Charlie's Concerns and Views

Coyote Corner NASCAR News & More

2011-12-22T23:37:00.000-05:00

I was sitting around last night surfing many sites reading a variety of news stories and catching up on some NASCAR stuff and other sports stories and was getting tired of clicking on different sites chasing stories I wanted to read. I was thinking it sure would be nice to have just one site with all the headlines pulled from many different sources. Not necessary from the same sources all the time but just different stuff from people all over. I started looking around and found a program that I could do just that with.

I created Coyote Corner NASCAR News & More. This page is set up in the form of a newspaper. It will update approximately every 12 hours with news stories that pull from many different sources of people from FaceBook and Twitter to news organizations. I also periodically will instantly add new stories to the mix. Click on Coyote Corner NASCAR News & More and follow us with a free subscription. You will be informed when the newest edition is released (up to 2 times a day). Check back periodically between those updates to see if I have posted any new stories ahead of time. If you know there could be some breaking news coming out there might be a good chance I have posted it to this site. Also, don’t forget to follow me on twitter @SPEEDstageDRVR.

I tweet often and blog when I can. I am hoping to blog more often and these can be seen at Charlie’s Concerns and Views. Bookmark all three sites and don’t be afraid to shoot me a message, comment, or suggestion.

During NASCAR season I tweet mostly about things going on at the track and what we have going on around the SPEED stage. From show times to autograph sessions I try to keep everybody up to date so definitely follow me on twitter @SPEEDstageDRVR.

I have also created a news site that is strictly New York Yankees news. Click on Coyote Corner New York Yankees News and follow me for all your New York Yankee headlines and news. This will update twice daily.

Technology In My Life

2011-12-19T19:21:00.000-05:00

Over the course of 2011 I have started using many different technologies for many different things. I have had a Facebook page for a while but have been a lot more active on it this year. My Facebook page along with my Twitter page I have tried to keep all my family and friends posted with where I was and what I was doing. Some of the programs out there now and the technology they have is unbelievable. I can use one program to keep both these accounts updated. With my Twitter account I post mostly from my work since my username on that is SPEEDstageDRVR emulating what I do for JHE Production Group on the SPEED Tour. These accounts combined with my phone have allowed me to post pictures and messages of what I was currently doing and give some insight as to what was coming up at the SPEED stage. I can’t wait for the 2012 season to get underway as I am going to try and keep a better and more accurate account as to these events.

I have also created a Facebook page for my homestead called Coyote Corner. We named it that because of all the coyotes in the area. I have been very slack on this page not updating it as often as I should. Hopefully between my wife and I we can keep a better account on it in 2012. We are also using this page to sell various items. If you click on our Marketplace tab it will show any items we have listed on Facebook’s Marketplace. We currently have a 1995 Cadillac El Dorado Touring Edition listed for sale. In the near future you will be able to click on our Shop Now tab for various items for sale that you can purchase via the internet. Feel free to send in any suggestions you may have for any of my accounts. Click like on Coyote Corner on Facebook and become a fan of SPEEDstageDRVR on Twitter.

Events in Life Make You Think Back

2011-09-16T00:04:00.000-04:00

Yesterday throughout the day I did a lot of thinking back over the past 5 or 6 years about my son. My son is now 16 and continues to make me proud in everything he has done and accomplished and continues to do. I think back about my summers with him and the times we spent traveling around. He used to ride with me in the summer in my truck as we traveled the NASCAR circuit. I would take him to six races with me picking him up on way to New Hampshire and bringing him back when we hit Watkins Glen. The conversations we would have were priceless now that I look back at them. Even before that and before I was on the circuit he used to always want the vehicle I had when he was old enough to drive. Andrew would always want me to give him my car or truck that I currently had and would be mad at me when I traded it and got something new. Well last November I paid off my car and gave it to him for his 16th birthday. Yes I felt old as he reached a milestone in his life and made me feel older as I remember when he was born and how small he was. Yesterday he got his drivers license. Now I really feel old with this milestone in his life. His first real freedom. I remember back when I got my first car and drivers license how free I felt and never once thought of what it was about to put my parents through. Now that I’m on the other side I’m worried to death about my son as he ventures out with his new freedom and drives his car on the road. I know he is tired of me preaching to him that driving is a privilege not a right and that it’s his responsibility to know everything thats going on around him to make the right decision while driving. I am officially worried! I my son is growing into a young man that I’m proud of. As I looked back yesterday I also laughed thinking how I just smiled and laughed whenever he said he wanted me to give him my car. He now has my car and his license and now it begins again. Yes, begins again! My 10 year old daughter, Brooklynn, has already been talking about what vehicle we will give her when she gets her license. Can’t believe in a few more years I will be going through this again. And my youngest who turns 6 next week always puts her 2 cents in when her sister says something and tells me what she wants to drive. Please girls I hope you don’t grow up too quickly on me even though you are. I miss my little McKenna crawling around and falling trying to walk now your about to turn 6.

Take in everything you do with your children and what they say. One day they will be all grown up on you and driving off into the sunset.

United States Debt Issues

2011-08-04T22:40:00.000-04:00

Over the past month we listened to all the bickering and fighting and threats from members of the House of Representatives, the Senate, and even the office of the President I got more and more pissed off at our government as they operated as a dis-functional family. To top it all off just because they couldn’t agree on anything or a way to solve our budget problems they just chose to raise the amount of money they could borrow. Ok, THAT MAKES SENSE.

The solution is so easy yet they are making it so difficult. They live on a budget in their own household and don’t freely spend money they don’t have yet they believe they can freely spend our citizens money. They don’t have the money so they think they can just print some up or borrow some more. Again, THAT MAKES SENSE!

Has anybody ever looked at the budget requests for 2012? They are fighting over where they are going to find cuts to balance the budget yet just by looking at the problems we have here in the United States and you see what is requested in the budget for other countries for the same problem how hard is it to see where to cut. I mean really Congress and mr. President what the hell are you looking at and where is your agenda? Worry about the people who put you there and provide you with that money to spend and not so much about other countries. I do follow what and where money in the budget requests and appropriations are going. So yes I do complain about what Congress and the President is doing. Don’t get pissy with me because I call them out for what they are doing when you don’t follow where your tax dollars are going.

We have members of Congress fighting both sides of our country’s security regarding keeping our borders safe and our military. Some say we need to cut defense budgets and others say we need to spend more. Not once have I heard any member of Congress or the President say ok we don’t need to cut our defense budget, what we need to do is cut the defense budget we provide other countries: $11,754.9M has been requested to provide security and other military measures in other countries including counter terrorism efforts. Ok some of the money we are sending for that effort could easily be cut out all together or yet even just maybe keep our borders safer and stop illegal immigration. WOW holy shit I didn’t go to college or get elected to office to come up with that!!

We have members of Congress fighting both sides of every argument which is a sign of true democracy. We stand for freedom yet we tell other countries how to live and rule their respective countries. Not once have I heard any member of Congress or the President say ok we don’t need to cut our programs to help preserve our democracy, what we need to do is cut the budget we send to other countries telling them how to live in a democracy: $3,153.2M to other countries to help promote democracy. Ours seems to be broken since we can’t decide how to balance a budget and preserve America. In that request $1,422.2M of that is for good governance. That’s kind of hypocritical since we are about bankrupt as a country and we borrow about 40 cents on the dollar. We promote democracy yet we dictate how other countries should live. That doesn’t sound like good governance to me.

We have members of Congress fighting both sides of our country’s health care debate speaking of how they can fix it or how we should handle it or how we can’t afford it. Our health care system is in shambles, yet, not once have I heard any member of Congress or the President say ok we don’t need to cut our programs to fix our health care, what we need to do is cut the budget we send to other countries to fix their health care: $9,715.6M has been requested for health care in other countries.

We have an educational system falling apart. We can’t seem to keep qualified teachers nor can we afford to pay the ones that are qualified great teachers. We have members of Congress debating both sides of the system on how we must cut costs but somehow keep qualified teachers to prepare our children for the world. Not once have I heard any member of Congress or the President say ok we don’t need to cut our education programs or costs, what we need to do is cut the budget we send to other countries to fix their education system: $1,411.2M we have children that can’t afford to go to college yet in this request is $233.5M for higher education in other countries. Why are we spending this money in other countries yet our school systems are behind in technology, don’t have enough teachers and most of all the ones that teach our children and teach the future of america is no where near the pay that they should be getting. Our teachers should be at the same level as doctors. After all, it was because of teachers that those people became doctors. It’s because of teachers that we have people with higher education capable of running a country ( It’s because of greed and personal agendas that they do a piss poor job once they get there).

Our economy is in shambles and our members of Congress and President are fighting over how to fix the economy and what they need to do to create jobs. First off jobs are created through the free market and free enterprise. People create businesses and close businesses every day. Thats what our country was built on in our free market system. The government doesn’t need to create anything but stay out of the dam way and let people live out their dreams. Not once have I heard any member of Congress or the President say we don’t need to cut this or that and spend money here to create jobs, what we need to do is cut the budget we send to other countries to fix their economy when we have economic problems: $4,605.2M has been requested to help other countries grow their economy and infrastructure. In this request is $1,685.5M for agriculture in foreign countries. Hello congress the American farmers are struggling and the family farms are disappearing yet we are sending this money to other countries to help support their Agricultures. Again, you amaze me that you are elected to office to look out for our best interests yet you freely spend our money elsewhere.

Our members of Congress all have opinions on what should be done in our environment for preservation. Congress and the President all disagree on where things should be spent or cut but, Not once have I heard any member of Congress or the President say no we don’t need to cut this program, what we need to do is cut the budget we send to other countries to help their environment: $801.2M has been requested to send to foreign countries to help preserve their natural resources and environment so they can sustain growth. Ok we have agency’s here in the United States charged with that task to keep our resources preserved and their budgets are getting cut or struggling to do what they have been tasked to do with what they have for a budget.

The United States has too many people that are homeless and in need of all types of humanitarian assistance. Our members of Congress and the President argue and push their own agendas on programs and what to cut to help the budget. Not once have I heard any member of Congress or the President say we don’t need to cut our programs that are in place, what we need to do is cut the budget we send to other countries for their humanitarian assistance when we can’t afford to help our own: $3,931.7M has been requested to provide protection, assistance, and a durable solution for refugees, internally displaced persons and other victims of conflict and disasters. Ok let me see here we are sending this money to other countries yet we have no solution for homeless Veterans or other people having to live on the streets. Yet, again we are giving money and offering solutions to other countries with these problems.

Maybe our elected officials say they are promoting democracy but because they have no clue how to deal with and fix our own problems they will just tell other countries what to do and how to do it. Maybe its easier to say hey look we helped this country or we tried to tell that country how to do that. I see the United States just playing playground bully on the world stage. We tell other countries what they will do or have to do and in return we give them money. That to me doesn’t sound like a democracy that sounds like a payoff. We give you money if you do this.

I can’t believe that our elected officials can’t figure out a simple budget. In our personal budget we do not get to borrow 40 cents on every dollar we earn so that we can freely spend on what we want. In our personal budgets we don’t get to support every charity that we would like to. We have to choose after all our bills are paid and we have the necessities in life which charity we would like to give our extra money to. Why do our elected officials continue to spend money in other countries freely and force the American citizens to foot the bill. Our country should have a balanced budget and after all the bills our paid for the year then when and if we have any extra money left over then we should split it into humanitarian donations to charities in the United States. After all, the money that is left over is from the American citizens so why shouldn’t the extra go back into an American charity that helps American citizens.

Just my view on things and actually just some common sense stuff. Remember, if you don’t like what I wrote you came to my blog page and clicked on my article!

Fathers Day

2011-06-17T17:44:00.000-04:00

As I am sitting here in Brooklyn, MI at the Michigan International Speedway I am thinking about my grandfathers who have both passed on, my dad, my son, and now my two daughters. I remember growing up just down the road from both of my grandparents so I got to see them daily. As a child unknowingly you take for granted that your grandparents and your parents will always be there for you. As we grow older things happen in life and you look back and sometimes wish you would have done something different or done more. My grandfather on my dad side was a great man. I used to see him all the time and spent a lot of time at his house. I learned a lot from him now that I look back at the different things that I did there with him. It’s funny how later in life you can look at some things and say “man he was right that is how you can do it and make it work”. I sure wish kids were as smart as we become later in life. I sure would have listened to him more when I was growing up. My grandfather on my mom’s side was another great man whom I learned a lot from. Usually if I wasn’t at one grandparents house doing something or eating I was at the others doing something and mooching food. After I ate at their house I usually went home and ate some more. I was probably a little closer to my grandpa on my moms side because he traveled with us during the years I was in the Brigadiers Drum and Bugle Corps. He drove one of the buses for the band that we traveled in all over NY and Canada. I was also in the fire department with him so after I got out of the Marines we spent a lot of time together doing fire department stuff and fire safety at the local schools.

My dad has always been there for me right, wrong, or in different he always stood beside me. He taught me how to live life the right way. My dad would do anything for anybody and they didn’t even have to ask before he was there assist. I probably realized this at a young age but didn’t know the depth of it and how much he cared. My dad and mom opened their home and took in children through the foster children. They didn’t just do this but sat with myself and my brother even though we were very young at the time to get our opinion and explain how fortunate we were and how they wanted to assist other children who weren’t as fortunate. This probably would be one of the most important things that was done to me at a young age. Through the years all through my graduation I got to see many children with a wide range of problems and severities of neglect. I learned a lot as a person and how to live through this. My parents I believe taught me a very important lesson in life through this. My dad was also in the fire department for over 20 years and I had the fortunate opportunity to serve with him also. My dad is definitely one of my heros in life. Whether it was during my youth years growing up or as an adult when I got out of the Marines my dad has always been my number one fan and supported me in all my decision while giving me advice and guidance or just support he has meant a lot to me. Thank you dad for everything you have done for me!

My son I miss all the time. He is now 16 and still living in NY. I wish I seen him more and did more things with him. I miss our summers together especially the years he spent on the road with me as I traveled the NASCAR circuit. I would never give up the dad and son time riding around the country in a big truck. A lot of good times. I am so proud of everything he has accomplished so far in life. From his bowling accomplishments to his TBF Junior Eastern Division Championship in fishing and everything in between that he takes on. Some of the things we have been able to do together other kids can only dream about. I have always tried to do the right thing with him and surprising at age 16 he understands a lot of things. He surprises me some times during our talks on what he wants to do and how he will do it. I’m proud of him.

I am now married and my two step daughters where do I start. I love them as much as I love my son. I have always considered them as my daughters and would do anything for them. The youngest one was only crawling when I started coming around and now is headed to kindergarten. My oldest daughter is now headed into 5th grade. Yes I’m protective of them and don’t want anybody messing with them or making them upset. And as I have been accused and I do deny all the time but will say yes the little one has me wrapped around her finger and unfortunately she knows it and loves to push my buttons and then hug and kiss me. I really miss them especially this year for some reason.

It’s funny how some things just happen or you have that kind of day where you sit and just think about things and try to put stuff in perspective. I sure miss the old days when life seemed to be easier. I know that statement sounds old but its true.

Happy Fathers Day to all the fathers out there! Remember your fathers and be thankful for where you came from, how you were raised, and what you have. Remember to tell your children how much you love them and show them. Its not always the material things they need rather than the father son or father daughter time just paying attention to them. Quality time means a lot.

Happy Fathers Day!

Michigan International Raceway

2011-06-14T11:47:00.001-04:00

We rolled in here yesterday afternoon. Nice day out and got some things done and basically relaxed by finishing off the day getting a banana split at the local ice cream shop. Thank you to Mike and Peg for buying that for me. Today is going to be a low key day. Truck was getting washed and I’m planning on doing nothing but catching up on some paperwork and computer work. We will be hard at it in the morning getting this thing built to bring two more great shows this week with Trackside Live and Raceday.

Have a great day everybody!

Cooleemee Elementary: What's the problem?

2011-06-13T23:21:00.000-04:00

The following is my assessment in the failure of Cooleemee Elementary school. This year is by far the worst I have had the unfortunate pleasure of dealing with this school system. Before I get into the problem and my conversation with the school principal and also the district superintendent, I will give you a few numbers and stats to back up my questioning of this school as to “What is the problem?”.

Last year this school had 479 students in their school with an average of 511 students in the district for the elementary schools. The average class size for the 4th grade level was 23 in the district, while this school only had 22. Last year this school had a total of 37 classroom teachers which was 1 more than the district and state average. 100% of these teachers were fully licensed equal to the district and 2% higher than the state. Of these 37 classroom teachers 19% of them had advanced degrees which is far less than the district at 27% and the state at 28%. However, this school has 9 national board certified teachers which is 2 more than the average in the district and 4 more than the average in the state. With this it also has the highest turnover rate at 13% which is 3% higher than the district and 2% higher than the state. For the past two years our daughter has had problems with the end of year testing in the reading category. Last year in this school the 3rd grade class end of year test scores for reading were at 61.6% while the rest of the district was at 74.6%. The 4th grade class scores were at 65.2% while the district was at 82.6%.

If this school has less students than the average in the district and less students per classroom than the district then the teacher interaction with each individual should be better. i would think that teachers would be able to have a better recognition of the students needs and fix any problems arising before that student gets behind since 100% of the teachers in this school are fully licensed with 9 of 37 teachers being national board certified. However, this is not the case and probably because only 19% of the teachers in this school have advanced degrees and there is a 13% turnover rate. If the teachers that teach in this school couldn’t apply themselves enough in their chosen profession to go on and get their advanced degrees and get national board certified to better teach our kids and prepare them, then how can we hold the child accountable for not knowing what is needed to pass the test given by the state. The overall reading scores for grades 3 thru 5 for this school was 68.5% while the entire district was at 79.7%.

These numbers all mean something leading up to the end of year testing this year with my 4th grader. She got A’s, B’s, and C’s all year. A good student and never in trouble. She applies herself but just doesn’t test well. The reading test at end of year she had trouble with scoring the same on the re-test as the original test. As of the last day of school we still have not heard whether she would move on to the 5th grade. I called the school to speak with the principal that morning, however, she was not available to talk. She thought it was more valuable to hand out some awards at an assembly than to make sure that each of her students were set academically and knew before they went home if they passed or not. I left a message for her to call me back as soon as she was available. I then called the district superintendent to speak with him about this situation. My daughter was at home now sick to her stomach. She hadn’t slept well in couple days worried to death about her test and if she passed. So, I called the district office to speak to the school superintendent about the situation and to fined out why these kids and parents don’t know by end of school year. He was not available due to graduation rehearsal and I left message to call me when he got in.

Around lunch time is when I really got upset with this school and has led me to ask the question “What’s the problem?”. I received a call back from the principal. She said that I must have talked to the superintendent because he called her. I advised her no but I did leave a message with my concern and I am awaiting his call. I then proceeded to ask her why we don’t have an answer as of now which was within the last hour or so of school on the last day when the conversation went down hill fast. She informed me she was awaiting all the test results back. I advised her what the score was and she sounded a little shocked that I knew and she said “Oh you have it?” I advised her yes we have them so why do we not have an answer yet and why is my daughter sick and worried not knowing. She then began to tell me she got the scores late the previous night and hasn’t had time to talk to the teachers yet because of her handing out awards that morning. I then proceeded to ask when we would know and she said monday they would hold a review board in which we could come talk for 10 minutes and tell them why our daughter should move on to the 5th grade. Are you kidding me? Is this how the education system works? The child can get good grades all year and because of one test at the end of the year we have to go to a review board so that this principal can play ruler of the school and say yes or no. I had already done my research before I called her. One thing I can guarantee if i’m going to grill you and question your decisions or choices or lack their of I will guarantee you I already did my research and know the answers to my questions. i asked her how many children were in her school. She told me 479 (I believe is the number she told me). I asked her how many of her students had to retest. She said she didn’t know how many in the district and I corrected her with I asked you about your school and again asked her the question. She tells me 25%. My response was so you don’t think there is a problem with 25% of your student body having to retest because they failed the test. Of the 479 students K thru 2 don’t test so only 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders test. So the total number of students testing was less than the 479 and 25% of them failed. Are you kidding me you really don’t think you have a problem in your school with that much failure. This principal really hit me wrong when she immediately responded to my question with the statement that 83% of her student body is on free or reduced lunch program and the teachers are teaching them the best they can. OH HELL KNOW!!! Did you really make a reference implying my child is a slow learner or stupid. I immediately responded “I don’t give a dam if your whole school is on free lunch program, you teach those kids the same way and make sure they know the material”. Who the hell is this person? Obviously she is about to know my name really well.

So back to my question of “What’s the problem?”. I believe it probably starts with the profiling that this principal is doing. She basically implied since my daughter is on a reduced lunch program she is not capable of learning and the teachers are teaching her best that she can learn the material because she can’t afford to pay full price for lunch. Are you kidding me? So a school that has a 13% turnover rate and only 19% of the teachers with an advanced degree and the fact that you profile the kids wouldn’t be the problem in the low testing scores compared to the district and the state? I called the superintendent back immediately and caught him just walking into his office. I advised him again of the situation and also advised him of my conversation with the principal and that I was pissed. He told me that she should probably not have said teaching them the best they can. I went off immediately and said that no your statement should be that she was wrong and should have never made a statement like that. I reiterated my position on every kid in that school. He said that he would talk to her. I am still awaiting a phone call back on that matter.

Today my wife went and sat at a review board to get our daughter into the 5th grade. After waiting over 1 1/2 hours with many angry parents she finally got to speak. The principal advised her they decided to place her in the 5th grade because they believe she can do the work. The didn’t pass her but they placed her. Again, who the hell is this principal trying to play the almighty. (you may go on and no you can’t). What happened to school conferences with the teacher and parents sitting down and discussing it. The teacher is with the student and knows them and what they can do and the parents also know this. They should decide what is best not some principal that profiles a child’s intelligence by whether they pay full price for lunch or not. When she mentioned the test score the principal did tell my wife that she had a conversation with me already. My wife advised her oh yes you did and he is not happy.

I will be in contact with the superintendent again over her statements and when I get done I will be in touch with the state. This matter will be done when her resignation is read at a school board meeting. You will not profile my child or any other kid in this school. Free and reduced lunch program are not synonymous with slow learner or stupid.

Pocono Raceway - Sunday

2011-06-12T22:04:00.000-04:00

Well it was a great day today. We had an awesome RaceDay show on SPEED. I’m hearing that their was some great racing today. Some liked the shifting and some did not and were vocal about it. I got to do victory lane today which was awesome. It wasn’t my first time doing it but I got to see Jeff Gordon in victory lane with his daughter Ella for first time. When he won earlier this year she was not at the track. After the race post race inspections all I can say is “ Say it aint So “ Kyle Busch failed post race inspection. His car was too low on the left front. I guess we will wait and see what NASCAR does with him

I hope you enjoyed the Pocono race weekend. I did but i’m also glad that i’m headed out of here in the morning. See you next time Pocono Raceway.

See you in Brooklyn, MI at Michigan International Speedway next week!

Pocono Raceway - Saturday

2011-06-12T00:02:00.000-04:00

It’s been a long week here in Long Pond, PA. We rolled in here from Kansas tuesday afternoon to some very warm weather. On Wednesday we parked and began our two day set up of the SPEED footprint. Warm weather for the most part up until friday evening. Throughout the day on friday we had some NASCAR live shows to do. We utilized our PUB desk which we placed up on the 4th level of a building behind pit road. The shot we used for the background was over looking the garage area with the SPEED footprint off in the back ground.

Friday evening we had a great show with Trackside LIve on SPEED. We had Kurt Busch and Carl Edwards as guests on our show. After the show we took the trackside set apart and loaded it up in the trucks and flipped the sets and colors over to Home Depot orange.

Looking forward to a great Raceday show tomorrow on SPEED from 10 am until 12 pm.

After the show we will take the place apart and load them up in our trucks and truck across to Michigan International Raceway.

Enjoy the show! Enjoy the race! See you in Brooklyn, MI.

Obama had nothing to do with Osama other than being in power when they found him

2011-05-05T22:05:00.000-04:00

I find it interesting that people are praising Obama with a 6 point bump in the polls because Bin Laden is dead. Several things come to mind:

1) Obama criticized Bush for the manner in which he acquired information to locate Osama. Yet, some of the information that was acquired during that time frame is what helped lead them to where they found him. I believe Bush was referred to as a thug at one point for his information gathering techniques.

2) Am I glad he is dead undoubtedly YES. Do I think we did in a manner that I think we are thugs YES.

3) With the information released if he was unarmed why did we not just take him into custody and go through a trial as we believe in our democracy? Instead we shoot him and then dump his body in the ocean? Really? Are we thugs and pirates?

Why does the US think we can just do what we want in other countries and kill the leaders we don't like and demand others step down yet we preach freedom of choice and democracy but act like a dictator to them. Disappointed in our Government at all levels and especially the last several Presidents with this one being the bottom of the barrel!!!

If this action puts closure on what happen on 9/11 Mr. President then bring our troops home from Afghanistan. They were there to fight and find Osama. He was located and killed so bring our troops home.

For everybody praising this President because of these actions, lets not forget the real problems in our own country. Why don't you demand your President to fix our problems and stop the trend we are in bullying other countries to do what we want them to do. Spend our money in our country for once.

If you don't agree then quite frankly I don't care. I am a United States citizen and a Disable Veteran of the United States Marine Corps and because of the very freedoms we fight for and are guaranteed in our Constitution I get to say what I want and write what I want. Comment what you want it don't hurt my feelings but when you comment you open yourself up for a debate so be prepared for my responses.

Two Million Children Homeschooled

2011-01-10T22:17:00.000-05:00

I was reading a recent article about a study released today that the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI) and it says that it estimates about two million children being home schooled. I find this very interesting to say the least. I believe the increase in the amount of families homeschooling now has a lot to do with the state of our country. I’m sure there are many different reasons as to why they are homeschooling but if I was to guess the agenda and curriculum at schools would have to be top of the list.

If I was able to work my land and make a living off from it I would also be looking in to homeschooling my two girls. Schools are no longer a safety place for our children. Between sexual assaults and bullies our children do not get the education that they should. Our schools are overcrowded often times because of illegal immigrants. State tests scores are low because of the curriculum being taught. I could not believe after this school year started that my 4th grader is being made to learn spanish so that the english students can communicate with the spanish speaking mexicans.

Our country has become so caught up in the ‘oh we can’t make them mad’ ‘oh we have to be politically correct’ ‘oh we have to make sure they have everything we have’ that we have forgotten the fact that our children are lacking a quality education to enable them to succeed in life.

I applaud the parents that have taken their children’s education into their own hands to make sure that they are able to succeed in life.

Arizona Shooting

2011-01-10T13:27:00.000-05:00

I am sitting here today pondering on many thoughts about yesterdays events and todays writings in the news. I will be the first to tell you of my great disappointment in our government. I will also stand behind my beliefs that our governments wastes money, we over spend in other countries, do not spend enough in our own country, and above all do not do enough for our veterans. However, through all of my distrust in our current government affairs not once do I wish that somebody be killed over their beliefs or much less what political party they are affiliated with.

We have great people in all political parties and all branches of government. We also have some that choose their own beliefs over the ones that the people that elected them to represent their beliefs in Washington D.C.. Our governmental politics have gone on far too long with its internal fighting, accusations, and blaming each other for where we are today.

First off as the news started breaking yesterday about the shooting immediately news media groups started going into the blame game and playing the political game. It is a far shame that today in America our news media outlets are very unreliable as far as reporting facts. What happened to journalism where they would investigate and gather all the facts for the story and report the news as it happened. Why do we now have to listen to or view the news as it is said or written by a journalists beliefs and he sees it and however he wants to play the story out. How and where did anybody get the facts to start blaming Sarah Palin’s website for the shooting yesterday. That was just poor distasteful journalism. Just because somebody has a website that is targeting twenty districts that have a vulnerable candidate in it does not make her responsible because some schizophrenic decides he doesn’t like somebody and starts shooting. Her website did nothing to influence or aid this crazy person yet the media decided to play politics with this horrible event and blame a former vice presidential candidate. I would think they probably did this for a political reason in 2012 and I strongly hope that is not the case. If it is brought up in politics then I hope the candidate that does bring it up gets a strong statement about his distaste from all of his fellow Americans.

We have several dead people including a federal judge and a congresswoman fighting for her life in the hospital and the news media reporting whatever they want including off the wall accusations and assumptions. I hope many people wake up soon as to what is happening in America. We have our own problems and need to stop telling people in other countries how to live and start taking care of our own.

My thoughts and prayers go out to all the people involved in the shooting yesterday in Arizona., all victims, family members, bystanders, and as well as Americans. I hope we are able to turn this into a positive and get everybody off the name and blame game and start working for the American people as one body as they were elected to do.

New Years

2010-12-31T18:23:00.001-05:00

As 2010 begins to wind down and I am making plans on what I would like accomplished in 2011, I am in some deep thought on some personal adventures in both collecting and selling.

I have made some major steps in my life in 2010. I purchased my first home in June and have slowly made it my own. I moved Marsha and the girls in shortly after purchasing it, so I guess you can say my cabin in the woods isn’t exactly all just man stuff.

My son, Andrew, is growing up so fast that I can’t believe he is now 16 and driving. We went up to NY in November to celebrate his 16th birthday with him and had a blast. I took him to NY DMV and he got his permit to drive at which time I also signed over the title to my 2007 Pontiac G5 for his birthday. I’m so proud of him and everything he is accomplishing in his life and love him. I wish I could be more involved in his life. I do the best I can for him with the distance between us and look forward to every phone call and our next visit.

My girls, Brooklynn and McKenna, are also growing up fast. It’s hard to believe that we are halfway through the school year and Brooklynn is doing great in 4th grade and enjoys school. McKenna is in preschool and loves it.

It’s hard to believe that when I first met Marsha that Brooklynn was only in 1st grade and McKenna was only crawling around. Time flies but I’m glad I’m apart of their life and get to enjoy it even on my bad days and when they are in trouble I still love them and would do anything for them.

Marsha is the the love of my life. She doesn’t always agree with what I say or do and definitely doesn’t like my yankee attitude when it comes out but I love her with all my heart. We didn’t get to spend as much time together this year as we have in the past due to being on the road a lot this year with SPEED. All the time on the road has also had it’s benefits to provide her with stuff she wanted to do around the house when I was home. I know she wants more done around the house and is envisioning the perfect home and I hope one day that I provide just that. The perfect home for us! We have talked about a lot of things for our future and I do hope two of the things do come true this coming year.

For 2011 I am looking forward to spending more time around the house getting a lot more done to make our home perfect. I am looking forward to continuing my work at JHE and growing as a person and employee as we grow into new opportunities. I hope I am there a long time, like the next 22 years when I plan on retiring. I am looking forward to more great things that Andrew is accomplishing. I am looking forward to hopefully changing the last name of three people in my household.

I am going to try and do my best at becoming a calmer person and not get as angry towards people. Going to try and slow my life down a little and take my time doing stuff.

I hope everybody has a Happy New Year!

Around In The House

2010-12-28T12:23:00.000-05:00

Today instead of working outside I decided to tackle some cleaning and organizing in the house. As I am picking things up and folding and hanging, I am looking outside at all the snow and the broken limbs that the storm has caused to fall around my house. It looks like the snow is starting to melt so maybe by the end of the week I will be able to get some work done outside.

I can see this will be an all day chore as I can’t believe these girls have this much stuff dragging around. Probably will be doing this again tomorrow. Their bedroom is a disaster and I will be cleaning it and getting their clothes organized and not dragging around.

I sure hope we get the Christmas stuff down soon. I like the looks but enough is enough. Now its just a reminder on how much money I have spent this past month.

Democracy

2010-12-21T09:26:00.001-05:00

We have thousands of Veterans buried at Arlington National Cemetery and all across this country as they gave their all protecting our freedom and this is how our government is saying thank you to them and us.

How is that our government can continue to pass laws giving them more and more control over its citizens? The Obama administration is out of control! Now Homeland Security thinks it can shut down websites at will claiming it is protecting our economy from fake merchandise being sold on the internet. Um, ok I didn’t know that the Homeland Security commission was put in place for that.

Now the FCC is going to vote today on what they are calling net neutrality. They think that the web should be equal in allowing to people that don’t pay to have equal access like the ones who pay a lot of money to have fast access. So more free stuff for people that don’t work for it. How convenient!

With these two things happening simultaneously sure sounds like the government is slowing to trying take over the internet and regulate what will be on it and when the American people can view it. If they don’t like something being posted or sold on there they can just shut it down.

So let’s see here is my view on what is happening to slowly turn out country into a dictatorship. The government continues to hand out money for people who don’t work and won’t work. Thats an easy way for the government to have control over you. They bailed out all kinds of business and funded projects for companies to “stimulate the economy”. So much for free enterprise where businesses fail and succeed everyday. No need in being an entrepreneur when the government will hand you money but can also shut you down if they don’t like you. Again, government taking over control of business. Now you have government entities trying to control how the web is used and who can have what kind of access. Wow, that is real close to a dictatorship is it not? They tried to tell us we had to buy insurance and was shot down as unconstitutional so they are trying to fix the wording so they can cram that down our throats again.

So if the government gives you money, tells you what you have to buy, tells businesses what they can sell, controls what you can see and say on the internet and then tells you it’s doing it for your protection. Come on people this is exactly what a dictatorship looks like. Funny how we go around the globe and push democracy on countries that don’t want us there and we tell them how they should treat their people, yet we do the opposite.

America better wake up soon and see what is going on!

2009 National Guard Junior World Championship

2009-08-02T08:55:00.002-04:00

Andrew Roberts was sent to Pittsburgh, Pa by The Plattsburgh Bass Club to represent NY as the TBF Junior state champion in the 11 to 14 age group where 41 states were represented. Friday was the qualifying day and to crown the Divisional Champions. Andrew competed in the Eastern Division and weighed in with 1 fish weighing 1 lb 12 oz. He won the division and was crowned 2009 TBF Eastern Division Junior National Champion for age group 11 to 14. This qualified him to fish for the 2009 National Guard Junior World Championship on Saturday.

On Saturday Andrew fished with FLW Pro Fisherman sponsored by The National Guard. He weighed in at the end of the day with 1 fish weighing 1 lb 7 oz. Andrew finished 2nd in the championship for his age group and 3rd overall for the event including the 15 to 18 age group. The winning weight was 2 lbs 12 oz in his group.

Andrew in addition to gaining valuable experience fishing with the pro's has earned a $3,000 scholarship, $150 Evinrude gift certificate and has been awarded a 1 year sponsorship deal with Berkley beginning January 1, 2010 thru December 31, 2010. His sponsorship will include representing them in tournaments, making appearances, and giving seminars. He also was given $1,000 in free merchandise from Berkley.

Andrew Roberts is a Beekmantown High School Freshman this year and hopes to further his career with more tournaments. He hopes to be back next year at World championships in the 15 - 18 age group.

The Allegheny River was very tough to fish this week. The FLW Championship was also held this weekend and the Pro's are facing the same struggles as the juniors were with many coming in with no fish or less than 1 lb in weight. Weather conditions were rainy with fast moving water.

For more information on The Plattsburgh Bass Club contact Daniel Konkoski (President/Treasurer)

Transforming and Modernizing America’s Health Care System

2009-07-19T14:43:00.001-04:00

If President Obama is truly that concerned about America's health care system then why is he not doing a little more to show it other than talking about taxing and penalizing the hard working people who actually have health care and take care of themselves or penalizing the business who do offer health care simply because they cannot afford to do so. He talks about it being a priority and how we spend over $2.2 trillion each year on health care. Well here is a step towards solving the gap in the system.

Why are we still spending in foreign countries like we are immune to the problems they are combating. We have the same problems here and can't solve our problem, yet we still have a plan in the budget to spend $63 billion over the next six years in foreign countries. We are fighting the same things that these funds will go towards. ( maternal and child health, family planning, neglected diseases, health systems, and other core health programs, while also emphasizing a commitment to HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis (TB) )

If we are in such dire need to continue to raise taxes and create new taxes and just drain the hard working citizens of the United States, then why are we not cutting the spending in foreign countries. If we can't solve our problems with our money how the hell are we going to solve their problems with our money. President Obama quit your spending spree of our money! Quit all the double taxation of everything the Americans earn or touch! Quit telling lies to the American Citizens. We heard what you said in your campaigns and you have gone against it from the start of your term. There is no change in Washington. It's the same old big government promising and wanting, spending and spending.

As I recall we had a war here once upon a time because of all the taxation and we freed ourselves from them. Now here we are repeating history. Can anybody see what's coming on the horizon if big government continues. The American people are only going to be pushed so far.

Perdue wants sales tax hike

2009-07-07T16:25:00.001-04:00

Well, hell, of course she does she is democratic. When we can pay for all the services we provide the people who don't want to work and can't get enough of the freebies, why shouldn't we just raise the taxes on the people who work hard for what they have. Bev Perdue, what a joke for governor. Increase sales tax to pay for budget shortfall, now there is a solution, NOT! Increase the income tax, increase taxes by 50-cents on cigarettes, increase tax by 2-cents on beer and alcohol. Start taxing services on warranties, installations, and repairs. Wow how much more can our governments make tax payers pay for. When will somebody draw the line and say NO. Our system was not setup for this and you as a government are violating our rights. This is absolutely ridiculous how much our government expects us to foot the bill on their lack of control on spending. Yes, I do oppose the government on most things they do.

My Stimulus Bill would have been for YOU

2009-06-26T16:31:00.003-04:00

Our dysfunctional government has continued to bleed out money into all kinds of bailouts and stimulus to no effect. President Obama has spent $2.7 trillion dollars from tarp funds, federal money, stimulus bills, AIG, FDIC, Other financial bailouts, and Other housing bills. Seems to me that as it always has been the people know how to spend their money better than the government. We as a national cannot continue to wastefully spend money in the budget trying to help other nations by sending them humanitarian aid to help with the hungry and sick and send financial help to help promote their own democracy among other programs to help these countries solve their problems when we have the same problems here in the United States and not able to take care of it. I propose that the United States Government start giving the money back to the people who paid the government that money in the first place and to the same people who elected them to the position they hold.

Surely, if we cut all this foreign aid helping these other countries with their problems and start taking care of our own problems we will more than pay for the $2.7 trillion dollars the tax payers just dished out helping failing industries.

At the end of 2007 according to the U.S. Census there were 111,609,629 households in the United States. Of that number 11.4% had an income level under $150,000 per household. Why didn’t the government just send $24,191.46 to each household to households that earn under $150,000 per year? Surely the head of these households who are hard working tax paying citizens know how to spend $2.7 trillion as well as or better than the government. Does the government not believe that the head of these households know what they need to do to get ahead? The spending of each of these households would have more than stimulated the economy. I’m sure many of them would have purchased automobiles that they much needed or wanted. I’m sure many of them would have deposited their money in their banks. I’m sure many of them would have even invested their money or pursued that dream of owning their own business creating more jobs. Our government has no faith that the people know how best to spend their hard earned money. We don’t need the continued or increased of big government and we definitely don’t need more taxes.

Federal Government Funds New $21 Million Airport for Alaska Town With 46 Residents

2009-06-26T15:14:00.001-04:00

And the continued wasteful spending continues. Are seriously telling me that we as taxpayers are spending $21 million to build an airport in a town with 46 residents. How much more will we tolerate. President Obama is continuing to write checks that we can't possible pay for. Absolutely ridiculous that our government is so out of touch with reality. The spoke of change and nothing has changed. We are still paying for favors being passed around to get bills passed. Lobbyists are still playing a role in our government and ultimately determining how the tax payers will fund projects because of senators promises. Unbelievable how dysfunctional our government is and we tell other countries how they should be. Why should anybody do what our government says. If they don't do it long enough we will pay you to do nothing at the end.

County Budget Maintains Tax Rate Despite Revenue Shortfalls

2009-06-25T21:14:00.001-04:00

I live in Cabarrus County and it's nice to see our commissioners use their heads and make amends to the budget that is in the best interest of the people they serve. Not only did they adopt a reasonable budget, they identified what needed to take place to make up for the shortfall not by raising taxes but making amends to current projects. They made smart moves and cuts and by delaying projects they also thought ahead and implemented a 3 year plan. Kudos Cabarrus County!!

North Carolina Program Pays Girls a Dollar a Day Not to Get Pregnant

2009-06-25T17:39:00.001-04:00

Are you fricken serious. Not only is this absolutely ridiculous, its insane. So not only do we support families who have no ambition in life and stay on welfare, now we give kids money to do what they shouldn't be doing anyway. Where the hell are parents these days. Do we really have to bribe kids to not do something. If lazy ass parents were more involved in their kids life maybe we wouldn't have this problem. My other question is who is paying for this program. Is it our tax dollars? Is it the University of North Carolina at Greensboro thats paying for it? If so, are they paying for it from donations or are they paying for it with our tax dollars that go to that school? Either way people in NC should be questioning what next are we going to do to not raise our kids and allow tax payers to foot the bill. Absolutely ridiculous. I guess most Americans truly have become completely lazy and rely on handouts to get what they want.

Wasteful Spending?

2009-06-16T17:07:00.001-04:00

Now everybody who has a nose has to agree that some live stock has an odor. If you choose to farm this live stock then that is your choice and if you choose to buy property and live near livestock then you have to have known prior to purchase and must have accepted the fact that there is a farm next door and you smell an odor. What has me concerned is the continued wasteful spending in Washington when we are at record deficits. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa is one that is greatly contributing to this as he is supporting a $1.7 million for pig odor research in Iowa. You have got to just "squeal" at the fact that a senator is not smart enough to know that pig farming has an odor an that it is a waste of tax dollars to research that well known fact.

Rep. Howard Berman, D-Calif. defends a program sending $200,000 in tax dollars to California to remove tattoos hoping to make everybody get along without the ink on their arms.

Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss. says he believes that sending $443,000 of your dollars will help his state manage beaver dams and help him reduce damages from floods.

Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii wants $162,000 of your tax dollars to help with rodent control? He says it will help them control birds?

While on birds Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan. wants $119,000 to erdicate blackbirds because they eat sunflowers.

Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. wants $2.2 million for Cornell University for research to help fight crop diseases affecting thier states grapes.

The list goes on and on on wasteful spending. Each of us should be writing our politicians at every level with complaints. Really should tax dollars be supporting promises of the elected state officials. Most money that is going to these types of projects can be better spent on problems that matter. Homeless and disabled veterans who gave their evrything so that you could spend money like this and now have nothing and get very little for it.

Why do we as a nation who scrutinize our Presidents over every little detail and allow our Congressman and Senators to wastefully spend our money. We pay too many taxes at the local, state, and federal level as it is and this is why. We hand everybody money who has their hand out and then tax everything and everybody to pay for their promises. Everybody from people to lazy to work to countries with no true leadership continue to take from us and we as a nation continue to provide for everybody but our own people that deserve it.

For those that are on welfare and are not disabled, those that are on unemployment that are still searching for jobs, those that get any type of government assistance which is funded by our tax dollars GET A DAM JOB! The jobs are there even if it is minimum wage and its not the job you want. I don't care we are tired of supporting people for nothing. If you still can't find work then it should be required that you do 20 hours community service a week and have to turn a form in signed off on before you can get your assistance. Nothing in this world is free and I am tired of all these people living off my hard earned money. And most of all quit sending our tax dollars to other countries to support their poor and their economy. That money can fix our problems here and make us number one in the world again if we would just invest in our country instead of everybody elses.

Myrtle Beach helmet law gets airing in top court

2009-06-16T10:08:00.001-04:00

Myrtle Beach helmet law gets airing in top court - Local - The Sun News

I have so much to say about this I don't even know where to begin. Myrtle Beach passed laws aimed at a specific group of people and made it known it was towards them and to prevent them from doing what they have been doing for years. Now we will get to see how legal their actions were.

The U.S. Supreme court has ruled in cases where an individual or a group of individuals unfairly had rules in place that only targeted them and it was determined DISCRIMINATION. The U.S. Supreme Court has also ruled on cases where a certain group of people were told where they could go and when they could be there and it was determined DISCRIMINATION.

How does the City of Myrtle Beach comply with state law when they pass laws discriminating against a group of individuals, when the same law does not exist statewide. They have basically told bikers you are welcome to come into our city and spend your money as long as you wear a helmet, don't ride in groups, and oh ya don't come in month of May. If this is not a form of discrimination then somebody needs to tell the U.S. Supreme Court and everybody else who thinks they have the meaning of discrimination that they are wrong.

If SC State Supreme Court allows these convictions and laws to stand then they are in some serious trouble within that state. This will allow any municipality to pass laws to target individuals or groups regardless what state law is. Will we start seeing ridiculous laws created targeting specific people to create a revenue to help with the shortfall of money in the budget? It's possible if it is not stopped now.

Atlantic Beach ponders fall biker fest

2009-06-04T18:44:00.000-04:00

Atlantic Beach ponders fall biker fest | CharlotteObserver.com

Yes, I believe they should have one. In your face Myrtle Beach. you try to stop the bike rally's and and now your neighbors to the north are looking to hold an extra one. I'm thinking, "If you build it they will come". Atlantic Beach if yo plan it we will come.

Mayfield court case postponed

2009-06-02T22:37:00.001-04:00

Mayfield court case postponed | www.thatsracin.com

Not only should this case be postponed but thrown out of the courts period. No I don't know the specifics of the case but this is ridiculous. Jeremy's comments are out there. This is one of the problems with America today. Somebody does not like a decision that is made against them or does not like what somebody said to them they file a lawsuit. Not only does this tie the courts up with unnecessary cases but it is the wrong example to everybody. Just because you do not like the rules does not give you the right to take the governing body to court. If the courts take this case it will set a dangerous precedent for all other sports. Whenever an athlete gets suspended or fined they can turn around and file a lawsuit. Jeremy Mayfield knew the policy at beginning of the year and new the consequences of his actions and he got caught. From the start he has declared his innocence, however, has also declined to tell anybody what NASCAR said that he tested positive for. I believe he was told and is just trying to cause enough publicity about it in hoping that NASCAR would drop it and lift his suspension. NASCAR needs to stick to their policies. They are the governing body and ultimately decide who can run in their series. Now for those of you that want to cry discrimination, Get Over It. I am so tired of hering people being brought to court because they couldn't do this or didn't qualify for that. This person said this or that person said that. Be an adult and accept the fact that words are words and one persons opinions are their's and yours are your's. If you don't like what they have to say don't listen. If you don't get a job or position then deal with it, you weren't qualified or somebody with more qualifications got it. These do not constitute discrimination nor do they qualify for a lawsuit. Jeremy Mayfield suck it up. You screwed up and your out.

Barnes: Concord police wrong to chase car

2009-05-28T22:32:00.001-04:00

I believe the last thing anybody from an official in the City of Charlotte should be doing is criticizing an action of a neighboring police department. How many time do we here of Charlotte police officers involved in very questionable actions to include vehicle crashes involving chases. This comment comes on the heals of an officer that hit and killed another driver when he was driving his patrol car at 90 mph in a 45 mph zone to assist another officer on a routine traffic stop. Charlotte you have more important issues to deal with than criticizing a neighboring cities action.

Perdue bans smoking in eateries, bars | CharlotteObserver.com

2009-05-19T14:05:00.000-04:00

Perdue bans smoking in eateries, bars | CharlotteObserver.com

Unbelievable, our governer has taken an even greater step not to create jobs but to show support in eliminating jobs. She has signed a bill today to ban smoking in restraunts and bars. If this doesn't show how much she is against the tobacco industry then I just don't know what to say. This is a state that is the largest producer of tobacco products in the country. A state that is already struggling with the textile industry. A state that has budget short falls. A state with increasing unemployment. Apparently a state with a Govenor who believes in passing laws to tell people what they can and can't do with their lives and tell them where they can and can't do it. Govenor Perdue then believes in assessing fines to violaters. I guess the trade off on the fines to raise government is worth selling out your leading industry. I guess the fines that are anticipated are going to fix the budget short fall and help pay for the rise in unemployment when the tobacco industry is gone like the textile industry. I guess its another case of pushing a personal agenda instead actually I don't know look out for the people you represent and protect the state you run. Too much government in our daily personal lives.

Motorcycle Groups Upset Over New Law - CBS 6 - WTVR, Richmond Va -

2009-05-19T10:50:00.000-04:00

Motorcycle Groups Upset Over New Law - CBS 6 - WTVR, Richmond Va -

This another example of government (local, state, and/or federal) trying to control every aspect of your life. if this bill was passed with not such vague wording I don't think their would be this outcry. how can any level of our government who has laws to protect people from being discriminated against pass such legislation that allows a person to lose his business permit because he allowed a group of bikers who wear the same jacket or t-shirt into his bar. Just because they were out riding as a group and decided to stop into a bar they see why should they be discriminated against because the owner stands to lose his business permits if he allows them in there. On the same note on how this law was written in its vague concept, probably because a law maker just doesn't like somebody and using his position for personal agenda, it also targets everybody not just bikers. If a tour bus of Veterans from say an American Legion all are wearing a jacket with the American Legion symbol on it and their post number stop at a restaurant that serves alcohol then that restaurant has to turn them away because an officer could consider them meeting there and could stand to lose their license.

The law is to vague and refers to every group that wears patches or clothing to affiliate with a certain group. This is a case of lawmakers making laws just to say they did something. Enough with the laws. Stay out of peoples personal lives. Quit telling people how they can and cannot run their business and who they can and cannot serve. I though we ended that with the civil rights movement. Support the rally at Monday night's meeting, it is being held at the Richmond Police Training Academy. That's located at 1202 W Graham St.

Myrtle Beach rumbling with discontent | CharlotteObserver.com

2009-05-18T16:34:00.000-04:00

Myrtle Beach rumbling with discontent | CharlotteObserver.com

I agree oust every one of them for hurting you lively hood, your busineses, and there economy inside the city limits. At a time when every dollar counts they said every dollar except one from a biker. Stand tall, stand united, call for action and removal of your leaders.

Gingrich: Pelosi 'Lied,' 'Despicable,' 'Dishonest,' 'Vicious,' 'Trivial' - The Note

2009-05-15T11:47:00.000-04:00

Gingrich: Pelosi 'Lied,' 'Despicable,' 'Dishonest,' 'Vicious,' 'Trivial' - The Note

Well this article today only reiterates what I ave already commented and blogged about. Gingrich, R-Ga., only says it harsher in the words I should have done. Well done sir!

YRC Worldwide to seek $1 bln in bailout funds

2009-05-15T10:57:00.000-04:00

YRC Worldwide to seek $1 bln in bailout funds

I was wondering how long it would take for another company to ask for bail out. I was against the first one and stand firm on that today. Not a single should have been handed out to begin with. Everything our federal government has been doing is not what the federal government was created to do. For the first time in 26 years we had a federal deficit in the month of April. This current administration continues to say they inherited this and that well enough is enough. You wanted the job, you knew what you were getting in to, so deal with it. You campaigned on promises you couldn't keep and now it is showing. Quit using tax payer dollars as an open check book to fix problems that can only be fixed with free market. If our government continues to step in and give failing companies money and tell them who they can hire, who they have to fire, how they have to structure then we are no longer a nation of freedom and free enterprise. Businesses must fail and businesses must be created that's how we were built and that's how it must remain. Our government needs to protect our states as a whole as it was designed to do not protect individual entities.

Pelosi Accuses CIA of 'Misleading' Congress on Waterboarding - Presidential Politics | Political News - FOXNews.com

2009-05-14T15:01:00.000-04:00

Pelosi Accuses CIA of 'Misleading' Congress on Waterboarding - Presidential Politics | Political News - FOXNews.com

Ok so now the CIA is lying about memos briefing Nancy Pelosi on EIT's. Nancu Pelosi opened a can of worms and when she thought she had her involvement in it cover it just wasn't so. Now she has back tracked and changed her views multiple times because she was ther and she was briefed. She can't go anywhere else so she is now accusing the CIA of lying about her and misleading Congess. Come on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi I hope a committe is held and you lie to them as you are now. Furthermore i hope you are held in contempt of Congress and kicked out of you position. You are exactly why Congress approval ratings are horrible. You arre exactly why people view Politicians as lyers. You are exactly why "meetings" and "tea party's" are being held through out this country. "We the people" are fed up with our corrupt government.

Plastic bags must go, Basnight says | CharlotteObserver.com

2009-05-13T10:11:00.000-04:00

Plastic bags must go, Basnight says | CharlotteObserver.com
I'm sure ou state officials have greater concerns than plastic bags. Please tell me you are working on finding solutions for our state budget defecit. Please tell me you are finding solutions to save jobs and attract new jobs in NC. We continue day in and day out to see our local, state, and federal officials continue to push personal agenda's, when are they going to see we are fed up. It's time you do your job. NC is crunching budgets and school systems are laying off which means that the already crowded school systems have less employees to help. We are losing entire industries from our state along with hundreds of jobs and our representatives are worried about a plastic bag. Now that makes since. Passing the law will in turn make businesses spend more money on new bags and have to spend more money on renovations to place bags at checkout. This is a no win situation. If businesses have to spend more money it means they will cut staffing creating more job loss and at same time increase prices to offset the increase in expenses to the company. Increase in prices means customers buy less which in turn hurts the economy. This is a no win situation for everybody so why would you focus on it?

Bikers, businesses chafe under rules | CharlotteObserver.com

2009-05-13T09:21:00.000-04:00

Bikers, businesses chafe under rules | CharlotteObserver.com

Well it sounds like the first check point only pissed businesses and residents off. With majority of vehicles being check being of everything but motorcycles how successful was the check point? There were only 23 citations issued and I didn't see a notation for bike specific violations. The bikers are just avoiding your check points as they should. If they are going to spend money there it should not be on fines that the city has created targeting a specific group of people. Ride on bikers!

North Myrtle Beach sees riders roll in for rally - Local - The Sun News

2009-05-10T23:16:00.000-04:00

North Myrtle Beach sees riders roll in for rally - Local - The Sun News

Well the impact is beginning to be felt. What will the respose be when the week is done?

Myrtle Beach police to hold traffic checkpoints during bike rallies - Myrtle Beach Bike Rally - The Sun News

2009-05-09T22:20:00.000-04:00

Myrtle Beach police to hold traffic checkpoints during bike rallies - Myrtle Beach Bike Rally - The Sun News

Now I don't understand the reasoning behind this. I thought check points were to catch violations. By creating a list like this with places and time it allows a rally to re-route their rides. Thank you Myrtle Beach. Go bikers!

Motorcycle rally's start low on gas - Local - The Sun News

2009-05-09T22:08:00.000-04:00

Motorcycle rally's start low on gas - Local - The Sun News

Well the further into this years bike rally will tell all. With hotels reporting a 34% decrease and business worried due to 50% of their May business comes from this 10 day rally many are awaiting the outcome of these events. Did the city go to far and hurt their local businesses? Will the bikers boycott and spend their money outside the city limits? Or will the bikers show up in full force mid rally and defy city officials?

Where Will the Bikers Go Now? - ABC News

2009-05-09T21:24:00.000-04:00

Where Will the Bikers Go Now? - ABC News

Well, now that bike week has officially begun we will soon find out what impact the bias laws that Myrtle Beach will have on its economy. The officials in this city seem to believe they are above state law and seem to be on personal agendas. I know this is a tourist attraction that brings in millions any given time through out the year, but what impact especially in today's economy will these new laws have. Bikers like to be free and will freely spend there money so when Myrtle Beach doesn't want them they will spend there money all around the outskirts and eventually these same officials will be replaced and the rally's asked to return because of the money generated to local businesses during these weeks. It happened in Daytona Beach and other areas and soon after the bikers returned. As an Harley-Davidson rider with loud pipes, I support all the bikers who go to this rally regardless.

NASCAR Driver Jeremy Mayfield Fails Drug Test - ABC News

2009-05-09T21:06:00.000-04:00

NASCAR Driver Jeremy Mayfield Fails Drug Test - ABC News

I applaud NASCAR for there handling of this case. If all sports would step up this zero tolerance policy our sports would be better off. MLB suspended one of their stars this week also but only for 50 games but he will still make millions this year. All sports should have a zero tolerance and immediate suspension indefinately carrying a life time ban. I mean if one of the greatest baseball hitters of all tmie, Pete Rose, is banned for life for gambling why can't all sports have a ban for life policy for drugs. The sport obviously survived prior to that athlete coming into the sport and it will survive after they leave. BAN ALL ATHLETES FOR LIFE UNDER INFLUENCE OF DRUGS!!!

Democrats Assail Obama's Hit List - washingtonpost.com

2009-05-08T17:25:00.000-04:00

Democrats Assail Obama's Hit List - washingtonpost.com

It is politicians like this that need to be out of washington. It's wasteful spending and support of programs that will favor them in their state and district that is creating this huge budget and deficit.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) said she is "committed" to keeping a $400 million program that reimburses states for jailing illegal immigrants, a task she called "a total federal responsibility."

Why doesn't she redirect these efforts and support a $400 million program that creates jobs for border patrol and immigration enforcement instead. Why should tax payers continue to foot the bill on illegal immigrants. Deport them get them out of our country and keep them out.

And Rep. Maurice D. Hinchey (D-N.Y.) vowed to force the White House to accept delivery of a new presidential helicopter Obama says he doesn't need and doesn't want. The helicopter program, which cost $835 million this year, supports 800 jobs in Hinchey's district. "I do think there's a good chance we can save it," he said.

How is this any different than the message that was sent to failing company CEO's that had new jets on order. This administration doesn't want one or need one and wants to cut it from spending but this politician wants to put us further in debt because it will make him look good in his state or district.

Again America get rid of these wasteful spending politicians!!!!

Pelosi: I Was Told Interrogation Methods Were Lawful - Presidential Politics | Political News - FOXNews.com

2009-05-08T16:57:00.000-04:00

Pelosi: I Was Told Interrogation Methods Were Lawful - Presidential Politics | Political News - FOXNews.com

Well, we once again see that there is no change in Washington. It's the same antics all over again. These lawmakers continue lie and shift the truth just to save their image and political life. How do you forget what briefings you were in when the briefings are of this nature. She was a supporter of the memos being released but I guess she thought that the briefing notes that she participated in would be excluded. It's very disappointing that the same games are being played still. The are quick to shift blame or say we inheirited it until the truth comes out that puts them in the middle of it. America vote these politicians out of office and find somebody interested in America not their personal image and agenda.

AIG's 2008 Bonus Total Nearly Quadruples to $454 Million in Latest Revision - Presidential Politics | Political News - FOXNews.com

2009-05-05T22:46:00.000-04:00

AIG's 2008 Bonus Total Nearly Quadruples to $454 Million in Latest Revision - Presidential Politics | Political News - FOXNews.com

I find it very discouraging when President Obama says he will do this and do that. He then begins immediately to do what every other politician has done in the past. Then he gives away our tax money to businesses who couldn't handle the money efficiently that their company was earning. Every time some company needs a bail out President Obama is handing out our money. Why is he doing this? Because he doesn't believe that businesses can fail and businesses can be created without government interference. So here is how the cycle works even though it wasn't perceived to work this way when the Constitution was written.

The American citizen:

1. Born and becomes a tax credit for his parents through out the years until out of school and earns his own income
2. Begins to work
3. Pays taxes on his income
4. Pays taxes to spend his income
5. Pays on interest he earns from the money he saves
6. Has his government give away his tax money to foreign governments to solve their problems when we have the same problems in our country that we can't solve
7. Chases his dream, however, when looks for government assistance of any part he is turned away because he is not a minority or a foriegn national
8. Pays medical insurance entire time he works but when needed finds out that its not enough. The insurance company has loop holes on what they will and will not pay because of this and that
9. Gives money his whole life to a retirement fund and retires to find out he has nothing left because his government thought they could spend his money better than he could

So what made America great in the past President Obama is doing is best to take it apart. He is trying to run this country in a campaign mode but doing opposite of what he has promised in his campaign. Where is all the oversite?

The Marine

2009-01-09T12:24:00.001-05:00

THE MARINES WANT THIS TO ROLL ALL OVER THE U.S.

Please don't delete this until you send
it on, Let's send it around the world..

This is a poem being sent from a Marine
to his Dad. For those who take the time
to read it, you'll see a letter from him to
his dad at the bottom. It makes you truly
thankful for not only the Marines, but
ALL of our troops.
THE MARINE
&n bsp;
We all came together,
Both young and old
To fight for our freedom,
To stand and be bold.

In the midst of all evil,
We stand our ground,
And we protect our country
From all terror around.

Peace and not war,
Is what some people say.
But I'll give my life,
So you can live the American way.

I give you the right
To talk of your peace.
To stand in your groups,
and protest in our streets.

But still I fight on,
I don't fuss, I don't whine.
I'm just one of the people! < /b>
Who is doing your time.

I'm harder than nails,
Stronger than any machine.
I'm the immortal soldier,
I'm a U.S. MARINE!

So stand in my shoes,
And leave from your home.
Fight for the people who hate you,
With the protests they've shown.
Fight for the stranger,
Fight for the young.
So they all may have,
The greatest freedom you've won

Fight for the sick,
Fight for the poor
Fight for the cripple,
Who lives next door.

But when your time comes,
Do what I've done.
For if you stand up for freedom,
You'll stand when the fight's done

By: Corporal Aaron M. Gilbert, US Marine Corps
USS SAIPAN, PERSIAN GULF

March 23, 2003
Hey Dad,
Do me a favor and label this 'The Marine' and send it to everybody on your email list. Even leave this letter in it. I want this rolling all over the US ; I want every home reading it. Every eye seeing it. And every heart to feel it. So can you please send this for me? I would but my email time isn't that long and I don 't have much time anyway.
You know what Dad? I wondered what it would be like to truly understand what JFK said in His inaugural speech. 'When the time comes to lay down my life for my country, I do not cower from this responsibility. I welcome it.' Well, now I know. And I do. Dad, I welcome the opportunity to do what I do. Even though I have left behind a beautiful wife, and I will miss the birth of our first born child, I would do it 70 times over to fight for the place that God has made for my home. I love you all and I miss you very much. I wish I could be there when Sandi has our baby, but tell her that I love her, and Lord willing, I will be coming home soon. Give Mom a great big hug from me and give one to yourself too.
Aaron

Please let this marine (and all our military) know we care by passing his poem onto your friends even if you don't usually take time to forward mail...do it this time!
Thanks,
Let's help Aaron's dad spread the word .... FREEDOM isn't FREE < BECAUSE Someone pays for you and me.

God bless you!

It's only a deal if it's where you want to go. Find your travel deal here.

Stay up to date on your PC, the Web, and your mobile phone with Windows Live. See Now
______________________________________________________________________
T his e-mail has been scanned by MCI Managed Email Content Service, using Skeptic(tm) technology powered by MessageLabs. For more information on MCI's Managed Email Content Service, visit http://www.mci.com.
________________________________ ______________________________________

The information contained in this e-mail message may be privileged and confidential. If the reader of this transmission is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error or are not sure whether it is privileged, please immediately notify us by return e-mail and delete or destroy any copies, electronic, paper or otherwise, which you may have of this communication and any attachments.

Looking for spoilers and reviews on the new TV season? Get AOL's ultimate guide to fall TV.

Stay up to date on your PC, the Web, and your mobile phone with Windows Live Click here

Windows Live Hotmail now works up to 70% faster. Sign up today.

Stay up to date on your PC, the Web, and your mobile phone with Windows Live Click here

A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps!

Check out this post from Money Blog

2008-11-15T07:13:00.001-05:00

http://blogs.moneycentral.msn.com/topstocks/archive/2008/11/14/chrysler-gives-bonuses-asks-for-bailout.aspx

This is another example of why the government needs to stay out of peoples personal lives and businesses. The government needs to let the free enterprise that we enjoy in this country stay that way. It is bad enough that we have to pay taxes to support programs that just promotes and rewards lazy Americans that are not willing to work for what they want in life but now we as tax payers are paying for companies bonuses. Obviously if a company is failing then the companies leaders are failing so why are they being rewarded for allowing them to fail. Quit paying money to companies. Instead why doesn’t the government bailout the veterans administration and give them this money to take care of the ones who provide the freedom for which every American is enjoying.

Questions about OBAMA and his intentions

2008-11-11T21:09:00.001-05:00

Allies of Palestinians see a friend in Barack Obama

A party for Rashid Khalidi has proven to be more than a professor that was leaving town and Barack Obama just happened to be a guest at. Rashid Khalidi is an internationally known scholar, a critic of Israel and an advocate for Palestinian rights, a spokesperson in the 1970s on behalf of Yasser Arafat’s Palestine Liberation Organization. Khalidi was a friend and frequent dinner companion of Barack Obama. He then spoke of their frequent talks then and hope for continued talks for years to come. Now some five years later Obama expresses a pro-Israel view of Middle East politics and those talks have taken a back seat. Obama calls for the U.S. to talk to such declared enemies as Iran, Syria, and Cuba. Khalidis have held fundraiser for Obama and when Obama was on the board of directors for the Woods Fund of Chicago they received a $40,000 grant from a local charity.

In 1998 Obama attended a speech by Edward Said who is a leading intellectual in the Palestinian movement. Obama and his wife have had dinner with Said and he has also taken a college course from him at the Columbia University. Ali Abunimah, a Palesinian rights activist in Chicago, has met with Obama several times and was in attendance of a 2000 fundraiser when Obama called for an even handed approach toward Israel. At another event when speeking with Obama he said was told privately that he needed to speak cautiously about the Middle East. Obama was also quoted as saying that he wasn’t talking more about the Palestinian cause because his primary campaign had constrained what he could say.

With all these ties to very questionable people coming up in Obama’s past and current relationships how can he continue to deny any wrong doing.

Obama White House to Marshal Online Army

Rush Limbaugh saw it after the election when he told his listeners that this new administration would conduct a permanent campaign and try to gain total control of Washington. The list that the campaign accumulated through its supporters during the campaign and his websites proves that he had this idea long before he seen a success of the online campaign. The privacy policy at BarackObama.com includes this sentence: “We may also make personal information available to organizations with similar political viewpoints and objectives, in furtherance of our own political objectives.” With that being said, if you are on the list of supporters you could be called upon or harassed by these other organizations to call on your representatives in congress to push for legislation that President Elect Obama is pushing for.

Obama's Civilian National Security Force

In July Obama was making a speech when advised that we can’t continue on our military for national security objectives and we needed a civilian national security force that’s just as powerful and just as well funded. Now wait a minute our military is underfunded and our soldiers are buying their own gear that they need in Iraq and Afghanistan because our government has no budget for them. So I guess we are going to impose a program that is doom to fail and never mind that it’s this same type of ideas and programs that Germany had under Hitler and Russia had in the past. Do you still believe everything Barack Obama is saying? Wake up America! He also is planning on doubling the Peace Corps’ budget by 2011 and expanding AmeriCorps, USA Freedom Corps, VISTA, YouthBuild Program, and the Senior Corps. He is then going to form the Classroom Corps, Heath Corps, Clean Energy Corps, Veterans Corps, Homeland Security Corps, Global Energy Corps, and a Green Jobs Corps. So with tax cuts for 95% of American workers and Obama’s spread the wealth plan and giving money to people who don’t pay taxes ( basically because Americans have become lazy and dependent on other peoples support) who in the hell is going to pay for all these programs. Hello we are in a record deficit and he says he is going to fix that but at same time double these programs and form more. Okay, maybe he is going to pay for it with his proposed Department of Defense budget cuts as he has announced that he plans on cutting tens of billions of dollars yet at same time increase the force size of the Army and Marine Corps. Again if budget being cut where is the money coming for increase in size. And right back to point one, how can you have a so called civilian national security force just as powerful and as well funded as our military when you are cutting budgets and increasing sizes. This just means to me that our troops are going without even more. Sweet dreams America!

Anybody that would like to see the “Blueprint For Change: Obama and Biden’s Plan for America” can click on the link.

So with this little bit of research and articles that were read, I cannot see how America is better off with a Obama as our President. He has a lot of unclear issues in his background. A lot of questionable ties to people linked to or involved with terrorism. America wanted a change but what people forgot to get with that change was answers instead of political speeches.

Happy Birthday United States Marines

2008-11-10T15:52:00.001-05:00

The Marine Corps has been winning battles and defending our nation since 1775 when The continental Marines were formed to support the 13 colonies in the struggle for independence. This formation was discussed in Philadelphia, Pa. when a committee of the Continental Congress met at Tun Tavern to draft a resolution calling for two battalions of marines able to fight for independence at sea and on shore. The resolution was approved on November 10 1775.

Weeks after banding together in 1776 the Marines successfully executed their first amphibious landing at Fort Nassau in the Bahamas. Within minutes of the Marines' arrival, the British troops surrendered.

In 1805 the marines stormed the shores of Tripoli and marched across 600 miles of the Libyan Desert and stormed into the Tripolitan city of Derna and rescued the kidnapped crew of the USS Philadelphia. This victory helped Prince Hamet Bey reclaim his throne and in gratitude he presented his sword to Lt. O'Bannon. This sword became part of the officers uniform in 1825 and remains the oldest ceremonial weapon in use by the United States forces today. This Battle of Derna also was Marines' first battle on foreign soil, and is notably recalled in the first verse of the Marines’ Hymn: "From the Halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli, we fight our country’s battles in the air, on land and sea." The other part of this verse came from the Mexican-American war in 1847 when the Marines stormed the enemy fortress during the Battle of Chapultepec. After two days of battle the Marines controlled the castle better known as the "Halls of Montezuma"

On June 07, 1918 the Marine forces opened a furious bayonet charged assault seizing enemy troops and after 20 days of intense fighting the Marines won the Battle of Belleau Wood. The Germans gave a fitting nickname to their relentlessness opponent: Teufelhunden, or "Devil Dogs." The term still sticks with Marines today as they are known as "Devil Dogs".

In 1945, one the Marine Corps' greatest triumphs came with the capture of the Japanese airfields at Iwo Jima. Just four days into the battle a team of Marines and one Navy Corpsman reached the summit and raised the American Flag. This photo became front page news and is still today considered the picture that summons up the Marines struggle and victory at Iwo Jima. The battle lasted 36 days with heavy casualties before the Marines secured the island.

In 1950 when North Korea invaded South Korea it was seen as a global military challenge. The U.N. depended on the Marines capabilities to reclaim South Korea's capital city. The Marines landed behind enemy lines on the shores of Inchon and within hours had cleared the beach and began moving toward Seoul. In two weeks they reclaimed the capital and put the North Korean army on the run.

In 1968 the Marines defended a base at Khe Sanh for 77 days. The North Vietnamese army attacked the base predicting overwhelming victory, however, the Marines prevented the enemy from penetrating United States defenses.

In 1989 Manuel Noriega reigned power over Panama and declared war on the United States. When a Marine was killed by Panamanian forces the United States decided it was time that Noriega would no longer be tolerated. The United States launched Operation Just Cause to depose the dictator and restore order to Panama. The Marines achieved success in just two weeks.

In 1990 when Iraq invaded Kuwait the Marines led one of the most successful assaults in modern warfare with precise air operations, tenacious amphibious assaults, and
versatile land tactics. The Marines are not always the lead on warfare tactics. In the 1990's the Marines also led the way when global support was needed as widespread violence and famine escalated in Somalia, Rwanda, and Zaire. The Marines provided vital hmanitarian aid while occasionally coming under fire providing security and distributin gfood, water, and medical supplies.

In 1995 22 Marines were among the first American relief forces to arrive in Bosnia after the signing of the Dayton Agreement in that November which ended war in former Yugoslavia. The Marines immediately provided much needed scurity in the turbulent country. During this time an Air Force pilot was shot down and was rescued by the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit six days later.

After 9/11 the United States declared a "Global War on Terrorism" which is on going today. Marines were deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom and in 2003 deployed to Iraq with Operation Iraqi Freedom. Marine responsibilities range from combat and security operations to humanitarian efforts. On April 9, 2003 the Marines secured the center of Baghdad and Coalition forces declared an end to the dictator's rule in Iraq.

In 2004 when a series of Tsunamis hit the shores of Indonesia, Thailand, and India the Marines immediately deployed three disaster relief assessment teams. These teams provided critically needed fresh water and additional supplies for its survivors. After providing these supplies they left the area allowing the local governments to take over.

Marines are held to the highest standards, ethically and morally. Respect for others is essential. Marines are expected to act responsibly in a manner befitting the title they’ve earned. Semper Fidelis distinguishes the Marine Corps bond from any other. It goes beyond teamwork – it is a brotherhood and lasts for life. It's more than a motto, it's a way of life. Becoming a Marine is a transformation that cannot be undone, and Semper Fi reminds us of that. Once made, a Marine will forever live by the ethics and values of the Corps.

The eagle with spread wings represents our proud nation. The globe points to worldwide presence. The anchor stands for naval tradition. Together, they represent a dedication to service in the air, on land and at sea.

There is no such thing as an ex-Marine.

To my fellow Devil Dogs, I wish you all and the Marine Corps a Happy 233rd Birthday! OoooooRah!

Veterans continue VA change protest

2008-11-09T11:02:00.001-05:00

As America continues to fight in two current wars, we continue to see the decline in veteran care services. How can we continue to ask our Americans to go fight for freedom and promote democracy in other countries, when we can't even take care of their needs when they return home. What kind of logic is it to close any type of services offered to veterans at the W. G. Hefner VA Medical Center or any other VA Medical Center when the amount of services and care needed for our veterans is greater than ever.

The local public hospitals are always full of patients and emergency room lines are always maxed out with often several hours of waiting time. Our veterans put their lives on the line for their country so why should they be told they have to go to their local hospital and wait unlimited hours to be seen. Our government needs to step up to the plate and start placing our veterans in the front of the line and take care of them before they continue to give handouts to third world country's. We send billions of dollars to these other countries to assist them in this and that and to promote this and that but we can't keep our veteran services going. WAKE UP AMERICA! Protect your Veterans as they protected you.

Great decision or not!

2008-11-08T14:18:00.001-05:00

Ok so the American people have decided to elect a President that has so many question marks in his abilities and views. With a questionable history with a known terrorist and another close history with a spokesperson for a terrorist organization he has now named a chief of staff that has direct ties to what is to be seen as the beginning of the mortgage industry melt-down. President-elect Barack Obama named Rahm Emanuel as his chief of staff. Rahm Emanuel was the Director of Freddie Mac during the Scandal in the early and mid 2000's. During this scadal Freddie Mac, formally the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation misreported profits by billions of dollars in order to deceive investors. Now I am wondering where we are headed as a country in whole.

We have a President-elect with known ties to terrorism and who vows to cut taxes but in the same breathe is initiating new programs but has not said where the money for these programs are coming from. The income scale for tax cuts changes by his team depending when they are speaking and now we have a chief of staff appointment who was on a board of a huge scandal where false money reporting was in the billions.

Wake up America!!

Only thing our Representatives in Washington have gotten RIGHT!!

2008-09-30T16:41:00.001-04:00

Bad News For The Bailout - Forbes.com

Think about this for a moment. Whenever something is trying to be done in Washington its a long drawn out process and takes forever for something to even to be put together to be voted on. That is if our overpaid representatives are even in Washington to vote. Now all of a sudden we are facing a crisis so to speak, and something is able to be voted on within a matter of days. Finally, they got it right and did not pass this absolutely ridiculous bill they tried to swindle the American people with. Now they have seen this financial problem brewing for months now and they now want to try and come up with something over a weekend. This should have been worked on at beginning of year when the problems came to light. Furthermore, it should have never gotten to this point to begin with. The oversights and reviews were suppose to be already in place to keep this from happening. Since it failed and the overpaid CEO's made very bad decisions you want the American people to bail them out. HELL NO! I don't earn my income from these companies and I receive no benefits from them so no I will not bail them out. If I screw up that bad at my job I would not have a job and the other workers at my company wouldn't be asked to help pay for any problems that I created.

Now this so called bail out bill is suppose to help these high risk banking problems on our dime. Well hello I'm no brain surgeon or genius and I definitely do not have a masters in investments but what does high risk investments mean anyways. Could it be you might lose your shirt so to speak or you might make a lot of money? It's a high risk for you. If they were making more money than ever predicted would they share that money with the American people just because they made too much. NO! But since they lost their money, they want ours. NO! One of the biggest questions that has yet to be answered is where did the number $700 billion come from and why that number. Nobody has answered that question and given a formula for how they arrived there. The only answer given on record is the following:

“It’s not based on any particular data
point,” a Treasury spokeswoman told Forbes.com Tuesday. “We just wanted
to choose a really large number.”

Well if that don't beat all I ever seen. Our wonderful government flying by the seat of their pants again and again. Spending money they don't have and coming up with plans and sugar coating everything to make it sound like it is what America needs and this is why we need it and we will do this to pay for it. But at least in commercials and ads and contracts there is always a fine print to read but our government does not say or show its fine print or it might look like this:

All statements and reasons given for the figures on programs you don't really need are not made up. They in fact are what I believe will benefit me and my close friends down the road and after I leave office. You the taxpayer will continue to long support my actions long in to your child's adulthood. Any questions or concerns should be discarded as the thought enters your mind. We are elected by you but not bound by you. We control your money and destiny if you want more control or say then run for office.

So with that being said stay tuned for my next governmental outburst. Way to go Reps on the hill, finally one for the taxpayer!

Parents are lazy!!!!!!

2008-09-15T22:44:00.001-04:00

Program pays students for good grades, parents to get involved - CNN.com

Ok first off the whole idea of having to pay students to take tests and get good grades is absolutely ridiculous. It's no wonder that students will not do anything for anybody unless they are going to get something out of it. Second of all to turn around and pay parents to show up for meetings and get involved with their child's education is even more ridiculous. I think this entire system is a direct failure to the American values. America is absolutely lazy when you as a parent will not even interact with your child or promote a better life for your child through their education. How can tax payers justify paying somebody to do something for their child when they should be doing that anyways?

HOW ABOUT THIS AMERICA!!! Lets pass a law if you don't do all you can for your child and raise them with some core values like Work for what you want in life and don't take the easy way out then you can be charged with child neglect. How about that? Why is not doing everything you can for your child in their education any different than any other form of child neglect. Afterall, that is the beginning of turning into what you are. If you can't take an hour of your precious non-working time to sit with your child and help them with their homework or if you can't go to a parent teacher conference to discuss your childs education and future, then why should we pay you to go. Why should the hard earning taxpayers continue to foot the bills of the lazy American ways.

What a cycle this is:

1. Lazy parent with no companionship with child
2. Lazy parent does not make sure child does homework
3. Lazy parent does not help child with homework
4. Lazy parent does not go to parent/teacher conferences
5. Lazy parent does not go to any school functions for child
6. Lazy student is a direct reflection of home life
7. Lazy student does no homework
8. Lazy student gets into trouble
9. Lazy student turns into image of parents
10 Laziness is exactly what America is turning into

Americans have consistantly gotten lazy over the years and expect everything for nothing. Now some states are rewarding lazy parents that are probably sitting at home collecting welfare and food stamps and any other handout the government can get the taxpayers to pay for and in return they are now going to get an extra stipend to just be a parent to their child. Great job you brainstorming idiots. Lets reward laziness when you should be charging the parent with neglect for their ignorent lazy ass.

Finally a Candidate

2008-09-05T16:36:00.001-04:00

Finally we have a Presidential Candidate that recognizes a waste of American money. Most candidates can speak of doing this and doing that and spend, spend, spend. Until last night listening to John McCain speak about what he is going to do when he is President, we have never heard what Americans want to hear. Where is the money coming from and why do we continue to send our money to other countries. Last night John McCain said exactly what he plans to do when he said, "We're going to stop sending $700 billion a year to countries that don't like us very much, and some of that money...".

Ok that is a great start on fixing problems here in the United States. We can't save our own people yet we continue to spend billions on foreign countries. I have asked the question several times over and over again why we spend this money on those countries. Finally we have somebody who will stand in front of America and say yes we spend billions on foreign countries who don't like us and we are going to stop spending that money over there and start spending money back in the United States. After last night I fully support John McCain as our next President of the United States.

To see a partial list of money being spent and the questions I raise about them please see my earlier blog entitled " Governement Spending ".

Another reason Americans are becoming weak!

2008-08-28T10:13:00.001-04:00

FOX Sports on MSN - More Sports - Parents sending kids wrong message about adversity

Its acts like this that just goes to show one more reason why American's are becoming weaker. These parents probably encourage their children to sit in front of a video game or their computer rather go out and be a kid. Forget about learning a team sport. Forget about learning life lessons while playing sports. Forget about trying your best to succeed. Don't bother kids, don't face your fears. Keep being weak. Kids these days no nothing about being a kid and learning to live life in trial and error. They don't know how to use their imagination and have fun. They don't know how to get back up when knocked down. They don't know how to play sports just for loving to play sports.

Wake up America this is how pathetic some of you adults have gotten!

Smart career move for Brad Keselowski

2008-08-24T07:47:00.001-04:00

Offered Penske's No. 12 Dodges in Sprint Cup, Keselowski declines

Great move on Brad Keselowski's part. He is in great equipment now and is showing he has what it takes. I believe he will be the leading candidate for the 5 car in 2010 so why not just stay right where you are and gain all that valuable experience in a great organization that you already are in. Too many times people jump to cup because thats what they want but they aren't ready or the timing isn't right and they sign a deal with a team that really needs a driver even though its a team thats been struggling. Keselowski has shown all year that he has a level head on his shoulders by making smart decisions. He is learning quickly and once again has shown he can make the right decisions.

Quit crying Kyle Busch

2008-08-24T07:38:00.001-04:00

Edwards bumps and runs past Busch for Bristol win

Ok all I can say is this. Great job Carl Edwards! Its about time the little punk kid from Las Vegas gets knocked around a little bit. He has flat out ran everybody over all year long and will even say it before he does it that if they get in his way or don't move then he will put them in the wall. Now that the shoe is on the other foot and he got moved out of the way for a better car at the end of the race he is upset about it. NASCAR summoned him to the hauler not Carl Edwards and again great call NASCAR. Its time to calm him down or start penalizing him. He has said it too many times and followed it up with action and tore peoples equipment up for nothing. Maybe this will be the first of the next 12 beatings for Kyle Busch.

Bruton Smith incentives from City of Concord

2008-08-22T11:26:00.001-04:00

Bruton Smith gets details on incentives | www.charlotteobserver.com

Ok here we go with a breakdown of incentives equaling $80 million that Concord has graciously given to Bruton Smith after creating a dispute over nothing anyways. Instead we are giving money to a millionaire and a company that should already be doing most of these upgrades over the next several years anyways.

I honestly believe this dispute should have been handled much differently instead due to some incompetent leaders both with the City of Concord and Cabarrus County we are giving away money that should have been used for much more important things. Now instead of doing school upgrades and providing for our children's future we are giving that budget money away for up to the next 40 years.

City Manager Brian Hiatt called it a “unique agreement, but we're also getting unique benefits” with all the road upgrades. First off, what road upgrades since the two major highways around the speedway are U.S. 29 and NC 49. Both are not maintained by the City of Concord. Therefore, this up to $60 million that will reimburse the speedway for the road improvements through incentive grants shouldn't exist. The city is estimating that it will already cost them $15 million for the extension of the George W. Liles Parkway from Weddington Road to U.S. 29. If the city is paying for that why are they then going to reimburse Bruton Smith for that upgrade.

The Cabarrus County Convention and Visitors Bureau which already has income through the hotel and room taxes in which it uses to promote the area attractions to attract visitors and create more revenue. Why are we now telling them an exact amount they have to spend on one company to promote? How is that fair to the other businesses in the area that are not going to get the advertising like they should be equally getting from the Bureau? If Concord Mills Mall said tomorrow we are shutting down unless we start getting some more incentives equal to Bruton Smith, what would the City of Concord then do? What if all major attractions and business in Concord all got together and threatened to shut the doors and move to another city? The City of Concord has set a very bad precedent in which it could quite cost the people of this city a lot of money down the road to include jobs.

There is also some things listed that Mr. Smith has to do in the next 3 years so lets break that down and discuss why.

He has to widen and realign part of Bruton Smith Boulevard and Morehead Road south of thier current alignment. If the City of Concord wanted to do this then why didn't they just budget it to be done over the next several years? Instead we give it as an incentive and tell him he has to do this which will cost tax payers more money in the long run.

Build a vehicle/pedestrian underpass on U.S. 29 just north of the speedway. Now this has been talked about for the past several years by Mr. Smith. He was going to do this upgrade to make it safer for the race fans to cross U.S. 29. So now since it was already discussed the City of Concord decides that we will just tell him it has to be done by a time frame then we can show we are getting some demands in also to justify this $80 million incentive plan that we don't know how we are going to pay for. Oh and by the way we would like for you to build a vehicle/pedestrian underpass at the main entrance on U.S. 29 and on Morehead Road just north of Performance Drive. Then just for good measure build a vehicle/pedestrian bridge over Morehead Road south of Performance Drive. Now we can say we are getting something out of you for the city for justification purposes.

We then want you to relocate overhead utilities which will have to be done anyways to build an pedestrian overhead bridge. Sorry we just had to list it separate to show we are getting more things from you in a time frame.

Build noise buffers at the drag strip. Ok this makes a lot of sense. The noise buffers were going to be built anyways. Furthermore your talking about 2 cars that run for about 30 seconds when they make their pass. Then across the street you have 43 cars running at same time for about 6 hours. The people in that area with homes or that are getting ready to purchase in the new development being built should no they are going to here noise a couple times a year. Hello you morons you are buying property next to a race track that hosts NASCAR events and now NHRA events.

So in short the residents of the City of Concord have themselves to blame for the mess they are in. They elected their officials that allowed a few people who own or are about to own property and houses near a speedway tell them what to do about noise when they should know living by a race track you will here noise from time to time. They then allowed a man tell them what they were going to do to keep him here. Hello people that was a bluff. First off he is not going to just destroy the speeday and move it. For one the cost to do that would be greater than what he has. Second NASCAR is not going to give him a race where ever he wants to move to. The fall out for that would have been much greater than you can imagine. So why was Concord so afraid to just say no to him when they in turn said no to every department that will have a short fall in their budget the next 40 years so they can pay the $85 million in incentives.

Inconsistent day is storyline of Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s career

2008-08-18T22:25:00.001-04:00

Earnhardt Jr. has another inconsistent day - - SI.com

Ok so he admits they can't put a whole race together and admits he's been like that his whole career. Now people don't get me wrong I am a Dale Jr. fan and was before he moved to the Busch series. I've said this since he moved to the Winston Cup series and I'll continue to say it until I'm proved wrong. Dale Jr. will not win a Cup Championship until he has a better crew chief. It's time to sever the ties with Tony Wury Jr.. Don't get me wrong I like Tony Jr. but he is not Cup championship material. He can't keep up with the cup cars and keep them in contention for an entire race. If he can't do that for a race and on a track they have won at before then what makes everybody think he can keep up with everyone for an entire season and bring home the championship for Dale Jr.. Time and time again he makes bad decisions on Dale Jr.'s cars and at times that is very critical. Two perfect examples Watkins Glen leading and having a fast car and the car to beat, so why keep him out when all the leaders have already pitted. Dale Jr. ends up having to pit under caution and stuck in the back of the pack to ruin any chance of him winning this race. Michigan he has a fast car but on the loose side and Tony Jr. can't catch the car up to the track and fix the problem. Dale Jr. drives his butt off all day to keep it up in contention and the leaders in sight. With six laps to go under caution all the leaders pit to make a final run at the win and Tony keeps Dale Jr. on the track. Nice move to blow a great finish on a car he couldn't fix. Dale Jr. will not win a championship with decisions from a crew chief that can't make the right calls at critical times.

Illegal Immigrants

2008-08-17T01:00:00.003-04:00

Myrick takes aim at college funding | www.charlotteobserver.com

Finally we have an elected official that is looking out for the American people and taking a stand against illegal immigrants. U.S. Rep. Sue Myrick I applaud your efforts and taking a stance to remove government funding and grants to colleges that admit illegal immigrants to their schools. This federal money is suppose to help the American people further their education not be given to people that are in our country illegally.

Now if we can only take a few steps further and take more of a stance on all federal money going to organizations being stopped when they are assisting illegal immigrants with use of Federal money. Maybe if the federal government would start issuing fines to companies and organizations when they knowing spend federal money on illegal immigrants we can come closer to solving this problem. The government could use this money from the fines to help fund immigration law enforcement agencies from the state in which the fines were issued.

2008-08-17T01:00:00.001-04:00

Toyota teams dominating or cheating?

2008-08-17T00:32:00.001-04:00

NASCAR blows the whistle on Gibbs teams

Finally NASCAR has caught and made public how the Toyota teams have been dominating the Nationwide series and possibly the Sprint Cup series. It has been obvious since Daytona in February that Toyota has had a definitive advantage in horsepower. I hope the penalties that will be announced will be very severe to the owner, team, driver, and manufacturer of the obvious actions to violate NASCAR rules to gain a competitive advantage and then to attempt to deceive NASCAR officials in the inspection process.

Government Spending

2008-05-01T18:57:00.001-04:00

Have you ever wondered about the United States Government Budget and where your tax dollars are really going? Have you ever actually looked at the US Budget to see? Let me fill you in on what pisses me off about our government. Think about these figures and ask why.

These are the numbers for the projected US Budget for fiscal year 2009:

We are about to spend $2.3 billion to help Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and West Bank/Gaza achieve necessary economic, democratic, security and political stabilization and to advance their overall development.
.........But we can't support our own United States citizens and keep our own economy alive as jobs continue to be cut and unemployment continues to rise.

We are about to spend $2.1 billion for State Department and USAID programs in Africa to address non-HIV/AIDS health, economic growth and democratic governance needs and to help promote stability in Sudan, Liberia, Zimbabwe and Somalia in support of the President's 2005 commitment to double aid to Africa by 2010.
.......But we still have American citizens without health insurance because they can't afford it.

We are about to spend $4.8 billion for the Global HIV/AIDS Initiative, which directly supports the first year of the President's new five-year, $30 billion plan to treat 2.5 million people, prevent 12 million new infections, and care for 12 million afflicted people.
........Again we can't support our own American citizens but we can spend our money throughout the world and treat them.

We are about to spend $1.7 billion to promote democracy around the world, including support for the President's Freedom Agenda. The President has more than doubled funding for democracy, governance, and human rights programs since taking office.
........Our own democratic offices continue to be corrupt with scandals and we can send billions around the world to promote democracy?

We are about to spend $385 million to support the President's Malaria Initiative to reduce malaria-related deaths by 50 percent in 15 target African countries by 2010.
.........Again we have American citizens not getting health care and medical problems treated, however, we send millions to other countries.

We are about to spend $4.8 billion for foreign military financing to the Middle East, Latin America, Europe and Eurasia, including $2.6 billion for Israel.
........Our own military can't get equipment and support that it needs, however, we can finance militaries in other countries?

We are about to spend $2.4 billion to improve responsiveness to humanitarian crises, including food emergencies and disasters, and the needs of refugees.
......But we still have starving Americans and Americans including disabled veterans sleeping on the streets.

We are about to spend $395 million for public diplomacy to engage foreign audiences and win support for U.S. foreign policy goals.
.......We have to pay countries to support us on our views of world problems. We can't support our own American people through several agencies but we can pay foreign countries to say "YES" we back the United States when they are already getting some kind of money from us supporting them.

We are about to spend $1.5 billion for U.S. obligations to 45 international organizations, including the United Nations.
....We need to start obligatin U.S. dollars to U.S. orginizations to help the American people long before supporting foreign countries.

We are about to spend $1.5 billion to pay the U.S. share of assessments for UN peacekeeping missions.
.....Why are we paying for peacekeeping missions when we are sending our own troops in when asked for assistance. We get no financial help to pay for the military from them instead we give them our military, our food, our supplies, our money and then the reward our military and government get is get out of our country and they kill our men in women that are helping them.

How can we still be electing people into offices that decide to send our money overseas. We have had President after President talk about this program to cut taxes, this program to create jobs, this program will help Americans, this program will, this program will, this program will........

"Wake up Federal Government" what the United States needs to do is quit spending, the over taxed hard earned money on the shortage of jobs that the American people pay, in a way that has no direct benefit to the American people.
We pay taxes on the money we work hard for to support our governement in hope that they will spend that money to better the United States and protect us. What we continue to see is our money spent to rebuild and support foreign countries while the United States falls deeper and deeper in debt and the American people continue to lose their jobs and homes. "Wake up Federal Government" save our America before it's too late.

Yes I'm pissed, as an American Citizen and a Disabled Veteran of the United Staes Marine Corps!

Regrets and Relationships

2007-09-23T11:20:00.001-04:00

There are a lot of things that can form a great relationship and also destroy a relationship. Unfortunately, I have been on both ends of the spectrum. I have a lot of views that differ from most and then on the other hand they might not differ, however, I express my views on relationships and what is expected. This has often provided a false relationship from what it seems to be as being used and taken advantage of. When the relationship came to an end all of a sudden I am being slandered to being the bad person and portrayed as an asshole. Its funny because I believe in honesty and respect and if you don’t have that in any relationship whether its friendship or more then you don’t really have a relationship at all. If any of those two things are broken at any time then I view our relationship as done. I am honest, open, and straight forward so I guess that is what gets me into trouble at times. I try to be easy going and do what it takes to keep my attitude in check and blood pressure down but only so many buttons can be pushed before you do see a pissed off former Marine from New York. I can and will make your life a living hell if that button is pushed.

I try not to look back in life with what-ifs and say I have regrets but in the past month or two I have often looked at a few regrets in my life. I regret getting married when I got out of the Marines in 1992. On the other hand I wouldn’t have my son if I wouldn’t have done that. I regret trying to give whatever I have to make somebody else’s life better. Which leads to my third regret. I guess everything does happen in threes. I finally got a call of a life time and something I wanted for years. I was called to drive truck on the NASCAR circuit. While out there I met somebody who I thought was a great person. I regret allowing the relationship to form and for that to form some of my views and things that I was doing. I eventually left the circuit to be home more with her and her son. I regretted that move miserably and went back out. While out there I get a text message about us being done. I regret that I even got into a relationship with a person who hides behind there child and uses that for a reason in everything that they do and why they can’t do something. A child does not dictate your life. You are the adult and control how that child grows up and the view you instill into him/her for them to make the most out of life and to succeed. Now most regrettably, I tried my best to make it work and left the circuit once again to take a job at home. At this time once I had another great job she called it quits. She can’t live with somebody or a have a relationship that will take any time away from her son. What a boring life that will be to not live and do things because you have a child. I guess that child will grow up weak and sheltered. I regret that I did not listen to my heart to begin with and listen to my family and not make that move.

Most of all I regret that I have been involved in two relationships in the past five years with people that I would walk through fire for and do whatever it took to make them happy and gotten screwed over. I have come to a conclusion that a relationship is nothing more than a book that you open up and then some chapters you regret reading because it was a disappointment. I have chosen to open up another book so I will see how this one reads as the first chapter is still being written for me to look at.