New Year Resolution

I, myself, do hereby declare, resolve, aim, intend, plan, commit, pledge, and promise with unquestionable will, not to make any New Year resolutions.

Signed,

Me

PMO
©2016

Worse Drivers

On a local news channel, there was a report that Texas is tied for first place with Louisiana on having the worse drivers in the country. A study reportedly using data from the National Highway Safety Administration included a number of factors to determine the result, including the number of death per million miles driven.

Furthermore, the report stated that Smith County, Texas is the second worse drivers in the state. My abode is on the western edge of Smith County, and I can testify that drivers in this area are horrible - worse than Dallas and Houston combined.

The number one worse county in Texas was not reported.

I have to find out, because I do not want to go there.

PMO
©2016

Russian Hackers

With all the attacks on the Russians about causing Hilldawg Clinton to lose the election, I have serious local concerns. We have an election for some new directors on our little commune board. For those that believe that the Russians caused Hilldawg to lose, I am asking for some help.

We actually vote by completing a ballot and taking it to the club office and depositing it into a metal ballot box - with a lock on it. Because we can’t afford to hire extra security, it would be helpful if volunteers would stand guard 24/7 to ensure that there is no hanky panky with the votes. It should be easy to spot any Russians that sneak in to alter the vote or cause someone to vote for a particular person.

Russians don’t dress like they do here at an East Texas golf club. And, they don’t talk like the people here either.

How do you say, "y'all" in Russian?

PMO
©2016

Honestly

Is there such a thing as an honest person? I mean a genuine honest about everything person. Probably not. If there was an honest person, how would he or she deal with society?

"Honesty is the best policy," we’ve been told. I would say that I would agree with that. But, what would happen if everyone, even politicians, were totally honest? What would happen? The world would look a lot different and how we deal with each other would be most interesting.

I’m not suggesting that everyone would go around telling everyone about how they had not been honest. What I’m saying is that when asked, you would tell the honest truth, regardless of the consequences. Just imagine making a deal on a used car like that. One can only imagine the implications.

The divorce rate would skyrocket, but you could get a good deal on a used car.

PMO
©2016

Christmas Gifts

I believe that my ace number one daughter (only child) kept an annual dollar value of stuff she got for Christmas. The expectation was to get more next year. And, she always did. Now she has two daughters that don’t keep up with the dollars, but the time. They like to open presents - for hours and hours. My financial controller does all she can to see they get as many presents as possible - about all you can haul in a crew cab pickup. Sometimes with a trailer.

As for me, I don’t have any wants or expectations. Maybe that’s why I don’t get a lot of presents. This year I did get a surprise, a new skillet. Yes, I said skillet. The kind you cook with. I needed a new skillet. Oh, I’m not a great cook, or even an average one, but to my knowledge, no one has died yet. Gotten sick, is another thing. My old skillet needed replacing but I’m too cheap to buy one until I have to - like when the handle falls off and all the food burst into flames.

And, I got an Echo. That’s one of those things that you can ask a lot of questions. It even keeps a grocery list, sets an alarm or timer, or if you have some the add on’s, it will turn the lights on and off. By the time I learn everything it will do, I will be too old to remember to use it.

Right now, I’ve got it looking for recipes to cook in a new skillet.

PMO
©2016

Leave

A number of celebrities said they would leave the county if Trump got elected. They didn’t. No one ever thought they would. They are not exactly reliable on anything they say.

Then there’s "Mooch’elle." She has no hope now. Remember, before Obama was elected, she had never been proud of this country. I don’t know if she would have been proud if Hilldawg had won, but I am assuming that she would have hope.

"Mooch" just needs to get in a quick multi-million dollar trip on the tax payers before she has to move out. She can have her legion of assistants pack up all the dishes, drapes, furniture, rugs, and drapes while she is away.

Maybe "Mooch" and all the celebrity experts can start their own country somewhere far away from here.

The media would certainly have something new to talk about.

PMO
©2016

Christmas Prayer

Lord, it’s me again. Begging for forgiveness and mercy. You know, just like I do everyday. I know you think that someday I will straighten up and maybe get through one day. Keep on hoping and I will keep on trying, but let’s not get our expectations to high.

I can be especially trying to others this time of year, but hey, they get on my nerves. When the in-laws and outlaws gather, it can be nerve racking. I suspect that one or two of my relatives get on your nerves too. I’m sure that you have some extra forgiveness and mercy this time of year. So, please Lord, send down a double load with a really big sack of patience. I need all the help I can get. But, you already know that.

If nothing else, keep my mouth shut.

Amen

©2016

Happy Birthday

In 1958 cartoonist Stan Lynde launched a comic strip called "Rick O’Shay." It was about a young deputy sheriff and the people in a town named Conniption. The comic strip ran for 20 years, but I remember just one six panel strip. It stuck in my mind and every year I remember.

One of the characters was Hipshot Percussion. He was the good guy, bad guy. One Christmas, Hipshot is seen riding through town past the church, saloon, and houses. He could have stopped at anyone of them and would have been welcomed in, but he didn’t. Hipshot kept riding his horse out of town to a snow filled meadow where a bright star shown in the sky. It was there, all alone, he removed his hat and looked up at the star and said, "Happy birthday Boss."

One might need to have a little cowboy inside to understand how significant the message was, but let me try to explain the best I can. Hipshot was saying not now to all the trappings of that day and sought out a time alone with the One that really matters. He knew that in all the hustle in town he would not find the one to one peace he needed to say what he was feeling. It was personal. The way it should be.

As a boy I remember a Christmas when I was awake late into the night and I could see out my window into the cold darkness. I didn’t hear any sounds. It was especially quite and I was alone with my young boy thoughts. Then, for some reason, I became aware that I was not alone in my mind. A strange peace came over me and I knew, maybe for the first time, what Christmas is all about.

Take some time and get away by yourself where there are no distractions. Spend a few minutes or even hours.

Maybe you’ll find Christmas.

©2016

The Real Reason

It’s almost here. Christmas Holiday. Ever wonder why we have Holidays? I think Old Ben Franklin was right again.

"O! 'tis easier to keep Holidays than Commandments." —Benjamin Franklin (1743)

Christmas only comes once per year.

PMO
©2016

TV And Turkey

There is always some technical issue at my lean to. Computers, printers, TVs or other electronic stuff that is designed to drive me crazy. We had a wireless speaker system go out and silly me thought I would just go buy another one. Not even on Amazon can I find a wireless system. So I thought I would switch to Bluetooth. Again I was wrong. Technical reasons I won’t get into.

We decided to have another cable drop and run the speaker on a small TV to solve our problem. Sounds simple, but it’s not. After about three hours, it finally works. That’s good time for a 20 minute project. Did I mention that it has taken over a week to get a tech out? Promises made were not kept, but that is the norm these days.

Meanwhile, we had ordered a turkey for Christmas dinner. Did it show up on the day I was told. NO! You really have to stay home when someone is going to leave a turkey on your doorstep. Then, my financial controller questioned if the bird is big enough.  And, she wants some wires rerouted on the new hook up for the TV.

I now have wired the turkey up to the televison.

I’m going to get a job so I will have some time off.

PMO
©2016

Stock Price

Perhaps you may have not noticed the price of Kimberly Clark stock recently. It was up again this afternoon as this is written. Oh, Kimberly Clark makes Kleenex.

About three months ago the stock was down, but now it is on an upswing. The reason is simple. Liberals are still slinging snot and slobber. If this keeps up, I’m not sure the company is going to be able to keep up with enough production.

Rumor is that Hillary is buying Kleenex by the truck load.

Bill is becoming an angry white guy trying to keep all the used ones hauled off.

PMO
©2016

It's Better Now

Things have changed a lot since Jesus was born.  Beginning with verse 4 in the second chapter of Luke, KJV, “And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David. To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.”

Things are better now.  Taxes now are taken from your pay, you pay them when you buy something and if you owe more, you just mail the money to the IRS.  If you don’t, they call you in and take what they want.

See how much better it is now.

PMO
©2016

Not My President

Protesters continue to shout, "Trump - Not My President." Well, little snowflakes, then move. Pack up and move to some socialist country where you will be happy.  Obviously, millions of Americans think Mr. Trump is their president, and never thought Obama was.

The best one I’ve seen is some woman (I think) shouting, "This is my America." Meaning she has no idea of what the real America is all about.

North Korea is nice this time of year.

PMO

©2016

Christmas Shopping

You have only six more shopping days until Christmas. All the merchants wanted you to know that. But, you have a bunch of shopping days left if you start now to shop for next Christmas.

I don’t do shopping for anything except tools and fishing stuff. Since we never give tools or fishing stuff, I don’t do any shopping.

It occurs to me that since all the "snowflakes" want to do away with Christmas, shopping should be banned. That way you would have more time to log into Facebook and pickup the latest fake news, run around condemning something, eating only things that taste bad or contemplating your navel.

Come on people, Christmas is a religious holiday and we just can’t have that. Okay, we can allow radical religions to have holidays.

If you don’t, they will kill you.

Talk about the holiday spirit.

PMO
©2016

All The Same

Yogi Berra once said, “You can observe a lot just by watching.”  Yogi was seldom ever wrong.  Truth is that you can hear a lot by just listening too. 

This week I heard someone say on TV, I think, that people see God differently, but He sees us as all the same.

Some things one hears, are worth remembering.

This is one you need to remember.

PMO
©2016

Doubt Removed

There are those that believed that the Clinton candidacy was honest. There are still believe that it was. But, the events that followed the election surely has gotten some followers to thinking.

We have the CIA, FBI, Obama and his press aide, and all the media crying first one thing then another. " The election was rigged," they cry. That is a likely fact, but it was the Democrats that believed they had it fixed and Hillary could not lose.

If the election were held today, I believe that Trump would win again with numbers that this nation has never seen. America again is a sleeping giant that has been awakened.

Meanwhile, the Russians are coming.  They are after your voter ID.

The Russians are coming.

PMO
©2016

Gun Control Argument

One side of the gun control argument are those that don’t want anyone to have any guns of any kind.  Not even a Daisy Red Rider.  They contend that if no one has guns, then no one will be murdered - certainly not with a gun.  On the other side are those that want everyone to not only have a gun but to wear it openly everywhere.  Their theory is that if everyone has a gun, few if any people will shoot someone for fear of being shot themselves.

With just one eye open it is easy to see that both sides are wrong.  Yes, you can go out and get statistics and to support either argument, but reality is that people murder people even if they have to do it with a rock.  And you might make a note, a skilled archer can pick off people with a bow and arrow up to 200 yards very easily.  That sort of dismisses the idea of stopping mass shootings with sniper attacks.

Since neither side is right, what is the answer to more shootings every year?  Change people.  Until people are willing to live by rule of law and morals are ingrained in them, they will continue to get worse.  It’s been going on since Adam and Eve time.

I, of course, am on the side of allowing those that want guns to have guns and them that don’t, don’t.  When Texas allowed concealed handguns, I signed up and endured the training classes.  And, personally I believe more training should be required.

“To shoot or not to shoot,” that is the question.

The answer is, I want to be able to shoot if I have to.

PMO
©2016

American Jobs

Mr. Trump made a deal with Carrier to keep jobs from moving out of the country.  Is it a good deal or bad?  There certainly are a lot of valid arguments on both sides of the question.  From the comfort of my reclining office chair, I see a danger in making such deals.

First, a tax break is not a tax break.  Corporations don’t pay taxes. Consumers that buy products pay whatever the taxes may be.  Next, keeping jobs in America is desirable, but the question arises as to what the cost would be.  Higher wages and material cost equal higher product cost.  Corporations really don’t care so long as they can maintain a desired margin of profit and consumers still buy their products.

The reason that illegal immigration is so high is simply cheap labor.  By lowering labor cost, profits are easier to make.  When you raise cost, the consumer suffers, inflation runs amok and everything is basically left at status quo - companies making profits.

The reason that we have a negative trade balance is that other countries have cheaper cost.  And, that’s why so much of what we buy is not make in America.  By keeping jobs in America, can it be that foreign goods will be more in demand?  Add tariffs to reduce the imbalance and the consumers lose.

Trade balance is a tricky and sticky wicket.  Yes, most anyone wants to keep jobs and make “made in America” mean something again.

But does that justify $15 an hour for flipping burgers?  You won’t be able to afford to buy a hamburger.

Business wants to cut cost.  Government needs to cut cost first.

Lower taxes means benefit to consumers.

PMO
©2016

More Blame Game

The Russians and about a million others have been hacking our government servers, according to "news" reports. And, the media is trying to support the current administration by joining in the blame game by pointing here and there to somebody, somewhere at sometime. All of which are the fault and responsibility of the Trump supporters, according to the talking heads.

Reality check. Who has been in charge of the secure servers for the past 8 years? You only get one guess.

Let me be perfectly clear. Obama was on watch.

PMO
©2016

Blame Game

It is business as usual in Washington D.C. to blame someone else when you do something bad or stupid.  Such is the case of the Democrats right now.  They blame the Russians for losing the election. 

It could have been the FBI or the CIA or even the tooth fairy.  How about the KKK, the Fox News channel  or maybe George W. Bush.  All the donkeys know for sure is that it wasn’t their fault.

Because liberals ignore facts and distort what they don’t want to see, they have obviously over sighted the real reason they lost.

It was the deplorables.

PMO
©2016

Term Limits

Term limits for congress has been discussed and cussed since I can remember.  It is often mentioned that the term for some in elected office should be life in prison.  I’m inclined to support that.

Currently the way congress works is that representatives are elected for two year terms.  Senators are elected for six years.  And, the president is elected for four.

While the president is limited to two terms in office, there is no such restriction on representatives and senators.  This is why we have career politicians that have no idea what the real world is like.  People being people, when they get into a position of power, they like it.  They don’t want to give it up and they want more power.

The current system allows for individuals to work themselves into power and with the help of lobbyist, some become very wealthy.  Influence in congress is for sale.  It has been reported that lobbyist write more legislation than congress does.  Talk about pay to play.

It would seem that if representatives were limited to two terms and senators to one, the temptations for serving self would be tremendously reduced.  We need to control congress, not congress controlling us.

Further more, the benefits of being elected are tremendous - retirement and insurance.  And, don’t forget the opportunities to become lobbyist themselves.  Mr. Trump is currently planning to prevent that little tidbit.  Going to congress was never intended to be a life time job.  Congressmen and women should serve the people for a short period and then go back to the farm where they can participate in the legislation they pass.

By now you should have come to the conclusion that I have lost my mind.  It will never happen.  But, if enough people apply enough pressure, it could be a lot better.

A simple step is to get all 50 states to agree that they will not allow anyone to represent their state except for two terms as representative and one as a senator.

You’re right. I have lost my mind.

PMO
©2016

Life Expectancy

The government announced this week that the life expectancy in this county has declined. This was the first time since 1993 that the death rate increased. The higher death rate in ‘93 was reportedly because of AIDS and the flu.

According to the report the death rate for men went from 76.5 to 76.3 years while women changed from 81.3 to 81.2 years. Demographers are all in a tizzy over the drop, even though it is in tenths. They see it as a possible trend which does not match the rest of the industrialize nations.

As one might expect, there has to be a cause. Scientist see the obesity ‘epidemic’ as a possible threat in areas like heart disease, strokes, diabetes and possibly Alzheimer’s. All I can think of is, "We must ban everything, or tax it."

Truth is that other countries still smoke, eat what’s bad for you, like bacon, and drink more than they should. We are catching up on the drinking.

My only conclusion about all this is the difference between the men and women death rates. Men die younger. They always have.

It’s because they want to.

PMO
©2016

Education

We place a large importance on education in this country, but it does not appear that the quality of education is important.  You can get a PHD in basket weaving or some other worthless pursuit.  Our education system focuses on social engineering instead of the basics of what it takes to survive in a world you would want to live in.

Education does not mean knowledge.  In the old days some folks were referred to by saying, “He’s been educated beyond his intelligence.”  Knowledge is education that is useful to one’s self and everyone else.  Knowledge requires education with experience and understanding that the world is not going to be your happy or safe place and you must adapt to making the world better in a peaceful logical manner.

Unless our education system reverts back to teaching the 3 r’s, we will continue to fall behind in knowledge.

Knowledge is power.

PMO
©2016

The Best

There have been, by my estimate, millions of comments about the outcome of the Presidential election.  I  have read a few hundred or thousand myself.  But only one stands out and I don’t remember who said it.

“The Democrats haven’t been this upset since the Republicans freed the slaves.”

PMO
©2016

December 7

It was just another relaxed Sunday morning at Pearl Harbor until all hell broke loose and an unprepared nation was plunged into war. We now remember those that died and those that lived with remembrance that there were those that said we would never be unprepared again. But, we are.

In the comic strip "Family Circus" one of the children ask the question, "Who was Pearl Harbor?"

We better remember, or we will never forget.

PMO
©2016

Maybe The Reason

There is usually a cause for things that happen. Such is the case for human behavior and especially radical left wing liberal progressive behavior. While conducting some research on medications recently I ran across the following information:

The prescription drug Wellbutrin side effects include: Confusion, fainting, false beliefs that cannot be changed by facts, having extreme distrust of people, seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there, seizures (convulsions),trouble concentrating, anger, assaulting others, attacking others, being aggressive and, being impulsive.

Maybe that’s why some people behave the way they do.  Even in public or on TV.

Note to doctors:  Quit prescribing this drug.  You're killing the rest of us.

PMO
©2016

Why?

As an official grumpy old man, I wonder if anyone ever wonders why grumpy old men are grumpy. Almost all of the other grumpy old men that I’ve met are really just teddy bears. But, for some reason they present a grumpy front.

If one really has a genuine and caring interest to know, perhaps all it would take is to ask. But, be prepared for the answers you may get.

And, there may be answers the "grumpies" won’t give you.

Those are the ones that make them grumpy.

PMO
©2016

Smart Car

My financial controller got a new vehicle recently that came with a monitoring service.  It’s one of those services that calls if you have an accident or you call for assistance.  And, each month or so, it sends out an email report about the vehicle.

The latest report stated it’s almost time for an oil change, but the engine, transmission, air bags and all that stuff are okay.  It did mention that the tires were low and how much air they have and what they need.  Of course we still have to manually drive this car, so I guess we are not driving the latest and greatest.

With all the technology on this vehicle, I expect to get a report that tells me what I had for lunch while driving. 

Just imagine, a printed report that warns, “When you have bean burritos, roll down the windows before you eat them.

PMO
©2016

Snowflakes

In case you may have missed it, we now have a new generation.  Snowflakes.  And, they are definitely flakes. 

The “Snowflake Generation,” is a term referring to the young adults of the 2010s, who are perceived as more prone to taking offense and less resilient than previous generations.  They can’t deal with adversity or hardship of any kind.  Their approach is to go to a safe place and be all warm and fuzzy.


They are usually found on college campuses where they are taught to be offended and hide from anything that may cause them to feel uncomfortable.

I don’t know who came up with the term “snowflakes” but it’s easy to see that a great injustice is being done by teaching young people to run home to mama.

Snowflakes melt very easily.

PMO
©2016

Freedom Of Speech

"Everybody is in favor of free speech. Hardly a day passes without its being extolled, but some people's idea of it is that they are free to say what they like, but if anyone says anything back, that is an outrage." Winston Churchill (1874-1965)

Sir Winston was right again.  Such is the time we live in.  Only radicals and extremist have the right to free speech.  The recent BLM protest and riots are just one example.  They do not want others to say that Blue Lives Matter or All Lives Matter.

Typically radical and extremist operate on the principle of I am right and you shut up.  They think the one that talks the loudest wins.  Not for one millisecond do they think that anyone else has the right to free speech.

The “Donald” has said that anyone that burns the flag should be punished.  Yes, I agree with him, but if such action is freedom of speech, which it isn’t, then those that commit these acts have the right.

Just because you have the right to do something doesn’t mean you should do it.

PMO
©2016

Nancy

There is a comic strip called “Nancy.”  I do not intend to offend anyone, especially the comic strip, but Nancy Pelosi reminds of the comic strip (not in appearance.)  She thinks she is something she is not.

Ms. Pelosi has been re-elected as Minority Leader in the House of Representatives.  You may recall at one time she was Speaker of the House.  Remember, she said congress needed to pass the “Obamacare” bill so we can see what’s in it.  Are you beginning to see the similarities between Pelosi and “Nancy” in the comics?

Bottom line is that Pelosi being re-elected is good news.  She’s going to help a lot of republicans get elected.

And, may cause some Democrats to switch.

PMO
©2016