was never more evident than in the 2012 presidential election. http://lonelyconservative.com/2012/11/three-million-republican-voters-stayed-home-on-election-day/ Many voters couldn’t get their head around the opposition to the incumbent president, and found any excuse to justify their dereliction of civic duty: They wanted Ron Paul, They weren’t sure about a Mormon, and were unwilling to research the matter themselves. He was just another moderate rich guy who couldn’t relate to the average Joe. (Never mind that he was a businessman of a sterling reputation, a family man and professed Christian.) So, in doing nothing, by indecision and self-righteousness, the status quo remained and everyone has suffered more than anyone could have possibly realized. In the words of Edmund Burke, “All that is necessary for the forces of evil to win in the world is for enough good men to do nothing.”

First in a series contrasting the words of Teddy Roosevelt with today's issues

http://clashdaily.com/2014/10/teddy-roosevelt-barack-obama-changed/ FROM TEDDY ROOSEVELT TO BARACK OBAMA: What Has Changed?

Written by Candace Hardin on October 28, 2014 Theodore Roosevelt was our 26th President. By all accounts, he was a formidable leader. He was a fine orator and left many quotes from his ponderous speeches. In fact, one speech was so bulky that when folded and placed in his breast pocket, it slowed a bullet during an attempt on his life. Studying the wise sayings he left behind, I began to wonder if anything he said could be applied to the concerns many have with today’s leadership. Teddy Roosevelt once said,” Rhetoric is a poor substitute for action, and we have trusted only to rhetoric. If we are really to be a great nation, we must not merely talk; we must act big.” Here are a few examples of idle rhetoric that have lessened our standing as a nation and in the International Community: Drawing the “Red Line” with Syria, according to Leon Panetta, was the right thing for the president to do. However, failing to act on his word did harm in that “it was important for us to stand by our word and go in and do what a commander in chief should do.” The Affordable Healthcare Act, an oxymoron on the best of days. So far, it has not made insurance more affordable. In fact, most people’s premiums have been steadily rising, along with deductibles, while benefits dwindled. Healthcare on a national level is important. It should be done and it should be done prudently. Neither of which has happened, and all we are left with is the rhetoric. “If you like your healthcare plan, you can keep it.” Postponements and political posturing aside, eh, not so much. Many have lost their health coverage, and others stagger under the weight of increased premiums, or have been forced financially to drop their coverage. “Not even a smidgen of corruption in the IRS.” Really? It seems that IRS commissioner, John Koskinen, said Lois Lerner’s emails were lost. He didn’t bother to mention that the company Sonasoft was hired by the IRS to protect against data loss. Then, oops, the IRS came out with an apology for “inappropriate targeting” of large Tea Party groups during the 2012 election year. It is probable that the majority of Americans have always been suspicious of the trustworthiness of the IRS. After all this, all doubt is removed. They are not to be trusted. It seems that an administration run on hot air, rhetoric of dubious veracity and unresolved scandals of major proportion is all that we have to show from the White House for the last six years. Teddy Roosevelt’s words still ring true. He would be outraged beyond all reason if he was alive today. American citizens should be outraged as well.

Happy Labor Day - Now it's all downhill to the holidays.

Today we celebrated the last holiday of the summer. Labor Day, the holiday created to honor the labor unions and the works they had accomplished. Mostly, it has come down to retail sales and barbeques with family and friends, the last hurrah of summer. Soon it will be Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and ultimately New Year's Eve. I always look forward to this holiday. It heralds the fall, a colorful explosion of the foliage, and the cooling of the air. The halcyon time between summer and winter when neither heat nor air is required for household comfort. It is a time of trips to the North Georgia mountains and the harvest of crisp, tart apples in Western North Carolina. Thanksgiving follows on fall's heel and the smell of turkey and dressing will fill the air. The happiest season of all is right behind these forerunners, and 2015 will be a heartbeat away. 2014 has not been the best of my life, neither has it been the worst. Seems as one ages, or matures as a doctor so tactfully put it, life loses a good deal of its' luster and shine. It leaves one wondering what it is all about anymore. Is it all work, eat and sleep with little to sweeten the routine? As the years pass, I seem to know less than I did before. Things I was once sure of, I am not so decided on now. I don't think I am much different from many of the people of my generation. We have experienced the best of America and the worst as well. We have had our livelihood stolen from us by the powers that be who were sufficiently forewarned to manage to retain their wealth. We have a "recovery" that has never filtered back down to the middle class, and seems to be largely an urban myth created by the corporate controlled media. Despite all this, we go on. We persevere. We observe the unique American holidays of our fathers and labor to provide the happiness we experienced as children for out own families. That is the spirit of American. The same America that once experienced the highest standard of living in the world. After all is said and done, we still do. There are many who are so much worse off than we. Summer draws to close, and we should remember who we are and how much we still have. Praise God as this year dwindles down to the last dregs, and bring on the fragrant, happy days of the remainder of the year.

You Have Reached the Stars, Good Night Kasey Kasem

Growing up in the mountains of Western North Carolina, we had AM radio. The signal wasn't very strong, the sound was not very clear. However, radio was everything in our world. We had to buy records, vinyl LPs in analog sound. We could only listen to them at home. If you were dying to hear your favorite song while on the road, you had to wait until it came on the radio. When cassettes came out, I would buy the LP and record it on a tape. If you were anybody, you either bought a car with a cassette player or did all you could to get the money together to have one installed by Radio Shack or some automotive service station. At night, the signals were stronger. I remember listening to WLS, a radio station out of Chicago many nights. I had a large. boxy radio called a World Monitor. It would pick up stations from far away if the weather was clear. Saturday was special. Not only were there really excellent cartoons on television, but the Top 40 Countdown with Kasey Kasem was on. All of the best songs were played with a story or interesting fact about the artists and bands. It was like an all day dance party. Kasem's voice was well modulated and easy to listen to as the songs rolled on. His voice narrated the soundtrack of my life as his career spanned most of my younger years. These days, radio has taken a backseat to the internet. If I want to hear a favorite song, I can get it on YouTube. It is instant gratification, but without the personalities that added so much to music appreciation. If I want to know something about an artist or a band, I can look it up online. It has become very generic. Locally, we have some great radio stations with DJs who get us going in the morning and drive us home at night, but radio has lost much of its former glory. Now that Kasey Kasem has gone to his rest with his fellows like Dick Clark, et al, radio is just a little more diminished. That is a shame. It was a fine companion to everything we did. Rest in peace, Kasey Kasem. We will remember you as we, "keep our feet on the ground, and keep reaching for the stars."

Dreams, Disillusion and Discouragement

Have you ever felt like you were fighting an uphill battle? Of course,everyone gets this feeling every once in a while. How does one cope? Primarily, I trust God. I know He has everything well in hand. Secondarily, I have a placebo. I have my words and I write. I make up stories to amuse myself. If, by chance, they amuse others that is good. If not, at least I am delivered for a little while. When I explained this to a fellow writer, he said that words were good, but he had rum when things got him down. I suppose that works too. I am just not a very good drinker. I never did care too much for throwing up. The first half of life seems like everything is a possibility. Dreams are established. Goals are set in place. As one ages, dreams change and some disillusionment starts to creep in. Becoming a cynic is a possibility. Negativity has to be held at bay for bitterness accomplishes nothing. As one learns how the world plays its' games, discouragement is a factor. There are those who have tunnel vision. They only see the world as it relates directly to them. They walk about, step on the feelings of others in order to accomplish their goals. There are those with a broader vision, who see the world as a cooperative. They are the ones who are most likely to help others along the way. Learning to deal with the different types of people in this world is a trial we all face. Our current economic system puts workers at the mercy of those who have. They have work to offer us and we have to accept their whims in order to survive. Without work, we have no economy in our household. Even love is very delicate thing. It should not be so hard, but it often is. It is hard to find an honest heart in today's society. Fighting off bitterness is a never ending battle. Things often go awry, but it is important to never give up or give in. Tomorrow will be better. Fight a little longer, though tears get in your way.

As posted on ClashDaily.com/candacehardin DEFENDING THE HILLBILLY

The term “Hillbilly” is often misunderstood. The word is mainly used to insult those considered ignorant or out of touch, however, the word quote, unquote hillbilly has a rich heritage. The term did not come into play in the United States until 1900, when a New York Journal article defined the hillbilly as a “free and untrammeled citizen of Alabama, who lives in the hills, has no means to speak of, dresses as he can, talks as he pleases, drinks whiskey when he can get it, and fires off his revolver when the fancy takes him.” As it was in 1900, so is it today, New York professes knowledge of subjects that they may or may not know anything about at all. Usually, hillbilly is applied to people who live in the Appalachian region of the United States. Due to the rugged terrain of the area, the people who populated the land were very isolated. It was not until WWII when the men were called to war and the advent of the television in the 1950’s that the region was exposed to all the advances of the twentieth century. Many notable and respected public figures came from humble “hillbilly” beginnings. A short list will include entertainers Lucille Ball and Patsy Cline, author Cormac McCarthy and scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. The common misconception is that the mountain people are ignorant as they have not had the educational advantages that most cities offer. Nothing can be further from the truth. The skills an Appalachian or hillbilly may possess could be ones that save the world in a crisis. Hank Williams Jr. refers to these skills in his song, A Country Boy Can Survive. “We can skin a buck, we can run a trout line, and a country boy can survive.” The talents the song lists are the ones that would be called into play should anything disrupt our comfortable state of electronically assisted, instant gratification way of life. Historically, Americans are the original rebels. Our ancestors left Europe to seek freedom to worship, freedom to live as independent people in a free land. The original colonists were not conformists, neither were they looking for a free ride. They immigrated to this land to make their own way and live by their own rules. Long years before Jefferson wrote America’s declaration, a group of Appalachians shocked the King of England and were labeled “a dangerous example for the people of America” due to their fierce independence and unwillingness to submit to any will other than their own. That American spirit lives on in all who may fall under the title of hillbilly. It is the strength that has built a strong country that is the beacon to all in the world that yearn to live free. It is the original pilgrim that put God first in their lives without consideration of who likes it or does not. Hopefully, it will be the spirit that will save the unique formula that is or was the United States of America. To quote Hank William Jr’s song again; “We say grace and we say Ma’am, and if you ain’t into that, we don’t give a damn.” God Bless the USA, again. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5386355 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillbilly

Novacaine Society as published on ClashDaily.com

http://clashdaily.com/2014/05/disconnected-modern-technology-increasing-novacaine-society/ It was pointed out to me today that people in society today have put themselves in a cocoon of isolation. It is a prison of their own making, utilized for both physical and emotional protection. Everyone has a cloak of silence wrapped around themselves, shutting out opportunity for real time human contact. They employ their cellular devices whether alone or in a group of friends. Eye contact is not as common as it used to be. Just meeting people in public seems to be much harder than it should be. It could be fear, it could be lack of confidence, but more likely it is fear of intimacy. How many times have you seen a group of “friends” at a restaurant for a meal together? How many times do each of them check their electronic communications? Sometimes conversation comes to a complete halt as everyone is more engaged in technical chatter. This social malady is a symptom of the disease of lack of community. This does not apply to every town or city, of course, but the lack of community has created a vacuum in society. It has given rise to a virtual society of placebos, such as dating services and social networking sites. These sites give people a way to feel that they are connected to others without really putting themselves out there emotionally. It gives perfect opportunity for a false sense of community. Even dating has fallen victim to this virtual reality. Observing young people in high school, they spend a great more time as texting couples, rather than actually talking. In years past, if your love interest didn’t call on the phone, so there was an all-night discussion about anything and everything, it was not a real relationship. They get together by text and they break up by text. Families have become less nuclear and more spread out to several states. This is often an economic necessity but families are the heart of community. Without community, people do not feel the sting of the consequence of moral boundaries. In times past, certain behaviors were frowned upon by society. There was an amount of local peer pressure that kept undesirable behaviors at bay. If one wanted to indulge these behaviors, community disproval was often harsh. Albert Einstein warned us of this emotional numbness. He said, “It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity.” Another great quote is from a song by the Eagles, “So oftentimes it happens that we live our lives in chains that we never even know we have the key.” Tomorrow as you buy your morning coffee, smile at the person next to you. Make a real time connection.

AN ENTERTAINMENT VACUUM; I MISS FREDDIE MERCURY

I like to listen to music when I am critiquing my writing, or if I am writing. No matter if I am happy or sad, it would be safe to say that music gets me centered and in a creative mindset. It keeps sane as well. I was at my favorite coffee shop last Friday, going over a manuscript. I had my headphones on and I was in the zone. I put on the Queen channel. For you young folks, Queen was an innovative group from England that came out in the 1970’s. Their first hit was “Bohemian Rhapsody.” It featured Freddie Mercury as the lead singer. He was a powerful vocalist and could play piano with a light touch that would melt your heart. He was a dynamic entertainer, a sexually attractive man with the worst teeth that you have ever seen. Somehow, that overbite seemed to contribute to his overall charm. To say that Freddie Mercury and Queen were trail blazers in alternative music and dress etc. would be rather an understatement. In fact, some of what they did and said, I did not even understand until I was well into my thirties. (We were totally naïve growing up in the mountains of WNC.) All I knew was that I liked it. Freddie Mercury died at the age of 45 from bronchial pneumonia as a complication of AIDS. He had remained silent on his condition until the day before his death to protect those close to him. However, he went public at the last to throw the disease into the light in hopes protecting others and searching for a cure. Now, when I play the videos, I feel a vacuum has been created in the entertainment atmosphere. The award list of his professional career is too long to name, but it can be summed up in one word, talent. I miss Freddie.

REST IN PEACE COCO 2010 - 2014

Shameful Deceit

I have a friend who has found herself single after 23 years of marriage. After taking a while to reconstruct her own life, she thought to get back into circulation. Unwilling to do the bar scene, she joined an online dating service for her age group. After a couple of weeks of shifting through the choices, she thought she had met someone who she would like to get to know better. A supposedly retired, slightly older, professional man seemed to be a good possibility. He had been a widower for a number of years and was looking for someone with whom to start his life over. They began talking and sending texts. By coincidence, he had to go on a business trip right after they began. It was something left over from when he was still working that was unresolved. They were still able to continue to text, even though he was out of the country. This went on fine until the day before he was due to fly back to the States. He sent her a text that he had been attacked and robbed. They had stolen his bag that contained his passport. He missed his flight, as he had to go to the American Embassy to see if he could obtain papers to return. She expressed concern, but he insisted he was fine. A small red flag flew up with this information. However, she wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt as it could have happened. The next day he called to say that he had obtained a temporary passport, but now had to get a ticket home. He asked her to loan him some money, which he would promptly return when he arrived State side. The small red flag bloomed into a huge one. She knew then that she was being scammed. She informed him quite truthfully that she had no money to lend. He said he would call her later that day. Of course, he never did. On careful review of a few other “men” she had talked to on the dating site, she concluded that probably they were all the same person. He had put up various profiles, hoping for a score. I suppose it happens. You see it on talk shows, how people have bought into a sad story and sent cash. It is usually always women who have sent money to men. My friend saw through the ruse, but what about those who might not? It is a shame and a scandal that another human being would perpetrate that kind of scam on another, especially when they use people’s search for companionship as their vehicle.

SYSTEM OVERLOAD!!!

My best friend made a good analogy today. Both of us have had some really, really tough financial times for about six years. The Recession that is “over” according to the press is still residing in our houses. I believe it remains an unwelcome houseguest in many, many more people’s lives as well. The financial vacuum that the aforementioned recession has created in my life is a load I carry with most days with a minimal amount of grumbling. I try to disassociate myself from the reality and trust God to handle all of it. However, some days, that load, in combination with a certain sphincter here and pain in the neck there, coupled with personal heartache just gets to be overwhelming. So, I had a serious meltdown, which brings me back to the analogy. We take turns with giving each other pep talks and his turn consisted of this: “You have had a whole loaf of crap sandwiches. I know that just when you think you are at the end of the loaf, someone brings a fresh batch for you to finish.” How very well those words describe the situation. I believe that my generation and parts of others bear the scars of this economic boondoogle created by the banks and the greediness of those who were in a position to profit from the decline of our entire infrastructure. It may not be labeled, per se, as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, but it is exactly that condition.

Goodbye Harold Ramis

I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Harold Ramis. I fell in love with him and the characters he created when he was Bill Murray's best friend, Russell, in "Stripes." He was just the intellectual type I go for in real life. He was a writer and member of the cast of "SCTV." This was the show that employed John Candy, Catherine O'Hara, Harold Ramis et al. It was hilarious and I loved to watch it. SNL was funny, but SCTV had it's own unique appeal like no other. The last role I saw Harold Ramis play was that of a doctor on the movie, "As Good As it Gets," with Helen Hunt, Greg Kinnear, and Jack Nicholson. He played a physician who still did house calls. He visited Helen Hunt's character to care for her son. He had a special way about him, confident, with a dry wit that made you feel like he was always up for a prank, or ready to punk one of his friends. His writing was superlative. He was one of the good ones. As Pete Townsend would say, one of "my generation's" finest entertainers, off and on the screen. So, in the scene from "Stripes" where Russell was ineffectively teaching English to as a second language, let us sing together: "There she was just a walking down the street, singing Do Wah Ditty, Ditty Dum, Ditty Doo!" Go in peace Harold. Join John Candy and the others that went before you. I will be wanting to see the show when Heaven calls and I enter the next life.

An Impossibility?

Does anyone ever wonder if it is possible to have an honest elected official? One with an altruistic heart who is willing to serve for the sake of the common good. Does this type of person still exist? I believe that many go to serve with the greatest of intentions. They have ideals and goal, promises they have made. Reality sets in and crushes some of the ideas. That is understandable, as reality is great at crushing. Some things just aren't feasible. Sometimes, the politicos find that they owe "their soul" more or less to the contributor that ponied up the most money. If someone invests $ 200,000.00 or more in you, this person expects a big return for their investment. I have read that the peers of the elected are often to blame. They have the habit of accepting gifts and favors. If one of their peers does the right things, it makes them look bad. They will ostracize the one who doesn't follow the status quo, applying social pressure. So, we lay out that is is difficult to remain honest and altruistic. Do we even expect them to try to work for us? I think we still expect them to listen to us and try to do as best they can. I believe that the average person's expectations are not ridiculously high. The average person would probably be satisfied with a few kept promises, a couple of days out of the month really applying themselves to the wants of their constituency and showing up to vote everytime the roll is called. The average person works daily for a lot less, they expect their representatives who draw an extremely high salary for the rest of their lives to at least show up at the office. So, why is that so hard? Is it because they cannot or because they will not? Washington and the Beltway are fairly set in their ways and beliefs. They firmly believe that they know best. They believe we need them to run our lives as we are incapable. They are pretty sure they are just a little bit better than the rest of the great unwashed, i.e. John Q. Public. They are elected to represent their districts. Many people are calling for that representation in a firm voice. The people are insisting that they do their jobs. Is that an impossiblilty?

Go ScarJo

I have to give a huge tip of the hat to Scarlett Johanssen. Sometimes, I am not so sure about her judgement. I mean, who would exchange Ryan Reynolds for Sean Penn? Not me, for sure, I only liked Sean Penn in one movie. I think it was his signature role as Spikoli on Fast Times at Ridgemont High. He nailed that one, but I have not been impressed since. The girl of the hour has done a great thing. She has resigned her position at Oxfam Global International due to a "fundamental difference of opinion." This company says that her support of a company that operates in Israel's West Bank is incompatible with their position. Oxfam International supports the rights of the "Palestinian people" who work in the West Bank area. I admire ScarJo for her stand. I admire those who will stand with the rights of the Israeli's to their homeland. The rest are just violent posers. Thank you, my dear, you are beautiful, talented and responsible. I can't wait to see you in Avengers II! Oh, and Fox News, what is up with you? It is starting to look like you can't take the heat. Stay out of the kitchen and don't pretend to be conservative. http://www.ifcj.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=41377&news_iv_ctrl=1481&s_src=EN1&s_subsrc=EN11402XXEXXX

This is the Real State of the Union

Everyone should listen to this video. These voters are telling it like it is for them and for all of us. It is refreshing to see and hear the truth. That is something you will not find in the Beltway or the White House. I believe the administration should be forced to listen to these people over and over again. They are so right. Job creation is the only thing that will save the economy. Not a higher minimum wage, not a new handout, JOBS, JOBS, JOBS! People crave the independence and self respect that comes from an honest day's work. Again I say: JOBS, JOBS, JOBS!!!!! http://conservativevideos.com/2014/01/devastating-black-activists-chicago-tell-obama-just-quit-watching-state-union/

Much Ado about Something

We here in Atlanta have felt the wrath of Mother Nature. Two inches of snow has paralyzed the city. I spent Monday afternoon creeping home. A commute that last 25 minutes took me 4 and 1/2 hours. I was blessed to arrive. Many spent the night in their cars on the expressway. A baby was even born on the roads with the help of the father and a policeman. The worst part was the children that went to school Monday. Many had to spend the night in the schools as their parents could not get to them due to heavy traffic. Worse, many spent the night in school buses stranded on the road. Buses with no heat, no food or water, no bathroom facilities. The fingers of blame are resonating with the governor and the mayor, but I think the school boards should be the first flogged in this event. They call off school for minor reasons all the time. This winter storm was correctly and ably predicted by all the local news and their meteorologists. Why was school allowed in session? My child's school was open, but I made the decision to stay out on Monday. I am so glad I did. We are not prepared for this kind of inclement weather. We know this very well. It is rare, but the government has a responsibility to the public. We pay taxes to purchase and maintain proper equipment for public emergencies. I do tip my hat to the law enforcement, fire department, the National Guard and the employees of Atlanta and all the Metro area municipalities that worked long, hard, cold shifts to try and alleviate the pain this anomaly created. Their work done on our behalf was stellar. Thank you, one and all.

Only In New York

The rude and thoughtless ones in New York are once again showing how crass and unacceptable their ideas and behavior can be. It seems that McDonalds is calling the cops to remove seniors from the restaurant if they sit in the establishment and socialize for more than 20 minutes. Good idea guys, don't worry, you will never get old. You will never need to have respect in your advanced years. You will stay young forever, especially in the light of how you know everything and tell us all how to live. I was taught to respect my elders. We all will age,it is inevitable. We slow down. We need help in doing things that used to be easy. We begin to truly value the friends we have left to us. I have owned restaurants. I have worked in restaurants, both as a manager and as an accountant behind the scenes. Here in Georgia, I have never heard of the cops being called to round up a rowdy bunch of seniors drinking coffee and having a bite in a dining establishment. I hope I never do. To forget and devalue the ones who came before you is to lose humanity and knowledge. Our seniors are one of our greatest assets. We would do well to remember their contribution and give them the respect they so richly deserve. http://money.msn.com/top-stocks/post--mcdonalds-resolves-standoff-with-lingering-elderly

A LITTLE ORIGINALITY, PLEASE!!!

I was getting a bite to eat at a local Mexican restaurant last night. Of course, no one can have dinner without a dozen televisions blaring some kind of sports or some sports talking head show. There was a time you could eat some tacos with some very pleasant cultural music playing in the background. Now our culture is so sports obsessed that no one will leave the house unless they won’t miss this big game or race etc. That was enough to get me started, but then a commercial for the latest remake came on the screen. Seems we need another version of Robo Cop. Please!! There are probably a million or more good screen writers who have wonderful movie material just dying to get discovered and get paid. If fact, we have a great one right in my Friday night writing group. Hollywood is only interested in playing it safe and CHEAP. They re-spin some mediocre movie or sitcom from 30 years ago that they already own the rights. Why doesn’t someone in a position to entertain the public make a mission to find and produce original screenplays? I would be willing to bet that they could be the next Peter Jackson or the next Wachowski Brothers. There is still money to be made even if you do have a spend a couple of bucks buying the rights to something new!

What is News Worthy?

What is news worthy? Is it the trivial gossip of the Hollywood scene or is the hard facts of the economy, war, foreign policy, the devaluing dollar or healthcare? Are the major news feeds destined to become the next "Star," "TMZ" or "ET." Could that really be any journalist's goal? For the last two days, MSN of MSNBC, has run the story of Robin Roberts and the picture of her girlfriend. While I am extremely glad that she has beaten cancer and is now happy, I just think that this is not headline newsworthy. It is not personal. I am not concerned about how she lives her life. It is a side story, not breaking news. There are so many stories that journalists today will not touch or have been instructed not to approach. Today's news companies are owned by big corporations. They dictate according to their agenda and how it corresponds with any elected officials they have financially backed into public office. They have little to no interest in truth. For these entities, money is the only truth. They feel that it is better to encourage fluff and sugar, social disputes and non issues rather than offend anyone who might feed the money tree. That is too bad. It insults all of the journalists past and present who suffered whatever it took to protect their sources. It insults all of the men and women who took risks to break a story that the public truly needed to know. I am sorry that it has come to this pass. I hope that anyone who wants to be a real journalist, who has the drive for the truth, will sign on with some of the newer venues who deal in objective reporting. They are out there. There are opportunites with Breitbart.com, WND, Truth Revolt, et. al. Sadly, the mainstream, i.e. corporate entities only, have become non news reporting dinosaurs.

Goodbye (and Good Riddance) to 2013!

Hello 2014 Normally, I resent the coming of a new year. I just about have the old year under control, then I have to start over. However, 2013 was not a banner year for me or many others I have polled. So, adios to a dysfunctional year. Perhaps, it was the number 13 that tainted the year. Then again, maybe not, I am not a superstitious person as a rule. (However, I will eat the traditional New Year’s Day meal without fail. I missed it one time and had the worst financial year of my life, up until the 2008 recession and beyond anyway.) I welcome 2014. I feel like it will be a banner year. The only thing that I hate is that Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, Nutra System, Special K, and every other kind of diet system or food could not even wait until the ball dropped to start touting its laurels. I believe healthy living is a daily choice. 365 days of the year make the right choices and exercise for the right reasons. Then there will be no need to start a routine at the new year. Now the gym I go to will be full of folks with good intentions. They will take up space until old habits return. Hopefully, some will make it a habit. I don’t mind that, but I do get sick of the TV commercials, the magazine articles etc. Leave us alone, stop putting all that propaganda out there, and leave the Valentine’s Day stuff alone until at least late January. I had to throw that one in there. All this retail stuff is just getting old. They have already overdone Christmas. Give it a rest. Anyway, I hope this year lives up to expectations for everyone.