Starting a new year is pretty much routine by the time you are my age.
No late party so no hangover.
A day off to relax and watch a parade or football game.
This New Years Day is feeling much different.
Today I keep thinking that this is how I felt during my last finals week at the University of Oregon.
I was reaching the end of a long journey that had taken 16 years and gone down many paths.
Sometimes confident and successful, other times, not so much.
But I had made it to the end.
My education was completed.
Now it was time for a new passage.
This one through life as an adult.
Lots of paths over an even longer time, 42 years.
Husband, father, ex-husband, husband, ex-husband, husband, grand father!
A constant has been that I always was working or looking for work.
By the end of ths year that will change.
I'll be retired.
I'll still be a husband, father and grand father but I won't be working.
I'm anxious but sort of melancholy.
Work has provided me with more than money.
I've met many interesting and good people, as well as some real wanks!
Work has taken me to places out of the ordinary, Panama, Colombia, England, Germany and cities in the US, out of Oregon.
Work has shown me that people can be good or bad, selfish and charitable, doesn't matter the language they speak. People are people.
Work has been another extension of my education, along with life in general.
I'm not sure what the next journey is going to be like, right now all I really care us that its a long and interesting one that keeps teaching me.
Maybe I'll get around to organizing The Cult of Bob the Eternal Procrastinator and finish writing The Book of Bob.
Some day.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Election Day Thoughts From a Friend.
My very dear friend, Luanne Zoller, posted this on election day.
It's time for all of us to set aside our egos and start thinking of what we can do to help our country.
Put this on FaceBook just now.......
Dear Friends,
This will be my last political post. I am really worried about the divisiveness of this election and how it seems to be affecting friendships. I am also very worried that some of my FB “friends” are considering voting for a candidate that is a polar opposite to everything I hold dear in my life.
I believe in Diplomacy as opposed to War. I believe in the United Nations. I believe in Defending this Nation. I believe in Peace on Earth and not bomb the crap out of everybody. I believe in honoring Diversity and Religious Freedom, for all citizens of this planet. I believe that Love Not Hate will heal the world.
I believe that the Administration prior to this one got us into this Economic Mess. I believe that it takes more than 4 years to get us out of it. I believe we are on the Right Track. I believe that the 2% should have to pay their fair share of taxes. I believe that the Economy is Improving. I believe that Wall Street, Corporations and Banks have ruined us. I believe in the Middle Class and the 98%. I don’t believe in Greed.
I believe in the Separation of Church and State. I believe in Human Rights and Civil Rights. I believe that as a Woman, I have the right to make my own medical decisions. I believe that I should have the Right to Marry the person I choose to marry and not have some politician or hateful bigot make that decision for me.
I believe in a God and I believe that God is a loving being that wants me to take care of the Sick, Elderly and Poor. I do believe there is a time and place for Hand Outs and I also believe in giving a Hands Up. I believe in Compassion.
I believe in a Strong Government which provides us with FEMA and I believe disasters of this scale require Federal Intervention and Assistance. I don’t believe that states should have to fend for themselves.
I believe in Your Right to Bear Arms but not your right to use an assault weapon on innocent children and citizens. I believe there are some sick people out there that need help but I also believe in removing these weapons.
And yes, I believe in Global Warming. And I believe in putting the Environment First so that later generations can enjoy this Spectacular Planet.
Please vote your Conscience.
It's time for all of us to set aside our egos and start thinking of what we can do to help our country.
Put this on FaceBook just now.......
Dear Friends,
This will be my last political post. I am really worried about the divisiveness of this election and how it seems to be affecting friendships. I am also very worried that some of my FB “friends” are considering voting for a candidate that is a polar opposite to everything I hold dear in my life.
I believe in Diplomacy as opposed to War. I believe in the United Nations. I believe in Defending this Nation. I believe in Peace on Earth and not bomb the crap out of everybody. I believe in honoring Diversity and Religious Freedom, for all citizens of this planet. I believe that Love Not Hate will heal the world.
I believe that the Administration prior to this one got us into this Economic Mess. I believe that it takes more than 4 years to get us out of it. I believe we are on the Right Track. I believe that the 2% should have to pay their fair share of taxes. I believe that the Economy is Improving. I believe that Wall Street, Corporations and Banks have ruined us. I believe in the Middle Class and the 98%. I don’t believe in Greed.
I believe in the Separation of Church and State. I believe in Human Rights and Civil Rights. I believe that as a Woman, I have the right to make my own medical decisions. I believe that I should have the Right to Marry the person I choose to marry and not have some politician or hateful bigot make that decision for me.
I believe in a God and I believe that God is a loving being that wants me to take care of the Sick, Elderly and Poor. I do believe there is a time and place for Hand Outs and I also believe in giving a Hands Up. I believe in Compassion.
I believe in a Strong Government which provides us with FEMA and I believe disasters of this scale require Federal Intervention and Assistance. I don’t believe that states should have to fend for themselves.
I believe in Your Right to Bear Arms but not your right to use an assault weapon on innocent children and citizens. I believe there are some sick people out there that need help but I also believe in removing these weapons.
And yes, I believe in Global Warming. And I believe in putting the Environment First so that later generations can enjoy this Spectacular Planet.
Please vote your Conscience.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Where Did Mitt Go?
Before the campaign really got going I thought to myself that should Romney win, that that would probably be okay.
He's a good, spiritual family. Smarter than W, and a much better speaker at least.
Most of all a man of principles, ethics and commitment.
I still that was right then, but what has happened I believe to Mr. Romney is that in his ambition to become President, he has lost track of who he is.
He has reverted to being a fast tlking salesman like he was at Bain.
You know the kind.
They'll promise or say anything to get you to sign on the dotted line and close the deal.
Conservative crowd, hey, I'm a severe conservative.
No abortions under any case.
Lets spend $2 trillion more on defense than the military asks for.
Merry Christmas defense contractors.
And then the debates.
The biggest audiences he will ever see and that ol' severe conservative changes faster than a cameleon's dream.
Whatever Obama had accomplished, the governor was right behind him, smiling like pig in shit, no rancor, just that Chamber oc Commerce grin.
Ya, he would have gotten Bib Laden.
Ya, he would have bailed out the auto industry.
Ya, he would make sure everyone had health care.
He was spinning bullshit so fast and furious it was dripping off of his chin.
He forgot about saying getting Bin Laden was a waste of time.
He forgot that his plan for private financing the auto bailout wouldn't have worked. There was no private money out ther.
He forgot his statement that we have health coverage for the uninsured already, its the hospital emergency room.
The scariest thing about Romney for me is the group of people he has for advisors.
Many of them are the same people that W turned to.
The same o es that led us into 2 wars.
The same that sat and watched while the economy was collapsing.
They say that a sign of insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting a different outcome.
What does that say about the people that will vote for Romney?
He's slicker and talks better but is he any different?
He's a good, spiritual family. Smarter than W, and a much better speaker at least.
Most of all a man of principles, ethics and commitment.
I still that was right then, but what has happened I believe to Mr. Romney is that in his ambition to become President, he has lost track of who he is.
He has reverted to being a fast tlking salesman like he was at Bain.
You know the kind.
They'll promise or say anything to get you to sign on the dotted line and close the deal.
Conservative crowd, hey, I'm a severe conservative.
No abortions under any case.
Lets spend $2 trillion more on defense than the military asks for.
Merry Christmas defense contractors.
And then the debates.
The biggest audiences he will ever see and that ol' severe conservative changes faster than a cameleon's dream.
Whatever Obama had accomplished, the governor was right behind him, smiling like pig in shit, no rancor, just that Chamber oc Commerce grin.
Ya, he would have gotten Bib Laden.
Ya, he would have bailed out the auto industry.
Ya, he would make sure everyone had health care.
He was spinning bullshit so fast and furious it was dripping off of his chin.
He forgot about saying getting Bin Laden was a waste of time.
He forgot that his plan for private financing the auto bailout wouldn't have worked. There was no private money out ther.
He forgot his statement that we have health coverage for the uninsured already, its the hospital emergency room.
The scariest thing about Romney for me is the group of people he has for advisors.
Many of them are the same people that W turned to.
The same o es that led us into 2 wars.
The same that sat and watched while the economy was collapsing.
They say that a sign of insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting a different outcome.
What does that say about the people that will vote for Romney?
He's slicker and talks better but is he any different?
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Romney, Romney, Where's Romney?
In last week's Presidential debate Gov. Romney continued his trip down the path of no identity.
He was the very moderate conservative governor of Massachusetts.
During the campaign he became the self professed 'severe conservative'.
Whateve the hell that is.
Then last week he swerved back to the moderate middle.
In the vernacular of the texting world, WTF?
Easy explanation. Like any good chameleon, or person with no conviction, he adjusts his views to those of his audience.
I'm sure if he had been speaking to a group of nuns he would have been saying Hail Marys!
He has alternated between being pro-choice or anti-choice(aka pro-life) depending upon the audience.
Gov. Romney created a successful healthcare system, now he wants to abandon Obamacare which is a veritable copy of his RomneyCare plan.
He stated that 47% of the people won't vote for him no matter what so he won't even address them, then days later he is assurring everyone that he would be a 100% President.
Oh, wait 100%er in public, 47% in private.
Different audience, different point of view.
He said that he plans on maintaining the Bush tax cuts and cut everyone's tax rates by 20% and increase defense spending by $2trillion.
All of these reductions in income and he will keep the budget 'revenue' neutral by eliminating deductions, loop holes, etc..
But the middle class won't pay more.
The bean counters have calculated that 20% equals about $4.7 trillion
The deductions and loop holes will make up about $2.7trillion leaving a $2% tril. difference.
Oh, and don't forget the + $2 tril for defense.
That puts us back to $4 tril.
Where will that come from?
That's right, you and me.
The middle class.
I hope you weren't planning on using your tax refund for a vacation or new car.
Without a mortgage and property tax deductions, kiss that refund good by.
Oh, and that $20 you put in the collection plate and the pile of old clothes you took to Goodwill?
Those are out of the goodness of your heart, since that deduction will go too.
I wish I were the owner of my own business so I could have it own my home and then take it and all expeses as business expenses.
Or go on vacation to explore new business opportunities with my wife, the VP of the company.
And don't forget the kids cars, owned and maintained by my company.
I sure hope my Mom enjoys the house at the beach the company owns.
Lucky I can cover her on the company health insurance plan.
If Gov. Romney becomes president, I won't have to worry about the tax changes at all, and I know he'll take care of me.
And I'm not even a 1%. Yet.
He was the very moderate conservative governor of Massachusetts.
During the campaign he became the self professed 'severe conservative'.
Whateve the hell that is.
Then last week he swerved back to the moderate middle.
In the vernacular of the texting world, WTF?
Easy explanation. Like any good chameleon, or person with no conviction, he adjusts his views to those of his audience.
I'm sure if he had been speaking to a group of nuns he would have been saying Hail Marys!
He has alternated between being pro-choice or anti-choice(aka pro-life) depending upon the audience.
Gov. Romney created a successful healthcare system, now he wants to abandon Obamacare which is a veritable copy of his RomneyCare plan.
He stated that 47% of the people won't vote for him no matter what so he won't even address them, then days later he is assurring everyone that he would be a 100% President.
Oh, wait 100%er in public, 47% in private.
Different audience, different point of view.
He said that he plans on maintaining the Bush tax cuts and cut everyone's tax rates by 20% and increase defense spending by $2trillion.
All of these reductions in income and he will keep the budget 'revenue' neutral by eliminating deductions, loop holes, etc..
But the middle class won't pay more.
The bean counters have calculated that 20% equals about $4.7 trillion
The deductions and loop holes will make up about $2.7trillion leaving a $2% tril. difference.
Oh, and don't forget the + $2 tril for defense.
That puts us back to $4 tril.
Where will that come from?
That's right, you and me.
The middle class.
I hope you weren't planning on using your tax refund for a vacation or new car.
Without a mortgage and property tax deductions, kiss that refund good by.
Oh, and that $20 you put in the collection plate and the pile of old clothes you took to Goodwill?
Those are out of the goodness of your heart, since that deduction will go too.
I wish I were the owner of my own business so I could have it own my home and then take it and all expeses as business expenses.
Or go on vacation to explore new business opportunities with my wife, the VP of the company.
And don't forget the kids cars, owned and maintained by my company.
I sure hope my Mom enjoys the house at the beach the company owns.
Lucky I can cover her on the company health insurance plan.
If Gov. Romney becomes president, I won't have to worry about the tax changes at all, and I know he'll take care of me.
And I'm not even a 1%. Yet.
Monday, August 27, 2012
Republican Thievery. If you don't have any good ideas of your own, just steal some!
I have plagiarised this post from an answer to a Eugene Robinson article in the Washington Post.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/eugene-robinson-republicans-steal-medicare-from-the-democrats/2012/08/27/6c7a06b2-f073-11e1-892d-bc92fee603a7_story.html?hpid=z3
nobsartist 7:37 PM PDT
For all of those with short memory problems-
the GDP was -8% and today it's 2.2+% (it'd be over 3.2 if not for all the gov't layoffs in state/local -- particularly teachers)
- the DOW was ~7.2K and now it's 13.5K
- the Recovery Act provided ~4million jobs (according to the CBO)
- rescue of the auto industry succeeded in saving over a million jobs; GM on top; Chrysler's 1Q '12 results showed earnings up over 25%
- manufacturing jobs have increased to pre 2004 levels
- US home sales rose 3.4% in April ’12 from March
- federal spending is down for the 1st time in 40 years
- taxes cut for every working American
- taxes cut for small businesses 18x - $200 billion in tax relief and incentives for small business
- exports are up over 30%; exports to Western Hemisphere up over 40%
- 3 international trade deals signed with S. Korea, Panama and Columbia
- Affordable Care Act signed(the health care system in the US is decimating American middle class)
- Ledbetter Act signed
- added ~ 900 border patrol officers
- out of Iraq
- killed bin Laden
-gave Paul Ryan 21 MILLION DOLLARS for the stimulus that he says he never asked for
Want more?
Now you tell me Romney's record.
Mittens did not pay any taxes for 10 YEARS!
Vet Romney -- but you won't do it.
nobsartist 7:37 PM PDT
For all of those with short memory problems-
the GDP was -8% and today it's 2.2+% (it'd be over 3.2 if not for all the gov't layoffs in state/local -- particularly teachers)
- the DOW was ~7.2K and now it's 13.5K
- the Recovery Act provided ~4million jobs (according to the CBO)
- rescue of the auto industry succeeded in saving over a million jobs; GM on top; Chrysler's 1Q '12 results showed earnings up over 25%
- manufacturing jobs have increased to pre 2004 levels
- US home sales rose 3.4% in April ’12 from March
- federal spending is down for the 1st time in 40 years
- taxes cut for every working American
- taxes cut for small businesses 18x - $200 billion in tax relief and incentives for small business
- exports are up over 30%; exports to Western Hemisphere up over 40%
- 3 international trade deals signed with S. Korea, Panama and Columbia
- Affordable Care Act signed(the health care system in the US is decimating American middle class)
- Ledbetter Act signed
- added ~ 900 border patrol officers
- out of Iraq
- killed bin Laden
-gave Paul Ryan 21 MILLION DOLLARS for the stimulus that he says he never asked for
Want more?
Now you tell me Romney's record.
Mittens did not pay any taxes for 10 YEARS!
Vet Romney -- but you won't do it.
Sunday, August 26, 2012
More Thoughts on Healthcare, and Insurance.
Okay, like I said before, I want to focus on healthcare costs and let the government decide who is going to pay for it.
I have been thinking that perhaps a better way to get costs down would be pressure from the insurance companies.
Treat them as the utility.
Regulate how much they can charge for insurance, at the state level.
Provide guidelines for services.
To prevent them from just denying service, there would be local review boards made up of health care professionals to perform spot reviews and requests for mediation for contested services.
Insurance companies would also be incented to work with care providers to develop less expensive treatments.
The idea is if the insurance companies are encouraged to reduce care costs, they will put pressure on the care community to do so as well.
What do you think?
I have been thinking that perhaps a better way to get costs down would be pressure from the insurance companies.
Treat them as the utility.
Regulate how much they can charge for insurance, at the state level.
Provide guidelines for services.
To prevent them from just denying service, there would be local review boards made up of health care professionals to perform spot reviews and requests for mediation for contested services.
Insurance companies would also be incented to work with care providers to develop less expensive treatments.
The idea is if the insurance companies are encouraged to reduce care costs, they will put pressure on the care community to do so as well.
What do you think?
Arizona Building Fence For Wrong Reason
I was just reading that the state of Arizona has raised 10% of the needed $2.8 million needed to build 1 mile of fence. http://news.yahoo.com/lawmakers-want-ariz-border-fence-started-202136669.html
That comes to a whopping $280,000?
Roughly $2,520,000 short of building that first mile.
Then they would only need $557,200,000 left to raise for the other 199 miles of fence.
Given Arizona's population of about 7,863,289, and Taking out the roughly 31% that are Hispanic, and assuming they are not pro-fence, that leaves about 5,425,669 to pay.
Or, a little over $103,000 each non-Hispanic man, woman and child in the state.
Ya, thats going to happen.
I don't really care about what less than well thought out ways Arizona wants to spend money it doesn't have.
And yet I think if they changed their plan a bit, that I and a lot of people would be glad to help them .
Build the fence around the entire state.
Yup, a fence to keep the crazies in, not the Hispanics out.
To get into Arizona you would have to show your NRA card and loaded weapon with a minimum amount of ammunition.
Sort of a do it yourself Hunger Game.
To get out, well thats pretty complicated.
How does a person prove that they are ready for civilization?
I need to think on that one.
That comes to a whopping $280,000?
Roughly $2,520,000 short of building that first mile.
Then they would only need $557,200,000 left to raise for the other 199 miles of fence.
Given Arizona's population of about 7,863,289, and Taking out the roughly 31% that are Hispanic, and assuming they are not pro-fence, that leaves about 5,425,669 to pay.
Or, a little over $103,000 each non-Hispanic man, woman and child in the state.
Ya, thats going to happen.
I don't really care about what less than well thought out ways Arizona wants to spend money it doesn't have.
And yet I think if they changed their plan a bit, that I and a lot of people would be glad to help them .
Build the fence around the entire state.
Yup, a fence to keep the crazies in, not the Hispanics out.
To get into Arizona you would have to show your NRA card and loaded weapon with a minimum amount of ammunition.
Sort of a do it yourself Hunger Game.
To get out, well thats pretty complicated.
How does a person prove that they are ready for civilization?
I need to think on that one.
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