It is true that half the people in this country are below average. No body wants to be average and yet I watch and wonder, where have all the average people gone.
If one just pays attention, just a little, it would be easy to conclude that more than half of the people you know are below average. You see, most people live in a very tiny world. They are oblivious to anything that happens more than three feet away at any give time. This must be why politicians find it so easy to do what they do.
I have often heard, that there are those that make things happen, those that watch things happen and then those that wonder what happened?
Independence Day is rapidly approaching. That’s July 4th for those wondering what happened. I would like to see what would happen, if suddenly everyone stopped and knew what happened on that day in 1776.
Never mind. It will never happen.
It would mess up the average.
PMO
©2011
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Friday, June 29, 2012
SCOTUS
Have you read the Constitution? Don’t feel bad. Neither has the supreme court. There is absolutely nothing in it that would allow citizens to be taxed for doing nothing. Nor, is there anything that clearly requires individuals to buy anything.
Whether you agree or disagree with the SCOTUS ruling about "Obama Care", you have witnessed the highest court in the land, write law. This is not in their jurisdiction. Apparently they don’t know that only congress can write law. They are bad enough at it, they don’t need the court to help.
By declaring that the populous can be required and taxed if they don’t participate in a socialist program, are they not taking steps that will open doors to future rulings of similar maleficence? After all, law is driven by precedents.
Isn’t being taxed for not doing something, like getting a speeding ticket when you don’t own a car?
Maybe we can get people taxed for not being Baptist. We could use the money.
I didn’t hear an amen on that one.
PMO
©2011
Whether you agree or disagree with the SCOTUS ruling about "Obama Care", you have witnessed the highest court in the land, write law. This is not in their jurisdiction. Apparently they don’t know that only congress can write law. They are bad enough at it, they don’t need the court to help.
By declaring that the populous can be required and taxed if they don’t participate in a socialist program, are they not taking steps that will open doors to future rulings of similar maleficence? After all, law is driven by precedents.
Isn’t being taxed for not doing something, like getting a speeding ticket when you don’t own a car?
Maybe we can get people taxed for not being Baptist. We could use the money.
I didn’t hear an amen on that one.
PMO
©2011
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Teachable Moment
Education comes from lessons, then there is a test. Experience comes with a test first, then the lessons. Wisdom comes from the education of good and bad experiences.
Pretty heavy stuff from a grumpy old man.
The trick is to live long enough and pay attention.
PMO
©2011
Pretty heavy stuff from a grumpy old man.
The trick is to live long enough and pay attention.
PMO
©2011
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
America The Free
For quite some time I have known that I truly don’t align with any political party. I think the two major parties should be banned from holding office. They both have lost sight of what made America great and do not have any idea about how to fix the mess they have made.
What this country needs, besides a good nickle cigar, is some people that put America above all the lobbyist, special interest groups, whiners and complainers, and the influence of money. If you do just a little research, you will discover that the founders gave instead of took to achieve a common goal of freedom and liberty. Most of the forefathers lost fortunes and many died in absolute poverty. From the generals to the privates in the Continental Army, each one suffered hardship to reach a common goal of freedom.
Today, we have a bunch of politicians that sway this way and that to maintain what they perceive to be an elite position above the common rabble. And in all honesty, why shouldn’t they. The common rabble allows them to do what ever they want, so long as they, the rabble, get something free, rather than freedom.
When you have illegal foreigners protesting for rights they don’t have and demanding free services from American workers, it’s just another example of free and not freedom. When you have protesters demanding that tax payers pay for their abortions and contraception, it is free, not freedom. When politicians ignore law and do whatever they want, where is the freedom?
Recently I told my financial controller that we should sell the house and cars, cash out our savings and blow it all in a casino somewhere and then we could live the good life. We can get free housing, free food, free medical, free phone and TV, free electricity, free clothing, free appliances, and if we work the system right, we can protest and get more freebies.
Do not misunderstand, I firmly believe in helping those that cannot help themselves. But, when politicians give away the country for votes so they can gain wealth and power, then America has ceased to be the land of freedom.
It has become the land of free.
In case you haven’t heard, "There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch."
PMO
©2011
What this country needs, besides a good nickle cigar, is some people that put America above all the lobbyist, special interest groups, whiners and complainers, and the influence of money. If you do just a little research, you will discover that the founders gave instead of took to achieve a common goal of freedom and liberty. Most of the forefathers lost fortunes and many died in absolute poverty. From the generals to the privates in the Continental Army, each one suffered hardship to reach a common goal of freedom.
Today, we have a bunch of politicians that sway this way and that to maintain what they perceive to be an elite position above the common rabble. And in all honesty, why shouldn’t they. The common rabble allows them to do what ever they want, so long as they, the rabble, get something free, rather than freedom.
When you have illegal foreigners protesting for rights they don’t have and demanding free services from American workers, it’s just another example of free and not freedom. When you have protesters demanding that tax payers pay for their abortions and contraception, it is free, not freedom. When politicians ignore law and do whatever they want, where is the freedom?
Recently I told my financial controller that we should sell the house and cars, cash out our savings and blow it all in a casino somewhere and then we could live the good life. We can get free housing, free food, free medical, free phone and TV, free electricity, free clothing, free appliances, and if we work the system right, we can protest and get more freebies.
Do not misunderstand, I firmly believe in helping those that cannot help themselves. But, when politicians give away the country for votes so they can gain wealth and power, then America has ceased to be the land of freedom.
It has become the land of free.
In case you haven’t heard, "There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch."
PMO
©2011
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Hotter Than Hell
News Flash - it’s summer time in Texas and it’s hot. General Phillip Sheridan said, "If I owned Texas and Hell, I would rent out Texas and live in Hell." The general just didn’t like our weather.
For as long as I have been around, and apparently as long as anyone has been around, it gets hot every year in the summer in Texas. Yet, all the talking heads keep making a big deal out of the temperature. They like to cite records and compare our current somatic sensation.
Mark Twain said, "Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it." The truth is that it is hot, and people are going to complain about it.
As I went out to retrieve the snail mail today, I noticed that my flag was flying south, indicating a northerly wind. When I came back inside and checked my weather center, I was pleased to see that the temperature was only 41 degrees. That’s Celsius. In Fahrenheit, it was 105.8 .
Get used to it. It's summer time in Texas.
Hotter than Hell?
Probably not.
PMO
©2011
For as long as I have been around, and apparently as long as anyone has been around, it gets hot every year in the summer in Texas. Yet, all the talking heads keep making a big deal out of the temperature. They like to cite records and compare our current somatic sensation.
Mark Twain said, "Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it." The truth is that it is hot, and people are going to complain about it.
As I went out to retrieve the snail mail today, I noticed that my flag was flying south, indicating a northerly wind. When I came back inside and checked my weather center, I was pleased to see that the temperature was only 41 degrees. That’s Celsius. In Fahrenheit, it was 105.8 .
Get used to it. It's summer time in Texas.
Hotter than Hell?
Probably not.
PMO
©2011
Monday, June 25, 2012
Special OPS
In the military and in some police departments there are those that are knows as special operations. I have discovered that the term can also apply to old people - like me. OPS stands for ‘Old People Syndrome." That’s what makes us special.
OPS means that you have arrived at that stage of life when your don’t want to has overpowered your need to.
I need to clean up my office. I have been planning to do it for about five years now. There are things in here that may be valuable, so I need to find them. The problem is that there are so many distractions. By the time I deal with all the distractions, my office remains a mess.
As usual, I have a plan. I will probably never clean the office, so I will just sell the house.
The house comes with a riding mower and the office - as is.
PMO
©2011
OPS means that you have arrived at that stage of life when your don’t want to has overpowered your need to.
I need to clean up my office. I have been planning to do it for about five years now. There are things in here that may be valuable, so I need to find them. The problem is that there are so many distractions. By the time I deal with all the distractions, my office remains a mess.
As usual, I have a plan. I will probably never clean the office, so I will just sell the house.
The house comes with a riding mower and the office - as is.
PMO
©2011
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Retirement
I have friends that are retired and some that are planning to. My advice to those that have not is, don’t do it. Sure you have all the time in the world to do what you want to. Guess what? After a few months, you don’t want to.
It took me three years to fall into a routine. I have to have routine in my life. So, I have designated days that I do what it is that I don’t want to do. These are the highlights of my routine week.
Mondays include putting special tablets into the aerobic septic system. How about that for starting off your week? Once per month, I spice up Mondays by changing my air conditioning filter.
Tuesday is set aside for haircuts, dentist appointments, retiree group meetings and that sort of thing. Also, it is the day I vacuum and mop. Try following a dentist appointment with a mop bucket. It is hard to describe such joy.
On Thursday, I shop. There is always a trip to Wally-Mart, the grocery and where ever else something has to be procured. I really don’t think I would survive if I had to shop two days.
Friday is a big day. It’s laundry day AND put the trash and recycle out on the curb. Since my financial controller still works, I thought it would be helpful to at least wash the towels on Fridays. That has taken a nasty turn. Now, it’s all the laundry. It is true. No good deed shall go unpunished.
Saturday is cooking day. And, it is grandchildren day. That’s why I cook. They like my cooking.
Sunday, among other events, is another cooking day. The difference is that the parents come with the kids for after church "Sunday Dinner."
Can you believe I have all this excitement? Makes you want to retire now if you’re not already.
Did you notice, I did not mention Wednesday?
That’s my day off.
PMO
©2011
It took me three years to fall into a routine. I have to have routine in my life. So, I have designated days that I do what it is that I don’t want to do. These are the highlights of my routine week.
Mondays include putting special tablets into the aerobic septic system. How about that for starting off your week? Once per month, I spice up Mondays by changing my air conditioning filter.
Tuesday is set aside for haircuts, dentist appointments, retiree group meetings and that sort of thing. Also, it is the day I vacuum and mop. Try following a dentist appointment with a mop bucket. It is hard to describe such joy.
On Thursday, I shop. There is always a trip to Wally-Mart, the grocery and where ever else something has to be procured. I really don’t think I would survive if I had to shop two days.
Friday is a big day. It’s laundry day AND put the trash and recycle out on the curb. Since my financial controller still works, I thought it would be helpful to at least wash the towels on Fridays. That has taken a nasty turn. Now, it’s all the laundry. It is true. No good deed shall go unpunished.
Saturday is cooking day. And, it is grandchildren day. That’s why I cook. They like my cooking.
Sunday, among other events, is another cooking day. The difference is that the parents come with the kids for after church "Sunday Dinner."
Can you believe I have all this excitement? Makes you want to retire now if you’re not already.
Did you notice, I did not mention Wednesday?
That’s my day off.
PMO
©2011
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Blogs
It is estimated that there are over 160,000,000 blogs today. Some may be inactive or abandoned. There are those that say my blog would be better if it were inactive or abandoned. They may be right.
People like to blog for a number of reasons. Some write to communicate information, while others just enjoy writing about anything. There are blogs written as therapy, like this one. I may be crazy but it does keep me from going insane - sometimes.
With 160 million blogs, it is unlikely that anyone reads this drivel. Perhaps I should promote the site.
I could wear a sandwich sign and walk in front of the local Wally-Mart.
On second thought, I better not. Somebody might run over me.
I know they would if they’ve read the blog.
PMO
©2011
People like to blog for a number of reasons. Some write to communicate information, while others just enjoy writing about anything. There are blogs written as therapy, like this one. I may be crazy but it does keep me from going insane - sometimes.
With 160 million blogs, it is unlikely that anyone reads this drivel. Perhaps I should promote the site.
I could wear a sandwich sign and walk in front of the local Wally-Mart.
On second thought, I better not. Somebody might run over me.
I know they would if they’ve read the blog.
PMO
©2011
Friday, June 22, 2012
Demons
Do you believe in demons? If you buy into the reality of good and evil in the world, it seems that demons certainly do exist. Jesus cast out demons. In fact, if memory servers, he cast out a whole legion of demons. Some might explain that the true interpretation was that he was casting out sickness. But, that is not what it says. I like the story when he cast out the demons into a herd of pigs and they ran over a cliff.
If the devil is real, and he is, then it would be reasonable to conclude that demons are too. I know there are opposing views, but when you see all the evil that people do, there is always the question, "How could someone do such a thing? Surely they are not human."
It is said that everyone has their own demon. Some may have many. The hard part is to control the demon. I may have shared this story before, but will again. There was an old Indian trying to instill wisdom into his grandson. He said, "Everyone has two wolves inside, a good and an evil. They are constantly in battle with each other." The youngster asked, "Which one wins?" The wise old chief replied, "The one you feed."
Do I believe in demons? Yes, I do. There is proof of unspeakable evil displayed unashamedly.
Just look at our Congress. Maybe Jesus cast them all to D.C.
Are there any cliffs in D.C. ???
PMO
©2011
If the devil is real, and he is, then it would be reasonable to conclude that demons are too. I know there are opposing views, but when you see all the evil that people do, there is always the question, "How could someone do such a thing? Surely they are not human."
It is said that everyone has their own demon. Some may have many. The hard part is to control the demon. I may have shared this story before, but will again. There was an old Indian trying to instill wisdom into his grandson. He said, "Everyone has two wolves inside, a good and an evil. They are constantly in battle with each other." The youngster asked, "Which one wins?" The wise old chief replied, "The one you feed."
Do I believe in demons? Yes, I do. There is proof of unspeakable evil displayed unashamedly.
Just look at our Congress. Maybe Jesus cast them all to D.C.
Are there any cliffs in D.C. ???
PMO
©2011
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Nanny State
As a child we are taught to respect our parents and do what they tell us. In the teenage years, we begin to test that authority and reach out for independence. By the time we are in our twenties, we perceive that we are free and resent any parental "interference" in our lives.
Yet, as a society, we bow to nannies that rule out of desire for power, not out of love as with our parents, in the name of government without question.
Why is that?
PMO
©2011
Yet, as a society, we bow to nannies that rule out of desire for power, not out of love as with our parents, in the name of government without question.
Why is that?
PMO
©2011
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Cure Is Worse
In my microscopic world, I am required to do things that in my opinion should not have to be done, such as yard work. If it was up to me my yard would be natural - if the animals don’t eat it, it stays.
Recently, and far too frequently, I had to run some yard machines. One of which, I only use occasionally. As a result, it made my skinny muscles sore. When, I complained, my financial controller offered to help relieve the pain with a new spray pain reliever - for sore muscles and pain.
This particular product contains enough camphor to kill at least half the population of the earth. I did not know that until she sprayed some on my right biceps. It did relieve some of the pain, but made me wonder if I would ever breathe normally again.
Camphor used to be made by boiling the bark and wood of the camphor tree. Today, it is a chemical process made from turpentine. People use this stuff to treat a variety of ailments including inhaling it to relieve congestion, treating toenail fungus, and even relief for hemorrhoids. I wish she had sprayed it there instead of on my arm and shirt. At least I would have had some distance between my nose and the affected area.
This was truly one of those cases where the cure was worse than the ailment. I immediately took a shower and tried to wash the stuff off. It was too late, it had penetrated my skin. And, since the spray landed on my shirt, I burned it.
I’m keeping the spray as a self-defense weapon.
PMO
©2011
Recently, and far too frequently, I had to run some yard machines. One of which, I only use occasionally. As a result, it made my skinny muscles sore. When, I complained, my financial controller offered to help relieve the pain with a new spray pain reliever - for sore muscles and pain.
This particular product contains enough camphor to kill at least half the population of the earth. I did not know that until she sprayed some on my right biceps. It did relieve some of the pain, but made me wonder if I would ever breathe normally again.
Camphor used to be made by boiling the bark and wood of the camphor tree. Today, it is a chemical process made from turpentine. People use this stuff to treat a variety of ailments including inhaling it to relieve congestion, treating toenail fungus, and even relief for hemorrhoids. I wish she had sprayed it there instead of on my arm and shirt. At least I would have had some distance between my nose and the affected area.
This was truly one of those cases where the cure was worse than the ailment. I immediately took a shower and tried to wash the stuff off. It was too late, it had penetrated my skin. And, since the spray landed on my shirt, I burned it.
I’m keeping the spray as a self-defense weapon.
PMO
©2011
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Redneck Marketing
I have cause and reason to search for houses for sale in East Texas. In my internet search for homes I quickly discovered that the Realtors display a brief write up about the house, including some pictures.
One particular house stood out. First, the house was in my price range. It had the required number of bedrooms and baths. And, it had wood flooring. I like wood flooring. There were 25 pictures of the property.
Browsing through the pictures after reading the write up which stated the house was only about a mile from a boat ramp to the near by lake, I discovered some real marketing. If I’m lying, I’m dying, there were pictures of the boat ramp, a near by bait shop where you can buy live bait, and a shabby old restaurant that sells breakfast. In real estate, it’ location, location, location.
Next week, I’m driving over to see the house and go by the bait shop.
PMO
©2011
One particular house stood out. First, the house was in my price range. It had the required number of bedrooms and baths. And, it had wood flooring. I like wood flooring. There were 25 pictures of the property.
Browsing through the pictures after reading the write up which stated the house was only about a mile from a boat ramp to the near by lake, I discovered some real marketing. If I’m lying, I’m dying, there were pictures of the boat ramp, a near by bait shop where you can buy live bait, and a shabby old restaurant that sells breakfast. In real estate, it’ location, location, location.
Next week, I’m driving over to see the house and go by the bait shop.
PMO
©2011
Monday, June 18, 2012
Small Packages
It has been said many times that good things come in small packages. Personally, I don’t know if that is true. I don’t get a lot of packages.
But, sometimes I run across small bits of advice that seem to be good. In life, keep it simple and never own anything that eats or has to be painted.
PMO
©2011
But, sometimes I run across small bits of advice that seem to be good. In life, keep it simple and never own anything that eats or has to be painted.
PMO
©2011
Sunday, June 17, 2012
More On Jalapeños
A few days ago, I wrote about jalapeño peppers. My best estimate of the ones in my garden is that the Scoville ratings don’t go high enough to rate them. The scale only goes to 2,000,000 which is the rating for most police pepper sprays. The Viper peppers only rate at about 1.4 million which is hotter than the red habanero that rates at only 580,000. Do you get the picture? These are HOT PEPPERS!
To be sure that I an not what the two women I share them with, call me, I gave a few to my friend Robert. Robert is from Louisiana and will eat anything.
He had some for dinner and reported to me that the next day, most of his eyesight was back and he could actually breathe again. He also said it was the first time he had ever put an ice pack on his tongue.
According to the women Robert, you know what that makes you too.
Women really are meaner than men.
PMO
©2011
To be sure that I an not what the two women I share them with, call me, I gave a few to my friend Robert. Robert is from Louisiana and will eat anything.
He had some for dinner and reported to me that the next day, most of his eyesight was back and he could actually breathe again. He also said it was the first time he had ever put an ice pack on his tongue.
According to the women Robert, you know what that makes you too.
Women really are meaner than men.
PMO
©2011
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Father's Day
Sunday, June 17, 2012 is Father’s Day. This is a day set aside to honor fathers, but exactly what is a father? Any idiot can be a father. It takes a lot more to be a Dad.
A father, in my opinion and experience, has two primary responsibilities - to protect and provide. Responsibility seems to be missing in a lot of men I know or know about.
If there is a person that is often misunderstood more than anyone you know, it is dear old Dad. All he does is work and try to keep the children from doing anything that is fun. There’s a reason for that. It is because it is an awesome challenge to protect and provide.
A few years ago, Reba McEntire recorded a song about the Greatest Man I Never Knew, written by Richard C. Leigh and Layng Martine, Jr. The lyrics to that song are below. Look at the words and remember, to protect and provide.
"The greatest man I never knew
Lived just down the hall And everyday we said hello
But never touched at all
He was in his paper
I was in my room
How was I to know he thought I hung the moon
The greatest man I never knew
Came home late every night
He never had too much to say
Too much was on his mind
I never really knew him
And now it seems so sad
Everything he gave to us took all he had
Then the days turned into years
And the memories to black and white
He grew cold like an old winter wind
Blowing across my life
The greatest words I never heard
I guess I'll never hear
The man I thought could never die
S'been dead almost a year
He was good at business
But there was business left to do
He never said he loved me
Guess he thought I knew"
Do you understand now? When you think about your Dad, remember a real Father gives all he has.
It’s what Dad’s do.
A father, in my opinion and experience, has two primary responsibilities - to protect and provide. Responsibility seems to be missing in a lot of men I know or know about.
If there is a person that is often misunderstood more than anyone you know, it is dear old Dad. All he does is work and try to keep the children from doing anything that is fun. There’s a reason for that. It is because it is an awesome challenge to protect and provide.
A few years ago, Reba McEntire recorded a song about the Greatest Man I Never Knew, written by Richard C. Leigh and Layng Martine, Jr. The lyrics to that song are below. Look at the words and remember, to protect and provide.
"The greatest man I never knew
Lived just down the hall And everyday we said hello
But never touched at all
He was in his paper
I was in my room
How was I to know he thought I hung the moon
The greatest man I never knew
Came home late every night
He never had too much to say
Too much was on his mind
I never really knew him
And now it seems so sad
Everything he gave to us took all he had
Then the days turned into years
And the memories to black and white
He grew cold like an old winter wind
Blowing across my life
The greatest words I never heard
I guess I'll never hear
The man I thought could never die
S'been dead almost a year
He was good at business
But there was business left to do
He never said he loved me
Guess he thought I knew"
Do you understand now? When you think about your Dad, remember a real Father gives all he has.
It’s what Dad’s do.
Friday, June 15, 2012
Big Apple
Don’t go to New York City. You may have already been banned and don’t know it. Mayor Bloomberg now wants to ban the big in a bag of popcorn. In case you’ve been living in that cave again, he also wants to ban large sugary drinks. He has already banned trans fatty oils and smoking.
What’s next? We while popcorn bites the dust, milk drinks also are coming up to review. These would include milk shakes, malts and coffee with heavy milk mixes.
I know this is a stupid question, but do people really allow this kind of stupid government control? Are the citizens of NYC so dumb and dependent they can’t make a health decision for themselves?
That was two questions, but only one answer is needed. YES!
Rumor has it, the Statue of Liberty has been seen leaving the harbor with a huge bag of popcorn, a 64 ounce soft drink, two order of fries cooked in lard, smoking a Camel and driving a diesel.
She is looking for the land of the freedom from stupidity.
PMO
©2011
What’s next? We while popcorn bites the dust, milk drinks also are coming up to review. These would include milk shakes, malts and coffee with heavy milk mixes.
I know this is a stupid question, but do people really allow this kind of stupid government control? Are the citizens of NYC so dumb and dependent they can’t make a health decision for themselves?
That was two questions, but only one answer is needed. YES!
Rumor has it, the Statue of Liberty has been seen leaving the harbor with a huge bag of popcorn, a 64 ounce soft drink, two order of fries cooked in lard, smoking a Camel and driving a diesel.
She is looking for the land of the freedom from stupidity.
PMO
©2011
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Undo
Government perceives itself as the all knowing and all powerful force to regulate the citizens that elect and provide financial means to carry out what ever whim that comes by them on any given day. Therefore, I would like to suggest that from this day forward government should focus on undoing what they have already done.
They could not pass one law that imposes anything - only laws to repeal laws. The clear cut objective would be to set the people free - truly free to pursue life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
I don’t know about you, but I would like to have a little pursuit of happiness without a million laws saying I can’t.
PMO
©2011
They could not pass one law that imposes anything - only laws to repeal laws. The clear cut objective would be to set the people free - truly free to pursue life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
I don’t know about you, but I would like to have a little pursuit of happiness without a million laws saying I can’t.
PMO
©2011
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Still In The Garden
I have tomato plants in my garden - two of them. I’ve been planting tomatoes for years with some success, especially since I found the variety that produces best in my raised bed "farm-ette." However, this year I have had a problem not experienced before.
One of the plants is quite prolific and is producing enough fruit for my financial controller and me, as well as an occasional friend. The second plant just grows and blooms. It is a large plant and has had numerous blooms, but no tomatoes. I’ve tried the bloom-set spray and an old trick of thumping the blooms to make them produce. Nothing works.
In a recent conversation with a friend, I explained the problem and solutions tried. He suggested I must have an all male plant. That of course, caused me to start thinking. Just how do you tell if a plant is male, especially when you buy them with no blooms. There is no pink or blue band on the container to show the difference.
Then it occurred to me that maybe tomato plants are like puppies. When you select a plant, you have to turn it over and look at the bottom. Isn’t that’s how you tell if a puppy is male or female, you look at the bottom of their feet?
Do tomatoes have feet?
PMO
©2011
One of the plants is quite prolific and is producing enough fruit for my financial controller and me, as well as an occasional friend. The second plant just grows and blooms. It is a large plant and has had numerous blooms, but no tomatoes. I’ve tried the bloom-set spray and an old trick of thumping the blooms to make them produce. Nothing works.
In a recent conversation with a friend, I explained the problem and solutions tried. He suggested I must have an all male plant. That of course, caused me to start thinking. Just how do you tell if a plant is male, especially when you buy them with no blooms. There is no pink or blue band on the container to show the difference.
Then it occurred to me that maybe tomato plants are like puppies. When you select a plant, you have to turn it over and look at the bottom. Isn’t that’s how you tell if a puppy is male or female, you look at the bottom of their feet?
Do tomatoes have feet?
PMO
©2011
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Jalapeños
In my garden I have planted jalapeño peppers. On the containers they were clearly labeled as mild. For some unknown reason, as you get older, you are less tolerate of hot spicy foods. Therefore, I always choose the mild peppers.
Guess what? These peppers are not mild. They are not even hot. They go right past hot all the way to if you eat them you will vaporize.
Recently I harvested some of the peppers and washed one for my evening meal. When I took the first bite, I could not breathe. My eyes watered and I truly thought I was going to die. These peppers are the type that when you bite one, you immediately pray that if God will just let you breathe again, you will be a good person. And, then there is the after effect if you swallow. You just wait knowing that sooner or later the pepper will make its way out.
I thought of using them in my gas tank to boost the performance on my truck. Then it dawned on me that I don’t want to ride that fast.
The real killer is that I have two ladies that I share them with and they tell me the peppers are not hot at all.
What they call me really hurts. But not as much as eating one of the peppers.
PMO
©2011
Guess what? These peppers are not mild. They are not even hot. They go right past hot all the way to if you eat them you will vaporize.
Recently I harvested some of the peppers and washed one for my evening meal. When I took the first bite, I could not breathe. My eyes watered and I truly thought I was going to die. These peppers are the type that when you bite one, you immediately pray that if God will just let you breathe again, you will be a good person. And, then there is the after effect if you swallow. You just wait knowing that sooner or later the pepper will make its way out.
I thought of using them in my gas tank to boost the performance on my truck. Then it dawned on me that I don’t want to ride that fast.
The real killer is that I have two ladies that I share them with and they tell me the peppers are not hot at all.
What they call me really hurts. But not as much as eating one of the peppers.
PMO
©2011
Monday, June 11, 2012
Today's News
Today’s include two items that you need to know. First, you had better buckle up Fido when traveling in a car in New Jersey. The fine for not have a dog or cat buckled up is $1000.
Next, Google and Apple are using aerial spy cameras that are truly military grade. In their quest to map the country, they can see you sunbathing on the patio. They contend that the image quality is not good enough to identify a person, but who really knows.
My conclusion from these all important bits of "news" is that you need to move to Texas if you want Rover to ride. We haul him around in the back of a pickup truck. And, we don’t sunbathe on the patio. We skinny dip in the river.
If Google or Apple gets a picture of me skinny dipping, the next important news will be that there is an aerial spy camera up for sale.
PMO
©2011
Next, Google and Apple are using aerial spy cameras that are truly military grade. In their quest to map the country, they can see you sunbathing on the patio. They contend that the image quality is not good enough to identify a person, but who really knows.
My conclusion from these all important bits of "news" is that you need to move to Texas if you want Rover to ride. We haul him around in the back of a pickup truck. And, we don’t sunbathe on the patio. We skinny dip in the river.
If Google or Apple gets a picture of me skinny dipping, the next important news will be that there is an aerial spy camera up for sale.
PMO
©2011
Sunday, June 10, 2012
It's In There
Al Gore didn’t invent the internet, although it is something that he would if he could. Television was once described as a vast wasteland. The internet should then be the mother of all wasteland.
One might suppose correctly that there is nothing that you can imagine that is not on the internet somewhere. If you have a question or want to know something, just "Google" it and there it is.
The problem is that there is no way to know if what you see is real, fake or maybe something in between.
As I have discussed before, when I first starting using the internet, most information sites were one university or government agency or another. There was some probability that the information was reliable. Who can say today, what you will find?
A simple search can result in all kinds of information that you really don’t want.
Don’t search for breeding chickens.
Trust me.
PMO
©2011
One might suppose correctly that there is nothing that you can imagine that is not on the internet somewhere. If you have a question or want to know something, just "Google" it and there it is.
The problem is that there is no way to know if what you see is real, fake or maybe something in between.
As I have discussed before, when I first starting using the internet, most information sites were one university or government agency or another. There was some probability that the information was reliable. Who can say today, what you will find?
A simple search can result in all kinds of information that you really don’t want.
Don’t search for breeding chickens.
Trust me.
PMO
©2011
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Gas Prices
While watching the morning TV news, there was a reporter at a local gas station proclaiming that $3.16 per gallon gas is dirt cheap. Hello, dirt is no longer cheap. But it is cheaper than gasoline.
Back in the old days, 2009, gasoline was less than $2.00 per gallon - national average. Then it went up to over $4.00. Now, gas that is over $3.00 is cheap?
How many other products have gone up over 100% in the past three years? Yes, there are many that have increased because of rising fuel cost - but not 100%. Would you buy a burger for $10.00 or think it was a deal when it dropped to $7.95?
It is amazing to me how people think - or don’t think. The reporter acted as though the gasoline price was better than Christmas all year long.
In my twisted mind, this excitement is like being required to work 80 hours for the same pay you had working 40 hours, then getting news that your hours have been cut to 60 or 70.
Yes, I am happy to hear that prices are down, but am more concerned that people see this as a bargain when in reality, they are getting $2 gas for $3.
Of course I am so old that I remember paying 37 cents per gallon and thought that was outrageous.
Maybe more good news will follow - like property taxes are going down by 5% and evaluations are only up 50%.
PMO
©2011
Back in the old days, 2009, gasoline was less than $2.00 per gallon - national average. Then it went up to over $4.00. Now, gas that is over $3.00 is cheap?
How many other products have gone up over 100% in the past three years? Yes, there are many that have increased because of rising fuel cost - but not 100%. Would you buy a burger for $10.00 or think it was a deal when it dropped to $7.95?
It is amazing to me how people think - or don’t think. The reporter acted as though the gasoline price was better than Christmas all year long.
In my twisted mind, this excitement is like being required to work 80 hours for the same pay you had working 40 hours, then getting news that your hours have been cut to 60 or 70.
Yes, I am happy to hear that prices are down, but am more concerned that people see this as a bargain when in reality, they are getting $2 gas for $3.
Of course I am so old that I remember paying 37 cents per gallon and thought that was outrageous.
Maybe more good news will follow - like property taxes are going down by 5% and evaluations are only up 50%.
PMO
©2011
Friday, June 8, 2012
Professional Attire
While driving I listened to a talk show on radio. The discussion was about professional attire. You may remember when you could actually identify people in the jobs they do. It used to be that doctors wore those long white coats, nurses had while uniforms and wore a hat, dentist were identifiable and even barbers had professional attire.
Not today. It would be hard to tell a drug dealer from a real pharmacist. People in offices often look like they just came from a softball game - and they lost.
When I worked in radio, I had to wear a coat and tie - on the radio. No one could see me, but it was the accepted attire. In sales, people dressed the part. I worked nearly 30 years for a large corporation and it was in the last few years that we didn’t have to have a coat and tie, although I did most of the time.
Casual Friday evolved into rumbled Monday and everything in the middle was often a little too relaxed.
As discussed on the radio program, the idea of taking pride in one’s appearance as an act of professionalism is gone. Naturally, the argument came up from callers that so long as they did their job, what did it matter how they dressed. Well, folks, when you lose your pride in your appearance, you lose more than that.
Most people today go to church services dressed like they going to the lake or are working on a car. What’s wrong with that? If you have to ask, there is no need to respond.
What if our police, fire fighters and military decided to have casual Friday? How much respect would you give to a senator or congressman or president that showed up for work in cut-offs and a tee shirt?
I have never been any where that I was over dressed. Sure it took me a few minutes more to put on an ironed shirt and tie, but if I got somewhere that was casual, I could always take off the tie.
Just a rambling about what happened to professional pride.
I suppose everyone just wants to look like me, now that I’m retired.
PMO
©2011
Not today. It would be hard to tell a drug dealer from a real pharmacist. People in offices often look like they just came from a softball game - and they lost.
When I worked in radio, I had to wear a coat and tie - on the radio. No one could see me, but it was the accepted attire. In sales, people dressed the part. I worked nearly 30 years for a large corporation and it was in the last few years that we didn’t have to have a coat and tie, although I did most of the time.
Casual Friday evolved into rumbled Monday and everything in the middle was often a little too relaxed.
As discussed on the radio program, the idea of taking pride in one’s appearance as an act of professionalism is gone. Naturally, the argument came up from callers that so long as they did their job, what did it matter how they dressed. Well, folks, when you lose your pride in your appearance, you lose more than that.
Most people today go to church services dressed like they going to the lake or are working on a car. What’s wrong with that? If you have to ask, there is no need to respond.
What if our police, fire fighters and military decided to have casual Friday? How much respect would you give to a senator or congressman or president that showed up for work in cut-offs and a tee shirt?
I have never been any where that I was over dressed. Sure it took me a few minutes more to put on an ironed shirt and tie, but if I got somewhere that was casual, I could always take off the tie.
Just a rambling about what happened to professional pride.
I suppose everyone just wants to look like me, now that I’m retired.
PMO
©2011
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Do Not Call
Alexander Graham Bell did not intend the telephone to be a nuisance, or at least I don’t think he did. But, that’s not how it worked out. My phone number is on every do not call list that I know about. I still get calls from people trying to sell me something. Sometimes I am nice and explain to the caller that I am on the do not call list and please never call me again. However, should someone from the same company call again, I lose my niceness.
Complaining to the State Attorney General’s office doesn’t seem to have much impact nor does an official complaint on the federal level. Sure, you can scare off a few of the offenders, but there are so many that you still get those #^&**@#+ calls. Usually around dinner time.
Here’s my plan. I am going to write down all the offending numbers and post them on the social media sites. At an appointed date and time, I want about 50 million people to start calling those numbers and don’t stop until they go out of business.
If it works. Politicians are next.
PMO
©2011
Complaining to the State Attorney General’s office doesn’t seem to have much impact nor does an official complaint on the federal level. Sure, you can scare off a few of the offenders, but there are so many that you still get those #^&**@#+ calls. Usually around dinner time.
Here’s my plan. I am going to write down all the offending numbers and post them on the social media sites. At an appointed date and time, I want about 50 million people to start calling those numbers and don’t stop until they go out of business.
If it works. Politicians are next.
PMO
©2011
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Prognostication
I have a vegetable garden. Well, actually I have a salsa garden. It has onions, tomatoes and peppers with a few occasional radishes. Rain is important to me. One good rain equals a lot of watering. So I check the weather forecast everyday.
It has come to my attention that the weather prognosticators don’t all have the same play book. For example, this morning I checked two different TV channels and one radio station and they all had differing forecast for rain. One said the area has a 40% chance or rain. Another forecasted a 20% chance of precipitation. Finally, I got the forecast I wanted to hear, 70% chance. I went with that one.
You can do the same thing with temperature. If you hear that the high for the day is going to be 100 degrees, just switch the channel. There is a good chance that you can cool down to 90 or at least 95 . I save a lot on cooling cost that way.
In the future I am going to look into other crops that don’t require so much water.
Maybe cotton?
PMO
©2011
It has come to my attention that the weather prognosticators don’t all have the same play book. For example, this morning I checked two different TV channels and one radio station and they all had differing forecast for rain. One said the area has a 40% chance or rain. Another forecasted a 20% chance of precipitation. Finally, I got the forecast I wanted to hear, 70% chance. I went with that one.
You can do the same thing with temperature. If you hear that the high for the day is going to be 100 degrees, just switch the channel. There is a good chance that you can cool down to 90 or at least 95 . I save a lot on cooling cost that way.
In the future I am going to look into other crops that don’t require so much water.
Maybe cotton?
PMO
©2011
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Spider Solitaire
I play Spider Solitaire. I play a lot. I lose a lot. If you have never played the game, then I highly recommend that you don’t. It is frustrating on a good day. It’s kind of like life.
I’m not exactly sure what the objective of the game is but to win the game with the least number of moves. A good score is anything over 1200 - I think. I’ve only gotten a score that high once. Hey, I’ve only playing for a thousand years.
The trick to the game is to make the right choices in the unknowns and play the known’s with the least moves. Isn’t that what life is all about? Making the right moves when you see them and hoping for the best when you have no idea what’s going to be on the other side when you turn that card over.
Right now, I have a win ratio of 41% of the games played. As I said, I have only achieved a high score once. I have worked plans and techniques, and used what I see to try to do better the next time. What do I get? Frustration.
But it sure is fun when you win that one.
PMO
©2011
I’m not exactly sure what the objective of the game is but to win the game with the least number of moves. A good score is anything over 1200 - I think. I’ve only gotten a score that high once. Hey, I’ve only playing for a thousand years.
The trick to the game is to make the right choices in the unknowns and play the known’s with the least moves. Isn’t that what life is all about? Making the right moves when you see them and hoping for the best when you have no idea what’s going to be on the other side when you turn that card over.
Right now, I have a win ratio of 41% of the games played. As I said, I have only achieved a high score once. I have worked plans and techniques, and used what I see to try to do better the next time. What do I get? Frustration.
But it sure is fun when you win that one.
PMO
©2011
Monday, June 4, 2012
Advertising Truths
Aren’t there truth in advertising laws? If so, they are not effective. Just this week I saw an ad proclaiming that a diet product was "flying off the shelves." I went to the store to watch that, but I didn’t even see one box jump a little.
Then there was an advertisement about hordes of people going to doctors for a new joint pain treatment. That’s right, no hordes of people.
What really scares me is that there are those among us that actually believe all the stuff that is said about a product or service. As discussed at another writing, there is no such thing as a free lunch or buy one and get two free. But people react and that’s what the advertisers want. One of my favorites is a TV spot where a woman proclaims she "literally" fell out of her chair when she called to get an insurance quote. I would ask, "What kind of life does she have?"
Are we as a species so lacking that all it takes to motivate us is a "Sale" sign? Is it any wonder why we have the leaders we have in government.
If you really believe that a politician is going to do what he/she says, then I have bridges on sale.
Buy two and I’ll throw in a river for free.
PMO
©2011
Then there was an advertisement about hordes of people going to doctors for a new joint pain treatment. That’s right, no hordes of people.
What really scares me is that there are those among us that actually believe all the stuff that is said about a product or service. As discussed at another writing, there is no such thing as a free lunch or buy one and get two free. But people react and that’s what the advertisers want. One of my favorites is a TV spot where a woman proclaims she "literally" fell out of her chair when she called to get an insurance quote. I would ask, "What kind of life does she have?"
Are we as a species so lacking that all it takes to motivate us is a "Sale" sign? Is it any wonder why we have the leaders we have in government.
If you really believe that a politician is going to do what he/she says, then I have bridges on sale.
Buy two and I’ll throw in a river for free.
PMO
©2011
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Secret Weapon
In case you have missed it, there is a group of military women that want all women to fight on the front lines. They want women to be trained and armed just like men. That’s only part of this story.
Next, surely you’ve heard hubbub about military mothers nursing in public while in uniform. While breast feeding is widely accepted, the military doesn’t seem to have a policy on this.
So, I have come up with a plan, as I always do. Because the Muslim religion forbids men from viewing naked women, other than their wives, and our current combat is against an enemy that is Muslim, all we have to do is solve two problems at once.
We should put nursing mothers on the front lines. When the enemy attacks, they can pop their tops to feed their young. This will cause the enemy to turn their heads or close their eyes to avoid breaking religious law. When they do that, our male soldiers can shoot them.
I should have been a general.
PMO
©2011
Next, surely you’ve heard hubbub about military mothers nursing in public while in uniform. While breast feeding is widely accepted, the military doesn’t seem to have a policy on this.
So, I have come up with a plan, as I always do. Because the Muslim religion forbids men from viewing naked women, other than their wives, and our current combat is against an enemy that is Muslim, all we have to do is solve two problems at once.
We should put nursing mothers on the front lines. When the enemy attacks, they can pop their tops to feed their young. This will cause the enemy to turn their heads or close their eyes to avoid breaking religious law. When they do that, our male soldiers can shoot them.
I should have been a general.
PMO
©2011
Saturday, June 2, 2012
I Want A Job
The Washington Examiner reports that $90 billion in green energy stimulus equals to about 16,000 jobs. If you do the math, it calculates out to be about $5.6 million per job. I don’t think you are going to see this in Obama’s reelection campaign ads.
If you recall a short time ago I wrote that garbage collection is deemed to be a green job. There were supposed to be 200,000 new energy-related jobs from the $90 billion. That would have been $400,000 per job. That’s still a ridiculous amount. It would have been cheaper to just write a $100,000 tax free check to each of the 16,100 workers.
So, here’s the deal. I take one of the $5.6 million jobs provided they let me work the hours I want to work.
And, I will need a 15% raise each year, 12 weeks of vacation, 27 holidays, 15 personal days, and full medical/dental insurance at no cost to me.
What kind of green job am I qualified to do? Drive a green golf cart.
Of course it needs to have air conditioning and heat.
PMO
©2011
If you recall a short time ago I wrote that garbage collection is deemed to be a green job. There were supposed to be 200,000 new energy-related jobs from the $90 billion. That would have been $400,000 per job. That’s still a ridiculous amount. It would have been cheaper to just write a $100,000 tax free check to each of the 16,100 workers.
So, here’s the deal. I take one of the $5.6 million jobs provided they let me work the hours I want to work.
And, I will need a 15% raise each year, 12 weeks of vacation, 27 holidays, 15 personal days, and full medical/dental insurance at no cost to me.
What kind of green job am I qualified to do? Drive a green golf cart.
Of course it needs to have air conditioning and heat.
PMO
©2011
Friday, June 1, 2012
WAR
We are at war! We have the war on poverty, the war on obesity, the war on drugs, the war on smoking, and the list goes on and on. But, now we have the war on women. At least according to Planned Parenthood there is a war on women.
The evil "right" is raging war on women by refusing to provide contraceptives and abortions. I know this is not the right thing to say so I am going to say it, "If the tax payers have to pay for contraceptives, then there should be no abortions." I told you that was the wrong thing to say.
Whether you are for or against abortions, I would hope you might agree that tax dollars should not be used to fund them. Nor should everyone pay so others can play. What happened to personal responsibility? It went away one day while I was napping.
So far as a war on women, there’s been a war with women going on at my house for almost fifty years. I have a wife, a daughter and two granddaughters.
I’ve never won a battle, much less the war.
PMO
©2011
The evil "right" is raging war on women by refusing to provide contraceptives and abortions. I know this is not the right thing to say so I am going to say it, "If the tax payers have to pay for contraceptives, then there should be no abortions." I told you that was the wrong thing to say.
Whether you are for or against abortions, I would hope you might agree that tax dollars should not be used to fund them. Nor should everyone pay so others can play. What happened to personal responsibility? It went away one day while I was napping.
So far as a war on women, there’s been a war with women going on at my house for almost fifty years. I have a wife, a daughter and two granddaughters.
I’ve never won a battle, much less the war.
PMO
©2011
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