google-site-verification: google1ebcbd3f9084755c.html Eclectic writing: November 2008

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

It must be the holiday season

Everyone is getting a billion or so.

Maybe it will really trickle down this time.

Hope springs eternal.

Big 3

If it weren't for the fact that they kept saying that the American Public demanded SUV that sucked a gallon of gas with every inch, I would be more inclined to be kinder, but the fact is that the American Public has never been given a chance or choice by the automakers.

When an electric car cost more than a downpayment on a house, it makes people opt for a lower priced alternative and keep polluting the air with "cheap" gas.

My guess is that when they all figure a way to charge $3.00 per Kilowatt, we will have our choice of electric cars and available in every color.

If it weren't for the fact that not rescuing these companies would cost millions in unemployment benefits and send the supporting industries into a tailspin, I would not be so incline to loan them the money (not that anyone asked me, but just in case my opinion is required at some point).

I am still rankled by the opening of a GM Russian plant, here is why:

"By Paul Abelsky
Nov. 7 (Bloomberg) --
General Motors Corp., the world's biggest carmaker, opened a $300 million factory in Russia as it looks to compensate for slumping sales in western Europe and North America.
The plant in the Shushary district on the outskirts of St. Petersburg will produce 70,000 Chevrolet Captiva sport-utility vehicles and the Opel Astra, with plans to manufacture the Chevrolet Cruze compact car next year.
``Our strategy is to become the leading manufacturer in Russia,''
Carl-Peter Forster, GM's chief for Europe, told reporters during the plant opening today. ``For us Russia is not an emerging market. Russia emerged long ago.''
The new plant ``is an example of a good investment project that's oriented toward the future,'' Russian President
Dmitry Medvedev told reporters. He called on GM to boost output at the plant.
Forster said the production schedule won't be revised now as the car market has soured. The new plant will employ 981 people, and that may increase to 1,700 next year. .... "
This is an excerp from Bloomberg.com and many thanks to Paul Albelsky for the detailed report.


Based on this article, I am of the opinion that GM already has factories here and people who know how to build cars. Therefore, logic follows that instead of spending $300 million over there, they could have SAVED it here. Also, producing over 70,000 cars MADE IN AMERICA would go a long way to boost our sagging economy, furthermore, we would actually be EXPORTING something.

Some of us are willing to settle for American lapel pins made in America instead of China. (less lead is always a good thing)

The second part of this story is the continued lying about being years away from producing a fuel effecient car, since FORD already makes a car in Europe that gives 65 mpg and according to them, they can't afford to sell it here.

Here is the linky with a lovely picture of a car (Ford Fiesta ECOnetic) I would love to own (in that same color is fine).

Let's say they are right as rain (just go along with it for a minute) and they really cannot afford to sell it here. How about BUILDING it here? is that also a far reach for them?, Once again, we would be EXPORTING something and all dependent industries would benefit greatly. More production, more jobs, better economy.

If all of this does not smack of bringing our country to a screeching halt and reversing our economy, education and citizens towards the 19th century.... Oh, wait! it has to be further back than that, that was the era of industrialization....

..My bad!

What Congress needs to do

In my not so humble opinion is beat the crap out of Paulson and demand a cohesive plan from him. They obviously know how to do this since they have requested the same from the Auto Makers.

On the financial bailout, we are all just wondering how long is it going to take before our collective heads explode.

First off, Citi Group was bailed out in the middle of the night to the tune of over 300 BILLION dollars. No problem. We can print more money, we still have trees left and when those are gone, they'll start a collection in our neighborhoods while taxing us for having one too many.

In case we are loosing track of how much money has gone out, let me refresh your memory by simply stating that to date, it has been almost 8 TRILLION dollars (7.8 or something like that).

I don't know if you can stomach this or not, but here it goes:

As soon as Wells Fargo gets sold, the big wigs will receive a compensation package deemed to be earmarked as severance pay, of over 28 BILLION dollars, a large (enormous, actually) portion will go to the largest shareholder at Citibank. If this guy was poor before, he would not be after that.

The kicker is that this particular shareholder is the richest man in the world and he is still entitled to the 98 million dollars. His name is Prince Alwaleed (Saudi Arabia, of course) and he needs this money, let alone deserve it, like the middle class deserves to be homeless and unemployed.

In his defense (ha!) he made the supreme effort of injecting a large amount of money to increase his stake in the bank AFTER the government agreed to shower CitiBank with our tax dollars. You can read about here.

But hey! as long as the tax payers have a pint of blood left, we are doing our patriotic duty.

Or are we? ~ Maybe we are just too tired to print out all this stuff and shove it down Congress throats.

All I can see is the current administration making sure that there is not a single penny left before they leave office. Time is running out and drastic measures need to take place. Paulson is moving as quickly as he can.... Gosh Darn it! there is some loose change left in couch, Paulson is not doing his job!

Laugh if you can, it seems that is all we got left ... for now. That pint of blood will be gone shortly if this current administration has its way. They have sough to undermine work that took over 20 yrs to protect our lands and maintaining our National Treasures free from greed. In the middle of the night (do you see a pattern here? Just like thieves) during the busiest political day (November 4th, the day we revolted and chose to elect someone who gave us hope for the future and a departure from the hell the past 8 yrs have been for middle America) they truly have it in for our Country, its land and its people, here is an excerpt from the Huffinton Post that preceded an interview with Robert Redford by Rachel Maddow:

"The Bureau of Land Management cynically chose November 4 to announce a last-minute plan to lease huge swaths of majestic wilderness in eastern Utah for oil and gas extraction one month before President-elect Obama takes office.
As its clock runs out, the Bush administration also is trying to open-up drilling all over the Rockies and Alaska, to green-light oil shale leasing, and to weaken the Endangered Species Act. Though sad, it's no surprise, coming as it does from the same crowd that designed a misguided national energy policy in secret meetings with the oil, gas and coal industries."


You can read the full article at the huffington post website. (nicely linked for your convenience)

But if land and our environment are not of interest to you, don't worry, they have more up their collective sleeves and they are far from done, no, not yet. The highlighted link will take you tog to Bill Moyer's Journal and it explains quite well how other things you may consider hard fought for and now permanent are not so permanent and we must fight even harder.

I hope we are not too tired because until these thieves leave office, we need to be extra vigilant. For instance; your medical leave, your work safety regulations are all at risk of going Buh-bye and the citizen surveillance would increase by allowing the locals to do what the Feds are doing.

Whoa! I guess George Orwell was not that far off the mark, was he?

And I hate conspiracy theories because I like to have cold hard facts to base my opinions on, but when the hard cold facts are in front of us and the conspiracy no longer feels like a bunch of renagades cooked this up in a collaborative effort of midnight talks while "spacing out" on home grown "herbal remedies".... well, ... it is downright frightening to have elected officials have such disregard for the law and so blatant in their efforts to undermine a government that is "for the people" and has now become their playground.

So, before Bush and his band of crooks leaves office we are going to be in worse shape than we have been so far. If you did not think it was possible because there is not enough time, you have understimated their determination and the lure of greed that awaits them once they leave public office.

Or maybe... there is really a true conspiracy and the whole effort to "divide and conquer" is not a bad dream but a nighmare that even Russians think is going to happen. According to Mr Paranin, a political Russian Analyst, the United States will split up into several parts.

You can read about it all here and even though, I was going to dismiss this bit of news as some ideological nonsense, after reading his reasoning for making this prediction more than once, I am not so sure that this could not happen.

For years, it has been politically necessary to pit citizens agains each other based on inconsequential things, but by repeating the mantra long and hard, it became news and hatred and prejudiced abounded against one another.

The perpetuation of stereotypes just added fuel to the flames and now we have people in this country believing that we have elected a muslim (so what? there is freedom of Religion right? Not so, apparently, we are all free to be Cristian and nothing else). Personally, I like freedom from Religion a lot better, but to each its own.

We have others who believe that everyone in the South and Central part of the country is uneducated, unsophisticated and completely arrogant in their missinformed ways.

We have those in the middle and south thinking that those in the East and West have no moral values and no God.

Let's hope these, and other, attitudes will go by the wayside and we can come together as a Nation and work towards the common good, because I still have faith and hope that we can acommplish this.

No, I am not naive, I do remember Katrina and its aftermath, I do remember 9/11 and its horrific set backs, but what I remember most was the entire country helping one another. And that my friends, is AMERICA.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

PEACE to all.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

AUTO BAILOUT

How many companies can the tax payers continue to bail out?

I don't mind bailing out the auto industry or Wall Street.

What I do mind is the lack of a cohesive plan in which people are held accountable and the consequences are dire.

Mr. Paulson has already squandered half the loot and has single handedly decided that the homeowners are not part of whatever plan he hatches that day.

The auto industry went to apply for their bailout money today and they all flew in their corporate jets.

The total lack of disconnect between their actions and their lifestyle is mind blowing.

Both parts of this bail out (the wall street crooks and the automobile thugs) don't seem to think that their livestyles and their way of thinking needs to change in any way. All they want is to continue as usual and feel a sense of entitlement to tax payers dollars.

All 3 CEO's spent over 30K flying in their own private jets.

I just found out that GM is opening a multi-million dollar factory in Russia to build European cars there.

It is a good thing that the Auto Bailout Vote was cancelled today.

The majority of the people in this country are fed up. They have been bled dry and to make matters even worse, there is no one advocating for their needs in Washington.

The Big 3 has blamed everyone but themselves for their inability to successfully manage a very competitive business.

For years they have complained about the cost of health care and have done NOTHING to advocate National Health care. They have blamed the Unions and the workers. They have the ability and as I stated in another post about cars they are making, and selling, in Europe that exceed the 60 mile a gallon litmus.

They could have refitted their plants to make the SAME cars they are already making, and selling, in European markets. But as we used to say when we were kids..... "something is rotten in Denmark" because their stubborn defiance to make any changes here are high indicators that they want these companies to fail in the United States.

Their lifestyles can't possibly change that much, after all, they all have more money that God.

I have a feeling that Europe is where they want to be and sell their vehicles here. Of course, made elsewhere. We are nothing more than open wallets, unfortunately, we are now empty wallets and the consumer power of the past has not only been eroded over the years, but it has come to screeching halt.

Retailers are sweating bullets, their stores closing, the importers can't sell their wares here either since the AMERICAN consumer is broke, unemployed and loosing their homes.

Are we all aware that the Energy Department has $250 BILLION dollars for the auto industry, exclusevely earmarked for innovation?

It is obvious that they would squander that money and produce nothing. How do we know this? because they are asking to release that money into a loan (to be paid much later, I'm sure) and not worry about the nonsense of innovation.

Is Bio Fuel the way to go?

Solar Energy?

Electric power?

How about building connecting thingys .... oh, I don't know... like the railroads in Japan with their bullet trains...

How about ANYthing that works? That would be innovation and we can't have that.

When they refer to the workers it is always with disdain, as a good old (very young, actually)l queen saying "let them eat cake".

I say "Off with their heads". Let these companies sink and, like a Phoenix. a new industry rise up from the ashes unencumbered by corruption and complacency.

PEACE to all.

http://www.spousalcaregiver.com/

Thursday, November 13, 2008

NO MONEY FOR YOU!



Take a good look at this car and then read the section on American Auto makers.

But first, let's talk about our economy and the BAILOUT:

Paulson is getting on my nerves, so I am sure he is getting on everyone else's.

No money to homeowners. The banks will get the money to buy out other banks and thus, create a monolopy.

No money for you.

The bailout $$ may not be enough for them.

No money for you.

The economy is in the tank and consumers can't consume because they have no money. Therefore, stores are closing, companies are laying off people and the unemployment rate is skyrocketting. The banks are not easing up the credit lines to consumers even though they are getting a truck load of "free money" and the feds are lending them $$$ at 1 percent.

But guess what? it is your money and somehow you are at fault. Perhaps it is your "whinning" ways, or the fact that you are not patient enough while you try to figure out how to feed your kin or keep that roof in your posession.

No money for you.

The liquid assets he said he was going to buy, he is not buying now.

Accountability? (surely you jest! these are professionals, they don't need no stinking accountability).

They are more like bank robbers, but it is all just a variety of words to gloss over the word FRAUD!!!!!

Paulson has already gone through more than half the money and he only has $60 Billion left. He has gone on a shopping spree of bank stocks and has financed their mergers. He has also made sure that all those CEOs got compensated in the style they have become accustumed, but you?

No money for you.

None of the bailout money has gone to the foreclosure market and the very real people that comprise our communities.

No money for you.

It is YOUR money, but hey! Screw you. You are nothing.

I am telling you folks, start raising holly hell again and call your representatives because this sucks worse than a really bad foreign film with subtitles that gets rave reviews by critics because they want to seem sophisticated.

The fact is that you know it is crap. You have seen the film, you understood the film and you know it is crap. But they are telling you it is all good and you know nothing, so therefore....

... NO MONEY FOR YOU!

... And you know why? Because the airline industry has seen that we are passing out money and so is the auto industry and everyone wants some and you know what?

No money for you.

Read about it in greater detail in this
Forbes article (just click on Forbes) or if you prefer, you can read Amit R. Paley's article in today's Washington Post in which lack of oversight is stressed and how they claim the Administration and all these Republicans who balked at the idea of handing over all this money without oversight, are now claiming it is too late to find someone qualified.

Are they joking? If there was no one qualified, why on earth hand over billions?

(Because when you are committing FRAUD, robbing people blindly and robbing their faces in it, the last thing you want is someone competent taking inventory and making you accountable)

AMERICAN AUTO MAKERS

Major bunch of liars who have no integrity and are in bed with the oil industry. (my opinion and it is based in facts that will follow)

They will get bailed out, just not now. We are going to wait and drop this ton of horse manure on the next administration.

Ford has a beautiful little car that I'd love to own. It runs on Diesel and gives 60 miles (YES!!! 65 miles to the Gallon). It will only be sold in Europe. You can read about it in a
Huffington Post article.

That is the picture you first saw when you got here. Is that a lovely number, or what? It is called the ECOnetic.
Too bad, we can't have it.
Their big claim is that it is a Diesel car. Never mind that there is such a thing as clean diesel and it has been used in Europe for years. Never mind that Volgwagons are sold here (Diesel, you know?). Honda will be selling a Diesel Accord next year in the US.
As a matter of fact.... A few years ago..... GM made a car in China that was over 50 miles a gallon.
They know how to do it, they just don't. Regulations in Europe require that the car be built to minimize damage to a pedestrian in case of accident and thus, their cars are lighter because they have more fiberglass and lighter materials, therefore that contributes to their higher gas mileage.
In addition, of course, to the ENGINES that are different and made by AMERICAN Auto Makers and ... Did I mention that they KNOW HOW TO BUILD it and be competitive here?
I heard a gentleman on the radio this morning stating that it is the American public's fault because they are not buying AMERICAN cars.
I don't know how much blame and personal responsibility you are willing to absorb, but I am DONE. It is not my fault and I owe them nothing.
If you have 20K to put into a car, chances are you will look for safety and gas mileage. Putting up with low gas mileage and yourself in debt by purchasing a 40K American made vehicle does not make sense to you and your family.
By the way, both our cars are American cars, but that is besides the point. I have owned a Toyota before and I loved it. It was small and required very little maintenance. I run it into the ground and was very sad to let it go after I put in over 100K miles on it.
That was 20 yrs ago.
No American car lasted that long in those days, nor did it save gas like my little Toyota did. Brand new, out of the lot... less than 6K.
The bottom line is that every time the auto makers are requested to review the way they make cars, they have tons of excuses for not doing so. I bet you have heard several of them:
"We just don't have the technology" (Horse Pucks!... they are building them and selling them in Europe, and have been doing so for years)
"This type of Gas mileas improvement takes years of engine development..." (no, not really, it is already being done and driven in .... EUROPE!... Hellooooo!)
"No one is Silicon Valley or anywhere in California can build a car that runs on Electricity, we have been hearing this type of talk for years and it is not possible for an electronic company can compete with GM. Building a car is not easy and Detroit knows better".... (Well, not exactly... there is an actual electric car. As a matter of fact, there are several, just not massed produced)
Obama wants a car Czar to oversee the BAILOUT of auto industry and he has the expectation that they would have a plan and a real direction before this happens.
Now..... Let's pretend for a minute that this was required of Paulson BEFORE we handed him a nickle.... Would you say we would be in a better position financially now?
I am inclined to think so.
PEACE to all.






















Wednesday, November 12, 2008

We are not alone.

I wanted to share this because it is pretty impressive and I don't know anyone in this country that follows the politics of other Nations are closely as the world has followed our election.

Enjoy!

http://obama2008.s3.amazonaws.com/headlines.html

Is that amazing or what?

http://www.spousalcaregiver.com and for total support and understanding http://www.wellspouse.org/


PEACE to all

Sunday, November 9, 2008

The new administration

Here are some of the recent appointments to make a smooth transition and of course, the constant complaining about choices made.

I would just love it if people started to "suck it up" and give someone that has been running for the highest office in land a brake! ~ This president elect needs to take a vacation and spend quality time with his family before the inauguration, because as the current president stated: "we want this new administration to hit the ground running" by promising a smooth transition.

Obama has been running a magnificent, worthy of emulation, grass root campaign. If nothing else makes it into the history books, this definitely is something worthy of admiration from an organizational and tactical point of view.

From Politico.com we get the following information:


Robert Gibbs, a top aide to Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) on his campaign and in his Senate office, will be named the White House press secretary, a top Democratic official said. Gibbs was usually the senior official on Air Obama, the campaign plane. As communications director of Obama's Senate office, Gibbs was a key strategist in Obama's rapid move to the national stage.
Transition planning is still at an early stage and the job has not been formally offered or accepted, officials said....



Mr. Emmanuel is the new chief of staff and he is the new red meat for the so called "republican party"

The full report can be read in the CBS website , below is an excerpt:

Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill., sponsor of the de-funding amendment, noted that five years ago Cheney claimed executive privilege in refusing to release details about his meetings with oil industry executives to discuss energy policy. "Now when we want to know what he's doing as it relates to America's national security in the lead-up to the war in Iraq and after the fact, the vice president has declared he is a member of the legislative branch." Therefore, Emanuel said, "we will no longer fund the executive branch of his office and he can live off the funding for the Senate presidency." The vice president presides as president of the Senate. Hoyer, asked if the amendment would pass, said, "I don't know about that." But he said "we shouldn't fund him in both branches. I think there's going to be consideration of an amendment and that will be discussed." Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., speaking Sunday on Fox News Sunday, said Cheney's move was "the height of arrogance." She said it might not be a bad idea that money for Cheney's office be held up until he decides whether or not he's in the executive branch. Cheney's spokesperson Lea Anne McBride said Emanuel's amendment was "pure politics."

Why did I say: "the so called Republican Party?".

Because it is not the party of most republicans. It needs to be renamed to the "Evangelical Party".

Many Republicans would agree that the Republican party was the party of self determination, little to government involvement in people's lives and had a fierce determination in protecting individuals rights and privacy.

This has not been the case in the past 8 years. The Republicans have seen something in this administration that to their core, they repudiate and made them blush in embarrassment. Not a single Democratic Administration could equal the excess of wanton greed, lack of accountability and complete disregard for the laws of the land that the current Bush Administration has exhibited.

It is unfortunate, because the new generation does not know the real republicans. They were the types that one could admire at many levels by their ability to succeed by their own efforts without trampling over the rights and hard work of others.

Some of us old-timers remember that party. This new generation knows the Republican party as the "wing nuts", "the religious freaks". They are viewed as fanatical radicals that are foaming at the mouth with anger and hatred not because a black man is the new president, but because this new president will set back all their hard work to take over our government.

When someone insist that Christianity be part of the equation in government, we have lost something we thought we had on pretty solid standing: Separation of Church and State.

This separation was done on purpose, to protect one from the other. So far, the protection to the religious right has not wavered from the government's point of view. There has been no intrusion and no taxation.

However, the Religious right has done their best to infiltrate their agendas into the political arena with the audacity that a civil servant MUST prove its Christian faith.

THERE should be no religious litmus test. We need our government officials to live 2 separate lives; one of public service to all and, one of personal private faith. One should not taint the other. This is the only way to serve ALL the people, not just the privileged few.

It is the height of arrogance to have these "talking heads" pass judgment on those seeking office based on their religious agendas. I ask you, who made these people an authority in these matters?

It is unbelievable to me that someone like Glen Beck, who is on television with his own show and on CNN could be so arrogant to make the statement that Conservatives (you know, the REAL ones) voted for McCain with the expectation that he would die in office and they would have Palin (someone who can be manipulated by the religious right) in his stead.

You can listen to it here.

And here is the transcript:

Today, radical right-wing blog Red State launched “Project Leper,” an attempt to professionally punish McCain staffers whom Red State’s Erick Erickson perceives to have wronged Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK). Erikson told Glenn Beck today, “Palin was the best thing that happened to” the McCain campaign. To which, Beck agreed, saying many conservatives told him they supported McCain in hopes he would die in office:

BECK: I mean, I have to tell you if I heard once, I heard 1,000 times from people, and I never said this, never said this on the air because you just don’t say these things, but I heard a million times from people, “I’m going to vote for John McCain and, you know, I mean, he’s old. Maybe we get Sarah Palin in the first term.” You know what I mean?


ERICKSON: Exactly

This is disgusting and the implications of the total disregard for our government and for people who are not like them is downright frightening.

I am delighted that this time around we said NO to these types of agendas. My guess is that after we allowed these people to run our government into the ground, we had ENOUGH!.

Let's face it, if you believe the "end of days" is coming soon and you'll be ascending into the heavens you don't care much how you rape and pillage this earth, since you are not vested in its wellness or the remainder of humanity. (We don't get a one way ticket, we get to stay here).

What is OPERATION LEPER?

It is a movement to protect Sarah Palin as a viable candidate for 2012 and to eradicate any republican official from future office. Not because they are not good republicans but because they are not towing the new party line, the evangelical and radical agenda.

Make no mistake, Sarah Palin has proven herself to be the perfect candidate on two counts; the right to life and the right to bear arms. Period. That is all that is required to lead these people and this country.

No, you don't need to know anything about other countries because they don't matter, we like being isolationist (did you not know this?). We are Mavericks (we do as we please and don't bother with the possible consequences). We insist that those below us are more godly in their behaviour than God, but those above them are not subject to the same rules.

Family values are very strict and everyone who raises their children properly would make them proud of their new batch of "Christian Soldiers" (I repudiate this label with every inch of my intellect).

Jesus Christ was the ultimate social reformer and the kindness and love towards ALL people has never been equaled by any other figure in history. (maybe Ghandi or Mother Teresa, but no one has had as much grip on the human soul and social conciense).

In my opinion, the Religious Right is WRONG and does not speak for Christ or in his stead. HE would be appalled by what has been done in HIS name and the way these people live their lives in hypocrisy.

Remember Palin's daughter? It is okay for her to be pregnant out of wedlock (as well as Palin herself with their first child), but your daughter is nothing more than a whore and you are a lousy parent (should you find yourself in the same situation).

The difference between these types of people and those who are more broad minded is that we know that things do happen, things that are not planned for and that is just a fact of life. We roll with the punches and make the best out of difficult situations.

We don't pass judgment. It is what it is and we are okay with it.

When we do raise our voices to object is when they are calling other people names and while being smirky and derogatory towards others who are in those situations. Then we start comparing apples to apples and they get mad and start taking names, making a list and checking it twice.

OPERATION LEPER:
This link will take you a short version and sources are highlighted in blue.

I feel sorry for Mrs. Palin. No one should be used and abused to serve other people's agendas and I find her to be very persuadable because of her deep convictions in her religious beliefs. Unfortunately, she is not well versed in the larger world environment that in this day and age, is a must to hold any political office.

Many bloggers on cyberspace are better informed than she seems to be.

PAULSON (AGAIN) AND THE BAILOUT (FOLLOW UP)

Apparently our tax dollars is a major cornucopia and with Thanksgiving around the corner.... you would think they would get down on their knees and give thanks to... YOU, the taxpayer.

Instead, they are going to have a wonderful holiday season by using YOUR money to give themselves dividends, salary increases, golden parachutes and whatever tickles their fancy.

The credit to the banks has been eased to the point of being a joke, but to the consumer? no, not to the consumer, they have better and bigger things to do with YOUR money, like purchasing other banks who are in trouble and re-enacting the underwater drama of big fish eats little fish.

In this game, you and I are the plankton, so thus far, we have not entered the picture.

You can read all about it here and don't be shocked if your credit rating is fantabulous and you are having a hard time getting the bank to refinance your home, getting a home equity or car loan, or just getting a better rate on your credit card, because the banks have not extended these courtesy to their customers, just each other.

HOW ABOUT A NOVEMBER SURPRISE?

Did you think we were out of the woods? That Bush had packed his bags and was going to disappear quietly into the night?

We could only hope.

Unfortunately, there are a three months or so, left in this "free for all" administration and they have put on their roller skates and are racing towards a big finish.

What now?, you ask.....

Since we have screwed up the government and the Constitution, now we have to screw up the environment to the best of our abilities. The Bush Administration is rushing to relax environmental protections to benefit the power plants and the mining of uranium and coal near National parks.

If you are concerned about these further deregulation, you may want to read all about it in greater detail here.


PEACE to all

http://www.spousalcaregiver.com


Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Help with info

No politics today, but need information if you have it.

I am new at High Definition TV (except for what I see at the retailers shops) and I am confused about the digital signal switch over that takes place in February.

I am wondering if subscribing to a High Definition package would be a waste of money. If the signal is digital, would not all programming come in High Definition in a HDTV (1080p)?

According to the person that answered the phone at Dish Network, she said there would be no difference in the picture quality and I thought it was odd since it behooves them to try to sell the "upgrade".

Should I wait?

Right now we only have analog tv with a subscription to Dish (basic stuff, so we can get reception)

Other searches on the net are saying that only some channels are in HD and a subscription in needed.

Thank you in advance and PEACE to all.


http://spousalcaregiver.com

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

YES!!! WE DID!!!!

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

A new era, a new time in our lives that means so much to so many. White, Black, Native American, Hispanics, Asians and all of us that are such a mixtures of so very many that braved prejudice, hatred and isolation by telling the world: "I'll love who I want and I stand my ground because this is my right".

I am one of those offsprings and I am forever grateful to the brave ancestors that made it possible for me to watch this moment with children of my onw.

Forever grateful to Obama's family.

Children that don't understand the concept of prejudice and racism. Children that are indignant about unfairness in life and who always reach out to help others.

This is a Victory for all of us.

America.... What a wonderful country!

PEACE

Monday, November 3, 2008

The most important vote of my life

It happens tomorrow and after this, I doubt I'll have a blog about politics anymore.

Like most Americans that have followed this election from beginning to end, I am suffering from exhaustion, or as they call it, Voter Fatigue.


This will be short today.

When I heard how sick Senator Obama's grandma was, I prayed that she'd make it past the election so she could see the final results.

We all need a witness for our lives and who better than people we love and love us in return?

I just want to send warm condolences to Mr. Obama. May she rest in peace in the knowledge that millions of people wish you well and are behind you every step of the way.

PEACE

Sunday, November 2, 2008

The Bail out rip off and World voting (if they could)

How is YOUR bailout TAX dollars being handled?


You would hope that it has been done in a responsible manner, with care and concern and much appreciation for your hard earned money.

Hope springs eternal, but the cold facts are that people feel "entitled" to continue living their lifestyle on your dime.

Here is an excerpt from Bloomberg.com:

Five straight quarters of losses and a 70 percent slide in its stock this year haven't stopped Merrill Lynch & Co. from allocating about $6.7 billion to pay bonuses.
Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Morgan Stanley, both still on track for profitable years, have set aside about $13 billion for bonuses after three quarters, down 28 percent from a year ago. Even some employees at Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., which declared the biggest bankruptcy in U.S. history last month, will get the same bonus they received a year ago.
The worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, a $700 billion taxpayer bailout, public outcry over excessive pay and the demise of three of the biggest securities firms won't deter Wall Street from offering year-end rewards to employees on top of their salaries, compensation experts say.
``Critical producers and critical managers will be retained with the same bonus they had last year,'' said
Robert Sloan, head of U.S. financial-services recruiting at Egon Zehnder International, a New York-based executive-search firm. ``The others will see sharp cuts.''
Goldman, the biggest and most profitable Wall Street firm until it opted to become a bank holding company last month, has set aside about $6.85 billion for bonuses, or an average of $210,300 for each employee, down 32 percent from $339,400 a year ago.
Morgan Stanley, the second-biggest securities firm until it also converted to a bank, has $6.44 billion for bonuses, or $138,700 per person, down 20 percent from last year. Both firms accrue a fixed percentage of their revenue for compensation, so the decline in bonus pools matches the drop in revenue.
Merrill's Compensation
The money Merrill has set aside for bonuses equates to an average $110,000 for each of its 60,900 people, up from $108,000 a year ago because more than 3,000 jobs have been cut.
The bonus figures are based on estimates that about 60 percent of the compensation and benefits expenses reported by the companies will be paid in year-end bonuses, as occurred in past years. Average bonuses aren't an indication of how much any employee will receive, since payments range widely from assistants to top traders. Bonuses aren't paid until the end of the fiscal year, so firms could choose to reallocate the funds.
``We are in the process of determining appropriate levels of year-end compensation, and no decisions have been made,'' said
Mark Lake, a spokesman at Morgan Stanley. Ed Canaday, a spokesman for Goldman in New York, declined to comment.
Merrill spokeswoman
Jessica Oppenheim said the firm's accrued bonuses aren't down as much as those at Goldman and Morgan Stanley because the firm reduced expenses last year, when it also had a loss. Compensation costs are down 18 percent this year, compared with the first nine months of 2006, Merrill's last profitable year.

You can read the rest of the article here:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=aVann0.cv9Tw&refer=home


GOLDMAN AND COMPANY....

... Are not exempt for the lust of greed and reckless abandon with which they pamper themselves with your money.

Below is an excerpt from the article and the full article can be found here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1081624/Goldman-Sachs-ready-hand-7BILLION-salary-bonus-package--6bn-bail-out.html

Goldman Sachs is on course to pay its top City bankers multimillion-pound bonuses - despite asking the U.S. government for an emergency bail-out.
The struggling Wall Street bank has set aside £7billion for salaries and 2008 year-end bonuses, it emerged yesterday.
Each of the firm's 443 partners is on course to pocket an average Christmas bonus of more than £3million.
The size of the pay pool comfortably dwarfs the £6.1billion lifeline which the U.S. government is throwing to Goldman as part of its £430billion bail-out.
As Washington pours money into the bank, the cash will ...



JUST FOR FUN

A guy in Iceland put up a website to get votes from all over the world on our Presidential election. The list is in alphabetical order and it is amazing how many people have not only voted but are following what happens in our country. Check it out, just having all those international flags on one page makes it worthwile.

If the world could vote:

http://www.iftheworldcouldvote.com/


PEACE to us all. http://www.spousalcaregiver.com/

The Economy, Bail out rip off and Voting

The Economy, Bail out rip off and Voting