Friday Follies...
Whew, this has been one of those more "interesting" weeks, as weeks tend to go.
The GOP (Guys/gals On Probation) took back the House of Representatives, the FED decided to buy back a ton of securities from ITSELF, and then pay for it all by printing up some money to the tune of $600 BILLION dollars.
And that was ONLY the first FIVE days of the month...GEEZUS!
Kinda makes 'ya wonder what the REST of the month will be like, hmm?
In the meantime, let's see what else has been shaking...
THE GIRLS ARE BACK IN TOWN, and by that, I mean another season of one of MY favorite "must see" programs (on TLC).
The gals in blue have returned, this time from DALLAS, TEXAS.
Nothing nicer than women in fast cars, with guns on their hips taking down the criminals of our cities.
Always puts a smile on MY face (and gives me more than a few laughs).
Police Women of Dallas premiered last night with a 2-hour run (8-10PM), and I just knew this would be one helluva RIDE-ALONG.
Here's the link to the official site, complete with videos of the officers:
http://tlc.discovery.com/tv/police-women-of-dallas/
This link starts with a segment called WHAT A DOPE...and it's a good video.
I really like Sgt. Tracey Jones...she doesn't take ANY guff off of ANYONE.
She even referred to over 20 participants in a fight at an apartment complex as SAVAGES, and that says a lot to me. She "gets it".
Being black, she has a unique perspective on what she sees on the streets, and not afraid to call people what they really are had me applauding.
I'd partner up with her ANY day...on ANY shift!
This season, they also have a 2 woman car (officers Mia Shagney and Sara Ramsey), and these girls are like Batman & Robin.
When they roll up, you'd best have your head on straight and get yourself as unf$cked as possible ASAP.
This team takes no prisoners (except to jail).
Officer Melissa Person is the senior corporal of the group and she exudes the professional experience that nine years on the force will provide.
Officer Beth Burnside grew up in a small town, but really gets to see a lot of the "big city" while wearing the shield.



Overall, this is another great season of the Police Women of____ series.
What never ceases to amaze me ( if you see the show, you'll understand, and if you're a LEO, you know THIS from being on the street) is the total lack of fear and/or respect shown towards the officers.
People spew nothing but lies almost constantly, and it really shakes one's confidence in people.
But you have to realize, that many people GREW UP with such a mindset.
They LEARNED to be so untruthful from a very early age.
My wife sees it in her classrooms daily.
So, the people have a great "head-start", as it were.
It's got nothing at all to do with "being poor", or growing up in the bad part of town...or even being a minority...
It's got everything to do with the WRONG way of being brought the hell up, however.
When the parents are raised as liars, they instill such "values" on their kids...just like generational public-assistance.
Mark Twain said that if you tell the truth, you don't have difficulty remembering all the damn lies, and he was right.
Anyway, you have to watch this show...it's really good.
And I get to see MORE people just like the ones living on MY street, but with ONE difference:
The ones in DALLAS are getting ARRESTED for their behavior...the ones on MY street...not so much.
Hey, I'll take a happy ending wherever I can find one, even if it's "vicarious" in nature.
We're also supposed to be seeing a pre Black Friday "Black Friday" for the Christmas season, so that ought to confuse the snot out of everyone.
The missus just finished two long evenings of "parent conferences" at her school (she has off today, so the school doesn't have to pay any O/T...how "nice" of them). And from what she told me, they could have made THESE into a reality show series...LOL.
"Mrs. Smith, the reason your son sucks in my class is that he's NEVER there...you'd think in order to LEARN, one has to SHOW THE HELL UP, right?"
Well, it doesn't go down EXACTLY like that, but you get the idea...
Of course there are more "excuses" instead of REASONS to go around, but you have to expect that in today's world.
No one wants to offer a reason, when you can TRY and BS whoever by tossing excuses out like Halloween candy.
Again, it comes back to Mark Twain, doesn't it?
The next episode of the original AMC series THE WALKING DEAD is on this weekend, and if being stuck in an M1A1 Abrams tank with a zombie (soldier) you just shot and killed (and damn near made yourself DEAF in the process) while hoards more are climbing ON the tank doesn't whet your appetite for some serious paybacks, I don't know what will.
Again, I see a bit of myself in this series...fighting off zombies.
Sounds a lot like MY ghettohood.
I mean, most of the "neighbors" are pretty close to being the "walking dead" themselves...they're just too damn lazy to lie the hell down.
Strike that...they're pretty much too damn lazy to do ANYTHING, especially work and be a productive citizen.
They spend all day roaming about, committing crime, and basically being a NUISANCE.
Yeah, that DOES sound a lot like what describes a ZOMBIE, come to think of it.
Damn shame that the city can't find a "cure" for this bane...
But at least one part of the ghettohood IS getting a "revamp" (for what that's worth).
The Pontiac-Hanna-Creightion area (where they stuck up some new housing - rent to own stuff) is getting a MAKEOVER (another reality show in the making...Pimp My 'Hood?) with money being tossed at the area for sidewalks, curb strips and TREES.
OK, so what I can get from THAT, is that the people will STILL walk in the damn street (sidewalks ineffective), and the trees will be used by kids as "monkey bars". (shades of Tarzan, and so very appropriate)
Instead of tossing MILLIONS at ONE area as a form of revitalizing (an already bad area that is trying to be made nice), why not try to SAVE other areas that are on the brink of slurping down the crapper?
Hell, I'm always saying how ANY city is ONLY AS GOOD AS IT'S WORST AREA.
Seems in Fort Wayne, we're having MORE "worst areas", and that can't be good, can it?
My neighborhood COULD be saved and brought back from the brink of "slumdom", but apparently, we STILL have a few whites that refuse to leave and turn it completely over to the ZOMBIES (damn them crackers)!
Well, it must really suck to be the city's SE side developer now, right?
Actually, we HAVE no development to speak of, so why even have anyone running this dog & pony show?
Still, hope springs eternal at OUR house, regardless of the numbers of mindless walking dead that pass our windows daily.
If and when WE leave the area, it will be at a time of OUR choosing, not anyone else's.
And I think that should suffice for anyone willing to stand their ground and fight for THEIR property and THEIR lives.
Now remember...we've FIFTY shopping days until Christmas, and 732 days before we elect a new President (I'm just sayin').
So, watch out for zombies, and have yourselves a fantastic weekend.
Lastly don't forget to turn the clocks BACK when you go to bed Saturday night...get that "extra hour" of shut-eye, 'K?
Be well, make a difference to someone, and as always...
Stay safe out there, America.

Think Before You Act...
Now how MANY times have we all heard this growing up?
Our parents wanted us to realize that damn near EVERYTHING we do in life requires THREE major things:
1) Thought
2) Action
3) Consequences
And it's the darn THIRD thing that a lot of people have trouble with these days.
You see, when a plan...ANY plan is poorly thought out, that's not usually a good thing.
And when that poorly thought out plan is poorly executed, that's even worse.
But when after ALL of that is said and done, no one wants to accept consequences, or even acknowledges that there ARE any consequences to be handed out, that's the epitome of "dumbassery"!
So, what does our government decide to do?
Well, if you read the tail end of yesterday's post, you'd already KNOW.
Or, if you watched Glenn Beck yesterday, or any REAL news source, you'd also know.
But, if anyone had a lot of things going on yesterday, or wants a refresher course, I'm only too happy to oblige.
Today, the Federal Reserve will OK the printing of about $600 BILLION (with a *B*) dollars of U.S. currency.
And this is part of another "stimulus" package, designed to shore up our economy.
Here's the link to the story:
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/11/federal-reserve-print-billions-dollars-massive-shadow-stimulus/
Trouble is, this action will have an opposite effect.
America is buying back it's OWN securities...that alone should clue us in as to WTF is going on.
And here's the link to THAT story:
http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_16513163?nclick_check=1
Don'cha think it's REALLY WEIRD that the SAME amount of money is involved with BOTH "transactions"?
(such a damn coincidence, too)
But when you print ALL this money, simply because you've got presses, and plates, and paper and ink...that's a recipe for some nasty sh*t!
Commodities are already beginning to rise, and with it, prices at the local grocery.
I suppose that meeting (or exceeding) our EXPORT needs is more "important" than the needs of OUR OWN CITIZENRY, right?
We are exporting grains out the wazoo, and that does NOT mean we have that much of a surplus to do so.
It means our government is pulling another "sleight-of-hand" trick behind our backs...AGAIN.
They are buying back securities with newly-printed currency, because they have NO OTHER WAY of doing so. Those export revenues ain't gonna cut it. And we import damn near everything else.
Of course, firing up the Treasury Dept's presses (again) WILL cause some really neat financial impacts ON our currency, such as DEVALUATION of the DOLLAR.
That means that "if" you have say, $100,000 in your retirement fund (and who DOESN'T these days?), it's ONLY going to be worth $60,000.
Nice, huh?
Now, I might be one of those people that just "doesn't get it", but if you ask me, something just doesn't add up here.
Here's a link to a story from just last month:
http://www.tampabay.com/news/perspective/the-fed-is-printing-money-and-thats-bad/1128144
The new "catch-phrase" will be called QUANTITATIVE EASING...(*ahem*)....
Bernanke has been all over this like white on rice, and he thinks this is fine and dandy.
Well, so far, we've filled TWO of those THREE things I mentioned above.
We have a poorly thought out "plan".
And we have an even more poorly executed "plan".
All we have to do is sit back and wait for that other shoe to drop, namely the CONSEQUENCES of the thoughts and actions.
Make no mistake, it will cost ALL of us, especially those with finite financial resources. (which comprises the vast majority of the American populace.)
You will see a difference at the grocer, at the malls, and damn near anywhere else YOU have to plunk down YOUR hard-earned cash for something...anything you need (or even want).
Cripes, the price of a DECENT six pack of GOOD beer (not the cat piss posing as America's largest selling beers) costs AT LEAST $8 (and change)!
I could buy TWO and a half CASES of Tiger Head Ale (Schmidts) back in Philly 30 years ago for that price!
And get deposit money towards the NEXT purchase to boot!
Milk is over $2 a gallon, and the price of boxed cereal is creeping UPWARDS...
Oh, you "think" that the box of Cap'n Crunch you got for $2.58 at Krogers was a "bargain?
Check the SIZE and WEIGHT of the box against what you USED to get for the same price.
You are getting LESS cereal in a SMALLER box...for the same price, so, you're not paying "more", right?
Well, I hope your cereal BOWLS are smaller as well, that way you won't feel the pinch when you eat it.
This is only the tip of the iceberg here...
If (and hopefully not WHEN) our dollar begins to tank, we will be hip-deep in seven kinds of crap REAL fast.
I just hope it never comes to that.
I'd hate to think that the Mexican PESO would be worth AS MUCH, or even MORE than OUR DOLLAR.
Face it, the WORLD depends on OUR money...
Why?
Well, because we are a "prosperous" nation, that's why.
At least we SHOULD be...or NEED to be.
We were the nation that set the bar for everyone else.
We were the nation other people left THEIR homeland for, because it was a "land of opportunity".
We still can be, if we ALL pay the hell attention to what the government is doing. All these (up to this point) failed and flawed stimulus plans have done little if anything to kick-start this economy.
That can only be done by small businesses hiring people, banks lending without getting hosed by deadbeat borrowers, and a government that needs to hold the line when it comes to "giveaways" to any and all comers.
This nation isn't a damn game show, and there is no money-wheel to spin for the big bucks.
Although some days, I think the West Wing DOES have one available...and it's being used way too often.
It DOES all come down to THOUGHT, ACTION, and CONSEQUENCES.
I don't care if you're a regular citizen OR the federal government.
These things apply to everyone, and all the time.
This administration needs to really THINK before they act...BIG TIME!
And they need to carefully weigh ANY actions they pursue after thinking about whatever it is they're doing.
But mostly, they have to go back to step ONE, and THINK about the damn CONSEQUENCES of whatever actions they DO take...for everyone's sake.
Some people you will meet in life have NO trouble acting upon their thoughts with no regard as to the outcome...that's why we have so much CRIME and so many THUGS roaming about.
That's why you have domestic batteries against women before the damn sun comes up.
Or a DUI before 9AM...
Or even the rape of a teen going to the school bus stop.
Some folks have NO qualms about acting on "instinct", as in ANIMAL or carnal instinct.
I would like to believe that our GOVERNMENT is above such things.
But when they try to pull such boneheaded stunts as we're seeing with OUR economy, and especially OUR MONEY, I really have to pause and think about all of this. As should you.
You should never mortgage anyone's future, and especially NOT by NEGATING that future totally.
This nation is on very thin financial "ice", and it would be prudent to tread CAREFULLY, lest it fall through, and possibly drown.
(I hear the water can be very cold and unforgiving)
It's just something that needs OUR attention...and our questioning whether this is the right course to chart at this point in time.
We need to be vigilant in the pursuit of the truth, and to brace for whatever comes blowing our way.
But most of all, we need to THINK...before we act, and always act with knowledge of what the outcome can be.
That's the American way to do things.
And it works damn well.
Be well, make a difference to someone, and...
Stay safe out there, America.

Humpday Happenings...
Now THIS is the kind of "humpday" worth talking about, at least politically-speaking.
The GOP has taken back the House of Representatives, and made up some ground in the Senate (sounds like a review of a recent battlefield conflict).
Now, while I have to admit that this WAS a battlefield of sorts (primarily the Battlefield of Ideas), the war has yet to be won.
But the American people are in a much better TACTICAL position than we have been, and for all the right strategic reasons.
And if we learn any lesson from other conflicts such as...VIETNAM, we SHOULD be "in it to win it", just like we did in WW2.
The GOP stands for Grand Old Party, as has been a nickname of the REPUBLICAN party for quite some time.
But, let's bring a NEW nickname into the 21st century for the Republicans, shall we?
Let's call the GOP:
Guys/Gals
On
Probation
I think the American people have spoken...and LOUDLY, too.
They (we) are willing to allow those within the Republican party ONE chance to get this crap RIGHT, and straighten out the mess that's been left strewn about over the last 2 years.
That's ONE CHANCE...no "do-overs", people.
Sink of swim...
SUCCEED...or FAIL.
SH*T...or get off the damn POT.
The choice is up to those America has voted into office.
They NOW work...for US.
They represent...US.
And it's with that mindset we allow these people the opportunity to restore this nation, instead of destroy it.
Many decisions might not be popular, and some might be difficult.
But how many times did your Mom spoon some needed medicine into you as a child...and it tasted HORRIBLE, but she always added that:
"IT TAKES BITTER TO DRIVE BITTER"
Mom knew HER stuff, as did the Doc that prescribed that nasty crap, because you're all here, right?
So, it should be simple to figure out what NEEDS to be done to reverse this progressive agenda.
The best news is that the "Triumvirate" of Obama, Pelosi and Reid has been broken. The worst news is that REID won his election (WTF are the people in Nevada SMOKING, anyway?), but John Boehner (R-OH) will be the NEW Speaker of the House (thank you, Jesus!) and majority leader.
And very soon, we'll all see how well the "rubber meets the road" in the Republican party.
Let's hope they have been taking notes over the last 24 months, and are aware that WE are watching THEM...holding THEM accountable.
*** Locally (in Fort Wayne), Judge Ken Scheibenberger will NOT be returning to the bench. He was defeated by Wendy Davis for the position.
Now, I've always referred to the judge as "Turn 'em loose Kenny", because I've noticed too many times that he gave away too much probation time that allowed many thugs to get back into their particular "swing of things", vis-a-vis RE-OFFEND.
Of course, he did have the re-entry court thing going, and in my humble opinion, it's a toss-up.
Some people (especially in my part of town) simply cannot BE rehabilitated, or will play the system, saying the right things, and doing what's expected of them UNTIL they finish whatever course the court system tossed at them, ONLY to take up business as usual on our streets again.
*** Our prosecutor (Karen Richards) ran unopposed...as usual.
Would be nice to see someone defeat her, if only because a FRESH infusion of "law and order" is required.
When ANY prosecutor (or D.A.) will ONLY go after cases that are "nothing but net", and yet gloss over cases that COULD be prosecuted, but are not, that says (to me) that you're giving the BAD GUYS a lot more power than they should be enjoying...and you're taking the easy way out.
*** Allen County Sheriff Ken Fries was voted back in (thank God), and the only opponent was David Roach (perennial candidate for any office, and with no law-enforcement experience, at least not on the RIGHT side of the shield, if you get my drift).
What amazed me, was that Roach got over 20K votes...!
(ahem)
WTF were all these people THINKING???
Betcha if Dave Roach moved to San Francisco, and ran for office he WOULD win hands down, if you know what I mean.
*** We've three new faces on the FWCS board, the most notable being Jordan Lebamoff, who defeated Kevin Brown. Now Kevin COULD have possibly won...IF ONLY that DUI he was cited for had been the ONLY offense in his past. Sadly, it was not. He had a small history with another DUI, and that alone will be enough to sway voters with half a brain.
*** One thing that got me scratching my head, was the EACS (East Allen County Schools) referendum on a tax levy to fund schools was VOTED DOWN.
Uh...I guess the people don't care about the schools?
I mean, there IS such a thing as a SCHOOL TAX, or at least a portion OF your tax money DOES go to the school system.
This school system has ALREADY got 5 schools in it's sights to CLOSE, and that's before the $8.1 Mil they "thought" they might get to aid in the "redesign" of the system.
Gonna be some LONG nights in the "rethink" department there.
*** Indiana voters overwhelmingly voted FOR an amendment to the state constitution that would make the property tax "caps" permanent.
While this might look GOOD on the surface...you have to really think about it.
There is a BIGGER PICTURE that needs viewing.
City and State (and even private) entities that depended on property tax money to pay for the costs of projects will have to do without...or at least a helluva lot LESS. In some ways, that's a GOOD thing.
It gets rid of WANT TO projects and forces more NEED TO projects to the top of the list.
Personally, the way OUR property taxes have all but "bottomed-out" over the last few years, they could raise OUR taxes 100% and we wouldn't bat an eyelash...!
Our taxes dropped from about $700 a year to $89 a year.
First time in MY life I have ever seen this happen, even when my folks had THEIR house in Philly.
And we have to thank the city of fort Wayne for allowing OUR part of town to decline SO rapidly, as to SAVE us all that money (that they could have used).
It's a real ROFLMAO moment...every time the property taxes come due around our house.
Now, I'm sure a LOT of people in Fort Wayne would HATE to see their property taxes RISE (because they're already paying over a thousand bucks a year), but many of these folks brought it upon themselves, by moving to all those nice, new developments with over-priced housing and lower crime.
All that was needed was to keep what you HAD, and force whatever crime that wanted to come into the area the hell out on a damn rail...period.
Then, we'd have a lot more people paying a lot more FAIR SHARE of the property taxes all over the city, INSTEAD of other areas paying MOST ALL of the freight. THAT would have been a lot better, don'cha think?
And this is not exclusive TO Fort Wayne...oh, no.
Yeah, it's another case of the more things change, the more they stay the same.
So...what will the future hold in store for the American people?
Well, I'd like to believe that we're NOT going to have rioting and fires like we've seen in Greece...or France.
But if anything is done to repeal a part of the welfare system or unemployment "bennies" (down from an insidious 99 WEEKS..what a slap in the face of working people everywhere), there will be violence from the unwashed masses, instigated by unions and minorities.
You can take THAT to the bank.
We can't pull a "cold-turkey" gig with ANY of these programs, unfortunately...
But we, as a nation CAN begin to wean people off of this generational cycle of over-dependency on a government that can't really PAY for all these programs in the first place, can we not?
You will read today where the USA is buying BACK it's liong-term securities...not a good thing.
Here's the link (and it affects EVERYONE, trust me on this):
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20101103/BIZ/311039985/1031/BIZ
I guess the FED will just print up some more "Monopoly money" to PAY for all this, which will lead to further devaluation of our dollar (and less buying power around the globe), and that wil lead to inflationary tactics, and get set to blow your breakfast, because this here Merry-Go-Round ain't stopping ANY time soon...
If anything, it's speeding the hell UP.
*** Lastly today, I want to leave you with some bumper stickers that will place a smile on your face, because Lord knows, we can use as many of them as we can possibly get.















There, now that wasn't too painful, was it?
I might even make this recurring feature of the blog...certain special "bumper-snicker" days.
Right up there with Tales From the SouthSide and Believe It Or Else.
I mean if we can't smile once in a while, even in the WORST of times, what is truly left in life, right?
By the way, we have only FIFTY TWO shopping days left until CHRISTMAS...in case anyone was keeping count.
Be well, make a difference to someone, and...
Stay safe out there, America.

OK, Now It's Official...
I have to begin today with a death notice.
And, like ANY death notice, there is always some sadness to it...for someone.
This past weekend, on Halloween to be exact, a death went hardly unnoticed.
Now, in today's fast-paced world, who can honestly keep up with everything that goes on around us, hmm?
And yet, THIS death means a lot to me, and I'm sure when you read about it, you'll feel something as well.
The PONTIAC motor car division of General Motors is deceased...no longer alive...taking that long dirt nap.
Such an ignoble ending to a fabulous line of automobiles.
But, if you check my archives, I had a "future" obit about a year ago, complete with the tombstone seen here.
The NY Times even had their OWN obituary in yesterday's edition:
(( "It was 84 years old. The cause of death was in dispute. Fans said Pontiac's wounds were self-inflicted, while General Motors blamed a terminal illness contracted during last year's bankruptcy. Pontiac built its last car nearly a year ago, but the official end was set for Oct. 31, when G.M.'s agreements with Pontiac dealers expire." ))
Eighty four years old...hardly seems fair, does it?
Now, you CAN get a really good deal at a GM dealer for "leftovers" with as much as $6-$8K off the sticker price for remaining models, but the warranty might be less than a full term one, and rather abbreviated.
Hell, the warranty on MY Pontiac expired around 1986. Weird thing is...it STILL RUNS (and pretty damn well).
Personally, I think a lot of the problems Pontiac encountered began with the engineers and body stylists.
When you "reinvent" a model such as the venerable GTO with a car that basically comes from DOWN UNDER (Australia - The Mondaro) it makes you stop and wonder.
When men of vision like Bunky Knudsen and John DeLorean fade from view, and no one with such foresight and innovation steps in to take their place, what can you expect, other than the "cookie-cutter" vehicles in showrooms today.
Yes, such iconic names as Bonneville, Catalina, GTO, Trans Am, Firebird, Tempest, Chieftain, Ventura, Vista-Cruiser, LeMans, Grand Prix, Fiero...and many more. They are ALL no longer among the "living".
Still, if anything, many of them have survived the morticians funeral and evaded the "graveyard".
It's just that keeping them on life-support (and on the road) will take a bit more work from the owners.
For a much more comprehensive explanation of what PONTIAC was, as a car company, here's the WIKI:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontiac
It bothers me to think that we, here in America were once responsible for manufacturing SO many automobiles.
Here's the WIKI on JUST the "defunct" American manufacturers:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_defunct_United_States_automobile_manufacturers This list is ASTOUNDING!
Now, consider THIS...
The United States "produced" over 5.7 MILLION motor vehicles just LAST year.
(China leads the pack...we're THIRD behind Japan)
Yet how many AMERICAN CARS did WE make?
Nowhere near that 5.7 Mil...that's for sure.
ANY vehicle that has at least 20% of it's manufacturing done in a specific country is considered to be "made" IN that country.
So that means that all the cars with sub-assemblies produced in say MEXICO...or CANADA are still thought of as "made in the U.S.", because 20% of the work (final assemblies) are performed HERE.
Which means that the TAXI you're riding in isn't "all American" these days...and neither is that POLICE CRUISER that's chasing down the bad guys.
Pretty sad state of affairs, don'cha think?
And if that's not enough to make you burn your toast, try this:
After WW2, the UK had close to 142 car makers actively manufacturing vehicles. Their exports alone were in the millions.
Today, you can practically count the car makers on ONE hand, and THOSE companies are owned and operated by other nations, for the most part.
On last night's (BBC America channel) TOP GEAR episode, Jeremy Clarkson made this observation, which was spot on..."We don't make ANYTHING anymore" he proclaimed...and he was right. Britain was the home of the two-seat sports car, even after the Corvette came along.
Today, they just don't make anything.
Same goes for the USA.
Sure, we have a percentage of our workforce building cars and trucks, but BY whom...and FOR whom?
Our choices as consumers are extremely FINITE these days.
Gone is the competitive spirit that drove us (pun not intended) through the Industrial Revolution and into automotive history.
The "Big Three" managed to quash that rather nicely (anyone remember a man named Preston Tucker?)...and then turn in upon itself along the way.
Well, that's what happens when you become a bit of a hog with an ever-increasing appetite.
After you've "eaten" everything around you, you start gnawing on YOURSELF...and we see the results.
Add this insatiable hunger to a staff that lacks the innovative skills and engineering dreams that can be turned into automotive reality, and you've got a lot of rolling boredom on the highways...and to what end?
Fuel economy has come a long way since the days of abundant gasoline at rock-bottom prices.
And certain, specific styling aspects and engineering breakthroughs have helped that along nicely.
But overall, we've not gotten all that far...and we were doing so damn well for a time.
Now, we turn to alternative fuels.
(rolls eyes) Puh-lease...spare me the angst.
We're not exploring good alternatives like HYDROGEN, while thrusting ETHANOL in our faces.
Soon, we'll see E-15 at the pumps...more ethanol, less gasoline, and to some newer vehicles, that's fine and dandy.
But what about dinosaurs like MINE?
What about the corrosive properties of ethanol? How's that going to work in older cars and trucks?
And WHO is going to pay for any damages incurred by USING such a mixture in a vehicle NOT designed to use it in the first place?
(probably US...as usual)
Seems we've got one helluva ditch being dug all about us...
And when there is no purpose and no really good result of that ditch being dug, wouldn't it be nice if all these people just put DOWN the damn shovels and STOPPED DIGGING?
I mean, haven't we enough problems in front of us these days, without having to worry about how we're all going to be getting around to face those problems?
Perhaps we'll become like some Indonesian nation...replete with moped and bicycles for everyone.
Or even better...we could always go back to HORSES and BUGGIES.
(I'm sure the AMISH would love that - they could be the next Bill Gates)
We need to be moving FORWARD...not backward as a nation, and as a people.
We need to pursue that which made us great in the past.
We do not need to lower ourselves or our standards to place us "on par" with less developed nations.
That's what's been happening.
This needs to stop...now.
And perhaps there's is no better place for this to occur than at the voting booth...today.
Maybe, by flipping ONE lever, YOU can allow the United States to get back on the path this nation was destined to travel on, and not the ditch this nation has been driven into by all those with shovels in their hands.
We do need a CAN-DO spirit again here...that much is certain.
Because having to attend so many "funerals" such as the aforementioned one, is never good for anyone, least of all the deceased.
Therein lies the lesson.
Be well, make a difference to someone today, and...
Stay safe out there, America.