Bail Out!

First it was the home loan industry, then comes the credit card companies and now the headlines are talking about Congress working up an aid package for the auto manufacturers. Behind them it will be the aerospace industry as layoffs start mounting because orders are evaporating as the economy recesses deeper.

Well, where is my bail out package? Hell for me it would seemingly be pocket change compared to these others. For the average price of a mid-sized car I could recover from my small company's losses from the drop off in sales due to the sagging economy. My taxes go to help these companies with deeper pockets than mine. Yet I cannot get a break equivalent to the price of one mid-sized automobile? Isn't small business the backbone of this country? If the back breaks, what good are broad shoulders they support?

There is a lot of blame to go around as to why companies have gotten themselves into financial turmoil…mostly due to greed. I can't say that was the reason for my companies woes, it was a great fourth quarter last year then the word recession slipped out of news media…that literally halted sales of my products.

There has been some improvement starting now eleven months later, but how long will it last? It surely won't make up for those eleven months of wondering, "Where will the money come from to meet our daily, weekly and monthly expenses?" Which by the way, left our financial and spiritual coffers literally empty.

In the course we have become even more physically responsible, trimming deep enough keep food on the table and the mortgage paid. At times these were very difficult. Only possible by some extreme sacrifices that kept us from starving and ending up homeless.

Before Congress gets to spend one more penny of our taxes, they need to look at who is proposing and propagating this course of action…it wasn't the voters and taxpayers of this country. It was the industrial lobbyists and corporate donations that got them elected…why not let them bear the burden they created. Before I'd give the auto manufacturers a dime, they'd better put a new car in my garage…a hybrid of course.

Energy and Elections

As General Motors works towards producing it's new Chevrolet Volt, I can't help wonder if there is a utility vehicle in the wings to support the business world. A small van platform would be great for my business needs. I rarely travel more than 50 miles in my routine driving, for errands including the Post Office, Bank and other business related stops. An all electric small cargo van would be ideal.

As gasoline prices begin to decline some, the call for more efficient vehicles will subside just as it did during the last energy crisis. After the Presidential election they won't remember energy as a leading concern of the voters, they'll just get involved in other issues and distractions.

The candidate that would get my vote would be the one who has the gall to tell the American people..."Suck it up folks, it's going to hurt real bad for a while until we can get off our collective asses and face issues until we resolve it." The truth hurts but it needs to be said and dealt with. Yet there is no one running for office who can stand up and speak the truth.

How many politicians do you know that depend on their government salary to support them and their family? I can't think of any. The problems we as a country and as a society continue to be perpetuated forward. Never resolving only increasing in dimension and complexity. At some point the application of band-aids and duct tape will no longer work and the collapse will be fatal across many levels.

So let us start addressing our wasteful use of energy...do you really have to take the kids to school today...isn't that big yellow bus going to the same location. Forgot something at the store...it will be there when you really NEED to go back into town.

Farve's Follies

Sorry as much as I enjoyed watching Brett play...his consistent season after season of "I don't know what I want to do" and "I think I'll retire" only to make a flip flop decision to play in the eleventh hour is akin to the little boy crying wolf. He needs to grow up and stand by his decision...it was his to make and his alone (with family of course) and he made it...to retire. Though Brett has managed to win, his consistency isn't what it once was...he proved that in the play offs last year...one pass lost the game. The Packers gave him an opportunity to make a decision, he made it early enough so Aaron could be woven into the team as the new quarterback...all Brett had to do was say...I am returning for another season. If he elected to retire later so be it, nothing would have been said. The Packers is and has started to groom a young team...one that will be a serious contender for many seasons to come.

My opinion, let Brett sit...they have a contract option that they should elect to exercise...in two years when it expires, then release Brett...he'll probably have a steady gig as a commentator on FOX for several million bucks a season. This also shows that Brett has no real life other than football. Maybe he needs a hobby...he has the money to afford just about any one he chooses. The decision both Brett and the Packers made were strictly business decisions and I support the latter. Farve needs to think before he speaks...dancing around it now in the eleventh hour is his standard modus apprandi and the Packers are tire of it, as are many of the fans.

It is my opinion for what it's worth, Farve should retire now...should he return to play another season anywhere and fail, his future commercial ventures will be severely handicapped...who wants to be endorsed by a loser? He acknowledges that the Packers are trying to protect his legacy...maybe they know Brett better than he knows himself. The Packers have been around a long time, they have done so by judging their players potential...Favre's has obviously reached it's limit.

So, Brett go learn how to be a sportscaster or a coach. Retire while you're young and you're body still functions...learn from your peers who played the game far too long.

Before I could get this posted, more of the Farve Follies has developed. Investigation of tampering by the Vikings to get Farve!

Instead of Brett being inducted into the Packer Hall of Fame, he's probably looking at being the main attraction in the Hall of Shame! Will #4 be hung upside down amongst the other great Packers inside Lambeau Field? Will his number be retired without ceremony? Will this great career end like other sports figures who have been banned or outcast?

Shouldn't It Be Common Sense?

Why is it (for those who have medical insurance) you have to make a visit to your primary care physician to get a referral to a specialist? Wouldn't it make sense to go see a dermatologist when you have a skin condition or a podiatrist if you have a problem with your feet? The system requires (for those who have medical insurance) to see their primary care doctor, a visit for nothing more than to get a "permission slip" to see the specialist who actually might have more knowledge on the subject. Just another step in the process to add to the cost of care. Those who don't have medical insurance, that can afford care get to eliminate this step...which saves them money.

You want to put the kid on cholesterol medications? Why not just tell the parents that their dietary habits are killing their kid? Give them a choice, start feeding themselves and their kids a healthier diet or select a funeral plan.

Seems we all must have stock in Band-Aid, we use them for every problem in life. We choose to patch the problem instead of repairing it. Which only creates a bigger problem later.

The saying..."There's never enough time (or money) to do it right the first time, but there always seems to be enough time (and money) to do it over." Holds true more today than ever.

Why is it we wait until something hurts before we pay attention to it? We've become a reactionary society, not a proactive one. Gas prices sting, yet we've had decades to change our ways. We've gotten fat and out of shape...yet we know what the cause is and do little about it.

What kind catastrophe is it going to take before we actually start to do what is right to correct our methods and ways of doing things? Hopefully, we'll all take a serious look within and start changing today.

By the way, who recommends kids as young as eight go on cholesterol meds, could it be a spokesperson of the drug manufacturer? Who's really in charge of our health and welfare around here? Have we sold our souls to big business?

Ride With, Walk Against!

There has been a rash of pedestrian getting hit by cars approaching from behind as they walk along the shoulder of the road. Pedestrians should walk against the flow of traffic, that is walk facing the on the same side as the oncoming vehicles. Walk against!

Those who are riding a bicycle should ride going in the same direction as the cars traveling the roadway. Ride with!

When you are facing oncoming traffic you can observe the behavior of the approaching vehicle and adjust your path accordingly should the car encroach into your path. Riding a bicycle flowing with traffic, the vehicles can adjust their speed to allow safe passing as traffic flow permits. If you are riding at them, the closure speed consumes valuable decision time, possibly resulting in a head on collision between bicycle and vehicle.

Heed the rules, your life depends upon it!

Compact Fluorescent Lights-Made in China!

This YouTube video speaks volumes about our society and our government.

Lessons of Life From Nature

Even if life placed you somewhere tough, it doesn't mean that you can't rise above it and blossom.

Trouble in the Neighborhood?

At one of our favorite neighborhood restaurants. Though our experience dining there last night might be reason enough to drop their standing on our list of preferred eateries.

Our "server" asked us for our beverage choice, I gave her mine which she acknowledged. The she asked my wife's and then turned back to me and asked me again...I repeated my request and it didn't seem to click.

The beverages were delivered by her promptly, and she took our order and left. We proceeded with our conversations while we waited for our salads to arrive. Our "server" never returned. Our main entree arrived being delivered by a member of the kitchen staff (I'm guessing). Though our "server" continued to wait on other tables, she never returned to check how things were. She delivered our salads after another customer asked where his was when the same kitchen person delivered his main entree.

She offhandedly apologized that the salads had been sitting in back and someone else was suppose to deliver them it wasn't her job. She said all of this while quickly placing the salads on our table and disappeared again not even asking how our main entree was.

My wifes salad was served with the wrong dressing. We looked around the restaurant seeing others were expressing their discontent with the service. I asked one of the hostesses to summon the manager to our table.

The manager was polite, listened and explain he was having staffing issues. Seems there was discontent between the wait staff and the cooking staff. We explained our minor inconveniences with the service, but really were mostly upset that our "server" didn't accept her duties as just that a server.

The manager apologized and offered to pick up the cost our meals. We didn't expect that, but we accepted it. We've been eating at this particular eatery for a more than a decade, only once did I ever remember this problem before. Then too it was the beginning of summer, new staff and the manager frustrated with the situation. Then too we were given a complementary dinner.

I hope they get their staffing issues squared away soon. In this time of tight economics, many people will dine out even less (we are) so it could seriously effect their bottom line.