New Car continued

I have decided to give my old car to C.O.O.L.  (Christian Outreach of Lutherans), which is where I gave our last one (12 years ago).

In general, I like to buy American cars, but the only hybrid other than the Prius that I would consider is the Ford Fusion.  The Ford costs about $5000 more and doesn't get as good mileage,

I refuse to consider buying a GM (Obama Motors) car.  Other then the Chevy Volt burning down garages and houses (link,  link2); we lost a lot of money when Obama gave the company to the Government and the Labor Unions (who were instrumental in causing the trouble)  and I will not support any company that  was bailed out.

Chrysler is owned by a foreign company and bailed out.

And Japan was ravaged by the weather and came back without any help from our government.  So buying a Toyota helps those who help themselves.

Bread Making

I am making some bread with our bread machine.  I rotate between Whole Wheat bread and a Cranberry Walnut bread recipes.  Now I'm making the Cranberry Bread.  The recipe calls for Walnuts (see the title) but we substitute Raw Sunflower Seeds and add more cinnamon then it calls for.

The Whole Wheat recipe follows:

1 1/8 cup water

3 cups whole wheat flour

1 1/2 tsp of salt

1/3 cup of homey

1 TBS of dry milk powder

1 1/2 TBS shortening

1 1/2 tsp of active dry yeast

however, I use Milk instead of the water & milk powder and canola oil instead of the shortening.  Plus we add 1 tsp of cinnamon and 1/2 to 3/4 cups of Raw Sunflower seeds.  It tastes very good but is rather dense.  Plus we don't add the salt (since it isn't good for us).

I enjoy making the bread since it is so easy and we save on the store prices and the high fructose corn syrup that is added to most everything in the store.

A person who steals bread during a famine is not treated as a thief.  Cat Stevens

A poor man with nothing in his belly needs hope, illusion, more than bread.  Georges Bernanos

A wise and frugal Government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, which shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government, and this is necessary to close the circle of our felicities. Thomas Jefferson

Acorns were good until bread was found.  Francis Bacon

Advertising is the 'wonder' in Wonder Bread.  Jef I. Richards

At my age, I don't buy but a half a loaf of bread, you know?  Merle Haggard

Bread for myself is a material question. Bread for my neighbor is a spiritual one.  Nikolai Berdyaev

Top Stories

We live in the Midwest.  In the winter, it gets cold out and it snows!

The top stories for all the local TV stations were that it is cold out!  So far this winter it has been mild, but yesterday and today the temperatures are in the 5-20 degrees F range.

It always amazes me that people think cold or snow is unusual in the winter.

It is like the idiot reporters in hurricane weather broadcasting in the rain & wind or the news cast that basically says that an event has happened with no details, but they have a reporter in the area reporting that there is no news.


If Thomas Edison invented electric light today, Dan Rather would report it on CBS News as "candle making industry threatened".  Newt Gingrich


The one function that TV news performs very well is that when there is no news we give it to you with the same emphasis as if it were. David Brinkley

I believe in equality for everyone, except reporters and photographers. Mahatma Gandhi

Once a newspaper touches a story, the facts are lost forever, even to the protagonists. Norman Mailer

Some people continue to pretend that anchor people are reporters. Peter Jennings

To a philosopher all news, as it is called, is gossip, and they who edit and read it are old women over their tea.  Henry David Thoreau

I would not know how I am supposed to feel about many stories if not for the fact that the TV news personalities make sad faces for sad stories and happy faces for happy stories. Dave Barry

He who laughs has not yet heard the bad news.  Bertolt Brecht

Typing

When I was in High Schoo; (School),  I did not take typing; instead I took as much science and math as I could.

This has led to some very strange typing from me.

I commented on my son's Facebook entry and typed: "How more real can it hey?" when I meant "How much more real can it get?".  As you can see above "Schoo;" vs. "School."

When I ypye (type) interesting I usually type "intersting."  If I didn't have the Speel (spell) check, the Lord alone knows what might be put out by me!  Of course as above "Speel" is a real word, it is fortunate I noticed it.

I use a modified all finger technique where I try to make the right letters come out.  In addition, my close vision is getting pretty bad so I mess up that way also!

So if you get any emails or comments from me; BEWARE!

“Communication is a skill that you can learn. It's like riding a bicycle or typing. If you're willing to work at it, you can rapidly improve the quality of very part of your life.”  Brian Tracy


“I am returning this otherwise good typing paper to you because someone has printed gibberish all over it and put your name at the top”


“Real Programmers don't write in PASCAL, or BLISS, or ADA, or any of those pinko computer science languages. Strong typing is for people with weak memories.”


“To this day, I get rewrite offers where they say 'We feel this script needs work with character, dialogue, plot and tone,' and when you ask what's left, they say 'Well, the typing is very good.'” John Sayles


“I heard someone tried the monkeys-on-typewriters bit trying for the plays of W. Shakespeare, but all they got was the collected works of Francis Bacon.” Bill Hirst



Writing can be a very solitary business. It's you sat at a desk typing words into a computer. It can get lonely sometimes and lots of writers live quite isolated lives.  Paul Kane

New Year, New Car

Every 10-12 years, we buy a new car.  Well, it has been approximately 12 years since we bought our Voyager; so we bought a new one!

We bought a Toyota Prius.

It is interesting, at the dealership, everyone thought we should be ever so happy & joyous that we have a new car.  It is nice to have a new car, but we don't get over-hyped, a car is just a means to get places not a trophy or symbol of my manhood.

So now we have a Voyager to get rod of, only about 82K miles; anyone interested?

funny Bumper Stickers

4 out of 5 voices in my head say Go For It!

As a matter of fact, I do own the road.

Back Off! I'm a Postal Worker

Beat rush hour, leave work at noon

Come The Rapture Can I Have Your Car?

Cover me! I'm changing lanes.

Don't follow me. I'm lost too.

Don't piss me off! I'm running out of places to hide the bodies.

Driver carries no cash. He's married.

Forget About World Peace. Visualize Using Your Turn Signal!

God is Coming and is she PISSED

I'm a nice guy. My car is evil.

I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to work.

I'm only driving this way to piss you off.

I'm not as think as you drunk I am.

I am not a bum. My wife works!

I brake suddenly for tailgaters

I don't care, I don't have to.

I have good Brakes, Do you have GOOD Insurance?

I Haven't Lost My Mind, It's Backed Up On Disk Somewhere.

I just let my mind wander, and it didn't come back.

I may be slow but I'm ahead of you!

I respect your opinion. Just don't want to hear it!

I used to have a handle on life, but it broke.

If everything is coming your way, you’re in the wrong lane!

If we call it tourist season why can't we shoot them?

If you can read this, I've lost my trailer.

Invest in America. Buy a Congressman!

Jesus is coming look busy.

Lord give me patience... But Hurry!

My other bumper sticker is funny.

Politicians & Diapers need to be changed... often for the same reason

Somewhere in Texas there's a village missing an idiot

Sorry if I look interested, I'm not!

THE EARTH IS FULL GO HOME

This Is Not An Abandoned Vehicle

Work harder!! Millions on welfare are depending on you.

Blessed New Year

I hope all of you have a Blessed New Year!

Every year is a chance to do better.

To be an ideal guest, stay at home.  Edgar Watson Howe


Youth is when you're allowed to stay up late on New Year's Eve. Middle age is when you're forced to. Bill Vaughan

I know. I'm lazy. But I made myself a New Years resolution that I would write myself something really special. Which means I have 'til December, right?  Catherine O'Hara

If you are young and you drink a great deal it will spoil your health, slow your mind, make you fat - in other words, turn you into an adult.  P. J. O'Rourke

Deep breaths are very helpful at shallow parties.  Barbara Walters

To kick start my New Year,  I took an IQ and the results were negative.

New Year's Eve, where auld acquaintance be forgot. Unless, of course, those tests come back positive. - Jay Leno

On New Year's Eve, Marilyn stood up in the local pub and said that it was time to get ready. At the stroke of midnight, she wanted every husband to be standing next to the one person who made his life worth living. As the clock struck - the bartender was almost crushed to death.

When I thought about the evils of drinking in the New Year, I gave up thinking.

A new year is unfolding like a blossom with petals curled tightly concealing the beauty within. 

"Many people look forward to the New Year for a new start on old habits."

"I'm a little bit older, a little bit wiser, a little bit rounder, but still none the wiser." -- Robert Paul

New Year Traditions

I have a few New Year's Traditions that I follow:

1.  Spend New Year's Eve at home with my L(ovely)W(ife).
2.  To be asleep when the New Year comes in.
3.  To not make any New Year's resolutions.

These traditions work well for me, though they might not be as good for others.

New Year's is a harmless annual institution, of no particular use to anybody save as a scapegoat for promiscuous drunks, and friendly calls and humbug resolutions. Mark Twain

New Year's Resolution: To tolerate fools more gladly, provided this does not encourage them to take up more of my time. James Agate


Drop the last year into the silent limbo of the past. Let it go, for it was imperfect, and thank God that it can go. Brooks Atkinson

An optimist stays up until midnight to see the New Year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves. Bill Vaughan

New Year's Day… now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual. Mark Twain

Good resolutions are simply checks that men draw on a bank where they have no account. Oscar Wilde


YEAR, n.   A period of three hundred and sixty-five disappointments.  (DD- Ambrose Bierce)

Most Admired

USA TODAY/GALLUP POLL

What man that you have heard or read about, living today in any part of the world, do you admire most? And who is your second choice?

2011

2010

2009

2008

1	Barack Obama	17	22	30	32
2	George W. Bush	3	5	4	5
3	Bill Clinton	2	4	1	2
4	Rev. Billy Graham	2	2	2	2
5	Warren Buffett	2	*	*	*
6t	Newt Gingrich	1	*	1	*
6t	Donald Trump	1	*	--	--
8	Pope Benedict XVI	1	2	2	2
9	Bill Gates	1	2	2	1
10	Thomas Monson	1	1	*	1

11     Tim Tebow	1	--	*	--
12     The Dalai Lama	1	1	*	1
13     Mitt Romney	1	*	*	*
14     Rush Limbaugh	1	1	1	*

Results are based on telephone interviews conducted December 15-18, 2011 with a random sample of –1,019—adults, aged 18+, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia

Thomas Spencer Monson (born August 21, 1927) is an American religious leader and author, and the 16th and current President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (for those of us who didn't know who he was).

My list would be very different.  

1.  My Wife  - She has put up with me for many years and raised great children.

2.  My mother - She raised 3 very young children on her own & is very generous.

3/4.  My son & daughter - They have turned to be great people & parents. 

5/6.  My son-in-law & daughter-in-law - Great parents & people/

(OK I know they are not all men!)

Then I might add the Pope, Dalai Lama, Billy Graham, and Tim Tebow not necessarily in that order.

Barrack Obama, Bill Clinton & Donald Trump would not be anywhere on the radar screen!

Actually at the bottom of the poll is:

Friend/Relative	9	7	7	8
Other	25	27	19	19
None/No opinion	32	25	25	25

A hero is someone we can admire without apology.  Kitty Kelley

A man likes his wife to be just clever enough to appreciate his cleverness, and just stupid enough to admire it.  Israel Zangwill

Among those whom I like or admire, I can find no common denominator, but among those whom I love, I can: all of them make me laugh.  W. H. Auden

Animals do not admire each other. A horse does not admire its companion.  Thomas Mann

ADMIRATION, n. Our polite recognition of another's resemblance to ourselves. (DD)

What kind of a world?

What kind of a world do we live in?

Two stories that occurred recently bring this ti the front:

A franking commission spokesman told the Washington Examiner that members of Congress indeed cannot wish constituents "Merry Christmas" in any official mailing.
"Currently, incidental use of the phrase Happy Holidays is permissible, but Merry Christmas is not," said Salley Wood.
The paper notes that senators can say things congressmen cannot because they are governed by different regulations.
According to Senate franking regulations, "Senators may not use the frank to mail holiday cards. However, senators may use officially related funds to mail holiday cards to constituents. Holiday cards to friends should be sent with personal funds, not using Senate facilities."  Fox News

WASHINGTON, Dec 23(Reuters) - A federal judge on Friday barred Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio from detaining people simply for being in the country illegally, in a ruling that faulted the local lawman for enforcing federal immigration law.
The sheriff already has faced rebukes from federal agencies over his controversial efforts to crack down on illegal immigration.  Chicago Tribune


Rulings that Happy Holidays is sanctioned but not Merry Christmas!  The "holidays" are theoretically here because of CHRISTMAS, the birth of a Savior.

A sheriff being reprimanded for carrying out a law.

Separate subject: Franking.
I believe that Congressmen (or Congresspeople for you overly politically correct out there) should be able to Frank any letters that they actually sign! No fake signature stamps, no aides signing, etc.
That way we would get info we absolutely need not hearing how our representatives are spending ojur money!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas is about LOVE & FAMILY. This slideshow is from Christmas 2010 when we had a Birthday party for my mother.  I hope you enjoy it!


 Luke 2:1 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. 2 This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, 5 in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. 6 While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
 8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
 14 “Glory to God in the highest,  And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”
 15 When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. 17 When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them. 

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18 He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”
(New American Standard Bible)