Everyone‘s Favorite Person (sorry Randy)
Where do we begin? Our most memorable Lori moments always seem to revolve around the game of golf or being in an automobile with Lori driving. Please remember, it’s Lori’s world, and we should consider ourselves blessed to be part of it. Blessed by whom I don’t know. Anyways, here goes.
It was a heavily overcast sunless afternoon at Killarney Country Club in the year of Lori 1992, the only day in Ireland we experienced without torrential rains and cyclone force winds. Did I mention Lori hates Ireland? On the first hole she hit what appeared to be a very nice second shot , alas it was a wee bit too steamy, and it careened off the green, coming to rest in a swale a foot or two below the green. Lori’s caddie asked if she wanted a sand wedge, Lori responded, no thanks, I‘ve already eaten lunch. She could not understand why everyone, including caddies were on the ground laughing. Easily one of my top ten moments in the History of Golf.
For those not familiar with Pinehurst, it is a famous resort in North Carolina. There are eight courses and they are named No. 1,No. 2, No. 3 and so on. One night over dinner after a recent trip to Pinehurst, a low budget trip which did not please my wife, we were telling Randy and Lori that we had a great time there but we could not play No.2. Lori asked why we would want to play a course that only had 17 holes open.
We picked up Lori and Randy at the Glasgow airport in Scotland, Lori demanded, yes, demanded that she drive. This was the first time Lori had ever driven on the wrong side of the road. I had the pleasure of being her navigator up front while Randy and Martha cowered on the floor in the back seat. As you know the roads in Scotland are very narrow and can barely handle two cars side by side. So it becomes problematic when a large semi or tour bus comes hurtling around the bend or you have the terrifying experience of sharing a bridge with one these large vehicles. Lori handled these rather tense situations by putting a two hand death grip on the steering wheel, closing her eyes, and screaming either bus or truck at the top of her lungs. I trace my loss of hearing to this ear shattering event. Later that evening as the adrenaline rush one often experiences in times of shock or high stress wore off, Randy,Martha and I began to shake and convulse involuntarily. The three of us drank heavily. Lori joined us when she discovered the water coming from the bathroom faucet identical to that off Galveston.
The Roundabouts in Scotland also proved to be a problem for Lori. Once in one she could not get off. Each was it’s own special twilight zone, round and round we would go, as many as 3 loops, with Lori begging one of us to grab the steering wheel. Never let the occupant of the passenger seat steer a car in a roundabout.
Anyone who has experienced the utter horror of driving thru a parking lot at 70mph with Lori at the wheel knows why speed bumps were invented and will never curse their existence again, the exception being those mother frickers on Valley Manor. Unbeknownst to Lori, Martha clutches a rosary and carries a small vial of holy water whenever they enter a parking lot or school zone.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Winning over the Middle
Every election the Republicans are told over and over again by the Media they must have a candidate that appeals to the Middle if they are to win. Then the Media goes about systematically attacking each Republican front runner by portraying them in a way they think will destroy their appeal to the Middle. The Democrat candidate ,in this case Obama did not get this treatment in 2008 and will not get it in 2012,so it is up to the Republicans, and also the candidate, to make Obama unattractive to the Middle.
To most of us in 2008 Obama’s rhetoric, lack of experience, and roots in that filthy sewer of US politics, Chicago, was a dead give away the man would be a disaster as President. This did not sway the Middle. His claim that proper tire inflation could replace oil supply lost through lack of offshore drilling was a tell to most thinking people the man was either a complete idiot or a pathological liar. This did not sway the Middle. His association with known anti-American radicals such as his preacher did not sway the Middle.
The Middle are in general a group who do not wish to make waves or hear loud voices of those who have convictions. They want America to solve its financial problems but are not willing to make the hard choices needed for that to become reality . They are the Middle. Their strongest convictions are those positions they last heard explained to them by the Media. These convictions could change by bedtime depending on what late night TV show they watch. The country’s problem is not so much Obama as it is the people who voted for him.
The solution for the Republicans is simple and probably why they fail to see it. You make Obama completely unappealing to the Middle by portraying him as the hapless dork that he is. You run video of him looking like Forrest Gump riding his bike at Martha’s Vineyard, you run the video of him throwing the first pitch and bowling. You do this 24/7. No American Idol watching member of the Middle is going to vote for a man who throws a ball or rides a bike in this manner. If bowling was a more popular game there is no way Obama could have been elected. This incompetent boob has had more verbal gaffs than any public figure in my memory. YouTube is littered with them. You run these 24/7. The Middle will not be won over by reason or common sense solutions to our economic woes. Of course any honest discussion of Obama, his beliefs, his incompetence, or his record will be termed negative and dirty politics by the Media, The gutless Republicans can not let this deter them. If we don’t get down in the gutter and fight Obama and the Media that supports him, we lose and it’s game over for the good ole USA.
To win the Republicans must portray Obama as uncool, and the incompetent boob that he is. This is what stirs the Middle. It will be their call to arms.
To most of us in 2008 Obama’s rhetoric, lack of experience, and roots in that filthy sewer of US politics, Chicago, was a dead give away the man would be a disaster as President. This did not sway the Middle. His claim that proper tire inflation could replace oil supply lost through lack of offshore drilling was a tell to most thinking people the man was either a complete idiot or a pathological liar. This did not sway the Middle. His association with known anti-American radicals such as his preacher did not sway the Middle.
The Middle are in general a group who do not wish to make waves or hear loud voices of those who have convictions. They want America to solve its financial problems but are not willing to make the hard choices needed for that to become reality . They are the Middle. Their strongest convictions are those positions they last heard explained to them by the Media. These convictions could change by bedtime depending on what late night TV show they watch. The country’s problem is not so much Obama as it is the people who voted for him.
The solution for the Republicans is simple and probably why they fail to see it. You make Obama completely unappealing to the Middle by portraying him as the hapless dork that he is. You run video of him looking like Forrest Gump riding his bike at Martha’s Vineyard, you run the video of him throwing the first pitch and bowling. You do this 24/7. No American Idol watching member of the Middle is going to vote for a man who throws a ball or rides a bike in this manner. If bowling was a more popular game there is no way Obama could have been elected. This incompetent boob has had more verbal gaffs than any public figure in my memory. YouTube is littered with them. You run these 24/7. The Middle will not be won over by reason or common sense solutions to our economic woes. Of course any honest discussion of Obama, his beliefs, his incompetence, or his record will be termed negative and dirty politics by the Media, The gutless Republicans can not let this deter them. If we don’t get down in the gutter and fight Obama and the Media that supports him, we lose and it’s game over for the good ole USA.
To win the Republicans must portray Obama as uncool, and the incompetent boob that he is. This is what stirs the Middle. It will be their call to arms.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
My Ten Favorite Politicians
1. Al Gore - there are so many instances of corruption and outrageous mendacity in this guys career I don't know where to start. So let's go to his most recent. The man made global warming scam that he helped create and now has made hundreds of millions of dollars from is probably the largest fraud in the history of mankind. Twenty years from now Warmers will be mocked for their complete idiocy. Taxpayer and US citizens are in danger every day this schmuck is not in prison.
2. Fast Franklin Raines- not only did this guy cook the US books under Waskally Willie but also managed to loot Fannie of billions thru book cooking and incompetence. He was at the center of the greatest scandal in US politics,the systematic looting of the taxpayer of billions via Frankie and and his Democrat buds.
3. Barney Frank - Its easy to say this guy is just an incompetent boob,I mean how don't you know your boyfriend is running a whorehouse out of your home? This guy with the help of the insane Maxine Waters helped save Fannie Mae from the regulations that would have stopped the Democrat looting of said corporation which was the catalyst for the financial meltdown of 2008. No one person is more responsible for the financial meltdown,so what did we do ,we let him and fellow grifter Chris Dodd write the new financial regulations. Only in Washington DC.
4. The Clintons- Do we really need to go there?
5.Chucky Shumer - This guy just reeks of corruption and sleaze. All you have to do is look at this guy and know something isn't right.
6.Anthony Wiener- Pervert and lunatic socialist.
7.Rahm Emanuel - Weasel. After a short stint on BOD of Freddie Mac,he was offered a multi million dollar a year job on Wall Street. Corrupt to the core.
8.Daley- Even though this guy was genetically predisposed to a life of corruption,he was on the BOD of Fannie Mae. He was there when Dems were stealing everything that wasn't tied down.
9.Eric Holder- As with so many Democrats,you don't if he a complete idiot,lunatic socialist,or just a liar. This guy is probably all three. He approved the pardon of criminal Marc Rich.
10. Ed Randal- Just look and listen. Ok,this is easy,what politician from Pa. isn't a crook but this guy like Shumer just reeks of it. Its that Jim Wright thing,you just know they are lying through their teeth every time they speak.
PS. Under no circumstances bend over in the presence of any of these guys
2. Fast Franklin Raines- not only did this guy cook the US books under Waskally Willie but also managed to loot Fannie of billions thru book cooking and incompetence. He was at the center of the greatest scandal in US politics,the systematic looting of the taxpayer of billions via Frankie and and his Democrat buds.
3. Barney Frank - Its easy to say this guy is just an incompetent boob,I mean how don't you know your boyfriend is running a whorehouse out of your home? This guy with the help of the insane Maxine Waters helped save Fannie Mae from the regulations that would have stopped the Democrat looting of said corporation which was the catalyst for the financial meltdown of 2008. No one person is more responsible for the financial meltdown,so what did we do ,we let him and fellow grifter Chris Dodd write the new financial regulations. Only in Washington DC.
4. The Clintons- Do we really need to go there?
5.Chucky Shumer - This guy just reeks of corruption and sleaze. All you have to do is look at this guy and know something isn't right.
6.Anthony Wiener- Pervert and lunatic socialist.
7.Rahm Emanuel - Weasel. After a short stint on BOD of Freddie Mac,he was offered a multi million dollar a year job on Wall Street. Corrupt to the core.
8.Daley- Even though this guy was genetically predisposed to a life of corruption,he was on the BOD of Fannie Mae. He was there when Dems were stealing everything that wasn't tied down.
9.Eric Holder- As with so many Democrats,you don't if he a complete idiot,lunatic socialist,or just a liar. This guy is probably all three. He approved the pardon of criminal Marc Rich.
10. Ed Randal- Just look and listen. Ok,this is easy,what politician from Pa. isn't a crook but this guy like Shumer just reeks of it. Its that Jim Wright thing,you just know they are lying through their teeth every time they speak.
PS. Under no circumstances bend over in the presence of any of these guys
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
The Problem with Housing
US housing has in great part been built and supported by government subsidies. The first great subsidy was the mortgage deduction. The next was the low interest rate and easy money policy of Greenspan. Tack on to that the Clinton first time tax break on a home sale where the first $500K is tax free and you have some pretty good reasons to put money in real estate rather than stocks or anywhere else for that matter. . Add to that the federal governments pressure on banks that started under Clinton to write mortgages to people who could never ever pay them back and you have the makings of serious bubble. As with any industry or business supported by government subsidies the only way it can continue to grow is with more subsidies. Its a fact.
The only way to cure the excesses in housing and begin a real recovery is through a cathartic process. Instead our government is attempting to further encourage people to stay in mortgages they cant afford even at lower interest rates. The same government whose affordable housing policy pushed people into these mortgage now wishes to imprison them in a life of debt and misery. I guess this is compassionate liberalism. These same policies keep new buyers out of market. Decades of government subsidies have come home to roost.
Now with with many local and state governments in jams because of fiscal irresponsibility, taxes on real estate are increasing and that will not stop. Utility costs of home ownership increase each year. So instead of new subsidies to further support home prices,home owners are faced with increased overhead.
The government has also tried to inflate our way out of the housing mess. To date this has failed but has succeeded in destroying many in the middle class who are savers or live on fixed income. Those who have lived responsibly and made good decisions are being punished by the very government that created the problem.
There is also no way of telling how much capital has been miss allocated because of the favorable tax treatment of mortgages and the Clinton tax break. The market will find a way to reallocate this misplaced capital,the end result can only mean lower home prices.
The only way to cure the excesses in housing and begin a real recovery is through a cathartic process. Instead our government is attempting to further encourage people to stay in mortgages they cant afford even at lower interest rates. The same government whose affordable housing policy pushed people into these mortgage now wishes to imprison them in a life of debt and misery. I guess this is compassionate liberalism. These same policies keep new buyers out of market. Decades of government subsidies have come home to roost.
Now with with many local and state governments in jams because of fiscal irresponsibility, taxes on real estate are increasing and that will not stop. Utility costs of home ownership increase each year. So instead of new subsidies to further support home prices,home owners are faced with increased overhead.
The government has also tried to inflate our way out of the housing mess. To date this has failed but has succeeded in destroying many in the middle class who are savers or live on fixed income. Those who have lived responsibly and made good decisions are being punished by the very government that created the problem.
There is also no way of telling how much capital has been miss allocated because of the favorable tax treatment of mortgages and the Clinton tax break. The market will find a way to reallocate this misplaced capital,the end result can only mean lower home prices.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Things Liberals believe, a work in progess
1.Spending money, that your crazy Uncle Benny is printing in the basement is creating wealth.
2.Republicans want to starve children,old people,and poor people
3.Republicans want to poison our water and air
4.Those who pay taxes are not paying enough.
5.Belief that man can change the weather and climate by using certain types of light bulbs. To date there absolutely no scientific proof of man made global warming.
6.FDR pulled us out of the great depression with massive government spending.
7.George Bush created Hurricane Katrina
8.Republicans are racists.
9.Republicans want to end SS
10.Bush and Cheney started Iraq war to benefit Haliburton.
11.Cheney is a Nazi
12.All wars initiated by Democrats have been smart wars(obamanism). WW One,WW Two,Korea,Viet Nam,Afghanistan Two,and Libya.
13.Bush and Cheney were somehow involved in 911.
14.Capitalism is evil the and foundation of all our problems
15.Obama is intelligent
16.Would buy something from Harry Reid or Jim Wright
17.There is absolutely nothing improper about the President abusing a young intern in the White House. After all she was wearing a thong and should have known better.
18.There is a great Right Wing Plot.
19.Republicans want old people,children,minorities,and gays to die
20.George Bush was somehow involved with four other white cracker racists in the dragging death of William Byrd in Jasper Tx.
21.Teddy Kennedy wrongly persecuted because of a drunken slut who was seducing him did not know how to swim.
22.Republicans masterminded a plot to extend the Iranian Hostage Crisis to insure Jimbo Carters defeat. This included a midnight flight in a supersonic spy plane to Europe by soon to be VP George Bush to convince Iranian terrorists not to release hostages until Reagan won.
23.Barney Frank is an honest and competent human being
24.Turbo Tax is difficult to understand
25. New Technology creating much of present economic problems
26.Christians are nuts
27.Timothy McVeigh was a Republican
28. Cuba health care system is superior to US.
29.Proper tire inflation can solve the worlds energy crisis
30.George Bush was a conservative
31.James Carville and Paul Begala are honest,civil and intelligent.
32.Terrorists from other countries and illegal immigrants have same rights in US as US citizens. They should not pay taxes.
33.Bill Clinton balanced the budget and reformed welfare
34.Voters should not have to prove they are US citizens
35. Illegal immigrants should be able to vote and get free college education
36.Building schools for murdering barbarians in Afghanistan will make Afghans like us.
37.Government spending creates self sustaining jobs and wealth
38.There is no problem when a company like Countrywide gives special mortgages to Democrat Senators.
39. Algore invented the internet
40. The Middle East has contributed much to today’s civilization.
41. John Kerry is breathing.
42. It was ok for Robert Byrd to have been a leading member in the KKK because he was able to loot enough money from taxpayers to keep West Virginy solvent and his family very wealthy. But Republicans are the racists.
43.Oil companies collude with one another to fix prices and destroy the environment.
44.Most Oil company employees are aliens who can live in our polluted environment.
45. Henry Waxman looks a like a normal human being
46. Dennis Kucinich is a reasonable person
47. Donny Deutsch is not creepy
48.Believe John Stewart is a real news anchor
2.Republicans want to starve children,old people,and poor people
3.Republicans want to poison our water and air
4.Those who pay taxes are not paying enough.
5.Belief that man can change the weather and climate by using certain types of light bulbs. To date there absolutely no scientific proof of man made global warming.
6.FDR pulled us out of the great depression with massive government spending.
7.George Bush created Hurricane Katrina
8.Republicans are racists.
9.Republicans want to end SS
10.Bush and Cheney started Iraq war to benefit Haliburton.
11.Cheney is a Nazi
12.All wars initiated by Democrats have been smart wars(obamanism). WW One,WW Two,Korea,Viet Nam,Afghanistan Two,and Libya.
13.Bush and Cheney were somehow involved in 911.
14.Capitalism is evil the and foundation of all our problems
15.Obama is intelligent
16.Would buy something from Harry Reid or Jim Wright
17.There is absolutely nothing improper about the President abusing a young intern in the White House. After all she was wearing a thong and should have known better.
18.There is a great Right Wing Plot.
19.Republicans want old people,children,minorities,and gays to die
20.George Bush was somehow involved with four other white cracker racists in the dragging death of William Byrd in Jasper Tx.
21.Teddy Kennedy wrongly persecuted because of a drunken slut who was seducing him did not know how to swim.
22.Republicans masterminded a plot to extend the Iranian Hostage Crisis to insure Jimbo Carters defeat. This included a midnight flight in a supersonic spy plane to Europe by soon to be VP George Bush to convince Iranian terrorists not to release hostages until Reagan won.
23.Barney Frank is an honest and competent human being
24.Turbo Tax is difficult to understand
25. New Technology creating much of present economic problems
26.Christians are nuts
27.Timothy McVeigh was a Republican
28. Cuba health care system is superior to US.
29.Proper tire inflation can solve the worlds energy crisis
30.George Bush was a conservative
31.James Carville and Paul Begala are honest,civil and intelligent.
32.Terrorists from other countries and illegal immigrants have same rights in US as US citizens. They should not pay taxes.
33.Bill Clinton balanced the budget and reformed welfare
34.Voters should not have to prove they are US citizens
35. Illegal immigrants should be able to vote and get free college education
36.Building schools for murdering barbarians in Afghanistan will make Afghans like us.
37.Government spending creates self sustaining jobs and wealth
38.There is no problem when a company like Countrywide gives special mortgages to Democrat Senators.
39. Algore invented the internet
40. The Middle East has contributed much to today’s civilization.
41. John Kerry is breathing.
42. It was ok for Robert Byrd to have been a leading member in the KKK because he was able to loot enough money from taxpayers to keep West Virginy solvent and his family very wealthy. But Republicans are the racists.
43.Oil companies collude with one another to fix prices and destroy the environment.
44.Most Oil company employees are aliens who can live in our polluted environment.
45. Henry Waxman looks a like a normal human being
46. Dennis Kucinich is a reasonable person
47. Donny Deutsch is not creepy
48.Believe John Stewart is a real news anchor
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Few Suggestion on how Federal Government could save money
1. Legalize all drugs. The cost savings would be huge. We could end the War on Drugs, if you haven’t noticed we have been getting our asses kicked for 40 years in this War. We could empty prisons of Americans there on drug charges,cutting billions from prison costs. The gang wars on Mexican border would stop overnight. More Mexicans would choose to live in Mexico. The government could find some large political contributor, like GE,and let them manufacture and sell drugs within our borders and of course share in the profits. Guess we forgot that prohibition thing did not work to well in the 20s. Best of all a person like myself who is unable to drink alcohol could fire up the bong tonight as I get ready to watch Breaking Bad or Wilfred. Think of the millions of new jobs in our new drug industry as well as rehab industry. Its a gold mine. What are we waiting for?
2.What the fuck are we doing in Afghanistan? Why are we building schools for cavemen who hate us when there are Americans who can not read and teachers who if they can find work cant make a living wage? Have we not read world history? Afghanistan intervention led to the demise of both British and Russian empires,so we figure WTF,lets give it a ago? Its not like we haven’t fucked up everything we have touched in south east asia or the mid east. Making the same mistakes over and over with the same horrid results is either the sign of insanity or an American politician.
3. Make Unions illegal for government employees. This needs no explanation
4.Shut down Fannie and Freddie. Get the government out of the home business and while we are at it end the mortgage deduction for homes.
5. Sell the Post Office to private enterprise.Yeah,this would hurt the important junk mail industry but so be it.
6. Shut down Dept of Education and Commerce
7. Start profiling at Airports and start curtailing TSA.
8.Sell Amtrak to private enterprise
9.Make it illegal to collect pensions from more than one government agency.
10. Stop all foreign travel for Congress.
2.What the fuck are we doing in Afghanistan? Why are we building schools for cavemen who hate us when there are Americans who can not read and teachers who if they can find work cant make a living wage? Have we not read world history? Afghanistan intervention led to the demise of both British and Russian empires,so we figure WTF,lets give it a ago? Its not like we haven’t fucked up everything we have touched in south east asia or the mid east. Making the same mistakes over and over with the same horrid results is either the sign of insanity or an American politician.
3. Make Unions illegal for government employees. This needs no explanation
4.Shut down Fannie and Freddie. Get the government out of the home business and while we are at it end the mortgage deduction for homes.
5. Sell the Post Office to private enterprise.Yeah,this would hurt the important junk mail industry but so be it.
6. Shut down Dept of Education and Commerce
7. Start profiling at Airports and start curtailing TSA.
8.Sell Amtrak to private enterprise
9.Make it illegal to collect pensions from more than one government agency.
10. Stop all foreign travel for Congress.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Amazon
A friend who lives on the other side of Houston wanted me to read a book he had just finished.Two days later I received the book from Amazon. It was used and cost $2,shipping was free because my friend is an Amazon Prime member,as am I. It would have cost each of us $5 in gas and several hours out of our day to meet to exchange the book. It was cheaper to buy it from Amazon and have it delivered. This event keeps intruding into whats left of my alcohol ravaged brain reminding me of the genius that is Bezos and the fact that I sold AMZN at $80 for a $5 profit. Strong stocks get stronger you moron.
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