NBC

The most liberal TV network is NBC.  They ruined (to me) Boston Legal which was good for the first few years; but then they started shifting the cases to (what I consider)  liberal causes like, a soldier who wanted to be outwardly gay & not ask not tell not.  The conservative on the show was the crazy Denny Crane, etc..

So I was watching the show "Life" on VHS tape (we tend to record shows because my wife has numerous activities at night or we don't to stay up late to watch it); when the bad guy twice said "it was supposed to last only 6 weeks" (referring to the Iraq war).  Probably I am too sensitive to liberal propaganda, but this was on NBC.

As I have said I am conservative & try to not support liberal enterprises.

“If you're not a liberal at twenty you have no heart, if you're not a conservative at forty you have no brain.” Winston Churchill

“Some of you may remember that in my early days, I was sort of a bleeding heart liberal. Then I became a man and put away childish ways.” Ronald Reagan

“One difference between a liberal and a pickpocket is that if you demand your money back from a pickpocket, he won't question your motives”

liberal (adj) 1 open to new behavior or opinions and willing to discard traditional values • favorable to or respectful of individual rights and freedoms • (in a political context) favoring maximum individual liberty in political and social reform 2 [ attrib. ] (of education) concerned mainly with broadening a person's general knowledge and experience, rather than with technical or professional training. 3 (esp. of an interpretation of a law) broadly construed or understood; not strictly literal or exact

[ editorial comment - def 1) seems to be by the wayside; P.O. not for individual rights but the rights of the liberal]

Great

I listen to a lot of radio & listen to the Chi Bulls basketball games on the radio.  Their color commentator is named Bill Wennington who was an ex-Bull player, he does a very good job in my opinion; but he almost always calls the Bull plays as "great"; like Ben Gordon made a great move to get to the basket (unfortunately for the Bulls Gordon missed the shot).

I think that some words are over used & cheapened like "great".  To me this should be reserved for great outcomes or efforts.  On the advertisements, every show is great; every toothpaste works great; etc..  What they usually mean is that it works OK.

I've heard Pres. Obama's speeches called great though there is no content; they are good to listen to because they are well written, but lack any depth.  Books are called great only because the author is famous or politically connected.  And so on & so on!

When asked how they are some people say "great"; when they are not as great as they think!

great (adj) 1 of an extent, amount, or intensity considerably above the normal or average • very large and imposing • [ attrib. ] used to reinforce another adjective of size or extent • [ attrib. ] used to express surprise, admiration, or contempt, esp. in exclamations 2 of ability, quality, or eminence considerably above the normal or average 3 [ attrib. ] denoting the element of something that is the most important or the most worthy of consideration

Then & Than

I have been using Then & Than a lot.  I think I may have been using them incorrectly so I decided to look up the definitions.

then (adv) 1 at that time; at the time in question 2 after that; next; afterward : • also; in addition 3 in that case; therefore • used at the end of a sentence to emphasize an inference being drawn • used to finish off a conversation : see you in an hour, then.

than (conjunction & preposition) 1 introducing the second element in a comparison 2 used in expressions introducing an exception or contrast 3 [ conj. ] used in expressions indicating one thing happening immediately after another

So there!

AARP

At one time we belonged to AARP; we had AOL & got a discount that paid for AARP.  We no longer belong, they seem to be mainly a sales organization for various companies : insurance, flowers, etc. Plus at one time the senior citizens were considered better off than the average family (before P.O. helped the stock market tank); so it irritated me that they were pushing for programs that only helped older Americans not society.  When the prescription drug program was passed, they were not satisfied at the amount and would be working to increase the benefits.  I am for helping those who need it but not for programs which cover everyone.

Of course, it is an organization for older people so it is their mission plus older people vote more often which gets them more than normal people.

“When I was young, I thought that money was the most important thing in life; now that I am old, I know it is” Oscar Wilde

“When I look back on all these worries, I remember the story of the old man who said on his deathbed that he had had a lot of trouble in his life, most of which had never happened” Winston Churchill

“The soul is born old but grows young. That is the comedy of life. And the body is born young and grows old. That is life's tragedy.”  Oscar Wilde

OLD, (adj) In that stage of usefulness which is not inconsistent with general inefficiency, as an old man. Discredited by lapse of time and offensive to the popular taste, as an old book.
"Old books? The devil take them!" Goby said.
"Fresh every day must be my books and bread."
Nature herself approves the Goby rule
And gives us every moment a fresh fool.
Harley Shum  (DD)

"It's not your fault that..."

"It's not your fault that..." is an interesting fragment.  I listen to a lot of radio & it seems almost every ad starts with "It's not your fault that...". 

One of my favorites is "It's not your fault that..." you are over your head in credit card debt because the credit card companies will not let you get out of debt.  I feel not spending more than you can afford is one way to "beat" the credit card companies or even paying off your credit card each month might work.  But if you are lucky enough to have at least $10,000 in credit card debt these people can help you!

There are actual people that "It's not your fault that..." is correct.  A major medical emergency can wipe you out (if you can't afford a major medical policy) or if you lose your job (not thru incompetence) due to the Obama economics.  These people do actually need our help not the over-spenders or people who bought more house than they can afford (after all "It's not their fault that..." that the big bad banks forced them to buy more house than was prudent so the ones who pay their mortgages MUST pay theirs).

DEBT, (n) An ingenious substitute for the chain and whip of the slave- driver.
As, pent in an aquarium, the troutlet
Swims round and round his tank to find an outlet,
Pressing his nose against the glass that holds him,
Nor ever sees the prison that enfolds him;
So the poor debtor, seeing naught around him,
Yet feels the narrow limits that impound him,
Grieves at his debt and studies to evade it,
And finds at last he might as well have paid it.
Barlow S. Vode

Communication

When I was in the Navy we had a form of communication for shipboard activities.

"Conn, Maneuvering : the reactor has scrammed!" The reply was "Maneuvering, the Reactor has scrammed, Aye."

So the form was the addressee, speaker : message then the reply was original speaker's position : message followed by Aye.  This way the communication was verified that it was received & understood by repeating what you heard.  Many messages were not as short as the above but could become very complicated.

If we used this form of communication today; there would be less chance for error.  Many times when we are "listening" to a speaker, we are more concerned with constructing our reply than hearing what is said.

Of course, now a days my memory is not as great and I wonder if I had kept up the "Navy" skill it would be better.

“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.”
George Bernard Shaw

“To effectively communicate, we must realize that we are all different in the way we perceive the world and use this understanding as a guide to our communication with others.”
Anthony Robbins

“Good communication is as stimulating as black coffee, and just as hard to sleep after.”
Anne Morrow Lindbergh

communication (n) 1 the imparting or exchanging of information or news :  a letter or message containing such information or news. • the successful conveying or sharing of ideas and feelings : there was a lack of communication  2 ( communications) means of connection between people or places, in particular • the means of sending or receiving information, such as telephone lines or computers : satellite communications 
ORIGIN late Middle English : from Old French comunicacion, from Latin communicatio(n-), from the verb communicare ‘to share’ 

Panic

When do we panic?  Is panic good?

We have been trying to maintain our investments hoping for better things to come.  But today the stock market is down another 260 points (DJIA).

I knew when Obama was elected that we (the nation) would be in trouble financially but I didn't think it would be this bad.  If I had panicked then & sold everything that would go down I wouldn't have lost an additional 15%.

The worst part is that of our children & grandkids who will have to pay for all Obama is proposing (no they are not rich).  When Trade & Cap comes in; most everything will increase in price (used to limit CO2 gases).  When China wants higher interest rates the deficit will increase.

PANDEMONIUM, (n0 Literally, the Place of All the Demons. Most of them have escaped into politics and finance, and the place is now used as a lecture hall by the Audible Reformer. When disturbed by his voice the ancient echoes clamor appropriate responses most gratifying to his pride of distinction.

Temptations

Temptations come in many forms. When we discussed temptations in a recent Bible Study (most of us are 60+), we could only think of food as our major tempter.

Kids today have many temptations like drugs, sex, gossip, etc..

Consider Daniel (from Book of Daniel in the Bible), he was a young man in his teens when he was uprooted from Israel. The king (Nebuchadnezzar) decided to groom Daniel & other royal captives as bureaucrats in Babylon. So he was given royal food to eat but being a loyal follower of his God, he was not supposed to eat food that had been used in sacrifices to the false gods. So he asked to eat vegetables and water instead of the meat & wine; he was allowed to do it for a short period to see if he was fit & he was.

But Daniel was a young man in a foreign country a captive; and the temptation to conform was great but he didn't. A object lesson for the rest of us!

“I deal with temptation by yielding to it” Mark Twain

“'Tis one thing to be tempted, another thing to fall.” William Shakespeare

“I generally avoid temptation unless I can't resist it” Mae West

How like herrings and onions our vices are in the morning after we have committed them. ~Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Those who flee temptation generally leave a forwarding address. ~Lane Olinghouse

temptation (n) a desire to do something, esp. something wrong or unwise : he resisted the temptation to call Celia at the office | we almost gave in to temptation. • a thing or course of action that attracts or tempts someone : the temptations of life in New York. • ( the Temptation) the tempting of Jesus by the Devil (see Matt. 4). ORIGIN Middle English : from Old French temptacion, from Latin temptatio(n-), from temptare ‘handle, test, try.’

Ask not

In 1961, John F Kennedy in his inaugural speech said "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."

It seems to me that we are doing just the opposite, President Obama wants the government to do everything for us (at the cost of our liberty).

JFK was talking to the "Greatest Generation" who had seen the great depression; put aside their lives to win WWII and made the US the greatest power with their ambition & drive.  But Obama is speaking to the whining generation who complain if they have to miss TV because they were too lazy to get a Digital to Analog conversion box in the 5 years or so they were told it was needed.  The generation who are willing to do anything to make a better environment except reduce energy use or stop polluting, etc..  They are willing to make any sacrifices as long as others make them for them.

And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country. 
My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man. JFK 1/20/61

GREAT, (adj)
"I'm great," the Lion said -- "I reign
The monarch of the wood and plain!"

The Elephant replied: "I'm great --
No quadruped can match my weight!"

"I'm great -- no animal has half
So long a neck!" said the Giraffe.

"I'm great," the Kangaroo said -- "see
My femoral muscularity!"

The 'Possum said: "I'm great -- behold,
My tail is lithe and bald and cold!"

An Oyster fried was understood
To say: "I'm great because I'm good!"

Each reckons greatness to consist
In that in which he heads the list,

And Vierick thinks he tops his class
Because he is the greatest ass.
Arion Spurl Doke (DD)

Match.com

All of the relationship websites seem to tell you that only if you & your date match each other in at least 40 - 400 different factors of personality can you be happy with that person.

My wife and I are different people (of course we have only been married 40+ years). She has many wonderful qualities; she is kind, smart, pretty, & considerate.

I like sports she feels they are a waste of time; she is a great singer I try but do not have the artistic abilities she has. I like finance things she lets me do the finances. I like to pick up as I work (like in the kitchen); she would rather cleanup later all at once. I tend to put things in their place (since my memory is not as good as hers) she tends to use all the space.

She was great with our kids; I tended to work too much & didn't spend as much time with them as I should have. I am very lucky she married me.

For two people in a marriage to live together day after day is unquestionably the one miracle the Vatican has overlooked. Bill Cosby

It is not a lack of love, but a lack of friendship that makes unhappy marriages.Friedrich Nietzsche

There is nothing nobler or more admirable than when two people who see eye to eye keep house as man and wife, confounding their enemies and delighting their friends. Homer

Success in marriage does not come merely through finding the right mate, but through being the right mate. ~Barnett R. Brickner

A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person. ~Mignon McLaughlin

MARRIAGE, (n) The state or condition of a community consisting of a master, a mistress and two slaves, making in all, two. (DD)