Economic Aid Stimulus Package

Folks hang on...this is going to be a wild ride. I personally don't like the idea of the government borrowing more money to give the taxpayers money so we'll spend it to boost the economy. I think this is a loaded gun that will in the end cause more collateral damage than good.

My suggestion to you is...if you do get a rebate check...pay down your credit debt. You may not be able to payoff an account, but in the long run it will do you more good by lowering your debt ratio.

The finance companies are going to tighten their belts as well by charging higher interest because the volume of cash flowing through their companies during a recession will drop. They are living a corporate lifestyle that they don't want to give up any more than you do/did which got you into so much debt in the first place.

The Democrat leader Nancy Pelossi stated that if this didn't work more would follow? More money? Throwing more money at the situation only deepens our debt and compounds the problem. Had the government paid attention to the housing industry, they should have stopped the subprime lending...that is giving money to people who didn't have the means to repay it.

As it is said...Too good to be true...usually means there is a catch...and now the whole world is experiencing economic pains because of our lust for material goods and living a lifestyle beyond our means.

No I'm not above anyone on this issue, in fact we've had to tighten our belts really tight, eliminating all of our 'lifestyle' so we can afford the basics of life and get a handle on our debt. We potentially won't see a dime of this proposed rebate, not because we made too much, but rather because we've fallen under the minimum amount. Shit happens...loose a great paying job because of a corporate downsizing and the good life suddenly takes a turn towards reality. It bites but it has shed a lot of light and insight on what truly is important in life.

Again, if you get the rebate...pay down your debt, the worse is yet to come before we see a rebound in our countries economic future. Don't get dragged down with it. Get your finances in order NOW!

Forum Laziness

I actively participate in several forums related to interests of mine. On these forums members discuss various topics and share information that benefits most (sometimes). What I don't understand is why some of these people who are clearly competent with the internet are constantly asking for information that a simple one or two word search phrase entered into the search engine would give them the answer they seek.

It would be much easier to get several good answers without the editorial that sometimes accompanies the answer provided by forum members. When they could get the answer faster, with less effort if they just Google it!

Summer Daze

Summer is officially past. Well for those who have school age children still at home. The Labor Day weekend and the return of the big yellow school buses signaled its end. For those of us empty nesters get an opportunity to now enjoy the last of the warm days, without the din of children playing during our precious nap times. With the kids in school, laying under the umbrella on the back patio is even more relaxing. Don't get me wrong, I love kids, but I do enjoy 'my time' free of noise and distractions.

Parents of these children also revel in the calmness having the kids in class brings to their households. A chance to volunteer or just catch up on many of the choirs put on the back burner. A chance to take a breath without interruption. A holiday all of its own just the prescription for the metal state of a parent.

So while the weather holds, get outside and enjoy the silence and solitude. Falls beauty will be upon shortly, as will winters nasty bite after that.

Taking the right path

In life we make choices, some good some bad. Hopefully we learn from our mistakes and avoid repeating our errors.

I've found that it is important to take a path that leads me into the light. Place your trust in God to carry you through life. You can share this path with a loyal friend, together life will be full of rewards and happiness.

Alone, the travels can become lonely. But he'll always be with you throughout your journey.

From Drought to Soggy

The weather has made its end of summer swing. A few days ago when you walked across the lawn the grass crinkled and cracked under your feet. Today, the ground has a water soaked sponge like texture with the grass rapidly reaching mid calf levels.

Some are suffering from more than just a soggy lawn, their homes are under water. As the water recedes they are left with mud. Smelly stinky, sticky mud as well as other contaminants. I guess I'll just be happy that I cut the lawn for the first time in two months.

Another Empire Blossoming?

Recently I read on a forum posting about a guy (in the UK) who was asking a question about purchasing an item from China (on eBay). The responses were varied but many were negative about China and its inevitable take over of the world.

Reflecting back it was boasted that the sun never set on the British Empire. Well many decades later, the sun only shines on a small fraction of that empire. On the other hand the United States, as some would describe it is attempting to create it's own empire by imposing it's will on other nations.

In retrospect, even China was invaded countless times over the centuries, each time those invasions failed. Not withstanding some aspects of each of these remained within its borders and society.

The Romans failed to keep a grasp on the lands and civilizations they conquered, what makes anyone believe it can happen again successfully, if at all? China certainly isn't willing to expose itself to destruction at the hands of countries that have the ability to retaliate with nuclear weapons. Even small countries with an extremist government such as Iran wouldn't stand for an invasion by China. It may not survive but the death toll on both sides would be catastrophic in scope.

Our little planet which shrinks more every day will have to undergo a balancing of many factors. Economically, those with the most will have to accept the fact that they will have to do with less so those without can achieve a greater portion of the economy and raise their standard of living. Politically the extremist will have to be swayed towards the center in order for the whole world to be balanced. Militarily, all governments are going to have to exercise restraint and work together to oppose those who take violence against anyone inside or outside their own borders, to make the world a safe place for all.

History has proven, those who wish to impose their will on others eventually fails, destroying those who attempted it. Are we ready for another failure?

It Must Be Global Warming

The weather of late has been nothing but extreme. Whether is temperatures or rainfall, most of us are experiencing weather that we only thought was possible somewhere tropical. Here in my neck of the woods, the weather has been warm and humid but lacking in rain. The crops and lawns are stressed to the point that if a couple of days of steady rainfall could savage the crops. The lawns will recover as cooler fall temperatures return. Or will they?

Scientists have told us that noticeable swings or extremes of weather are an indication that global warming is real. Well if you just look around, you can definitely see extremes in weather patterns. Will this get worse or will it just stay like it is. Either way the future for those effected are going to have a rough time of it.

Maybe we should begin to listen to the nay sayers that global warming is a real concern that will impact our children's future. I believe they are right, as I have felt for many years after listening to the elders who remember and shared the past and witnessed changes in our society.

I for one like weather as it was, the extremes are something I can live without.

Russia-Cold War Redux?

The recent incident in the Republic of Georgia of a alleged launch of a missile fired from a Russian aircraft has begun a new round of speculation that the Cold War may be re-rooting itself.

Other countries see Russia as a bully wanting to pick a fight because it stands alone, scared and paranoid. Russia has lived too long in the past believing a prophecy that those outside the Russian borders are eager to attack and conquer it's citizens and lands. People within Russia are tired of the corruption and long for the good life others outside have enjoyed while they continue to suffer.

Countries like this are easily targets for ridicule and invasion because they expect it to happen. Russia is a world power that is powerless within its own borders. Corruption continues to plague reforms that could take it into a bright new future. One with freedom and trade benefits for all of its citizens.

Yet Russia's people fail to recognize this fact, or are powerless to overthrow the mafia and corrupt government officials controlling the keys to a successful reform. Take away the bully's power, the bully and his reign of evil dies. Russians may have to revolt to eliminate those evils, which will mean paying a high toll, but they have done it in the past to save their country from invaders. This time the invasion is a disease within its own borders.

Citizens of Russia take back your country before someone casts a stone into the pool of isolationism and war.

Lifespan of a Bridge

Yesterdays news of the collapse of the I-35W bridge in Minneapolis, Minnesota (which I've traveled across many a time) should give new light that the structures we rely on everyday have a life cycle much as we do.

Bridges don't just sit there shouldering the burden of daily commuters, trucks or trains. The are a living entity. They expand in the heat, contract in the cold, vibrate and shudder from the weight of the wheels rolling across them. The weather effects them as does things like salt in the winter months as well as the liquids that ooze from the vehicles they were built to carry.

All of this causes bridges to moan and groan both in an audible and silent form. We can hear the sounds of expansion and contraction. What we don't hear is the sounds of decay from corrosion or water trickling into cracks and crevices turning into ice during freezing temperatures. The ice expands cracking the concrete around it. Eventually this cycle of life impacts a toll on the life of the bridge.

Inspectors look for these signs of decay and disrepair, but we as society take for granted these vital components of our transportation infrastructure. Budgets are shifted elsewhere to more visible and seemingly tangible things like the roads themselves.
Pot holes get more attention than the beams of a bridge that carry us across a span. Unfortunately, this factor comes into play when inspectors look at a bridge's condition. Many minor flaws are deferred as a low priority due to funding for such repairs. As with things that effect our bodies, some things are accumulative and at some point become a problem. Usually with catastrophic results.

It is time America to re-prioritize where the funds we spend on our transportation infrastructure goes. Maybe a few potholes can go unfilled to save another bridge from falling into the river it spans. Remember that the next time you cross even a small bridge, you may be the one experiencing a momentary sense of weightlessness followed by a sudden impact as you crash to the bottom.

Responsibilities

I've been reading a great number of reports, articles and statements pointing out issues related to safety of various subjects. Everything from aircraft, motor vehicles, lawn mowers to fireworks. They all seem to want to point the blame of the resulting mishap towards everything except the individual using or operating them.

In well over half of these incidents the person was severely injured or dead as a result of the mishap. They even point out that in all probability the person was also impaired or using the product improperly. So why is it they are trying to blame the everyone from the manufacturer to the party that sold them the item?

Clearly if you load a gun, chamber the round, point it at your head then pull the trigger it has to be a defective product, right? The dumb ass (this is where the defect lies) who pulled the trigger definitely no longer cares, or didn't even care long before loading the gun in the first place. But the blame still seems to fall on everyone but that individual. Again why?

The resulting blame directed towards all the others in this equation costs all of us in higher prices for goods and services. If we would accept the fact we do make mistakes, we'd all benefit.

Civics

Hey Congress! You guys and gals up there talk a good game about what the Pres does and doesn't do. But why do you fail to hold up to your end of the balance of power? You introduce legislation and do all that voodoo you do to pass a bill, then the President Veto's the thing and it just dies...why? If the bill (I am speaking generically here) is so good for the country (hence the reason it was introduced in the first place) why is it allowed to die when YOU have the ability to overide the veto and pass it into law. Doing the right thing for the country. Have you forgotten Civics 101 or are you just doing this as 'busy work' to keep the voters thinking you are doing your best and re-elect you because you tried so hard to make a better country for them? I think there is way too much personal agendas and politics being conducted instead of really getting what needs doing done. The Democrats little demonstration of getting things done in a hurry was another example of doing just enough to get by. You set aside a certain number of bills to pass in a certain time frame, which was good, but why didn't you use the rest of the alloted time to get more done? Seems to me more productivity could have been accomplished with that time, but no all of you (Dems & Repubs) dropped the ball half way down the court...again so you could gloat and go home early. You talk the talk...now walk the walk or find the path directly back to the place you started because you are not what we wanted in our Capital.

The Axe Has Fallen

The electorial axe has fallen, the majority shifts and new strategies must begin implementation to keep proper posture toward the opposing party. That sounds like typical polictical bullshit. The removal of Donald Rumsfeld whether voluntary or by demand, is the first step towards the White House leadership regainning the respect of the military commanders. The Don, lost that and failed to listen to his commanders, Powell would have been a better choice in my opinion, and the situation continued to decay in Iraq. Our troops are doing great work in Iraq, however the same propoganda employed by the North Vietnamese is being used against us, which we are falling for. We spend too much time dwelling on the bad and the mismanagement, but if you boil it down to the guys and gals on the ground you'll see more positive than negative. Sometimes our military and civil leadership need to be managed from the bottom up. Listen to the doers and support them in what they do. The mission will succeed on a better timetable than some old fart could ever hope for.

Which is scarier Halloween or Elections?

I hit my limit with election commercials and Halloween! I don't know which is worse the horror flicks or the election commercials, I leaning towards the election ads. As the election nears the intensity grows, ad after ad after ad. They fill my mailbox daily with their junk, and it goes straight into the paper recycles, what a waste of money. I'd vote for the guy who could raise the campaign money and donate it to some cause that would benefit someone rather than fill up the mail carriers vehicle and my mailbox or clutter our television programming with commercials. It causes everyone to go numb, and I don't really believe it affects anyone when it comes time to pull the lever. The campaigns just confuse us with negativism and make us unwilling to make a choice because they all seem bad. Maybe I'll just write in my own name this election, at least I know what I stand for and believe. Who knows maybe this could turn out to be a trick for politicians and a treat for the voters! HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Have It My Way...

You'll have it my way or else! What a wonderful way to conduct business. Would you do business with a service vendor with this attitude? Not me, I want a company who is current with market trends and technology, not one still stuck in the 19th century. Some traditions in business still apply but you must adapt with the market to remain viable. Businesses who show this attitude of, you'll like it my way or have nothing, attitude will one day wake up to find their customers and employees doing business elsewhere. We have come to expect things our way, and for the most part that should be expected unless we are wrong. You order a hamburger with just the fixings you want on it. The vendor delivers it just the way you like it so you return as a customer again and again. If they didn't you'd eat elsewhere. So is true with other service businesses. Some companies do business with 'this my way' because they are stuck in a rut conducting business they way they did on the day they opened. Unwilling to learn new techniques, philosophies or the social skills needed to be innovative in todays market place. So my advice is to look towards new businesses who have the passion to be what they want to be by building your business along with theirs.

It's Snowing!

Wisconsin is know for it's mixture of weather and seasons. So it is not unexpected that we are getting our first honest to goodness snow showers. Though this snow won't be sticking to the ground, we know the days of having to shovel our way down the walks is coming. The problem is the lawns are green and lush finally after a hot humid summer with little if any rain. Seems a shame to cover such a nice green carpet so soon before it can be enjoyed, then again it is too cold already to be outside without a warm jacket on. Oh well, I guess I had better take a picture of the yard while the sunshine is still peeking and the snow hasn't fallen in measurable quantities so people will believe I had a nice lawn this year.

School Safety

I can remember way back when the High School I went to didn't even issue student ID cards. It wasn't until a school in our conference began to have problems that we were given student IDs to attend functions hosted at that school such as track and basketball games. It was a strange experience for us students who only traveled about fifteen miles, to enter a school with security guards. In the next couple of years, the guards were armed to keep up with the kids and doors were secured. Passing through metal detectors as we exited the buses and entered the building created an uneasy feeling for all of us on the team. As a student I joked at how going to school was like being in a prison, were we so wrong? Has it evolved to that extent just so kids can stay safe? During my senior year at a different school, there was the presence of drugs and alcohol, but school administrators were powerless to search student lockers without their consent. We impowered the criminials not the school administrators to provide a safe environment. Only recently are schools getting the support of the law they need to watch and investigate students who are operation outside of school policies. School facilty and students know who the bullies are, yet our society turns a blind eye at the bully and his or her behavior. No consequences for their action reenforces the behavior until it builds into what we are experiencing today. School shootings on the evening news. It is up to citizens to get involved, it is your money being used to operate those schools, time to step up and voice how it is used. A new weight machine for a few football jocks or a new liaison officer actively involved with the kids each day at school. Just my opinion.

October

October arrive somewhat tame but as the day wore on the darker side of the month appeared early. Nasty wind driven rain showers and thunderstorms rattled the windows making sleeping nearly impossible. However, as the dawn arrived the breeze remained and the sunlight lite another beautiful day. The grass seemed a richer green and the bushes freshly watered and washed, sway gently in the wind. This month is a month of transition, one that if not utilized to it fullest potential will leave people scrambling to prepare for November and the events it brings. This is a time to enjoy the last of natures artwork, comfortable days and bountiful harvests. October may she remain unchanged.

Basic Flight Safety

Floatplane crashes into lake with fatal results. Yet another fatal accident which could have been prevented has occurred. Having been a pilot for more than twenty-five years, to this day I remember what my flight instructors instilled in me...follow the checklist regardless! The investigation in this recent crash will reveil one of two things, mechanical failure or pilot error. Even if the gear extended during the flight, the pilot was at fault for not recognizing the change in the aircrafts handling or checking to see if the gear was down prior to landing on the lakes surface. Landing gear cause drag, this drag causes an aircraft to handle differently from gear in a retracted configuration. Something a pilot should have recognize and sensed. Visual indication that the landing gear was down, whether it be from an indicator on the dash, looking out into the float for a mechanical indicator or an inspection window used to reveal the landing gear position should have been checked as listed on a proper checklist for 'Water Landings'. If the subject aircraft had none of these, which it should, there are other ways to know if the gear are extended. A visual confirmation from a ground based observer could look at the aircraft as it passed and reported to the pilot by radio or other signal it was safe to attempt the water landing. Light and shadows could also be used. Checking the shadow of the aircraft on the ground during a low pass could provide visual indication to the pilot that the wheels were down. It still returns to following a checklist, which helps avoid simple mistakes which can cause fatal results. Situation awareness, avoiding compliancy, and operational proficiency are most critical in the operation of aircraft of any type,size or application. Amphibian pilots, reevaluate yourself, your equipment and most of all your checklists and operational proceedures, the life you save might be your own.

The number of mishaps and accidents involving a student pilot with an instructor alarms me. Have instructors become diluted in basic airmanship. The golden rules my instructors taught me was...don't turn around if your engine fails and always fly the damn plane from take-off to landing. I'm still here because of what they taught me, it applies to more than just flying!

Fund Raising Scams

A certain polictical party just nominated me to receive an award I have to pay for to receive. How about being honest and ask for a donation up front then add my name to a list of people who contributed, don't dress it up as something is isn't. Your making me rethink my alliances.

Are we?

Are we who, what and where we want to be in life? I think we would all like to change something about ourselves...a physical attribute, our position in life and where we live. In my life, I have had similar desires, yet now I have come to the realization that I am who I am. Yes, I'd like more out of life and it will happen. I put my trust in the all mighty and follow the course he set forth. Each day I am rewarded with blessing, though most of you would never even perceive them as that, but I do. Sometimes you really got to look deep inside yourself and ask yourself, am I?