2013 vs 2014

Okay, let’s review 2013. Taxes went up. Politicians lied. More people signed up for food stamps. The working people were forced to buy insurance they did not want and could not afford. There were wars everywhere and our troops died. More punishment for having your own thoughts were imposed. God was kicked out of just about every organization, including the military. The people that vote for a living outnumbered the people that work for a living. And, those are just a few of the highlights.

Now, let’s look at what’s ahead for 2014. See all of the above, and expect everything to increase two  times or more.

Happy New Year?

PMO
©2013

Home Remedy Results

My patient - see yesterday’s post - is doing well. His fever broke, which is what the concoction is supposed to do. Who says home remedies don’t work?

I have another one that I’ve been using for years to treat leg and foot cramps. Soap! No, you don’t use it to wash. Just take a bar of soap - it can still be in the package - and hold it on the cramp site. Makes no sense, but it works. I tried to explain that to an medical doctor recently and he wanted to refer me to a shrink.

If he gets a leg cramp, I bet he tries it.

PMO
©2013

Home Remedy

Since mankind learned that fermented fruits and grains rendered a punch with a punch, alcohol has been used and abused. One of the uses, a genuine use, is for medicinal purposes. Legitimate medicine and over the counter fixes often contain a touch of the "recipe." Don’t believe me, just check the label on some of the cold relief bottles are your local pharmacy.

My friend Ronnie called his doctor to get a prescription for a horrible sinus infection. The doc was out until after the first of the year. So, he went to a Doc-In-The-Box. After a couple of hours, he finally saw a doctor. Ronnie explained that his primary physician was out of town and that he always gives him a particular antibiotic for this ailment, which occurs once a year or so. The doc refused to give him anything. Ronnie went home and laid on the sofa for three days with a temperature often reaching 103 . When he and I talked, I suggested a concoction that I had used before. It involves a particular spicy tomato juice drink, the juice from a whole lemon, a few dashes of salt and pepper and a bit of 80 proof. The trick is to drink it down and go to bed and cover up.

Mark Twain told a story of how when traveling he caught a horrible cold and a fellow passenger on the stage coach told him that when they arrived in San Francisco, he should get a quart of whiskey, drink it and go to bed. Checking into the hotel, the clerk seeing Mr. Twain’s agony, made the same suggestion. Twain said that made two quarts and it was the best cold he ever had.

If you are going to drink two quarts, you probably should get into bed first.

PMO
©2013

Oh Christmas Tree

For as long as I can remember, which is getting shorter and shorter, the question has been, ‘when do you take down the Christmas tree?’ There are those that think it should stay up until after New Year’s. Others seem to go with the day after Christmas.

I suggest that if it is a live tree, the sooner the better. No matter what you do, trees dry out and each day become more of a fire hazard. So that leaves us with artificial trees.

Artificial trees take the same amount of time as live ones to remove all the ornaments and stuff so that’s a wash, but then you have to take them apart and put them in a box or bag and store them in the attic or somewhere. If your wife put up the tree, decorated the tree, then she should be the one that decides when the tree comes down. If you have to help I have a suggestion.

Put a sheet over it and take it off next year.

Same goes for outside lights and decorations.

PMO
©2013

Santa Said

My friend Jim sent a letter to Santa asking for a 21 year old blonde that owns a chain of liquor stores and who just won a huge lottery that wants to get married without a prenuptial agreement. He sends the same letter every year. Now, he swears that he got a reply. Santa said, "I would never fill such a request. And, if I could, at your age, you wouldn’t make it through the wedding."

I think "Santa" may really be his wife. But, I didn’t tell him.

PMO
©2013

Reason For The Season

Perhaps you’ve seen signs proclaiming, "Jesus is the reason for the season." I’ve been thinking about that and have analyzed the facts.

First Jesus offers forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Next, without Jesus there would be no Christmas. And, without Christmas, there would be no after Christmas sales.

In summary, Jesus offers forgiveness of sins, absolutely free. He offers eternal life, absolutely free. And, He gets you 30% to 75% off retail. Who else offers such a deal?

Even if you are not a believer, you still get the sale prices, but you really should consider the whole package.  Get one for 75% off and two free.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

©2013

Christmas Wish

Do you have a Christmas wish or maybe a wish list? You know, that special something or something’s you want. Christmas is supposed to be about getting what you want isn’t it? Well, most grumpy old men don’t want anything. So what are we supposed to do? I suppose we could go out and spend a lot of money for things that will be broken or forgotten, and give them to people that will likely have more than they need or really want.

As for this grumpy old man, I have only one Christmas wish.

I wish for you, and me, to feel like Christmas.

©2013

Quacks

Unless you live in a remote cave, you have heard about Duck Dynasty patriarch Phil Robertson’s comments about the homosexual lifestyle. I told myself that I would not weigh in on this, but here goes.

A&E has suspended Robertson from the biggest cable TV show in history, because they say his comments might be offensive to the gay community. Now, Cracker Barrel has pulled some Duck Dynasty merchandise from its shelves in a move not to offend some of their guests.

Both of these moves have confused and infuriated millions and will certainly cost both companies millions if not billions of dollars. All of this because a strong Christian man stood up for what he believes and said so when asked by not to be mentioned magazine.

Meanwhile back at the left wing ranch. Obama buddy Louis Farrakhan calls for gays to be beheaded and stoned in accordance with Islamic teaching. The silence about this in the media is predictable.

I have never watched Duck Dynasty, but I understand that it is a traditional family show, so what would you expect Mr. Robertson to respond when asked his opinion. Maybe he could have used different words, but he is who he is. He does have a right to free speech - at least he is supposed to. Just as Mr. Farrakham has.

And now, Charlie Sheen has weighed in on the side of gay community as a self proclaimed spokesman for those that cannot speak for themselves.

See why this post is titled "Quacks?" They ain’t the ones with the duck calls.

PMO
©2013

Truth Or Fiction

A few years ago I read a story on the internet, so it must be true.  It just made so much sense, I figured it could happen. It seems that the IRS took possession of a brothel/bar in Nevada for tax evasion. And, in an effort to recover some of the money, they decided to run the business. In almost no time, the business was bankrupt.

The moral of the story was that if the government can't sell sex and whiskey, why would anyone trust them to run the country?

And, they are going to run your healthcare?

PMO
©2013

Monitor

I got a new computer monitor. It’s larger than the one I had. When you get old, bigger is better when it comes to looking at a computer screen. As usual, I researched for days before selecting one that has all the specs that I thought I needed. I really don’t know what response time is, but I know faster is better. Five milliseconds is better than 17, which is what you get when you find them at a great sale price. There are some monitors that have a 2 millisecond response time. They are too expensive for me. My trifocals don’t adjust that fast anyway.

So, now I am typing away with a 23 inch screen so I can see all the typing errors much better. I remember when TV screens weren’t that big.

I didn’t wear trifocals back then.

PMO
©2013

What If

What if you had no freedom of speech? What if you had no right to own a firearm, even for your own protection? What if government could conduct a search without a warrant? What if you were taxed without representation? What if government knows what you are doing, but you know nothing about what they are doing? What if time tested traditions and beliefs came under attack on a daily basis. And, what if you were not allowed to pursue life, liberty and happiness.

Where would you be?

Hint: Where are you now?

PMO
©2013

More Leaves

Okay, the leaves are getting to be a real problem, as I mentioned a few posts ago. And, they fall from neighbors trees. Maybe I should send them a box of leaves as a hint. I can’t do that. They are all nice people - with leaves.

So, I’ve been check on machines to mulch them up. A regular lawn mower doesn’t work very well. And, I’ve discovered several products that claim they make mulching leaves a snap. However, further investigation reveals that many of the machines use ‘weed eater’ line and that wears out fast - especially if a small stick gets into the works. The demonstrations I’ve seen have you gathering up the leaves into a pile and then taking a hand full and putting it into the machine. One hand full at a time is going to take a long time in my yard.

My best plan seems to be, wait and see if we get a strong wind blowing toward the neighbors.

PMO
©2013

Looks Like Christmas

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. In Texas, that means the temperature is going up - like in the 70s or higher. Seems like only a week ago that we had one of the biggest ice storms in the country. That’s because it was about a week ago. Now, we are having above average warm days.

I’ve lived in Texas most of my life, so far. I can remember only two, maybe three, Christmas days that we had snow where I lived. That’s okay by me. Apparently there really isn’t a law that says you have to have snow on Christmas.

It wouldn’t surprise me if the ‘winter holiday’ folks try to pass such a law.

PMO
©2013

Wish Leafs Would Leave

We have one tree in our yard, but we have leafs from all the trees for about a hundred miles. And, the blame things keep on falling.

I have tried to mow them - mulch them up. That doesn’t work. Raking and bagging seems to be the only solution to the problem, but when you get an area done and start on another, the dang things have already covered the area you just did.

I’m going to go to the grocery and see if I can find "pecan" flavor liquid. Then I’m going to spray all the leaves and wait for the squirrels to eat them.

If they don’t eat them, they’ll bury them.

PMO
©2013

It's On Sale

Black Friday, Cyber Monday and coming soon, the alluring after Christmas sales draw millions to shop and spend. What is it about a sale? Everyone I know, including me, likes to brag about a bargain they got. The question is, "was it really a bargain?"

Back in the stone age, my friend Willie owned a hardware store in the tiny Texas town where I grew up. Not only did he sell hardware, but he offered a variety of other things, including toys. During the month of December he would really stock up on toys.

Just visiting with him one day about the middle of December he told me about the toy trucks he had placed in a large plastic basket in the middle of the store. He placed them there so everyone that came in would see them. The price was $1 so they would sell quickly. I told you this happened in the stone age. He didn’t sell a single one the first two weeks. So, he put them on sale. He made a sign and placed it on the basket, 2 for $5. There were only two left in the basket the day I was there.

Think about the toy trucks next time you get a ‘real deal.’

PMO

©2013

What America Needs

The nice part about writing this blog is that I get to say what I think. Today, I’m thinking about what America needs. Although this list is not all complete, it is a start. So, here we go.

We need representatives, senators, and a president that are qualified and truly committed to serving the country and not their own special interest.

We need term limits for all offices.

We need strict Constitutionalist running the government, and the Supreme Court.

We need absolute border security and strict immigration laws.

We need a balanced budget.

We need a jobs program to replace most welfare programs.

We need States rights.

We need citizens educated enough to understand what government is and how it supposed to work.

We need individual responsibility.

We need an education system that teaches facts, not fiction.

We need a test to determine if a person is qualified to vote.

We need a strong military that causes fear in our enemies.

We need to get back to the basics and stick with them.

And, finally.

We need a good 5 cent cigar.

PMO
©2013

The Devil

Almost 50 years ago, radio commentator Paul Harvey had the following words:

If I were the devil … If I were the Prince of Darkness, I’d want to engulf the whole world in darkness. And I’d have a third of it’s real estate, and four-fifths of its population, but I wouldn’t be happy until I had seized the ripest apple on the tree — Thee. So I’d set about however necessary to take over the United States. I’d subvert the churches first — I’d begin with a campaign of whispers. With the wisdom of a serpent, I would whisper to you as I whispered to Eve: ‘Do as you please.’

"To the young, I would whisper that ‘The Bible is a myth.’ I would convince them that man created God instead of the other way around. I would confide that what’s bad is good, and what’s good is ‘square.’ And the old, I would teach to pray, after me, ‘Our Father, which art in Washington…’

"And then I’d get organized. I’d educate authors in how to make lurid literature exciting, so that anything else would appear dull and uninteresting. I’d threaten TV with dirtier movies and vice versa. I’d pedal narcotics to whom I could. I’d sell alcohol to ladies and gentlemen of distinction. I’d tranquilize the rest with pills.

"If I were the devil I’d soon have families that war with themselves, churches at war with themselves, and nations at war with themselves; until each in its turn was consumed. And with promises of higher ratings I’d have mesmerizing media fanning the flames. If I were the devil I would encourage schools to refine young intellects, but neglect to discipline emotions — just let those run wild, until before you knew it, you’d have to have drug sniffing dogs and metal detectors at every schoolhouse door.

"Within a decade I’d have prisons overflowing, I’d have judges promoting pornography — soon I could evict God from the courthouse, then from the schoolhouse, and then from the houses of Congress. And in His own churches I would substitute psychology for religion, and deify science. I would lure priests and pastors into misusing boys and girls, and church money. If I were the devil I’d make the symbols of Easter an egg and the symbol of Christmas a bottle.

"If I were the devil I’d take from those who have, and give to those who wanted until I had killed the incentive of the ambitious. And what do you bet? I couldn’t get whole states to promote gambling as thee way to get rich? I would caution against extremes and hard work, in Patriotism, in moral conduct. I would convince the young that marriage is old-fashioned, that swinging is more fun, that what you see on TV is the way to be. And thus I could undress you in public, and I could lure you into bed with diseases for which there is no cure. In other words, if I were the devil I’d just keep right on doing on what he’s doing. Paul Harvey, good day."

Anything sound familiar?

PMO
©2013

Christmas Eve

In one of my previous lives I was a reporter for radio, TV and sometimes newspapers. I’ve had a lot of previous lives - gas station attendant, loading trucks and box cars, working in a lumber yard, selling cars and a variety of other adventures. In my reporter days, I hung out with a lot of cops - sheriffs, deputies, chiefs of police, police officers, game wardens, FBI agents and State troopers. I saw what they do, and I didn’t want their jobs.

One of the problems with law enforcement is that all too often you see people when they are at their worse or when circumstances are the worse. I know what it’s like to be on the scene of a wreck and watch someone die when there was nothing that could be done. For years I used to wake up seeing the face of a little girl as she was wheeled into a hospital emergency room. Would you want that kind of job? Just the experiences I had made me glad, I didn’t have to do it everyday.

The point of all this is an email I got from a friend today. It’s a poem about Christmas Eve by a former State Trooper.  Just click the link below or copy and paste it into your browser.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/WxjZB5S_g7s?rel=0.

©2013

GM

GM stands for "got me." And, they got you too, if you are a taxpayer. The government has sold all it’s General Motors stock and only lost $10.5 billion tax payer dollars. My broker does better than that.

I’m guessing that the promise from the Prez that taxpayers wouldn’t lose by saving GM from bankruptcy, is not true. What’s next?

Oh yea, "If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor."

PMO
©2013

Where's Al?

The whole country has experienced big time winter weather in the past several days. In Texas we’ve had ice that caused hundreds if not thousands of auto wrecks, some with fatalities. Because I am an old electric power company employee, I kept up with all the havoc the ice caused on our electrical system.

Out here in East Texas there were record low temperatures. And, the prognostication for our area is not a lot better - rain with freezing temperatures at night.

The question of the day is, "Where is global warming when you need it?" I guess Al is running around explaining it to anybody that will listen. Maybe global warming thawed up all the ice in the sky and that’s why it fell across almost the whole country.

That would make sense to somebody.

PMO
©2013

Computer

Problems with my computer and especially the monitor have prompted me to start research on replacements. My old machine is about four years old - that’s prehistoric in the computer world. Truth is that I will buy a monitor at the very least.

I am one of those crazy people that looks at technical specs like response time, brightness, aspect ratio and all that stuff. Once I find a monitor that I like, then I start looking for the best price. It is never easy for me to do anything. And, I’m worse when it comes to buying a new desktop computer. Oh yeah I know they are on the way out, but then so am I.

The size of the hard drive - 1TB, at least 8 GB of memory, and a clock speed/processor time of 3 or better is what I would consider. They are not as hard to find, but they all come with Windows 8. I don’t like Windows 8. To me, the operating system will be short lived because people use PCs for working and the old fashioned Windows 7 lends itself better to running an Excel spreadsheet, without having to drag tiles by the mouse or getting a touch screen.

As usual the bottom line is that I will spend more hours searching and researching.

Then I’ll buy the wrong one.

PMO
©2013

Tater Chip?

I understand that change is the only constant, but there are some things that I have a hard time accepting. Come to think about it, there are a lot of things I have a hard time accepting. But today I came across a pecan pie flavored potato chip. Actually, I was clipping coupons and ran across a coupon offering $1 off.

Not mentioning the name of the company that has been peddling tater chips for a long time, these people actually think that ‘holiday’ chips of pecan pie or sugar and spice flavor will be a hot seller. And, there will be a few million people that will buy them. Some will swear they are great. Others, will throw away the container and count them as money wasted. I try not to waste money.

I won’t be among the millions that buy them.

PMO
©2013

Send Money

All most every day during the Holidays, we get a solicitation in the mail from some organization. They usually include some mailing labels, a pen, a note pad or something to entice you into sending them a donation. By my calculations, if we sent each one just $10 or $20, it would be a small fortune - maybe a large fortune.

We have selected charities that we donate to, but do occasionally make additional donations, but rarely to any organization that sends us mail.

If we sent a donation to all the solicitors, I would be sending out mailing labels, a pen and note pads asking for donations for me.

PMO
©2013

House Name

My financial controller is retiring after 24 years with a major non-profit in Dallas. At their annual meeting this week, she was rightly recognized. The Board of Directors honored her by naming one of the seven client group homes after her. This is only the second time in 60 years of existence that a home was named after a person.

Yes, this is quite an honor and she certainly deserves it, but I was hoping for something more useful.

Why didn’t they all chip in and buy her a new car?

PMO
©2013

New Bumper Sticker

This is a follow up to yesterday’s post. I am launching my own campaign against idiot drivers. So, I’ve come up with a new bumper sticker for my truck.

"Don't dare cut me off.  I’m hauling whiskey, guns and ammo."

PMO
©2013

Clean Up The Gene Pool

Picture yourself driving along some interstate highway. You’re driving at or about the speed limit. I always drive about the speed limit. There is two car lengths between you and the car in front of you. Being a safe driver, you check your rear view mirror and there is no one behind you. Suddenly, a car cuts you off, darting right in between you and the car in front. Then, they take the next exit which is only a couple hundred feet away.

Please tell me why the car didn’t just pull in behind you and take the exit safely? What makes a driver think they have to cut someone off when there is absolutely no reason?

I used to think that this happens only to me, but I observe this as a common practice. It’s as common as tailgating. And, often the driver will tailgate someone and then pull the dumb aforementioned move.

If abortion is a good thing, why can’t we take it a step further and clean up the gene pool of those that drive this way?

Remember my idea the next time it happens to you.

PMO
©2013

According to an article the Chicago Tribune, hospitals are difficulties collecting for their services. This is not news, but as more and more Americans get insurance with high deductibles, the problem is getting worse. Hospitals have to treat life threatening cases and, others like a baby being born.

If things are getting worse now, just wait until Obamacare goes into full effect. Apparently the deductibles for some people are going to be twice or three times what they had. And, their premiums go up.

Let me make sure I understand. You know how grumpy old men are. Hospitals lost over $44 billion last year for non-payment of services. Non-payment is getting worse. The government health plan is going to cost individuals and families more. The deductibles are going to double or triple. Right now would be a good time to get rid of any hospital stocks or bonds you may have.

In the future, if you don’t have cash, you can’t be sick.

PMO
©2013

Just What I Want

Imagine a fire-rated gun safe hidden inside a custom built couch, with bullet proof cushions with carry straps, so they can be used on the fly as a shield. That’s the first line of advertising for a product now built in Texas. Are you surprised? All I can say is, "I want one."

The gun safe has a two hour rating and the optional cushions can stop a 44 magnum at point blank range according to the information on their website. Another nice feature is that the couch and safe weigh about 900 pounds. Not many burglars are going to wrestle that out your front door. Did I mention it makes a great guest bed?

How could any gun nut like me not want one? Just imagine watching all the gun action TV shows and just reaching under the cushion and to join in waving a few firearms around.

The kicker is the cost - about $9000 and I don’t know if that includes all the options. I didn’t see a cup holder on the one pictured on the website. These have to be a big item at Christmas in East Texas. Maybe I’ve lived here too long.

I’m starting to think like them.

PMO
©2013

Hobby Lobby

What if you had a company dedicated to integrity and service for their customers and employees. Let’s say further that the company donates 10% of it income every year to charity. Sound like a pretty good company? Not according to the government.

The problem is that Hobby Lobby doesn’t want to be forced to violate their religious beliefs and be forced to pay for abortions and abortion-inducing drugs in their insurance program. Now the Supreme Court will have to hear Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby as the family owned Christian craft store challenges the constitutionality of Obamacare’s abortion coverage mandate.

Hobby Lobby does pay for 16 of the 20 FDA-approved contraceptives required under the Obamacare mandate.

What does all this mean?

If you have to ask, then you will never understand the answer.

PMO
©2013