Comedy

We used to watch numerous comedies on TV.  Some great shows like Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, Various Newhart shows, the Cosby shows.  But now we do not watch any "comedy" shows.  I think that they are just stupid, the men are all idiots, the women are smart & sexy, the children are disrespectful.

I think it started with The Simpsons and shows like Married with Children that showed completely unreal families.  I guess I am just an old-fogey.

The problem is the average person isn’t tuned in to lifelong learning, or going to seminars and so forth. If the information is not on television, and it’s not in the movies they watch, and it’s not in the few books that they buy, they don’t get it. Jack Canfield 

I can't think of one person who is on TV who isn't vain. It's the nature of the beast. If you are on TV then you have a vanity, for sure. Just admit it! Why not?  Simon Cowell

On an average day 7 minutes of news happens. Yet there are currently three full-time, 24-hour news networks. Jon Stewart

"My father hated radio and could not wait for television to be invented so he could hate that too."  Peter De Vries

"I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book."  Groucho Marx

television (n) 1 a system for transmitting visual images and sound that are reproduced on screens, chiefly used to broadcast programs for entertainment, information, and education.
• the activity, profession, or medium of broadcasting on television 2 (also television set) a box-shaped device that receives television signals and reproduces them on a screen.
ORIGIN early 20th cent. : from tele- [at a distance] + vision

"We have decided..."

Our favorite present president said : "We have decided..."

Chrysler should merge with Fiat.
GM's CEO should resign.
That Gitmo detainees should be allowed in this country & be eligible for welfare.

What expertise does P.O. or any of his advisers have in business? Almost all if not all of his advisers are academicians who have no experience running even a lemonade stand. I know a community organizer must have some experience but in what I don't know (getting federal grants perhaps). Look at how well they have run the government so far (can you say trillions of dollar deficits, spending money they don't have to spur business who then do not have the ability to raise money since the gov will be borrowing out of the available capital).

Allowing very bad people to run free in this country (Gitmoees) also seems like a stupid idea. Giving them welfare only adds to the brilliance & this is from a government that raised a trial balloon that war veterans should use private insurance to pay for war injuries.

I do wish P.O. would get a clue!!!!

A government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take everything you have. Barry Goldwater

Ancient Rome declined because it had a Senate, now what's going to happen to us with both a House and a Senate? Will Rogers

Christmas is the time when kids tell Santa what they want and adults pay for it. Deficits are when adults tell government what they want and their kids pay for it. Richard Lamm

Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys. P. J. O'Rourke

Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master. George Washington

business (n) 1 a person's regular occupation, profession, or trade • an activity that someone is engaged in • a person's concern • work that has to be done or matters that have to be attended to 2 the practice of making one's living by engaging in commerce • trade considered in terms of its volume or profitability • a commercial house or firm 3 [in sing. ] informal an affair or series of events, typically a scandalous or discreditable one • informal a group of related or previously mentioned things
ORIGIN Old English bisignis (see busy , -ness ). The sense in Old English was [anxiety] ; the sense [the state of being busy] was used from Middle English down to the 18th cent., but is now differentiated as busyness. The sense [an appointed task] dates from late Middle English , and from it all the other current senses have developed.

Investment Math

When stocks go down 20% & then up 20% are you back to even?

No you're not, assume have $1000 & they go down 20% you have $800, up 20% or $160 you have $960.

Let's go the other way: $1000 becomes $1200 but down 20%($240) you get to $960.

How about 50%; $1000 to $500 then to $750 other case $1000 to $1500 down to $750.

Doesn't seem fair does it?

“If a man empties his purse into his head, no man can take it away from him. An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.” Benjamin Franklin

“There's a lot of evidence you can sell people on tax increases if they think it's an investment” Bill Clinton

Bottoms in the investment world don't end with four-year lows; they end with 10- or 15-year lows. Jim Rogers

mathematics (n) the abstract science of number, quantity, and space. Mathematics may be studied in its own right ( pure mathematics), or as it is applied to other disciplines such as physics and engineering ( applied mathematics). • [often treated as pl. ] the mathematical aspects of something : the mathematics of general relativity.
ORIGIN late 16th cent.: plural of obsolete mathematic [mathematics,] from Old French mathematique, from Latin (ars) mathematica ‘mathematical (art),’ from Greek mathēmatikē (tekhnē), from the base of manthanein ‘learn.’

"Old" Taxes

I listen to a lot of Milwaukee radio (I live between Chicago & Milwaukee). They were talking about some taxes that have not been raised in 40 years (beer tax in WI) & parking meter fees (10 years).

Politicians used the excuse that they haven't been raised in so long; it was time to do it (beer tax not yet up but the parking fees increased 100% in parts of Milwaukee).

It is interesting that pols believe in any way to increase the taxes but no reduction in services or gov workers. When times are good governments increase their spending but when times are not good they only consider increases in taxes. In my opinion, just because taxes have not increased in years is a valid reason to increase them. I guess I will never be a politician!

The aging process has you firmly in its grasp if you never get the urge to throw a snowball. ~Doug Larson

Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter. ~Mark Twain

Age does not diminish the extreme disappointment of having a scoop of ice cream fall from the cone. ~Jim Fiebig

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)

Toxic Assets

"Buy Toxic Assets poison your financial future!" Just think of the marketing campaign for the sale of "Toxic Assets"!

You can have lawyers advertise "Were you forced to buy Toxic Assets? Dial 1-800-Sue-the Gov or go to suethegov.com"

Insurance salesmen : "Don't have any money because you were poisoned by toxic assets? Call 1-800-SafeAsset!"

Pharmaceutical ads : "Buy Toxic Assets to smooth over your upset finances! Side effects include no money, suicidal tendencies (jumping out of tall buildings), constrictive investments! Contact your financial adviser if your have any of these symptoms : rational thought, money sense, a mind!"

toxic (adj) poisonous : the dumping of toxic waste • of or relating to poison • caused by poison ORIGIN mid 17th cent.: from medieval Latin toxicus ‘poisoned,’ from Latin toxicum ‘poison,’ from Greek toxikon (pharmakon) ‘(poison for) arrows,’ from toxon ‘bow.’

Bonuses

I think it is ridiculous that Congress (House)  is passing a law to tax the bonuses of the AIG crooks.  It is my understanding that it is illegal to do so; to target individuals retroactively for their (Congress's) mistakes.

Congress knew it was happening before it occurred & changed the language in the Porkulus bill to allow it.  Only Congress would do something this stupid!  I am outraged that we are paying the bonuses but who would not accept them (bonuses) if offered.  One extremely corrupt politician (MA congressman) wants to publish the bonus-ees addresses; even though he kept Fanny Mae & Freddie Mac going & forced (passed legislation) banks to loan to uncredit-worthy people.

It amazes me that people keep electing these fools (you can't blame me everyone that I voted for did not get elected)!

Politicians are like diapers. They both need changing regularly and for the same reason.

There are many men of principle in both parties in America, but there is no party of principle. ~Alexis de Tocqueville

We'd all like to vote for the best man, but he's never a candidate. ~Frank McKinney "Kin" Hubbard

Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber. ~Plato

Politicians are the same all over. They promise to build a bridge even where they is no river. ~Nikita Khrushchev

bonus (n) a payment or gift added to what is usual or expected, in particular  • an amount of money added to wages on a seasonal basis, esp. as a reward for good performance • something welcome and often unexpected that accompanies and enhances something that is itself good : good weather is an added bonus but the real appeal is the landscape.
ORIGIN late 18th cent. (probably originally London stock-exchange slang): from Latin bonus (masculine) ‘good,’ used in place of bonum (neuter) ‘good, good thing.’ Compare with boon

Earmarks

What's so wrong with Earmarks? Many people have numerous tattoos or piercings; why can't they have marks on their ears?

After all we are only paying for 8500 earmarks in the $410,000,000,000 omnibus spending bill; how much can 8500 marks on ears for people cost? The big question should be: how do we choose the lucky people to get the marks?

President Obama said after signing the bill that there should be NO MORE Earmarks (even though he said no earmarks during his administration before signing it - this only shows his compassion for the unmarked) ! Isn't that discrimination against the poor people who can not afford to mark their own ears?

Even when there is nothing improper about the actual earmark, it's very difficult for citizens and even other members to be sure. ~ Dennis Thompson

I generally would still not count that as an earmark, even though it has a similar effect, because it is such a gray area of how specific is too specific when setting eligibility criteria. I obviously oppose those provisions, but I would not classify them the same as spending earmarks that actually list the name. ~ Brian Ried

The line-item veto is just one element in earmark reform, and earmark reform is just one element in spending restraint. However, the line-item veto would add an important check to a budget process that is tainted by waste, abuse, and favoritism. Congressional leaders should move quickly on this proposal. ~ Tom Schatz

earmark (n) a mark on the ear of a domesticated animal indicating ownership or identity.
• a characteristic or identifying feature : this car has all the earmarks of a classic.
(v) [ trans. ]1 (usu. be earmarked) designate (something, typically funds or resources) for a particular purpose : the new money will be earmarked for cancer research. 2 mark the ear of (an animal) as a sign of ownership or identity

March Madness

I am not filling out a bracket for the NCAA Basketball Championship. When I used to do it, I would predict that MSU (Michigan State) would win it all. A couple times I was even right, but since I am a Big 10 (11) fan I usually pick the Big 10 to send 2-4 teams into the final 4; and my brackets look bad after the sweet 16.

I like the idea that almost all of the best teams are competing for a Championship; unlike football where only at most 2-3 teams have a real chance. America should be like that; everyone should have a chance and in general one of the best will win.

So if you want a prediction : MSU will win it all!


Everybody pulls for David, nobody roots for Goliath.-- Wilt Chamberlain

One man can be a crucial ingredient on a team, but one man cannot make a team. -- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

This is the second most exciting indoor sport, and the other one shouldn't have spectators.
-- Dick Vertleib

If you are going to take it to the bank, then you better cash it in. -- Shannon Fish

My responsibility is getting all my players playing for the name on the front of the jersey, not the one on the back.

Good, better, best. Never let it rest. Until your good is better and your better is best. -- Tim Duncan


basketball (n) a game played between two teams of five players in which goals are scored by throwing a ball through a netted hoop fixed above each end of the court. • the inflated ball used in this game

Arithmetic

Take the deficit and triple it then promise to half it in a few years.

Simple arithmetic will tell you this is not a good deal!

For the math challenged : $600 billion x 3 = $1800 billion / 2 = $900 billion!

deficit (n) the amount by which something, esp. a sum of money, is too small.
• an excess of expenditure or liabilities over income or assets in a given period : an annual operating deficit | the budget will remain in deficit. • (in sports) the amount or score by which a team or individual is losing : came back from a 3–0 deficit.• technical a deficiency or failing, esp. in a neurological or psychological function : deficits in speech comprehension.
ORIGIN late 18th cent.: via French from Latin deficit ‘it is lacking,’ from the verb deficere (see defect 1 ).

AIG Bonuses

AIG Bonuses, the president & congress are complaining bitterly about the bonuses ($168,000,000) handed out by AIG, which has accepted over $150,000,000,000 in bailout money with no end in sight.  I agree that it seems ridiculous to give out bonuses for driving a company into the ground.

But there is another group which has cost this country many trillions in debt who are getting bonuses for their "great" work.  Congress has an automatic pay increase to their salaries every year.  It doesn't matter that they don't deserve it (many people believe one of the major causes for the housing collapse is legislation requiring banks to loan to high credit risk people) or that most businesses are not giving raises to their employees or that country needs the money for other purposes; congress is getting a raise! A GOP senator (Sen. Vitter) introduced an amendment to the $410,000,000,000 pork bill that would have stopped it, but congress did not pass the amendment  (the vote was 52-45 & would have stopped a $4700 pay raise.)  Of course. Nancy P. in the house did not even allow it to come up.

John Adams sings:

I do believe you've laid a curse on North America
A curse that we now here rehearse in Philadelphia
A second flood, a simple famine
Plagues of locusts everywhere
Or a cataclysmic earthquake
I'd accept with some despair
But, no, you sent us Congress.
Good God, sir, was that fair?

Musical: 1776 Song: Piddle, Twiddle and Resolve/Till Then