Rally Cry: In this time of Economic Need a GED is all you need!

Yes Virginia, sadly it is true.... there is no need for an education beyond a GED. Oh, and there is a Santa Claus.. Yeah, I saw him and your mother under the mistletoe kissing, that's my story and I'm sticking to it. Now, back to reality... sadly I have come to discover that all you really need is a GED (okay, high school diploma). I know diploma is a big word but work with me here. Fact... saw an ad for a "Store Manager" for Alpena's Home Depot... Education required.. yep.. High School diploma or equivalent (GED) I was not qualified. Here's another one.. Production Manager, needed to have knowledge of Continuous Improvement... education required...you guessed it.. high school diploma or equivalent(GED).  Commercial Lending officer.. education required ..once again high school diploma or equivalent(they did note a bachelor's degree was preferred). Hmmmm, I guess taking the initiative to better ones self is really only for your self. To all those employers out there... You Get What You Pay For! Oddly enough two positions listed above have come up on job sites three time each within the year. Don't get me wrong.. I understand the world of business and all about bottom lines and what not...but last time I checked there were considerable cost involved when it comes to training people and if you are training people for the same position three times in a year you are wasting valuable time and resources or maybe, just maybe you need to up your requirements. Here's an idea.. talk to the educated people, don't automatically write them off because you think you can't afford to pay them. Last time I checked these people were looking for a job for the same reason someone with the GED is. Now, I'm not saying anyone with a GED is less of an individual or of a lower stature than someone with a college education(I know some of you were thinking that!) All I'm asking is... wouldn't you prefer to have someone with a college degree in a field related to your business with the experience in your business?? Oh, and by the way... experience in different fields is transferable so don't box your self in.. think outside of the box for a change. For those of you who are wondering... Yes I have a job, I drive an hour one way to get there because I do what I have to do to make ends meet. Yes I said job, but what I really want is a career.

Ask, believe, Receive

Perseverance - Leads to Peace

Perseverance - Steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success. It's what our armed forces are all about. It's what being an American is all about. Let this be a lesson to world.. Yes we may argue amongst ourselves, Yes we may bicker about our politics and our President, Yes we may complain about our economy and the state our country is in. We are allowed. Why? Because we (and by we, I mean those soldiers who put their life on the line) fought for the freedom to do so. Throughout history we have been a country of fight, a country of freedom, and a country of perseverance. Yes, let this be a lesson to the world.. No matter how long it takes, no matter how well protected you may think you are... we will persevere and then  make you pay for your atrocities. We  always become one as a nation when it comes to protecting our brothers, sisters and fellow man. Today is a great day for Peace.

YeeHaw!

Okay, let me get this straight… Merle Haggard life was turned around/influenced by Johnny Cash??? Was Merle portrayed in “Walk the Line”? So, Mr. Haggard is sitting his ass in San Quentin because of a burglary rap and in struts Mr. Cash who supposedly flips off the guards and does all these things that the inmates wished they could do and suddenly Merle’s life is changed forever. C’mon! I’m not sure I can believe that, then again I’ve never been in San Quentin or prison, county jail or any other kind of lock up you could think of, at least not yet anyway. Seems to simple, Merle’s mom sends him to jail as an eleven year old because she can’t handle him, he ends up in jail three more times before the age of eighteen (escaped once, must have watched the “Great Escape” at some point or was it “Bird Man from Alcatraz) then at the age of eighteen Merle is sentence to 15 years in San Quentin for his burglary rap (no, he didn’t do a rap song about burglary, he stole something). This, my friends, is where Johnny Cash influenced Merle’s outlaw career, I mean outlaw country music career. Oh, my bad, Merle is an Okie from Muskogee, or at the very least an Okie and supposedly if you’re an Okie you have an undying love for stealing things and country music. Not just any country music...nooo… loud and obnoxious country music that plays all night long (wait, I think he may be my next door neighbor, but he isn’t an Okie???)  I’ve always be under the impression that country songs consisted of … someone getting out of jail, a dog getting run over, and a divorce. Let see how Merle did... he spent time in jail (check), not sure if he had a dog but if he did it would be dead by now (check), Divorced (uhhmm three times, definitely a check) Well, have to give him credit he has a lot of experience and all of the credentials to be a country star. Here’s another thing, if you are currently sitting in jail, become a country star, hit number one on the charts (if you have to re-record Merle’s first number one hit “I’m a Lonesome Fugitive”, don’t escape first though) and then have the Guvna of California pardon you for all of your past crimes. Arnold will do it. Ronald Reagan did it for Merle in 1972 why wouldn’t Arnold do for you… Just tell him Ron did it cause he wouldn’t want Ron to one up him. I must admit though, Merle did alright for himself 38 number one hits  and a whole bunch of country music awards ain’t all bad for a “Lonesome Fugitive”.

Hail, Hayle, The English Are Here!!

The blog has taken somewhat of a turn.. maybe because of a tad bit of History in my background. But once again I will try to put my twist on it.

On this fateful day in 1360(back then it was a Monday, so it came to be known as "Black Monday", friggin' Monday's). The next time you think you are having a bad Monday I want you to consider this...
The Hundred Years' War(quick, how long was the hundred years' war, see answer at bottom) started in 1337 and King Edward III being an impatient man decided in 1359 that he was going to put an end to this doldrums of a war(even though it was taking place in France) so he decided to actively conquer the French because he was really just messing with them during the previous 23 years(1359-1337=23,for those of you who didn't do the math, it helps with the answer at the bottom). King Edward took a Huge, Extra Large Force across the channel to Calais. What did the French do you ask?? They hid behind walls and wouldn't come out into the open and fight like men(back then it didn't occur to anyone to hide behind something and keep from getting shot, if you did hide than you were considered yellow, wait that was the old west, you get the point). So, King Edward III being of sound mind and kind heart promptly pillaged the French country side(must of had a little Captain in him). Have you ever wondered why there aren't any suburbs in Paris... in April of 1360 King Edward and his troops burned them down, didn't need them, don't like them, have no use for them, burn them down! King Edward failed to take in account the wrath of God, yes you read it correctly, the wrath of God! Boooom, a sudden storm opens up over Paris and what use to be the burbs.. know remember the English didn't know enough to go inside.. so along comes the thunder, along comes the lightening, and along comes the HAIL or Hayle if your English. Well, the lightening killed a couple of chaps and the hailstones/haylestones began pelting the troops.. two English leaders were killed and you know what happens when leaders die..yup... panic! Every man for themselves!!! King Edward III being a religious man realized that the 1000 deaths, yes I said 1000 deaths was a sign of the almighty so he signed the treaty of Bretigny thus ending the first phase of the hundred years' war(because a war that long has to be fought in phases). The King of France being a nice guy gave Eddie of England some nice wine country in the north of France. That is, for nine years anyway and then the King of France decided Eddie of England was a bad boy and declared war thus phase two of the war. The second phase of the war lasted until 1453.
By the way, the largest hailstone(according to history.com) was recorded in Aurora, Nebraska...seven inches in diameter... about size of a soccer ball!

How long did the Hundred years' war last.... (1453 - 9year hiatus= 1444-1344=100 + 7 years(1337-1344) = 107 years.
Correct me if I'm wrong.

Have a Great Day! Ask, Believe, Receive.

What Do You Believe?

Let's take a step back in time, shall we... Picture yourself on this day in 1633. My good buddy, Galileo Galilei, and I were sitting in a quaint cafe when a courier comes strolling up and hands him a note. I asked him what was up and he tells me that the Pope, Pope Urban VIII has ordered him to turn himself in. C'mon, not the whole earth, sun center of the world thing again.. Yep that's what it's about. Didn't you go through all of that in 1616 and tell them that you didn't really believe it you just liked to talk about it. See what you get for stirring the pot. Didn't I tell you to stop writing about how the Sun was the center of the world. Didn't I tell you that sooner or later the Pope would have nothing better to do and then come after you again, hhhmmm didn't I tell you.
So it began, the interrogation by Chief inquisitor Father Vincenzo Maculano da Firenzuola(Father Vinny). Galileo turned himself in and the Catholic church being of fair mind promptly imprisoned him and secluded him during his trial because that was the standard practice and heaven forbid one gets to really defend themselves. Of Course, like stated above, Galileo denied he held his theory in "belief" and stated it was merely for discussion purposes only. The Church of course believed that the Sun revolved around the Earth and the Earth was, as defined by scripture, the center of the world(universe) and if you didn't believe it then it was consider heretical and you were thrown in jail, I'm sorry you were put under house arrest(remember back then they didn't have T.V.s, computers, or Ipods. Oops my mistake Galileo was condemned to prison during Our will and pleasure of the Holy Office.(he was sentenced to prison for however long they felt or until it wasn't pleasurable to the Pope which ever came first). But like all good parents the Pope had to hit Galileo where it really hurt.. Galileo was prohibited from releasing his book the book of Dialogues(kind of like taking away the XBox back in the day). Galileo being the great man that he was agreed not to teach the heresy any more (even thought scientist had proved he was right centuries before) and live out his life under house arrest. Let's give it up for the Catholic church... because they made right what was wronged... it only took them 300 years but they finally admitted Galileo was right and cleared his name of heresy. Just doesn't seem like justice does it. So, What do you believe?

Have a Great Day, Ask, Believe, Receive.

Watch Out For That Hole! Survival Guide.

In case you haven't heard the news or you have been living under a rock. A five foot hole ripped out of the ceiling of a Airliner last week. Yes, a commercial airplane, big hole, 30,000 feet in the air!!! Somebody actually asked the question to the Discovery Channel website of what would happen if you got sucked out of the hole at 30,000 feet...and the answer, according to experts, is... prognosis wouldn't be good. WTF! Prognosis wouldn't be good???? Oh really? Are you sure? I mean after all it's only 30,000 feet.. c'mon. So you bounce once or twice and then land the perfect two point landing.. and the scores are in.. 10,10,10,9,10.. dang Russian judge. This just in... within in seconds you would be dead due to oxygen deprivation... low oxygen levels at that height would cause a slight issue with be able to breath...so grab your oxygen mask on the way out(problem on solved). Ahhh, bbbrrrr, the temperature at that height -70 degrees F. so instant freeze ray.. that's what the blanket is for.. take that with you also (problem number 2 solved). According to the Discovery Channel website there would be an extreme case of Stress and the sudden drop of air pressure would create the bends and the trauma would make your nervous system go nuts... the pillow comes into play here along with the vodka tonics... relaxes the system and creates a zen sensation(problem solved). Last but not least you would probably hit the plane on the way out or get hit by the plane getting cut in half... tuck and roll grab the cushion on the way out to deflect the impact... it's not just a floatation device.
By the way... the suggested method of survival is to keep your seat belt fastened and put your oxygen mask on... my way to survive... Drive to your destination unless flying is absolutely necessary.

Have a Great Day! Ask, Believe, Receive.

I've got nothing, let's shut it down.

I've come to a conclusion today. If I decided to ever run for office and I don't have a plan or a leg to stand on I will just attack the other candidate. What I will do is pick something so minute and something that has already been checked into numerous times and then re-hash it. That way it will distract people and they won't realize that I really don't know what I'm talking about when it comes to politics... Hi my name is Donald Trump and I'm going to run for President and you will like me because I'm the Donald and I have this great looking head of hair and a reality show... See Sarah Palin and I are kind of two peas in a pod.. neither one of us really now what we are talking about when it comes to politics but we look good and we can do a hell of a reality show... Your fired Joe six pack! Hey I can see New Jersey from my kitchen window.
Heaven forbid we believe the state of Hawaii... look give up the birth certificate issue Don. Obama's camp released a copy of his birth certificate 3 years ago... two Hawaiian newspapers published birth notices in 1961.. So, now you are going to tell me that a cover up started on the day he was born? Go ahead and complain about the President that is your prerogative... but find something new will you. Oh, and at least run with some sort of platform.

Let's shut it down! Wahoo.. It's all about riders... you know all those little spending thingys politicians add to bills so they can appease their constituents. Guess where the hang up is with the budget in regards to the shut down... Subsidized Pap Smears. That's correct, women's health issues regarding Title X. Why is this the big issue... because you have a bunch of "Good Ole Boys" sitting across the table from each other and women's health issues don't mean a whole lot of diddly squat to the "Good Ole Boys". You know who the Good Ole Boys are.. Senior Republicans and their rider list keeps getting longer and longer because they have been fighting the abortion battle for so long and now they are going to prove they still "got it" when it comes to pushing social issues through. It was actually confirmed by a GOP aide. The old members of the GOP realize or think that when all is said and done citizens will ultimately blame the Tea Party for a shut down, so the old members have seen an opportunity to throw the monkey wrench in the contraption and muck things up. See, riders are not the issue, spending is, and Tea Party members are concerned with spending and balancing the budget but old members sitting on the same side the aisle are looking for a way to hang Tea Party members out to dry. We have a Government close to shutting down because of a Good Ole Boys club can't handle the fact that things are changing and they have lost control and all of their rich friends will be mad and then the trickle down will be disrupted. Did you know that both parties are pretty much equal when it comes to spending cuts.. According to House Majority Leader Eric Cantor(R-VA) it's equal to the equivalent of a penny. The issue isn't the spending, the issue is Senior Republicans going after riders like defunding planned parenthood which has nothing, I repeat, nothing to do with the deficit. Did you get that.. Riders have nothing to do with the deficit. House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) doesn't want to admit that it's about the riders, he is under pressure from the Good Ole Boys on social issues and even though at one point they had an agreement on the budget he threw in more and more riders to muddy the water. So if a Government shut down is a concern to you thank the Senior Members of the GOP for it because the numbers have been agreed on but they have to show Capitol Hill they are supposedly still in charge.

Have a Great Day, Ask, Believe, and Receive!

Great day in History!

In 1776 the U.S. Navy captured its first British ship off the coast of Virginia. See what happened back then is the British ticked off the Irish and then the Irish came to the U.S. and signed up to fight the British. No sense in having their homeland invaded(wait, the British did that anyway). John Barry(he be the Irishman) offered his services to the U.S. in 1745. Congress purchased his ship the BLACK PRINCE from him and then promptly renamed it.... wait for it.... wait for it ..pause for effect... ALFRED! Yes, Alfred because we are a creative lot.
In 1862 the great civil war battle of Shiloh concluded. Two days of fighting, remember back then they didn't fight at night. No night vision goggles, no fighting thems was the rules. See the Confederates had the Yankees driven back but night fell and everyone went to supper, some went to the Hornet's Nest, others went to the Bloody Pond, some went to the Peach Orchard but they all had a nice dinner. The Yankee casualties were: 1754 killed, 8408 wounded, and 2885 captured or wounded. The Conferate casualties were: 1723 killed, 8012 wounded, and 959 missing(they wouldn't admit to being captured) which goes to show you that even it you had more killed, wounded, and missing you won the battle(what? do you think this is golf, the lower score does not win in the case of Civil War).
In 1939 Italy invaded Albania because Mussolini wanted to impress Hitler by showing he could over run a country also. Uhhmmm.... Benito you don't invade a country that is already dependent on you for everything it has... you could just keep the stuff you're giving them.. you know, take your ball and go home type of thing. OH, it was a precursor for bigger and better conquest, I see, what was I thinking... So how did the invasion of Greece work out for you Benito? Not so well huh, disastourous you say. Anyone else, Did you conquer anyone else? Noooo.... so basically what you're telling me is you picked the wrong side. Yeah, that's what I thought.
Oddly enough the above is all true so I hoped you learned something today.

Have a Great Day, Ask, Believe, Receive.

Dare to Dream - then fall short???

On this day in 1909 four Eskimos stood on what they thought was the North Pole. They celebrated with a big guy in dressed in red with a big white beard by eating seal meat and drinking whale ale(please note that no animals where harmed in the writing of this blog). Why did they go to the North Pole... because a guy by the name of Robert Peary had what he considered an "elusive" dream. So he and a assistant by the name of Matthew Henson paid four Eskimos to lead the way.
Of course, as with any dream you have to practice to make perfect. How does one practice to jockey dog sleds across vast icelands to reach an imaginary pole sticking out of the top of the world... well you go to Greenland(why didn't I think of that!!) in 1886 Bob took a little trip down the mighty... no wait.. he took a little bacon and he took a little beads and he farted his way to New Orl... nope that's not it. He jumped a sled dog and rode him all the way to the interior of Greenland or maybe the sled jumped him but he made it to some where inside of Greenland. Being the intelligent Navy Civil Engineer that Bob was he decided he needed assistant and that's where our African-American friend Matt shows up(because all guys stranded on a island need a African-American friend.. I'm sure you'll get it by Friday!). Of course, Bob told Matt they were going to find the equator because nobody in their right mind would sign up to spend months in the ice and snow(wait I live in Northern Michigan, must not be in my right mind). So, Bob and Matt practice some more by taking an "extended" dog sled ride to even further into the interior of Greenland(wouldn't it occur to them that eventually you come out on the other side??) and low and behold they make it to latitude 88 degrees north(fancy civil engineer talk for almost..) oooohhh only 150 miles from hitting that latitude 90 degrees... see practice, it's all about practice.
Well, along comes 1908, Bob and Matt and the four Eskimos who for some reason don't have names start of in Ellesmere Island and then proceed to "race"(yes, according to history.com they "raced") across hundreds of miles of ice until Bob on this fateful day in 1909 stopped, did some calculations, and said this is it. Santa said "What took you so long, Dr. Frederick A. Cook was here last year." Yep, after Bob and Matt returned, Bob's former associate Doc Fred claimed he had done it the year before and a major controversy ensued. I mean "MAJOR" and Congress, because they had nothing better to do discussed the issue for two years and then decided that the Doc lied and Bob, Matt and the Escanaba Eskimos really did do it.(Helps to have Eskimos backing your story).
Here's the twist... studies have shown that neither party actually made it to the North Pole.... Bob was close, he missed it by 30 miles (because the Eskimos knew they wouldn't get any recognition so they duped Bob). Ladies and Gentlemen the first person to ever reach the North Pole was U.S. Lieutenant Colonel (cause he couldn't decide between the two) Joseph O. Fletcher of Oklahoma when he stepped out of a plane and walked to the exact location of the North Pole in 1952. Know that's funny!

Have a Great Day. Ask, Believe, Receive

How did they get their License??

Back on this day in 1933 a fatal crash occurred but because of the Hindenburg you don't ever hear about it. The Dirigible(never thought I would use that word in a sentence) Akron crashed in New Jersey killing 73. Okay, technically it crashed into the Atlantic Ocean but the Navy was using it to gather data over New Jersey because as we all know there is a lot of Data over New Jersey and it's important to gather it, especially back in 1933 with all of the data that was flying around(some of which floated down from New York). Was Newark as nasty back then as it is today? Here is the strange thing about this Dirigible(holy crap twice in one day, by the way, it's a fancy term for Blimp). So, here's the strange thing about the blimp Akron. It was built, and at the time the largest blimp, in 1931. It proceeded to be involved in a fatal accident in 1932(yes a year after it was built). What happened you ask? It was traveling from New Jersey(hhhmmm) to Camp Kearny military base near San Diego (hhmmm, military base...) when along comes this blow hard named Mother Nature and she kicks up some "High Winds" well, think about a big balloon blowing around in the wind... So, of course, here is what you do: You get thirty of your closest friends to grab ropes that dangle from the blimp and have them pull the big balloon down to the ground and then you tie it off job done, right, right. Well, I don't know about you but when I get to friend number 28, 29, and 30 they aren't exactly the smartest... okay smart maybe but common sense not so much. Anyway, everyone grabs the ropes and the wind kicks up and everyone lets go of the ropes because the big balloon heads toward the heavens... you guessed it, except for the three geniuses... Two of them let go when they hit the 200 feet off the ground mark and low and behold they died(it wasn't the fall that killed them, it was the sudden stop) and the third genius, get this, held on for two hours while they tried to shake him at 2000 feet above the ground. They finally decided he wasn't going to let go so they landed and let him live. Back to 1933.
You would think they would have learned a lesson, they see a big thunderstorm coming in off the beautiful coast of New Jersey and the order comes in.. Send up the Akron! And because of "miscommunication" instead of going around the storm, cause it was well known that storms could cause problems for Dirigibles(three times) duh, they head right into the storm(these people were idiots). Suddenly, the blimp drops 1000 feet, the captain orders the ballast to be released(fancy term for water, 73 plus people on board, was it really water?) so the blimp heads UP... well, needless to say, control was lost and the Akron suffered its fate killing 73. In their infinite wisdom they sent out a rescue airship, the J-3(remember...storms + blimps=bad) Yes, it also crashed killing two of seven on board. Amazing thing about the Akron's commander, he survived and went on to pilot the Exxon Valdez(okay so that part isn't true but it wouldn't surprise me.) I guess the question that has to be asked... was the blimp jinxed or were the people commanding the blimp just that stupid.. going for the record for an accident a year and miscalculated when they crashed into the ocean.

have a Great Day! Ask, Believe, Receive!

We've got news!!!

NO! Nobody is pregnant! You may or may not know but about two weeks or so ago my  son, Ben, went down to a one day baseball camp at Central Michigan University and from what his grandpa told me he had one heck of a day. Well... I received an interesting call yesterday.. it went something like this: "Hello?" "Scott?" "Yes" "This is Coach Steve Jaksa, from CMU." " I'm calling you to let you know we are very interested in having your son come to CMU when he graduates from high school to play baseball for us. I saw him at camp a couple of weeks ago and we want to get a jump on any other schools that may be giving him a call." "Well coach, that's incredible but he is only going to be in eighth grade next year." "I know Scott, but I have an eye for talent and your son has the technique and the looks of a natural." "Thank you for noticing coach we will keep you in mind." " Jeff Opalewski, our recruiting coordinator will be in touch with you from time to time so you don't forget about us." "That's great, coach! I look forward to hearing from him." You have to understand I was stunned. You don't get that call every day.
I know what you are thinking.. sounds hard to believe. I was just floored after I hung the phone. Connie asked me who it was and when I told her she told me to quit lying to her. After I convinced her I wasn't we sat there looking at each other and didn't even know what to say. Well of course I called Ben and man his reaction was amazing!! I could here him screaming and trying to tell his mother. Everyone is just ecstatic! Imagine at his age and colleges are already calling!! This something I never thought would happen. Wow, what a future he is going to have. We really don't know how to act or what to do.

Have a Great Day! Ask, Believe, Receive!

Who am I? I bet the Librarian knows..

I was born in 1812 and at the age of 12 I was sent to work in the factories because my father, even though he worked as a pay clerk, didn't know how to pay his own debts and ended up in a place called debtor's prison. Finally I said feed me Seymour.. Seymour said "Here, Boz, take these sketches for I don't want them anymore." So I wicked them up with papers and picks and went on my way. Because of this I became popular with the ladies and settled on a beautiful lass of which popped out nine children for me, so you can say we were getting busy on occasion. I also became popular in other ways.. why one time a guy by the name of Chubby Checker came to me and said I need a new dance that I can write a song about. Since I couldn't think of anything I told him he needed to go talk to Oliver. Then, of course, when you become popular people continuously ask for money... always a nickel here and a nickel there, a nickel everywhere... here Nicholas now get out of my hair!! Then low and behold along comes the magician and I extolled these wise words upon him... " My expectations are great for you David but you must go to the place of two cities and tell great tales but remember the one rule.. your words must be usable in the house."
Somewhere along the way I became separated from my wife and a lovely young actress offered to help me find my way. OH, how sweet she was. Unfortunately for me at the ripe age of 58 I departed this earth and left some unfinished work.... but that my friends is a Mystery......

Do you know who I am???

Have a Great Day! Ask, Believe, Receive.

Utter Madness - disgruntledness (is that a word)

How many of you thought the term "disgruntled employee" was a fairly recent term? Well, if you consider 1931 recent then you would think it.
Terrorism on our home soil occurred on this date in 1951 when the Mad Bomber tried(I use the term lightly) to blow up Grand Central Station in New York City. The Mad Bomber not to be confused with the Unibomber, or is it Unabomber, or Unobomber meaning one bomber... Any who they aren't the same people cause the Mad Bomber, although creative, was a lot...shall we say dumber(just think dumb and dumber). Essentially the Mad Bomber basically scared the crap out of commuters on this faithful day in 1951 and nobody was injured and the janitor was pissed because he had to clean up the mess(basically the manager told him he could either clean up the pipe bomb or clean the toilets, he is still working on the pipe bomb). I do have to give the Mad Bomber some credit he managed to evade capture for 15 years. How did he start you ask? Well in 1940 he left a pipe bomb outside of Con Edison(Electric Co) with the intelligent note "Con Edison crooks, this is for you". Then he left more, each more powerful than the last throughout 1941. Then, being the patriot that he is/was he sent a note to the police stating that he wouldn't attempt anymore bombings until after the war was over(that would be WWII for those of you who are trying to figure out what war). I'm thinking he got drafted and decided to take his explosives expertise over seas. I also think this is how he actually learned how to make his bombs go boom because, in case you didn't notice from 1940 - 1941 none of his "pipe" bombs actually went boom. Well, as promised, the Mad Bomber kept his promise and in 1951 his bomb went boom in Grand Central Station and commuters went what the Frig was that and then went to work. I know what you're thinking... Scott World War II ended in 1945. Yes it did and I already said the Mad Bomber wasn't all that smart or maybe it just took him 6 years to remember what it was he had planned in 1941. After 1951 he hit Radio City Music Hall in 1954, Grand Central, Macy's , the RCA building, and the Staten Island Ferry in 1955 (I'm thinking he got another job cause he had two solid years of supplies). What's all this have to do with disgruntled employees? Peter Metesky became disabled while working for Con Edison in 1931. He became disgruntled because Con Edison refused to pay disability benefits(are you reading this Wisconsin) and finally he succumbed to his disgruntledness 9 years later when he put his first pipe bomb(minus the detonator or maybe he didn't have a wick and lighter) outside his former place of employment. Yes folks Peter Metesky is the Mad Bomber(I wonder if he was related to the Uno/Una/Uni bomber?). After finding him living with his sisters in Connecticut he was sent to a mental institution in 1957(living with your sisters would put anyone in a mental institution) where he resided until he was released in 1973. So after all was said and done good old Pete got his benefits and then some!

Have a Great Day! Ask, Believe, Receive!

Why Do We Keep Score?

For those of you who know me also know that I have been involved with youth sports in our community over the past few years as a board member, coach, and dad. Lately I have been trying to figure out what it is that our sports programs are suppose to be teaching the youth of our community and I think I finally did. Here is what our kids are learning... "It doesn't matter that you lose every game or decide you really don't want to practice or work hard at your sport we will make sure you get praise and at least a medal for doing such a great job!  Don't worry about that score board it doesn't mean anything and don't worry because we will make sure everyone gets a medal because we don't want to hurt your feelings." Oh, and as a parent I will rant and rave about the coach because although he or she has 30 years of experience and I have none they don't know what they are doing(you know who you are you do it every year and will continue even when your kids have moved on because it gives you a since of purpose, how sad.)Growing up my father, when my team lost, would tell me not to be a sore loser, keep my head up, and most of all that it built character. What did I learn... that if you wanted to succeed you had to work harder. You had to be better than the person across from you, the person competing against you. As a goalie I would discuss what kids made what kind of moves on breakaways, whether they were right or left handed and where they liked to shoot from. If I stopped you it was because I knew what you were going to do before you did. Today we coddle our kids, heaven forbid we hurt their little feelings. What have we taught these kids... entitlement. We have taught them that they get whatever they want without having to work for it and they feel everything should just be handed to them and when it isn't.... look out.
In case you're telling yourself... "I've seen your kid and he gets everything he wants." Yes, but ask him how he got his Ipod touch(he paid for half) when his new shoes come in and you see him in them ask him how he got them(Straight A's on the report card). When you see him in his catcher's equipment or goalie equipment ask him(he'll tell you his grandparents bought it, but it's because he practices hard and works hard for them) he is required to save up his money, he is expected to get A's on his report card and he earns everything he has.
Sports is not always about winning and losing, let college ruin that for them, it's about teaching our young people about integrity, about how life isn't always fair, and that you have to work hard to succeed. The reason there's a scoreboard is to show you that you need to work harder, you need to practice harder. Parents your challenge is to go to practice and watch your kids, support their COACH, and when they aren't getting the playing time tell your KIDS they need to work harder. Don't yell at the coach he doesn't play the game your kid does. My son will tell you his favorite trophy's are the ones he and his teammates earned and he doesn't want it if he didn't earn it.
Have a Great Day! Ask, Believe, Receive!

High Gas Prices - I'll Tell You Why!!

On March 24, 1989 Captain Joseph Hazelwood was sitting in his pilot house of his ship sipping on a bottle of Captain Morgan (cause he had a little captain in him) singing songs of the deep seas and smoking a Marlboro or maybe it was a Newport.. no wait.. it was a Winston.. a Camel.. yes definitely a Camel. I digress. So, the good Captain is a sippin' and puttin' along with his crew... I'm the King of the World... oh did I mention they were watching the Titanic. When from up in the crows nest comes a tiny, wee voice.. ICEBERG!! What Nice Bird??? No Captain Joe, I said Iceberg!! So what's your point mate? Uhhmmm Captain, it's coming right for us!! Now didn't I tell you to help me to keep this thing between the lines.. the white one on the right and the yellow one on the left?? Aye, Aye Captain and you are right in line and this thing has crossed the yellow line and is in our lane. So the good Captain took a nice long drag on his Camel(it bellowed) and then he took a big swig of Captain Morgan (he said thanks) and proceeded to run smack dab into that iceberg. Captain Morgan, Uh, I mean Captain Joe jumped off the ship and yelled "Don't call the Cops, Don't call the Cops!! Here's my insurance info, please don't call the Cops!" The seals and the birds looked at him with puzzled looks and then the Eskimo or was it an Inuit? Anyway Nanook of the North proceeded to explain to him that he took his really big, overly large, huge ship and ran it right into the tiny, teensy, weensy little state of Alaska!! Whew!!! Just image if he would of hit Delaware!! Thank God it was only Alaska!
This my friends, is why Gas prices went up over night. Yes on this day in 1989 a drunk Captain ran his ship, "The Exxon Valdez" into the state of Alaska and caused an oil spill. So in honor of this great day in history the oil and gas companies have decided to raise gas prices to commend the Honorable Captain Joe! Hip, Hip, Hooray! And that's the way it was March 24,1989

Have a Great Day! Ask, Believe, Receive

Grateful Wednesdays with a Twist

Wanted to share this article with you.

 "The Failure of American Teachers" by Randy Turner (English Teacher)

For a long time, I tried to fight it.
Whenever someone had the temerity to criticize public schools and schoolteachers, I stood staunchly in the corner of those who practice my profession. I noted that in my 12 years as a teacher, I have had the privilege of serving with hard-working, skilled professionals.
Prior to becoming a teacher, I spent the previous 22 years as a newspaper reporter and had the opportunity to observe dozens of schools doing outstanding jobs of serving their communities.
Sadly, I have finally had my blinders removed and I no longer have the same glowing view of public education.
It has nothing to do with test scores, considering most of the schools are taking poorly-worded tests from companies that are making a mint off selling tests and practice tests. After all, if the tests are any good, there would be no need for these practice tests, which have turned out to be a lucrative sideline for the companies.
It has nothing to do with lazy, incompetent teachers who received tenure and cannot be fired. On the contrary, that is a phenomenon of some large, suburban schools whose failures are then exploited by those who wish to see public education destroyed. From what I have seen over the years, many young teachers who are not cut out for teaching quickly discover that and move to other work. Others are encouraged by administrators to leave education, while others are removed before they can do more damage. Few incompetents receive tenure in Missouri and most of those are as a result of administrators not doing their jobs.
It has nothing to do with the stories about teachers misusing their positions of trust to take advantage of students. Some critics have targeted teachers because of these few who have brought shame on all of us. The reason those instances are so well publicized is because they are still thankfully rare.
It has nothing to do with out of control unions who care about teachers more than children. It has not been my experience that union members put anyone ahead of children.
It has nothing to do with teachers working 8 to 3 and getting three months off in the summer and Christmas breaks. I don't know many teachers who don't take their work home with them and most arrive well before first bell and work long after children have gone home. Summers are spent either teaching summer school or taking classes and attending seminars to keep up with the latest developments or to earn higher degrees. Of course, those higher degrees and the debt the teachers have run up earning them will be wasted once laws are passed, including one scheduled to be voted on this week in Missouri that will eliminate years of valuable experience and advanced degrees in favor of a system that relies on the same poorly written tests I mentioned before. Poverty, parents who don't care, children with no interest in learning (or allowing others to learn) -- none of those things mean anything. After all, if you believe the rhetoric from our politicians, the sole problem in American public education is horrible, inept teachers.
And that brings me to the sole reason I have changed my mind about the competence of American public schoolteachers -- if we were doing our job, somewhere along the line we would have taught the politicians who are systematically destroying public education, the greatest of all American experiments, something about decency, respect, and developing the mortal fortitude to resist the siren song of the special interests who are well on their way to making the U. S. into a world of haves and have-nots, where public education will serve to provide low paid feeder stock for non-union companies and taxpayer-financed private schools will continue to cater to the elite, with the middle class existing only in history books.
Public schoolteachers have failed miserably by producing the most incompetent, mean-spirited legislators in U.S. history.


I really think the last paragraph says it all. Really an interesting way of looking at politicians and a way that I had never thought of. I'm willing to bet you that same politician who is cutting educational spending is a major contributor to his college alma mater. The lesson here is to never forget where you came from... how did you get to college? Who educated you from the ages of 5 to 18? To those of you who argue against public school teachers... let me take away all of the resources you use to do your job and we will see how well you do. Mr. Policeman I'm taking your car, your handgun, Taser,  and your handcuffs. Mr. Fireman give me your ladder, hose, water, and oxygen tank. Mr. Businessman give me your blackberry, computer, desk, office and all means of communication. Mr. Politician I'll take the same from you. Can you still do your job if I take your resources away. Oh and by the way I will take  some of your health care benefits and I'm done paying taxes so you can reap the benefits Mr. Politician.

To all of my former Teachers and all of those who Teach thank you for all you have done for me and all you do.
To all of the Policemen who risk their lives on a daily basis, thank you.
To all of the Firemen who risk their lives to save us, thank you.
To all of the Business owners who genuinely care about your employees, thank you.

Have a Great Day! Ask, Believe, Receive

No Soup for You.

Hmmmm, I'm wondering if people are really paying attention to what is going on in your backyard. Are you seeing your rights slowly erode? Abortion rights in South Dakota and Arizona. Arizona especially. The Democrats state there isn't any evidence to support the "epidemic" and the Republicans are citing a study based on the 2000 census that states second and third births in Chinese, Korean and Indian families living in the US were skewed toward boys. If the first child was a girl,  the second child was more likely to be a boy. If the couple had two girls, the third child was even more likely to be a boy. In white families, the researchers found only a small variance. Supposedly this shows evidence that Asians in the U.S. are using abortion as a gender selection process. So this is obviously a great argument to pass abortion laws and take away the freedom to choose as an individual, please see yesterdays posting on "What gives you the right to tell me what I can and cannot do." Last time I checked it is my life and I am the one who has to live with the decision I make. Oh, and this is the best argument they can come up with, hell Asians have been looking for ways to control their population for years just look at China it may very well be in their nature.
Here's another one for you. Did you know that all of our economic issues revolve around three groups. Yep, that's correct: Teachers, Immigrants, and Government employees. At least that's what Republicans would have you believe. Of course they pinpoint these groups because their political agenda has little to no substance and somebody has to be the scapegoat. Instead of looking at our economy as it should be looked at from a "global" standpoint they are quick to throw the middle class into the fire. Instead of creating jobs they are taking a back door approach to undermining are right to collectively organize and have a political voice. What exactly are they afraid of??? If you don't believe what I'm saying check out the Huffington Post website. You've heard about Wisconsin, did you know they are trying to do the same thing in Florida. He is what Guvna Scott wants to do:  faces a $3.6 billion budget shortfall, but he also wants to cut nearly $2 billion in taxes. He wants to cut $1.75 billion in education funding, get rid of 8,500 state workers, and require the remaining state workers to pay 5 percent of their salaries toward their retirement. Hmmm, sounds familiar but when you throw in that cut in taxes people, for some reason, overlook the other issues. Here's another one... Collective bargaining rights will be greatly restricted under a new bill introduced in the state of Alaska. Bet you can't guess who introduced the bill... no not Sarah Palin.... Rep. Carl Gatto - Republican. The Alaska unions represent 9000 workers. So I ask you... do you work in the public sector? Are you an employee of the city, county or state? Are you in a union? If you are, can you please explain to me why you would support a candidate that wants to take away your rights and cut your wages, benefits and ultimately your job. Why, because quite frankly I don't understand why a member of the middle class would hire and support a candidate that would ultimately fire them. Say what you want about the Democrats at least we still had rights. Take a look at Michigan... our Guvna stated he was going to create jobs and then promptly eliminated tax incentives to the film industry in Detroit.... guess what... the film industry left and took their jobs with them. Wow! Great job Rick! Well at least you have a job Rick! And Librarians are facing job cuts or a 20% reduction in pay. Here's an idea.. let's bitch about the lack of education in America and then every state cut educational spending... real genius! And what do you hear most people say.. that damn President of ours... What about the other 554 elected officials!!!! Who the hell do you think passes all of these bills. And if we can't get them through we will pass an amendment so only twenty people need to vote on it. I give you something to think about... 555 people make the decisions for all of the citizens in the U.S. and you hired them.

Who Do You Think You Are!(What gives you the right!)

Who do you think you are? What gives you the right? At what point do you think you can tell me or anyone else what is best for myself, my kid, my family, or anyone else outside of your family? I spend every waking moment of my time trying to make myself a better person, trying to be a positive person, trying to teach my son respect, character, and confidence. But once again the negativity in this community is showing its ugly face and I'm tired of the select few who feel they have the right to tell me where my kid can play hockey. To the certain members of  AHA board of directors I say this... I will decide whether or not my son will tryout and play travel hockey. He is not your child and you have know idea of the conversations we as a family have had is this regard. I don't tell you that your child cannot tryout or tell you that your child has to play house league hockey because we need to be more competitive at that level... last time I checked house league was considered a recreational league and was open to everyone who wanted to play, has that changed? We as a family have decided we wanted to take it to the next level of competition, we wanted to increase our level of dedication, our son requested it two years ago and told us this is want he wanted! If that doesn't meet your acceptance than that's just too bad it is not up to you. What is up to you is to provide an opportunity for kids to play hockey, it is not up to you to determine at what level they play at and I would say I'm sorry but I'm not, we choose to play at what I consider to be a higher level than house league hockey. Funny, we don't have any regrets, my sons ability has increased 500% because of it. The families involved have been incredible and we consider them all good friends, there isn't any negativity and no one complains about what needs to be done and the amount of dedication involved per family. We love doing it, we love traveling, we love volunteering, we love fund raising and I for one haven't heard anyone complain about it.
To Chris Limback: Thank you Chris. You sir are an incredible person. You take kids and bring out the best in them both on and off the ice. You have taught these young people what respect for others is all about. Your program is not just about hockey it is about character and community. Please note that the people who criticize you fail to realize that maybe, just maybe, the "hard" work their kids say they put in at practice might not be exactly true. Ask yourself how many of them have watched their kid at a practice and then smile and know that what you are doing for these young people is teaching them what hard work is all about and the rewards that can and will come to those of them who work hard. Seasonal league titles and a district championship say a lot for what it is you do. Thank you again for teaching, coaching and mentoring my son. For you, Chris Limback, I am grateful. The Wrecks organization is an incredible vehicle for these young people to be on and I am thankful to be a part of such a great organization and family.

Thank you again!
Scott Matteson

Maybe there's something to this Friggin' thing

Merriam-Webster defines Friday as (drum roll tattatatatta) the sixth day of the week! You know what that means don't you.... Monday is not the first day of the week, Sunday is, so get off of Monday's back! Here's the funny thing about Friday... it comes from the Old English "Frigedaeg" - Frig (frigga) + daeg(day). FRIG, I'm laughing my Friday ass off. By the way, do you know why people like to go out on Fridays? Because the next word in the dictionary(at least according to the Merriam-Webster web site) is Fridge. Friday + Fridge = Beer! It's akin to Einstein's theory of relativity. By the way, Frigga is the wife of Odin and Norse goddess of married love and of the hearth. So, let me get this straight, all the love people feel on Friday nights is "married love"??? Well, like I say, it's only pre-marital sex if you're planning on getting married. Take the "ga" off of Frigga gets you to Frig which in Brian M's terms means to coppulate or the Old English to wriggle(please see friggin Fridays to learn more) So can we all see the cycle when it comes to Friday? One big vicious circle isn't it.
Friday + Fridge + Friggin= Beer Goggles!
Beer defined by Merriam-Webster

: an alcoholic beverage usually made from malted cereal grain (as barley), flavored with hops, and brewed by slow fermentation

2: a carbonated nonalcoholic or a fermented slightly alcoholic beverage with flavoring from roots or other plant parts <birch beer>

3: fermented mash

4: a drink of beer

Does anyone else find definition 4 funny? Beer is defined as a "Drink of Beer". What the hell, were they drinking ber, beor, or bior? My curiosity has gotten the best of me especially when I saw the link that said " See beer defined for English-Language learners" so yes I had to click on it. Here we go....click... and the answer is....

1 : an alcoholic drink made from malt and flavored with hops [noncount] ▪ Would you like beer with dinner? ▪ The pub brews its own beer. ▪ a glass of beer ▪ a beer mug [count] ▪ I'll have a beer, please. ▪ a couple of cold beers
2 [noncount] : a drink made from roots or other parts of plants ▪ a glass of birch/ginger beer —see also root beer

—beery /ˈbiri/ adjective beer·i·er; beer·i·est ▪ a beery flavor/smell ▪ a beery tavern

What the hell is a "Beery" tavern? Oh this beer is the "beeriest" I have ever had!!! Geesh, do you have anything that is a tad "beerier"? What is that stench.. that smell is so damn beery!!! eeewwww.

Somebody get me a drink made from malt and flavored with hops please!!! What the Friday is going on here? I for one prefer Whiskey(Jack Daniels) because it is a liquor made from fermented wort. Uhhhmmm.. "WORT" what is this "wort" stuff?? Well at least Whiskeys origins literally means "water of life" I knew there was something about it. YES! Whew, wort just means root, herb or plant. On a side note, did you know that whiskey rhymes with "pliskie". It sure does and the word pliskie means practical joke and is chiefly Scottish. Funny thing about it is there wasn't a link for English-language learners. I am so Thankful that I had the greatest English teachers because I would certainly hate to be an English-language learner. I could see it now.... I would be walking into the beeriest beery tavern ordering a drink made from malt and flavored with hops and the next thing you know someone would pull a pliskie on me and I get a drink made from fermented wort. Whew, thank God I know what I'm talking about!!

Have a Great Frigedaeg and weekend. Ask, Believe, Receive.

St. Patrick's Day - What a Mess.

Happy St. Patrick's day!! Here's to green beer, kissing my blarney and to a guy nobody really knows. You should have known I would look into this holiday. How could you not, after all it is an Irish holiday. We are talking about a land of red headed drunks and the great french fry famine. How surprised do you think I was when I started looking into the history of the good fellow Paddy O'Furniture(I might as well give him a name). Here's what I found.... his name was "probably" Maewyn Succat, yes I said probably, nobody really knows. But they do know he was the son of Calpurnius a Roman-British army officer. Yes, Josh, he isn't even Irish(that's what you get for drinking Guinness). Wait a minute this just in....according to http://www.history.com/ his father was a Christian deacon and Paddy was born into a wealthy British family(damn British, not only take half the country but Ireland's holiday too.) But see papa was smart because he was a deacon for tax reasons a good Christian he was (must be a Catholic cause he was always thinking about money, OUCH!) Then one day as our young lad Paddy was playing in the church graveyard or the heavily guarded Roman-British fort along came a panel van full of creepy pirates or a low rider full of Irish raiders and kidnapped our green lovin' Paddy. Gasp! Well the pirates sold him into slavery and the raiders made him tend to the sheep where the good lad discovered the likes of Corned Beef, Irish Stew, Guinness and how to turn shitty tasting beer green to warn others that it isn't Guinness and therefore not worth drinking. On a side note... green beer = nasty, red = Killian's , Dark = Guinness(yummy). So, picture Paddy tending the sheep.. he has a vision... he needs to walk 200 miles..no wait he needs to hop a ship and sail to freedom. Of course this was after six years of captivity, nobody said he was bright, after all it took him six years to leave, even though he was left alone in a "Friggin" field every day FOR SIX YEARS! Then while he is back in Britain he has another vision and studies Theology for 12 years(uhhmmm we do it in 4 to 5 years now, seminary school, lot less to know now, evidently). Low and behold he decides he needs to go back to Ireland and teach the Irish about God, really it's in the Confessio something about a letter from Victoricus and the "Voice of the Irish" I'm thinking someone had a tad to much Green Beer or he wasn't tending sheep more like a little "Mary Jane" I'm just saying. After all, he celebrated Easter with fire and created the Celtic cross by adding a sun symbol to a cross, he had to be on something..right?
Ever wonder why the shamrock is so popular on this day... Paddy used it to represent the trinity(father, son and holy spirit). He is even given credit for driving snakes out of Ireland, forced them all into the sea so they would drown.. except of course the water snakes cause they can swim and all so they followed the gulf stream and ended up in other countries. Thanks for that Paddy. If you want to learn more about shamrocks, Leprechauns and the Blarney Stone check out http://www.theholidayspot.com/
If you are wondering about Corned Beef (I know you are) it came about when Irish immigrants discovered that corned beef was cheaper to purchase than pork but it is not a tradition of Ireland, Bacon and Cabbage would be closer to tradition. But here is a blurb I found... leave it to the British...

The Celtic grazing lands of...Ireland had been used to pasture cows for centuries. The British colonized...the Irish, transforming much of their countryside into an extended grazing land to raise cattle for a hungry consumer market at home...The British taste for beef had a devastating impact on the impoverished and disenfranchised people of...Ireland. Pushed off the best pasture land and forced to farm smaller plots of marginal land, the Irish turned to the potato, a crop that could be grown abundantly in less favorable soil. Eventually, cows took over much of Ireland, leaving the native population virtually dependent on the potato for survival.

”

—Jeremy Rifkin

During the time of the Great potato famine in order to sustain the British taste for beef cultivated land of Ireland was used for grazing pushing out land used to grow other crops. Thus, the start of Atkins in Ireland.
Anyway, to my Irish friends(Josh especially) have a great St. Patrick's Day!! I for one will be having corned beef and cabbage. To my sister Kris, may the Black Sheep prosper on this day! She will be serving corned beef and cabbage until 8:00 pm tonight along with, of course, cold Guinness. Enjoy the song!
Ask, Believe, Receive!

Wednesday is for being Grateful!!

I am grateful for the loml Connie. Our kids who make us laugh and smile on a daily basis. Family for everything they do. Habitat for Humanity for all of the help they provide families in need. The people I come in touch with everyday that give off a positive attitude. To the Black Sheep for wonderful food and service. To the crazy people that allow the rest of us a good laugh. To the people of Northeast Michigan for their giving attitude, I heard someone say today that they have never lived in a community where there were so many benefits and so many people willing to help. I am grateful for all of you who take the time out of your day to read what I have to say. I will try to wield more humor tomorrow.
Have a Great Day. Ask, Believe, Receive.

Money,money, money = GREED.(a little rant).

Hmmmm... the sticking points: how much money owners would get up front before dividing the rest of $9 billion in annual revenues with players, and the union’s demand for full financial disclosure.
Are they for real? Am I thinking correctly about this $9 billion? It says annual revenue, is this all profit? Tell me this is gross income and not net. Oh, for those of you who haven't figured it out I'm talking about the negotiations between the NFL owners and the players. You know the ones, the billionaires vs. the millionaires. How many of you really care? The one thing I care about is come this fall they are playing the game(you know, the one with the pigskin). Okay, let say 80% of the $9 billion is paid out in expenses(salaries, concession, stadium fees, etc.) if my math is correct that leaves $1.9 billion in profit. This is where the full disclosure comes into play because I can just see the owners trying to hide some money especially the guy in Dallas and the guy in Oakland because they are both snakes. With this kind of money the financials should be transparent... yes Mr. Owner you need to pay your taxes like everyone else and it should be based on you full income not what you think it should be. Oh, I'm sorry for saying that, you could always move to Wisconsin I'm sure the fine Guvna would take care of you. I will say this much...
Dear Mr. NFL Owner and Player,
If you decide to not play football this coming year we the fans will do what we did when Major League Baseball decided not to play. We the fans(or at least me) will find other things to do. We will discover that Sundays have a lot more to offer us and we discover new and exciting things in our lives that will not cost us the same amount of money to do. We will still grill and enjoy friends but we will do it on Saturdays when college football is on and we will realize that you don't really matter to much in our lives. Take note, Major League Baseball is not the same as it was before they locked/walked out and football won't be either. We the fans don't want  to hear you whine about your lack of money or the fact that salaries are getting out of hand after all, you Mister Owner, made the decision to pay Mister Player the outrageous amount of money he was asking for(By the way thanks for passing on that expense we really appreciate it). So, I suggest you both stop whining about each other and stop trying to get us, the fans, to side with either one of you because we don't want to hear it. You have a good product so don't screw it up and if the two of you can't play nice together we the fans are going to take our ball and go home and then that $9 billion that you are fighting over won't exist.
Signed,
Us the fans

Greed it skews our priorities.

Have a Great Day, Ask, Believe, Receive

Bullying

http://www.dictionary.com/ defines bullying as a blustering, quarrelsome, overbearing person who habitually badgers and intimidates smaller or weaker people. The reason I decided to write on this subject today is I noticed a posting on facebook this morning that posting is as follows:
The One you just called fat? She has been starving herself & has lost over 30lbs. The One you just called stupid? She has a learning disability & studies over 4hrs a night. The One you just called ugly? She spends hours putting makeup on hoping people will like her. The One you just tripped? She is abused enough at home. There's a lot more to people than you think.
I read this and have to admit I was at a lost for words. I still am at a lost for words. My first thought was why do people feel they need to bully people? Do they feel inferior? Do they feel ugly, stupid, fat or are they abused at home? I just don't get it. I, to this day, can remember the name of the kid who was the bully in my class in grade school and it was a great first day when we showed up at school for I believe was third grade and we found out he had moved. I have never seen him since, not in junior high or high school and I hope he ended up getting his ass royally kicked at some point in his life for all the fear he put into the rest of us. Funny thing is, I never saw him fight and when he threw the punch at me he missed. I guess when you wear glasses at that age your depth perception is skewed. Then along came the bullys of junior high, one I believe is dead, one or two others ended up going to prison. We realized it was best just to avoid or make sure you were with a group because they prayed on the loner until that fateful day when the boys from the north side kicked them to the curb and the rest of us were thankful that they north side kids were cool and had respect for others. My question - Do bullys learn to adapt? Do they adjust depending on where they are in life? Do you have a person at work that strikes fear in you? Here is the list for adult bullys: Narcissistic, Impulsive, Physical, Verbal and Secondary bullys. Look them up and get to know them.
Here's what I found interesting about the word bully. According to http://www.dictionary.com/ the word use to be defined as sweetheart; darling but that became obsolete. From there it was defined as Good friend, good fellow but this became obsolete. Then the definition came to be a pimp; procurer and then on to a man hired to do violence. Both of these definitions are now considered obsolete and archaic. Which brings us to our definition of today. Kind of interesting to see how a word that originates in 1530 and means sweetheart evolves through time and comes to mean what it does today. I don't have any suggestions on how to deal with bullies I just hope you don't have to deal with any. I guess I do have one suggestion - tell everyone you can possibly think of and tell them the things they do to you. Bullies, in my book, can't handle people in numbers but be careful because it wouldn't surprise me if the bully is capable of being manipulative. It's time to stop bullies and put an end to all of the hate. Looking at the definitions of the word throughout time one can see how we as a society have evolved, we become more and more negative over time. Make the change to stop being negative and be Positive!
Have the Greatest week your life! Ask, Believe, Receive!

Wisconsin - Are you serious?

Yesterday I was asked if I would write a blog on Wisconsin and the issues they are having. So, being that it was my Dad that asked me, I decided I would give it a shot. Here it goes... this one is for you Dad!
As we all know Guvna Walker and his band of rogue Republican Senators have decided in order to bring the Cheese budget under control they would essentially rid the state of their unions. "Hey guys, listen up." "What is it Guvna?" "I gots me an idea. Let's tell all those fine peeps who voted for us that we need to balance the budget and we are going to do it by eliminating their bargaining power, increase their Health care contribution and take away most of if not all of their 403b match and make them have to increase their retirement contribution. Sound great?" "Yep, ready, 1,2,3, Break". "Ummm hey, does anyone know where the Democrats went? We need them so we can pass this great plan of ours." Yes, Guvna they are vacationing in sunny Illinois." "When will they be back." "When you admit that your plan is really designed to eliminate the Unions." "So they won't be back?" "No, probably not."
"Well, we don't need them we will just amend this bill and that way we will only need a vote of "20" senators to pass it." "How was the vote?" "It passed, Guvna, 18 - 1. Thank the good Lord for those "20" people!!"(please tell me you did the math)
I know what you are thinking.. What's your point. Here's my point. The Republican party knew full well that the bill they were trying to pass under the radar was designed to eliminate Unions. The Democrats caught on(I'm not saying they did the right thing by running away because they didn't, people voted for them for a reason.) The thousands of protesters caught on to the game and so has the rest of the country. Here's where I think things get interesting. Are you aware that the State of Wisconsin has a Government Accountability Board? It is in place to "Administer" Elections, Ethic, and Lobbying Laws. Following are their Goals as a Board: 1. Ensure open, fair and transparent elections(they did okay here.). 2. Identify interest influencing Government and Identify conflicting interest.(hhhmm, seems to me someone isn't paying attention.) 3.Enforce statutory requirements - This goal fosters the continued "High" standards and "Ethical Conduct" by state Government officials..... and reassures the public that the State of Wisconsin is equipped to redress conduct that falls short of statutorily established standards(I must have a different definition for "high standards" and "ethical conduct"). Do you know how much the good Guvna allocated to this Board?? $5,158,600.00 Yes, you read that correctly. It is my understanding by passing the bill he can make up $2.5 million in his deficit. Correct me if I'm wrong. It seems to me that he could make that up from what he allocated to a board that doesn't seem to be doing it's job. They're probably all buddies of his. Below is what his recommendations are:

1. Increase Employee Contributions to Pension and Health Insurance

2. Budget Efficiencies

3. Increase Spending Authority for Lobbying Application

4. Restore Board Member Per Diems

5. Reestimate Voter Registration Sales

6. Reestimate Spending Authority in Wisconsin Election Campaign Fund

7. Campaign Finance Information System

8. Modification of the Democracy Trust Fund

9. Standard Budget Adjustments

I ask you to look at the list above and see if you noticed what I noticed. Look at items 1, 3, 4, and 5. Seems to me it's the typical move of take from the poor and give to the rich.
For those of you who are calling me a Democrat the answer is No I am not. For those of you who are now calling me a Republican...No I am not. If you talk to my father he will tell you that I don't agree with most entitlements but feel some are necessary and I believe in a free market society. I don't feel the financial institutions or the auto industry should have been bailed out, the market would have taken care of itself. In all reality I don't like politics but what I don't like most of all is people getting screwed over even more by their Government the middle class is slowly eroding away and if you don't agree that's fine, after all, It's Just My Opinion.
Have a Great Day! Ask, Believe, Receive!

Let's Talk about Lent. This stuff is Crazy!

So, the 19 year comes home yesterday (Ash Wednesday) for dinner and here we are with none other than his favorite meal of Corned Beef and Cabbage! Wow what good Catholics we are...(Yes I sinned and it was delicious, had some for breakfast today also). I have to give him credit he abstained and ate only the cabbage and the carrots. This got me wondering though...  what is this Lent thing all about?? Traditionally Lent is the 40 days from Ash Wednesday through Easter Sunday but doesn't include Sundays hence only 40 days. More current add the 4 Sundays in and you have 44 days of Lent. My take on it... it's an excuse for People to diet to get their beach bodies. There are three basic tasks involved during Lent - Fasting, Alms giving, and Prayer. I'm interested in this whole fasting idea. Don't get me wrong, I understand it's to "simulate" Jesus' time wandering in the wilderness but for some strange reason I don't feel that when I get to the pearly gates Saint Peter is going to look at me and say "Sorry pal but you ate meat during Lent your elevator goes down!" Of Course as a Catholic I will ask for forgiveness(for more than just that, I have a considerably long list) and then the big guy in the sky and I will be hanging out together. Here is how the Fasting thing works.. are you ready... only one full meal is allowed per day. That's right... you read it... ONLY ONE FULL MEAL A DAY! Oh, did I mention... that's only if you are between the ages of 18 and 59(dad you're off the hook). Friday are days of abstinence, meaning no meat or soups and gravies made with meat or from meat and of course the age requirement drops to 14. Did I mention, this is only if you are a Western Rite Catholic, if you are an Eastern Rite Catholic... well... basically you're screwed(no meat, wine, oil or dairy).  Here's the catch regarding the "One full meal thingy" sort of a loop hole... you can still eat breakfast and lunch AND still eat your "ONE" meal as long as breakfast and lunch don't add up to a SECOND FULL MEAL - What???? So.. I have to "FAST" but I can only eat three meals a day as long as they don't equal two full meals. I can hear Bill Clinton now "It all depends on your definition of a meal" and in the infamous words of George W. Bush " you can fool yourself once, but you can't fool a Catholic" ??? Who is doing the math here? So, I have people arguing with me about Lent and how I shouldn't eat meat and these are the rules??? Here's another loop hole... do you know why people eat fish during Lent? Because meat is defined as "flesh meat of warm-blooded animals" key term there is "warm-blooded" yep you guessed it fish are cold-blooded. Ha and I'm the heathen. And we wondered how lawyers came about. As far as giving something up... you don't have to... you can if you want to have additional self-discipline but it is not required.
Alms giving- I am receiving if you are giving, I'll even let you say a prayer for me.
Thank you to to http://www.churchyear.net/ for the information. Enjoy your Lenten season and I'll continue to eat warm-blooded animals and my three meals that don't equal two meals a day! To my Polish friends HAPPY FAT THURSDAY!
Have a Great Day! Ask, Believe, Receive!

Wednesday is for being Grateful II

I am grateful for the love of my life Connie. The kids for all they do and my family for their never ending support. I am grateful for indoor plumbing(because I couldn't imagine not having it in this weather). Computers for allowing me to do this. The companies who send me bills because I know that when I pay them someone who works for them is benefiting and able to provide for their family. My car because it gets me where I need to go. I am grateful for facebook because I was able to connect with friends from years past. For sports because it helped me build character. I am grateful for the snow, rain, and sun because all of it makes Northern Michigan what it is. I am grateful for the cats(eddy and hosey) for purring and pawing and thinking I'm a tree or scratching post. I am grateful for warm blankets and cold drinks. For my friends from Northwood University for helping me gain an education and giving me memories I will cherish. I am grateful for coffee. I am grateful for March Madness because it is the only time I find college basketball to be interesting. I am grateful for the people who take the time to read this every day and for the comments and opinions they have. I am grateful for Habitat for Humanity for allowing me to sit on the board of directors. I am grateful for Art and Judy for teaching me how to do stained glass which allows me to escape every now and then. I am grateful for Bob because he treats mom well and gives us a beautiful place to pick berries, morels and hunt. I am grateful for the friends that take the time to play darts on Monday nights and the memories we are creating. I am grateful for Life!
Have a Great Day! Ask, Believe, Receive!

Fat Tuesday and Paczki

Today is a day of celebration and great food. Okay, maybe not great food but at least Paczki's!! How much do you know about Mardi Gras? Are you aware that Gras is the French word for Fat and Mardi is French for Tuesday? I have to admit I didn't know that. To explain Mardi Gras I could go into the whole religious connotation and talk about the Epiphany also referred to as the Twelfth night, Three Kings day and sometimes Theophany and we can discuss the visit of the three wise men and how all this leads up to Mardi Gras but somehow I think that would be a tad boring (sorry dad didn't think ignorant would fit here, had to use the word boring). Instead, let's talk about how a French explorer landed 60 miles south of what is now New Orleans and named the place Point du Mardi Gras (bless his heart) obviously he was a partier. Lets take a trip back in time shall we.... (picture Wayne's World Flash Back). I can see him with his big Hurricane glass with the little Umbrella looking at his first mate and uttering the infamous words "Wee Wee!" So of course the First Mate not wanting him to "Wee, Wee" on the ship pulled over to let him run into the woods and this my friends is how Point du Mardi Gras was discovered. Let the party begin and it did, with masked balls (now that's funny, masked balls!) and parties... and then (sadness), in the mid-1700's, along come the Spaniards and the celebrations were promptly banned (Boo, Cat Calls, Go Take a Nap!) Then along came the United States (yea!!!) and the banned continued (WTF! Did these guys go to BYU??) then in 1827 the celebrations resumed and the bourbon flowed and the jazz and blues played and the beads and boobs began to fly!!! Then someone said "Hey! We need some team colors!" and the Transvestite in the corner said we will use.. Purple - for Justice, Green - for Faith and Gold - for Power! and it was done.
I can hear you asking.. "What does this have to do with Paczki?" My first thought.. you need something to soak up the alcohol. Traditionally pancakes where made to use up the "forbidden" fats that couldn't be used during lent. But Paczki is Polish and in Poland, Paczki day is celebrated on Fat Thursday (leave it to the Polish to get the day mixed up). According to my sources young men's balls would be held in well-to-do manors while country folk would make merry(whatever the hell that is) and Peasants would eat zimne nog, kiszka, and kielbasa z kapusta all the while washing it down with beer and gorzalka. By the way I may have that last part mixed up but I'm doing the best I can.
Enjoy your Fat Tuesday and if your Polish your Fat Thursday as for me I think I will enjoy both.
Have a Great Day! Ask, Believe, Receive!

Being Positive on Monday's

" If a man speaks or acts with an evil thought, pain follows him. If a man speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows him, like a shadow than never leaves him." - Gautama Buddha (founder of Buddhism).

" Your own soul is nourished when you are kind; it is destroyed when you are cruel." - King Solomon (Proverbs 11:17)

How many of you woke up this morning and told yourself this is going to be the greatest week of my life? I know I did and I know of at least one other person who did because I saw it on their facebook page. My challenge to you for today and this week is to see if you can, at the very least, start eliminating negativity from your life. How many of you have a person in your life, either from work or an acquaintance, when they speak it is always or mostly in a negative connotation? Next time you speak with that person and they are being negative turn the conversation around on them by saying something along the lines of " I'm really grateful for that person because....." and then hit them with a positive! Think about the look on their face, think about how they will talk to you next time, think about it... what if you do that every time someone speaks negatively. What do you suppose will happen to the negativity in your life, that's right, it will go away!! Instead of nagging, complaining, criticizing, or finding fault begin looking for things you love in others. I believe by doing this your relationships and your life will become increasingly better and you will become increasingly happier.
I share this with you, not because I want something from you, I share it because I want to be a better person for the love of my life Connie and for everyone I interact with in my life. It is my opinion that my life will be better for it. My vow to you is to give kindness, encouragement, support, gratitude and all my good feelings to you and I will not ask for anything in return. I will not try to change you, I will not think I know what is best for any of you, and I will not think that I am right and you are wrong. I will accept people into my life as they are knowing they are great people and can enhance my life in their special way. But note one thing, if you are being negative I will be positive.
I vow to work on myself everyday for everyday is greater than the day before. This is the greatest week of my life and it will be yours also.
Have a Great Day! Ask, Believe, Receive!

Friggin Fridays!

It seems everyday when I check facebook a certain word appears before me... friggin Monday, friggin Tuesday  and so it goes. Today was no different so I decided to search the web for its definition and what do you think I found. For those of you who said it's the "polite" way to say f@#k you, well...(pause for effect) you would be wrong(and for those of you who are correcting me on the proper spelling of effect/affect, I've struggled with that ever since I had R.B. for English in ninth grade, damn I'm old.). Here is what I found for the definition at www.urbandictionary.com "The original word 'Friggin' is a rude term for a female masturbating. People have formed completely wrong definitions of the word over time and people aren't 100% sure of what it means." http://www.dictionary.com/ has it defined as follows Origin: 1425–75; earlier, to move about restlessly, rub; late Middle English friggen  to quiver. For those of you who are asking yourself "When did this word come to mean what we think it means today?" Well the answer to that is..... (drum roll, tattatatatatt) sometime between 1920 - 1925 Friggin Yeah!
What I found interesting in my search was the related searches at the bottom of my Google screen... define dementia. Now why would a person who is searching the word friggin want to define the word dementia? Let's explore shall we? medical-dictionary.freedictionary.com defines it as Dementia a loss of mental ability severe enough to interfere with normal activities of daily living, lasting more than six months, not present since birth, and not associated with a loss or alteration of consciousness. But what I found interesting was the description and the cause this website noted : Dementia is a group of symptoms caused by gradual death of brain cells. Dementia usually is caused by degeneration in the cerebral cortex, the part of the brain responsible for thoughts, memories, actions and personality. With this being noted I began thinking about the person who post the word friggin everyday on facebook.... hhhmmmm if you know him he hasn't lost his mental capacity and he has a hell of a personality, I'm not sure how his memory is... as for gradual death of brain cells I would venture a guess his motto is only the strong ones survive. I will say this much for him, he is a great person to be around and will have everyone laughing. When you see him out everyone who is with him is smiling and laughing their asses off. He just hasn't figured out he's wankin' every day of the week.
Have a Friggin great day! Ask, Believe, Receive.

Life Experiences

Yesterday I stated that I was grateful for the lessons I have learned from my past experiences. I use to look at these experiences as mistakes I had made through this journey we call life. Recently I began looking at everything I experience from a different point of view, a positive point of view. Think about all of your adventures in life and begin looking at the positive. I have had many arguments, I have had, what I would at the time, call miserable moments and I have had numerous "whoa is me" moments. But, like I said, I started looking at my past from a different point of view. My past has made me the person I am today, a person who knows no matter what anyone says to me I will persevere. I have come to the realization over the past few years that if I put my mind to it I can and will do what I set out to do. Living in a small town you hear people tell others on a daily basis that they can't do it, it won't be successful, or simply it won't work. Well, you are all wrong. Yes, every single one of you who think that something can't be done are absolutely, positively wrong! My sister and her husband are living proof. I don't know how many times they were told that their idea for their business would never work and wouldn't be successful. They continuously worked through the negativity and forged ahead. Oh, and by the way, their business is doing pretty damn good and I'm damn proud of them. I have been saying since I've started this blog to ask, believe, and receive. Try it. Ask for what you want (I have) eliminate all the negative energy around what you are asking for and see yourself having it. Fight against the negativity, don't let it get in the way. If you have to, stop and adjust your thoughts toward the positive. My sister saw her business, saw herself in her business, saw the image of what the inside of her business was going to look like. She now stands in that image every day with the biggest damn smile on her face.
 I have grown tremendously as a person over the past five years by experiencing life with the attitude of, if I haven't tried it I'm going to so I can say I have had the experience (keeping in mind that my fear of heights still talks me out of certain activities). I have read more, eaten more strange things, and have laughed, loved and lived more with the love of my life Connie than I can remember and I am enjoying every minute of it. Life experiences teach us lessons, some of which I refuse to repeat. I have learned from them, I am grateful for them, I am better for them. Thank you to those who have taught me those lessons and for those of you who can't be anything more than negative on a daily basis, Thank you for showing me on what not to be. You are all incredible people and have provided me with great experiences.
Have a great day! Ask, Believe, Receive.