Oh what a great blog title, and an exact expression of my sentiments on the topic!
In an earlier blog I presented the difficulty of obtaining the much-desired video game system
Well I landed one. Through the son of my sister who "has connections" in the gaming world. This fine young man got a friend employed at WalMart in another state to grab a box. Then he put me at the top of a list of 6 immediate prospective buyers, and sold me the system at NO MARKUP. (Hey E-bayers - how about doing the Christian thing and selling YOUR extra games at NO MARKUP?????? If you had tickets insted of Wii's, you would be called "scalpers").
Now I am a hero to my 13 year old, and I am happy. To all you unwashed waiting out there to secure your Wii, I cannot resist:
"I got mine!!!"
I hate socialism, and I loathe everything that Karl Marx's thoughts foisted on the world. But if Cuba guaranteed each of its citizens a free Wii I might consider transplanting. In the case of this game, capitalism has failed...
(JK)
Monday, March 17, 2008
Monday, March 10, 2008
Oui, Oui, We want Wii
I tried to buy a Wii, evidently still a very difficult proposition even though the game system has been out for over a year. For the grand occasion of my daughter's 13th birthday I made the mistake of picking the Wii off her wish list as the target present. She was thrilled.
We took a night off our regular schedule and trundled to Best Buy. There, in the video game section, were Wii boxes towering high amidst colorful ad posters and stacks of Wii games and peripheral controllers. Ahh, a smiling sales-boy approached. "Can I help you?"
A hundred questions ensued, along with earnest considerations of various games, controllers, and configurations. As time went on we slowly "built" the exact system we wanted, with enough controllers for the family, a satisfying inventory of games, and some extra equipment to make playing and maintenance easier. A half hour had passed. I was happy. My daughter was ecstatic.
"OK, I'll take it!", I beamed.
"Oh, we don't actually have the game sir, nobody does".
Stunned and uncomfirtable silence followed. Weakly I managed to emerge from my daze to murmur: "What? You don't have it?" I vaguely pointed at the stacks of boxes, which I now learned were actually empty displays.
I found out the hard way what everyone else in the world seems to already know: that Nintendo is not producing enough games to meet demand. Each truckload of a precious 10 or 20 games to a store is met by potential customers camping out as we did in the 70's for rock concerts, each hoping to get a precious ticket "allowing" them to take a game (1 per family!) home with them. Hopes for the remaining wishful buyers are gone with the last ticket, until the next truck comes in.
"When will that be?", I ask.
"Oh, we don't know until a day or so before just when the truck will come", is the dismal answer.
Well folks, I am 50. I am a bit jaded, and I don't want to wait outside a store for hours before it opens to get a video game system. They are upgraded and go obsolete as fast as computers. In a few months or so the Wii will begin to lose some of it's luster, I guess. Then I may spring for one. I consoled the daughter with a trip to the clothing stores and emerged several hundred dollars lighter - about the same as I would have spent for the Wii.
Nintendo's loss, I'm afraid.
I find it difficult to comprehend in the days of the global market, flexible manufacturing, advanced technology, and rapid-response, high-performance corporations that Nintendo's situation is anything but a marketing strategy. Kudos and raspberries to them, at the same time.
While the situation may be making Nintendo lots of money and generating lots of interest in the product in the short run, I predict that there will be a groundswell of resentment and ill will over time as more people are disappointed in the same manner as I.
I for one, am eagerly waiting for the next game technology release that garners interest away from Nintendo. It is a sad, sour way to be, but I feel righteous indignation as I take in the massive marketing for this vapor-ware, and then see the games popping up by scalpers on Ebay and other sites at serious premiums. They will not see my money either.
Today I got a flyer in the mail from Best Buy. The front page is nothing but Wii. Huge. Colorful. Promising great family fun and entertainment. The system, the controllers, the games, and the accessories are all there on the page. Prices are highlighted. A new store is open in my area! "Get everyone in on the action!!!! screams the headline. "We'll help you pick the right games and gear for your family!!!"
I open the Best Buy online website and search for "Wii".
Shipping: "Sold Out"
Store pickup: "Not Available"
Our price: "Sold Out Online"
Sigh.
We took a night off our regular schedule and trundled to Best Buy. There, in the video game section, were Wii boxes towering high amidst colorful ad posters and stacks of Wii games and peripheral controllers. Ahh, a smiling sales-boy approached. "Can I help you?"
A hundred questions ensued, along with earnest considerations of various games, controllers, and configurations. As time went on we slowly "built" the exact system we wanted, with enough controllers for the family, a satisfying inventory of games, and some extra equipment to make playing and maintenance easier. A half hour had passed. I was happy. My daughter was ecstatic.
"OK, I'll take it!", I beamed.
"Oh, we don't actually have the game sir, nobody does".
Stunned and uncomfirtable silence followed. Weakly I managed to emerge from my daze to murmur: "What? You don't have it?" I vaguely pointed at the stacks of boxes, which I now learned were actually empty displays.
I found out the hard way what everyone else in the world seems to already know: that Nintendo is not producing enough games to meet demand. Each truckload of a precious 10 or 20 games to a store is met by potential customers camping out as we did in the 70's for rock concerts, each hoping to get a precious ticket "allowing" them to take a game (1 per family!) home with them. Hopes for the remaining wishful buyers are gone with the last ticket, until the next truck comes in.
"When will that be?", I ask.
"Oh, we don't know until a day or so before just when the truck will come", is the dismal answer.
Well folks, I am 50. I am a bit jaded, and I don't want to wait outside a store for hours before it opens to get a video game system. They are upgraded and go obsolete as fast as computers. In a few months or so the Wii will begin to lose some of it's luster, I guess. Then I may spring for one. I consoled the daughter with a trip to the clothing stores and emerged several hundred dollars lighter - about the same as I would have spent for the Wii.
Nintendo's loss, I'm afraid.
I find it difficult to comprehend in the days of the global market, flexible manufacturing, advanced technology, and rapid-response, high-performance corporations that Nintendo's situation is anything but a marketing strategy. Kudos and raspberries to them, at the same time.
While the situation may be making Nintendo lots of money and generating lots of interest in the product in the short run, I predict that there will be a groundswell of resentment and ill will over time as more people are disappointed in the same manner as I.
I for one, am eagerly waiting for the next game technology release that garners interest away from Nintendo. It is a sad, sour way to be, but I feel righteous indignation as I take in the massive marketing for this vapor-ware, and then see the games popping up by scalpers on Ebay and other sites at serious premiums. They will not see my money either.
Today I got a flyer in the mail from Best Buy. The front page is nothing but Wii. Huge. Colorful. Promising great family fun and entertainment. The system, the controllers, the games, and the accessories are all there on the page. Prices are highlighted. A new store is open in my area! "Get everyone in on the action!!!! screams the headline. "We'll help you pick the right games and gear for your family!!!"
I open the Best Buy online website and search for "Wii".
Shipping: "Sold Out"
Store pickup: "Not Available"
Our price: "Sold Out Online"
Sigh.
Monday, February 25, 2008
The train is a mixed bag
Hey there,
I'm one of those patsies that moved away from the city so I could buy a nicer house on some land. of COURSE the good job is now 55 miles away, and consists of one of the very worst commutes in these United States: the I95/395 North corridor from Virginia into Washington DC.
On the best day the commute from my house to work by car is 1.5 hours to, and another 1.5 hours home. An average day is 2.5 hours one-way. The worst day I have ever had it took 8.5 hours to get home. Granted, that was during a snow storm in which 105 people managed to tangle their cars together, killing 2, because they thought it was OK to drive 65mph on an icy highway.
Guess what it was like on 9/11? OK - don't.
Still, I am a typical American, who loves the freedom that driving my own car brings. But even the most individualistic among us has limits. When gasoline reached $3 per gallon, I realized that even driving a Honda (well, a minivan, but still a Honda) was costing me $120 per week just for gas, never mind the miles and maintenance. Even a Honda breaks if you drive it almost 800 miles per week.
So I tried car pooling. In a word...ugh. Unreliable. Unfriendly after the first week's "honeymoon". Inconvenient. There are days when I or other poolers simply have to go home early for some urgency or other. It is a major pain in the patootie to have to call and say either: "I have to catch a bus" or "Can everybody leave early today?". It's the same frustration to get a call from the others: "Carl has to go home - can you be ready to go at noon?"
Then I checked out van pools and the bus. Very expensive. Very clique-ish. Try taking a seat that someone else thinks belongs to them. Whew-boy.
So I finally decided to try the train. $76 for ten one-way trips. That's cool. $76 per week instead of $120. Oops. The train goes to Union Station. I need to go to 16th and M. Add $16.50 for 10 metrorail rides. Oh. The closest metro station to my work is 4 blocks away. DC blocks can be pretty large. So on bad weather days, it is a pain. The train one-way is...1.5 hours. Well, at least I am not driving.
Next: what in the Sam Hill is WRONG with train designers? Did they go to school with Al-Qaeda? These cars are a disaster. I am 5'6", and not "large". The seats are too small for me. I pity the average 5'10" guy with a few extra pounds, and I think those over 6' qualify for federal disaster aid if they try to ride the train. There are no arm rests. Try a 1.5 hour ride where you have no place to put your arms. Try it. You will call Amnesty International. 6 cars. 1 bathroom. Guess which car fills first?
Next: The trains have the worst on-time rate of any system I have ever seen. Whether the cause is mechanical breakdown, "switching problems", or right-of-way delays (commuter trains have to give way to every other rail transport, including hand-cars, it seems), the Virginia Rail Express seems to arrive at my destination on time about 50 percent of the time. I know, airlines aren't much better, but how often do I fly?
There are benefits:
1) I can use my laptop. Sort of. I have an air card from Verizon. I just have to "reconnect" about 1,000 times along the way. Seems there are a lot of dead spots.
2) I can sleep...if you call dozing for 1 minute 60 times sleeping. Remember how comfortable the seats are?
3) I don't have to pay parking. Oh, wait. Yes I do. I pay my work for an underground space at my building. It took me 12 years to get that space as I waitied for people to retire. I am not giving it up just because I ride a train. What if I want to drive in? It happens.
4) My car is lasting longer. Good thing. I put 190K miles on it in 5 years. It's a Honda so it should go at least 300K before I have to get rid of it, not because it doesn't run, but just because I am so sick of driving it (hey - topic for another blog!).
5) There is scenery - the train travels North along the Potomac River - many beautiful sights.
I long for the day when someone learns how to make a comfortable train car. I long for the day when mass transit in the United states is as reliable as, say, the Soviet Union in 1935. I long for the day when I can ride an enclosed, elevated, moving walk-way all the way from the train station to the front door of my job. In other words, I am dreaming.
It's a long way from perfect. Heck, it's a long way from better-than-acceptable. But it's what we have, and it's what I will put up with since the environmental whack jobs refuse to let us: a) find new oil, b) burn coal, c) drill for oil, d) build nuclear power plants, e) build refineries, or f) basically become energy independent. As long as these loonies drive our politicians, we are at the mercy of the OPECS and the Chavezes of the world. So:
Happy training to me,
happy training to me.
happy #$!!$#**#%& training to me,
happy training to meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
I'm one of those patsies that moved away from the city so I could buy a nicer house on some land. of COURSE the good job is now 55 miles away, and consists of one of the very worst commutes in these United States: the I95/395 North corridor from Virginia into Washington DC.
On the best day the commute from my house to work by car is 1.5 hours to, and another 1.5 hours home. An average day is 2.5 hours one-way. The worst day I have ever had it took 8.5 hours to get home. Granted, that was during a snow storm in which 105 people managed to tangle their cars together, killing 2, because they thought it was OK to drive 65mph on an icy highway.
Guess what it was like on 9/11? OK - don't.
Still, I am a typical American, who loves the freedom that driving my own car brings. But even the most individualistic among us has limits. When gasoline reached $3 per gallon, I realized that even driving a Honda (well, a minivan, but still a Honda) was costing me $120 per week just for gas, never mind the miles and maintenance. Even a Honda breaks if you drive it almost 800 miles per week.
So I tried car pooling. In a word...ugh. Unreliable. Unfriendly after the first week's "honeymoon". Inconvenient. There are days when I or other poolers simply have to go home early for some urgency or other. It is a major pain in the patootie to have to call and say either: "I have to catch a bus" or "Can everybody leave early today?". It's the same frustration to get a call from the others: "Carl has to go home - can you be ready to go at noon?"
Then I checked out van pools and the bus. Very expensive. Very clique-ish. Try taking a seat that someone else thinks belongs to them. Whew-boy.
So I finally decided to try the train. $76 for ten one-way trips. That's cool. $76 per week instead of $120. Oops. The train goes to Union Station. I need to go to 16th and M. Add $16.50 for 10 metrorail rides. Oh. The closest metro station to my work is 4 blocks away. DC blocks can be pretty large. So on bad weather days, it is a pain. The train one-way is...1.5 hours. Well, at least I am not driving.
Next: what in the Sam Hill is WRONG with train designers? Did they go to school with Al-Qaeda? These cars are a disaster. I am 5'6", and not "large". The seats are too small for me. I pity the average 5'10" guy with a few extra pounds, and I think those over 6' qualify for federal disaster aid if they try to ride the train. There are no arm rests. Try a 1.5 hour ride where you have no place to put your arms. Try it. You will call Amnesty International. 6 cars. 1 bathroom. Guess which car fills first?
Next: The trains have the worst on-time rate of any system I have ever seen. Whether the cause is mechanical breakdown, "switching problems", or right-of-way delays (commuter trains have to give way to every other rail transport, including hand-cars, it seems), the Virginia Rail Express seems to arrive at my destination on time about 50 percent of the time. I know, airlines aren't much better, but how often do I fly?
There are benefits:
1) I can use my laptop. Sort of. I have an air card from Verizon. I just have to "reconnect" about 1,000 times along the way. Seems there are a lot of dead spots.
2) I can sleep...if you call dozing for 1 minute 60 times sleeping. Remember how comfortable the seats are?
3) I don't have to pay parking. Oh, wait. Yes I do. I pay my work for an underground space at my building. It took me 12 years to get that space as I waitied for people to retire. I am not giving it up just because I ride a train. What if I want to drive in? It happens.
4) My car is lasting longer. Good thing. I put 190K miles on it in 5 years. It's a Honda so it should go at least 300K before I have to get rid of it, not because it doesn't run, but just because I am so sick of driving it (hey - topic for another blog!).
5) There is scenery - the train travels North along the Potomac River - many beautiful sights.
I long for the day when someone learns how to make a comfortable train car. I long for the day when mass transit in the United states is as reliable as, say, the Soviet Union in 1935. I long for the day when I can ride an enclosed, elevated, moving walk-way all the way from the train station to the front door of my job. In other words, I am dreaming.
It's a long way from perfect. Heck, it's a long way from better-than-acceptable. But it's what we have, and it's what I will put up with since the environmental whack jobs refuse to let us: a) find new oil, b) burn coal, c) drill for oil, d) build nuclear power plants, e) build refineries, or f) basically become energy independent. As long as these loonies drive our politicians, we are at the mercy of the OPECS and the Chavezes of the world. So:
Happy training to me,
happy training to me.
happy #$!!$#**#%& training to me,
happy training to meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Satellite Broadband (Not)
Live in a rural area with bad phone lines and no cable or DSL? Desparate for high-speed internet? Considering satellite?
I wouldn't take the plunge if I were you. Speaking from experience, I have both satellite and wireless (cell phone) internet access because I fall into the category listed above. My services are Verizon National Access (non-broadband) and Hughes Satellite Service (Broadband, or so they say).
The Verizon service costs me $60/month for unlimited access, and Hughes costs me $70/month for the medium plan of projected 1MB download and 200KB upload speeds.
So I pay $130/month for internet access. What do I get for this money?
Verizon gives me an "air card" that works on one computer at a time, or that can be plugged into a Kyocera router to create a wireless network. The speeds are good, but not broadband - typically around 100KB, which is better than the 18K my miserable phone lines allow with dialup. The router is at home, so I can use it there for all my PC's to access the wireless network, but when I take the card with me, my house is without internet. Verizon has no plans to change this.
So I fell for the Hughesnet ads, which are very attractive, with happily grinning people using their "broadband" from the high desert or a mountaintop, or an ocean island. This would be my home high-speed connection, and I would use my Verizon on the road.
The reality? I use my Verizon card at home almost as much as my Hughesnet.
Let's talk about Hughesnet Satellite:
1 - The speed at the practical end - my computer browser - is comparable to good dialup. Browser refreshes are moderate, and downloads are occasionally fast, but generally marginal. Visitors that check their email or other web sites at my house ask me "Don't you have broadband?"
2 - Storms, whether local or remote, can cause satellite failure. So the weather often causes loss of connection
3 - Multiple use in the house over the wireless connection causes the speed to vary dramatically. When my daughter is downloading songs and videos, I often have to ask her to stop so I can get my work done.
4 - Frequent browser refresh slowdowns are met with only one response from Hughesnet technical support: "run a satellite speed test". If the speed indicated by the test falls within the acceptable range (about 800K for 1MB service), they say "we can't do anything for you".
** note that I am semi-literate about PC's, and know how to clear cache, remove temporary files, and set cache sizes for optimal performance. I can also ensure that no wireless devices are interfering with the router. So why would 800K satellite speed appear as 24K dialup speed on my browser, and if there is an explanation, why can't Hughenet clue me in?
5 - There is a nasty little piece of Hughesnet policy called "fair use". This limits your downloads within short periods of time, say with network delivered movies like those provided by NetFlix. The first time we tried this service we made it 3/4 way through a good movie when we lost service. Nothing I tried worked, so the next day I called Hughesnet. It seems when I access movies I am "hogging" the shared bandwidth, so after 350MB Hughesnet "limits" my account for 24 hours. They will not reset it for any reason.
So there in a nutshell I have listed 5 reasons that I would not sign up for Hughesnet again if given the chance, knowing what I now do. Since I am on a 2-year contract with 1 year to go, I have no option but to pay my $70/month for another year.
Talking with other satellite users I have deteremined that my experience is not uncommon for satellite, regardless of the provider.
Therefore, I recommend that if you really need internet access because you have no cable or DSL and your dialup is useless, that you consider Verizon or another wireless provider, and skip the satellite for now.
My prediction is that you will hate satellite as I do. Not dislike it. Hate it.
If you experience what I have, you will get:
1 - dial up-like browser refreshes for the most part, regardless of indicated satellite "speed"
2 - interruption from storms or even cloudy skies
3 - slow response when others in your house access the internet at the same time as you
4 - low or no satisfaction from your technical "support" team
5 - hard limits on the amount of data you can download, jeopardizing attempts to watch videos or use "movies from your PC" services such as those offered by NetFlix.
If you choose to take the risk and sign up for satellite service, please feel free to commiserate with me by email or blog response after you have had a few weeks to experience internet access HELL
I wouldn't take the plunge if I were you. Speaking from experience, I have both satellite and wireless (cell phone) internet access because I fall into the category listed above. My services are Verizon National Access (non-broadband) and Hughes Satellite Service (Broadband, or so they say).
The Verizon service costs me $60/month for unlimited access, and Hughes costs me $70/month for the medium plan of projected 1MB download and 200KB upload speeds.
So I pay $130/month for internet access. What do I get for this money?
Verizon gives me an "air card" that works on one computer at a time, or that can be plugged into a Kyocera router to create a wireless network. The speeds are good, but not broadband - typically around 100KB, which is better than the 18K my miserable phone lines allow with dialup. The router is at home, so I can use it there for all my PC's to access the wireless network, but when I take the card with me, my house is without internet. Verizon has no plans to change this.
So I fell for the Hughesnet ads, which are very attractive, with happily grinning people using their "broadband" from the high desert or a mountaintop, or an ocean island. This would be my home high-speed connection, and I would use my Verizon on the road.
The reality? I use my Verizon card at home almost as much as my Hughesnet.
Let's talk about Hughesnet Satellite:
1 - The speed at the practical end - my computer browser - is comparable to good dialup. Browser refreshes are moderate, and downloads are occasionally fast, but generally marginal. Visitors that check their email or other web sites at my house ask me "Don't you have broadband?"
2 - Storms, whether local or remote, can cause satellite failure. So the weather often causes loss of connection
3 - Multiple use in the house over the wireless connection causes the speed to vary dramatically. When my daughter is downloading songs and videos, I often have to ask her to stop so I can get my work done.
4 - Frequent browser refresh slowdowns are met with only one response from Hughesnet technical support: "run a satellite speed test". If the speed indicated by the test falls within the acceptable range (about 800K for 1MB service), they say "we can't do anything for you".
** note that I am semi-literate about PC's, and know how to clear cache, remove temporary files, and set cache sizes for optimal performance. I can also ensure that no wireless devices are interfering with the router. So why would 800K satellite speed appear as 24K dialup speed on my browser, and if there is an explanation, why can't Hughenet clue me in?
5 - There is a nasty little piece of Hughesnet policy called "fair use". This limits your downloads within short periods of time, say with network delivered movies like those provided by NetFlix. The first time we tried this service we made it 3/4 way through a good movie when we lost service. Nothing I tried worked, so the next day I called Hughesnet. It seems when I access movies I am "hogging" the shared bandwidth, so after 350MB Hughesnet "limits" my account for 24 hours. They will not reset it for any reason.
So there in a nutshell I have listed 5 reasons that I would not sign up for Hughesnet again if given the chance, knowing what I now do. Since I am on a 2-year contract with 1 year to go, I have no option but to pay my $70/month for another year.
Talking with other satellite users I have deteremined that my experience is not uncommon for satellite, regardless of the provider.
Therefore, I recommend that if you really need internet access because you have no cable or DSL and your dialup is useless, that you consider Verizon or another wireless provider, and skip the satellite for now.
My prediction is that you will hate satellite as I do. Not dislike it. Hate it.
If you experience what I have, you will get:
1 - dial up-like browser refreshes for the most part, regardless of indicated satellite "speed"
2 - interruption from storms or even cloudy skies
3 - slow response when others in your house access the internet at the same time as you
4 - low or no satisfaction from your technical "support" team
5 - hard limits on the amount of data you can download, jeopardizing attempts to watch videos or use "movies from your PC" services such as those offered by NetFlix.
If you choose to take the risk and sign up for satellite service, please feel free to commiserate with me by email or blog response after you have had a few weeks to experience internet access HELL
Thursday, February 7, 2008
You know what? "NO".
Now I'm being asked to let bygones be bygones and support McCain.
You know what? "NO".
In 1991 President Bush raised taxes. He participated in, at that time, the largest single tax increase in U.S. history. I joined many other conservative republicans and issued a protest vote for Ross Perot. We killed ourselves. We gave us Clinton. Good God almighty we wrecked things for everyone for 8 years.
You know what? I don't care. I am fixin' to do it again. Democrats have no integrity. They can do or say whatever they want. They own that MO. We don't need to join them. When principles are at stake, they need to be stood up for. Bush 41 did not, and he suffered the wrath of his party.
Now it is McCain's turn. He has spit on conservative principles and on conservatives far too many times to be forgiven just because he is the nominee. Screw that. He is not a conservative. He does not have integrity. From Amnesty to taxes, abortion to Swift Boaters, and judges to marriage. He is on the wrong side of every issue. Not only that, but he has used stealth and subtrefuge to block honest conservative efforts in all areas, to compromise with the opposition (Democrats), and to disparage and discourage conservatives everywhere all during Bush 43's two terms in office.
I for one will not forgive McCain. I for one will not support McCain. And if I contribute to submitting the country to the disaster of Democrat rule for the next 4 years, so be it. If a liberal is going to be in office, it should at least be a liberal in both function and label. Not a liberal dishonestly masking himself as a conservative to get power.
If McCain becomes president I will only hope and pray that the office will make the man. It has happened before, and I wouldn't rule out the chance. But I will not lift a finger to help him get there.
For the first presidential election in my life since I have been able to vote, I choose to stay home.
You know what? "NO".
In 1991 President Bush raised taxes. He participated in, at that time, the largest single tax increase in U.S. history. I joined many other conservative republicans and issued a protest vote for Ross Perot. We killed ourselves. We gave us Clinton. Good God almighty we wrecked things for everyone for 8 years.
You know what? I don't care. I am fixin' to do it again. Democrats have no integrity. They can do or say whatever they want. They own that MO. We don't need to join them. When principles are at stake, they need to be stood up for. Bush 41 did not, and he suffered the wrath of his party.
Now it is McCain's turn. He has spit on conservative principles and on conservatives far too many times to be forgiven just because he is the nominee. Screw that. He is not a conservative. He does not have integrity. From Amnesty to taxes, abortion to Swift Boaters, and judges to marriage. He is on the wrong side of every issue. Not only that, but he has used stealth and subtrefuge to block honest conservative efforts in all areas, to compromise with the opposition (Democrats), and to disparage and discourage conservatives everywhere all during Bush 43's two terms in office.
I for one will not forgive McCain. I for one will not support McCain. And if I contribute to submitting the country to the disaster of Democrat rule for the next 4 years, so be it. If a liberal is going to be in office, it should at least be a liberal in both function and label. Not a liberal dishonestly masking himself as a conservative to get power.
If McCain becomes president I will only hope and pray that the office will make the man. It has happened before, and I wouldn't rule out the chance. But I will not lift a finger to help him get there.
For the first presidential election in my life since I have been able to vote, I choose to stay home.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Oh, those Clintons
They came out of nowhere freely using donations from communist Chinese through the Lippo Group. Clinton had promised during the campaign not to grant China "most favored nation" status, and mere months after taking office, that is exactly what he did.
To me it signals quid pro quo.
Contributor Huang moved from the commerce department (thus corrupted by Clinton) to a role as fundraiser for the DNC. Huang raised a LOT of money for Clinton from Chinese Americans, and eventually (after LOTS of US taxpayer money was spent trying to chase him down) plead guilty to federal conspiracy charges for campaign fraud.
Neither Clinton has ever been held accountable.
Then there was Whitewater. No trial because there was not enough evidence to convict, although Hillary was mentioned 35 times in partner Webster Hubbell's indictment. Well, never mind that there was missing evidence that turned up AFTER the investigation, that testimony given by all Clinton "participants" in the fraud used the 5th amendment or "I don't recall" to keep from testifying, and that the famous Rose Law Firm records turned up in the White House after the statute of limitations was past. (Hillary said "I can't recall" 250 times during her testimony to congress)
Believe me all you Clinton Fans, it DID drive us crazy on the right, and while you were laughing the rule of law was raped. (And you think we don't know how mad you are that you can't seem to get the goods on Bush no matter how hard you try?). Ha!
Then there was Monica. Even top Democrat Leaders said that if Clinton lied he should resign. Then he didn't. Then they all (and I mean ALL) switched their tune, just so they could stick thumbs in conservative eyes. Well it worked. The man stayed in office.
But really, what was the cost? Really, think it through.
And Hillary came out with her famous "If you see a turtle on a fence post..." speech. And it turned out that the responsible parties for placing turtles on fenceposts were....The Clintons!
Bill lies to us, lies to a grand jury, and is disbarred. And not one Democrat will even scan the piles of evidence gathered for his impeachment. Not one.
Ahhhhh.
There's more. Much more.
Which brings us to today. I thought I was rid of Bill. I thought Hillary would lose to Obama. But now I am not so sure. Hillary's people can imply that Obama dealt drugs, and they get a pass. They can say Obama hasn't done the "spadework" necessary to be president. They get a pass. I can imagine what would have happened to Trent Lott - oh, wait...it DID happen to Trent Lott!
And I've tried to navigate Hillary's positions on the Iraq war - it is impossible.
These two are populists and opportunists. They are patently dishonest as well. They corrupt everyone around them, and their greed for power seems to have no constraints. How I wish they would go away, but I fear I must hope to outlast them physically if I am ever to experience that sublime reality.
How's Bill's heart?
(can't ask the same about Hillary, she doesn't appear to have one).
To me it signals quid pro quo.
Contributor Huang moved from the commerce department (thus corrupted by Clinton) to a role as fundraiser for the DNC. Huang raised a LOT of money for Clinton from Chinese Americans, and eventually (after LOTS of US taxpayer money was spent trying to chase him down) plead guilty to federal conspiracy charges for campaign fraud.
Neither Clinton has ever been held accountable.
Then there was Whitewater. No trial because there was not enough evidence to convict, although Hillary was mentioned 35 times in partner Webster Hubbell's indictment. Well, never mind that there was missing evidence that turned up AFTER the investigation, that testimony given by all Clinton "participants" in the fraud used the 5th amendment or "I don't recall" to keep from testifying, and that the famous Rose Law Firm records turned up in the White House after the statute of limitations was past. (Hillary said "I can't recall" 250 times during her testimony to congress)
Believe me all you Clinton Fans, it DID drive us crazy on the right, and while you were laughing the rule of law was raped. (And you think we don't know how mad you are that you can't seem to get the goods on Bush no matter how hard you try?). Ha!
Then there was Monica. Even top Democrat Leaders said that if Clinton lied he should resign. Then he didn't. Then they all (and I mean ALL) switched their tune, just so they could stick thumbs in conservative eyes. Well it worked. The man stayed in office.
But really, what was the cost? Really, think it through.
And Hillary came out with her famous "If you see a turtle on a fence post..." speech. And it turned out that the responsible parties for placing turtles on fenceposts were....The Clintons!
Bill lies to us, lies to a grand jury, and is disbarred. And not one Democrat will even scan the piles of evidence gathered for his impeachment. Not one.
Ahhhhh.
There's more. Much more.
Which brings us to today. I thought I was rid of Bill. I thought Hillary would lose to Obama. But now I am not so sure. Hillary's people can imply that Obama dealt drugs, and they get a pass. They can say Obama hasn't done the "spadework" necessary to be president. They get a pass. I can imagine what would have happened to Trent Lott - oh, wait...it DID happen to Trent Lott!
And I've tried to navigate Hillary's positions on the Iraq war - it is impossible.
These two are populists and opportunists. They are patently dishonest as well. They corrupt everyone around them, and their greed for power seems to have no constraints. How I wish they would go away, but I fear I must hope to outlast them physically if I am ever to experience that sublime reality.
How's Bill's heart?
(can't ask the same about Hillary, she doesn't appear to have one).
Why is the government so big?
I think we've hosed ourselves, truly I do.
My paycheck this period is $4,554
My taxes are $1,109
One fourth of what I make as income is tasken from me up front.
I live in Virginia.
5 percent is added to EVERYTHING I buy, and handed over to the state treasury.
I use electricity and phones.
Take a look at your phone bill and utility bill, and see all the fees and taxes added to them every month.
When you are all said and done, if you are in my tax bracket, you will find that you are spending nearly 40 percent of total income in taxes and fees.
40 percent.
Who needs all that money, really?
OK here's what got me. Savings and Loan companies got into trouble in the 80's. Somehow the federal government ended up bailing them out, costing us taxpayers abotu $124 billion (Amadeo, 2008) Could stagflation reoccur? http://useconomy.about.com/.
Why?
Terrorists attack and kill thousands. For being in the wrong place at the wrong time the federal government gives each of the surviving families over $1 million.
Why?
Old men want Viagra. Can't go without sex, now, can we?
Problem is they don't want to pay for it. So we do, through Medicare.
Why?
Now people are in trouble with their mortgages. THEY refinanced into variable rate loans, paying interest-only, so they could get TEMPORARY low payments.
Rates rise, loans default, banks tremble, housing prioces fall, and those people are in trouble for THEIR decisions.
So we want the federal government to bail them out. Can't wait to see the final bill for that, and what it will cost taxpayers.
Why?
Hey, I'm all for emergency care for people in trouble. Heart trouble? No assets? We'll give you a bypass and medication. Sick? No money? call one number - be assigned to a doctor. Go.
Guess what? It'll be our doctors and generics.
Could you get better treatment? probably, but it's welfare after all - at least you get it.
Can you get your teeth straightened so you will look better? No.
Can you get your boobs enlarged? No.
Can you get your tummy stapled? Liposuction? An abortion? A face lift? No. No. No. and No.
Can you get antibiotics for Strep Throat? Yes.
Can you stay in a hospital overnight? Yes.
Can you live in a hospital? No.
Bet this would cut Medicare costs by billions.
Hungry?
No problem.
Warehouse in the town you live in. Stocked to the roof with balogna, eggs, cheese, milk, canned vegetables.
Go there. Or ask someone else to go there for you.
Guess what? You will eat what is provided. Total nutrition.
It will always be the same thing.
But you will be full.
No place to live?
No problem.
Homeless shelter in your town. 30 day passes, reviewed every month.
Oh - they don't feed you - you go to the warehouse for food.
Bet this would cut welfare costs by billions
Yeah I know - I sound so cruel.
But I believe at this point throwing money at people and their problems to assuage our guilt isn't helping. It is making matters worse. We have "fought the war on poverty" for more than 40 years now by throwing money at it. All we have done is made more poverty, broken up families, and increased the government's iron grip on our pocket books.
I don't think we can change it now.
It's too bad, but Will Durant (I think) said it best: "Nations are born stoic, and die Hedonistic" - or something like that.
Meaning we strive in the beginning to take care of ourselves, and after a while we grow to expect someone else to take care of us at little or no cost to us.
So we go out, whining and crying, big babies without the will or means to wipe our own heinies.
What a way to go.
My paycheck this period is $4,554
My taxes are $1,109
One fourth of what I make as income is tasken from me up front.
I live in Virginia.
5 percent is added to EVERYTHING I buy, and handed over to the state treasury.
I use electricity and phones.
Take a look at your phone bill and utility bill, and see all the fees and taxes added to them every month.
When you are all said and done, if you are in my tax bracket, you will find that you are spending nearly 40 percent of total income in taxes and fees.
40 percent.
Who needs all that money, really?
OK here's what got me. Savings and Loan companies got into trouble in the 80's. Somehow the federal government ended up bailing them out, costing us taxpayers abotu $124 billion (Amadeo, 2008) Could stagflation reoccur? http://useconomy.about.com/.
Why?
Terrorists attack and kill thousands. For being in the wrong place at the wrong time the federal government gives each of the surviving families over $1 million.
Why?
Old men want Viagra. Can't go without sex, now, can we?
Problem is they don't want to pay for it. So we do, through Medicare.
Why?
Now people are in trouble with their mortgages. THEY refinanced into variable rate loans, paying interest-only, so they could get TEMPORARY low payments.
Rates rise, loans default, banks tremble, housing prioces fall, and those people are in trouble for THEIR decisions.
So we want the federal government to bail them out. Can't wait to see the final bill for that, and what it will cost taxpayers.
Why?
Hey, I'm all for emergency care for people in trouble. Heart trouble? No assets? We'll give you a bypass and medication. Sick? No money? call one number - be assigned to a doctor. Go.
Guess what? It'll be our doctors and generics.
Could you get better treatment? probably, but it's welfare after all - at least you get it.
Can you get your teeth straightened so you will look better? No.
Can you get your boobs enlarged? No.
Can you get your tummy stapled? Liposuction? An abortion? A face lift? No. No. No. and No.
Can you get antibiotics for Strep Throat? Yes.
Can you stay in a hospital overnight? Yes.
Can you live in a hospital? No.
Bet this would cut Medicare costs by billions.
Hungry?
No problem.
Warehouse in the town you live in. Stocked to the roof with balogna, eggs, cheese, milk, canned vegetables.
Go there. Or ask someone else to go there for you.
Guess what? You will eat what is provided. Total nutrition.
It will always be the same thing.
But you will be full.
No place to live?
No problem.
Homeless shelter in your town. 30 day passes, reviewed every month.
Oh - they don't feed you - you go to the warehouse for food.
Bet this would cut welfare costs by billions
Yeah I know - I sound so cruel.
But I believe at this point throwing money at people and their problems to assuage our guilt isn't helping. It is making matters worse. We have "fought the war on poverty" for more than 40 years now by throwing money at it. All we have done is made more poverty, broken up families, and increased the government's iron grip on our pocket books.
I don't think we can change it now.
It's too bad, but Will Durant (I think) said it best: "Nations are born stoic, and die Hedonistic" - or something like that.
Meaning we strive in the beginning to take care of ourselves, and after a while we grow to expect someone else to take care of us at little or no cost to us.
So we go out, whining and crying, big babies without the will or means to wipe our own heinies.
What a way to go.
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